Castle Hill Guest House

We rented the whole place through Airbnb, rather than staying as B&B guests, and it worked well for our big group of seven children and adults. There was loads of room, and the location at the edge of town put restaurants, pubs and convenience stores close by. The rooms were clean and the beds and pillows comfortable, so everyone slept well. The kids had a great time playing hide and seek, and the shared dining space was handy for meals together. The kitchen was the main letdown: some pans, drawers and other equipment were grim, and we'd have needed the second oven working to cook for everyone. Downstairs could use a dust, and the sofa was past its best. A TV in the main downstairs area might have been useful, though there were TVs in every bedroom and a DVD library, and we were hardly in our rooms anyway. The dartboard was there, but most of the darts were broken in some way. The electric shower in Room 7 didn't work, so we used another one. None of that ruined the stay.

We were able to walk to places in Lynton and Lynmouth, or use the funicular train to get between them, and the location suited us well. Our group of 11 adults and 7 children, from age nine down to a newborn, fitted in. Room sizes varied, and some had en-suites and sitting areas. The showers were good in some rooms and less so in others. The self-catering kitchen was a reasonable size, stainless steel and seemed set up like a professional kitchen, with plenty of glasses, dishes and cutlery. There isn't parking on site, but you can get a council permit for the car park around the corner called Bottoms rest. It did what we needed, and I'd recommend it for a large group.

Kate and Mark made us feel very welcome, and the breakfasts were great. We had a lovely three-night stay in a clean, tidy and comfortable place, with lovely views, a small bar and a very nice lounge. Nothing to fault, and I'd highly recommend it.

The room was lovely, spacious and clean, and the guest house itself is beautiful. Mark and Kate were always up for a chat and asked what we were going to explore that day. Their little one's breakfast chatter was a delight, too. A great base for exploring. I'd go back in a shot.