Lucky you if you get to stay at Cricklehaze in Somerset; there’s fun to be had, laughter to be shared and memories to be made at this luxury large group holiday house, tucked away in a very peaceful location in the Blackdown Hills. Interiors are spacious and quirky with fixtures and fittings from its old days as a dairy put to good use and original artworks adorning the walls; good to know is that sustainability is at the forefront and the property is access friendly.
This is a lovely place to stay for family holidays and celebrations with your loved ones all through the year; 7 bedrooms sleep 14 and there’s room for 4 extra guest beds, charged per person. The private spa hall with a pool, hot tub and sauna, and the adjacent games room/movie room mean you don’t need to worry what the weather’s doing.
If you want to venture out to explore the local area, all you need to do is lace up your boots and set off on one of the waymarked footpaths through the fields; you’ll be rewarded with spectacular scenery and an abundance of nature. Just a few miles away you’ll find excellent walking territory at Castle Neroche and Otterhead Lakes.
Days by the sea are easy because the beaches on the Jurassic Coast can be reached in 45 minutes. Spend a day in Lyme Regis, strolling along the seafront, visiting Dinosaurland Fossil Museum and the Marine Aquarium; catch your dinner on a mackerel fishing trip, take an exhilarating rib ride around the bay, play mini golf in the town gardens. Just along the coast are the quiet villages of Beer and Branscombe, great for walks on the South West Coast Path and lunch at a shoreside café.
If cars are your thing, head over to Haynes Motor Museum for the UK’s biggest collection of cars and motorbikes, if you’re more into aviation, go to Fleet Air Arm Museum. If you’re here for a special birthday, book a surprise flight or wing walk at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, or go alpaca walking at Stoke Wood Alpacas. For days out with the kids, Ferne Animal Sanctuary is good, or Wildwood Devon with animals to spot, a zip wire and a Saxon village with hands on activities.
Those who like historic houses and beautiful gardens are in for a treat because Forde Abbey and Montacute House aren’t far; wander round the lakes and follies at Hestercombe House and Gardens, explore the formal gardens and wider estate at Barrington Court.
There are several cosy country pubs nearby where you can tuck into hearty homemade food; The Candlelight Inn at Bishopswood and The Cotley Inn at Wambrook are highly recommended, or try The Five Dials at Horton. Chat with the locals, have a pint of proper Somerset cider.
It’s all about happy days and happy ways when you stay at Cricklehaze. Enjoy a heavenly slice of country life, wholesome fresh air and birdsong, and spending time with the people you love most in the world. Luxury togetherness comes easy here – it's everything that large family holidays should be.