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4 Guests
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2 Bedrooms
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1 Bathroom
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Pets: No
Features
- Off road parking
- Ground floor bedroom
- Garden / Patio
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
54 Customer Reviews
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"We had a wonderful stay."
The property was very comfortable and clean with easy parking. The garden room has a wonderful view of fields, Exmoor and the sea. The garden is very pretty with rabbits and other wildlife visiting. It is a very peaceful place to stay. We would highly recommend.
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"Lovely cottage, with beautiful views and everything you need for a relaxing break."
The free range eggs and milk provided by the host was also a lovely gesture and as a result, we explored the local farmers shops! Great place to enjoy local beaches, the steam train and easy access to explore beautiful Dunster and Exmoor
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"Light, bright, spacious, clean and comfortable in a great location for exploring the area."
Lovely views from the property, with the sea and hills right on the doorstep, and a steam railway thrown in for good measure (not too close for comfort). Good parking too.
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"Enjoyed are stay very much."
Loved the back of the house the most the conservatory was so delightful. Bungalow was very clean and a really lovely bathroom. So many places to walk beach etc and any car rides we took to Watchet, Dunster and Minehead all within roughly 20/30 minutes. .Lovely quite area around the bungalow, all so relaxing. Only dissapointments were not being allowed in until 4.30 (most places are 3 and some even text you to say come earlier as the cleaning is finished) and having to leave at 9.30. This is the only place we have ever visited in all the years with Skyes when it hasent been 10am. That extra 30 mins in the morning make a big difference.
Thank you for your kind comments about our bungalow. Our caretaker is happy to accommodate a 10am departure and 3pm arrival. Property Owner
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"Excellent home away from home Thornby had everything we needed for a lovely ..."
Excellent home away from home Thornby had everything we needed for a lovely restful holiday, close to the beach for great walks and a handy location for seeing the sights of Somerset thanks to the host for providing such a clean an spacious bungalow
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"The owners have obviously spent a lot if money on the property; but."
Whoever does the cleaning needs to reminded what their job is. There were lots of cobwebs especially in the Conservative area; the bathroom has been done beautifully but the shower tray is not being cleaned properly and is turning a yellowish colour. The whole property suffers with an infestation of wood lice; they are in most rooms and we were regularly killing them. On the plus side the views are spectacular and it is a lovely place to relax.
We are sorry for any disappointment and have drawn our caretakers attention to your comments. The property does back onto fields so there is an increased possibility of spiders and wood lice. Property Owner
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"The bungalow was well equipped with everything we needed and everything was very clean & comfortable ."
Good layout all round with lovely views from the sun room area across to the fields, hills / exmoor in the distance and a sea view to the right & Minehead in the distance. Had a very enjoyable stay all round and would highly recommend.Close to the beach & also easy access to many other places of interest too .Thank you.
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"One word for this cottage "Superb" our arrival was a delight, easy entry, and exceptional interior."
As we looked around, we could see the cottage had everything including sea views from every room accept the lounge, the TVs were fully functional smart TVs with an excellent internet connection all rooms were large and very comfortable we will definitely book again. Blue Anchor has long been a favorite destination for us now we have exceptional accomadation to stay in.
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"Great property, very clean and uncluttered."
Kitchen layout very good. Good heating system and great shower. Very close to the beach with nice walks straight from the property. Very quiet at night which was lovely a great time of year to visit.
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"Lovely property and lovely views across the back also seeing the train was something we enjoyed."
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"Very nice kitchen."
Really set out well and well equipped.Nice and bright and comfortable seating by the Bifold doors. Great views overlooking countryside and sea and the wsr. Very comfortable sitting room in the evening. Comfortable bed. Good size bathroom with walk in shower. Plenty of space for parking. The only thing we would say is a couple of more saucepans as there was only one and a couple of decent frying pans. And some more pint glasses. Other than that it's a lovely quiet place to stay. Close to beach and walks and heritage railway a couple of minutes away. Nicely placed to go exploring.
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"The cottage was beautiful, everything you needed, it was so comfortable and spotlessly clean, the views were amazing could not fault it."
The only downfall (nothing to do with the cottage) was there was not a little shop within walking distance we thought the camp site just around the corner had a shop in it but unfortunately it was just a fridge with milk in it and a couple of shelves with bits and pieces on it in the reception so you either had to use the car or catch a bus which is a bit of a jaunt if you just need a paper as the nearest place is either Minehead or Watchet. On the upside the open top buses which were only a ten minute walk away were great, we had lovely trips out to Lynmouth Minehead, Ilfracombe etc and the bus drivers are so friendly and informative as were all the people, we had a lovely holiday.
