facilities

Westerclose's five holiday properties - 2 detached houses, 2 bungalows and an apartment - are arranged around their own car park in the private grounds of Westerclose House, overlooking the village of Withypool. Westerclose is very quiet and peaceful with no immediate neighbours, yet the village inn/restaurant (The Royal Oak) and shop are only 300 metres down the lane. The shop has a good range of provisions as well as fresh meat and dairy produce, wine, beer, newspapers etc. There is also a tea shop.

View over Withypool down the Barle Valley, from Westerclose

Each cottage has its own, fenced garden with picnic table on the lawn and super views along Pennycombe or down the oak wooded Barle valley. The cottages all have log-burners and double glazing (logs are inclusive from Oct-May), so they are warm and cosy throughout the year. Our apartment has simply spectacular views, its own garden area and like the cottages is private and cosy. They all have modern fitted kitchens and the soft-furnishings were hand-made. Hot water is inclusive and the cold water is pure natural spring water from our own source.

Resident owners Val & Mike Warner offer a top quality, non-intrusive service to all their visitors which includes our own free-range eggs and a transport service for walkers. We have an excellent information room (with telephone) and are usually available to give help or advice about the area etc.

WALKING

Withypool is an excellent location for a walking holiday, being in the centre of the Exmoor National Park. Many of our guests do not touch their car during their stay. The wooded Barle valley has excellent paths along the riverside. There are over 680 miles (1094km) of footpaths in the Park. The wooded combes and the rare and beautiful heather-clad moorland provide a myriad of spectacular views. Our brochure details a number of popular walks and our information room has details of many more.

We provide a transport service so that walkers can do linear walks. There is a circular tourist bus (the 285) which serves Withypool daily allowing linear walks. The 300 service which runs along the North coast allows linear sections of the spectacular SW Coast Path to be walked. The cliffs are the highest in England.

DOGS WELCOME

We welcome well-behaved dogs. We have a dog walk. Dogs on leads at all times.

RIDING - DIY LIVERY

Golden Horseshoe competitors at Westerclose Holiday Cottages

Two "Golden Horseshoe" competitors leaving Westerclose

We have 3 large stable boxes with internal corridor, tack room etc., and 3 large turnout paddocks next to the cottages which are available on a DIY livery basis for those who want to bring their own horses. There is excellent hacking available directly from our yard.

Horses can be hired locally by the hour or day - we can advise on suitable stables.

FISHING

Wimbleball Reservoir

Northern end of Wimbleball reservoir

Fly-fishing for salmon and trout is excellent on Exmoor. There are a number of beautiful rivers (the East Lyn, the Exe, the Barle etc.) and also some stillwaters. Local Fly-fishing guide Nick Hart in Exford (2 miles) has written a very good guide to Exmoor fishing.

There is good beach fishing along the coast and boat trips are available from Minehead, Lynmouth, Ilfracombe and Appledore.

Wimbleball reservoir is a SW Water class 1 fly lake (about 25 minutes by car). There are several other trout/mixed lakes nearby.

WILDLIFE

Exmoor Ponies on Winsford Hill near Withypool '

'Exmoor' Mother & foal near Withypool

The Exmoor National Park is famous for its herds of wild Exmoor Ponies, Red deer, and foxes. The River Barle, which flows through our village is designated "SSSI" (site of special scientific interest). Among the rare creatures listed are Otter, Salmon, Brook Lamprey and Bullhead.

For birdwatchers there are buzzards, merlin, harriers, chats, nuthatches, kingfishers & redshanks to name just a few. On North Hill near Minehead there are now some Dartford Warblers. A large heronry has recently established in the woods by the Barle in Withypool just half a mile from Westerclose.

FAMILIES

There are many attractions for the younger visitor to Exmoor. There are several excellent theme/fun parks, animal parks and a number of good sandy beaches. Our brochure details some of these. The 3 mile long, EU blue-flag beach at Woolacombe is the most popular with Westerclose visitors and is just 40 minutes scenic drive away. There are also several steam railways including the West Somerset Railway which operates between Minehead and Taunton through some beautiful scenery. Up-to-date details of all these (tourist leaflets, timetables etc) are in our info. room.

Woolacombe beach