Reviews

“Super cottage, a really comfortable place for a relaxing week. We love the hot tub (of course), and the gentle stroll down to Minehead town. We recommend the cottage!! The garden was stunning, a great place to get lost in. The walk to Porlock Weir was hard but worth it and there are so many quaint villages to visit locally. The Old Ship Aground pub was the best place to eat. Thank you, Lucy and team, for a super holiday home.”
The Meadows Family, September 2021

“Pilgrim Corner is the perfect holiday cottage with everything you could possibly need for a wonderful and relaxing holiday. The beds are super comfortable! We particularly enjoyed the hot tub which is big and in such a private spot in the beautiful garden. The coast and Exmoor are stunning and we went for long walks most days and enjoyed the local restaurants and fish and chips! Thank you, we hope to return!”
The Rytwinski family, August 2021

“Such a beautiful home with so much thought and attention to detail. Absolutely love the garden…the most beautiful oasis…could have happily sat out in it all day! The hot tub was such an added bonus. Everything from the house to the garden is perfect. Beautiful walks, stunning countryside, and such welcoming friendly people. We definitely recommend the Dunster village walk with Jackie and a boat trip with Skipper Mike. We did the two-hour trip to Porlock Weir – a great time with stunning coastal scenes. We’re just all so sad to be leaving. Thank you!”
Sarah and co, July 2021

“What a lovely cottage, beautifully decorated! The garden was so delightful – the colours exploded in the sunshine! We celebrated a ‘big’ birthday with a meal cooked by Ben the private chef which was scrumptious. We had lots of lovely days out walking and stopping off for cream teas. A fantastic week with family.”
The Williams/Hicks Clan, June 2021

“Our annual [sometimes bi-annual] trips to Exmoor Character Cottages in Minehead has now become our own pilgrimage, with aptly named Pilgrim Corner the firm favourite, and just perfect in 2021 for some post-lockdown change of scenery and creative inspiration. Nestled amongst the tranquillity of Upper Town, not far from the door we found some new walks to North Hill that were just perfect for two inquisitive cocker spaniels. A little further afield, lunch at Tarr Farm Inn was culinary heaven cradled within the surrounding Exmoor hills. Everything about Pilgrim Corner is perfection that creates a real home away from home. The location for a wide variety of beach, woodland and riverside walks, the quality of the thatched cottage and all its amenities, the colourful garden, with the hot tub and wood burner on cold April evenings being the icing on a very moreish cake. Why else would we come back time and time again?”
The Peberdys, May 2021

“Our third visit to this beautiful cottage and again Lucy and her team did not disappoint. This time we were celebrating a very special birthday and the cottage was beautifully decorated with balloons and banners and even a bottle of bubbly in the fridge. I am a keen cook and know that when I come to pilgrim corner it will have everything I need to make a special dinner. Pet friendly, immaculately clean, Dunster Castle and the moors on your doorstep it’s perfect every time. Stunning cottage with every comfort from home with a beautiful garden and fabulous hot tub. We will return.”
The Baileys, April 2021

“We think it is a wonderful place! We love the hot tub because of the bubbles. It was my favourite Christmas. I love how you decorated the house for Christmas. Five-star review out of five. We would love to come again!!!
Lorelei, aged 8, December 2020

“Fabulous accommodation. Everything you need is provided in spades. Lovely garden for the dogs, we would highly recommend Pilgrim Corner to anyone looking to stay in this area. Steve was very welcoming, helpful and informative. A big thank you from all of us to all of you.”
Sue and friends, October 2020

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“What a wonderful place Dunster is, and The Oval sums it up perfectly – we love the history, and this is living history. The walking has been wonderful. We have visited the Lake District on many occasions and the walking here is on a par – with more variety in terms of woodland, water and open moorland all on the same walks, with views of the sea too. We loved Dunkery Beacon, the highest spot-on Exmoor, the ridge walk across the Quantocks and the truly beautiful Doone Valley. If you want a real challenge, try reading Lorna Doone while you are staying here! For an Indian takeaway, The Alcombe Tandoori is excellent, and Dana’s Fish & Chip Shop in Minehead is also good. We loved the whole experience here – oh and try the cider at Torre Farm!
James, Maryam, Freddie and Walter the dog, August 2021

