East Dunster Deer Farm

Our son especially loved how calm and homely the B&B felt. He’s autistic and can struggle with noise and unfamiliar places, but it was incredibly quiet and suited him so well. We’d been glamping the night before and had to leave when a storm hit our tent, so I was very relieved we found this place. Beverley was kind and accommodating, and the room arrangement worked perfectly, with a bathroom connecting to the kids’ twin room. The continental breakfast was lovely, especially the homemade jams. We’d happily stay again when we’re back in the area.

A lovely place for a group holiday, with a really sociable feel. I’d have appreciated bin bags being provided so we didn’t need to bring them, along with larger tea cups and nicer cutlery.

The house itself was amazing, though for £1200 for 3 days I expected more toilet rolls and washing machine liquid. More seriously, the end bedroom has a step down that people should know about. My daughter fell there while holding her 4 week old baby, nearly landing on him. I went to help and fell too. I was fine, but she badly twisted her ankle, which spoiled her weekend, and she was still in pain 2 weeks later. We didn’t mention it at the time, but I hope future guests are made aware of the step.

We booked Kingfisher Lodge and Deer Park Lodge together for my Mum's 60th Birthday, and it made for our best 'staycation' so far. They sit beside each other with a fence between them, though gates at the back let you move between the two. Each sleeps up to 6, and their size and airy feel really hit you when you arrive. The decor is stylish, clean and lovely. Both master bedrooms have en suites, and the bathrooms are spacious modern wet rooms. There’s plenty for a self catering stay: kitchen equipment, two fridges, a freezer, dishwasher, two sinks, plus a hoover, mop, ironing board and iron, and hairdryers. Each lodge has a hot tub looking out over the countryside, outdoor tables and lots of seating, and its own BBQ with utensils. We made good use of the BBQ in the sunny weather. We also spent time stargazing in the tubs and were lucky enough to see the Space X Starlink Sattelite, visible for only 3 minutes that night. The lodges are spaced well apart, so they feel private compared with other lodge holidays I’ve seen. It’s peaceful, the views are outstanding, and the deer come close and seem curious. We also saw bats, birds, toads and herons. There are big ponds to wander around and plenty of local countryside walks nearby. If you love nature, you’ll love it here. Bev was lovely and available if we had questions or needed anything. We had no problems at all. Tiverton is about a 15 minute drive away, with plenty of shops for anything you might need. We’ll definitely return. I’d struggled to find a luxurious lodge holiday for a larger group before finding East Dunster Deer Farm, and I’d highly recommend it.