The Crook

5003

2.3 miles E of Ilminster | Sleeps 2 + cot*

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From £84 per night

The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.

Nearby pub

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Welcome to this traditional country pub with large garden, gorgeous countryside views and lots of parking. The menu is created using local ingredients with a great range of pub classics and daily specials.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

August 2022

Great pint of cider

I had a great pint of cider in the beautiful garden. The staff were super friendly!

Nearby beach

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Charmouth West Beach runs the mile and a half from the mouth of the river Char all the way to Lyme Regis. Although hammering at the cliffs is not allowed, the shores of Charmouth West Beach are well known for their fossils and often keen-eyed visitors are rewarded with a treat. With the gentle slope of the beach and natural sea pools forming in certain conditions the beach lends itself nicely to paddling and swimming. A heritage centre, cafe and shops are nearby, although there are no lifeguards on duty.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

August 2019

Charmouth beach

Lovely not too busy beach, such fun finding fossils, beautiful sand when the tide is out, and great rock pools


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2017

Lovely beach, brilliant for fossil hunting


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

January 2010

Take a fossil hunting guided walk or boat trip. No sand but plenty to keep the kids amused.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

November 2009

The hours seem to have a habit of slipping by while you're wandering along hunting for fossils on this stretch of coast. The kids love the excitement of finding an ammonite or debating the authenticity of possible 'dinosaur bones'. Great way to spend an afternoon.

Nearby walk

Monthly walks are arranged by locals who ask for volunteers to help with clearing overgrown footpaths whilst enjoying the scenery. Take a look at the chaffcome.com website for details of walks in the area.

Nearby town

Deep in the rolling Somerset countryside, Ilminster, with its imposing church and the winding River Ile, is a vision of pastoral beauty. One of the town’s best-loved attractions is Barrington Court, a well-preserved manor house with stunning formal gardens, an arboretum and traditional kitchen gardens.

Also nearby

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Children, dogs and welly boots are all welcome in this newly refurbished pub, all watched over by Alan the Barrington Boar. The bar and restaurant both have good food, and the location in the centre of the village makes it a social hub for local events.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

May 2024

Barrington Boar

Lovely village pub with good food, if a little on the expensive side. The staff were very welcoming and atentive.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

March 2023

Barrington Boar

Highly recommend to all, the Barrington Boar has friendly staff, excellent service, lovely atmosphere and great food!


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

May 2019

Barrington Boar

The best pub meals we have ever had excellent food beautifully cooked and great service. Would highly recommend


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2014

Fantastic, Fantastic, friendly pub with delicious food.

friends and I visited the Barrington Boar whilst staying in the village this weekend. We first visited Fri eve where we enjoyed whole baked plaice in a caper sauce, fish pie, & stuffed aubergine with salad. The main courses were absolutely delicious. Having a coeliac in our party, we asked about gluten free & were told the sauce would not be made with wheat flour. The accompanying salads were huge, fresh and excellent - no rubbish bit of iceberg lettuce & tomato here! A mixture and abundance of salad leaves really impressed us. Desserts of lemon posset were divine, and although the brownie was overcooked, we were cheerily offered something else - no bad atmosphere here! We throughly enjoyed our meal and service was excellent - so much so that we returned on Sunday for lunch after a country ramble with moments of mild to moderate peril gave us a huge appetite. We enjoyed our meal in the garden and again, our coeliac and pescatarian friends were catered to by the owners and chef happily offering the roast dinner with no meat & extra roasties for the coeliac, and homemade Thai style fishcakes with the roast potatoes, for our other friend. An unusual combination, but the didn't phase the Barrington Boar! Again we enjoyed the divine lemon posset, and our chocolate loving friend asked for the brownie again - which was baked to perfection! Again friendly, helpful staff made our meal a very enjoyable experience. We all agreed that we would heartily recommend The Barrington Boar to all our friends visiting the area and look forward to eating there again when we return to Somerset. Thanks to all at The Barrington Boar for two truly delicious and welcoming visits!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

With a cider works, farm shop and tea room, you will find plenty to keep you occupied here. The shop offers cider tasting so you can be sure of your choice before you buy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

August 2022

Cider convert

I don't usually like cider but Perry's is so tasty I bought some to bring home as well! We had a summer afternoon in the orchard with cider and pizza. The farm shop is great and everyone working there is really friendly.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

September 2015

I bought a barrel...

