Holnicote House

The staff were consistently friendly, helpful and efficient, and the place seemed well managed. We came as a group but didn't join the daily HF activities. Getting there by car is definitely easiest. Public transport is possible, but awkward. Our first-floor room in the main building was comfortable and reasonably equipped for a week, with a compact shower, basin and toilet in the en suite. Downstairs there's a dining room for all about 50 guests to eat together at 6:45, at least two lounges and a bar. Breakfast is a generous buffet, with cooked food available from around 7:30 to 8. There's also a big room for drying clothes and storing boots. You fill in a form to choose dinner for the next evening and say if you want a packed lunch. There's a good range of lunch options, ready from breakfast. Drinks at the bar are a little pricey, but it saves driving or walking a long way to the nearest pub. Highly recommended.

The walk leaders were fantastic, and there are three walks each day so people with different abilities can find a suitable one. It was very wet after storm Ciaran, but we all made it through and got back to the house on the coach. Those volunteer leaders really are the heroes of HF holidays. I also had a lovely room, with a six-foot-wide bed even though I'd booked a single. The swimming pool has been filled in.

The old house was lovely, and my bedroom looked out over the back gardens. Staff were friendly and the meals were good, maybe a bit too good since I ate so much I had to walk 10 miles to burn it off. I stayed three days to walk in Exmoor. The pool was closed, but the dining room and coffee lounge were fine, and there were drinks available at the bar.

The rooms are tiny, though the staff do all they can to keep guests comfortable. There's a local bus, but it only comes every two hours, so if you don't have a car you'll need to plan excursions ahead.