Property Summary
Ashton Cottage, Countisbury is located in a secluded area of Exmoor on an organic farm on the Devon/Somerset border. The holiday property is a private wing of the farmhouse at Ashton. The South West Coast Path and Coleridge Way both run through the farm, as well as a myriad of other paths to explore
Main Description
Ashton Cottage, Countisbury is located on an Exmoor hill farm at a high point near the coast. It is a working organic farm of 1200 acres, running 1000 ewes and a herd of pedigree beef cattle.
Sleeps up to 5 guests in three bedrooms
One king-sized bedroom with en-suite shower room
One twin bedroom
One single bedroom
Family bathroom with shower over the bath
Sitting room with wood-burner and patio doors into the garden
Well-equipped kitchen with brand new appliances
Dining table in the kitchen
Spacious utility room and ground floor loo
Central heating throughout
Newly refurbished to a high standard throughout
Spacious garden with patio, table and chairs and BBQ
Bed linen and towels are provided
Wifi, heating and electricity is included
Arrive from 4 pm
Depart by 10 am
Approached by garden path from the parking area, Ashton Cottage is a bright and welcoming retreat, newly refurbished to a high standard throughout. The sitting room and kitchen-dining room both sit at the front of the cottage, looking out over the garden, with patio doors from the sitting room opening directly outside; the sitting room also has a wood-burner for cosy evenings in. The kitchen has been fitted with brand new appliances and comfortably seats the whole party for meals together.
Practical touches make the cottage well-suited to walking holidays and longer stays. A spacious utility room along the hall houses the washing machine and tumble dryer, a second sink, iron and board, plus a downstairs toilet, and there's generous space for coats, boots and bags under the stairs.
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. You first come to a single and twin room, served by a family bathroom with shower over the bath, toilet and hand basin. A few more stairs at the end of the landing lead to the main bedroom, with a king-size double bed and en-suite shower room, with shower, toilet and hand basin. Please note the stairs are steep and narrow with a handrail on one side - worth bearing in mind for guests with limited mobility or young children.
Indoor Description
The newly fitted kitchen-dining room includes an under-counter fridge and under-counter freezer, dishwasher, microwave, and electric double oven and hob. Other equipment includes a toaster, kettle, cafetière, a variety of cookware, utensils, cutlery, crockery and glasses. A dining table seats up to five guests.
Along the hall is a large utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer, second sink, iron and board. A downstairs toilet is off the utility room.
The sitting room has a wood-burner (starter logs provided) and a wall-mounted TV.
Heating and electricity are included in the price. Central heating is provided by a biomass boiler and can be adjusted to suit your preferences. A basket of logs and kindling will be provided for the wood-burner in the cooler months.
Bed linen, duvets, blankets and towels are all provided — please bring your own beach towels if you plan to take them on day trips. Bedding is non-feather.
A small selection of non-perishable items such as salt, pepper and a few herbs and spices may be available on arrival. Washing-up liquid and surface cleaner will be provided, along with one or two toilet rolls per toilet.
Outdoor Description
Ashton Cottage has a private enclosed garden with a patio, table and chairs, and BBQ (please bring your own charcoal). The garden also includes a traditional linhay, providing a useful covered outdoor area - ideal for storing bikes and wet gear, or simply sheltering from a passing Exmoor shower. Although the cottage is attached to the main farmhouse, it is accessed from a private drive and has a completely private outlook. The farm fields surrounding the cottage are open for children to explore freely.
There is one other holiday property on the farm, but it is detached and entirely separate.
The Coleridge Way passes approximately 100–150 metres from the cottage, and the South West Coast Path can be reached on foot through the farm fields in around 10–15 minutes.
The farm itself is quite remarkable. Two large areas of moorland are designated as SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), and the farm also encompasses extensive semi-ancient woodland and modern tree plantations. There is even a private beach - rocky and not suitable for swimming, but the cliffs are a geological SSSI in their own right, with beautiful exposures of Devonian rock some 350 million years old and striking folded strata. Roman history is also present on the farm: the earthworks of Old Burrow, an army encampment built around 50 AD in the reign of Emperor Claudius, are clearly visible.
The nearest sandy beach is at Lee Abbey, a 15-minute drive away. The surf beaches at Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe are 45–60 minutes away. Lynton is the nearest town (10 minutes west), while Porlock and Minehead (10 and 20 minutes east respectively) offer a good range of shops, restaurants, pubs, cafés and amenities. Several National Trust properties are also close by.
The farm has many walking routes and guests are welcome to explore freely — just please leave gates as you find them, open or closed.
Parking
There is space for 2 or 3 cars to park immediately beside the garden, a pedestrian path leads from the parking area to the front door. There is plenty of further space close-by if there are more cars requiring parking.
There is no EV charging point on site. The nearest 22v charging points are in Lynmouth or Porlock. If you do charge at the property, extra electricity costs are payable directly to the owners prior to your departure.
Pets Description
Well behaved dogs are welcome for a supplement of £15 each (maximum of 3). Dogs are not allowed on the furniture or upstairs. They must be controlled around the livestock and not permitted to run free, no matter how well behaved, they can worry the animals.
4 dogs may be permitted on request, please get in touch to let us know the size/breeds of your dogs and we will check for you.
Restricted mobility
The property is accessed via steps from the parking area down through the garden to the front door. The bedrooms are all on the first floor.
Exit in case of emergency
This has not been completed by the owner.
Christmas / New Year
At Christmas, a (realistic!) Christmas tree with led lights will be provided. You are welcome to provide your own decorations and enjoy the fun of dressing the tree.
The region
Countisbury is a tiny hamlet perched high on the Exmoor coast above Lynmouth, roughly two miles east along the A39. It has a 13th-century coaching inn, a historic church, and some of the most dramatic coastal views in Devon.
The hamlet sits at the top of the famous Countisbury Hill, where the road descends steeply into Lynmouth with gradients reaching 25%. This stretch of the A39 is one of the most spectacular drives in the country, with views across the Bristol Channel to Wales on clear days. The name Countisbury derives from a Saxon word meaning 'camp on the headland', referring to the Iron Age hill fort at Wind Hill nearby.
For everyday amenities, the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth are your nearest ports of call, just two miles away. Lynton sits on the cliff top and has a good range of shops, cafes, restaurants, a small supermarket, post office, chemist, and the Lyn and Exmoor Museum. The harbour village of Lynmouth sits below at sea level, connected by the famous water-powered cliff railway. Both villages have a welcoming selection of pubs, tea rooms, and independent shops.
The larger towns of Barnstaple (approximately 20 miles) and Minehead (approximately 20 miles) offer supermarkets and a wider range of services.
