Tilbury Farm

Honey at Tilbury Farm

dukadmin — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 10:15:00 +0000

2019 has been a busy year for our bees at Tilbury Farm. After our first colony swarmed in 2017, we purchased two hives with resident bees and harvested our first crop in 2018. Our honey was in high demand and quickly sold out to our guests, was consumed by our children and featured on the menu of our local pub The Rising Sun in West Bagborough.

Earlier this year we managed to expand our stock through various chaotic swarms and calls from neighbours asking for help. We now have 8 full hives which have provided much work for Matt and my daughter Charlotte. Together they have successfully managed the bees and extracted a large quantity of pure Quantock honey! We are very proud of our product which is extremely delicious.

Our crop is especially rewarding given our efforts over the past few years to plant more wild flower areas on the farm. We now have a lavender hedge along the driveway (using the same variety as Quantock Lavender whose toiletries we stock in the cottages and huts). Our vegetable garden is mainly set aside for cut flowers (for the accommodation) and bee friendly plants. Verbena has self-seeded across the farm as well as bee friendly Buddleia and Echiums which our bees loved last year.

We are in the process of creating a wild nature strip at the southern perimeter of the shepherd hut field and may invest in some additional hives there.

Our jars of honey are for sale to guests. Please ask Matt for more information!

Wood-fired Hot Tubs at all our Shepherd Huts

dukadmin — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:13:00 +0000

Following the success of our wood-fired hot tub at Jacob Hut, we have installed more. Both Jacob and Romney now have a small tub to fit two guests. The Herdwick Hut tub accommodates up to five guests.

We supply all locally sourced wood, kindling and fire-lighters for your stay. We can fill and heat the hot tubs for your arrival – ask Matt for more information when booking.

Why not book your stay today to experience our beautiful view from your own hot tub!

Summer 2018 at Tilbury Farm!

dukadmin — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 10:12:00 +0000

Summertime at Tilbury Farm
Our weather this spring has been wonderful at Tilbury Farm and the forecast is for a beautifully sunny season – perfect glamping weather or for a stay in one of our cottages on the Quantock Hills. The countryside surrounding Tilbury Farm is now alive with colour; there is a plethora of wild flowers – cow parsley, stithwort, pink campion, wild orchid, foxgloves, buttercups, wild garlic and elderflower adorn the hedgerows whilst the moorland is covered by yellow gorse blooms, lilac heather and plump blue wortle-berries. Our bees are loving our wildflowers and we have successfully harvested our first honey which is available for sale to our guests!

Buzzards and Deer
The meadows and trees of Tilbury Farm are home to a vast array of native wildlife. The big skies and views from the cottages and shepherd huts at Tilbury Farm provide the perfect lookout for buzzards circling in the thermals and other birds of prey including the kestrel and peregrine falcon. The Quantock Hills are home to the beautiful red deer and these stunning creatures frequent our fields – guests in our Shepherd Huts regularly watch them graze.

Local attractions and events
Summer is the perfect time to visit our local area which is full of events celebrating this fantastic season. Local villages and towns also come alive each summer and celebrate with fetes, fairs, flower shows and festivals of the musical and beer variety. From the big names of Devon County Show, The Bath and West Show and Honiton Show to the more regional Dunster Show, Dunster Fair and Taunton Flower Show; these annual events celebrate all that rural West Somerset, the Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park have to offer.

Our favourite occasions are the more modest very local affairs. Home-made signage in the lanes advertise “family dog-show”, “village fete”, “outdoor theatre” or “beer fest”. Every Quantock village hosts at least a fete, a pony and dog show and / or a flower show. Expect the jingle of morris dancers, festive bunting, delicious cream-teas and locally made cakes and ice-cream. Observe serious competition for hotly contested fruit-cake, chutney and vegetable contests. Participate in pony-rides, skittles, slap-the-rat, tombola, raffles and stalls selling home-grown seedlings and home-made cakes.