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"The property is lovely and location and views were amazing."
The beach and train are two minutes away which was fabulous. Everything was easy to find and the bathroom and shower was especially good. The kitchen is well equipped all I would say is that I do think the cooker extractor needs a little attention I think it just needs the filter changing. Apart from that everything was clean and tidy. The beds are super comfortable and we all slept soundly and there was plenty of storage for clothes. The only thing is the wardrobe in the twin room does have an odd odour but this could be easily rectified I’m sure. We did have to be out by 9.30am and I think 10.00am would be better as we ran out of time to strip the beds as requested as by the time you have got up and had your breakfast then packed the car it didn’t leave any time and to be honest I’m on my holiday and I’m not going to rush.
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"Excellent stay - really relaxing - only drawback no local shop"
Glad you enjoyed your stay. In fact you can buy newspapers, milk, bread etc at the shop on the local campsite, a short walk away. Property Owner
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"Lovely bungalow, well appointed with beautiful views!"
Situated in a great location with plenty of lovely walks and very close to beach.
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"A nice clean and confortable place to stay with a fantastic view from the back garden."
Beach is 5mins away as is blue anchor station. Minehead is 10mins by car. This is a great spot for exploring exmoor and the quantocks. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay and would happily book again.
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"A lovely, homely & well equipped / kept property, great garden with beautiful views."
The owners had obviously put a lot of thought into providing everything that was required for guests comfort. Really loved it, felt completely at home - didn't want to leave - will certainly be booking again in the future ! A note for future guests - local takeaways are a bit "duff" & you cannot rely on Taxi's from Watchet !!
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"Lovely clean cottage."
Superb views towards Dunster.
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"On entry seemed ok but their was a greasy smell in the kitchen due to the cooker hood which had fat drips on which hadn’t been cleaned ,the overhead fan was filthy and greasy , and the microwave when used emitted a horrible smell , we had to buy a air freshener to combat the smell ."
Couldn’t use wardrobes because of the musty smell in them , the shower wasn’t draining away properly because the trap needed a clean . One mattress on the single bed needs replacing, wouldn’t stay again .
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"Warm, comfortable, inviting home, with lovely views."
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"Warm and comfortable with lovely views"
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"We really enjoyed our stay in Thornby at Blue Anchor."
The bungalow was clean and comfortable and met all our needs. We loved the beautiful view from the back of the bungalow across the garden, where we could see Minehead across the bay, and Exmoor above the Brenden hills, and we saw the steam train pass by several times, It was an ideal location for us to visit Exmoor.
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"Just think a mirror to exit driveway would be helpful thankyou for a wonderful holiday"
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"Could not open the front door so used back door throughout our stay which did not cause us a problem but may people with walking issues,also the key safe cover kept falling down just a worry that in bad weather i."
E rain may cause a problem, But lovely bungalow in lovely quite position beautiful.
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"We really enjoyed our stay at Thornby."
Lovely views from the rear lounge. We had a mixed week of weather but a couple of lovely sunsets. The shower was fantastic and beds very comfortable. It was lacking some larger drinking glasses, plenty of wine glasses and mini tumblers but only one pint glass. Also found it difficult to see exiting the driveway. I stood across the road then beckoned my husband out and jumped in but mirrors opposite,if possible, would be very helpful.
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"I think this is the 3rd time we've stayed here and it's much better with the open kitchen/conservatory and upgraded bathroom."
Beautiful views and comfortable beds, very relaxing holiday, will be back. Jan and Ray
Thank you for your kind and positive feedback. It makes us and our caretakers happy when guests enjoy the house as much as we do. It makes our lockdown expenditure worthwhile. Property Owner
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"We were so looking forward to a relaxing break but the weather wasn’t in our ..."
We were so looking forward to a relaxing break but the weather wasn’t in our favour , on first getting to Thornby it looked good kitchen diner light and bright but going through to the bedrooms there is a musty smell and on opening small wardrobe in twin bedroom it was worse so no clothes could be hung in there windows were opened to help with smell , double bed was not big enough for us so hubby slept in twin room and the covers smelt musty , the covers on the sofa in kitchen are not fit for purpose spent more time trying to put them right than sitting on it , cobwebs in lots of places , we were so disappointed after the reviews we read were good , in the end I couldn’t stand the smell or feel of the place and with the weather being rubbish we came back home , the view out of the windows out back was lovely and little rabbits in the garden most days , and we couldn’t move the velux blinds as nothing to operate them with very disappointing
We are disappointed that the guests did not enjoy their stay. The bed is a standard double and has ikeas most popular mattress. Our caretakers are most conscientious in dusting cobwebs, but with gardens and fields around they return quickly. We find it best to leave the velux blinds down for the summer but the room is still very light. All the beds were of course freshly changed, but the caretakers will investigate if there is a smell. We have no influence over the weather but are sorry that it was so poor. Property Owner
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"Spent a fabulous week at this property, very clean, well appointed and in a good location."
