Please note, in line with the latest travel guidance we are only accepting new bookings that have a check-in date from 5th July 2020. We are available to take any calls on 01275 217575 if you have any queries regarding a current booking, or if you wish to place a new booking and have concerns. Thank you and stay safe

Orchard Cottage

Whitelackington , Ilminster, Somerset

Sleeps: 8
7 nights
£0 - £7770
Available from a minimum of 2 nights

Overview

  • Sleeps eight – maximum six adults
  • Four bedrooms - two 6’ zip and link beds, one 6’ four poster, one twin room
  • One of the bedrooms is on the ground floor
  • Three bedrooms are en suite
  • One bath, three showers
  • Baby welcome (travel cot and highchair available)
  • Children are welcome
  • Up to two well behaved dogs welcome (additional fee applies*)
  • Outdoor wood-fired hot tub
  • Enclosed garden with terrace and lawned area
  • Outdoor teak furniture and charcoal barbecue
  • Welcome hamper, linen and toiletries
  • Bicycle hire and catering can be arranged
  • Parking for three cars
  • Covid-19 measures* (see Visitors' Notes)

Property layout

  • Ground floor:
    Open plan kitchen/dining room that is well equipped for those who enjoy cooking. The dining table seats 10 comfortably.
    Utility room with washing facilities next to the kitchen.
    Spacious sitting room with a wood burning stove set into a large stone fireplace, large flatscreen TV and comfy sofas.
    There is also a little library/study area off the dining area, ideal for reading.
    Ground floor bedroom with a 6' zip and link bed (can be arranged as a super king double or separated twin beds) and an en suite wet room.
  • First floor:
    Second bedroom with 6’ zip and link bed which can be arranged as a super king double or separated twin beds. Its en suite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
    Master bedroom with 6’ bed, and a bathroom with a beautiful freestanding nickel bath as well as a walk-in shower.
  • Second floor:
    The fourth bedroom is a twin and is accessed only through the master bedroom, with which it also shares a bathroom, and so together these two rooms are ideally suited to a family with children.
  • As a Workation:
    There is high quality, excellent WiFi*.
    There is a separate study and desk area.
    There is a coffee machine.

Outside

  • There is a good-sized lawn with a wood-fired hot tub, a charcoal barbecue and a teak outdoor table with chairs in a sheltered sunken patio area directly outside the kitchen.

Equipment

  • Central heating, wood burner in the sitting room
  • Induction hob, oven, microwave, large fridge freezer with ice machine, dishwasher, washing machine/dryer
  • Cafetière and a Nespresso coffee machine (some complimentary pods provided)
  • Wide screen 55″ internet-connected TV with Bluetooth sound bar and a Bluetooth DAB radio sound system
  • Selection of board games, cards, books and magazines
  • WiFi internet access*
  • Travel cot and highchair available: please request when making your booking
  • Outdoor furniture and charcoal barbecue
  • Parking for three cars

Features

  • The building itself is a delight - all stone built, with a thatched roof, flagstone flooring, inglenook fireplace and lovely windows.
  • It has been furnished and kitted out to an exceedingly high specification with lots thoughtful little touches.
  • The complimentary welcome basket on arrival includes bread, milk, biscuits, cake, and lovely local produce.
  • Bedrooms are equipped with deep mattresses, 400 thread count cotton bedding, indulgent mattress toppers and fluffy bathrobes, so you can truly settle into the cosiness of the cottage
  • Short and midweek breaks are available, with a minimum stay of two nights.
  • The ideal setting for Autumn and Winter breaks, a New Year gathering or Christmas morning. From country walks to Christmas markets, the outdoors can be enjoyed at the most unexpected times. The farmhouse is very warm and cosy with central heating, a wood burning stove and extremely comfortable beds.
  • The cottage is in a quiet, rural location and made a great base for exploring the countryside.
  • The cycling and walking are excellent and so close to the cottage.
  • There are several good local pubs, within walking/cycling distance such as the Dinnington Docks, Lord Poulett Arms and Barrington Boar.

Kick back and relax at Orchard Cottage. This idyllic Grade II listed rural retreat offers the ultimate bolthole for up to eight guests.

