Spring 2023 Newsletter

I hope all is well with you and you're having an amazing 2023 so far!

Spring has finally arrived here in Stocklinch with amazing apple blossom, swathes of bluebells, frothy cowparsley in the hedgerows, sunny skies and warmer days - thank goodness.

So to help share this spring loveliness with you, I'm busy working up some new circular walks for you to try out from the steps of the Hut. One down by the River Isle circling back through Puckington and returning along Gummers Lane. Another taking in both The Duke of York in Shepton Beauchamp and The Barrington Boar in Barrington, with a sneaky wander through the gardens of the National Trust at Barrington Court and a tempting browse around Barrington Pottery. A very pleasant walk over to the gorgeous Dillington House and Estate with afternoon tea at Stuart Cafe. And these pics above were taken on a lovely walk into the woods above Atherstone currently carpeted in bluebells, wild garlic and ferns and then continuing along Ticklebelly Lane. So plenty of options to keep you busy!

I hope to welcome you back here again sometime soon - please get in touch to discuss availability and make a booking.

We are sitting in the middle of foodie heaven here in Stocklinch with no less than 4 Michelin starred restaurants within 30 mins drive from here. The Barrington Boar just over the hill continues to go from strength to strength and is still the no. 1 favourite with our guests. But if you wanted to try out some alternative fine dining experiences during your stay we have Holm in Somerset in South Petherton, The Roth Bar and Grill at Durslade Farm and Osip in Bruton.

I am always very happy to help out with any special arrangements you would like in place before you arrive - cream teas, birthday cakes & decorations, fizz on ice, flowers and a West Country cheese board. Please don't hesitate to ask.

The cider apple blossom is particularly spectacular at the moment promising a bumper crop of apples. Perry's Cider in Dowlish Wake has reinstated it's cider tasting along with its cafe, The Canteen at Perrys. And Ethic Street Pizza are back again at the weekends with their wood fired pizza oven along with the Perry's Land Rover Cider Bar.

And coming up.....something for you foodies. Now into its second year, the Somerset Food Trail Festival, running from 14th - 30th July, celebrates the very best of locally produced, delicious and sustainable food, and promises to even better than last year's where 190 farmers, growers, food producers, cafés, pubs and restaurants were involved with around 8,500 people taking part in one of 247 events over the course of the festival. Click on the map and you'll find 111 venues in the South Somerset area alone - plenty of local food & drink to discover.

And also coming up is the Ilminster Literary Festival, running from 1st - 8th June, which has a wide range of speakers and events covering fiction, fashion, history, politics, journalism, espionage and music.

I hope this has given you a little flavour of what you can enjoy during a stay here over the coming months and Matt and I look forward to welcoming you back and sharing our vibrant corner of the world with you again.

Very best wishes, Fiona & Matt Day