Thank you for booking to stay at The Oval in Dunster. This is a very special property - people have been sleeping under its roof since 1366 when it was built! If only the walls could speak! I'm sure you'll feel very comfortable and cosy here, whatever time of year you choose to stay. Shortly before your stay, I like to organise a short pre-arrival call so I can make sure I have everything needed to make your holiday with us as happy as possible. I love introducing guests to Exmoor, or welcoming them back to this beautiful part of England. It’s a stunning yet often overlooked part of the country. As a guest once wrote in a Visitors’ Book, “We asked ourselves why we had driven past Somerset for years when everything we wanted and more was here.” And I believe that’s true. To one side is the sea and inviting beaches, to another purple heather humming with bees on the moor, and in between a patchwork of villages, peppered across the land, with local artisans and independent businesses that you're going to love. So now you can start looking forward to your 'Happy Holiday' at The Oval cottage.

A charming, historic English Holiday Cottage – with high-quality, modern-day living features, furnishings, and amenities. There’s a cosy front room with a wood-burning stove, a large kitchen and a dining room. Three comfortable bedrooms include an antique four-poster bed! Plus a pretty courtyard and sundeck too. A self-catering holiday cottage for more than 10 years with the current host, The Oval is an award-winning cottage, and is Four Star Gold Rated by VisitEngland. This cosy English heritage holiday home boasts original cruck beams, oak screening, a stunning four-poster bed, wood-burning stove, stone floors and many more fascinating features. It is thrilling to explore and find marks on the wood panelling made by the carpenters so long ago or sleep in the stately four-poster, just like Henry VIII. In fact, Channel 4’s Time Team has dendro-dated the cruck beams in the main bedroom to the winter of 1366. The property sleeps up to six adults plus there's a cot for babies (please bring your own bedding). The main bedroom has a high vaulted ceiling and antique four-poster bed. There's a 'Jack and Jill' bathroom accessible from here and the twin. The double has a bath. We provide hairdryers, towels and linen. We pride ourselves on our welcome, and we try to do everything we can to accommodate your needs. That starts with a pre-arrival call, a couple of weeks (or earlier if you'd like), before you arrive. On this call I cover where to park (we have two reserved parking spaces), how to get into the property and where you may need to watch your head - as a medieval cottage, some of the door frames downstairs are lower than modern houses, and taller people will need to duck. There are stone floors downstairs, so do pack slippers. There are also some steps up to the kitchen, we have good lighting and handrails here to assist. I can also help with restaurant recommendations, plus activities, walks etc - you name it!

The Oval, on West Street, is in the heart of the beautifully preserved village of Dunster which boasts historic buildings, a National Trust castle, dovecot, the iconic Yarn Market, and a sandy beach within walking distance. The village is within an International Dark Sky Reserve and guests can view the night sky from the comfort of the deck in the garden. A short stroll from the cottage along the cobbled streets finds the village’s independent shops, cafes, award winning restaurants and pubs serving traditional food and drink. Take the kids to paddle in the stream running under the picturesque Gallox Bridge, walk through the Tall Trees Trail at Nutcombe Bottom, or ride on the steam train from nearby Dunster Station stopping off at the harbour town of Watchet. Walkers will love our complimentary Little Book of 12 Exmoor Walks and guests can enjoy discounts on water sports, a round of golf, or an indulgent pamper treatment with Exmoor Character Cottages. Discover more of Exmoor’s stunning scenery, beaches, wildlife, and the Exmoor ponies, or head out to the A39 through the Holnicote Estate, to the breath-taking Jurassic coast, and the seaside resort of Lynton and Lynmouth. One more thing. Mobile phone reception is poor throughout Dunster village (and in parts of Exmoor too). We have fast Wi-Fi at The Oval, so suggest you switch your phone to Wi-Fi calling when you arrive. The code for the Wi-Fi is in the dining room. This is also the best place to try and use your phone - and if you have an emergency, we have a landline by the front door.