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Rating
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Sleeps 6
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Bedrooms 3
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Bathrooms 3
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Pets Yes
Features
- Open fire
- Smoke-free
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
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Mrs Townsend 
“Beautiful very old cottage in beautiful village.”
Lots of quirky shops. Cottage had everything plus that we needed including bedding and bowls for dogs. Lovely area to holiday in.
Lots of quirky shops. Cottage had everything plus that we needed including bedding and bowls for dogs. Lovely area to holiday in.
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Mrs Highsted “The house was clean, comfortable and really well equipped.”
We had lots of space for 4 adults and a dog. It is well situated for local walks and sightseeing as well as visiting north Somerset and Devon. Highly recommended.
Paul W 
“Cosy self-catering cottage and a great value stay”
Having stayed at Pilgrim Corner in Minehead, we saw the brochure for The Oval from the same owners and we booked an out-of season break for a bit of downtime. We had a lovely stay at the Oval, the cottage and the village are amazing. We enjoyed spending time by the fire, the games were a lovely way to spend the evening. It really was so comfortable and cosy. I also want to say that for a self-catering cottage the Oval is very well-equipped and everything has been thought of, so much so we felt totally refreshed and ready to go back to work (boo) It was great value out-of-season so if you're looking to stay here, I'd recommend you look at all seasons not just the summer. I am certain we will visit again!
Mrs B
“Sheer perfection in every way.”
Oval cottage is just amazing,spacious and so comfortable,all the utilities you need and very child friendly with bags of games toys etc and set in the perfect location of dunster which has a fantastic play area for kids, plus 4 pubs plenty of eateries and small shops all set within outstanding countryside and a mile from the beach.
Discover03305594917
“Amazing historic property in historic village”
Open the front door to 15th century with up to date comfort and lovely bathrooms. This property is full of surprises. It is warm, cosy and well maintained. Although the property fronts the road it is quiet as the walls are so thick. The wood burner is easy to light and adds to the ambience. The courtyard garden is a joy for lunch or G&T in the evening. Pubs and restaurants are only a short walk away. There are many attractions in the historic appealing village, and it was used in a Poirot television production some while ago.
Tracy V
“One very special house !”
The house itself is very special , dating back to 1366 so plenty of history . All rooms are very comfortable . You will not be disappointed booking this holiday home , All your needs are catered for . The touches on arrival set us up for a lovely start . It is full of oldy woldy charm but cleverly brought into the 21st century . You cant ask for a better place to stay if your in the area exploring Exmoor .
Sarah B
“Magical house, bursting with history and in the perfect location.”
This is our second visit to the Oval, having originally stayed when our children were absolutely tiny: it was so lovely to go back now they're big enough to explore this magical house themselves and delve deeper into its history and all the quirks of these beautiful old rooms. Despite dating back to the 14th century, this house is most definitely suitable for a 21st century family. There's a lovely combination of old and new, and the kitchen is spot on for family cooking. It's also surprisingy spacious - and there's lots of room for us to spread out here even in bad weather. We all like our own space. The owners had thoughtfully provided plenty of games to keep us amused in the evenings, when, tired of exploring local woodlands and Dunster Castle, we were keen to curl up in a chair with a glass of wine. For longer evenings in, Netflix and wifi access were really helpful in keeping everyone entertained, whatever their age! The handover process is excellent, and we had a very thorough briefing before we arrived on just what to expect. The allocated parking spaces are brilliant, as High Street parking can be a challenge, and the cake on arrival was a total hit ... but sadly didn't last long! The rooms are spotlessly clean, which is impressive given the age of the property - and we absolutely loved sleeping in the big four poster. You feel a bit like the princess and the pea! We've had some holidays in the area previously, so always like to walk up to Dunster Castle and spend a day exploring, but the Guest Book was full of interesting information too - and gave us plenty of ideas for what else there was to do in the area. Will definitely revisit and perhaps try other cottages by the same company as the customer service is second to none.
Abby F
“You can’t get better than this”
We’ve been holidaying in Dunster for 10 years and have stayed at the Oval for the last 5 of those. This cottage really is perfect and we wouldn’t ever stay anywhere else. In fact as we leave each Easter we book again for the following year. The Oval is absolutely stunning and ever last detail has been thought of. From the beautifully laid out tea and cake on arrival to the wood for the cosy fire, this place is amazing. It is always so nice to know whatever we’ve been up during the day we’re returning to such a charming cottage where you can’t help but relax. The kitchen is extremely well equipped and we love enjoying morning coffee in the top part of the garden. The bedrooms are very spacious with comfortable beds and the living room is just perfect for relaxing. This place is a real gem and I feel incredibly lucky we found it as in our opinion it’s absolutely perfect. A real credit to its owners for whom nothing is too much trouble.
Mrs Randall “The Oval is a highly characterful, comfortable and welcoming property.”
