Apple Loft
Situated in an ancient orchard and with views over Dillington Park, Apple Loft is an old Estate cottage that has recently been extended and renovated. It is a fantastic space for a rural escape with family or friends.
SLEEPS: 13
BEDROOMS: 6
BATHROOMS: 6
OVERVIEW
Apple Loft is a recently extended and renovated Estate Cottage on the edge of Dillington Park. The house has been renovated to a very high standard and features six bedrooms and bathrooms, all beautifully designed and many featuring lovely wallpapers and bathroom tiles, but the highlight of the property for us is the loft-style, open-plan kitchen, dining, living room space, which opens out through bi-fold doors onto the rear terrace, orchards and view across the rolling hills and woods beyond.
The kitchen bi-fold doors open onto the rear south-facing terrace and garden, where there is an outdoor table and chairs for dining – although these are hardly needed with the glass wall bringing the views to the south into the dining room without even the need to step outside.
Despite the recent work done on it, the house still has many historic features in the older parts of the house that add to its charm, with exposed brickwork and hamstone, old oak and elm beams, and a wood-burning stove set into the fireplace.
GARDEN
There is a fire-pit in the garden so guests can make the most of being in the Somerset countryside long into the evening, and a wood-fired hot-tub allowing views across Dillington park to the north for an indulgent soak. The garden is fenced and dog-proof, and dogs are welcome, as they are in all of our houses (see our terms and conditions Terms and Conditions for our olicy on pets).
BEDROOMS
The house has six bedrooms on the ground floor, all with their own bathroom. Three of the bedrooms are in the older part of the house and have historic features such as old elm beams, a large redundant fireplace, and exposed hamstone walls, the other three rooms are in the newer part of the house which has been extended into the bank at the rear of the property and they sit below the rear terrace and garden.
All of the bedrooms bar one, a triple bunk room, are en-suite rooms that can be setup as twins or super-king doubles. The bunk room has a bunk bed with pull-out mattress below so it can be setup as a triple room if needed. The bathroom for the bunk room is across the corridor.
The beds have comfortable, deep mattresses, fluffy, indulgent mattress toppers and 400 thread-count cotton bedding. We also provide soft bathroom robes, body-wash and shampoo in the bathrooms, and separate towels for use in the hot-tub.
PRACTICALITIES
The house is equipped with a 55” internet-connected TV (which can be retracted into the furniture when not in use), a bluetooth soundbar in the living room and bluetooth / DAB radio in the kitchen. A Nespresso coffee machine, modern fan-assisted oven, dishwasher, a large induction hob and many other kitchen gadgets and implements. There is also a utility room with washing machine and a tumble dryer in case you need it.
Children are welcome and cots and high-chairs are available on request. Children aged 3 or below also don’t count towards the maximum occupancy of the property (which is 8) if they sleep in a cot.
Dogs are welcome, for an additional cleaning fee, but we ask that they stay off the furniture and out of the bedrooms please.
SETTING & LOCAL AREA
Apple Loft overlooks the parkland around Dillington House and there is a footpath immediately outside the property, offering a wide choice of walks right on your doorstep. The Green House farmshop is also a minute’s walk from the house, with a deli-counter for anything you might be missing, and fresh barista coffee for a full-flavoured caffeine boost.
Nearby there are several pubs, some within walking distance – like the Barrington Boar – others a little further, but worth cycling or driving to, such as the Dinnington Docks or Lord Poulett Arms. You can see our recommendations for nearby places to eat, and others to visit, here.
Also nearby is Dillington House and Barrington House, a National Trust property with gardens open to the public. The Dennis Chinaworks in Shepton Beauchamp are also very close and worth a visit – for the tea rooms as much as anything else.
There are several local cider producers whose orchards and presses are worth seeing, Perry’s Cider in Dowlish Wake being one, and the Temperley’s orchards and cider brandy distillery over at Burrow Hill another.
A little further away the beach at Lyme Regis and walks along the Jurassic coastline are 40mins or so to the South, and the Hauser and Wirth gallery near Bruton is 40 mins or so to the East.
ACCESS
The Dillington Estate is easily accessed by car just off the A303, and the house has private car parking space for five cars.
The train stations of Crewkerne (15 min drive), Castle Cary and Taunton (30 mins each) are all nearby..
Keys will be left at the house so you can check-in at your convenience, and the staff at the Dillington Estate are available to help with anything unexpected.
