Ah, Ashwick House. What a delight…read more I hadn't been to Exmoor before, and so was very excited as we weaved our way through its treasure trove of villages, bound for Dulverton. Then we took a turn on to the moor, across a cattle grid, down a single track road, and past the Exmoor Pony Centre. In a wooded Coombe lay Ashwick House, an old shooting lodge tastefully refurbished into a very comfortable country house hotel. The first good point about this hotel became evident immediately - the host came out to meet and greet us with an easy, relaxed air. Staying at Ashwick House feels more like staying with some friends for the weekend, but in luxurious comfort. The host and hostess are very friendly, but also allow you enough privacy to enjoy your weekend. The balance is perfect. When you enter the house you'll encounter the main hall - very much the central room. A grand hall for a grand house, but still cosy enough to enjoy your evening drink in. It also has a very good collection of oriental furniture which manages to blend perfectly with the age and atmosphere of the house. We were then shown to our room. Nicely decorated and a newly refurbished bathroom. I was particularly pleased to see that there was a small fridge in the corner meaning we had been given fresh milk in a jug. (I can't stand those horrible plastic pots of milk.) You have the option to dine in at Ashwick house, and I would strongly recommend trying this at once during your stay. The 5 (or is it 6) course menu is excellent, with a good selection each evening. The price is at the higher end of the scale, but I was perfectly happy to pay for the quality of the food. The chef is also happy to be adaptable, as proved when I asked for plain pasta pre-marathon! The breakfast was also very good. Homemade fruit compote and yoghurt, a selection of cereals and then the delicious full english. I've never seen a full english presented so well, and boy did it taste good! Slightly sad to see the absence of beans, but I think that's more my fault for not asking for them. Ashwick House made me realise the value of a weekend in a country house hotel. Not something I've done that much, but I have now made a mental note to indulge myself in the future. I think I'll definitely be returning to enjoy this magnificent area of the West Country. (I haven't mentioned any of the history of the house, as I'll let you enjoy discovering this when you stay!)

Follow the river,cross the cattle grid : where were we going as we followed the directions across…read moreExmoor to Ashwick House ? It turned out the directions were as well thought out and attentive to detail as Ashwick House itself. The house,beautiful in its individuality and graceful in its decor was at the same time comfortable and welcoming. A nice touch: the host came out to greet us as we arrived and later showed us around some of the private rooms. The food was excellent;the menu varied and we particularly enjoyed sitting in the hall before the wood burning stove savouring the first drink of the evening whilst hearing from our host and hostess about the history of the house. We did not see the red deer this time but we'll be back to this special place

Overnight I've become a huge fan of this chain of budget hotels which I only discovered by accident…read morewhen surfing the internet. Vastly superior to Travelodges though sometimes almost as cheap, or even cheaper when they offer special deals (three nights for the price of two, etc). The rooms are clean, spacious and comfortable, with plenty of storage and a superior standard of furniture and fittings. Our room had a telephone, large flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities with lots of teabags, hot chocolate and fresh biscuits each day. In addition to the large bed was a plush two-seater settee. The en-suite had a large power shower and, again, the tiling and fittings were of a high standard for a budget hotel. There's a modern lift to rooms (very good disabled access), beautiful carpets and curtains, and a foyer with local information and a sweets and chocolate machine. Breakfast came free with the room rate and was served across a short walkway in the Jack Rabbit pub. It consisted of a continental-style buffet with an excellent choice of cereals, fruit juices, fresh fruit, yoghurt, breads, toast, preserves and croissants. A machine provided good quality teas or coffees. You can eat as much as you wish and there are helpful staff on hand to assist if need be. A free newspaper (Daily Mail) was also available each day. All in all, a superb value package at only £89 for 3 nights (the special offer this month)! Certainly a chain to watch - there are 200 branches around the country and more planned.

First experience here. Nice place to have a meal. The meals were excellent. Coming from the…read moreNetherlands it was really cheap. Six persons £ 66.- for the meals £ 18.- for the drinks. Not bad. We Made a reservation for the Sunday roast ..I'll keep you posted.

Set on the north bank of the Ex next to the bridge, this Inn's riverside terrace was a nice place…read morefor an ale while enjoying the summer afternoon on the Moor.

Welcome to the Castle Hotel at Taunton. This historic Norman fortress has witnessed over 9…read morecenturies of turbulent history. In 1685 the Duke of Monmouth's officers gathered here on the eve of the Battle of Sedgemoor, where they were defeated by the forces of King James II. The infamous Judge Jeffries held his Bloody Assize in the Great Hall of the castle shortly afterwards. Over 200 rebels from the Monmouth Rebellion were tried, convicted and then hanged, drawn and quartered. A further 800 were transported to the West Indies to work on the sugar plantations. The building we see today is a Grade II listed, 18th century reconstruction of the original Norman castle, but does incorporate the original east gate, Castle Bow, which boasts 13th century features.

Where to begin! Staying here was a highlight of my recent, and first trip to England. I was coming…read moreto do some family history work at the archives in Taunton, as well as visit Glastonbury Tor. When I read this was an actual castle with medieval beginnings, I was immediately drawn in. Then I visited their website and read a few reviews and I booked it! It's a unique experience to say the least. Coming through the front, revolving door had an old world charm that was very welcoming (even though I snagged my luggage). The front desk staff were all super friendly, accommodating, and professional. The room was huge! I don't know how I ended up with a suite but I certainly did not book it nor pay extra so, the only conclusion is they upgraded me because it was available? No matter, I was in awe! I cannot recommend this place enough, it's a castle! Unforgettable.