Outdoor Theatre and Music
Multiple weekly events such as these are easily accessible from Tilbury Farm throughout the summer months. One of our local pubs The Carew Arms in Crowcombe is hosting several live music and pizza Saturday nights. We are also ideally situated for other cultural events including music, drama and art. A local organisation ‘Music on the Quantocks’ hosts classical music concerts on our doorstep in village churches, tithe barns and halls. Folk music can be enjoyed at Halsway Manor or at Pebbles Wine Bar in Watchet. The local village of Stogumber hosts a musical festival at the end of each summer including both classical and folk music. Open-air opera can be seen at Crowcombe Court and theatre at Hestercombe Gardens, Dunster Castle, Glastonbury Abbey or further afield in the Valley of the Rocks in Exmoor National Park. Art exhibitions are also hosted by Hestercombe and at the harbour town of Watchet.

Ponies and Village Gardens
Several local villages including Stogumber and Kingston St Mary host Open Garden charity days displaying their most beautiful cottage gardens and delicious refreshments. Stogumber has a beer festival each summer. The local equestrian community also celebrates summer in style with surrounding pony clubs offering sweet competitions including miniature show-jumping courses, fancy-dress and showing classes. Our very local Quantock Show has classes for ponies bred on the moors adjacent to Tilbury Farm and trained for various disciplines.

Our cottages and Shepherd Huts at Tilbury Farm offer the perfect base and location to explore all that this area has to offer. Enjoy the peace and comfort of your luxury accommodation after a busy day celebrating rural life in Somerset. Book your stay now for our last remaining weeks and nights in summer 2018 and ahead for 2019.

We are also offering a voucher to the value of fifty pounds for any booking made in a Shepherd Hut for June and July 2018. This applies to a minimum weekend stay of 3 nights or midweek stay of 4 nights. Quote PUB on the booking page of our website or contact us for more details. We look forward to seeing you!

SUMMER DIARY 2018 NEAR TILBURY FARM

Arts, Theatre and Music

9 June – 8 July – Jenny Barron: New Perspectives. Contains Art, Watchet.http://www.containsart.co.uk
13 – 28 June – Tiverton Literary Festival. http://www.tivertonlitfest.co.uk
23 June – Live band at The Carew Arms, Crowcombe. T: 01984 618631
30 June – Live band and pizza night at The Carew Arms, Crowcombe. T: 01984 618631
1st July – The FB Pocket Orchestra Jazz Concert at Hestercombe Gardens.http://www.hestercombe.com
14th July – Live band at The Carew Arms, Crowcombe. T: 01984 618631
20-21 July – Gala night at the Opera “Heroes & Villains” at Crowcombe Court. http://www.crowcombecourt.co.uk
29th July – Love’s Labour’s Lost at Hestercombe Gardens. http://www.hestercombe.com
31 July – 18 August – LEAR at Valley of Rocks. http://www.pleasuredometheatrecompany.com
18 August – Three Muskateers – IK Productions at Glastonbury Abbey. http://www.glastonburyabbey.com
22 – 28 July. 55th Minehead & Exmoor Music Festival. http://www.mineheadmusicfestival.org
1 August – The Tempest by The Lord Chamberlains Men at Dunster Castle. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle/what’son
18 August – Hamlet at Dunster Castle. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle/what’son
7-9 September – Stogumber Festival, Stogumber. http://www.stogumberfestival.com

Beer Festivals

15 – 17 June. Fatbelly Festival. Three day festival with local ales and food. http://www.fatbellybrewery.co.uk/events/fatbelly-festival-2018
28 June – 1 July – WeirFest2018. Porlock Weir. 50 real ales and ciders, live bands, BBQ. http://www.shipinnporlock.co.uk/events.php.
27th-29th July. Beer and music festival at The Carew Arms, Crowcombe. http://www.thecarewarms.co.uk

Fetes and Fairs – this is only a selection, many more can be found when you visit.

