Beehive Cottage, Culbone

Property Summary
Beehive Cottage is a pretty cottage in an enviable position overlooking Porlock Bay, at the head of Worthy Combe near Porlock. Sleeping up to 4 guests in two bedrooms, the cottage is all on one level and set within its own garden on a working, family farm within Exmoor National Park. Dogs welcome.

Main Description
Beehive Cottage was originally built in 1866 as an estate workers' cottage, it sits at the end of a private lane, tucked just below the brow of the hill. The position is wonderfully private with no passing traffic, yet Porlock Weir's medieval harbour is only 1.5 miles away. From the front garden there is nothing between you and the cliffs but dry-stone walls, a few fields and the local Exmoor Horn sheep and Ruby Red Devon cattle. Culbone Woods and the South West Coast Path lie just one field away, with private access, so the cottage is perfectly placed for exploring this stretch of the coast - it's wonderful walking country in every sense. This coastal woodland is at the heart of the project to return white-tailed (sea) eagles to the National Park, so you may be lucky enough to see one soaring above the bay, while after dark Exmoor's status as an International Dark Sky Reserve, makes for night skies that are truly something special. Beehive Cottage makes a perfect base for walking and cycling - or simply a great place to relax and soak up the views.

Sleeps up to 4 guests
2 bedrooms; one double, one twin
All on one level with level access into the cottage
Open-plan kitchen-dining-living room
Wood-burner in the living room (logs and kindling provided free of charge)
Family bathroom (bath with shower over)
TV with satellite/cable and DVD player
Central heating throughout
Heating and electricity included
Bed linen and towels provided
Currently no WiFi (but hopefully soon)
Private enclosed garden with barbecue and off-road parking
Dogs welcome (2 max) - £25 supplement each
Working farm, so livestock is likely to be nearby
Strictly no smoking
Arrive from 3 pm
Depart by 10 am

There is a gentle slope from the parking area leading directly to the entrance door, and everything is on one level including level access into the cottage. A hallway has space for walking boots and coats before opening into the open-plan kitchen-dining and living room, where two sofas face the wood-burner and there is a dining table for four. The two bedrooms are off the living room - one double, one twin. The family bathroom is located near the entrance, comprising bath with shower over, toilet, hand basin and heated towel rail. The cottage is very comfortable, with central heating plus the wood-burner to keep things cosy whatever the season.

Indoor Description
The kitchen is well equipped for self-catering, with a double electric oven, hob, fridge, washer/dryer, microwave, kettle, toaster and cafetiere, plus the usual pots, pans, crockery and cutlery. There is no freezer in the cottage itself, but freezer space is available in the farmhouse if you need it - just ask.

The sitting room has satellite TV and a DVD player, along with a selection of games and books to enjoy.

Central heating runs throughout, and logs and kindling for the wood-burner are provided at no extra cost. Heating and electricity are included in the price. Bed linen and towels are provided.

There is currently no WiFi at Beehive Cottage, though the owners are actively looking into adding it.

Outdoor Description
Beehive Cottage is approached by a private drive, with a spacious garden wrapping around the cottage, enclosed by five-bar gate, fencing and hedges. There is a picnic table and a barbecue area for outdoor meals and sitting out with the view. In the surrounding fields you are likely to see the owners' Exmoor Horn sheep and Ruby Red Devon cattle.

The setting is quiet and rural. The adjoining fields give access to peaceful woodland walks, with the South West Coast Path just minutes away and Exmoor's open moorland nearby too - good country for walking, cycling and birdwatching.

Culbone Church, one of the smallest parish churches in England, lies around two miles away through Culbone Wood, and there is a real sense of history here: Coleridge is said to have written Kubla Khan at the farm next door.

On a clear night, Exmoor's status as an International Dark Sky Reserve makes this an excellent spot for stargazing.

Parking
Ample parking for 2 or more cars on the drive beside the property.
No EV charging facilities on site, but there are EV chargers situated locally in both Porlock and Lynmouth.

Pets Description
Well behaved dogs are welcome for supplement of £25 each. Dogs must be kept off all beds, furniture and soft furnishings at all times or leave them unattended in the property. Beehive Cottage is located on a working farm with sheep and cows likely to be in the immediate vicinity, your dogs must be controlled around the livestock.

Restricted mobility
The property is all on one level throughout with a level access through the front door, so it may be suitable for guests with restricted mobility. The shower is over the bath. Please contact us if you have any questions if you require wheelchair access.

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
Porlock is a historic village on the edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset, in a sheltered vale between the moor and the Bristol Channel coast. Its heritage stretches back to Saxon times.

The meandering High Street is lined with independent shops, including a traditional butcher, chemist, hardware shop, post office, two convenience stores, art galleries, a chocolate shop, and a cash machine. Most shops keep hours of 9am to 5pm, often extending during the summer season.

The harbour hamlet of Porlock Weir is approximately one mile to the west of Porlock, and just 1.5 miles from Beehive Cottage and makes a lovely walk. There you will find a 15th-century tidal harbour, a pub, restaurants, cafes, and independent shops and galleries.

In the opposite direction along the coast, Lynmouth is a sheltered harbour village, where the East and West Lyn rivers meet the sea within Exmoor National Park. Often referred to as 'Little Switzerland' and the famous Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, a Victorian water-powered funicular opened in 1890, connects the harbour to the cliff-top town of Lynton 500 feet above.

Shelley, Coleridge, and Wordsworth all found inspiration in these steep wooded valleys. Today the village is the meeting point of four long-distance trails: the South West Coast Path, the Two Moors Way, the Coleridge Way, and the Tarka Trail.

Lynmouth has a good selection of pubs, restaurants, and cafes within walking distance of the harbour. Lynton, reached by the cliff railway, road, or footpath, adds a small cinema, independent shops, galleries, tennis, and bowls.

The larger towns of Barnstaple and Minehead have supermarkets, high street banks, and wider services.