It's nice and airy, we spent most of the time when inside in the garden room, looking at the wonderful landscape and the sound of the steam trains. We enjoyed it so much that we have booked another week for next year.
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"The cottage was clean and well kept and very comfortable."
It has a lovely garden and good view would happily return or recomend to friends.
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"Excellent in all aspects 5*"
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"Much improved since last visited."
There is an issue with exiting safely onto the road- I found that going past the gatepost on the extreme right and then turning sharp left before entering the road so I was at a acute angle was much safer especially with the window down. It means turning round down the road but it is much safer.
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"Needs a little TLC."
Ants and Spiders we could not get on with, two Hornets seen coming through air vent, cob webs in the ceiling, really a DIY job in the kitchen. Beds not for us. Sorry, it was our choice but the wrong choice. We left Thurs and not the Sat.
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"Thornby is nicely situated with sunny uninterrupted views over fields towards Exmoor and Minehead, and westwards to the sea."
The property is spotlessly clean, comfortable and really well appointed/equipped-we lacked for nothing. The beds are seriously comfy! A feature of the property is the sunny and light "garden room" adjoining the kitchen and dining area. Blue Anchor is well placed for visits to Minehead, the West Somerset Steam Railway, Dunster (NT castle) Watchet (small old Somerset port) and further afield to Exmoor where you can climb to Dunkery Beacon for amazing 360 deg wiews over that part of West Somerset Overall a really nice place to stay -we can highly recommend Thornby, Blue Anchor and the surroundings.
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"Excellent for leaving enough linen to cover the 2 weeks."
BUT, there should definitely be more than 1 tea towel. Television in lounge could do with updating, rained 90% of the time we were there. Weather aside we had a really good break and travelled around the area, breathaking views and lovely villages. Loved the accommodation and what a view.
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"Myself and my parents have just returned from a lovely week spent in Thornby and Blue Anchor."
Thornby is lovely we didn't use the main lounge staying all the time in the conservatory and enjoying the views. We had fog for a few days but it didn't stop us doing what we had planned. When we book again, will be using this accommodation again as really convenient. Only downside was getting off the drive, have to be really careful as can't see traffic coming from both sides.
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"Dripping tap in open plan kitchen / living area that had been commented on by the previous 2 occupants."
No extra toilet rolls in bathroom. No care package on arrival. I can’t think of another cottage that we’ve stayed at in the last 30 years that left absolutely nothing. Laminated notices left everywhere. Such a shame as the location and facilities are good. We will not be choosing this place again
We are sorry that the clients did not enjoy their stay. A new kitchen tap has been fitted. Cleaning materials, dishwashing materials, kitchen roll, toilet tissue and hand wash are provided, but we will ask the caretakers to leave extra toilet tissue. Our caretaker lives in the village and is very helpful. Property Owner
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"Lovely bungalow."
Lovely views and extremely quiet. Good location for grandchildren who could walk to steam train station and beach. The only thing Blue Anchor itself lacks as a convenience store.
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"Good location, bungalow comfortable, long walk to nearest pub/restaurant, nearest supermarket in Minehead."
Welcome pack would have been a nice touch. Shop is in the cafe, didn't notice it straight away. If facilities had been closer it would have been perfect.
There are 2 cafés close by of which the the Driftwood is very popular and only 5 minutes walk. The Haven café which includes the shop is 10 minutes walk. They are open during the day. The Smugglers pub and restaurant is about a 15 minute flat walk along the promenade. All major supermarkets will deliver to the property. Property Owner
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"My only slight concern was the steep steps outside the patio doors although there was a handrail but all in all the bungalow and the view were breathtaking."
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"Although the cottage was comfortable and bright however we did find the ceiling glass windows could be extremely bright and you were unable to pull the blinds on these."
We did contact the caretaker who suggested we should reach up using a broom handle, this was impossible.
