Welcome to watermill cottage

An escape to the English Countryside in the heart of Exmoor, Somerset

The 1850s Village Watermill

The original Watermill for Porlock Village, built around 1850, was converted into two residential properties at some point over the years. 
One elderly villager remembers his grandparent's living in the cottage when he was a boy.  
The Watermill is no longer in use, but the river still powers alongside the cottage and throughout the village, only a few minutes walk away. 
This river springs from the moor, about a 3 mile walk through the woods behind the cottage, which opens out onto Exmoor. The village and cottage are inside Exmoor National Park. 
The cottage is 'upside down' with two bedrooms and both bathrooms downstairs, with living and kitchen upstairs. 
The original water wheel is attached to the neighbour's side of the property, known as 'The Mill', and our side 'Watermill Cottage' includes the barn (for parking), seen below with the green front door. 
With thick original stone walls, this quaint cottage undisturbed other than by the sound of the river, occasional horses trotting passed on the bridle path, and perhaps the hum of villager's voices as they walk to the woods*
Over the past year, I’ve renovated the kitchen, fixed up the chimney, fixed holes in ceilings, corrected damp, rewired the entire property, and redecorated throughout (with big thanks to Craig & Rose 1829 paints), breathing life and warmth back into this lovely little corner in the woods of Exmoor National Park. You can see the renovation journey on instagram.
Inside, the cottage holds restored Mulberry England pieces from my father’s time there in the 1990s, Soho Home furnishings, Aquascutum and Mulberry Goodwood artwork and artifacts, all layered into a space that’s curated to feel lived in, cosy, and a home-away-from-home, rather than sterile & precious.
A stone house with white window frames and a teal door, surrounded by a garden with green bushes and trees, on a paved street in a hilly area with overcast sky.
A view from on horseback riding down a narrow, winding country road surrounded by lush greenery and trees with fall foliage. 
If you'd like to visit Watermill Cottage, please submit the enquiry form below and we’ll follow up by email.

Cottage Details

A stone cottage with multiple windows, a small balcony, and a water wheel, surrounded by trees and shrubs, along a curved road. 
  • Two Double-Bed Bedrooms
  • 1 En-Suite Bathroom with shower
  • 1 Master Bathroom with bath & shower
  • Egyptian cotton linen
  • Faith In Nature bath products
  • Covered parking for one car (in barn) 
  • Fully equipped kitchen 
  • TV with streaming apps*
  • WiFi* 
  • Central heating with smart thermostat
  • Wood-burning stove
  • Outdoor patio surrounded by woodland
  • The sound of rushing river outside the door
  • Lockbox Entry
  • Local Housekeeper for emergencies
  • Early/late check-in & out available*
  • Max 4 Guests
  • No Pets

Location

A narrow, winding gravel pathway beside old stone houses with blue and brown doors, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with a mountain and cloudy sky in the background. 
  • 4 minutes walk to village centre
  • Endless stunning walks 
  • Wonderful old country pubs
  • Local food & cafes 
  • Porlock Weir & (stony) beach
  • Amazing horse riding
  • Nearest Train - Taunton (50 minutes drive)
  • Exeter Airport - 50 miles (90 mins)
  • Bristol Airport - 56 miles (2hrs) 
  • Heathrow Airport - 172 miles (3hr30)
  • Gatwick Airport - 188 miles (4hrs)
  • Glastonbury - 46 miles (90 mins)
Map showing a driving route from Heathrow Airport in London to Exmoor National Park in southwest England, with travel times of roughly 3 to 6 hours. 
Exact address + arrival instructions are shared after booking is confirmed

Hawkcombe Woods 

Watermill Cottage sits at the bottom of Hawkcombe Woods. There are endless walking paths throughout the area, including a 3 mile walk through ancient woodland that opens up onto Exmoor. The view from the mouth of Exmoor overlooking the woods below and out to the Bristol channel is absolutely stunning, rain, fog, wind, or shine.

Inside The Cottage

A cozy bedroom with a metal bed frame, gray and beige pillows, a textured white bedspread, two bedside lamps, a window with floral curtains, and wall art depicting a painting of three women in yellow dresses.

Master Bedroom - Double

  • Extremely comfortable Double Bed
  • Hypoallergenic Dusk pillows & topper
  • Egyptian Cotton Soft & Sleep linen
  • Ground floor with en-suite shower
  • Sound of the river flowing past
  • Luggage rack
A bedroom with a metal bed frame, two bedside tables with lamps, and a ceiling light fixture.

