Known for its stunning countryside, delicious cheddar cheese and of course for those sweet crunchy apples that make deliciously refreshing cider, Somerset has long been a preferred holiday destination for British and foreign travellers alike. There are gorgeous beaches along the north and south coast with plenty of seaside entertainment, as well as beautiful countryside villages and towns to explore, not forgetting the impressive Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge, Mendip Hills and Glastonbury, so there’s plenty for everyone.
We have just returned from an enchanting escape at Coombe Lodge, a striking self-catering cottage with hot tub and sauna hidden away in the pretty little hamlet of Plainsfield, near Nether Stowey. One of the many stunning holiday properties throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight offered by Classic Cottages. The property is tucked away on a working farmstead surrounded by lush green views of meadows, woodland and the Quantock Hills. The lovely owner, Sue, who lives in the main farmhouse, couldn’t be more friendly or helpful and is more than happy to provide freshly laid eggs for your breakfast and even kindly baked us some melt in the mouth lemon butterfly cakes to enjoy on arrival!
Location
The very tranquil little hamlet of Plainsfield is truly off the beaten track and set in the wooded countryside of Somerset. An escape here, truly allows you to disconnect from the hubbub of daily life and spend some quality time with loved ones. The large historic market town of Bridgwater, which lies on the edge of the Somerset Levels, is less than 20 minutes’ drive away; sandy Minehead beach with its ice cream shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and shops lies just over half an hour away; and the fossil-filled Kilve beach, part of Somerset’s Jurassic Coastline, is under 6 miles away. The nearest train station is Bridgwater with direct mainline services to London Paddington running every hour, taking just over 2.5 hours, so you can leave the office and be relaxing on the sunny verandah or in the hot tub before dark.
Style & Character
Coombe Lodge is a stylish Scandinavian style lodge, that wouldn’t look out of place in a Swiss ski resort. It features large grounds that wrap around the house, ample parking for at least 3 cars, an outdoor hot tub, sauna and views across the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and on a clear day you can see as far as the Bristol Channel! Built on an actual working farm, you can hear goats quietly bleating in the paddock nearby, watch cattle grazing in the sunshine, and ducks, chickens and geese stroll around the main farm house, it really is a true county escape.
This charming and rustic retreat features a wooden interior throughout with plenty of nooks for little ones (and adults) to relax in. One of my favourite parts is the mezzanine-come-snug-area upstairs overlooking the open plan living area with stunning views across to the hills beyond from a range sofas and armchairs.
Service & Facilities
Only 3 years old, this new and spacious lodge has a relaxed, rustic vibe and provides everything you could need for a family holiday as well as total seclusion in the British countryside. As you enter you are immediately greeted by the bright and spacious living, dining and kitchen area with two storey high pitched ceiling and views of the woodland beyond. The lounge area features multiple sofas with oodles of comfy scatter cushions, an oversized coffee table, Smart TV, Blu-ray DVD player and wood burner effect electric stove. The dining area comfortably seats eight around a long table and the fully equipped kitchen offers all the modern conveniences and amenities you could need along with an excellent assortment of herbs and spices, hot drinks (plus mini marshmallows!), biscuits, foil, clingfilm, plastic tableware for little ones and so much more besides. The large hallway features yet more storage and coat hooks and there’s lots of little surprises like birthday candles etc hidden in the sideboard in case you should need them. There are 3 good size bedrooms (one with an ensuite shower room and cot room), a family bathroom with tub and overhead shower, utility room with washing machine and basin and of course the fabulous mezzanine-snug.
The outside space features chill out seating on the verandah right outside the front door of the lodge, perfect to enjoy a chilled drink or two while you watch the sun set, as well as the hot tub and outhouse with sauna and tumble drier. In the large level grassy garden, you will find a picnic table with parasol, barbeque, fire pit with additional log seating and even a wooden Wendy house for the little ones to play in. There’s also an outdoor storage cabin which hosts a range of additional outdoor items, like a gazebo, should you need them.
The property caters wonderfully for little ones of all ages with multiple cots available, a highchair, two stairgates and plenty of games and puzzles. There is also Wi-Fi throughout and LPG-fired central heating.
Rooms
There are three bedrooms at Coombe Lodge, the first two lie downstairs, one of which is a twin room ideal for children and the other is a double room. There is also a spacious family bathroom with shower-tub combo. Upstairs you find the incredibly spacious large master bedroom with very comfy bed, dressing table and chair, chaise long, ensuite shower room with large shower and cot room where all the items for the little one can be found as well as a handy box of items that you might have forgotten, a thoughtful touch. All the guest rooms are pretty and feature very comfy beds and plenty of storage.
Food & Drink
This property is self-catering, so if you arrive without groceries you can quickly pop out to Morrisons or Sainsbury’s in Bridgwater (just 20 minutes down the road). The nearest pub, the Rose and Crown Inn, lies under 2 miles away, or you can also kick back and order a take away to be delivered.
Coombe Lodge is the ultimate family hideaway in the country, child friendly from every angle, this property has given us some very happy lasting memories. And, if you want to visit with a larger group you can also hire the Lamb’s Tale Shepherd’s Hut and Duck’s Puddle Shepherd’s Hut that lie on the property too, making it ideal for a larger family celebration. Rates for 7 nights in the Lodge start from £666 GBP.
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