Anyone travelling on the A38 between Taunton and Exeter, or on the M5 which is close by, and…read morelooking for a place to stop would be well advised to call in at 'The Poachers Pocket'. This is a really good pub which also has good food and doubles as a small hotel. The beer, food and rooms are all excellent; the landlord and staff are welcoming and the locals friendly. Having stayed there yesterday, I can also vouch for the quality, variety and quantity of the breakfast which was a great starter for the day. There's only very quiet background music and a small television in the bar, but there is free Wi-Fi for those who need it. Residents have access to a small but comfortable lounge if they wish to relax outside of both their rooms and the bar. There's plenty of parking, both in front and at the rear of the pub via an archway, and a small patio and grassy area at the rear. There's a website at http://www.poacherspocket.co.uk for those who are interested in investigating further or arranging a visit. I'll certainly be going back.

As someone who spends his time away from home. I make it my business to always stay in the more…read moreunusual hotel or guesthouse. chain hotels just dont do it for me. If you ever happen to find yourself in Bideford Devon then this hotel is quite superb..From little touches like Botttled water in the room too teddy bear on the bed Aah! I was lucky enough to have the room with the magnificant four poster and the wonderful river view. You will definatekly be guaranteed a peaceful nights sleep..Not a sound! The food is wonderful . the chef respected as one of Devons finest. I cant fault this hotelIf you are a single occupany you get money off too.bargainIll be back!

We've eaten here, twice, but never stayed as guests so this review will major on food and related…read moreservices. On both occassions the food we had was excellent. Combe House Hotel is rated (in 2009) by both Sawday's guide, The Michelin Guide and now Qype! Two years ago we went for a birthday lunch. We all had fish which was exquisite; fresh or smoked, crustacean or battered, raw or steamed - the results were flawless and the combinations of flavours and textures superb. Presentation was also a real 'wow'. More recently (New Year's Eve lunch - 31/12/2009) we were there for lunch again. We noted that the hotel had changed hands since we were last there. Service was polished as ever. We were shown to the bar, coats taken and hung up and a fire lit to make us welcome and warm. I opted for a whisky (Talisker) to start whilst others opted for Abbot Ale, a local bitter (light amber in tone and toasty in flavour). Our food orders were taken after due consideration of the menu (there were 6 starters, 6 mains and 6 desserts to choose from). I chose the sirloin steak, medium rare (a test for any competent chef). Two chose a salmon ciabatta, whilst two others opted for the meat platter (venison and boar salami, parma ham and a venison pate), the final member of our party opted for the seafood platter sans crustacea. The order was graciously taken. The order for a seafood platter without shellfish was, after due consultation with the person ordering it, bumped up to include more smoked mackerel than it might ordinarily have had by way of compensation. A nice touch. We were left to bask before the fire for a while and mingle with other guests who were staying at the hotel (none of whom had a bad word to say I might add). The arrival of our food was presaged by our being shown to our table. We had a large dining room with a long table and a 'retreating' area for coffee amply provided for with three plump sofas. The food was ushered in with minimal fuss but maximum effect. I've bever seen lettuce shaped quite like that! The flavours were excellent - my steak was moist and juicy but soft, as it should be! The chips were chunky and freshly cooked hunks of real potato, not refried and ready made chips. Salad was plentiful, fresh and dressed with a light mustard dressing. The salad was a key part of the meal not just a garnish. The meat platters were equally praised, with many 'mmmms' and 'aaaaahs'. The salmon ciabatta too was highly praised for it's quality. The sefood platter initially drew no comment; total silence whilst being consumed. Upon completion the verdict pronounced was a well satisfied 'excellent'. The dessserts were lovely, banana parfait and creme brulee. Each done to a tee and served with a delicious home-made vanilla ice cream (if you can't make good ice cream from the plentiful Somerset dairy herds' milk you're in trouble). It's always said that the mark of a good establishment is knowing what it does well and focusing on that rather than having a menu of 40 dishes done poorly. Combe House Hotel served us very well and proved that adage true. Access to all the main areas is on one floor with ramped access to the bar. The hotel is a long, trailing amalgam of buildings of many ages from the 16th through to 20th centuries and clings to a descending, wooded valley (or Combe) in the Quantock hills. There is some excellent walking country about these parts, Combe House Hotel would make for an excellent starting or finishing point. The guests we spoke too lauded the rooms and service (though we didn't stay, hence the focus on food which we did eat). Other services like loos, lounges and gardens were faultless.

I have stayed here several times with my parents as a stop off between Cornwall and Chester. The…read morequality of food is very good-which is just as well, as there's not much else within walking distance. The beds are always really comfortable and rooms warm. Noise does vary from room to room. I have found the decor very pleasing too, even in the single bed rooms. However, on this occasion, as there was a wedding on and the hotel full, my room wasn't as great-the enamel/coating of the bath has come away and I was afraid if I ran a bath it would leak through to my parents room below! I would suggest that if it doesn't matter when you go, check to see how busy it is, as most rooms are lovely, but if this had been my first visit I wouldn't have been that happy.

This is a lovely country house hotel hidden away. They are…read moreopen for stays and afternoon teas, lunch, dinner, etc. The best place for a wedding or even a romantic break. This hotel is maintained to the highest standars and is spotlessly clean. The owner is eccentric but lovely and could't make you feel more welcome. Nothing is too much trouble. This truly is a hidden gem!

I agree with 'mollie1771'. I was born and bred in Porthkerry in the 1950's and used to know the…read morehotel in its former days when it was the Old Rectory. Wonderful place to stay - food delicious and very good service. Makes a super romantic place and so handy for the airport too. Try it - you'll enjoy!