22 acres hosted by Penny N.
1 glamping pitch
Off-leash friendly
Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.
All to yourself
100% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
Creature comforts
Enjoy the comforts of home—including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen.
Feltham’s Farm is a certified organic farm where we make award winning cheese. We aim to be as sustainable as possible, harvesting all our rainwater, using 40kw of solar panels, ground source heat pumps, electric vans to deliver our cheeses, growing as much of our fruit and veg ourselves. Situated in the heart of Somerset’s Blackmore vale.We hope that you have a very comfortable and happy stay at Feltham’s Farm’s Organic Cabin. We are a certified organic smallholding in the middle of South Somerset’s Blackmore vale.
We live in the cream coloured stone house, and make cheese in the Cheese Barn. You have immediate neighbours in the small cottage - you share a view of the swimming pond and the barns, in the courtyard.
Please let us know if you have any issues or questions whilst you’re here - we can usually help or solve things! From ant bite cream (we have it) to where you find the best beach within an hour (sandy or pebbles?), or what to do when it rains (it will!), we can help.
Please let us know if you would like to help feed the pigs, sheep and chickens. We tend to do this around 9am and 5/6pm, so if you text us or let us know half a day beforehand we’ll ensure we don’t miss you...
There is a framed OS map of our local area. BRING waterproofs and wellies to maximise your enjoyment of where we are - there is 22 acres to roam around and see pigs, piglets, sheep and chickens.
The table tennis table is up in the barn along with some Beano comics, board games, and DVDs in the drawer of the sideboard.
We have a 25 m square swimming pond which you are very welcome to use. However, it is not fenced so if you or your children cannot swim you MUST supervise them at all times, and notify us if you have any non-swimming children. The deepest part of the pond is 3.4m and there are newts, frogs there, as well as reeds and plants so it is not a typical swimming pool experience - we find it infinitely better - the water is softer and kinder to the skin, and you can gradually walk in on gravel steps, and swim proper lengths. However, we ask that you do not swim with any suntan lotions on, as this will affect the natural water life in the pond...and there may be other people in the pond if it is hot - we, our cheesemakers and volunteers on the farm all swim at various times of the day... We grow a lot of our own food, so usually have something to eat (e.g. artichokes, asparagus, pumpkins, beetroot, flat leaf parsley, sage, mint, thyme, lots of lamb, and sausages).
We will leave you a bundle of tasting goods for your arrival - wine or cider and apple juice, some herbs, veg, and our cheeses. Let us know if you would like more of anything or different options. We have to charge you extra for more meat, cheese, and some veg (like artichokes) but some stuff will just be free - herbs, apples in season.
Summer - Do be aware that there are ticks in the field (ticks cause Lyme’s disease) so either put long trousers on small children, or be vigilant and ensure you remove the whole tick immediately with tweezers. If the head stays in, it can be serious. That being said, we’ve lived here for six years and none of ours has ever had a tick - but a guest child did, and luckily we got it out.
We rarely lock doors here. We are very lucky that in this small corner of Somerset, we seem to be safe, possibly because someone is always onsite, the track is unmarked, and we have a very fierce neighbour farmer who is known as being tough as anything throughout the area. That being said, if you are worried, there are locks on two doors in the cabin, but one door needs a chain and padlock around it. So please ask us.
Background
Horsington village is in the Blackmore Vale, which is a wide fertile valley inhabited since pre-Roman times, and where the cottage is in right on Horsington Marsh, to the east of the River Cale (which joins the Stour further south). The bigger village to the south was given to the Templars in 1185 by the lords of the Manor. You can see hills that cup the village to the north, south, east and west,so it’s a very peaceful place with its own micro-climate (great for blackberries) and marshy mists. About 500 people live here, and there is a church, a fine school, and two pubs. 4 miles to the north is Wincanton which has two big supermarkets, a petrol station, post office, and two banks. There are lots of pretty Somerset villages nearby, and the main industries are farming - lots.
Cars : if you have a biomass car, you can fill up at Gould’s Farm, on Batchpole Lane about 5 mins walk from the cottage. It is run by our neighbours Susan and Chris Moore.
If you have an electric car, we have an electric charging point, entirely generated by our own 38.5 KW of solar panels. You can use this for free.
