Property Summary
Grist Mill is a characterful and quirky cottage, with charming and comfortable accommodation for up to 8 guests. A medieval mill with beautiful leat side garden, the cottage is ideally located at the edge of Dunster near Gallox Bridge with easy walking to the village, Castle, pubs, cafes and shops.
Main Description
Grist Mill, in the beautiful picturesque medieval village of Dunster (Somerset) is a semi-detached period cottage with three double bedrooms, plus a cosy loft room with sofa-bed which can be used to sleep 2 further guests if required, or to provide flexible sleeping arrangements. We recommend this property is best suited to groups of up to 6 guests, but can accommodate up to 8.
The cottage is situated on the edge of the village at the end of West Street. Formerly a working mill, the cottage is built over the top of the leat, which provides the water for the nearby National Trust Dunster Working Water Mill. This location is recommended for anyone with a love of historic sites, walking, trail running and mountain biking.
The Cottage has one bathroom downstairs with double ended bath, WC and basin and underfloor heating. Upstairs has a separate shower room with WC and basin. Two of the bedrooms have hand-basins.
There is a large and cosy sitting room with wood burner, with comfortable seating for 6, extra seating can be provided if needed.
The cottage benefits from a newly fitted kitchen with breakfast table and seating for 6 guests, for additional dining space, it is a few steps from the kitchen back door to a contemporary Garden room with bi-fold doors which has a dining table for 8 guests. There is a plug-in oil radiator in this area, which warms the room up well.
The cottage garden is large and divided into two separate areas - a substantial private walled and fenced patio area with outside table and chairs and swing seat, which is accessed from the kitchen and which can be gated to provide a secure play area for children. The patio garden has a gate leading on to the village playing field through which is a pleasant walk down to a children's play park. The garden extends the other side of the cottage along the leat towards Park Street and provides easy access to the Foresters Arms Pub, the historic Dunster Working Water Mill and Gallox Bridge.
From there you can enjoy incredible walks and cycle rides through the Crown Estate Deer Park forest, leading to Bats Castle, an iron age hill fort and beyond. This is a stunning part of Exmoor. Dunster village is a popular tourist attraction with a fascinating National Trust Castle and Spectacular Gardens. The Castle often hosts visitor attractions and events for the whole family. Dunster is a busy and pretty village with a good range of shops and places to eat as well as a village deli where you can buy most groceries. Dunster has its own beach which is approx 1 mile from the village, and a steam railway station on the route from Washford to Minehead. Dunster is 1.5 miles from Minehead which has a Morrisons, Tesco, Lidl and Co-op stores as well as cinema, golf club, steam railway, beach and High Street shops. All this and the beautiful Exmoor, North Somerset and Devon coastline as well - there is so much to do!
There is private off-road parking for one car in the garage, which has an adjoining door to the cottage. Power points are available in the garage for charging EV cars. Further parking is available nearby in the public Pay and Display Car Park at the end of Park Street, a short walk from the cottage, or in the main National Trust car park. Bicycles can be safely stored in the garage or garden.
Wifi, heating and electricity included. TV with freeview and Netflix. Towels and bed linen provided.
This property is strictly non-smoking.
The property will be ready from 4 pm on the day of your arrival. Please depart by 10 am on the last day of your stay. Please leave the property clean and tidy so that we can guarantee it will be ready on time for our next guests.
Indoor Description
Entrance to the property is via a door from garage straight into the ground level. The newly fitted kitchen is well equipped with a modern double oven with gas hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, under-counter fridge, dishwasher, cafetière and a variety of kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery and glasses sufficient to cater for larger numbers.
The kitchen garden door opens onto the patio area and large garden. The patio has a garden room with bifold doors that open up to provide an inside-outside space with dining table and seating for up to 8.
Also downstairs is the sitting room with large fireplace and wood-burner (initial fuel included, thereafter supplies are available to buy locally). The sitting room has a large 3-seater sofa, 3 comfortable chairs and TV with Freeview and Netflix. A bathroom with underfloor heating is located on the ground level, comprising a large double ended bath, toilet and hand basin.
