Reviews

“Thank you for a lovely welcome with cake, tea and milk in the fridge – and dog biscuits that Tino loved! Coming over from the Netherlands we had a lovely week, we walked for miles and miles, and hardly used our car. On our walks we met buzzards, a dipper, red deer, and more. The Oval cottage is wonderful, with so much character, and Dunster village is lovely, old and quaint. Exmoor is definitely an area to explore and visit again.”
Annemarie and Denise, from the Netherlands, October 2018

“Our first trip to Dunster and The Oval, both were fantastic! What a brilliant family holiday – we will be back! The house is spacious, we had five adults and a two-and-a-half-year-old grandson and we felt very comfortable. The location is a great base for with easy access to the beach, the steam railway, and Exmoor. The village is lovely, with a number of great places to eat. We are planning to return.”
The Hills, Oct 2018

“We have been coming to Dunster since 1972 when we got married and have stayed in hotels. This is the first time we have taken a house. There’s a beautiful warm welcome to the house, wish we could say the same for the weather! Good food and welcome at the Notley Arms in Monksilver.”
The Buntings and Bee the dog, September 2018

“The Oval is a wonderful old cottage with a palpable sense of history the moment you walk through the door. We love the sense of history in the house, the uneven floors, the wonky walls, and the steep ascent to the outdoor balcony. Lucy has provided plenty of information about the origins of the cottage, which we found fascinating. We felt welcome immediately on arrival, with music playing and a delicious apple cake plus a tea/coffee tray waiting for us. These little touches mean so much! Happy to find that the cottage has been sympathetically furnished, unlike many gorgeous old properties which sadly evoke a sigh of horror from me when I look at the brochure pictures and see modern interiors. I work in the antiques industry, so this is a top issue for me! Our only complaint is that one week isn’t nearly long enough!”
The Langleys, September 2018

“Our first trip to Dunster and The Oval, both were fantastic! What a brilliant family holiday – we will be back! The house is spacious, we had five adults and a two-and-a-half-year-old grandson and we felt very comfortable. The location is a great base for with easy access to the beach, the steam railway, and Exmoor. The village is lovely, with a number of great places to eat. We are planning to return.”
The Allsopp family and Biscuit the dog, August 2018

“We have all had a wonderful time. The house is lovely, and the village is beautiful. Thank you for the welcome tea and cake, I’m sure we’ll be back.”
The Rolls family, August 2018

“This was our first time in England and Somerset, and we feel at home. A wonderful house, beautiful village, nice people and a great landscape surrounding it, and friendly pubs (especially the Forresters). We came a long way from Bremen in Germany, but it was worth every mile. We’ll come back!”
The Schmidt family, July and August 2018

“Thank you so much for our lovely holiday. A great house, great village and great weather! We have really enjoyed our stay, and we go home feeling invigorated. Once again, many thanks.”
Sheila, John, Val, Dave and Obie, July 2018

“We have had a great time staying in The Oval on our first visit to Dunster. What a gem! The cottage is great for location, and to a very high standard. The weather was perfect, and we crammed lots into the week. Fantastic, thank you.”
The Martin family, June 2018

“A really lovely place to stay, everything you need for a good family holiday. Excellent house with an atmosphere and plenty of imagination which could take you back to its early life. My grandson loved it! There’s plenty to do in Dunster, and most mornings we had an early walk to the Gallox bridge with our dog and then breakfast either in the house or on the main street. We would come back with no hesitation.”
Chris Dixon, June 2018

“Thank you, we had a most wonderful stay. The cottage was everything and more! The area is beautiful and the walks are all fantastic. Everyone was very friendly and made a lot of fuss of Digby. We will be back, I have fallen in love with Dunster and The Oval!”
Ray, Lyn and Digby, June 2018

“Thank you for the lovely tea and cake on arrival (including treats for Marley), that was very thoughtful.Our grandsons were here for the weekend (six and one and a half) and they had a great time at the park and loved the castle. The cottage is great with everything you need to hand, tastefully decorated and very comfy. Lots to do and see in the area, we will be back again. Thank you again.”
Chris, Debbie, Chloe, Jacob, Alfie and Marley the dog, May 2018

“The owner of “The Oval” at Dunster (Lucy) spared absolutely no effort in making the cottage as welcoming as possible. Every “T” was crossed and every “I” dotted, things like:
a) Tea and coffee on the dining room table – all you had to do was boil a kettle
b) A delicious coffee and walnut cake
c) Some treats for the dog
d) Good concise and accurate information about Dunster and its amenities
e) Everything clean.
f) Lots and lots of little details that Lucy had obviously considered and put into the cottage that made our stay truly exceptional.”
Mr I Littler, May 2018

“The Oval feels like my second home as we’ve stayed so many times. I can honestly say there isn’t anything I would change as every single detail has been thought of. Nothing is too much trouble for the owner, Lucy and her team. From the beautifully laid out tea and cake on arrival to the exceptionally well kitted-out kitchen, this cottage is perfect, and I would recommend it to anyone. Not only is the cottage beautiful, Dunster itself is one the prettiest places I’ve visited and a great location for exploring Exmoor and the surrounding areas. On leaving The Oval earlier this month I’ve already booked our annual visit for next Easter next year and added an additional stay at New Year ….. says it all really.”
The Foster Family, Easter 2018

“We found The Oval to be so warm and welcoming in its character and charm and felt relaxed and rested. Dunster village can be described in one word – magical! The little bridge and stream take your breath away. We made good use of the playground – very well-equipped and lots of fun! With two children, we catered for ourselves and found everything we needed in the kitchen, a nice big dining table and constant hot water. A magical week full of memories with our family.”
The Barratt family, February 2018

Check the availability of each of our cottages and book online:
Pilgrim Corner
The Oval Dunster
The Old Sweet Shop
Stone Barn