“Although we’ve stayed here a number of times, I cannot seem to find any evidence of any Guest Book entries – so these comments are covering many years of coming to The Oval during 30 years of visiting West Somerset. Of all the places we’ve stayed since the late 1980s, The Oval is the one that offers the fullest Somerset flavour! It’s welcoming, comfortable, beautiful – and just ‘shabby chic’ enough to allow you to relax completely in any of the rooms! Seriously, The Oval is a complete delight in a stunning village in the most beautiful countryside in England. We will be back again, and again.
Phil, Rebecca, Tilly and Bailey, July 2021

“Another lovely stay at The Oval. A trip down memory lane for my husband and his parents who used to stay here when my mother-in-law’s cousin Claire Hoare ran this house as a B&B back in the late 70s and 80s. We had a great Sunday lunch at Reeves in the village and returned for a fabulous evening meal. Lovely cake at Tessa’s Tearoom. Brilliant walks from Gallox Bridge. For days out, go to Bossington and have the best coffee at Kitnors Tearoom. The kids loved Minehead. Dunster Castle is good, and the gardens are amazing. We love the deck at the top of the garden. It was nice to have such lovely weather to enjoy the sundowners! We forgot our dog’s food bowls, but no matter, as there were some here. Thank you.”
Kate, Jon, Alan, Mel, Daisy, Matilda and Margot the dog, June 2021

“What a wonderful week we have had. The whole place was completely catered for and nothing was needed at all! Thank you for a lovely stay, we will definitely come back for more rest and relaxation.”
Mark, Sam, and Fudge the dog, May 2021

“What a way to come out of lockdown – another holiday where we have made some amazing memories. Great walks with the boys and woofer to Hurlstone Point and Grabbist Hill, a night-time trip through the graveyard, duck racing and playing on the swings in the woods are just a few of the things we got up to. The terrace was beautiful in the evenings, wrapped up in blankets, drinking hot chocolate. We highly recommend Periwinkle Tearooms – after all our years staying here this was a new one for us. It’s a shame we were only here for five days instead of our planned two weeks, but we are already booked for next year and cannot wait to come back to the best cottage ever.”
Team Foster and Dunster the Dog, April 2021

“Thank you for the beautiful welcome cake – what a treat! As always, ‘The Oval’ was a delight to stay in, and even more beautiful at Christmas time. We are so fortunate to have moved our holiday from March to now – it has been a welcome break from the turbulent year we are all having. Fab weather, wonderful walks, roaring fires, good food, books, a little piece of heaven on earth – thank you to all the team for the incredible effort you have put in, we could not have felt more welcomed. May next year to be kinder to us all.”
Chris, Tina, Sue and Vicki and Poppy and Herbie the dogs, December 2020

“We have had a wonderful week at The Oval. The cake was a lovely touch, thank you. We had lovely meals at Hathaways and Reeves and enjoyed some good walks (often wet!). The cottage is lovely and very well-equipped – everything we could wish for. Very privileged to stay in such an old property. Thank you for a lovely week.”
Laurence, Andrea, Bailey and Oscar the dogs, October 2020

“What a charming place The Oval is – it exceeded our high expectations after reading the reviews from guests online! Everything and more we could have wanted for an Autumn break. We know our two little dogs were totally at home here, and so safe for curious pooches! The four-poster bed was bliss and everything was so well organised for our arrival. Cake for us and doggie treats for the boys! We felt safe even in Covid-19. So clean, tidy, perfect. Thank you, Lucy and team for making our stay so lovely.”
Yvonne, Martin, Pip and Benji the dogs, September 2020

