Your Somerset sanctuary awaits, welcome to The Crook.
The wood-fired hot tub is a dream.
The interiors create a calm setting for your long-awaited getaway.
With a pizza oven and barbecue, you will love cooking alfresco here!
On cooler days light the wood burner and keep cosy.
Slow snoozy mornings await.
There's so much space inside this truly luxurious hut!
To the right is the well-equipped kitchen.
You'll find everything you need and more to prep delicious meals.
Why not try your hand at pizza making and enjoy a taste of Italy?
The chic shower room is just the spot for freshening up.
Or why not shower alfresco!?
When the sunshines, there really is nowhere better to relax and unwind.
From the sun loungers to the egg chair there are plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by.
Sink into the heavenly hot tub and say hello to your neighbours who graze quietly in the surrounding fields.
Nestled in Somerset's rambling countryside and surrounded by nature.
Enjoy a sundowner at your very own view point.
Magical moments are promised from dawn till dusk.
Delightful Somerset in all its glory.
Why not hop on the West Somerset Steam Railway that leaves from Bishops Lydeard?
Barrington Court, a Tudor manor owned by the National Trust.
Montacute House, another National Trust property, is also worth a visit.
Lyme Regis is a vibrant seaside town with some fabulous eateries and is only 40 minutes away.
The Crook
50032.3 miles E of Ilminster | Sleeps 2 + cot*
From £84 per night
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearby pub
Welcome to this traditional country pub with large garden, gorgeous countryside views and lots of parking. The menu is created using local ingredients with a great range of pub classics and daily specials.
August 2022
Great pint of cider
I had a great pint of cider in the beautiful garden. The staff were super friendly!
Nearby beach
Charmouth West Beach runs the mile and a half from the mouth of the river Char all the way to Lyme Regis. Although hammering at the cliffs is not allowed, the shores of Charmouth West Beach are well known for their fossils and often keen-eyed visitors are rewarded with a treat. With the gentle slope of the beach and natural sea pools forming in certain conditions the beach lends itself nicely to paddling and swimming. A heritage centre, cafe and shops are nearby, although there are no lifeguards on duty.
August 2019
Charmouth beach
Lovely not too busy beach, such fun finding fossils, beautiful sand when the tide is out, and great rock pools
July 2017
Lovely beach, brilliant for fossil hunting
January 2010
Take a fossil hunting guided walk or boat trip. No sand but plenty to keep the kids amused.
November 2009
The hours seem to have a habit of slipping by while you're wandering along hunting for fossils on this stretch of coast. The kids love the excitement of finding an ammonite or debating the authenticity of possible 'dinosaur bones'. Great way to spend an afternoon.
Nearby walk
Monthly walks are arranged by locals who ask for volunteers to help with clearing overgrown footpaths whilst enjoying the scenery. Take a look at the chaffcome.com website for details of walks in the area.
Nearby town
Deep in the rolling Somerset countryside, Ilminster, with its imposing church and the winding River Ile, is a vision of pastoral beauty. One of the town’s best-loved attractions is Barrington Court, a well-preserved manor house with stunning formal gardens, an arboretum and traditional kitchen gardens.
Also nearby
Children, dogs and welly boots are all welcome in this newly refurbished pub, all watched over by Alan the Barrington Boar. The bar and restaurant both have good food, and the location in the centre of the village makes it a social hub for local events.
May 2024
Barrington Boar
Lovely village pub with good food, if a little on the expensive side. The staff were very welcoming and atentive.
March 2023
Barrington Boar
Highly recommend to all, the Barrington Boar has friendly staff, excellent service, lovely atmosphere and great food!
May 2019
Barrington Boar
The best pub meals we have ever had excellent food beautifully cooked and great service. Would highly recommend
July 2014
Fantastic, Fantastic, friendly pub with delicious food.
friends and I visited the Barrington Boar whilst staying in the village this weekend. We first visited Fri eve where we enjoyed whole baked plaice in a caper sauce, fish pie, & stuffed aubergine with salad. The main courses were absolutely delicious. Having a coeliac in our party, we asked about gluten free & were told the sauce would not be made with wheat flour. The accompanying salads were huge, fresh and excellent - no rubbish bit of iceberg lettuce & tomato here! A mixture and abundance of salad leaves really impressed us. Desserts of lemon posset were divine, and although the brownie was overcooked, we were cheerily offered something else - no bad atmosphere here! We throughly enjoyed our meal and service was excellent - so much so that we returned on Sunday for lunch after a country ramble with moments of mild to moderate peril gave us a huge appetite. We enjoyed our meal in the garden and again, our coeliac and pescatarian friends were catered to by the owners and chef happily offering the roast dinner with no meat & extra roasties for the coeliac, and homemade Thai style fishcakes with the roast potatoes, for our other friend. An unusual combination, but the didn't phase the Barrington Boar! Again we enjoyed the divine lemon posset, and our chocolate loving friend asked for the brownie again - which was baked to perfection! Again friendly, helpful staff made our meal a very enjoyable experience. We all agreed that we would heartily recommend The Barrington Boar to all our friends visiting the area and look forward to eating there again when we return to Somerset. Thanks to all at The Barrington Boar for two truly delicious and welcoming visits!
