Emergency
Police, Ambulance, Fire: 999
Address: Westermill Farm, Exford, Minehead, TA24 7NJ
Grid Reference: SS 82421 39837
Urgent
Taunton Hospital (A&E, Musgrove): 01823 333 444
- For directions — click HERE
Minehead Hospital (Day time only): 01643 701 701
- For directions — click HERE
Exmoor Medical Centre (Dulverton, Day time only): 01398 323 333
- For directions — click HERE
Dulverton Veterinary Practice: 01398 323 285
- For directions — click HERE
Otherwise...
IF you need assistance — please come down to the farmhouse and ring the bell in Reception.
Or... phone or text Oliver:
- Oliver's mobile: 07970 594 808
There are 5 cottages for rent.
Molinia ... can sleep 7 adults: click for details
Ling ... can sleep 4 adults : click for details
Whortleberry ... can sleep 4 adults : click for details
Gorse ... can sleep 7 adults : click for details
New Holly ... can sleep 4 adults : click for details
Your cottage will be open and ready for your arrival.
Cottage arrival should be from 3 PM onward — unless an earlier time has been arranged with Westermill Farm.
- Please text Oliver at... 07970 594 808 ...if you are going to be later than 8 PM
The diagram below shows the cottage locations.
IF you are staying in New Holly Cottage (Holly in the Diagram below) you may park beside the cottage.
For all the other cottages, you may "pull in" near Gorse Cottage (Diagram: Note 1) to unload before moving your car up to the Cottage Parking area.
- Please do not stop overly long at the Gorse Cottage "pull in" as other cottage goers may wish to avail themselves of its facility: Thank you.
Cottage Locations Diagram
10 AM ... ideally for Westermill, but... later departures may be arranged by prior agreement.
Please discuss with Jill ... at Reception / Farmhouse ... a least a couple of days in advance.
Only if you are staying in New Holly (Holly, in the diagram below), in which case you may park right beside.
For other cottage visitors... you may "temporarily" park in the Gorse Cottage "pull in" to unload but then should move your vehicle up to the Cottage Parking area — see Cottage Diagram
Cottage Locations Diagram
Whichever is easiest for you...
A. Drop by Reception... we may not always be there ... but if we are, we may, at least, be able to offer you "tea and sympathy".
B. Phone or Text us at:
- Oliver's phone: 07970 594 808
- Jill's phone: 07376 583 034 ... JSYK — Jill does not carry her phone around much.
C. Email us at: cottages@westermill.com
- Charlotte monitors this email address -- assiduously -- but as she lives in Perth ... ... ... there may be a 12 hour time lag.
There are wood burners in each cottage.
There should be a complimentary basket of fire wood in the cottage upon your arrival.
IF you require additional firewood it is for sale from Westermill Farm at £5 a bag — please inquire.
Always — exercise due caution around open flame.
IF you are not familiar with enclosed wood burning fireplaces ... we will be happy to show you how to start a fire with one match. [Hint: we use lots of kindling and a couple of firestarters.]
See Cottage Wood Burner Guidelines -- following -- for details.
Approved Fuels
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- A bag / basket of logs and kindling (fire starters, paper and wood slivers) should be in the Cottage upon your arrival … if not please advise Jill or Oliver.
- Additionally, Westermill provides – at an advantageously competitive rate – kiln dried firewood and kindling for use in the Cottage Wood Burners, please talk to Jill or Oliver for resupply.
Wood:
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- While you are welcome to provide your own fuel please adhere to the following:
- Use seasoned hardwood logs (oak, ash, beech) with a moisture content of 20% or less.
- Avoid softwoods, damp wood, or freshly cut (green) wood as they produce excessive smoke and creosote.
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Restricted Fuels
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- Never burn treated wood, painted wood, plastic, or household rubbish.
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Prepare the Firebox
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- Westermill will clean the ash from the wood burner before your arrival.
- Future fires during your stay should only require ‘brushing’ any accumulated ash through the grate into the ash trap below the grate.
- Westermill will empty the ash trap after your departure.
- IF you are at all concerned about ash accumulation please contact Jill or Oliver.
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Build the Fire
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- Place 2–3 firelighters and / or crumpled newspaper on the grate.
- Add small pieces of dry kindling on top, creating a teepee or grid shape.
- Add a couple of small, dry logs on top of the kindling.
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Light the Fire
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- Open air vents fully for good airflow.
- Light the firelighters or paper.
- Close the door gently but leave a small gap to enhance airflow until the fire is established.
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Maintain the Fire
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- Once burning well, add larger logs and reduce airflow by adjusting the air vents to maintain a steady burn.
- Avoid overloading the stove with too many logs at once.
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Regular Maintenance: Daily Use
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- Future fires during your stay should only require ‘brushing’ any accumulated ash through the grate into the ash trap below the grate.
- Westermill will thoroughly clean the wood burner, grate and ash trap after your departure and before the arrival of the next visitor.
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Fire Safety
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- Keep flammable materials at least 1 meter away from the stove.
- Use a fireguard if children or pets are present.
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Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms
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- Westermill Farm Holidays has installed both Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms in all cabins with a wood burner.
- Both types of alarms are monitored according to national standards [see xxx link] nonetheless should you have any concerns whatsoever please contact Jill or Oliver.
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Extinguishing the Fire in the Wood Burner
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- Allow the fire to burn out naturally.
- Do not use water to extinguish the fire.
