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Bowness Cottage in Porlock

Cottage in Minehead with fireplace

Photo gallery for Bowness Cottage in Porlock

Exterior
Interior
Bowness Kitchen Diner
Room
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Exmoor Adventures
  • Place, Porlock Weir Harbour
  • Place, Exmoor National Park
  • Airport, Cardiff (CWL-Cardiff Intl.)

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Garden

About this property

Bowness Cottage in Porlock

Property Summary
Bowness is a tranquil oasis situated in the heart of Porlock, it's a spacious property sleeping up to 6 guests in three bedrooms. The accommodation is set out across three levels, has recently been renovated throughout, includes a large kitchen dinner and an enclosed courtyard for guests sole use.

Main Description
Bowness is a deceptively spacious property in the heart of Porlock and within the Exmoor National Park. Porlock Bay and the South West Coast Path is only a short walk from the village.

Sleeps up to 6 guests in three bedrooms
Two king size beds and one twin bedroom
Spacious accommodation over three floors
Newly fitted large kitchen with dining table and wood-burner
Central village location
Restaurants, pubs and shops all within a short walk
Private and enclosed courtyard
Wifi, heating and electricity included
Bed linen and towels provided
Dogs welcome (strictly 2 maximum, no exceptions) for a supplement of £15 each
Arrive from 4 pm
Depart by 10 am

A door on the High Street opens into a passageway leading through to a hidden, tranquil courtyard and the stable door entrance to the house. The ground floor mainly comprises of the large kitchen-dining room, complete with comfortable seating area and wood-burner. There is also a small utility/storage room plus shower room with toilet and hand basin, also on the ground floor. The stairs from the hallway lead up to the first floor where the sitting room with TV is located, also the master bedroom with king-sized double bed, and the bathroom with shower unit, bath and hand basin, the toilet is separate but also on this floor. A narrow staircase up to the second floor to the other two bedrooms, one king size bed and one twin, both with plenty of room for your clothes and bags.

Dogs are welcome by prior arrangement for a supplement of £15 per dog (maximum of 2 dogs, sorry no exceptions). Please do not allow your dogs on the furniture or upstairs and do not leave them alone in the property at any time.

Please note, Bowness is a non-smoking house.

Indoor Description
The kitchen has been recently refurbished throughout and includes all new appliances, a range cooker with electric ovens and gas hobs, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, toaster, kettle, plus all the crockery, cutlery, glassware and cookware you would need to cater for 6.

Plastics plates, bowls, beakers and cutlery are also available for children.

Wifi, central heating and electricity costs are included in the price of the accommodation. Towels and bed linen is provided.

For the wood-burner in the kitchen, an initial basket of logs and kindling are supplied for your arrival. Additional logs and kindling, can be bought in the village from the Hardware or the village shops.





Outdoor Description
The courtyard to the rear of the property is enclosed.

Parking
There is no allocated parking available but it's possible to stop in the temporary parking bays by the door on the High Street to unload your bags, parking here is limited to 30 minutes.

For longer stay there is an element of free parking around the village, however we would recommend Porlock central car park which is £6.10 a day or £25 for a week (via Phone and Pay). This car park is just a few minutes walk down the High Street from the property.

Alternatively for shorter periods of stay in the village there is a pay and display car park just a few steps around the corner in Doverhay Car Park which has a maximum stay of 2 hours.

For both car parks charges apply 9am to 6 pm daily.




Pets Description
Dogs are welcome by prior arrangement for a supplement of £15 per dog (strictly a maximum of 2, sorry no exceptions). Please do not allow your dogs on the furniture or upstairs and do not leave them alone in the property at any time.

Restricted mobility
This has not been completed by the owner.

Exit in case of emergency
This has not been completed by the owner.

Christmas / New Year
This has not been completed by the owner.

The region
Porlock is often described as 'the jewel in Exmoor's crown' and has a long history of settlements existing on or near the site of the existing village, with stone-age remains only a short distance away. Porlock is a working village and boasts a number of pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and independent shops. There few more delightful surroundings than Porlock Vale, nestled at the foot of Porlock Hill, bounded to the north by its shingle ridge and breath taking views towards the Bristol Channel, and to the south by the rolling hills of the Exmoor National Park. The Exmoor coastline is formed mainly of cliffs but at Porlock the land flattens out and a unique mile long shingle ridge and an inland salt marsh have formed. For the bird watcher this is a very interesting site as a great variety of waders and wildfowl can be seen here in the winter as well as the occasional unusual bird passing through.