Cloaked in wisteria and capped by thatch, Orchard Cottage is wonderfully situated on the private drive to Dillington House in glorious South Somerset.

Inside the cottage has been recently renovated to a high standard retaining spades of original character. The cottage benefits from a generous open plan kitchen / dining space that is well equipped for those who enjoy cooking, and the dining zone seats 10, offering plenty of space for everyone to dine together. There is a utility room with washing facilities next door to the kitchen and a separate library / study area off the dining area. There is also a spacious living room with a wood burning stove, large flatscreen TV and comfy sofas.

There are three main bedrooms, all en suite, and one loft bedroom. One of the bedrooms is on the ground floor, allowing easy access for those guests less able to cope with stairs.

In wonderful surroundings, there is a delightful garden, with a protected and well-lit outdoor dining area right outside the kitchen, and a wood-fired hot tub in the garden. There is private parking for three cars.

Its private rural location makes Orchard Cottage a great escape for those looking to spend some time in the countryside. There are plenty of pubs to walk or cycle to and things to see and do. The convenient shopping in Ilminster with its supermarket is five minutes by car. Bikes can be hired locally and dropped off at the cottage.

As well as being a quiet road, the drive to Dillington House is a bridleway and footpath. It leads into Dillington Park, which is a large area of parkland ideal for walks and dogs, and onto a myriad of other walking and cycling routes.

Nearby there are several pubs, such as the Barrington Boar, the Dinnington Docks, Lord Poulett Arms, or Five Dials.

Barrington House, a National Trust house with gardens open to the public, is nearby, as is Dillington House. The Dennis Chinaworks in Shepton Beauchamp are also very close and worth a visit, for the tea rooms as much as anything else.

There are several local cider producers whose orchards and presses are worth seeing, Perry’s Cider in Dowlish Wake being one, and Julian Temperley’s cider and cider brandy distillery over at Burrow Hill another.

A little further away the beach at Lyme Regis and walks along the Jurassic coastline are 40 minutes or so to the south, and the Hauser and Wirth gallery near Bruton is 40 minutes or so to the east.

2020-01-04 Louise, England

"What a amazing property, in a fantastic location. We went to the property to celebrate a 60th birthday and a long overdue catch up with friends. We would throughly recommend this beautiful cottage. The rooms are stunning and the whole cottage was spotlessly clean. There is everything that you could possibly want, including a hot tub! We would go back in a heartbeat."

2019-12-20 Julie, Nantwich

"We were a party of 7 ranging in age from 10 to 80 years old and stayed at Orchard Cottage for my mums 80th birthday celebration weekend. We had the most fabulous time. The house has been beautifully renovated. The fixtures and fittings are high quality and luxurious. Under floor heating, contemporary fabrics, Nespresso machine and ice machine and not forgetting the wood fired hot tub all add to the experience. The beds are very comfortable, the bed linen crisp Egyptian cotton and the towels fluffy and warm. Bath robes, toiletries and hair dryers in all rooms are some of the extra touches which make the experience special along with the gorgeous countryside location on the beautiful Dillington Estate. If you book this property I guarantee you will not be disappointed."

CATERING SERVICES

Below is a list of recommended local caterers who can help look after you during your stay:

Emily Hilton: 07801 639 937 | www.mykitchencatering.co.uk
The Blackdown Dining Co: 07860581680 | www.blackdowndining.co.uk | info@blackdowndining.co.uk
Liz Beale: 07964 193588 | liz@thebeales.co.uk
Jo or Carolyn Killin: 07919181066 | jojokillin@hotmail.com
Mariam Archer: 07801 289205 | mariamarcher@gmail.com
Ellison’s Dining: 07710 521559 | ellisonsdining@gmail.com

EATING & DRINKING

Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George (4 miles). Just a ten minute drive away, the Lord Poulett Arms is an elegant and traditional (but still cosy) award-winning gastropub. Great for a nice dinner or Sunday lunch. It has a large rear garden.

Barrington Boar, Barrington (2 miles). A five minute drive, or 45-60 minute walk across the fields, the Barrington Boar is a relaxed pub to walk to on a fine day, serving food and drink from local suppliers.