14 July – Lynmouth Regatta & Maritime Festival. Lynmouth Harbour. http://www.facebook.com/LynmouthRegattaAndMaritimeFestival.20 July – Allerford Summer Fair & Classic Car Tour. allerfordandselworthyhall.co.uk
22 July – The Big Cream Tea. Cream teas and home-made cake. http://www.allerfordandselworthyhall.co.uk
25 July – Dunster Country Fair. http://www.dunstercountryfair.co.uk
29 July – Watchet Carnival Parade & Fete. http://www.watchetcarnival.co.uk
4 August – Cutcombe Fete & Dog Show. Wheddon Cross. T: 01643 841142
5 August – Porlock Country Fair. T: 01643 863356
16 August – Withypool Flower Show & Fete. 01643 831494
19 August – Allerford Summer Fair & Classic Car Tour of Exmoor. http://www.allerfordandselworthyhall.co.uk

Gardens and Flowers

4 June – 1 July. High Brown Fritillary Trail. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heddon-valley
17 June. Stogumber Village Gardens Open. Pretty local village. http://www.stogumber.org.uk
22 – 24 June – English Country Garde Festival. Wells. http://www.bishopspalace.org.uk
23-24 June. Allerford Open Gardens. http://www.allerfordandselworthyhall.co.uk
30 June – 1 July. Walking Festival. Showcasing the Quantock Hills. http://www.stoweywalking.co.uk
4 August. Dunster Annual Flower and Produce Show. Dunster Tithe Barn. T: 01643 822232
3-4 August. Taunton Flower show. http://www.tauntonfs.co.uk
4-5 August. Brendon Open Gardens Weekend. T: 01598 741343
15 August. Withypool Flower Show & Fete. T: 01643 831494

Ponies

23-24 June – Treborough Hill Horse Trials. http://www.treboroughhill.co.uk
29 July – Exmoor Pony Centre: Summer Celebration http://www.exmoorponycentre.org.uk
29 July – Porlock Horse Show. West Luccombe Farm. http://www.porlockhorseshow.org.uk
1 August – North Devon Show. http://www.northdevonshow.com
5 – 12 August – Exmoor Pony Festival http://www.exmoorponyfestival.co.uk
August – Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival. http://www.mepbg.co.uk/2018-heritage-pony-festival.
12 August – Brendon Show. http://www.facebook.com/BrendonShow.
18 August – Brompton Regis Horse Show & Gymkhana. http://www.facebook.com/BrendonShow.

Walking the Quantock Hills from Tilbury Farm

dukadmin — Tue, 08 May 2018 10:12:00 +0000

Tilbury Farm is the perfect base to explore the beautiful Quantock Hills, located within this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Spring has finally sprung at Tilbury Farm, the cuckoo calls are frequent and the bluebells are blooming in our local Strawberry Wood. Taking advantage of the light summer evenings and dryer ground underfoot, I have been re-discovering my favourite paths following in the footsteps of Wordsworth and Coleridge.

Autumn at Tilbury Farm

dukadmin — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:10:00 +0000

Autumn is the perfect time to visit Tilbury Farm and the surrounding area. Here are 10 reasons why!

The 10 best things about Autumn at Tilbury Farm:

1. Stargaze.

Tilbury Farm offers big skies and stunning views from a variety of accommodation. Curl up under a blanket on a sheepskin throw from your shepherd hut deck to watch stunning sunsets across Exmoor. Enjoy a glass of wine from your cottage terrace and watch the twinkling stars. The Quantock Hills offer dark skies and spectacular star displays.

2. Relax.

Curl up by the log fire in Richards Cottage and enjoy a good book. Play scrabble or cards snuggled on your comfy sofa in one of our cottages. Light the log burner in your shepherd hut, sit back and relax on your daybed. Tilbury Farm offers peace, quiet and beautiful scenery to make your Autumn break relaxing.

3. Sleep.

Enjoy a good night’s sleep! We believe in a good night’s sleep and this is reflected in our choice of bedding in your accommodation. This includes crisp cotton sheets and warm woollen blankets, devon sourced wool duvets (and thick woollen mattress toppers in the huts). Take advantage of the earlier sunsets and have an early night, wake refreshed ready to explore!

