Barn Cottage

Barn Cottage is a detached house in remote wooded country on Exmoor, about 300 yards from Tarr Steps and the pub and restaurant across the river. It stands down a narrow lane a mile from Hawkridge, and Withypool is the nearby village. It sleeps eight, over three levels.

The ground floor has a large kitchen with a breakfast table, a sitting room with a dining area and an open fire, and a shower room. Three bedrooms are on the first floor, reached by steep stairs, and two more are right at the top under the eaves, where the headroom is low. A cot and a highchair can be requested. The kitchen has a microwave, a fridge-freezer, a tumble dryer, a washing machine and a dishwasher, and there is a TV with a DVD player and WiFi.

The enclosed garden looks across to woodland, where red deer are sometimes seen. Parking is off the road for two cars. Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, with a weekly supplement for each pet. The water supply is a private spring, tested regularly.

Several conditions apply. Bookings must keep to at least a 50/50 ratio of adults and children, the cottage takes no short breaks, and it is for holiday and leisure use only, with no work stays or bookings through social care or local authority schemes. The steep stairs and low headroom may not suit people with mobility issues. A good housekeeping bond is payable.

It suits a family with children who want to walk to Tarr Steps and bring dogs.