We had the pleasure of spending a couple of nights at The Great House.Sheila and Bruce were fantastic hosts and full of local knowledge and information and couldn't do enough for us.You'd be happy staying in any of the 5 rooms they have to offer, all are very stylish and in keeping with the property. The food is also very good, from breakfast to bar meals, and they also do a three course evening dining experience.In the evening you can spend time in the lounge and bar. It's a lovely wood paneled room with wingback leather chairs, soft lighting and background music.I would highly recommend spending time at The Great House.
jamesvU5713LJ
We had an incredible time. Bruce and Sheila were the perfect hosts. Our room was big and light with beautiful countryside views. The food was delicious and the tea was to die for with generous portions We cannot wait for the next visit.
M1231KKkatharinab
A truly great house! Sheila and Bruce are the greatest of hosts, Tess the cutest of dogs and our room the cosiest of rooms. (We had the Family Suite with the inter-connecting Bunk Room for our kids – they loved it! ). In addition to the very tasty, locally-sourced breakfast, Sheila prepared a magnificent afternoon tea for us, and Bruce served the perfect G&T at the smallest bar in England (which we were then able to enjoy in the stylish lounge downstairs). The whole house is most beautifully renovated and furnished up to the smallest detail. Of all great houses in great Exmoor (and far beyond) certainly the greatest: we'll be back soon (hopefully)! Thank you so much, dear Sheila and Bruce, for your wonderful hospitality - we had a most memorable stay at The Great House . We wish you lots of success and many enthusiastic guests!
This was our second time at The Great House, and it was even better than the first time (and that was amazing). The rooms are beautifully, and sympathetically, renovated. The addition of the bar and lounge downstairs is a real asset. Sheila and Bruce are the loveliest of hosts - so welcoming. There is an art to hospitality and they definitely have it. The food is excellent - you can now get bar meals, and these are wonderful. Sheila is a really excellent cook. We arrived feeling a bit bowed down by life but we left feeling refreshed and able to set forth again. And you can't ask for more than that. Thank you Bruce and Sheila.
Kathryn Abbott
We had a fantastic time at the Great House in May 2023. Bruce and Sheila were wonderful hosts, who made us feel so welcome from the minute we arrived. The house is a fantastic record of the 17th century, and has been sympathetically restored with lovely personal touches, fitting both the period and surroundings. The food was excellent, the room was spotless and the surrounding countryside offers fantastic views. Sheila has a wealth of knowledge and recommended some lovely local walks. The Great house is in an excellent location to explore everything Exmoor and the locality has to offer. We hope to return soon!
emmamaitland
Stayed for 2 nights in October half term and stayed in the family suite which was lovely and perfect with three children as a lot of family rooms only allow for 2 children. Our boys loved it here and enjoyed the board games. Breakfast was really good and Sheila even went out of her way to get what our 7 year old specifically wanted. Loved evening drinks at the bar and Bruce and Sheila were so friendly. We don’t often return to places as we like to explore something new but this time we are returning as we loved it so much and I want to see the local area in summer. Plus we are taking the grandparents as I am sure that they will love it too!
L8959DDandreww
We were lucky enough to bag a 2 night stay at the amazing Great House and even luckier to stay in the stunning Lorna Doone which we highly recommend if you're given a choice. The location is idyllic, the breakfast a delicious array of locally sourced and even some homemade produce, and kicking back in the evening with a drink in the old hunting lodge-style lounge was a particular highlight. The true stars of the show though are the hosts themselves; Bruce and Sheila made us feel instantly welcome and at ease, and were only too happy to do everything they could to make our stay with them as enjoyable as possible. Their excellent local knowledge helped us find the lesser-known National Trust-owned village of Sellworthy - a collection of yellow thatched cottages with stunning gardens and tearoom is our must-see activity for your stay. Thank you Bruce and Sheila!
