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  • Shells Cottage - Somerset & Wiltshire - 11459 - photo 1
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Shells Cottage

(Ref. 11459)

Washford, Somerset Show on map

4.8

Sykes rating

  • 12 Guests

  • 6 Bedrooms

  • 3 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Hot tub
  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (22)
  • lovely (19)
  • tub (18)
  • hot (18)
  • hot tub (17)
  • great (15)

49 Customer Reviews

  • "Wonderful stay in a great house."

    Really good all round. My only issue was my mattress but I need a firm mattress anyway. Thank you for very happy memories to take away. ❤️

    Reviewed by Therese5.0Jan 2024

  • "We had a fantastic stay at Shells Cottage."

    The property actually exceeded our expectations and was much better appointed than we expected. The photos of the cottage don't do it justice, the rooms are mostly very generously sized, and the kitchen was very well equipped with enough soap, dishwasher tablets and sundries to last our stay. The hot tub was a real treat and we used it every day. The garden is well maintained and the house is cosy and warm (we didn't even have to use the fire). My only recommendation is that you provide a floorplan of the house to show the layout. I would definitely recommend it to my friends!

    Reviewed by Annabel5.0Dec 2023

  • "Lovely property, suited 11 of us."

    Plenty of space and well equipped . Loved the hot tub . Good location too.

    Reviewed by Anne Louise5.0Oct 2023

  • "Had a lovely stay at Shells Cottage,, it was a big Birthday for me so all the family got together and we came down from Kent ."

    The cottage was ideal for our party of 11, plenty of room. Nice and quiet yet near enough to get to any major attractions, walks, shops etc. the hot tub was a big success with everyone, every evening it was in use. It was kept lovely and clean. Thoroughly enjoyable and would recommend this place to stay. We did a couple of walks and visited Minehead. On the last day we took a walk down to the zoo down the road (we could hear the gibbons talking to one another in the morning from the house!) zoo doesn’t look very much from the outside but was lovely inside and they very much cared about conservation.

    Reviewed by Carolyn4.7Aug 2023

  • "The online listing says close to pub, and a map in property shows footpaths to village."

    The path from the site is impassable. The pub is closed. It is unsafe to walk on the road to the village. Also the brochure in property advertising all the cottages implies that they are in different locations rather than all on the same site. This looks deliberately misleading.

    Reviewed by Derek4.1Aug 2023

  • "Shells Cottage is a beautiful building with a lovely garden perfect for larger parties, it is very central with good road connections to the many tourist attractions in the area."

    Fully equipped from kitchen to the bbq area and would not hesitate to book again if needed .A fabulous week was enjoyed by all ages in our party.Roger Bournemouth

    Reviewed by Roger5.0Jun 2023

  • "Great property, great location."

    Hot tub was a real treat. Plenty of room for the 11 of us. Bedrooms and bathrooms were spotlessly clean and beds comfortable. We had very young children with us who adored the garden especially the little stream they found tucked away in the corner of the garden and the footpath just outside the boundary, although very overgrown (council's problem not the owners). Personally, I think the property is better suited to slightly older children. Our group ranged from 4 months to 4 years. Cot side did not drop so very difficult to get baby in and out as very large cot. There are no footpaths outside of the property so cannot walk anywhere with a pushchair as too dangerous. Tropiquaria is fantastic for youngsters; spent the whole day there as play equipment is out of this world. We had a fantastic time at Shells and I would not hesitate to recommend to large groups.

    Thank you for your feedback, we really appreciate your kind words. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We are sorry to hear about the issues you experienced with the cot. If we were made aware of the issue during your stay, we have an additional travel cot that we could have provided for you as a replacement. In terms of the comments over lack of footpaths outside of the property, it is set in a rural location and we cannot change this unfortunately. Thank you again. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Lynda5.0Mar 2023

  • "A superb large cottage for a family holiday/get-together, 'Shells Cottage' provided us with lovely accommodation, a homely atmosphere, wonderful gardens, and a beautiful hot tub which was maintained and cleaned daily!"

