Chateau / Country House rental in Somerset, United Kingdom - The Cleeve - Victorian Exmoor hunting lodge sleeping upto 28 in style. - Property 78091

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Porlock: * Once a thriving port until the sea receded hundreds of years ago, now one of the few remaining working villages on Exmoor and has an attractive mix of thatched cottages, shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants to cover all tastes. Sitting in the natural bowl known as Porlock Vale it is surrounded on three sides by hills, with the notoriously steep Porlock Hill to the west and the sea to the north. Porlock Visitor Centre is unmatched for local knowledge, the ancient parish church of St. Dubricius with its distinctive truncated spire, sits in the centre of the village with the Dovery museum and the Ship Inn, visited by the poet Robert Southey at opposite ends of Porlock village. * Porlock Weir was once a small working harbour enclosed by lock gates. The shingle ridge, groynes and views across Porlock Bay to Hurlstone Point are much loved by artists and visitors alike. * Culbone, famous for having the smallest parish church in England and for inspiring Coleridge's 'Kubla Khan'.

Some other places: * Horner is a National Trust village with many thatched cottages, water mill, tea rooms, ancient woods and the trickling Horner Water which form part of a National Nature Reserve which is renowned for red deer, rare lichens and ancient oaks. A walk beside Horner Water on a sunny day is simply magical. * Allerford is another National Trust village within the Holnicote Estate and has a fifteenth century packhorse bridge over Aller Brook. The West Somerset Rural Life Museum is located in the old thatched school house. * Doone Country is the area around Badgworthy Water where R.G. Blackmore's novel 'Lorna Doone' was set. Attractions include Oare church which is mentioned in the novel. * Dunkery Beacon is the highest point on Exmoor at 1705 feet (519m) from where on a clear day up to 13 counties can be seen together with the Bristol Channel and Welsh mountains many miles away. * Dunster is a medieval village with its Yarn Market, Castle, Priory Church, Tithe Barn, various shops.

Just a few more of the many many other places: * Lynton and Lynmouth was once referred to as 'Little Switzerland' and is famous for its spectacular coastal scenery. Lynmouth is linked to Lynton by a water powered cliff railway. * Watersmeet is where the Hoar Water meets the East Lyn. It is a lovely beauty spot and Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a welcoming tea garden and visitor centre. * Valley of the Rocks offers spectacular sea cliffs rising to nearly 1000 feet (300m) and is also home to some very agile goats. * Selworthy is unsurpassed as a chocolate-box village, with its picture postcard green surrounded by thatched cottages, National Trust shop and splendid tearoom. Prominent for all to see is the newly refurbished Selworthy church which stands out as a land mark from miles away. * Wimbleball Lake was formed by damming the Haddeo and now acts as a reservoir. It is also the home of the South West Lakes Trust Water Sports Centre and offers various water sports activities.

Golf: There are plenty of golf courses around, with the nearest probably being at Minehead.

Other Activities: Football, cricket, sailing, site seeing.

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