Hearn Lodge plunges you into a rural idyll, with access to twelve acres of wildlife meadows, a stream and pond right from your front door. The property adjoins the owner’s home, Hearn Farm, and has excellent views of its own secluded flower garden, along with an apple tunnel and an adjacent walled garden.
Inside the property, you’ll find a large and well-equipped farmhouse kitchen, a spacious living room and a south-facing conservatory. The sitting room is the perfect place to relax after a day out and about in the fresh air, with a wood burning stove to keep you warm and cosy. The furniture is farmhouse style, with a Welsh dresser and a pew creating a homely feel.
Local pubs provide excellent food and just a short ten minute drive is the large and attractive village of Bishops Lydeard where you will find many shops including a deli and a brewery featuring local produce. Hearn Lodge puts you within easy reach of the Quantock moors, with wild ponies, deer and superb coastal views, as well as the Somerset Levels and Exmoor. When you’re done exploring, relax in the garden on the outdoor furniture.
Ground Floor:
Kitchen/breakfast room
A generous farmhouse kitchen with an electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, food processor, washing machine and tumble dryer. Farmhouse breakfast table with bench and chair seating. CD player and digital radio.
Sitting and dining room
With a feature fireplace and wood burning stove. Freeview television and DVD player. Additional dining table.
Conservatory
With dining furniture for six guests that can be used outside if returned at night. Double doors to garden.
Cloakroom
With wash basin and WC.
First Floor:
Bedroom one
With a 5' king-size bed and en-suite bathroom.
En-suite bathroom
With a bath, wash basin and WC.
Bedroom two
With a 6' super-king size bed.
Bedroom three
With 3' twin single beds.
Family bathroom
With a bath and separate shower cubicle, wash basin and WC.
Outside:
Lawn and flower beds, garden furniture.
Fields with stream and pond. Herb garden.
Parking space for two cars (additional car by arrangement).
Information correct at time of writing.
You’ll find a walk across the Quantock moors right from the door of Hearn Lodge. A historic drover’s track takes you through combes or valleys, descending steeply through ancient forests and alongside an avenue of magnificent beech trees. The path takes you all the way to the pretty village of East Quantoxhead.
Just around the corner from East Quantoxhead is Kilve Beach, with unique rock formations and rock pools. The cliffs are ideal for spotting fossils, although please don’t remove any that you find. One of the best features of this beach is the large grassy area behind the beach which is ideal for picnics.
The harbour of Watchet isn’t just home to an attractive marina, the location also has a claim to literary fame as the place where Coleridge wrote his poem The Ancient Mariner. You can visit his home in Nether Stowey nearby.
The medieval village of Dunster is dominated by the National Trust’s Dunster Castle, with its dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens. You can also catch a steam train here on the West Somerset railway, which takes you along 20 miles of stunning Somerset countryside.
The centre of Exmoor is around 40 minutes’ away from Hearn Lodge, where you’ll find moorland stretching all the way to the coast. Picturesque Porlock Weir was once a smugglers’ port, while the pebbled beach at Bossington village was chosen by The Times as one of the UK’s best beaches.
If you’d like to learn more about the local area, The Museum of Somerset has plenty of interesting exhibits and artefacts and is just ten miles’ away in Taunton. Within the 12th-century walls of Taunton’s historic castle you’ll find contemporary gallery spaces and a great day out for all the family. The town is also home to a theatre and independent restaurants, as well as a cricket ground and racecourse.
Surrounding villages and towns
Porlock Weir - This small harbour has a small home-based flotilla of yachts and is visited by many more in spring and summer. It is a good spot for walking with the South West Coast Path and other trails linking through to Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh (good for birding).
Tarr Steps (Exmoor) - With its ancient clapper bridge possibly dating back to 1000BC. Tarr Farm Inn provides drinks, food and light refreshments.
Wetlands Centre (Stoke St Gregory) - Children will love to visit the Willows & Wetlands Visitor Centre and learn about the willow industry from growing willow.
Coleridge Cottage (Nether Stowey) - National Trust - Home of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Find out more about the rich and fascinating history. Explore the wildflower garden, and rooms of the cottage never previously open to the public, which have been recreated.
Places to visit
Somerset Country Cricket Ground (Taunton)
The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre (Taunton) - Please check the website for upcoming events, tickets, information, and maps.
Taunton Racecourse - Visitors enjoy national hunt racing featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. Set in the heart of the Somerset countryside with one of England's youngest jumps racecourse.
Historical places to visit
Hestercombe Gardens - It is easy to lose yourself in fifty acres of lakes, temples, cascades, tranquil woodland walks, formal terraces, vivid colours and views that take will take your breath away.
Cleeve Abbey - catch a glimpse of monastic life 800 years ago. The abbey is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by countryside so is ideal for walkers.
Places to eat
The Rising Sun (West Bagborough) - A warm welcome, impressive food, amazing hand pumped ales and a collection of vintage wines await you.
The Farmers Arms (West Bagborough) - Producing a vibrant and fresh menu using the best locally sourced produce. offering quality, freshly cooked and value for money.
The Notley Arms (Monksville) - Dine in this traditional country inn with open fires and a beautiful beer garden bounded by a bubbling stream.
Podshovers Barn (Bishops Lydeard) - Providing good honest food in a relaxed informal environment. Good quality produce which is cooked sympathetically, and brought to you by friendly efficient staff.
Brazz (Taunton) - This eclectic, chic restaurant is a great place to catch up with friends, bring the family or enjoy a romantic dinner.
Special events
West Somerset Railway Gala Days - Running for 20 miles between Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) and the seaside town of Minehead the West Somerset Railway evokes the atmosphere of a country railway line as they were for the first seven decades of the 20th century.
Dunster Fair & Dunster Show - Visit this premier agricultural show in West Somerset. A perfect setting for a family day out with bands, demonstrations, crafts and trade stands providing quality entertainment for all.
Bridgewater Guy Fawkes Carnival - Award winning carnival held annually on the first Saturday in November in Bridgewater.
Somerset Art Works - showcases the work of more than 300 artists, with exhibitions, talks, films, installations and workshops across the county
Local activities
Quantock Hills (Exmoor) - Take in oak woodlands and ancient parklands There is much for walkers to enjoy in this compact area, and a good time to visit is late summer when the northern Quantocks are ablaze with heather and gorse.
Riding - Visit Quantock Trekking a well established centre for horse trekking and riding holidays in the picturesque village of West Bagborough, Tarr.
Tarr Steps Circular (River Bale) - Perfect for a summer walk with a dog, there are deep pools ideal for swimming with small stone beaches.
Minehead - A treasure trove for family adventures with great events, attractions, places to eat and drink, plus a wonderful collection of national and independent shops.
Wimbleball Lake Activity Centre (Exmoor) - Sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, shoot an arrow or swing through the trees or explore Wimbleball by kayak.
Fishing on the coast or local reservoir.
Additional Information:
Sorry, no pets.
Travel cot and high chair available on request.
There is a small step from the entrance door to kitchen and two small steps from kitchen to living room.
An additional car parking space by prior arrangement.
The garden leads onto fields with a stream and pond.
Guests are welcome to take the conservatory furniture out into the garden to enjoy the evening, but please do remember to return it before nightfall.
If you’re bringing bicycles, you are welcome to store them in the garden shed.
Please note, some of the photographs show Velux lights within the roofs of next door properties, these buildings have no other windows or access to Hearn Lodge.
The WiFi is full fibre broadband, however thick walls restrict its reach to the sitting room and bedroom above. 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 Rural Retreats will be held responsible.