4. Walk.

The Quantock Hills offer perfect walking country. Follow in Coleridge and Wordsworth’s footsteps and experience the spectacular scenery. Use our supply of maps and guides to plan the perfect expedition. Choose from a network of footpaths through fields and villages to the open moorland of the hills or the wooden valleys and combs. Further afield Exmoor offers stunning scenery and the coastal path has dramatic views.

5. Adventure.

Try something new – learn to kayak, windsurf or sail at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor or on the coast at Minehead. Take the steam train from our local station in Bishops Lydeard. Visit spectacular Cheddar Gorge, take a scenic coastal drive to visit the wild goats in the Valley of the Rocks. Visit the ancient clapper bridge at Tarr Steps and enjoy a delicious lunch at Woods in Dulverton.

6. Experience the Quantock Hills.

Autumn in the ideal time to witness the beauty of the changing foliage colours on the Quantock Hills. The moorland heather is displayed in its full glory, and fungi are abundant. The hedgerows are studded with berries and local orchards are full of fruit. The Quantock Hills are quiet at this time of year, free from visiting tourists and families back at school.

7. Wildlife.

Autumn provides ideal conditions to wildlife-watch. Stormy nights and cooler temperatures bring the red deer into our Shepherd Hut field. Take time to sit and observe the circling buzzards, watch the squirrels busy collecting their winter hoards. Explore the local heathland on Lydeard Hill and bird-watch kestrals and peregrine falcons. Local game birds including pheasant and partridge often take refuge at Tilbury Farm!

8 Explore.

Tilbury Farm offers a perfect location to explore many historic and picture perfect villages and towns. The local roads are quiet after the summer tourists have left making exploring and parking easy and stress-free. The beautiful medieval village of Dunster with it’s majestic castle and fully working water-mill is well worth a visit. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the ancient and cosy Luttrell Arms pub. Visit Wells with it’s famous Cathedral and pretty stone architecture. Our county town of Taunton is home to a fabulous musuem, subject to a recent extensive renovation and expansion programme.

9. Food.

Autumn provides a wonderful selection of local produce. Many of our local restaurants showcase this supply including our local pub in West Bagborough – The Rising Sun. Enjoy game, fungi, seasonal vegetables, berries and fruit. Apples are a famous regional crop and our local Cider Farm Sheppey’s offers cider-making tours, tastings and delicious meals using local produce in their restaurant. Visit a farmers market in Taunton, Minehead or Wiveliscombe.

10. Culture.

If the weather deteriorates, this is the perfect excuse to visit the theatre or an art exhibition. Hestercombe House and Gardens supports an impressive gallery with various exhibitions. The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton offers a selection of theatre and cinema together with an exhibition. Various local artists participate in Somerset Arts Week providing an opportunity to view and purchase work.

Whatever the weather, Tilbury Farm provides the perfect location for a short or longer stay. Check our availability and book now at www.tilburyfarm.co.uk

Summer at Tilbury Farm

dukadmin — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:21:00 +0000

Wild Flowers
Nestled within the Quantock Hills, the West Somerset countryside surrounding Tilbury Farm comes alive each summer. Following the first cuckoo call in spring, the country lanes fill with an array of wild flowers. Cow parsley, stithwort, pink campion, wild orchid, foxgloves, buttercups, wild garlic and elderflower adorn the hedgerows whilst the moorland is covered by yellow gorse blooms, lilac heather and plump blue wortle-berries.

Quantock Wildlife
The meadows and trees of Tilbury Farm are home to native woodpeckers, tree pipits and warblers and then joined by the migratory pied flycatcher, wheatear, whinchat and nightjar each summer. The big skies and views from the cottages and shepherd huts at Tilbury Farm provide the perfect lookout for buzzards circling in the thermals and other birds of prey including the kestrel and peregrine falcon.