Exmoor is split between West Somerset and North Devon, some call it England's best kept secret! Exmoor is a wonderful holiday destination for anyone looking for a holiday in the great outdoors - from short walks to long expeditions across the moors or horse riding, taking in a safari in a 4x4 or sight-seeing at your own pace around the 'picture postcard' villages and hamlets.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Barbecue

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Minehead

Minehead is home to this cottage. Dovery Manor Museum and Holnicote Estate are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Porlock Weir Harbour and Wimbleball Lake Activities Centre. Exmoor Adventures and Greencombe Gardens are also worth visiting.
Map
Porlock, Somerset

What's nearby

  • Exmoor Adventures - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Porlock Weir Harbour - 3 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Exmoor National Park - 9 min drive - 9.9 km
  • Bossington Beach - 11 min drive - 1.7 km
  • Minehead Beach - 13 min drive - 13.2 km

Getting around

  • Minehead Station - 14 min drive
  • Cardiff International Airport (CWL) - 173 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Duke of Wellington (Wetherspoon) - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Kiss Coffee - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Old Ship Aground - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Mr Micawbers - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Queen's Head Inn - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bowness Cottage in Porlock pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Bowness Cottage in Porlock?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bowness Cottage in Porlock?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Bowness Cottage in Porlock located?

Situated in Minehead, this cottage is steps away from Dovery Manor Museum and Exmoor Adventures. Greencombe Gardens and Bossington Beach are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 42 reviews

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Veronica C.

Wonderful stay!

Wonderful stay!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Helen T.

Absolutely lovely cottage perfect location and spotless Would definitely stay again

Absolutely lovely cottage perfect location and spotless Would definitely stay again
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rhiannon S.

Lovely property, well equipped and very comfortable. Great central location so perfect for exploring

Lovely property, well equipped and very comfortable. Great central location so perfect for exploring the local area. Spacious accommodation with comfy beds and good facilities.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

David T.

The top Ship is superb with extremely friendly, helpful staff, and also dog friendly ! The salt mars

The top Ship is superb with extremely friendly, helpful staff, and also dog friendly ! The salt marsh walks were a hidden gem.

10/10 Excellent

Laura M.

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

Mrs

Stunning property. Very spacious.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Steph P.

I cannot really add any more to the previous reviews but just want to say what a wonderful house thi

I cannot really add any more to the previous reviews but just want to say what a wonderful house this is. We had a great time and would definitely go again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amanda J.

So quiet + peaceful everything you could need for a comfortable weeks Holiday,we couldn’t believe

So quiet + peaceful everything you could need for a comfortable weeks Holiday,we couldn’t believe we were in the centre of Porlock with a beautiful enclosed garden for the dogs . So many walks on the door stop up onto Exmoor or Porlock Marshes and beach . The Exmoor Coaster is a must and a steal at £4 return to Lynmouth. Had some great meal ate Ziangs who have moved to Minehead . We all had a great Holiday !
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth Cunningham

A beautiful house tucked away behind the main street, so a very quiet location. The house was spotle

A beautiful house tucked away behind the main street, so a very quiet location. The house was spotlessly clean and the best equipped house we have ever stayed in. We felt at home as soon as we walked through the door. There were some good walks from Porlock, we especially enjoyed walking down to Porlock Weir and on to Culbone Church. The climb was worth it. Nice cakes at the Harbour café afterwards. The bus for Lynmouth stopped just outside the door and this was an excellent ride with great views from the top deck.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Zoe M.

This is an absolutely fantastic cottage right in the heart of the picturesque village of Porlock.

This is an absolutely fantastic cottage right in the heart of the picturesque village of Porlock. The cottage is very well maintained and has all the mod-cons you could ask for. The spacious kitchen-diner is fantastic and stays lovely and cool in hot weather. Upstairs there is a cosy living room and three lovely bedrooms. There are two modern bathrooms that provide the options of a bath or shower. The courtyard garden area is a real sun trap and a nice place to relax after a day out on Exmoor. I would definitely try to get this cottage again if I were to come back to Exmoor (which I would love to do, but it is quite a trek from us). Thanks so much for having us.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Rosemary M.

We loved the kitchen and the wood burner, great when we returned from wet walks - sadly it rained a

We loved the kitchen and the wood burner, great when we returned from wet walks - sadly it rained a lot whilst we were there! Having dogs and an upstairs sitting room where they were not allowed was a bit problematic though so we rarely all went there which was a shame. The layout suited us as we had 3 generations, grandparents slept on middle floor and parents and children at the top. No toilet on top floor so had to leave a light on for little people but otherwise a lovely tucked away house, lots of good hiding places for hide and seek too! Shop opposite sold everything and stayed open late, very convenient!

10/10 Excellent

Amanda P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property in the heart of Porlock. Plenty of space and a nice outdoor courtyard. The house was clean, well equipped and welcoming.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne T.

Beautifully presented house in a very central location but peaceful and private too. Parking not an

Beautifully presented house in a very central location but peaceful and private too. Parking not an issue, plenty of eateries and great walking paths. Beds super comfortable and the whole house was very well equipped. I would stay there again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Robin M.

