The Old Malt House, Exton

Property Summary
In a tranquil corner of Exmoor National Park, The Old Malt House offers the perfect combination of modern living and character and charm. The property has been lovingly renovated by the new owners whilst retaining period features including beamed ceilings, inglenook fireplace and a hidden well.

Main Description
The Old Malt House is a detached period property dating back to the 1800s. It was formerly the stables and outbuildings to the old village Inn - hence the name! - and the garden was reportedly once the village pound, housing the local animals.

The property was sympathetically converted into living accommodation in the 1990s, retaining a wealth of original features to include exposed beams, inglenook fireplace and working hand pump for the well, which still exists under the kitchen floor. It has recently been renovated to provide modern comfortable accommodation.

The accommodation is all on the ground floor but there are a number of steps to reach the garden and the front entrance is via an old uneven cobbled courtyard, making it unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. The first floor of the building housing The Old Malt House is used only for storage and thus there is no noise from above.

The Old Malt House is accessed from a sunny cobbled courtyard, which is shared with the owners' other property next door. The front door to the property leads straight into the open-plan living area, with a small area for muddy boots and coats immediately inside the front door. The main living area is open plan, with ample seating, a 50" smart TV, inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove and a dining area and well equipped modern kitchen.

A door at the far end of the living area leads into an internal hall, from which both bedrooms and the bathroom are accessed. Unusually for Exmoor, the property is on mains water, meaning excellent water pressure for that much needed hot shower at the end of a wet and muddy walk!

A few steps from the kitchen area lead up to the games room and from here there are a few more steps up to an external door opening onto the garden. This is private and enclosed with lovely countryside views, and enjoys all day sunshine.

Sleeps up to 4 guests
One double bedroom with king-sized bed
One bedroom with twin beds
Large open plan kitchen/dining/living room with wood flooring, inglenook fireplace and wood-burner
Ground floor bathroom with shower over the bath
Games rooms with vaulted ceiling, complete with table-tennis table
Private and enclosed SW facing garden with outside seating
Off-road parking for 2 cars
Secure bike storage
Outside tap for muddy boots, bikes and dogs
Bed linen and towels provided
Wifi, heating and electricity included
Dogs welcome (maximum of 3) for supplement of £15 each
Small market town of Dulverton only 6 miles
Arrive from 4 pm
Depart by 10 am


Indoor Description
The Old Malt House kitchen has recently been renovated and fitted with new appliances to include electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, washing machine, slimline dishwasher, kettle, filter coffee machine and toaster.

There is a 50" Smart TV in the sitting room area, which is on a swivel arm so can be enjoyed from the large four seater sofa or from the kitchen/dining area.

The property benefits from ultrafast fibre broadband, though due to the thickness of the internal walls, there is limited wifi available in the bedrooms and bathroom. There is also no phone signal on most mobile networks, though wifi calling is possible.

The Old Malt House houses a games room, which is accessed from the kitchen, and includes a table-tennis table plus a selection of board games, books and extensive DVD collection. Please note that the games room has not yet been renovated and is not quite as luxurious as the rest of the property!

Electricity and heating costs are included in the price of your accommodation. The Old Malt House has recently been fitted with state of the art 'smart' electric radiators, which ensure cosy evenings in the winter. These radiators are pre-programmed to provide optimum comfort but can be adjusted to suit your preferences. There is also a large wood-burner in the sitting room; a starter basket of logs, kindling and firelighters will be provided and further logs can be purchased locally. The cottage is double glazed throughout. In the summer months, the thick external walls keep the cottage deliciously cool.

Bed linen and towels are provided for your convenience.

Dogs are welcome (maximum of 3 dogs per booking), for a supplement of £15 per dog. Please do not leave your dog/s alone in the property at any time or allow them on the furniture or in the bedrooms.

Outdoor Description
The Old Malt House benefits from its own private, enclosed garden, which is accessed internally from the games room and can also be accessed externally through a gate leading off the entrance courtyard.

The garden is elevated and enjoys delightful countryside views. With a south westerly aspect, it is a real sun trap and is the perfect place to relax in the evening with a G&T or a glass of bubbly.

The garden is equipped with a table and chairs to seat four for al fresco dining, as well as Adirondack chairs for a relaxing read or sneaky snooze.

Although the garden is enclosed, it may be possible for a particularly adventurous dog (or those with a penchant for pheasants) to escape by scaling the wall, so supervision is recommended!

The cobbled courtyard is shared with the owners' other property next door which is also let for holidays, Hare and Hounds (sleeps 4), which has its own separate enclosed garden.


Parking
Off-road parking for one car is available on the drive, which is shared with the owners' other property next door. A second car can be parked on the quiet lane directly outside the property. Bicycles can be stored securely indoors.
Electric vehicles can be charged for an additional fee using the 13A plug socket in the garage, with pre-approval from the owner.

Pets Description
Well behaved dogs are welcome.

Sorry, no cats.

Restricted mobility
This has not been completed by the owner.

Exit in case of emergency
The property has a number of exits in case of an emergency. External doors from the open plan living area and games room lead onto the courtyard and garden respectively. The bedrooms are at ground level with windows opening onto the garden of the owners' adjacent property.

Christmas / New Year
The Old Malt House will be decorated for Christmas from early December.

The location of the cottage is perfect for dogs that hate firework. The semi-rural location and presence of a farm opposite the cottage means it's unlikely that a single firework will be heard on New Year's Eve. Guests would not be permitted to use fireworks.

The region
The Old Malt House is located in the tiny village of Exton, in a quiet but accessible corner of Exmoor National Park.

The village, which comprises around 20 houses, is located on a steep hillside and is accessed via a quiet single track road. The Old Malt House lies around half way up the hill. This is a truly peaceful location, with the only noise coming from the pheasants that frequently meander through the village and from the sheep and cows that graze on the nearby farm.

Below Exton, 400m down the (steep!) hill, lies Bridgetown, which has a pub (serving very good home cooked food) and a campsite, with a well equipped shop for everyday essentials. There is also a bus stop, with services to Dulverton, Exford, Winsford, Wheddon Cross, Dunster and Minehead. This opens up a wealth of point to point walks as well as day trips.

There are excellent walks and cycling (road, mountain and gravel rides) from the doorstep and the cottage is also well placed for exploring further afield. The coastal town of Minehead with its sandy beach and many amenities is a 25 minute drive away, whilst the dog friendly beach at Dunster is 20 minutes away. Dunkery Beacon and Tarr Steps are within a 15 minute drive.

The delightful small market town of Dulverton lies within easy reach of the cottage (7 miles; 15 minutes drive) and has a range of independent shops, including greengrocer, butcher, bakery, art gallery, craft and gift shops and a number of tea rooms, pubs and restaurants.