    We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday and look forward to returning.

    Reviewed by Elaine5.0Apr 2022

  • "Lovely house."

    As described on sykes. We had a great family holiday.

    Reviewed by Helen5.0Feb 2022

  • "A wonderful cottage, a generous host and a great time was had by all."

    Reviewed by Raymond4.7Dec 2021

  • "Everything about this cottage was absolutely spot on."

    The fully fitted and large kitchen was superbly kitted out with everything you need for a long or a short stay. We particularly appreciated the oversized kettle and three teapots as there were 11 of us. Two huge refrigerators gave us more than enough space for our food and wine. The sitting room was spacious with plenty of room for everyone to sit comfortably; the dining area was perfect for a large group. The beds were very comfortable and the white fluffy towels were just heaven! We made full use of the hot tub on both evenings and appreciated the daily servicing of it. We also used the Woodburner, which was a great size and belted out the heat. The location is perfect too - it really is a wonderful set up and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Thank you so much for a great stay. You've really got it right and you've thought of everything. Well done and thank you!

    Reviewed by Clare5.0Nov 2021

  • "Very comfortable, Lovely white towels and bed linen."

    Spacious kitchen and good appliances.

    Reviewed by Sue4.4Oct 2021

  • "Enjoyed the weekend with the family every thing we wanted was there except the weather but we still had a great time"

    Reviewed by Philip5.0Oct 2021

  • "The cottage was very well equipped and in a lovely location."

    Perfect for exploring the area which is beautiful. Lots of space and different areas to sit and be social or take time out if you need to. Wonderful

    Reviewed by Mary5.0Aug 2021

  • "On arrival it was clear that there was a problem with the dishwasher."

    The owner came and checked it, but it appears the pump had failed. On our return from a day out a new dishwasher had been installed.

    Reviewed by David5.0Jul 2021

  • "The cottage was very comfortable and well equipped with everything you’d need for a family holiday."

    The location was peaceful and relaxing with a variety of places to visit. The weather was not particularly kind to us so it was lovely to be able to relax in the hot tub at the end of the day

    Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0Jul 2021

  • "Garden is a particular bonus."

    It’s a large area with lots of shaded areas if you don’t want to spend time in the sun and more than one seating option for outdoor eating

    Reviewed by Susie5.0Jul 2021

  • "Maybe some stronger sidelights in main room - rather dark"

    Reviewed by Chris5.0Oct 2020

  • "The cottage was everything and more."

    Lloyd has a lovely set up and I would recommend it to anyone. It was such a lovely break and we didn’t want to come home. Thank you Lloyd we will be definitely be in touch.

    Reviewed by Terry5.0Aug 2020

  • "Beautiful house with lovely gardens."

    Owner attentive and on hand to resolve any problems, would highly recommend this house.

    Reviewed by Jonathan5.0Jul 2020

  • "Excellent host and facilities that are in a very welcoming area."

    Especially impressed with the cottages facilities and cleanliness.

    Reviewed by Adrian5.0Dec 2019

  • "I found having to pay for wood and kindling irritating."

    It required cash which I seldom have and soured my experience on arriving. Surely this should be included in the fee - which is not cheap!

    Thank you for your feedback. We do advertise Shells Cottage as being provided with a starter pack for the wood burner. This will enough for the first few days of the holiday. After that time, Customers will need to purchase their own fuel. We thank you for your comments. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Mike3.8Nov 2019

  • "The Hot tub is a real highlight as is the open fire place."

    Already planning to come back.

    Reviewed by Kirsten5.0Nov 2019

  • "Really fantastic accommodation."

    ...perfect for family get togethers or a break with friends.

    Reviewed by Tony5.0Oct 2019

  • "We had the most fantastic time, the rooms and facilities far exceeded our expectations and we cannot wait to come back!"

    Reviewed by Charlotte5.0Sep 2019

  • "What a gem this cottage is!"