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“A beautifully appointed cottage, super beds, and well-equipped. We celebrated our youngest daughter’s engagement (a surprise to her!) and were lucky enough to have beautiful weather. The backdrop of the cottage and garden made for a great photo opportunity with wonderful memories. The Little Book of Walks was used, and we have enjoyed the surrounding area. No rain was a real bonus, so our grandson enjoyed Minehead Beach for an afternoon and the hot tub was a hit for everyone.”
The Hasler and Carslake families, September 2021

“We are just leaving from the most perfect week staying at The Old Sweet Shop! We wanted to thank Lucy and her team for making our stay so easy and effortless. We were wowed from the moment we walked in on our first day, such a beautiful cottage and so clean and well-kept. The hot tub in the garden was amazing and got a lot of use! Another high was the private chef Lucy recommended to come in and cook for us! Ben and Izzy were so lovely and the food was incredible! The location is fantastic, we drove out everyday to lots of nearby beautiful walks with the dog, and even drive to Woolacombe Beach in Devon one day. We will definitely book again and would definitely recommend to friends. Thank you guys, I hope to see you again soon!”
Clare and family, August 2021

“Thank you so much for a lovely week in your beautiful cottage. You have thought about absolutely everything, so many lovely touches, a real home-from-home, well to be honest, better than home! A beautiful setting, convenient location, and some great dog walks close by. Six adults, on 10-month-old and two dogs have had a wonderful relaxing week. We hope to rebook soon! Thanks again.
Annette, Tom, Hayley, Dave, Henry, Christian and Molly, and Max and Ronnie the dogs, July 2021

“Seven adults and two teenies stayed at The Old Sweet Shop for seven nights, what a wonderful time we all had! Beautiful grounds, facilities and accommodation. Everything we needed with lovely touches throughout. Very comfy beds too! The views are spectacular as long as you’re willing to walk up some steep tracks (which we were), but that’s Minehead!! The Guide Book, folders, information and the historical bits are all fascinating, and the neighbours are friendly – smiles all round! The hot tub was such an added bonus: very relaxing and well maintained. We’ve had a lovely stay, would highly recommend and would definitely consider a revisit in the future. Many thanks.”
The Lawton family, June 2021

“What a relaxing and enjoyable week at the beautiful Old Sweet Shop. We loved sleeping in ‘Marshmallow’, tranquil and super-comfortable. Lucy the owner has thought of everything to make the stay comfy and relaxing. We followed the Doone Valley walk from ‘The Little Book of Walks’. What a fantastic and sometimes dramatic place, well worth it! We found so much to discover, Dunster Castle, and the beach are just beautiful. After a long walk it was blissful to get into the hot tub and melt into the sunset – and sometimes the rain! A thoroughly lovely week in a quaint and gorgeous cottage. We will be back.”
Jenny and Colin Napthine, May 2021

“12th April 2021, the day we could travel after the third lockdown, this cottage would always be truly delightful but as our first time out of London for almost six months, it was incredible! Our girls delighted in the sweet shop theme, everything so cosy and comfy and the garden a truly relaxing retreat. The hot tub is the icing on the cake. In Minehead, we walked up the hill, had coffee and cake at the Echo Beach Café on the old harbour, played family crazy golf on the front and spotted the clever, fun ‘metalheads’ everywhere – poa liceman, coastguard, café owner – you name it, we found it! We will be back! An immaculate and beautiful cottage, garden and hot tub. Genuinely, no-one wants to leave, so watch out for children hiding in cupboards!!!”
The Passmore family, April 2021

“A fantastic Christmassy stay at The Old Sweet Shop! We really enjoyed the hot tub, many thanks to Steve for your hard work. We hope we will be back again post-covid to enjoy the pubs and do some more exploring. Thank you so much.”
The Ellis family, December 2020

“A fabulous girly weekend away in a beautiful and very peaceful cottage. We couldn’t have been happier with the whole experience. Thank you, it was truly lovely. We will be back!”
Hamlin party, November 2020