The layout of all of the rooms is well-considered, with the living room being beautifully proportioned. However, it is all the little touches that make it such a pleasant place to stay - a welcoming pack, a tea tray with milk, cake and so on, and loads of toys for the kids (very helpful on a rainy Sunday). We like to cook, so the fact that the kitchen was so well equipped was a real bonus. It had everything - steamers, garlic crushers, all the right baking trays and so on. This is unusual for a holiday property. As for Dunster, it is a great base for a break. The village is beautiful, with lots of places of interest to visit (the Castle, the mill etc.), shops to see and places to eat and drink. More than anything, it is just a relaxing place to amble around in quiet contentment. The walking from the village is great and caters to all moods and levels of fitness. You can go for a gentle one-mile stroll, or just as easily a 10+ mile hike, all the while covering hills, woodland and coastlines and taking in some stunning views. Dunster also offers good access to Exmoor for visits and walks.
Mr Sambell “We really enjoyed our stay at the Oval in Dunster.”
The historic cottage was very clean, well equipped, warm, cosy, and was tastefully decorated retaining many original features . It comfortably housed 6 adults and there was plenty of space. The week went so fast and we were sad to leave!
Denise C
“Amazing”
We arrived in the beautiful village of dunster to be welcomed by this wonderful cottage with tea and cake on arrival which was a wonderful touch Everything has been thought of by the owners making it so very homely and comfortable we didn’t want to leave m. Our family who live not far away came to visit and were really impressed with the cottage sitting around the fire drinking wine having chats just home from home We will be back! Just love it x
Mrs Hogg “Every little thing was thought about.”
The kitchen had all the equipment you could want. There was even a slow cooker which was very useful.We stayed for two weeks and at the end of the first the Owner rang up and offered to change all the bed linen and towels which we thought was a nice touch.
Mrs Webb “Beautiful cottage filled with charm and plenty of history.”
Loads of space. Thoughtfully and very well equipped. Based in the heart of Dunster. Perfect for exploring Exmoor.
Mrs Woodruff “The Oval is the best cottage we have ever stayed at.”
The History and decor is a pure delight. This is the second time we have stayed here for the ' Dunster by Candlelight' and although the availability has gone for next year, we have still booked the week before, as it has really put us in the mood for Christmas, as Dunster is the place to be at this special time of year. The cottage has all the comforts of home and more. Lucy the owner decorates the lounge with a lovely Christmas tree and leaves you some goodies too.Thank you Lucy. Gary and Kathy Woodruff from Portishead
Mrs Langley “"The Oval" is a wonderful old cottage with a palpable sense of history the moment you walk through the door.”
Lucy has provided plenty of information about the origins of the cottage, which we found fascinating. We felt welcome immediately on arrival, with music playing and a delicious apple cake plus a tea/coffee tray waiting for us. These little touches mean so much! Happy to find that the cottage has been sympathetically furnished, unlike many gorgeous old properties which sadly evoke a sigh of horror from me when I look at the brochure pictures and see modern interiors. I work in the antiques industry so this is a top issue for me! Our only complaint is that one week isn't nearly long enough!
Mr Allsopp “The house was spacious, we had 5 adults and a 2 and half year old grandson and we felt very comfortable.”
The location is a great base for with easy access to the beach, steam railway and Exmoor. The village is lovely with a number of great places to eat. We are planning to return.
Mrs Edwards “A beautiful period property, extremely comfortable but mind your heads - very low beams!”
Mrs Rolls “This was a lovely house.”
With everything you could wish for and more. Good location. Lovely village, and surrounding area. The tea and cake was a lovely touch also the milk left for us in the fridge.
Mrs Taylor “The owners had supplied lots of information and nothing had been forgotten even supplying dog beds !”
!! Thank you for a very enjoyable holiday.
judith h
“A Beautiful Cottage”
We have had the privilege of staying in this old cottage for the week. Steeped in history it's truly fascinating. We have already decided to come back. It has been sympathetically renovated with all mod cons but without losing any of the character. Being in the centre of Dunster it has easy access to the woods behind the castle for walks, our dogs have had a wonderful time. There's a courtyard tiered garden with pleasant seating areas. There are , being old, different levels and steps everywhere but you soon get used to them. We didn't find traffic noise a problem, and we are not used to any traffic noise, as the property has secondary glazing and we slept in the front. Even the recycling lorries weren't a problem at 7 in the morning! It's a delightful homely place and we were delighted with it. Wheelchairs would probably be a problem but my husband was on crutches for the duration and he got around the property fine. Definitely worth a stay. Thanks Lucy.
rupertbear282
“Amazing”
Me and three friends and the dog stayed for a week and was amazed when we walked in. Such a beautiful old building and the facilities were brilliant. The little extras like a cake and tea was waiting when we arrived and dog treats were just the kindest touch. I felt like a king in the huge bed. Can't wait to stay there again.