A door from the sitting room leads to the narrow and steep staircase (with handrail) to the first floor with three double bedrooms and second bathroom, with electric shower, toilet and hand basin.
Separately accessed from the sitting room, a former storage loft has been converted into a 'snug' with sofa-bed, an ideal spot to enjoy a quiet moment with a book, a separate sitting room or play area but which can be used as a bedroom for two extra guests, or as flexible sleeping arrangements if two guests do not want to share a room. Linen for the sofa-bed available on request.
A small amount of tea, coffee, sugar, milk and biscuits are provided to ensure you can have a hot drink as soon as you arrive. Cleaning materials such as washing up liquid and surface cleaner will be present in the property. One or two toilet rolls will be provided per toilet.
Please note, this property is period cottage, some traditional features have been retained including some low doorways, and a narrow staircase.
Outdoor Description
The cottage benefits from a large private leat-side garden which is separated into two areas - the kitchen leads on to a delightful large patio area with garden room with bi-fold doors and dining table, cottage garden flower beds and swing seat. The patio can be gated off to provide a safe area for children. The rest of the garden is grassed with mature trees and shrubs. Outside table and chairs are provided.
The garden is enclosed with access to the top of Park Street at one end, and on to the village playing fields from the patio. The playing fields are often used by local cricket and football teams for village matches and provide a pleasant off road walk down to a well equipped children’s play area.
Power points are available in the garage for charging EV cars.
Please note! The cottage is an old mill built over the top of a working leat which provides the water for the Dunster Working Water Mill. The leat is not suitable for paddling. There is a bridge with a handrail leading from the back door of the garage into the garden. Children must be supervised in the rear garden at all times.
Parking
Parking for one car is available in the garage directly next to the house. The garage has electric points for charging EV cars and is large enough to provide safe storage for bicycles.
There is also a small Pay & Display car park not far from the property, at the bottom of Park Street (just a couple of minutes on foot).
During busy times, there is also roadside parking available a short walk from the cottage in Knowle Lane, just beyond the doctor's surgery.
Some parking is available in the village or in the National Trust car park, which is closed outside of the castle opening times. There is a further pay and display car park at the far end of the village.
Pets Description
This has not been completed by the owner.
Restricted mobility
This has not been completed by the owner.
Exit in case of emergency
There are four separate exit points from the cottage:
Front door leasing on to West Street
Door from sitting room leading into garage - the garage opens on to West Street and has back door on to the garden.
Kitchen door leads on to patio garden.
Garden has access to Park Street and to playing fields.
Christmas / New Year
The cottage is decorated for Christmas and New Year.
The region
Dunster has been essentially preserved in time as a relic of the 600-year age when both the town and castle were owned by the Luttrells family. These days the town practically breathes history, from the turrets and towers of the originally Norman castle to the octagonal yarn market that is a throwback to the town’s 1700s heyday, when it was most renowned for its production of wool and particular cloth named “Dunster's”.
Although the origins of the village of Dunster date back to the times of Bronze and Iron Age Britain, it was the cloth-making industry that was in fact responsible for the town’s initial wealth and fame. Indeed, although the settlement’s first market can be traced back to 1222, it was the construction of the town’s iconic octagonal yarn market by Geoffrey Luttrell in 1601 that truly spearheaded the burgeoning woollen industry in the area. That very market still stands today, complete with a visible cannon ball hole that dates back to the damage sustained by the structure during a 5-month siege of Dunster Castle in the Civil War. The castle was a centre of military activity during the war, with both sides keen to ensure control of a fortress with such significant strategic and locational value.
Dunster is a now bustling village comprised of several restaurants, pubs and tea rooms, plus a varied range of independent shops. Many of the shops in Dunster are open during traditional hours of 9 am to 5 pm, although hours are often extended during the summer season. Conversely, some shops may also reduce their opening days and/or hours out-of-season.
