Tor Farm Lodge

Karen made us feel welcome straight away, and was friendly and happy to help with anything. The beds were comfortable, the lodges were well equipped, and the hot tubs were beautifully kept and a real highlight. Great location too. We couldn't recommend it more and will book again.

The countryside setting was lovely, with great walks nearby, plenty of parking, and a recycling area. The garden felt secure, though there were gaps under the gates that a dog could get through, as one guest's dog kept escaping. Some lodges also had beautiful views of the countryside, sheep and a few hens. We liked the clean, warm hot tub, which was checked and cleaned each day, and the log fire came with wood and paper to get it going. Those were lovely touches. The bathrooms were warm, the towels were soft and clean, and the shower gel and hand wash dispensers were useful. The beds and bathrooms were clean and comfortable too. There was a double oven, large hob, washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and board, plus a few kitchen basics: J cloths, washing-up liquid and dishwasher tablets. The accommodation was clearly well equipped in some ways, but at nearly £700 per night we expected more than the very few cheap basics provided. It felt like an overpriced caravan holiday where we had to bring everything ourselves. Tea, coffee and sugar came in sachets on a pudding dish, with unpleasant UHT milk capsules. As we're on a farm, it would've been nice to find real milk in the fridge. There was no welcome note or small festive gesture like crackers or cheese. The tiny, unlit Christmas tree on the table seemed like an afterthought. We were told we could bring our own decorations, but had no space for extra things. A normal-sized lit tree to put presents under would've been thoughtful, as we've had at other holiday homes at Christmas. It didn't feel festive or luxurious, and there were no games, books, magazines or even a pack of cards. Even the cutlery was all mismatched, in different sizes and weights, with bent forks and not one matching pair. It felt as if it had come from a charity shop discount bin. The living area had cobwebs, and black dog hair covered the skirting boards. There had been a changeover on the day we arrived, so perhaps the beds were changed in a rush. With eight people coming back from a country walk, there was nowhere for muddy shoes or coats, and not even a few hooks by the door for hats, scarves and boots. There were no hand towels in the bathrooms, just holes in the walls where towel hooks had been, so we had to dry our hands on the bath sheets. Each bathroom had only two toilet rolls. One bedroom door needed a hard slam to shut, which woke the younger family members, and the front door was difficult to lock, leaving us feeling a bit vulnerable. The owners had been told about those issues. My parents booked Hillside Lodge for a family Christmas. We enjoyed our stay, but compared with other Christmas places we've rented over the past few years, this didn't feel like good value. If you're after a countryside holiday and are happy with this type of accommodation, Tor farm is an ideal option.

A peaceful spot for a getaway, with easy trips to Cheddar, Wells and Wookey Hole.

We stayed in a lovely, very clean lodge finished to a high standard, and ours had a hot tub. There's also a really nice shared swimming pool area.