A memorable find! We were 6, (4 adults + 2 under10s) and had a great time. The house has been upgrad

A memorable find! We were 6, (4 adults + 2 under10s) and had a great time. The house has been upgraded tastefully, comfortably with many useful gadgets. The 3 bedrooms were very conducive to sleep because it was so quiet. The large kitchen and eating area is absolutely ideal for family groups with ample room for eating and playing board games. The sitting room has 2 good easy chairs plus a large sofa. The TV and DVD player are both excellent (DVD of Lorna Doone is available). Ground floor shower is brilliant and the bath is deep and luxurious. Porlock is a busy little town with several good shops. The fact that there is a convenience store directly opposite means that basic groceries can be obtained within minutes without having to resort to the car. i would thoroughly recommend staying here.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Andy R.

Absolutely fantastic property, a hidden gem. Really enjoyed the tranquility and in a few steps a bus

Absolutely fantastic property, a hidden gem. Really enjoyed the tranquility and in a few steps a busy high street.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Laura L.

Outstanding house. Large, warm, well lit. Furnishings , sheets and towels excellent. Amazing locat

Outstanding house. Large, warm, well lit. Furnishings , sheets and towels excellent. Amazing location, off the main street, but very private and quiet. Excellent for adults-loads of space to spread out! Very highly recommended.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Julia L.

Spacious, well equipped and very clean.

Spacious, well equipped and very clean.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Katherine P.

Amazing place to stay. Spotlessly clean, thoughtfully prepared for guests and even decorated for Chr

Amazing place to stay. Spotlessly clean, thoughtfully prepared for guests and even decorated for Christmas. Loved every minute!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Matthew T.

Even better than the photos! Absolutely gorgeous, immaculate house in a stunning location. We would

Even better than the photos! Absolutely gorgeous, immaculate house in a stunning location. We would definitely go back.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Monica C.

Beauitful house, home from home. We would definetley come back again.

Beauitful house, home from home. We would definetley come back again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nicole A.

We had an amazing time in a lovely property. Definitely worth the money and we hope to stay again.

We had an amazing time in a lovely property. Definitely worth the money and we hope to stay again. Gorgeous quiet location. Parking wasn't an issue as there was always plenty of space in the car parks.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Duncan A.

We had a fantastic holiday in Bowness. The Porlock area is lovely and the house itself a hidden gem

We had a fantastic holiday in Bowness. The Porlock area is lovely and the house itself a hidden gem - accessed via a passage on the main street it’s hidden away from the town with small garden. The house itself is very comfortable and well equipped. It’s great to know this is all run by a local business as well. We would like to return!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

dawn b.

Lovely, clean cottage with everything we needed in great location

Lovely, clean cottage with everything we needed in great location
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Michael P.

We stayed in early October and used the cottage as our base for walking the final (for us) 40 miles

We stayed in early October and used the cottage as our base for walking the final (for us) 40 miles of the South West Coast Path from Ilfracombe to Minehead. The cottage was very comfortable and well equipped for us and for our friends and their dog when they arrived later in the week. We particularly enjoyed the wood-burning stove. The garden is really nice and dog-friendly too. Unfortunately the wet and windy weather meant we couldn't make much use of it. The cottage retains its quaintness and quirkiness while providing modern facilities including good heating and wifi. The location is great and very convenient for Porlock and the surrounding area. The OS map and guidebooks were particularly helpful. The butcher, almost next door, was excellent and we loved the sausages and bacon. Annabelle from Made in Exmoor was very helpful and friendly, and made a stool for us after we had admired a similar one in the shop window. We would certainly use Bowness again if we stayed in this lovely part of the world, and would recommend it to others.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Samantha C.

The Cottage exceeded our expectations despite them being high, we had a great Christmas in the cotta

The Cottage exceeded our expectations despite them being high, we had a great Christmas in the cottage and the excellent facilities and good quality cook ware and utensils greatly helped this - especially being a family of foodies it felt like home from home in the kitchen! We would definitely stay again and recommend without hesitation.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Linda M.

We stayed for the week with friends and our dogs to celebrate the new year. Wonderful cottage in per

We stayed for the week with friends and our dogs to celebrate the new year. Wonderful cottage in perfect location for our first visit to the area. We will most definately return to Bowness.

About the host

Hosted by Chris

Host profile image
Porlock is often described as 'the jewel in Exmoor's crown' and has a long history of settlements existing on or near the site of the existing village, with stone-age remains only a short distance away. Porlock is a working village and boasts a number of pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and independent shops. There few more delightful surroundings than Porlock Vale, nestled at the foot of Porlock Hill, bounded to the north by its shingle ridge and breath taking views towards the Bristol Channel, and to the south by the rolling hills of the Exmoor National Park. The Exmoor coastline is formed mainly of cliffs but at Porlock the land flattens out and a unique mile long shingle ridge and an inland salt marsh have formed. For the bird watcher this is a very interesting site as a great variety of waders and wildfowl can be seen here in the winter as well as the occasional unusual bird passing through.

Exmoor is split between West Somerset and North Devon, some call it England's best kept secret! Exmoor is a wonderful holiday destination for anyone looking for a holiday in the great outdoors - from short walks to long expeditions across the moors or horse riding, taking in a safari in a 4x4 or sight-seeing at your own pace around the 'picture postcard' villages and hamlets.

Languages:

English

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