Emma White
We went with another couple for a weekend away and it was absolutely brilliant - love the house, which has clearly been restored with great passion and attention to detail, and Shelia & Bruce (and their sons) are wonderful natural hosts: nothing is too much trouble and everything done with a big smile. The bar area is wonderfully atmospheric and we ate there the first night. The food was delicious and very good value indeed. We have already re-booked!
keelyamos
Wonderfully relaxing February break for our anniversary. House and rooms are lovely, Bruce and Sheila even more so. Excellent breakfast & dinner & good choices of wine. Plenty of walks in the area & very close to snowdrop valley and Dunster. Very much enjoyed our stay.
From the initial welcome, you enter a wonderful world of decadence. Sheila and Bruce offer the finest of service and their Great House is decorate to the era and you can immerse yourself in to the luxury! We went for their pop up dinner which is freshly cooked and catered to your needs (we are all veggie) The rooms are beautifully decorated with a nod to the period of the property. The bed and pillows are so comfortable and the little touches of tea tray and hot chocolate are a little extra to enjoy. The bar is perfect for pre dinner drinks. They offer a vast range of drinks and served with style. We have enjoyed the pop up dinner menu a number of times, but the treat to stay over was just perfect! Location wise it is very quiet yet perfect for visiting Exmoor and we popped to the Snowdrop Valley, Dulverton, Dunster, Porlock Weir and enjoyed walks across the moor. Just bliss! Bravo Sheila! Bravo!
sharonjem2016
Wonderful place to stay, luxurious decor, grade two listed building, wonderful food and made to feel home ftom home by great hosts Bruce and Sheila. They made us and our dogs feel really welcome. Breakfasts are delicious and service is friendly and warm. Nothing is too much trouble. One of best places I have ever stayed, thankyou Bruce and Sheila ?
abc55Somerset
We held a family pre Christmas party weekend at The Great House and had exclusive use of the property. It really exceeded our expectations! The house was beautifully decorated for Xmas with all sorts of extras to occupy the children. Sheila cooked a three course dinner for us on Friday night, everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Bruce was the perfect host/ waiter. Saturday evening we had a Murder Mystery Party managed by Bruce starting with cocktails in the club lounge and a stunning grazing table by Sheila. Breakfasts were relaxed with everyone arriving at their leisure and selecting from the menu, all cooked to order with local ingredients. Bruce and Sheila go out of their way to provide a relaxing environment where you have freedom of the house but they are available if you need them. The house made me feel I was in Jane Austen novel and it has been beautifully restored maintaining original features. If you usually rent a large house for family gatherings and have to do all the shopping, cooking , clearing up…The Great House is the perfect alternative.
Ted H
Being only about 5 miles walking from Dunkers Beacon, ( that mystical moor high spot of Exmoor that haunted Lorna Doone), in the charming village of Timberscombe and hidden up a narrow cul de sac, the 17th century mansion of The Great House is idyllic for visiting Exmoor, Minehead, the numerous exquisite villages of West Somerset and North Devon, and nearby Dunster. The Great House is quirky but very friendly and serene. We were met on the steps outside with a very warm welcome from Sheila and Bruce, who have dedicated a few years to making this the perfect B&B and nothing is too much effort. Included in this welcome is a genuine offer of a car collection, should anyone think they can walk to and from Dunkery Beacon, (visible from the house), a mere 10 mile round trip. I was one of those who had exaggerated my ability for on having walked up to the summit at 519m in about three hours caved and called for help instead of walking the two hour downhill. Full of smiles and relaxed reception, Sheila did exactly what they had told us. She picked me up by car and took me back to the Great House. Dinner is served in the elegant sunny Georgian styled dining room. The bedrooms are all a generous size and well appointed in elegance. Hot drink- making facilities in every room with courtesy biscuits for gluten gourmands as well as non gluten appetites. Dogs are not only welcomed but are truly pampered with dog beds, bowls, biscuits and cleaning materials being provided in each bedrooms. All food is very interesting and prepared from fresh and well cooked by Sheila and served either in the downstairs bar or dining room by Bruce or one of their smartly dressed teenage sons. There is a snug bar (very snug but equally, very atmospheric) where local gins, wines and spirits can be enjoyed. This B&B is an absolute must for visitors to this beautiful region who want to combine walking and site-seeing with elegant comfort and relaxation. We shall be back!
