West world

Fantastic views and even some sunshine... Matt Reeder finds the recipe for the perfect family rural retreat.
Meadowsweet FarmMeadowsweet Farm
Meadowsweet Farm

THE silence told its own story as we made our way back up north having spent our bank holiday weekend touring the delights of the south west.

A brief look in the rear-view mirror was enough to tell me all I need to know about our trip. The smiles and happy sighs of three tired, sleepy children revealing just how much fun we had packed into our four-day sojourn.

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Somerset, Devon and we even dipped our toe into Cornwall ... okay, so it had certainly been something of a trek from our Wetherby home, but it had been well worth it.

Particularly as we had unearthed something of a gem in the process.

Traditionally, there are a number of key ingredients needed to make sure you have the right recipe for a family holiday in the British Isles.

Such is the modern-day attraction of cheap package deals to foreign lands, it is vital that when plotting a trip on “home soil” for your brood, you get everything just right.

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A common wish list would include such important requirements as good weather and great location, good value and fine accommodation, while other issues like the friendliness of your hosts and whether your chosen destination offered enough to keep everyone entertained, must also be considered.

Making even the slightest of mistakes could very well lead to long and loud complaints from the back seat as you make your way home.

Imagine my delight then as I chugged back up the M5 knowing that the silence in our car was most certainly a sign of success. By stumbling across the delightful Meadowsweet Farm, we had found the perfect place for our British family holiday. All of the necessary boxes had been ticked, and even the weather had been gloriously kind.

Nestled in a secluded spot on the fringes of the Quantock Hills and close to the picturesque village of Bicknoller, the cottages at Meadowsweet Farm offer a delightful base for a Somerset holiday.

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Away from the busy roads and slam in the middle of nowhere, you almost feel like you need to get lost to find where you are going.

Single-track lanes with two-metre-high hedges offer the tantalising promise of a stunning view across the surrounding Somerset farmland at your every turn. Just getting to the farm in itself was an adventure.

Greeted by a scurry of chickens as we completed our journey, it took a while for the enormity of our new environment to properly sink in.

The busy Friday night M5 hustle and bustle of less than an hour before, now replaced with 30 acres of meadows, woodland and birdsong.

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It had an immediate effect on your senses. You could be forgiven for thinking the world had actually stopped turning in this delightful little corner of the countryside, the stresses of everyday life easing with every step as we approached up the cobbled drive to The Barn.

Renovated to a simply stunning standard, The Barn is one of four options for visitors at Meadowsweet Farm.

Designed by the same architect, the 18th-century Mill and 15th-century Dairy are award winning conversions, while the Wagon House has a real charm and coziness about it.

All are owned by our splendid hosts, Gary and Jackie, who both live and farm their chickens on site.

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As they talked us through some of the Barn’s history and prepared us for our weekend, the air was filled with excited screams and shouts of “epic”, “wow”, “come and look at this” as the children explored their barn of delights. Behind every door, it seemed, there was something new to investigate for Hannah, 11, Benjamin, nine, and Charlotte, eight.

The Barn can sleep nine and could easily take two families without them having to tread on each other’s toes for the duration of their stay.

There are four main bedrooms, two with double beds, and two bathrooms complete with bath and shower. The kitchen diner boasts all the mod-cons and the large pine table was perfect for the family to enjoy meal times.

With our base sorted out, we set about enjoying that wonderful scenery which had greeted us on our way in.

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Long walks are never dull when you have such fantastic vistas in front of you, while the sound of the West Somerset Steam Railway added a 
touch of storybook to the occasion. Close your eyes and you could imagine being a character in Edith Nesbit’s famous story.

Further afield, we decided to take advantage of the fantastic weather and head down the coast.

From Watchet to Blue Anchor, Dunster to Porlock and on through the Exmoor National Park to Lynton and Lynmouth, we soaked it all up and thirsted for more.

Ilfracombe, Woolacombe and we even made it as far as Bude in Cornwall before settling down with an ice cream to watch the sun set on what had been a quite wonderful day.

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Two hours later we were back home at the farm, tucked up in our little home from home. Sleepy children asking if we can stay longer, frustrated parents knowing their short stay in this idyl would soon be at an end.

As we waved goodbye to Gary, 
Jackie and the chickens we did so feeling that we somehow had unfinished business with this glorious little neck of the woods. There was so much to see and do that we only just scratched the surface. We will return, and we know just where to stay when we do.

Getting there

Matt Reeder and his family stayed at The Barn at Meadowsweet Farm.

For more information visit the Cottages Direct website www.cottagesdirect.co.uk and key in property reference: 4258716.