Perched on the top of a hill in the middle of the Exmoor wilderness, West Hollowcombe Farm is a breath of fresh air. When you drive through the single-track roads to get here and take in the endless rolling hills, it feels as though you’ve entered a different world. Somewhere, that’s a far cry from all the stresses of modern life. 

Yes, it takes 15 minutes to get to the local shop, but being tucked away is part of the charm. It’s the perfect place to fully unwind and simply get lost in nature. West Hollowcombe Farm is blessed with beautiful grounds right in the thick of Exmoor National Park. 

There’s a lovely rustic play area for the kids, plenty of open space and wild walks from the doorstep. They’ve got a huge amount of land, and you can walk down the hill and paddle in the local stream. For families who are happiest when fully immersed in nature, this is a real hidden gem. 

I always love a canine greeting, so it was lovely to meet the owner’s dogs, a wire-haired sausage dog and a huge, soppy Bernese Mountain Dog. This place is properly dog-friendly. Our dogs loved sniffing around the grounds, and the cottage was equipped with dog gates to prevent them from wandering into the bedrooms. 

They have four beautiful cottages here, three that sleep 4 and one that sleeps 6. We stayed in Kiri Cottage (my name is Kiri, so this was a strange experience!). If you’re looking for peaceful (dog-friendly) holiday cottages in the Somerset countryside, this is the place to be!

The Content Wolf Travel Rating Score 55/60

• Service – 10
• Uniqueness – 10
• Location – 8
• Comfort – 9
• Cleanliness – 10
• Facilities – 8

West Hollowcombe Farm – Somerset dog and child-friendly holiday cottages

Location

West Hollowcombe Farm is located in Hawkridge, not too far from Dulverton. There are numerous pretty villages you can visit nearby and plenty of amazing walks right from your doorstep. 

You’ll definitely need a car if you stay here though. You have to drive for about ten minutes on single track roads to get to local villages and shops. This is why I gave it a score of 8 for location, because it’s a bit hidden away, but really, that’s a blessing. It’s well worth the slight inconvenience. It’s like you’re tucked away on a quiet hillside in the middle of the breathtaking Exmoor countryside. You won’t be bothered by traffic or crowds in this peaceful holiday haven. 

And being in the middle of the countryside has its perks. For example, you can walk to the Tarr Steps, a magical place with a bridge made of large stepping stones. Kids and dogs can run around and play in the stream all year round. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic in the summer or for having a dip on a really hot day. 

West Hollowcombe Farm is located in a dark skies area, which means at night, if you get a clear sky, you can do some proper stargazing. It’s absolutely magical. 

It’s also only about 40 minutes from the coast. We ventured to Porlock, a quaint Somerset village with some absolutely breathtaking walking routes. You’ve also got Dulverton nearby (a 15 min drive). There’s a charming pub right near the river and a few nice little local shops to wander around. 

Exmoor dog friendly holiday cottages – Kiri Cottage

Well, this was pretty cool. I got to stay in a cottage that shares my name! Of course when I was searching for a child and dog friendly holiday cottage in Somerset and I came across Kiri Cottage, I absolutely had to stay there. But what’s it like? Well inside, the cottage is done up really nicely with a modern cottage core vibe. 

The kitchen is super cute and comes with everything you need. They even threw in some elderflower cordial that the owners made and also some locally made flapjacks. The kitchen and lounge are open plan which is handy when you’ve got little ones. But most importantly, the beds were extremely comfortable. We stayed in a large superking bed and the kids had a twin bedroom next door. You’ve got stunning views out to the hillside and surrounding countryside from the lounge and kitchen windows. There’s also a large garden area right outside where the kids and dogs can play (just keep in mind it’s shared and not enclosed). 

Facilities

If nature and wildlife is your thing and you’ve got a thirst for adventure, you’ll love West Hollowcombe Farm. It’s perfect for families who enjoy going out exploring woodland and countryside walks. The farm is situated in Exmoor National Park and contains 60 acres of fields and woodland to uncover. Plus, it’s on a Site of Special Scientific Interest so you’ve got a chance of spotting some rare wildlife and plants. In terms of actual facilities around the farm, you’ve got the garden area and an outdoor adventure play area for kids. There are also a few kid’s tractors and toys to play with and the little ones can visit the chickens. 

Things to do in West Somerset

The Tarr Steps

I’ve mentioned these above. They really are worth a visit and they’re so close to West Hollowcombe Farm. These are ancient steps which create a clapper bridge over the river. You can walk across them and enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery. Plus there’s a pub nearby where you can refuel after a long walk (The Tarr Farm Inn). 

Porlock & Porlock Weir

We’ve stayed in Porlock before, so we knew it was somewhere we wanted to pay a visit. It’s a coastal village with a few shops and cafes. It’s an excellent place to indulge in some local Somerset scones. If you head down to Porlock Weir there are a couple of restaurants and a stoney beach. We did a huge 18k walk here last time and some of the views were magnificent. 

Dulverton

We really liked Dulverton. It’s an adorable little town with some nice shops and a delicious deli. If you drive around this area there are a few bridges and streams where you can stop off and dip your toes in the water. 

Pony riding

The Exmoor Pony Centre hosts days where you can come and meet the ponies. However, we ended up booking a riding lesson for the kids at the local riding school. It was a magical experience. I didn’t think our 3 year old would manage it but she absolutely loved bobbing along on a small pony through the countryside. 

Blueberry picking

This is an absolutely adorable activity to do with little ones. And also as an adult, it’s quite satisfying going round and trying to find the best blueberries to eat. You could lose yourself in these fields for a few hours. It’s very therapeutic. The blueberry picking place is located not far from the farm, it’s quite a long single track to get there but it’s well worth it for the fruitful rewards!