Allerford Cottage, Near Dunster

Property Summary
Allerford Cottage is part of a complex of charming country cottages in a beautiful setting of the Avill Valley between Dunster and Timberscombe, within the Exmoor National Park. This property is well-suited to families having three bedrooms, one double bed one twin bedroom, and a single.

Main Description
Allerford Cottage occupies the north end of the West Barn in what used to be an engine shed and part of a roomy stone barn. There are two entrances, one from just off the main courtyard on the lower ground floor, and the other from the back of the West Barn on the upper ground floor via an enclosed patio garden, which is relatively dog-proof.

Sleeps up to 5 guests
Three bedrooms; one double, one twin, one single
Dogs welcome (2 max) for £20 per dog
Bed linen provided
Towels can be hired for £3 per person
Cots and high chairs available on request
Shared indoor heating swimming pool, spa bath and games room
On-site car park
Wifi, heating and electricity is included (heating provided by Biomass Boiler)
Idyllic location with 9 acres of land to explore
Saturday changeover
Short breaks available outside of the main school holidays
Arrive between 3 pm and 6 pm
Depart by 10 am

The 4-star complex of cottages consist of a variety of cottages with varying numbers of beds to best suit your needs whether that's sleeping 2 guests or up to 6 per cottage, making this an ideal place to holiday as a family, with your children, as a couple or in a larger group.

During restrictions, the pool will be open and each cottage will have the opportunity to book a private slot. The pool was operated like this last year during restrictions and it worked very well.
The games room will be open with the door left open for ventilation, with hand sanitiser will be available outside.

Indoor Description
Entering from the courtyard, there are a couple of stone steps to get up to the front door. Once inside, ahead is the double bedroom and to the right, the bathroom. On the left is the staircase which leads up several steps to the open plan kitchen/lounge/dining area. Another staircase leads up to the first floor where you will find the twin and single bedrooms.

Bed linen is provided, towels can be hired for £3 per person.

Central heating and electricity is included

Outdoor Description
Allerford Cottages has an enclosed patio garden area, which is relatively dog-proof.

The cottages are set within 9 acres of land that you are welcome to explore, there are picnic areas and a safe river for paddling - in warmer weather!

The cottage also shares with the other cottages:
Hard tennis court which operates on a "turn up & play" system (racquets & balls available to borrow)
Indoor heated pool and spa bath - open all year round with changing and shower facilities (children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult). The pool is 36′ × 16′6" (11m x 5m) with a depth of 1.15 m (the pool is flat-bottomed, there isn't a deep end as it's unmanned). The pool is intended for adults and children's use.
Games room with pool table, table tennis table, table football & mini trampoline
A large trampoline which is 14ft round and has a protective barrier netting (adult supervision required; please remove shoes)
Football net is situated in the "play paddock" where guests often play cricket or badminton, fly kites etc. There are also two picnic benches (please keep dogs on a lead in this shared area)
Gate Lodge Play Centre is a two-story playhouse with swings, slide, fireman’s pole & assault course
The owner's Shetland ponies, Freddie and Phoenix, are often grazing in the nearby paddock
There is also a shared information room where guests can find a payphone, information brochures, children's books, videos and DVDs.

Parking
There is an on-site car park so plenty of room to park your car. It is possible to drive down to the cottage to unload/load your vehicle but please park in the car park.

Pets Description
This has not been completed by the owner.

Restricted mobility
This has not been completed by the owner.

Exit in case of emergency
This has not been completed by the owner.

Christmas / New Year
This has not been completed by the owner.

The region

Dunster is a medieval village on the edge of Exmoor National Park in West Somerset, dominated by its magnificent castle perched on a wooded hilltop above the High Street.

Often described as one of the most intact medieval villages in England, Dunster has a rich history stretching back over a thousand years. The iconic octagonal Yarn Market, built in the early 1600s, sits at the heart of the village -- a reminder of its prosperous wool-trading past. The broad High Street is lined with independent shops, galleries, tea rooms, and characterful pubs, many housed in listed buildings dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.

The village has its own Post Office with a cash machine, a deli, and a good range of places to eat and drink. For larger supermarkets, banks, and petrol stations, the coastal town of Minehead is just 1.5 miles away -- Tesco and Morrisons are both on the outskirts with long opening hours. Most shops in Dunster keep traditional hours of 9am to 5pm, often extending in summer.

Dunster hosts a lively programme of events throughout the year, including the Dunster Show, Dunster Country Fair, and the much-loved Winter Festival in early December when the village is lit by candlelight with music, dancing, and medieval re-enactments in the streets.