    ! Set on grounds amongst several lodges and smaller cottages (this isn't mentioned in the description, & having read reviews before our trip this concerned us but you have total privacy and are totally undisturbed so don't be put off) the actual grounds that Shells cottage is nestled in is beautiful - exceptionally large garden area with fabulous outdoor eating space, with BBQ! Plenty of room inside too I was holidaying with my mum, sister and our families (11 in total) and couldn't fault our time there! A huge library of books available, board games & DVDs there too. We had an issue with the hot tub (our fault) but Lloyd was there immediately to rectify. Everything is of a high quality bedding/towels etc. We loved every second of our holiday and looking forward to returning next year, I would highly recommend this cottage.

    Reviewed by Adelle5.0Aug 2019

  • "Upstairs everything is lovely; comfortable and welcoming."

    The downstairs bedroom had a double bed but very little space around it; it felt damp and cramped. The downstairs toilet was directly opposite the dining area which was not very pleasant at meal times. While the cottage was made private by surrounding hedges and tall trees this made for a rather closed in feeling with no view. The site is very close to a main roundabout on the A39 and 2 tall masts - these are hidden by the trees but a compromise giving some outlook would have been better. It is probably cosy in the winter but the living area seemed rather dark due to the small cottage windows. Not sure how eco-friendly the hot tub is when it is emptied onto the garden - certainly no wildlife in the pond. First time we have had to get rid of our own household rubbish; usually only have to sort recyclables. Lots of steps inside and out due to situation on steep bank; steep slope access to cottage and garden. Excellent position for exploring east side of Exmoor.

    Thank you for your comments, we have looked in to the issues you have raised and can confirm we have checked the downstairs bedroom with a moisture meter & the reading is 14% which is considered acceptable especially for an older property. The downstairs toilet is located in the hall and separated from the dining area by 2 separate doors. The masts are part of an iconic landmark in West Somerset and are part of the English heritage owned grade 2 listed Washford transmitting station built in the 1930's. We recycle the water from the hot tub and use it to refill the fountain to keep the fountain water safe for visitors. The pond has toads, newts and 2 black & red Shubunkin fish (the rest sadly taken by the heron) with a variety of native pond weed, the PH level is 7.2 as it should be and is tested frequently. Household rubbish and recycling are collected from the main gate on a weekly basis and guests are kindly asked to place their items here as they drive out. Thanks Again, Sykes Cottages Property Owner

    Reviewed by Jane3.1Aug 2019

  • "Just great property with everything we needed"

    Reviewed by Linda Jane5.0Jun 2019

  • "Highly recommend this cottage - We were 7 adults and 5 kids and there is plenty of room for us all."

    Hot-tub was cleaned daily by the owner. We had one issue with one of the room heaters not working, I called the owner at 10 pm and he came and made it function without any delays. the shells cottage, you will get lots of privacy with no one overlooking the property. we visited blue anchor beach 15 min drive which I highly recommend otherwise we spent most of the time in the lovely cottage!

    Reviewed by Zara5.0Jun 2019

  • "The fact that there was nothing to even think about moaning or complaining about."

    THANK YOU

    Reviewed by Anne5.0May 2019

  • "The cottage was excellent and the facilities first rate; however, more effort could be made to recycle rubbish and more rubbish bags provided."

    Reviewed by Paul4.1May 2019

  • "Beautiful location, surprised to see other holiday let's on site, thought shell's cottage was on its own, don't kniw whether that is mentioned in write up, if not should be."

    As it happened other properties not occupied but wouldnt like it in peak of summer months with loads of kids running wild round by shell's when you are relaxing in tub!! Shell's cottage perfect for our requirements

    Reviewed by Mandy5.0Mar 2019

  • "A perfect place to spend Christmas."

    The kitchen was well-equipped for a gathering of 9 adults and there was plenty of seating in the lounge. The description sort of gives the impression that there is a separate dining room - this is not the case, it is open plan with the lounge which did mean 9 adults couldn’t get away from each other anywhere! However, the hot tub is huge and a perfect place for everyone to relax. Lloyd cleans and checks it every morning so it was always lovely. I would stay here again.