(1) FOOD : EATING OUT
Hub at No 3 - Seed Cafe, Wincanton - run by the excellent force of nature, and our friend Lynne Franks OBE, this is worth a visit for delicious plant based food, hemp beer, and raw chocolate. If you have children we send them into Bootmakers for a workshop, whilst we retire here for a coffee and wifi. Usually open Wed -Saturday Tel 01963 33886 https://hubatno3.com/the-seed-cafe
Bootmakers, Wincanton - the best wood fired pizza in town. When there is not a pandemic they run excellent creative workshops for children and adults alike out of upcycled materials. Located in Market Square next to the Post Office. Text Ian or Safia for your orders in advance on 07757 490896.
Stapleton Arms - The Stapleton Arms, Church Hill, Buckhorn Weston, Dorset, SP8 5HS - newly opened again, and with a lovely garden, and good atmosphere. 5 mins drive from us. http://www.thestapletonarms.com
River Cottage - about an hour west of the cabin, we love River Cottage and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall loves our cheese, and uses the Fresca Margarita in his nettle gnocchi which they serve at their Feasts. Well worth a visit if you love food. Marcus (Feltham’s Farm owner and cheesemaker) teaches the cheesemaking course there as well. https://www.rivercottage.net
The Bull at Bruton - run by the Roth Bar & Grill team this is superb simple pub food, and great drinks, in a TERRIFIC atmosphere. Expect post modern pub (but NOT gastro) with stuffed deer heads on the wall, and geometric patterned carpet. https://thebullinn-bruton.com
The Half Moon Inn, Horsington - is unfortunately shut until further notice. Their ice-cream business is making too much money! (they run Ecco Gelato in Sherborne and Shaftesbury).
Lovington Bakery, Market Place, Wincanton. A bakery that opens at 7am serves delicious breakfasts and closes at 4pm. Perfect if you can’t face shopping. They do excellent lunches, and take-out. We are in an ongoing dialogue as to whether their Lovington Bun beats the Cinnamon Bun. Discuss. Tel 01963 824871
Brassica & Mercantile Restaurant, Beaminster – recommended by our friend Jules Horrell who runs Roth Bar & Grill at Hauser & Wirth – so it must be good! Try the light smoked haddock fritters with pickled red cabbage https://brassicarestaurant.co.uk
. 01308 538100
At the Chapel, Bruton - about 15 mins drive away north, this is a fab restaurant with classy modern food in Bruton High Street, served by glamorous staff. It has a bakery, a winestore, a clubroom and is the heart and soul of good living for a 30 mile radius. 4You will definitely have to book if you want a table there other than midweek lunchtime (and even that has been known to be heaving). Serves our cheese Renegade Monk so must be good.
http://www.atthechapel.co.uk
The Roth Bar and Grill, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Bruton - run by the wonderful Jules and Chef Steve Horrell, this is an excellent, relaxed restaurant within the Hauser & Wirth contemporary art gallery in Bruton. They have a fantastic staff, and approach to food all in beautiful surroundings. Everything they cook is sourced from within 5 miles and the butter is produced “in house”. Expect braised fennel and chargrilled beetroot smoked salmon rather than creamy sauces, though I’m sure these would be excellent if they did them. Amazing cocktails using borage and ginger. The first and last Friday of the month they have music (DJ mainly) events on Friday evenings but best to check. Serves our cheese Renegade Monk so it must be good. Check the programme online, needs PRIOR BOOKING. Tel 01749 814 700 Durslade Lane, Bruton, BA10 0NL https://www.rothbarandgrill.co.uk Osip, at Number One Bruton - Osip is the new farm-to-table restaurant run by the UK’s youngest ever Michelin starred chef - Merlin Labron-Johnson. Pretty amazing food by all accounts, but we’ve not yet eaten there, as we’ve not had time. Booked up til January 2022 now! Breakfast daily 8-10am. Thursday to Sunday - 12-2.30pm; 6-9.30pm; 01749 813 322 info@osiprestaurant.com
The Newt in Somerset. Owned by South African Koos Becker, it really is stunning and has affordable, excellent locally sourced food at three different eating places on site of beautiful gardens. Opening times are 9am-6pm, late openings on Thursdays to 9pm. There is an amazing garden with 265 varieties of apple tree, designs by the great and good of the gardening world. Two restaurants, a “cyder mill” and Gelateria. There is also a newly opened Sky Bridge, and tame deer wandering around. Well worth a visit if you can. Adults £17.50, Children £7, Under 5 free. Restaurants and cyder-- tel +44 (0)1963 577777 reservations@thenewtinsomerset.com Somerset BA7 7NG https:/