Dinnington Docks, Hinton Saint George (4 miles). A ten minute drive away, Dinnington Docks is a rustic and charming little pub. It has an eclectic clientele, which usually includes a dog or two, and serves a good variety of traditional pub food.

f.east, Rose Mills, Ilminster (3.5 miles). Tucked away in unit 1 of the Rose Mills industrial Estate, but with its delicious food and relaxed industrial style, this vegetarian restaurant is well worth a visit for brunch, lunch or tea (Tues-Sat).

Pip’s Railway Carriage Café, Lopen (3 miles). The Railway Carriage Café is next door to the Trading Post farm shop and the quirky interior, being in a railway carriage (and now a bus too) isn’t the only highlight; it serves delicious food and coffee from 9:30am to 4:00pm everyday except Sunday.

The Firehouse, Somerset, Langport (7 miles). The Firehouse is a traditional pub turned award-winning pizzeria. The pizzas are home-baked and delicious, whether served as eat-in or takeaway.

Candlelight Inn, Bishopswood, Chard (9.5 miles). A 15 minute drive west, the Candlelight Inn is a 17th century traditional country pub in the Blackdown Hills (which are a great place for walks and cycling). It’s a dog-friendly, rustic and cosy gastropub serving excellent local food.

The White Hart, Somerton (13 miles). A 30 minute drive away, the White Hart is a rustic-chic gastropub, with a quirky, stripped-bare, but cosy interior, and delicious food from the ex head-chef of the River Cottage.

The Castle Hotel, Taunton (14 miles). The Castle Hotel is a 30 minute drive away, and this four-star hotel has a restaurant and brasserie, so if you don’t mind the drive, or are heading towards Taunton anyway, there is plenty to choose from.

The Pig at Combe, Gittisham (24 miles). The Pig at Combe is a 40 minute drive away and well worth a visit on a trip down to the Dorset / Devon coast. Part of the down-to-earth “derelict-chic” award-winning hotel group, it’s a great spot to enjoy fine food for lunch or dinner and sumptuous cocktails (or not…if you’re the designated driver!)

HIX Oyster & Fish house, Lyme Regis (20 miles). HIX Oyster & Fish house is another restaurant that should feature as part of a trip to the South Dorset coast. A 45 minute drive away it is a great stop on any visit to the historic fishing port of Lyme Regis.

The Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock (23 miles). The Hive Beach Café is located right on the beach at Burton Bradstock on the Jurassic Coast. With views across Lyme Bay and Chesil Beach, it’s a great location to enjoy informal, fresh, local seafood. They don’t take bookings though, and it can be popular, so on busy days be prepared to queue!

The Club House, West Bexington (26 miles). A nearby sister restaurant to the Hive Cafe where bookings are taken, where,according to them “the fish is always the hero of the dish”. The cooking is delicious and no frills. A great option after a long walk along the Jurassic Coast.

At The Chapel, Bruton (25 miles). A highly-rated all day restaurant and bar located in a converted 17th century former chapel, this restaurant is well worth a visit, for dinner or for lunch, perhaps in combination with a trip to the Hauser and Wirth modern art gallery in Bruton.

FUN FOR KIDS

Drakes Farm Riding Centre, Drakes Farm, Ilton (3.5 miles). Drakes Farm Riding Centre offers riding lessons and hacking near to the Estate. They can offer lessons to riders of all ages and abilities and have indoor and outdoor facilities at the farm.

Crewkerne Aqua Centre (7 miles). Crewkerne Aqua Centre boasts a 25 metre pool, warm teaching pool, aquarobics, swim school, gym and studio classes including spinning, pilates etc.

Jungle Jungle, Lufton (12 miles). An indoor soft play area in Yeovil (20 minute drive away).

Ferne Animal Sanctuary Wambrook, Chard (12 miles). Set in 51 acres of stunning Somerset countryside the Sanctuary is a great place to come and explore.

Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton (15 miles). A major naval aviation museum, great for kids of all ages, with a large collection of aircraft and interactive displays including a replica of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and a Concorde, both of which you can explore.

Axe Valley Wildlife Park, Summerleaze Farm, Kilmington (16 miles). A 35 minute drive away, the Axe Valley Wildlife Centre is a small, friendly zoo that’s home to a variety of small animals from around the world, from antelopes to zebra. It’s a great to visit with kids and can also be combined with a trip to Lyme Regis beach and the Jurassic coast.

Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford, Yeovil (18 miles). An all weather attraction, with over 400 cars and bikes in the museum from the 1800s, through the nostalgic classics, to modern super cars like the Jaguar XJ220.

Fossil hunting from Lyme Regis and Charmouth beaches (20 miles).

Wookey Hole, Somerset (30 miles). Around an hour’s drive away, Wookey Hole is famous for it’s amazing caves, but also other indoor fun, from a hall of mirrors, to penny arcades, an indoor play castle and some outdoor crazy golf.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Dennis China Works, Shepton House, Ilminster (1.5 miles). A local pottery making interesting and innovative vases and tiles, run from the converted stables of a Victorian Gothic rectory…and with tea rooms attached!

Barrington Court, Barrington, Ilminster (3 miles). A ten minute drive away, Barrington Court is a National Trust Tudor Manor house. It was restored in the 1920s, and is surrounded by farm buildings, abundant flowers and orchards.

Perry's Cider Mills, Dowlish Wake, Ilminster (4 miles). Cider farm, mill, cellar and tasting shop, the home of Perry’s award-winning farmhouse and premium single variety ciders.

Somerset Cider Brandy Co, Burrow Hill (5 miles). The Temperley’s beautiful and ramshackle cider orchard and press and award winning cider brandy distillery, Also the home of the Cider Bus, famous for its appearances at Glastonbury and other festivals.

Montacute House, Montacute (8 miles). Another National Trust house, this one a 20 minute drive, it is of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design and features striking walls of stone-mullioned ham-stone windows.

Forde Abbey, Chard (10 miles). Forde Abbey is a fascinating combination of a medieval monastery and a family home. Beautiful grounds, gardens and tea room are open daily throughout the year.

UK Llamas, New House Farm, Beaminster (11 miles) offers trekking around the county with Llamas.

Hestercombe Gardens, Hestercombe (16 miles). This wonderful garden restoration, featuring temples, lakes and formal beds, is the joint work of design greats Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edward Lutyens.

Mapperton House & Gardens, Beaminster (16 miles).

Land Rover Experience West Country, Wessington Farm, Awliscombe, Honiton (21 miles).

Glastonbury Tor and Abbey (22 miles). The Tor is a prominent hill overlooking Glastonbury and Somerset, topped by the roofless St Michael’s Tower, and situated near the town of Glastonbury, with tea rooms and it’s ruined abbey.

Make Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Bruton (25 miles). A pioneering world-class modern art gallery and multi-purpose arts centre set in some converted old (and new) stone farm buildings. There is also an on-site restaurant, the Roth Bar & Grill.

Cheddar Gorge, Cheddar (30 miles). A beautiful and remarkable spot for walks, or for the more adventurous to explore its caves or climb its cliffs, there is also an “escape room” experience to try, as well as a museum of prehistory.

WALKS/NATURE RESERVES/COUNTRY PARKS

The South West Coastal Path passes through Devon’s Jurassic Coast and you are able to pick this up at most of the beaches in either direction. Beautiful walks along the Jurassic coast can be done in shorter sections, and are well served by public transport links. We recommend taking in the Golden Cap at Bridport, with the Anchor Inn at Seatown as a stop along the way, and/or fish and chips in West Bay.

The Blackdown Hills form a tranquil, beautiful, and relatively isolated landscape on the Devon and Somerset border. Steep ridges, high plateaux,valleys and springs create a stunning mosaic of countryside dotted with farms, villages and ancient features.

Lewesdon Hill, Beaminster (National Trust) (14 miles), the highest point in Dorset with views between the trees over Devon, Somerset and out to sea. Standing at 915 feet (279 metres), with Pilsdon Pen (see below) nearby.

Pilsdon Pen (National Trust) (16 miles) is a bracing hilltop walk up to the second-highest point in Dorset. Pilsdon Pen boasts magnificent far-reaching views across the Marshwood Vale.

Eggardon Hill Fort (National Trust) (21 miles), a great place for walking with extensive views.

EVENTS

MARCH

Easter Fairytale Kingdom, Wookey Hole (30 miles).

APRIL

Easter Fairytale Kingdom, Wookey Hole (30 miles).