    Reviewed by Joanne4.7Dec 2018

  • "Beautiful house, lovely garden and hot tub in very nice surroundings."

    Plenty of space for the whole family. We even managed to arrange the weather so a lovely family holiday. The house was very cosy so would make a good winter venue as well.

    Reviewed by Adrienne5.0Oct 2018

  • "Everything as advertised."

    Ample space for our family of 10. Lovely towels and bedding. Well equipped throughout. Only one drawback, the wardrobe in one of the double bedrooms (extreme left next to Shower room) could not be used as it smelt extremely mouldy and had to be kept tight shut. Could have caused an asthma problem if a vulnerable person used that room. Needs a new wardrobe.

    Thank you for staying at Shells Cottage and providing us feed back. We have now replaced the wardrobe in question with a brand new one, thank you for letting us know. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Linda4.7Aug 2018

  • "We all had a wonderful time at Shell's Cottage."

    Every effort was made to make us feel comfortable, so that there was space for all our needs. You made a great effort to cater for everyone. Our 7 year old had great fun on the keyboard, the kitchen was extremely well appointed and easy to use. The attention to detail was excellent and the hot tub was a welcome luxury at the end of the day.

    Reviewed by Gilly5.0Aug 2018

  • "The owner was very helpful."

    We had a great holiday.

    Reviewed by James5.0Aug 2018

  • "On arrival and during our stay, we were greeted by Gemma, who made sure that we knew how to contact her for any reason."

    Lloyd also met with us several times and was also extremely helpful and informative, creating a friendly and laid-back atmosphere. We were not troubled by any other guests on site as the cottage is in a very private location. Facilities are excelent and ideal for family gatherings. This was our second stay at Shells cottage and will, hopefully, not be the last.

    Reviewed by Graham5.0Jun 2018

  • "Beautiful cottage; very clean with everything you could need."

    Amazing garden and everyone loved the hot tub!

    Reviewed by Jo5.0May 2018

  • "Excellent management, spotlessly clean."

    Friendly and helpful welcome Great place for a large family gathering of various ages.

    Reviewed by Barbara5.0Apr 2018

  • "Great all round."

    Reviewed by Nick4.7Apr 2018

  • "Really nice property in a lovely location and in fantastic condition."

    ... a family group with ages ranging from 18 months to 85 years old and it suited us perfectly. If I had one criticism, there were only 5 wine glasses, and the property is for 12 people... but im really digging deep for this little issue... All in all a great property with a fantastic hot tub that seated 7/8 easily.... Highly recommended,

    Reviewed by Adam4.8Nov 2017

  • "Excellent weekend spent in a lovely cottage amid splendid setting, would thoroughly recommend."

    Reviewed by Paul4.8Sep 2017

  • "Fabulous venue - excellent on site care - nothing was too much trouble - the area is lovely with lots to do - beach, National Trust , steam railway, walks."

    i would definitely go again.

    Reviewed by Erica4.8Jun 2017

  • "It would be good to be able to see the bedrooms on the website."

    Excellent location.

    Reviewed by Norman4.6Apr 2017

  • "Very comfortable cottage, met all our needs for a family celebration."

    Hot tub was a great novelty. We will have to return to the area as there were so many things we didn't have time for or because the weather was too cold, windy and damp.

    Reviewed by Hazel4.8Nov 2016

  • "We had a fantastic week at Shells Cottage."

    The cottage was clean, well equipped and the grounds were beautiful, including a large private garden with barbecue and plenty of seating for a large party. The hot tub is great and the water was checked everyday. There are other holiday lodges on the grounds but you never feel overlooked. This is a perfect cottage for a group getaway in the countryside, and is in a great location for exploring West Somerset and Exmoor.

    Reviewed by Kay5.0Sep 2016

  • "The cottage was lovely and very roomy for the number of people it was advertised for."

