Oliver’s Cottage
24086.6 miles NW of Dulverton | Sleeps 6 + cot
7 Nights from £622
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearby pub
With a history dating back 300 years, the Royal Oak free house can be found in the heart of Exmoor. Recently re-opened under new management, the menu is created using seasonal local produce and guests can enjoy their food in either of the inn’s two bars or restaurant. As well as a range of local beers, the inn also serves an extensive selection of whiskies and wine.
June 2022
Friendly and great food
Very friendly pub offering a nice menu, including specials, in a traditional Exmoor style.
October 2016
The Royal Oak Inn, Withypool
Very charming inn, good food and selection of local ales, it's larger inside than it looks from the outside. Children and dogs are very welcome and service to a high standard.
Highly recommended
June 2011
The food and service at The Royal Oak were both fantastic. Very welcoming (to children and dogs!) I would highly recommend it. In my daughter's words, the sticky toffee pudding was "the best I've had, ever!"
Nearby beach
A mixture of pebble and rock, Porlock Beach is backed by marshland rich with wildlife. A popular spot for bathing in summer and surfing in winter, the beach has a year-round appeal and is also often used by anglers. At low tide, the fascinating remains of a submerged forest are revealed offering an intriguing glimpse into the beach's former life many years ago.
Nearby walk
Park in the small car park over the river from the village and enjoy a gentle wander through wooded riverside and grassy moorland. This walk is three and a half miles and follows footpaths with fifteen styles. Take a look at the AA website for a detailed route and other walks in the area.
Nearby town
In the midst of rolling moorland, Withypool is a classic Exmoor village of unspoilt architecture; it has a lovely six-arch bridge over the Barle River.
Also nearby
An absolute must for anyone staying in the area, this gem of a walk takes you to one of the oldest bridges in the world, through a peaceful valley and ancient woodland. Choose from a short stroll to a longer 12 mile trek.
September 2020
Woodland walk to Tarr Steps
A classic woodland walk alongside the River Barle.
May 2014
NIce setting
We didn't do the full walk, but visited the Tarr Steps with our dog, and walked along by the river and through woodland. I heard it can get quite busy, especially with the narrow lanes, so we went early in the day when it was quieter. A really enjoyable walk and crossing the bridge. (Car park, £2 all day, has toilets - but no dog poo bins nearby).
July 2013
A lovely walk.
A lovely walk and with the stone steps across the river it is a sight not to be missed.
This village is in the heart of Exmoor’s most outstanding countryside. Here you’ll find the Exmoor National Park Centre, which has stacks of information regarding activities on the moors, plus some pleasant cafes and pubs for lunch or a cream tea.
July 2023
Dulverton
Lovely town very friendly with a variety of eateries
May 2022
Dulverton
Also some lovely gift shops!
March 2020
Bookshop
You could lose yourself in here for hours. A treasure house of second hand and antiquarian books, well worth a visit.
July 2017
Dulverton
Very nice town with pretty shops and good Pubs and Inns
June 2016
Heritage Centre
This is an excellent display of local artefacts, pictures, countryside etc. Also railway history and a good kitchen display with a "talking" cook and housekeepr. Upstairs there is more to see - it is especially worthwhile sitting and watching 4 short videos of local events. All this for FREE although they ask for a donation. Coming into Dulverton turn left immediately after the bridge and follow the road around a big curve until it ends in the carpark with access to the centre. otherwise access through the information centre in the main street. This also has a good supply of maps, leaflets etc and the best postcards!
May 2012
An interesting little town full of conveniences.
Dulverton is not exactly somewhere I could imagine spending an entire day at, but it does provide a good centre by which to stop by and stock up. There are plenty of conveniences such as a local co-op for your simple needs (bread, milk and some alcohols: beers...not wines, go somewhere decent for wine), small thrift shops as well as some tea rooms including Lewis's which is a personal favourite. There is a beautiful church at the top of the town which is worth popping into, and in the centre of town there is a fish and chip shop which opens at lunchtime from 12 noon until 2pm. There is also a bakery which sells a selection of baked breads, pies, sausage rolls as well as many sweet items, the game pie is delicious and enormously filling. The tea rooms near the co-op (I have forgotten the name!) are smaller than Lewis's but offers an entirely different ambience, more cosy and homely, helped in no small way by the warm, friendly manners of the owners (of which the landlady kindly ushered us in for tea as we oogled the menu outside, proclaiming the redundancy of pneumonia when there are menu's indoors to browse).
By far this is no Dunster or Tiverton etc, but it is a quaint little town that is central to lots of local attractions and is worth stopping by for an hour or two.