Second Bedroom - Double

  • Extremely comfortable Double Bed
  • Hypoallergenic Dusk pillows & topper
  • Egyptian Cotton Soft & Sleep linen
  • Sound of the river flowing past
  • Luggage rack
Close-up of a bed with layered gray and white pillows and a black and white patterned blanket in a cozy bedroom.
A cozy bedroom with a bed covered in a beige knitted blanket and pillows, a wooden dresser with a lamp and framed artwork, and dark patterned curtains over the window.
A bedroom with a bed with a decorative metal headboard and white bedding, multiple pillows, a bedside lamp, curtains, a framed artwork of women in yellow dresses, and white built-in wardrobe.
A bedroom with a vintage metal bed, beige and gray bedding, four pillows, a wall-mounted bedside table with a lamp on each side, a framed painting above the bed, a window with floral curtains, and a gray carpet.
A bedroom with a black metal bed frame, light-colored bedding, several pillows, and two bedside lamps with orange shades in a softly lit room.
A bedroom with a bed, pillows, and a quilt, a window with curtains, a radiator, a painting above the bed, and a wardrobe.
A kitchen with white cabinets, a white farmhouse sink, a stove with a pot, open shelving with jars and glassware, a window with a view of trees, a patterned rug on wooden floor, and various kitchen appliances and items on the counter.

Fully Equipped Kitchen

  • Newly renovated kitchen
  • Dining nook - seats four at a squeeze
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Nespresso Machine (we recycle pods)
  • Induction Hob & Oven
  • Quartz Countertops
  • Fridge Freezer
  • John Lewis kitchen utensils, pots & pans
  • Samsung Washer & Dryer (upon request)
Cozy living room with vintage-style furniture, wooden floor, a window with floral curtains, and a fireplace; decorated with shelves, books, artwork, and a TV.

Cozy Living Room

  • TV with streaming apps (use your logins)
  • Two very comfortable couches
  • DEFRA approved Wood-burning stove
  • Firewood, Kindling, Fire Starters supplied*
  • Lots of art and local history books
  • Board games & puzzles 
  • Access to outdoor patio
A cozy living room with a wood-burning stove, a patterned rug, a sofa, a wooden coffee table with a decorative pitcher and apples, a bookshelf, a television, and various decorations.
Living room with sofas, a wooden coffee table, and a rug, leading to an open kitchen with white cabinets and a window.
An indoor staircase with a wooden handrail and carpeted steps, leading down to a lower level. The wall on the upper level features artwork, framed photos, and a mounted camera or light fixture. There is a skylight window on the sloped ceiling bringin
Interior view of a house entryway with hardwood floors, white walls with paneling, a decorative black and white lantern ceiling light, a small mirror, a radiator, and stairs leading upward.
A round white dining table with four chairs, three wooden and one black, in a room with wooden flooring. There is a basket and some items on the table, and a light fixture hanging above. The room has white walls, framed pictures on one wall, and a ra
A kitchen with white cabinets, a large window, wooden flooring, and recessed ceiling lights.
A small bathroom with white tiles, a bathtub, a sink with soap dispenser, a toilet with a wooden seat, a window, and a mirror. The ceiling has a vent, and there are toiletries on the windowsill.

Main Bathroom - Ground Floor

  • Faith In Nature Products
  • Overhead Rain Shower
  • Additional hand shower
  • Full size bath
  • 100% Cotton Towels from Dusk
Small bathroom with a corner shower with glass door, wall-mounted sink with soap dispenser, and tiled walls with decorative accents.

En-Suite Bathroom - Ground Floor

  • Faith In Nature Products
  • Overhead Rain Shower
  • Additional hand shower
  • 100% Cotton Towels from Dusk
  • Hairdryer