With a cider works, farm shop and tea room, you will find plenty to keep you occupied here. The shop offers cider tasting so you can be sure of your choice before you buy.
August 2022
Cider convert
I don't usually like cider but Perry's is so tasty I bought some to bring home as well! We had a summer afternoon in the orchard with cider and pizza. The farm shop is great and everyone working there is really friendly.
September 2015
I bought a barrel...
A tiny Somerset hamlet called Dowlish Wake is home to this traditional cider making centre. Tempting samples from the barrels are a must before you decide on which variety to take home. I am afraid it had to be a gallon for us and even more unfortunate – it is within easy reach of home for return trips to refill the container ! There is a shop, café and all things apple making museum here too. This place feels like a step back in time, even down to crossing the ford from the orchard parking area !
An exceptional Elizabethan house filled with treasures, including 17th Century textile samplers and Elizabethan art. This house featured in the 1995 film ‘Sense and Sensibility’.
May 2018
Marvellous Montacute
Absolutely wonderful in every way. We enjoyed many hours here. A must visit property.
May 2016
Shame.
A lovely house and location . It was a pity it was spoilt by a very heavy handed and hard sell approach in the ticket office to join the N.T. I had to be very persistent to get into the house and gardens without joining up .
Once we had managed to get in we had another issue with an officious lady in the long room who basically told us off for taking the wrong staircase up . It turned out that a rope had not been put in place . How were we to know! Other staff members tried to make up for this and were excellent but the impression overall was poor.
September 2013
Very interesting
Another West Country gem to consider when in the Somerset or Dorset areas. Although the house was endowed to NT as an empty shell much work has been done by introducing surplus items from other properties and there is a current fascinating exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery which is a must.
A former Cistercian monastery dating back to the 1100s. The gardens are breathtaking, while inside must-sees include the cloisters and the upper refectory.
May 2024
Mr Gomersall
Wonderful garden
November 2020
Gardens
House closed because of Covid but the gardens are lovely. Don’t miss the fountain - a must see!
July 2018
A lovely place to visit.
We’ve just had a very pleasant few hours at Forde Abbey on a scorching hot day. The house is very interesting to walk around and the gardens are beautiful, it’s worth waiting to see the fountain, especially if you stand downwind of it on such a hot day.
The ginger cake in the cafe was a great way to end our visit.
July 2017
A place to unwind
We visited these delightful gardens as part of a circular walk from Thorncombe village. It was the perfect place for a leisurely lunch followed by a stroll around the gardens before continuing on our way. The highlight of the day.
July 2011
Well worth a visit
We really loved the gardens and the interior. It was the highlight of our week. We spent several hours there and felt there was plenty to see both in the house and gardens. The tearoom provides excellent lunches for those who want to make a day of it.
January 2010
Stately home and splendid gardens
Fascinating former abbey dating back to 12thC. One of the greatest Westcountry gardens (according to Alan Titchmarsh), plant sales and a good restaurant serving really local food from the estate. A good day's outing.
Home cooked food is a speciality here with Sunday roasts being a favourite. There's a play area, large garden and decking with views over the countryside. Dogs are welcome.
April 2024
Lovely Small Pub, great host and beautiful views from garden
We always try to have a meal here if staying nearby… good value, varied menu, a lot for veggie and vegan customers.
Advisable to book in advance!
December 2023
Sunday roast
Very nice homely pub
July 2023
Great food and lovely hosts
Very good food and homemade desserts, lovely friendly hosts and dog friendly. Recommend booking in high season.
May 2023
Bob
Bob makes this pub worth the 2 mile walk there and back.
April 2022
Cosy pub, lovely location, great hosts
Traditional feel, good menu range and good value, very clean. Lovely views from the garden.
Have visited several times, a friendly place to eat and drink.
September 2021
Fabulous Friendly Pub
A lovely country pub with a warm, friendly welcome to include those fury four legged friends.
Great food and I can throughly recommend the homemade pizza’s!
Only a 10/15 minute drive away from Stoke Abbott.
June 2017
Excellent pub food and congenial hosts
We enjoying two visits to the Hare and Hounds during our recent holiday. Both times we had excellent pub meals in good surroundings and was well looked after by the hosts. Many thanks
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