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Somerset has long been known for its beautiful countryside and delicious cheddar cheese for those crisp and crunchy apples that make their deliciously refreshing and famous cider. There are gorgeous beaches to the north and south of Somerset with plentiful seaside entertainment, as well as pretty countryside hamlets, villages, and towns to explore, not forgetting the impressive Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge, Mendip Hills, and Glastonbury, so there’s plenty for all to enjoy.
We have just come back from a wonderfully relaxing break at The Cow Shed, a stunning self-catering holiday cottage with an outdoor hot tub in the pretty little village of Bishopswood near Chard. It is just one of the many stunning holiday cottages throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight offered by Classic Cottages. The property lies hidden in the Somerset countryside with views of meadows, woodland, and green hills for miles.
The property is also surrounded by the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Jurassic Coastline at Lyme Regis is within easy driving distance.
Owners Brian and Terrie, who live next door, are incredibly friendly and full of useful advice about places to visit and dine at, and best of all, Terrie baked a seriously scrummy Victoria Sponge just before we arrived, which was wonderful with a coffee after our journey!
Location
The peaceful and quiet village of Bishopswood lies far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the larger Somerset towns but close enough to quickly drive to Chard for groceries (about twenty minutes away) and the wonderful Lyme Regis beach and all its activities, including pitch and put golf, trampolining, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and arcades, lies just over half an hour away (the ideal distance for little ones to have a quick nap in the car on the way back from fun at the beach!).
The nearest train station is either Axminster or Honiton, with direct mainline services to London Waterloo running every half hour to an hour, taking approximately 3 hours, so you can leave the city and relax on the terrace with a drink in hand before the sun has set.
Style & Character
The Cowshed itself is a beautiful historic south Somerset farmstead that’s been transformed into a luxurious and strikingly contemporary cottage with a wow factor! This chic country retreat features cool contemporary colors and lovely coastal holiday and cow themes throughout, from the paintings and canvases to the teacups in the kitchen. Plus, there are fabulous milking bucket lights hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen, a lovely rustic touch.
The grand open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge space is light and airy, and with the patio doors open, a beautiful breeze can flow right through the house, keeping you cool in the warmer summer months. The spacious outside terrace enjoys views out across the meadows beyond, where you can gaze at the cows wandering in the fields and the pretty little church in the village beyond whilst sitting in the hot tub with a glass of something chilled in hand.
Service & Facilities
This home-away-from-home, with a relaxed, country-chic vibe, has everything you could need. There are four bedrooms (one with an ensuite shower room), a family bathroom with free standing roll top bathtub and a large separate shower, and a large hallway that leads to the open plan kitchen, dining, and lounge area with its comfy sofas, armchairs, TV, DVD player and wood-burner.
The kitchen boasts all the latest appliances, including a full-size dishwasher, washer-dryer, microwave, fridge-freezer, oven, induction hob, and plenty of crockery, cutlery, and glassware for everyone. Outside, you will find a large and spacious stone patio with a tall dining table with six chairs ideal for a little alfresco dining, an outdoor sofa area, parasol, and barbeque, plus the wonderful hot tub, which enjoys idyllic countryside views.
Through a little gate from the terrace, you can allow children (or your dog) to play in the small grassy field next door while you relax in comfort watching them.
The property offers everything you could need for a self-catering getaway from tin foil and clingfilm to coffee and teas and that truly sumptuous Victoria Sponge cake I mentioned! Unexpectedly for self-catering properties, we were pleased to find bathroom amenities, including shower gels and fragranced hand washes, in all the bathrooms. For little ones, a highchair and stairgate are available, though do take care on the steps from the entrance hall down into the open-plan living area. There is also Wi-Fi throughout, underfloor heating downstairs, radiators upstairs, and private parking for up to 3 cars.
Rooms
There are four bright and airy bedrooms in the very private Cow Shed. Two lie downstairs, one of which is a twin room with TV and DVD player, ideal for children, and the other room features a double bed and ensuite shower room, plus there is also a cloakroom with WC and basin just off the hall. Upstairs, you’ll find the large master bedroom with a super king-size bed with a stylish and vibrant bedframe, comfy armchair, and views out across the meadows, whilst the final guest room can be configured as a double or twin room with a chest of drawers and large window. All the guest rooms are very tastefully decorated and feature incredibly comfy beds and roomy wardrobes for storage.
Food & Drink
Although this property is self-catering, if you don’t want to purchase groceries and cook for yourself, you can request delicious home-cooked meals from the owners in advance for a small fee, plus a very short stroll down the road. There’s a wonderful pub, The Candlelight Inn, which serves excellent food (tip: make sure to book in advance in the evenings and at weekends!).
This property is absolutely ideal for an idyllic countryside break for family, friends, or couples, and you can even bring your four-legged best friend too!
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