Exmoor ponieS

You'll find wild Exmoor Ponies roaming around the moors, a short drive, or lovely walk from the cottage.
Model sailboat with black and white striped hull on a stand, placed on a white windowsill with a large window showing a blurry outdoor scene with trees and a house in the background.
Interior view of a living room showing a plaid blanket draped over a piece of furniture, a wicker basket with some items inside, a black bag hanging on a white railing, and a wooden dining table with books and a teapot in the background. The room has
A vase with pink and purple flowers sitting on a windowsill beside a curtain, with a partly cloudy sky visible through the window.
Books on a wooden shelf, including titles related to art, history, and regional collections, with a decorative black metal item hanging above.
A pair of tall, dark brown leather riding boots placed on a white mantel, next to a framed picture of boats in a harbor and a metallic chain link.
A wooden bookshelf holding seven books about history and storytelling, with a wooden wall and decorative black metal element above.
Small blue toy race car with yellow wheels and a white circle with the number 4, placed on a wooden surface with a blurred framed picture and a wooden object in the background.
Open white-framed window looking out at trees with autumn-colored leaves and a cloudy sky.
Wooden bookshelf with books, framed watercolor painting of a rider on a horse, ceramic vases, and a woven basket.
An outdoor patio area with a white table surrounded by four folding chairs, with a decorative lantern on the table. The area is next to a brick wall and a wooden fence, with a hillside covered in greenery in the background.
A narrow, paved path lined with trees and shrubbery, leading past a brick house with a wooden porch, under a partly cloudy sky.
Cozy living room with a fireplace, a television, books on shelves, a sofa, a wooden coffee table with a pitcher and fruit, and warm lighting.
A wicker basket with shredded paper, containing a box of Miles Tea Bags and a bag of Miles Coffee.

Welcome Basket

Available upon request for an extra cost: 
  • Fresh eggs from our neighbours
  • Village baked Sourdough bread
  • Porlock village roasted ground coffee
  • Porlock village local tea 
  • Local Whorttleberry jam (Exmoor berries)
  • Milk
Three people riding horses through a grassy open field under a clear blue sky.

Extra Activities

Want the insider's guide to Exmoor? For additional cost we can arrange (pending availability): 
  • Exhilarating horse riding 40mins from Porlock
  • Pottery or Wool-Work classes
  • Local massage bookings
  • Fishing guides
  • Local driver

Porlock hill & surrounding areas

The view from the moors overlooking Porlock Village & Bossington, across the Bristol Channel to Wales. 
There's plenty of walking, rambling, coastal drives, beautiful villages, old pubs, castles, and sheep roaming in every direction.
We provide an Apple Maps Guide of suggested places to visit around Exmoor including local information.
A small, rocky stream flowing through a misty forest with moss-covered logs and trees, fallen leaves, and ferns.
Two horses grazing in a grassy field with rolling hills and cloudy sky in the background.
A dirt walking trail surrounded by dense green trees and bushes with fallen leaves scattered on the ground, forming a tunnel-like appearance.
A landscape view featuring a rainbow in cloudy skies over a coastal area with grassy hills and four horses grazing.
View from behind of a black horse riding through a grassy hillside with rolling hills and a blue sky in the background.
A wooden signpost in a forest with overgrown bushes and leaves on the ground, pointing in four directions with labels for different pathways.
A vast open field with dry grass and scattered rocks, with rolling hills and a few trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Ruins of an old stone building in a grassy landscape with trees and hills in the background.
A forest scene with tall, moss-covered trees and a small stream flowing through a leaf-covered forest floor.
A rugged coastal landscape with a dirt path, a stone structure, grassy terrain, and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky.
A grassy field with a dirt path leading towards green hills in the distance under cloudy skies, with a rainbow arching across the sky.
A dirt path running through fields of grassy weeds and wheat, with green bushes and trees on the left, and mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky.

Village Life

Porlock is a picturesque village inside Exmoor National Park, in the South West of England. Complete with old country pubs, local restaurants, butcher, cafes, information centre and even our own coffee roasters. 
The Village Recreation Ground is home to cricket, football, summer yoga, dog walks, playground, and village faires in the summer.
 Be sure to check out local artists, ceramists and crafters at village shops and the weir. 
Handmade Exmoor is a beautiful interiors shop full of hand-loomed wool from the owner's flock of sheep (which live around the village), Wood Clay Pottery on Parson's street fires ceramics in their own kiln, and Churchgate gallery stocks original art from across the South West. 
 Porlock is very horse friendly, with the cottage being on the bridle path to the woods. You will likely hear horse hooves passing by, or see them around the village. If you'd like to go riding during your stay, we can recommend excellent riding about 40 minutes drive away.
Front view of a small shop named Handmade Exmoor by Annabelle with a light green door and window frames, decorated for Christmas with a star ornament and a small Christmas tree inside. An 'OPEN' sign is displayed outside.
Interior of a craft or weaving shop with a loom, decorative lampshades, and various woven and crafting items, illuminated by natural light through a window.
Interior of a home decor store with lamps, mirrors, wooden boxes, and various household items arranged on shelves and furniture.
An outdoor pottery shop with a sign that says 'Pottery Open' and an arrow pointing to the right. There are outdoor tables, chairs, a green umbrella, and potted plants and flowers.
Display of handcrafted pottery including nine glazed ceramic mugs with drip patterns in colors black, green, and blue, arranged on a multi-tiered stand. In front are three decorative ceramic trays with painted animals and festive motifs. In the backg
Display of ceramic pottery and kitchenware at a market stall, including bowls, mugs, tiles, and decorative items in various colors and designs.
A small brick building with a sign reading "Porlock Pharmacy" on the front, situated on a street. A red ATV is parked in front of the building, with a dog sitting on it.
Shelf of jars of jam with labels for different flavors including strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, orange marmalade, apple ginger, and chuckleberry, with two pink signs indicating the producer, Exmoor.
A small roadside stall selling plants, logs, Kindling, honey, and eggs, with handwritten price signs. The stall is made of stone and wood, with a nearby garden showing potted plants and overhanging leaves.
A historic stone church with a tall, pointed steeple and a weather vane on top, adjacent to a stone wall and lush greenery under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
A park with a cricket match being played, lush green hill in the background, trees and bushes in the foreground, and clear blue sky.
View of a narrow, winding village street with white cottages on either side, a horse's head in the foreground, and cloudy sky above.

