Widcombe Grange

Widcombe Grange is an elegant stone-built manor house in Somerset, within 22 acres of private farmland and orchards. It’s perfect for parties of family or friends.

The house sleeps 14 in 7 bedrooms, two of which are en-suite. There are a further two shared bathrooms. One of the bedrooms is on the ground floor with an en-suite shower room, for guests who’d rather avoid stairs. 

Keeper’s Cottage is adjacent to the main house and sleeps 10 guests in 5 bedrooms, two of which are on the ground floor with a shower room. Of the bedrooms upstairs, one is en-suite and there is a main bathroom.  The cottage has its own kitchen and sitting area, and a walled garden that is separate from the main garden – great for guests with young children, or guests who’d prefer a bit of space from the main group. 7 of the bedrooms can be used as either doubles or twins. 

The entertaining space of the main house has been designed for all of the guests who might be staying. There’s a gloriously big dining table that seats 24 with plenty of elbow room, a large drawing room, a sitting room and a den (which opens out onto the courtyard).   The kitchen leads off the dining room, and there’s both a utility room and boot room. 

Outside, there’s the old coach house, which is the sort of space you can make into anything you might want it to be. It’s set up as a games room with pool table, table tennis and table football, but the games can be moved to make space for dancing. There is a covered area that’s great for a fire pit or two, or maybe some torch flares (either can be hired in) and you can spend the evening toasting marshmallows.

The Pole Barn near the swimming pool is a great place to serve barbecues and buffets on balmy summer days.

In the courtyard just off the dining room, you will find the large hot tub. It will be ready for you when you arrive, so grab a towel and start your weekend!

At the back of the house, there’s a walled garden with a sun-trap swimming pool and a lovely big lawn for croquet or lying on blankets, watching butterflies. At the front of the house, there’s a big natural pond with a wooden gazebo and boardwalk. There is also woodland to explore (or escape to), an apple orchard, and two large lakes, stuffed full of fish. Beside the lakes is kept a little boat, for pirate adventure or sedate bobbing.  

Edmund’s Choice of Extraordinary Feature

“This is a very welcoming house, the sort of place you can relax and catch up and have fun, in lovely surroundings. The grounds are particularly well done – people can do either a lot, or very little, whatever they fancy.”

About the Location

Widcombe Grange is just past Taunton, if you’re coming South on the M5, and is between Taunton and Wellington, on the Devon border to Somerset. There’s a main-line train station in Taunton – the house is about fifteen minutes’ away in a taxi. 

Things To Do 

The house has a concierge service to help organise activities, such as archery, golf, shooting or horse riding. There’s lots of great walking in the Blackdown Hills, and some challenging road and off-road cycling. The concierge can help organise some less physical things, such as gin-tasting or baking.

Lyme Regis and the sea-side is within easy reach (about 30 minutes’ drive), and Taunton itself is an interesting town to visit and explore. 

The nearest pub to the house is the Holman Clavel Inn, which has a micro-brewery and houses the community cider press.