Herbert Kriechhammer
Beautiful house, lovingly and stylishly furnished. Quiet location with extremely friendly
We had the pleasure of spending a couple of nights at The Great House.Sheila and Bruce were fantastic hosts and full of local knowledge and information and couldn't do enough for us.You'd be happy staying in any of the 5 rooms they have to offer, all are very stylish and in keeping with the property. The food is also very good, from breakfast to bar meals, and they also do a three course evening dining experience.In the evening you can spend time in the lounge and bar. It's a lovely wood paneled room with wingback leather chairs, soft lighting and background music.I would highly recommend spending time at The Great House.
We had an incredible time. Bruce and Sheila were the perfect hosts. Our room was big and light with beautiful countryside views. The food was delicious and the tea was to die for with generous portions We cannot wait for the next visit.
A truly great house! Sheila and Bruce are the greatest of hosts, Tess the cutest of dogs and our room the cosiest of rooms. (We had the Family Suite with the inter-connecting Bunk Room for our kids – they loved it! ). In addition to the very tasty, locally-sourced breakfast, Sheila prepared a magnificent afternoon tea for us, and Bruce served the perfect G&T at the smallest bar in England (which we were then able to enjoy in the stylish lounge downstairs). The whole house is most beautifully renovated and furnished up to the smallest detail. Of all great houses in great Exmoor (and far beyond) certainly the greatest: we'll be back soon (hopefully)! Thank you so much, dear Sheila and Bruce, for your wonderful hospitality - we had a most memorable stay at The Great House . We wish you lots of success and many enthusiastic guests!
Wonderful b&bBeautiful house & roomsGreat ownersNice breakfast & diner, wines & beersWarm welcomeSimply marvelous
This was our second time at The Great House, and it was even better than the first time (and that was amazing). The rooms are beautifully, and sympathetically, renovated. The addition of the bar and lounge downstairs is a real asset. Sheila and Bruce are the loveliest of hosts - so welcoming. There is an art to hospitality and they definitely have it. The food is excellent - you can now get bar meals, and these are wonderful. Sheila is a really excellent cook. We arrived feeling a bit bowed down by life but we left feeling refreshed and able to set forth again. And you can't ask for more than that. Thank you Bruce and Sheila.
We had a fantastic time at the Great House in May 2023. Bruce and Sheila were wonderful hosts, who made us feel so welcome from the minute we arrived. The house is a fantastic record of the 17th century, and has been sympathetically restored with lovely personal touches, fitting both the period and surroundings. The food was excellent, the room was spotless and the surrounding countryside offers fantastic views. Sheila has a wealth of knowledge and recommended some lovely local walks. The Great house is in an excellent location to explore everything Exmoor and the locality has to offer. We hope to return soon!
Stayed for 2 nights in October half term and stayed in the family suite which was lovely and perfect with three children as a lot of family rooms only allow for 2 children. Our boys loved it here and enjoyed the board games. Breakfast was really good and Sheila even went out of her way to get what our 7 year old specifically wanted. Loved evening drinks at the bar and Bruce and Sheila were so friendly. We don’t often return to places as we like to explore something new but this time we are returning as we loved it so much and I want to see the local area in summer. Plus we are taking the grandparents as I am sure that they will love it too!
We were lucky enough to bag a 2 night stay at the amazing Great House and even luckier to stay in the stunning Lorna Doone which we highly recommend if you're given a choice. The location is idyllic, the breakfast a delicious array of locally sourced and even some homemade produce, and kicking back in the evening with a drink in the old hunting lodge-style lounge was a particular highlight. The true stars of the show though are the hosts themselves; Bruce and Sheila made us feel instantly welcome and at ease, and were only too happy to do everything they could to make our stay with them as enjoyable as possible. Their excellent local knowledge helped us find the lesser-known National Trust-owned village of Sellworthy - a collection of yellow thatched cottages with stunning gardens and tearoom is our must-see activity for your stay. Thank you Bruce and Sheila!
We went with another couple for a weekend away and it was absolutely brilliant - love the house, which has clearly been restored with great passion and attention to detail, and Shelia & Bruce (and their sons) are wonderful natural hosts: nothing is too much trouble and everything done with a big smile. The bar area is wonderfully atmospheric and we ate there the first night. The food was delicious and very good value indeed. We have already re-booked!
