Self-catering farmhouse cottage: spacious farmhouse situated in South Somerset, between Ilminster and Taunton, and available for self-catering family holidays and short breaks throughout the year. Sleeping 7 guests plus a baby in comfort, the comfortably decorated house provides a wonderful homely feel with good facilities. The house is set in its own land, surrounded by gardens, a paddock, and fields usually grazed by cows and calves, and makes a fantastic base for a relaxing vacation.

The house is also equipped to cater for the elderly and disabled, with a stair-lift, ceiling track for a hoist in the downstairs toilet (please enquire for more details about this facility), grab rails near the toilets and "wet shower-room" facilities downstairs and up. Outside, there is ramp access to the house and road.

Even though Myrtle House is no longer an active farm, the fields behind the house continue to be used by a local farmer to graze cows and calves. With livestock so near the house, we very much regret that we have a "no pets" rule with our guests. Cricket in the garden, in the shade of a tree.

ACCOMMODATION:
Bedrooms: Sufficient to sleep up to seven people, plus a cot (if required). There are two double bedrooms, a twin room and a smaller room containing a single bed.

Bathrooms:
* Separate bathroom and shower room upstairs, each with toilet.
* Shower/utility room downstairs with toilet, washing machine and tumble dryer.

Kitchen - Fully equipped with
* electric hob, electric oven and microwave
* fridge, freezer and dishwasher
* table (large enough to seat 7 adults plus a highchair)

Two sitting rooms. One has a 17th Century Inglenook fireplace. The open fire burns logs which can be purchased from the Caretaker. There are two colour televisions available for use, one of which is connected to
* a DVD player
* a VCR
* a Freeview set-top box.

Dining Room: Seating for 7 persons, and with room for a high chair

Other facilities and features
* Stair lift in the hall, for the use of the elderly and disabled
* Telephone - a payphone is available

There are gardens to front and rear and a patio with garden furniture and a barbecue. There is also a ramp and path for wheelchair users.

Address : Myrtle House, Horton Ilminster Somerset

Zip / Postal code : TA19 9RN

The house is situated in Horton, a quiet village 3 miles west of Ilminster. Ilminster is a small market town with a particularly splendid Parish Church in the Perpendicular Style. Horton is joined to another village, Broadway. There are all the usual amenities: pubs, village store and post office. The nearest seaside resort is Charmouth (18 miles away). Lyme Regis and its Cobb (harbour, featured by Jane Austen in her book 'Persuasion') and five beaches, are also nearby. By car, Sidmouth and Weymouth (on the South Coast) are within easy reach- excellent beaches, particularly safe for small children. On the North Coast, Minehead can be visited using the steam train on the West Somerset Railway.

Historical buildings and gardens in the immediate area
* Barrington Court - Beautiful Jekyll-inspired gardens and a Tudor manor house
* Forde Abbey and Gardens - An elegant former Cistercian Monastery set in 30 acres of gardens.
* Montacute House - A Renaissance manor house filled with historic treasures. There is also an exhibition of 17th- century textile samplers and a 'Long Gallery' exhibiting Elizabethan artwork. It was the film location for Sense and Sensibility in 1995
* Hestercombe House Gardens - Lovely gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Edward Lutyens
* Cothay Manor - Renowned as the finest example of a small medieval manor house in England, this structure dates back to the 14th century
* Lower Severalls Gardens and Nursery - Enchanting gardens set in the rolling hills of South Somerset
* East Lambrook Manor Gardens

Exploring the villages
* Dowlish Wake - with its Perry Cider mill; genuine 'Scrumpy' cider can be purchased.
* Hinton St George - famous for its Ham Stone buildings that date back over several centuries.
* South Petherton & Martock - Attractive small market towns that are well-worth exploring. Martock has a number of antique shops.
* Broadhembury (near Honiton) with its picturesque thatched houses.

For days out - all especially good for young children
* Cricket St. Thomas Wildlife Park
* Fun Farm Taunton
* Cheddar Gorge
* Wookey Caves
* Pecorama near the pretty little fishing village of Beer
* Also within reach (about 90 minutes by car ), is the Eden Project