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Emergency Steps
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- In case of excessive smoke or a chimney fire, close the air vents, evacuate the cottage and...
- Come to the farmhouse immediately...
- IF there is nobody at the Farmhouse... immediately contact Oliver 07970 594 808
- IF You are unable to contact anyone at the farmhouse or Oliver — Call 999
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By following these guidelines, you will enjoy the warmth and ambience of a wood burner safely and responsibly.
You are welcome to bring your own…
- Sheets
- Duvet covers
- Pillow slips
Westermill Farm Cottages can supply the linen listed above for £10 per bed.
All the cottage beds are single — except for — Molinia which has one double bed.
An oven glove and bath mat will be provided.
Please bring your own…
- Towels and tea towels, etc.
I cannot reach the internet!
–> Please come by Reception and let us know.
–> Then you can have a cup of tea and catch up online ... unless of course the Farmhouse is offline.
IF you are bigger than the geese ... hold your arms outstretched away from your body and simply walk towards them.
They will back away.
IF you are about the same size as the geese ... say "Go away geese!" in your loudest voice.
AND ... hold out your arms as wide as you can.
They may not back away but you should feel better.
AND ... the geese will know that you mean business!
Because they have to be somewhere.
Hooting... likely owls.
Bellowing... likely cows, may be Stags in rut.
Roaring... possibly Exmoor Beast?
Local shops...
Exmoor Stores in Exford about 2.2 miles – 01643 831 244 – all the basics and more... directions
Petrol Station in Wheddon Cross about 7.2 miles away – 01643 841 221 – FUEL plus all the basics and more... directions
SPAR in Porlock about 7.8 miles away – 01643 862 396 – a convenience store... directions
Co-op in Dulverton about 10.8 miles away – 01398 323 241 – full on grocery store... directions
Minehead has larger supermarkets such as TESCO, Morrisons, Lidl and (another) Co-op.
TESCO in Minehead about 14 to 15 miles away – +44 345 677 9476 – supermarket...directions
Morrisons in Minehead about 15 miles away – +44 164 370 4477 – supermarket...directions
Lidl in Minehead about 15 miles away – +44 203 966 5566 – supermarket...directions
Co-op in Minehead about 14 miles away – +44 164 370 3818 – supermarket...directions
The nearest petrol station is at Wheddon Cross about 7.2 miles – directions
The nearest — very good — pubs are in Exford:
- The Crown Hotel in Exford about 2.2 miles – 01643 831 244 – directions
- The White Horse Inn in Exford about 2.3 miles – 01643 831 279 – directions
However, there are several other — very good — pubs in the area – "perhaps" too far to walk to but well worth a visit:
- The Royal Oak Exmoor in Winsford about 7.2 miles – 01398 323 241 – directions
- Tarr Farm Inn at Tarr Steps about 7.6 miles – 01643 862 396 – directions
- The Castle Hotel in Porlock about 7.8 miles – 01643 862 504 – directions
- Woods Pub & Restaurant in Dulverton about 10.8 miles – 01398 324 007 – directions
- The Black Venus Inn in Challacombe about 10.8 miles – 01643 831 279 – directions
- The Bridge Inn in Dulverton about 10.9 miles – 01643 841 221 – directions
- The George Inn in Brompton Regis about 12.7 miles – 01398 371 273 – directions
The Exmoor Pony Centre about 8 miles – directions
Burrowhayes Farm about 9 miles – directions
Brendon Manor about 11.3 miles – directions
West Anstey Riding Stables about 12.8 miles – directions
Far enough to give you time to get your sunscreen or wet suit on.
Actually there are several beaches 'nearby' however rather than list them ... please have a look at this Google Search: "Sandy Beaches near TA24 7NJ"
You may well want to refine that 'search' for yourself ... but please keep in mind that Google's and Somerset's definition of "sandy" may differ from yours.
No... well, “yes”... but it’s the roadway!
IF you do walk into Exford... walk in the middle of the road and wear bright colours during the day and reflective gear or head lamps at night. ... until you meet traffic, of course!
Locals are very good at traversing this road... sorry to say but it's the "visitors" that need to be watched out for.
Firstly, please have a look at either or both of these authoritative resources:
Visitor Exmoor the "official tourism site to Exmoor"
Exmoor National Park the other "official tourism site to Exmoor", see especially...
- Exmoor Explorers for 10 recommended walks
- Dark Sky Discovery Trail
Lynton and Lynmouth ... about 15 miles away ... Shawn recommends, from Westermill, make a hair-pin left hand turn at the end of Westermill Driveway, travel north over Wellshead Hill across the moor to the A39 and then head west, a seriously brilliant coastal highway giving both seaward and landward views ... but hang on for Countisbury Hill: you'll love it! — naturally there are alternatives ... take your pick for there and back: directions
There are too many interesting venues in Lynton and Lynmouth for us to list them all here so we are only going to give you two of our personal favourites and let you discover the others for yourselves ... (see the link above to get started)
The Victorian Portrait Company
Dunster "...one of England’s most beautiful and fascinating medieval villages." Which is what 'they' say ... and ... we agree.
Brightfire Pottery ... Ok – full disclosure – they are friends of ours ... but ... if you are at all interested in "arts and crafts" Jenny and Dave will host you to an engaging, enjoyable and creative visit – directions.
Pannier Market in South Molton, Thursday and Saturday, about 16.7 miles – directions