Wonderfully relaxing February break for our anniversary. House and rooms are lovely, Bruce and Sheila even more so. Excellent breakfast & dinner & good choices of wine. Plenty of walks in the area & very close to snowdrop valley and Dunster. Very much enjoyed our stay.
Restaurantji Recommends
From the initial welcome, you enter a wonderful world of decadence. Sheila and Bruce offer the finest of service and their Great House is decorate to the era and you can immerse yourself in to the luxury! We went for their pop up dinner which is freshly cooked and catered to your needs (we are all veggie) The rooms are beautifully decorated with a nod to the period of the property. The bed and pillows are so comfortable and the little touches of tea tray and hot chocolate are a little extra to enjoy. The bar is perfect for pre dinner drinks. They offer a vast range of drinks and served with style. We have enjoyed the pop up dinner menu a number of times, but the treat to stay over was just perfect! Location wise it is very quiet yet perfect for visiting Exmoor and we popped to the Snowdrop Valley, Dulverton, Dunster, Porlock Weir and enjoyed walks across the moor. Just bliss! Bravo Sheila! Bravo!
Wonderful place to stay, luxurious decor, grade two listed building, wonderful food and made to feel home ftom home by great hosts Bruce and Sheila. They made us and our dogs feel really welcome. Breakfasts are delicious and service is friendly and warm. Nothing is too much trouble. One of best places I have ever stayed, thankyou Bruce and Sheila ?
We held a family pre Christmas party weekend at The Great House and had exclusive use of the property. It really exceeded our expectations! The house was beautifully decorated for Xmas with all sorts of extras to occupy the children. Sheila cooked a three course dinner for us on Friday night, everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Bruce was the perfect host/ waiter. Saturday evening we had a Murder Mystery Party managed by Bruce starting with cocktails in the club lounge and a stunning grazing table by Sheila. Breakfasts were relaxed with everyone arriving at their leisure and selecting from the menu, all cooked to order with local ingredients. Bruce and Sheila go out of their way to provide a relaxing environment where you have freedom of the house but they are available if you need them. The house made me feel I was in Jane Austen novel and it has been beautifully restored maintaining original features. If you usually rent a large house for family gatherings and have to do all the shopping, cooking , clearing up…The Great House is the perfect alternative.
Being only about 5 miles walking from Dunkers Beacon, ( that mystical moor high spot of Exmoor that haunted Lorna Doone), in the charming village of Timberscombe and hidden up a narrow cul de sac, the 17th century mansion of The Great House is idyllic for visiting Exmoor, Minehead, the numerous exquisite villages of West Somerset and North Devon, and nearby Dunster. The Great House is quirky but very friendly and serene. We were met on the steps outside with a very warm welcome from Sheila and Bruce, who have dedicated a few years to making this the perfect B&B and nothing is too much effort. Included in this welcome is a genuine offer of a car collection, should anyone think they can walk to and from Dunkery Beacon, (visible from the house), a mere 10 mile round trip. I was one of those who had exaggerated my ability for on having walked up to the summit at 519m in about three hours caved and called for help instead of walking the two hour downhill. Full of smiles and relaxed reception, Sheila did exactly what they had told us. She picked me up by car and took me back to the Great House. Dinner is served in the elegant sunny Georgian styled dining room. The bedrooms are all a generous size and well appointed in elegance. Hot drink- making facilities in every room with courtesy biscuits for gluten gourmands as well as non gluten appetites. Dogs are not only welcomed but are truly pampered with dog beds, bowls, biscuits and cleaning materials being provided in each bedrooms. All food is very interesting and prepared from fresh and well cooked by Sheila and served either in the downstairs bar or dining room by Bruce or one of their smartly dressed teenage sons. There is a snug bar (very snug but equally, very atmospheric) where local gins, wines and spirits can be enjoyed. This B&B is an absolute must for visitors to this beautiful region who want to combine walking and site-seeing with elegant comfort and relaxation. We shall be back!
Beautiful house, lovingly and stylishly furnished. Quiet location with extremely friendly