With regard to the velux blinds, two are currently half closed and the third is almost completely closed. Should customers not find this suitable they can contact the caretaker who can adjust them. We are sorry the guests did not find the arrangements suitable and for the misunderstanding when they contacted the caretaker. Property Owner
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"Second time we've stayed at Thornby."
Great location, good facilities, really clean. I'm sure we'll be back again!
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"Key collection instructions were not accurate."
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"We were at the cottage for two weeks but had the same bedding for both weeks."
otherwise a great place to stay. Will certainly return for another holiday in the future.
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"Excellent views from the house - sea, hills, and a Heritage Railway."
Lovely walks from the house. Plenty to see. The house was nipping clean, and very clear instructions everywhere, and even a wi-fi that worked first time. Good kitchen. Excellent shower. The house is warm. For middle range price holiday accommodation I would rate this very good value. We definitely expect to go again.
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"When we arrived the the first thing I did was to clean the bathroom floor with a damp cloth."
I realised later what I think had happened. The lounge carpet, I think, had been cleaned/washed and someone had walked on the carpet when it was still damp and then walked into the bathroom and put what looked like muddy footprints all over it. We also had to wipe out some of the kitchen cupboards to get the crumbs out before we used them. All the rest was clean. Bed was really comfortable. The crockery and glasses in the kitchen was limited - if you want a half pint or pint glass bring one with you! There was a dish washer but not really enough crockery to use it sensibly. The conservatory was brilliant, we ate our meals in there and spent other times in there looking the fields, hills and sea. I have seen comments about getting safely off the drive without having someone standing and waving you out. We have a Vauxhall Corsa, so not a huge car and what we did, which might sound a bit odd if you are not there, was to reverse out and get the back of the car going towards the hedge, then bring the front out so the car ends up parallel to the road and you can see up and down the road easily.
We had packed away much of the crockery and kitchen equipment in order to make it easier to clean. We will put more back out. We had asked our caretakers to leave out extra dishwashing tablets so that the machine could be run daily. We will speak to the caretakers about the bathroom and kitchen cupboards, but in view of the extra workload and safety of our cleaners would appreciate it if clients helped to keep the property clean during their visit. There is ample space to turn the car in the driveway. Property Owner
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"The location was great."
We wanted a cottage with a view and a large garden for our kids to play in and we certainly got these. The cottage is basic though and arguably could do with a little updating in some places. But we certainly had a lovely holiday and the cottage is a simple 2 minute walk to the beach and a great lovation to explore exmoor.
Thank you for your comments regarding Thorny, we are happy to hear that you had a lovely time at the property. Regarding the cottage being basic, we had had to remove soft furnishings and ornaments in line Covid-19 guidelines. Property Owner
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"Lovely comfy bungalow with everything one could need , the only drawback was the Central Heating ."
OK to go off at 10.30. am and electric fire for cold days wh fire ich obviously did not heat the rest of bungalow. However the Central Heating would not come back on at programmed time of 4.45. pm unless the fire wasturned off at 4pm and the lounge had gone cold because of the thermostat in lounge and no manual over ride . This meant if you stayed in you were very cold.....or had tro stay in lounge with doors closed.. Very dissapointed as the weather was bad.
Thank you for your feedback. There would have been no problem with the central heating and advise all guests to contact the caretaker or property owners. They could have had it on all day. There is an override and the heating instructions have been altered to make that clear. With regard to other issues over the last 12 months: The bump at the entrance to the driveway has been lowered and the double bed has a new mattress. Apologies that the weather was not better for your stay. Property Owner
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"Could do with a mirror when exiting driveway' cant see oncoming traffic."
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"Comfortable, clean and great views from the garden."
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"As we arrived late evening in the dark, due to our situation, more clarification to the whereabout of Thornby would have been appreciated."
The outside table and rickety bench needed looking at and the conservatory window sills were full of flies. The clock in the kitchen needed a new battery, but that didn't really matter to us. The situation of the bungalow was ideal being so close to the beach. Plenty of cutlery, crockery etc and the shower was lovely and hot.
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"This is a fabulous place to stay."
There is plenty of space and the view from the bedrooms and conservatory is wonderful. We spent ages watching the rabbits on the lawn, the steam train, the tides, the bats, people walking on the beach and best of all- the sunsets.
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"Previous feedback from other guests highlighted some issues, namely the double mattress and driveway entrance hump."