Porlock weir

A mile from the village, Porlock Weir has beautiful coastline walks, local artisan stores (open seasonally), legendary 13th Century 'Bottom Ship' pub, a fresh oyster restaurant, and stunning landscapes. 
There's a weekly 'secret' sauna, sea swimming (locals swim year round), kayak and boat hire (in summer), and plenty of footpaths. 
The (Ada) Lovelace Estate, and Culborn Church (the smallest operating church in the UK complete with Anglo-Saxon 'lepers peep') are accessible by foot from the weir via beautiful woodland walks.
You may recognize the 'petrified forest' on the marsh or the colourful Porlock Weir cottages from the recent movie, 'The Salt Path' starring Gillian Anderson.
Boats moored in a small marina with overcast sky and a dock with a person fishing.
A small rowboat resting on a rocky shore in front of a marina with several sailboats docked.
Boat storage area near a body of water with boats on land and water, trees, and a clear blue sky
A scenic coastal landscape with a dirt path running alongside green vegetation and a small waterway. In the background, there are boats docked on the water and a hillside covered with trees under a clear blue sky.
A sheep standing in a green pasture with mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
Calm sea with pebble beach in foreground, distant hills covered with brown and green foliage, clear blue sky with some clouds.
Stone archway entrance to a historic building with a thatched roof, a white gate, and signs with toll charges, surrounded by greenery and fallen leaves.
Open field with green grass and a mountain in the background under a clear blue sky with the sun shining.
A barren, leafless tree standing on a grassy field under a cloudy sky with distant hills in the background.
Close-up of tree branches covered in lichen and moss
A rural landscape view with a large stone wall on the right, a narrow dirt and pebble pathway, green shrubs and grasses, a wooden fence, fields, and distant hills under a blue sky with wispy clouds.
Close-up of moss-covered tree branch in a forest.

Disclosures

*Wifi - Although we have high speed Sky internet to the cottage, we are inside Exmoor National Park. Somerset is prone to wild winds and rain which can knock out power, internet, and phone lines. Please bear this in mind when booking. Exmoor is a place to unwind and relax, and although we've done the best to keep the cottage connected, the South West of England is sometimes at the mercy of the weather. 
*TV Streaming Apps - The smart TV has most apps installed. You're welcome to download other apps. You will need to log into your providers to access channels. Remember to log out when you leave.
*Firewood, kindling, fire starters - We will provide enough to get you through at least a night or two of fire. There is also central heating with smart thermostat and radiators in every room. You can purchase additional wood from the local hardware store, Spar, OneStop, or Farmers between Minehead and Porlock - details are in the cottage welcome booklet. 
*We are in the woods here and occasionally trees need to be felled due to storms etc. We cannot be responsible for the sound of chainsaws in the area if trees are being felled during your visit. It is extremely quiet in Porlock, but sometimes there is necessary woodland work happening in the area. 
*Check-in 2pm, Check-out 11am, but we can be flexible with advanced notice. For a very early or very late check-in or out, an extra night might be required, so please ask ahead of time but we will do our best to accommodate your travel times.

Enquiry

What happens next? 

After we receive your enquiry, we’ll review availability and confirm pricing based on your dates, length of stay, and any requested extras.
If we have any follow-up questions, we’ll be in touch by email within 48 hours.
If everything is straightforward, you’ll receive a booking summary with a booking agreement and secure payment link to pay a 50% deposit.
Please note: dates are not reserved until a signed agreement and deposit are received.

thank you!