In a glorious position next to the River Barle, Tarr Farm does great lunches, cream teas and bistro-style dinners; choose from Exmoor lamb, Devon Red Ruby beef, fresh Cornish seafood, local venison and game.
August 2022
Great evening meal
Superb evening meal in lovely surroundings. Fabulous walks on the doorstep.
April 2022
Tarr Steps
Very disappointed in the food here after reading good reviews we expected more. Not been here since the 1970s when Tarr Steps was much less busy and no commercial car parks etc although I do understand the need to conserve the area, The Scones were dreadful tasted like doughy cake but my husbands fruit tea cake was nice not the best but not a problem. Tea and Coffee was fine. Really cannot say anymore than above but would not visit again. I was told by locals that it can be a bot of hit and miss place to eat.
September 2014
Lovely Food, Unfriendly Service
Usual case of visitors are second-class citizens and can be treated accordingly. Great food and a great location - the efforts of the chef were wasted by the arrogant waitresses and barmaid who were just not interested. I'd rather have good food and excellent service than excellent food and unfriendly service that we had here.
Save your money and eat elsewhere.
July 2014
The best cream teas in the world
I've been returning to the Tarr Farm Inn for as long as I can remember (at least 16 years as an adult after first going there as a child in the 70s and 80s). It is set in a lovely location overlooking the clapper bridge at Tarr Steps. I don't think I've ever got round to sampling the restaurant's menu beyond the cream tea as it is simply wonderful!
The scones are generously sized (they can usually be cut twice to give three slices per scone) and taste delicious. You get two of these. They are served with a pot each of jam and cream (which is to die for) and a pot of tea that makes around 3 cups. To add to this guilty pleasure hand made sugar lumps are provided to allow you to have your tea as sweet as you like. This cream tea will set you up for the day or replenish you after a busy morning. It goes perfectly with the location that provides plenty of options for walking and paddling.
Try it, you will not be disappointed!
July 2013
Truly spectacular!
With the setting being like something out of a story book and the Inn a beautifully old building you cannot go wrong. The staff are friendly and the Inn is dog friendly which is always a massive plus point.
May 2012
A warm and inviting necessity!
If you find that, like myself and my better half, you have managed to abandon hope of reaching Tarr Steps directly and are unwilling to send the car through a ford/torrent of water to follow the absurd directions it demands of you, then you will have found yourselves on the moors at a signpost which reads: "Tarr Steps 1 1/2 miles". Simple enough...you would think. The first stage of the walk is a long muddy footpath decorated on the borders with Gorse and Heather and grazed by amicable exmoor ponies. Coming to a rather muddy gate you proceed through and down a hill where the signs cut off. Take a turn to the left and follow the erosion until you reach woodland more befitting Dartmoor and then down a muddy pebbled path and out at the Tarr Steps. It's a much more demanding walk than it sounds when taken over such a rugged landscape and I have to confess I was less concerned about seeing the Tarr Steps and photo opportunities as I was about getting inside the Tarr Farm Inn for a nice cup of tea. Speaking of which, the cream tea is a little on the pricey side but given that the scones are the size of a small plate and the clotted cream and jam provided could feed a family of 5 in sandwhiches for a week then you soon realise why the price tag is such. The inn itself is wonderfully rustic with typical woodburning stove, wooden beams and general romantic Devon atmosphere. Seating outdoors on the lawn provides a lovely view of the Tarr Steps (complete with scores of tourists like ourselves) or there is a side-garden of benches set beside a gorgeous, aged Oak. The steps themselves are a fascinating attraction and mandatory photographs of yourselves stood in their centre should not be neglected.
A lovely place to stop off, admire the surroundings and enjoy the food and drink.
One of Exmoor's oldest coaching inns. With real ales and a roaring log fire in the cosy bar. For special occasion dining, try the local meat and fish in the restaurant.
April 2011
Good food, lovely relaxed lunches and great atmosphere. Lots of local ales on tap and good wine selection. Set down in a valley surrounded by fabulous countryside - walking boot, dog and horse friendly!
A country pub on the River Barle, on the edge of Exmoor National Park. They have been graded by the Green Tourism Scheme and serve classical British food with a twist. Dogs are welcomed with a gravy bone to chew on whilst you make use of the free WiFi!
July 2023
The bridge inn
Nice pub with outside seating overlooking the river, typical pub food friendly staff
February 2023
Friendly and good food
Local pub that served very decent pub grub and had very friendly staff. Worth booking ahead if you want to eat at the weekend.
July 2022
Bridge Inn
Good food friendly staff
June 2022
Friendly staff.
Seating outside with the River and Green just across the road, ideal for a summer evening.
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