“The Old Sweet Shop is absolutely amazing and wonderful. The attention to detail and the quality is 100% +++. A well-stocked kitchen, everything you could need is here, superb. All the rooms have a wow factor to them = excellent. The lovely welcoming touches were really appreciated, as I was celebrating my 65th birthday. Thank you very much. The garden areas are beautiful, and the hot tub was spot on. All in all a truly remarkable week away in a fantastic, well-maintained cottage, with lovely decoration and in a wonderful area. Many thanks to Lucy, Steve and the team. 100% customer service. 100% customer satisfaction.”
Jane and family, September 2020

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“Thank you, Lucy, Steve and your team for all your help and effort to ensure we were able to have a wonderful break in your lovely cottage. We arrived a little late due to my injury and you were so kind and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble! The boys loved relaxing in the hot tub and Arwen and I enjoyed the lovely views. We will be back, hopefully when I can walk around a bit more and we can climb the hills!”
Catherine, Richard, Aidan, Nathan and Arwen, August 2021

“What a fabulous place to stay! The bedrooms were very sumptuous – they even impressed two 16-year-old boys and they spent a lot of time in bed! The hot tub is immaculate and very well-kept by Steve who gave us some tips for the hot tub we have just bought at home. It was a delight to talk to Lucy before our stay. Her recommendations were spot on. We had an awesome time paddle boarding on the river, and clay shooting was the best. Parker our dog loved the walks and the garden, which was perfect for my morning yoga – especially with the sunshine. The cake you left for us was so delicious. We have had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend Stone Barn. It is so well-equipped, and the furnishing are top notch. Definitely a place we’d like to visit again.”
Julie, Josh, Toby, Max and Parker the dog, July 2021

“Wow! Thank you for a lovely relaxing and stunning place to stay. We had so much fun exploring just within a 20-mile area, and it was great to be so central to everything. Comfy beds, sparkling bathrooms, modern kitchen and a quiet restful garden, not to mention such a luxurious hot tub!! We hope to return in the future. Keep up the great work!”
Barbara, Emma, Andrew, David and Puddledust and Mr Zippy G the dogs, June 2021

“Thank you, Lucy and your amazing team, for our much-deserved break after a few horrible weeks. The Barn and gardens are immaculate, and the photos really don’t do it justice. We had everything we needed and more…The garden was perfect for the pooches. Thank you again, we will definitely recommend you.”
Susie, Simon, Millie and Skye, May 2021

“Thank you so much for a great stay! The rooms were comfortable, and the garden is stunning! We enjoyed the treats and ate them all up! Love from Ron and Noisette the hamsters.  P.S. The humans enjoyed the cake and the stay too!”
The hamsters and their humans The Peplow Family, April 2021

“How delightful to walk into this lovely cottage to find a dressed Christmas tree and mince pies to welcome us – even Christmas songs on the radio! The dogs loved the little treats in their bowl too! We’ve had a really lovely relaxing few days here, thank you!”
Jo, Glen, Kendal and Teagan, December 2020

“Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. It’s been a lovely long weekend, very relaxing and definitely home-from-home. You made it very special for our daughter with all the Halloween treats and we all loved the cake! You have gone to such a lot of effort to make Stone Barn clean and ‘covid secure’ too. Thank you for a lovely time, highly recommended.”
The Beddoes, November 2020

“Once again a wonderful warm welcome to another of your lovely cottages. In spite of the changeable weather this has been a lovely base from which to explore this beautiful area. You will see us again!”
Roy, Gill and family, October 2020

“Where do I begin? We have been coming to Minehead for nearly 10 years now. We noticed this beautiful cottage two years ago and have tried to book it, but found it was always full. But we are so pleased we got to come at last to the most beautiful, comfortable, and fantastic place we have ever seen. The quality is of the highest standard, the bedding, kitchen and lounge areas are to be seen to be believed. We will definitely be back. Thank you to Lucy Steve and team for a wonderful stay.”
Caroline David and Chester the dog, September 2020

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