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Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.

Photo gallery for Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.

Our place!
The shepherd’s Hut. A short walk from the parking area.
The white door is the Annex dedicated front door
March 2026 evening stroll to the pub
New planting and garden design for 2026. The large hedge is gone!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 12223.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Annex Double Bedroom with en-suite & tea/coffee making

1 Double Bed

Beautiful Bright Double bedroom

1 Double Bed

Beautiful double bedroom with 2 windows

1 Double Bed

Beautiful double room at the end of the landing / hallway

1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom with En-suite

1 King Bed

Shepherds Hut

1 Double Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Annex bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Downstairs toilet

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Family Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Master En-suite Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Shepherds Hut shower room

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.

Nestled in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is our home, The Mill Leat. A 17th century cottage set in over 1.5 acres that has been 'played' with over time but has the most wonderful charm and magic as you turn into the drive.

The property consists of a thatched cottage with 4 bedrooms on the first floor and 1 bedroom on the ground floor. There is also a Shepherds Hut in the raised garden area of the property.

We are a British family living in the USA (we moved for a work assignment and seem to have stayed a while longer!) and this is our home base when we come back to our home country. With aging parents locally it is important that we have our own English home from home.

The house is new to us as of the Summer 2022 and we have spent the time re-painting from top to bottom, adding new carpets, furnishing from scratch, undertaking a huge overhaul of the 1.5 acre gardens and added a new bespoke kitchen with a beautiful electric Aga which was fitted December 2022.

The vintage pieces are all new to me - I love to mix the old with the new and a house that is several hundred years old cannot look too modern!

The house suits a multi-generational family very well. The downstairs bedroom not only has it's own front door but it has a double bedroom with en-suite shower and toilet, a Smart Tv and coffee and tea making facilities. This is where my Mum hangs out when she stays with us at Christmas and the Summer.

The Shepherds hut is a favourite of my teenage son who likes to feel grown up but it's where my in-laws stay at Christmas - it has a fully fitted kitchen, lounge area, LPG run "log burner" and bathroom.

We have a stream that runs along the property where if you are lucky you will see the kingfisher zoom past.

We have beautiful gardens that we are bringing to life with professional gardeners.

We have a Shepherds Hut that is a stand alone tiny home

We have a herb garden to sit in and snooze.

Inside the home we have a large lounge with 3 sofas and 2 leather armchairs and a couple of pouffs where you will also find a 400 year old open wood fireplace; we have a separate dining room with a round table to sit 8 but we have had 12 with a squeeze! a breakfast room with log burner and table for 8 people; an office with a desk and chair and plenty of games to borrow. Outside we have a ping pong table to use; a BBQ and a Solid teak outdoor table and chairs. You will also find chairs dotted around the property including bistro tables on the patio of the Shepherds Hut and in the Herb garden.
We also have a laundry room with a washing machine. Drying is outside in the garden,

Our raised beds garden area has been a particular focus, changing it from a vegetable garden to roses and perennials.

We have a gastro pub at the end of the drive that has the most wonderful food to enjoy

We are a 30 min drive to the coast and are on the border of Devon.

We have walking galore!

We have an age restriction for young children. No toddlers up to 4 years of age becasue of the open water and also because of the quirks of the property (small step in the kitchen) Plus pure wool cream bespoke rugs in the lounge area! The house is not decorated for inquiring hands I am afraid! Our youngest is heading to University in the Fall / Autumn of 2026 and I have moved on from babyproofing spaces!

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 8
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Remove personal items and remove leftover food and drinks
Lock the doors and return the keys
Please use the welcome guide to determine the recycling instructions. Somerset is strict so please ensure only rubbish / trash is in the black bin. We have a food waste bin under the sink.
Please leave the beds with linens on! Makes our lives easier for them NOT to be stripped! Please do not leave wet towels on the floor. We have pure wool carpets upstairs.
Please leave the home as you would expect to leave a beautifully furnished space!
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Please no shoes in the lounge or upstairs - we have beautiful pure wool cream carpets!
Nothing to be flushed down the toilet except toilet paper - we have a septic tank that cannot deal with flushable wipes, sanitary ware, q-tips etc
No vaping inside

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Chard

Located in Chard, this cottage is in a rural area. Barrington Court and Woodlands Castle are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Blackdown Hills and Barrington Hill Meadows. Chard Leisure Centre and Blackbrook Leisure & Spa are also worth visiting.
Map
Bishopswood, Chard, SOMERSET

What's nearby

  • Blackdown Hills - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Otterford Parish Hall - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • County Cricket Ground - 21 min drive - 19.0 km
  • Exmoor National Park - 39 min drive - 44.9 km
  • Cheddar Gorge - 58 min drive - 71.3 km

Getting around

  • Honiton Station - 22 min drive
  • Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Brightside - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Cerdic (Wetherspoon) - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Holman Clavel Inn - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Bell Inn - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.?

As of 30 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12. on 12 Apr 2026 start from AU$1,061, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Historic Countryside Cottage and Shepherds Hut to sleep a maximum of 12. located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Otterford Parish Hall and 2.7 mi (4.3 km) from Blackdown Hills. Yarcombe Village Hall and Chard Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 1 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 1 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Camille B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage and wonderful hosts

We had the most gorgeous weekend away. Fiona could not have been more accommodating and helpful with communication and welcoming little touches everywhere making us feel at home. The entire property is immaculate and beautifully decorated. We couldn't believe how picturesque it all was - with a great pub at the end of the road. We would all absolutely love to stay again. Couldn't recommend enough!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

About the host

Hosted by Fiona Partington

Host profile image
We are a British family who moved to Chicago in 2014 on a 3-5 year works assginment. Evidently we are still in the USA but are so thankful we can call two countries home.

We have 2 teenage kids who LOVE hanging out at The Mill Leat because they can just switch off and enjoy a more simple life.

Why they chose this property

My 19 year old daughter loves the feeling of calm that envelopes her as soon as we turn into the drive. I can't describe the feeling it gives us all but it is truly magical.

My 17 year old son hangs out on the tree swing for as many hours as he can. We don't have a computer for him to spend hours on (!) and he manages to re-ignite his passion for the countryside and even helps us do some weeding..!

What makes this property unique

We have a ground floor bedroom which allows for people that struggle to get up the stairs.
We have a huge garden space to relax in peace with a river that runs to the side of the property
We are a few minutes walk to a Gastro Pub which serves the most delicious food!
We are in an area of outstanding natural beauty with stunning countryside and yet just a 30 min drive to Lyme Regis or Charmouth to hunt for fossils

We have low beams and steep stairs!
Our fridge is enormous to stock your wine and champagne!

Languages:

English
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