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Wintershead has a truly stunning, remote location in Exmoor National Park. Close to the Devon/Somerset border and easily accessible from the North Devon link road, we provide our guests with luxury self catering cottage accommodation in spectacular surroundings. If you are looking for holiday accommodation where you can really get away from it all and relax in quality, well-equipped cottages full of character in beautiful moorland surroundings, then Wintershead can provide your perfect holiday destination.
Wintershead is in a remote location in the heart of Exmoor. Set in 11 acres of beautiful grounds, it is no longer a working farm, but is surrounded by farmland and the open moor. Although we are in a wonderfully isolated spot, there are plenty of nearby villages, pubs and restaurants where you can shop and enjoy a meal out. The tiny village of Simonsbath is about 3 miles away, and Exford a further 5 miles. South Molton in Devon is a delightful country market town about 10 miles away. There are several country pubs offering excellent food all within a short distance from Wintershead.
Exmoor is a great place for a holiday at any time of the year, particularly in spring and early summer. This part of the West Country is relatively undiscovered by mass tourism, and parts of the high moor can still give you a feeling of being in a wilderness, with only the sounds of the moorland birds to disturb the peace. The months of April, May and June are especially good for an Exmoor holiday, when the countryside is bursting with new life.
During these months the long light evenings mean you have more time to enjoy the beauty of the moor, watch wildlife at dusk, and take a walk after your evening meal to watch the sunset. The spring flowers in the hedges and new lambs in the fields are a welcome sight after winter, and these months often have wonderful weather, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of Exmoor without the crowds of the high season.
Wintershead is a great base for exploring Exmoor and the surrounding area. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the close proximity of the open moorland, and horse riders will find miles of bridleways to explore. We can provide facilities for people to bring their own horses to Wintershead if they wish, or there are many stables in the area that hire out horses. The spectacular coastlines of North Devon and Cornwall are within easy driving distance, including the popular surfing beaches of Woolacombe, Putsborough and Croyde.
The holiday cottages at Wintershead have all been converted from the original farm buildings to a very high standard. Our aim is to provide guests with comfortable self-catering cottage accommodation while still retaining the charm and character of the original buildings. Our cottages surround a large courtyard, which provides guests with plenty of parking space. Some of the cottages have panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. We have many guests who return year after year, saying that Wintershead provides them with perfect ‘home from home' luxury holiday accommodation! If you are looking for an excellent quality self-catering holiday cottage with character in an extra special location on Exmoor, with a warm welcome and friendly atmosphere, you will find it at Wintershead. We look forward to seeing you!
Our self-catering cottages have all been converted from the old farm buildings to provide luxury holiday accommodation whilst still retaining the charm and character of the original buildings. All cottages are centrally heated, with comfortable beds and well equipped kitchens. There are comfortable sofas and colour TVs in the lounge areas, with DVD players in some cottages. The views of the surrounding countryside are panoramic, particularly from the south-facing bay windows of Spring and Beech cottages. The 11 acres of well kept grounds provide a safe environment for children to play in and explore, and the red deer can sometimes be seen in the garden at dusk and in the early morning. There is a well equipped laundry room for guests' use, and a games room with pool and table tennis. We are continually improving and upgrading our cottages to ensure they provide holiday accommodation of the highest quality.
This part of England 's West Country is a hidden gem for holidaymakers. Slightly off the beaten track, it has stunning scenery and a wealth of wildlife, a spectacular coastline, pretty villages and many visitor attractions. You will discover the famous red deer and Exmoor ponies, abundant birdlife from buzzards, sparrow hawks and kestrels, to swallows, skylarks and tiny wrens. Exmoor provides a perfect holiday destination for all types of holiday, active or more relaxing, with many opportunities for outdoor pursuits.
There are many historical sites and buildings to fascinate visitors to the area, including several National Trust and English Heritage properties, such as Arlington Court near Barnstaple, Dunster Castle, Cleeve Abbey, Knightshayes Court and Killerton, near Exeter.
Wintershead is ideally placed for touring this part of Exmoor and North Devon . We are only 15 minutes from the North Devon link road, which allows easy access to Barnstaple, Bideford, Bude and North Cornwall. The quaint old village of Clovelly is a popular tourist spot, with its steep cobbled main street and pretty harbour. The spectacularly rugged coastline of North Devon is a short drive away, with its wooded valleys leading down to hidden coves, and tall cliffs towering above the sea.
The twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth have a dramatic location on the coast, surrounded by steep wooded valleys with sparkling streams tumbling down over rocks on their way to the sea. Here you can take a ride on the cliff railway, explore the shops, museums and galleries around the pretty harbour, or treat yourselves to a cream tea at Watersmeet. Walkers and ramblers will enjoy exploring this section of the South West Coast Path, which provides some challenging terrain and wonderful views across the Bristol Channel to Wales. Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, and Woolacombe with its long stretch of golden sands, are other pretty coastal villages worth visiting. From Ilfracombe or Bideford you can have a boat trip to Lundy Island, a remote island 10 miles off the coast of North Devon. Lundy is owned by the National Trust and is a place of outstanding natural beauty teeming with wildlife. This is a fascinating trip for all the family, and was voted Boat Trip of the Year by the Good Britain Guide.
If you enjoy a more active holiday, Exmoor provides lots of opportunities for outdoor pursuits, such as walking, horse riding, mountain biking, sailing, windsurfing and fly fishing. North Devon is a surfer's paradise, with several good surfing beaches including Croyde, Putsborough, and Woolacombe, all within easy reach from Wintershead. Families with children will find plenty of attractions to enjoy, such as Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, Watermouth Castle near Ilfracombe, the Exmoor Zoo near Bratton Fleming, the West Somerset Steam Railway at Minehead, and many more too numerous to mention!
Many visitors find that just being on Exmoor, enjoying the peace and quiet and glorious scenery, is enough to ‘restore the batteries', and leave you refreshed and relaxed. Whatever type of holiday you are looking for, activity-filled or slow and relaxing, Wintershead holiday cottages can provide a luxurious base for you to return to after a day spent enjoying the many attractions that Exmoor can offer.
Tel 01643 831 222
www.wintershead.co.uk
Somerset self catering holiday cottages