    It was also very well equipped in terms of cooking and catering facilities - far better than some properties we have rented in the past. The white goods equipment provided were also excellent. It would have been useful to have had some trays provided - it was a long way to go backwards and forwards to the barbeque area from the kitchen especially with hot food. Although I had taken a large supply of toilet paper to the property it was disappointing not to have had soap dispensers in any of the bathrooms. We had to go out and buy these as soon as we arrived. We left these all behind and hope they were there ready for the next guests. (Perhaps a list of basicic items such these, could be provided in information near to arrival time - apologies if I missed this). The beds were comfortable although in one of the bedrooms the wardrobe could not be used as it smelt very musty and this permeated the whole room - possible coming from an outside wall!! Overall though, apart from the above, the house was lovely. The onsite Manager was very welcoming and looked after us very well.

    Reviewed by Judy4.6Aug 2016

  • "Great holiday, great cottage."

    However given its setting the owners could do much more for the environment recycling etc.

    Reviewed by Jackie4.2Aug 2016

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Summary

  • Six bedrooms: 2 x king-size double (one with Jack-and-Jill en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC), 1 x double with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x ground floor double, 1 x twin (can be pushed together) with Jack-and-Jill en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC, 1 x twin
  • Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
  • Ground floor basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Dining room (seats 12)
  • Sitting room with woodburner.
  • Gas central heating with woodburner
  • Range cooker with electric oven and gas hobs, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, Smart TV with Freeview, Netflix (please bring your own login details).WiFi, selection of books and DVDs
  • Fuel, power and starter pack for woodburner inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Travel Cot and highchair on request (Cot bedding not provided)
  • Off road parking for 8 cars
  • Private garden with pond and fountain, furniture, BBQ and hot tub
  • One well-behaved dog welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop and pub 1 mile
  • Note: There is an Unfenced pond and fountain in the garden, children and pets must be supervised at all times
  • Note: The owners are members of BISHTA (British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association)
  • Please note - charging for electric cars is not permitted.Charging available in Minehead (10 mins away) Owner is only contactable by email only until the 25th Jan Please note: The property does not accept short breaks over the Christmas and New Year period.

The property

Washford 1.0 miles.

This detached cottage is a fabulous rural retreat for large families or groups, and is set within walking distance of the village of Washford in Somerset.

The cottage is conveniently situated for exploring both Exmoor National Park and the pretty, undulating coastline of North Somerset.

This beautiful chocolate box thatched cottage offers comfortable accommodation and has an abundance of character features including traditional beams and wooden floors, and a country kitchen with granite worktops and range stove.

The comfortable sitting room, with a woodburning stove in a feature fireplace, and the lovely dining room and cosy library are ideal places to sit and relax after a busy day.

There is one bedroom on the ground floor and five first floor bedrooms, many with en-suite facilities, all boasting magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

The large garden offers alfresco dining on a summer's evening and a hot tub.

There are a multitude of rural pursuits including walking, horse riding, fishing and golf, plus two miles away is the pretty ancient port of Watchet and Blue Anchor Beach.

There is also Clay Pigeon Shooting, Archery and Co2 Pistol Shooting for larger groups to enjoy (advance bookings only, contact for more information).

Four miles away are the village of Dunster, which offers a wealth of historic buildings including an 11th century National Trust owned castle.

For family fun, a 15 minute drive takes you to Minehead with a delightful seafront, sandy beach, plenty of shops and departure station for the West Somerset Railway.

A wonderful cottage in a perfect location for exploring the area.

Note: This cottage is near to Refs. 13806, 914740, 16587 and 16588, together they sleep 36.

Shells Cottages

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £300.

View on map

About the location

WASHFORD

Watchet 2 miles; Minehead 6 miles.

Washford is a West Somerset rural village, on the A39 between Minehead and Bridgwater. Located two miles from the pretty coastal port of Watchet, this is an ideal base from which to explore Exmoor National Park and The Quantock Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are many pretty coastal and inland villages to explore including Porlock with its steep hill and pretty winding streets, Dunster with dramatic castle perched above the historic village and the busy resort of Minehead with sandy beach, golf course and traditional seaside attractions. An excellent choice of holiday destination for rural beauty, dramatic coastline and splendid walking.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Christmas