Jane B
“Great location - comfortable spacious cottage”
The 'Oval' is in a great location, within 5 minutes stroll of the village and castle of Dunster. Don't worry about parking outside the cottage, we found that the road was more than adequately wide enough to cope with our large 4x4. The cottage itself is both spacious, well equipped and comfortable, with more than adequate facilities and the bonus of plenty of toys and games to keep the children occupied during the evening (the TV signal is intermittent). Contrary to other recommendations, we found the best place for a drink to be the Luttrell arms and not the Stag pub opposite the cottage that lacked atmosphere. Dunster village shop covers the basics however both Tesco and Morrisons at Minhead are only a 5 minute drive away for provisions. For those with children, a top tip is to wait until after 2pm for entry to Butlins (if they want to go to the water park which is a good wet weather option) as it is quiet and also half price - we found 2 to 3 hours is more than enough!! We can also recommend the award winning fish and chip shop on Bampton street in Minehead. Also - if it's a sunny day then the 50 minute drive to Woolacombe is well worth it for the beach but you MUST leave early to avoid the traffic. Porlock, Lynton, Lynmouth and Bossington are all within a few minutes drive and worth a look. If you want to go either cycling or horse riding (local hire facilities in or near Minehead) then book well in advance, we were left disappointed through leaving it to the last minute to book. Overall we can't fault the 'Oval' for value for money, comfort and space and the location and proximity to so many places of interest is a great selling point.
The property
On West Street, an historically fascinating, quirky cottage, once an open ‘hall house’ believed to date from the 1400s - one of the oldest buildings in Dunster.
Now beautifully upgraded, furnished and decorated whilst retaining charm, history and wonky floors.
At the back, small courtyard (table/chairs) and, up steep steps (gate, handrail), decked patio (table/benches) with fruit trees and lovely views over the village to wooded hills. Downstairs, tiled/stone floors (rugs), ancient timbers, leaded windows, low lintels, beams.
Behind a heavy timber door, oak-screened hall, off which comfortable living room (TV/DVD) with fireplace (woodburner).
Snug with easy chairs - a quiet reading room.
Two steps up to breakfast/dining area with French windows to courtyard and smart oak-fitted kitchen (dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, fridge-freezer, range-style electric cooker).
Behind a low medieval doorway, a utility room (tumble drier, sink) and cloakroom (loo), good for wet coats/boots and dogs.
Stairs (stairgates) up to three bedrooms - step up to a beautiful double (four-poster bed) with door to shower-room (suite, also accessible from landing), 2 steps up to a twin, and another double (footboard) with en suite bathroom (suite, shower over bath); both double rooms have vaulted ceilings, cruck beams, good fabrics, window seats.
Permit provided for reserved parking space in Nat.
Trust car park; second space in private car park, 450 yards.
A lovely house in a beautiful village. Dunster: one of the West Country's prettiest large villages in exceptional countryside, its castle on a wooded hillside standing romantically over its lovely main street.
Ancient buildings, cottages; interesting shops; fine church; famous Yarn Market; good pubs, restaurants and tea rooms.
Exmoor's heather hills, 6 miles; the sea/sand, 1 mile.
Minehead (small resort town, sandy beach, steam railway, golf), 1 mile.
Floorplans
1st FloorGround Floor
Summary
- Three bedrooms: 1 x double with en suite bathroom, 1 x double with four-poster bed and door to shower-room, 1 x twin
- Sitting room with wood burning stove
- Snug with easy chairs
- Breakfast/dining area with French windows to courtyard
- Oak-fitted kitchen and utility room
- Ground floor WC and basin.
- Central heating with wood burning stove
- Microwave, fridge-freezer, tumble dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, TV with DVD, WiFi, Phone, Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off road parking in a two reserved parking spaces
- Enclosed garden
- One well-behaved dog welcome, Sorry no smoking
- Pub less than 1 mile from property
- Note: One parking permit is provided for a reserved parking space in Nat
- Trust car park; second space available in private car park, 450 yards from property.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.
About the location
DUNSTER
Minehead 3 miles.
Dunster is a popular tourist village near the North Somerset coast and is a largely unspoiled spot: the centre of the town retains many old buildings which hug the winding cobbled streets. The whole village is dominated by the castle on its hill but the focal point of the High Street is the picturesque Yarn Market, a covered area built in 1609 particularly to accommodate the wool traders and other cloth merchants. Inside Dunster castle there are fine plasterwork ceilings and the extensive terraced and landscaped gardens contain many rare shrubs and trees, and offer marvelous views out to sea, and towards the Quantocks. For those who enjoy exploring the countryside, Dunster is within the Exmoor National Park and there are plenty of footpaths leading onto the surrounding hills of Grabbist and walks into Dunster’s Deer Park at the foot of the castle. Dunster is well served with traditional inns, individual shops and interesting places to explore including the working 18th century watermill. West Somerset’s premier resort of Minehead is less than three miles away and has golden sandy beaches, seaside attractions for the visitor, and plenty of cafes, shops and bistros.
Note: Sorry, no short breaks. Permit provided for reserved parking space in Nat. Trust car park; second space in private car park, 450 yards
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