A tiny Somerset hamlet called Dowlish Wake is home to this traditional cider making centre. Tempting samples from the barrels are a must before you decide on which variety to take home. I am afraid it had to be a gallon for us and even more unfortunate – it is within easy reach of home for return trips to refill the container ! There is a shop, café and all things apple making museum here too. This place feels like a step back in time, even down to crossing the ford from the orchard parking area !

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

An exceptional Elizabethan house filled with treasures, including 17th Century textile samplers and Elizabethan art. This house featured in the 1995 film ‘Sense and Sensibility’.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

May 2018

Marvellous Montacute

Absolutely wonderful in every way. We enjoyed many hours here. A must visit property.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

May 2016

Shame.

A lovely house and location . It was a pity it was spoilt by a very heavy handed and hard sell approach in the ticket office to join the N.T. I had to be very persistent to get into the house and gardens without joining up .
Once we had managed to get in we had another issue with an officious lady in the long room who basically told us off for taking the wrong staircase up . It turned out that a rope had not been put in place . How were we to know! Other staff members tried to make up for this and were excellent but the impression overall was poor.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

September 2013

Very interesting

Another West Country gem to consider when in the Somerset or Dorset areas. Although the house was endowed to NT as an empty shell much work has been done by introducing surplus items from other properties and there is a current fascinating exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery which is a must.

A former Cistercian monastery dating back to the 1100s. The gardens are breathtaking, while inside must-sees include the cloisters and the upper refectory.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

May 2024

Mr Gomersall

Wonderful garden


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

November 2020

Gardens

House closed because of Covid but the gardens are lovely. Don’t miss the fountain - a must see!


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2018

A lovely place to visit.

We’ve just had a very pleasant few hours at Forde Abbey on a scorching hot day. The house is very interesting to walk around and the gardens are beautiful, it’s worth waiting to see the fountain, especially if you stand downwind of it on such a hot day.
The ginger cake in the cafe was a great way to end our visit.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2017

A place to unwind

We visited these delightful gardens as part of a circular walk from Thorncombe village. It was the perfect place for a leisurely lunch followed by a stroll around the gardens before continuing on our way. The highlight of the day.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2011

Well worth a visit

We really loved the gardens and the interior. It was the highlight of our week. We spent several hours there and felt there was plenty to see both in the house and gardens. The tearoom provides excellent lunches for those who want to make a day of it.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

January 2010

Stately home and splendid gardens

Fascinating former abbey dating back to 12thC. One of the greatest Westcountry gardens (according to Alan Titchmarsh), plant sales and a good restaurant serving really local food from the estate. A good day's outing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Home cooked food is a speciality here with Sunday roasts being a favourite. There's a play area, large garden and decking with views over the countryside. Dogs are welcome.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

April 2024

Lovely Small Pub, great host and beautiful views from garden

We always try to have a meal here if staying nearby… good value, varied menu, a lot for veggie and vegan customers.
Advisable to book in advance!


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

December 2023

Sunday roast

Very nice homely pub


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2023

Great food and lovely hosts

Very good food and homemade desserts, lovely friendly hosts and dog friendly. Recommend booking in high season.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

May 2023

Bob

Bob makes this pub worth the 2 mile walk there and back.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

April 2022

Cosy pub, lovely location, great hosts

Traditional feel, good menu range and good value, very clean. Lovely views from the garden.
Have visited several times, a friendly place to eat and drink.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

September 2021

Fabulous Friendly Pub

A lovely country pub with a warm, friendly welcome to include those fury four legged friends.

Great food and I can throughly recommend the homemade pizza’s!

Only a 10/15 minute drive away from Stoke Abbott.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

June 2017

Excellent pub food and congenial hosts

We enjoying two visits to the Hare and Hounds during our recent holiday. Both times we had excellent pub meals in good surroundings and was well looked after by the hosts. Many thanks

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