JUNE

Axe Vale Festival, The Showground, Woodmead Road, Axminster.(14 miles).
Vintage Tractor & Stationary Engine Club Rally, Melplash Showground (20 miles).
Bridport Food Festival, Asker Meadow, Bridport (19 miles).
Beaminster Festival of Music & Arts, Beaminster (14 miles).

JULY

Beaminster Festival of Music & Arts, Beaminster (14 miles).
The Big Mix Music Festival, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
Bridport Charter Fair, Bridport (19 miles).
Jurassic Fields Music Festival, Bridport (19 miles).
Lifeboat Week, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
Raft Race (RNLI) at West Bay (21 miles).

AUGUST

Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
West Bay Day (21 miles).
Bridport Carnival, Bridport (19 miles).
Burton Bradstock Festival of Music & Art, Burton Bradstock (22 miles).
Lyme Folk Festival, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
Buckham Fair Pony & Dog Show, Stinford Lane, Beaminster (14 miles).
The Honiton Agricultural Show, Honiton (19 miles).
Beer Regatta, Beer (23 miles). A week packed with different events to suit all ages. From scavenger hunts and children’s fun to fireworks and late night dances.
RNLI West Bay Fun Day (21 miles).
Melplash Agricultural Show, Melplash Showground (20 miles).
Candles on the Cobb, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
Seaton Carnival Week, Seaton (21 miles).
Symondsbury/Symene Fete, Symondsbury (20 miles).

SEPTEMBER

Crewkerne's Charter Fair is an annual event held in Crewkerne (7 miles) on the first Friday and Saturday of September and consists of a street market and entertainment, including a Fun Fair.
Seaton Carnival Week and Illuminated Carnival Procession (September 3), Seaton (21 miles).
Bridport Hat Festival, Bridport (19 miles).
Food Rocks Festival, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
Autumn Charity Garden Fair at Mapperton, Mapperton House, Beaminster (16 miles).
Lyme Regis ArtsFest, Lyme Regis (19 miles).
Bridgwater Fair – large travelling fun fair and market (21 miles).
Wellington Carnival (last Saturday in September) (20 miles).

OCTOBER

Chard Carnival (8 miles).
Hinton St George, Punky night – last Thursday in October (4.5 miles). A Punkie is a hollowed-out mangold or manglewurzel with a lit candle inside to make a lantern.
Honiton Carnival, Honiton (19 miles).
Dorset Food Week, various locations throughout Dorset.

NOVEMBER

Bridport Literary Festival, Bridport (19 miles).
Bridport Annual Christmas Tree Festival, Bridport (19 miles).
Eype Makers Christmas Market, Highlands Leisure Park, Eype (21 miles).
Bridgwater Carnival (21 miles).
Wookey Hole Santaland, Wookey Hole (30 miles).

DECEMBER

Wookey Hole Santaland, Wookey Hole (30 miles).

Things you need to know about Orchard Cottage if you’re thinking of booking a holiday there:

  • Smoking is not allowed inside any of our properties
  • * Up to two well-behaved dogs allowed (£50 per dog/stay), to be kept to the ground floor and off the furniture please
  • Not suitable for stag or hen parties
  • Minimum stay 2 nights all year except at Christmas and New Year which is a minimum stay of 5 nights
  • There is a refundable security deposit of £500
  • Parrett Trail Bikes rent bicycles for adults and kids and can deliver to your property. Their contact details are www.parretttrailbikes.co.uk
  • The welcome basket includes bread, milk, biscuits, cake, and lovely local produce
  • * Covid-19 measures for this property:
    In full compliance with the hospitality industry cleaning protocols and safety guidance.
    Intensively cleaned and sanitised.
    Contact-free check in and check out.
    Complete privacy and exclusive use of the cottage during your holiday.
    Date changes for all existing and new bookings if the lockdown measures are extended or re-imposed.
    Naturally isolated.
    Low occupancy discount for stays until 18th December 2020 for bookings of six guests or less. This is due to the Government 'rule of six'.

*Internet access is offered at this property for recreational purposes only and is not meant for business use. Speed/service may vary depending on the package obtained by the owner which is provided to guests free of charge. Should guests experience difficulties or loss of use, neither the owner nor the agent will be held responsible.

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