The mattress as per previous feedback from guests does require renewal, and I was dissapointed that this matter was not rectified prior to our arrival. The tarmac hump to the entrance of the driveway could potentially cause serious damage to renters cars. Having been warned from feedback left on the website, I negotiated the hump extremely cautiously, but still my new Mercedes scuffed the underpanel, not pleased. In order to negotiate the hump I had to use two large scaffold planks found in the side passage in order to negotiate the hump. This really does require immediate attention, and in the interim warning signs should be placed at the driveway entrance. Some garden furniture would have been nice. We did enjoy the property, especially the views, the kitchen and conservatory were good.
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"Take care when driving onto or off the drive, there is a large Tarmack hump at the entrance."
Take it too fast and you will bottom out. Great little Bungallo, everything you need. If going for the steam railway - make sure it's open. Times change year to year. The only negative comment would be the double mattress in the main bedroom has certainly seen better days and should be changed asap.
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"Enjoyed holiday Thornby was really comfortable and very clean would go again"
Summary
- Single-storey
- Two bedrooms: 1 x king bed, 1 x twin
- Bathroom with a large walk-in shower, basin and WC, cloakroom with a basin and WC
- Kitchen/diner
- Sitting room with an electric fire
- Gas central heating, electric fire
- Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, Smart TV, Fibre broadband WiFi
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off-road parking for 3 cars
- Rear enclosed lawn with furniture
- Sorry, no pets and no smoking
- Shop, pub, café on-site, beach short walk away
- Note: Please be aware of hump in road at entrance to drive
- Note: Check in 3pm check out 10am
- Note: Swimming pool and small gym open to visitors except in school holidays
- Note: Steps coming down from property to garden with handrail so it may be unsuitable for people with severe mobility issues
Your home away from home
Thornby, a light and airy bungalow, looks out towards the glistening Blue Anchor Bay in the West Somerset village of Blue Anchor.
The West Somerset Railway is close to the property with the Blue Anchor railway station being only 200 metres from the property, and trains can be seen as they go round the bay.
Its comfortable accommodation and superb location for outdoor opportunities make it a fine base for couples, families and friends to enjoy together.
First to greet you upon entering the property is the inviting sitting room; snug leather sofas, a warming electric fire and a Freeview TV help to make this the perfect relaxing spot after the sun goes down.
Both bedrooms, a king bed and a twin, are delightfully finished with superb views beyond the garden and out to sea.
The bathroom at the property is a sparkling, tiled layout, including a large walk-in shower.
Prepare and enjoy your home-cooked meals in the refreshing kitchen/diner set with cream units, a range of useful appliances including a fridge/freezer and a charming dining table.
Continuous with the kitchen is a garden room featuring Velux windows and bi-fold doors.
This is a right and sunny room with panoramic views of Exmoor, Minehead the steam trains and the sea.
From here you can enjoy a drink whilst watching the sun set.
From here, step out onto the lawned garden, which presents views of the breath-taking Exmoor to the left and the beach to the right.
Blue Anchor's café and choice of friendly pubs are within walking distance, as is the beach, for those scorching summer days and a novelty golf course for a fun-filled day.
Many spectacular attractions lie within easy reach; visit Dunster with its beautiful castle, the quaint harbour town of Watchet.
The coastal resort of Minehead which is 4 miles away and has a golf course and a selection of supermarkets; tickets for Butlins can be bought here, all of which are well worth a day trip, while Carhamption, just 2 miles away is where you will find a handy village shop.
Avid walkers, cyclists and wildlife spotters can venture through the renowned Exmoor National Park nearby.
Thornby is a splendid retreat in a fine rural location.
Where you’ll be staying
BLUE ANCHOR
Dunster 3 miles; Lynton 9 miles; Weston-Super-Mare 43 miles.
Blue Anchor is a small coastal hamlet in west Somerset, three miles from medieval Dunster. Well known for its alabaster rocks, which are of great geological interest, Blue Anchor is a quiet and peaceful seaside location with a wide beach, plentiful fossils and a promenade three quarters of a mile long with scenic views of Dunster Castle and Minehead Bay beyond. It offers peaceful relaxation, is popular with anglers who fish off the promenade, and is just a short steam train ride on the West Somerset Railway from Minehead. The Blue Anchor station waiting room and booking office have been lovingly restored, using Great Western fittings, many of them original, and the Railway Museum is housed in the former waiting room. Walk along the beach from Blue Anchor to Dunster, enjoying the views across the channel towards Wales, and wander through the medieval streets with the beautiful castle towering above. Inside the castle are fine plasterwork ceilings, while the extensive terraced and landscaped gardens contain many rare shrubs and trees, and offer marvellous views out to sea. Further afield, Minehead has golden sandy beaches, seaside attractions, and plenty of cafes, shops and bistros.