Fetes, fairs, flower shows and festivals
Local villages and towns also come alive each summer and celebrate with fetes, fairs, flower shows and festivals of the musical and beer variety. From the big names of Devon County Show, The Bath and West Show to the more regional Dunster Show, Dunster Fair and Taunton Flower Show; these annual events celebrate all that rural West Somerset, the Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park have to offer.

Outdoor Theatre and Music
Multiple weekly events such as these are easily accessible from Tilbury Farm throughout the summer months. We are also ideally situated for other cultural events including music, drama and art. A local organisation ‘Music on the Quantocks’ hosts classical music concerts on our doorstep in village churches, tithe barns and halls. Folk music can be enjoyed at Halsway Manor or at Pebbles Wine Bar in Watchet. The local village of Stogumber hosts a musical festival at the end of each summer including both classical and folk music. Open-air opera can be seen at Crowcombe Court and theatre at Hestercombe Gardens, Dunster Castle, Glastonbury Abbey or further afield in the Valley of the Rocks in Exmoor National Park. Art exhibitions are also hosted by Hestercombe and at the harbour town of Watchet.

SUMMER DIARY 2017 NEAR TILBURY FARM

Arts, Theatre and Music

29June – 2 July – Hamlet, The Bishop’s Palace, Wells. bishopspalace.org.uk
12 July – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Glastonbury Abbey. 01458 832267
14-16 July – Romeo and Juliet, Glastonbury Abbey. 01458 832267
14-15 July – Opera Nights, Crowcombe Court. crowcombecourt.co.uk
27 July – Northanger Abbey at Arlington Court. theploughartscentre.org.uk/event/northanger-abbey
30 July – Twelfth Night, Hestercombe Gardens. hestercombe.com
8 -26 August – The Importance of Being Earnest, The Valley of the Rocks.
29 August – 2 September – Lorna Doone, The Valley of the Rocks. pleasuredometheatrecompany.com
12-20 August – Watchet Summertime Exhibition. Watchet-based artists showcase their work in the run-up to Watchet Summertime Festival (20-26 August). containsart.co.uk
19 August – Pride and Prejudice, Dunster Castle. 01643 821314.
1 September – Stogumber Festival, Stogumber. stogumberfestival.com

Beer Festivals

29 June – 2 July – Weirfest, Porlock Weir. Real ale festival: 50 real ales and ciders, live bands, BBQ served all day. shipinnporlock.co.uk
21-22 July – Gumbeerfest, Stogumber – family fun and entertainment, music and beer festival. gumbeerfest.co.uk
2 September – Sheppy Fest, Sheppy’s Cider Farm. sheppyfest.com

Fetes and Fairs – this is only a selection, many more can be found when you visit.

20 July – Allerford Summer Fair & Classic Car Tour. allerfordandselworthyhall.co.uk
22 July – Roadwater Fete. roadwatervillagetrust.weebly.com
26 July – Dunster Country Fair. dunstercountryfair.co.uk
30 July – Watchet Carnival. watchetcarnival.co.uk
5 August. Cutcombe Fete and Dog Show. 01643841142
12 August. Winsford Village Fete. winsfordexmoor.org.uk
16 August – Withypool Flower Show & Fete. 01643 831494
18 August – Dunster Show. thedunstershow.co.uk.

Gardens and Flowers

24-25 June. Allerford and Bossington Open Gardens. allerfordandselworthyhall.co.uk
4-5 August. Taunton Flower Show. tauntonfs.co.uk
5 August. Dunster Annual Flower and Produce Show. 01643 8222232
4-8 August. St Dubricius Flower Festival, Porlock. 01643 862284

Ponies

30 July – Porlock Horse Show – 30 July www.porlockhorseshow.org.uk
9 August – Exford Horse & Pony Show exmoorponysociety.org.uk
13 August – Brendon and District Show brendonshow.co.uk
19 August – Brompton Regis Village Show, Horse Show & Gymkhana bromptonregis.com/show
5-20 August – The Exmoor Pony Festival – 5-20 August. exmoorponyfestival.com
29 August – Quantock Show, Cothelstone. quantockshow.com

Other

21-23 July, 22-24 August – Victorian Falconry, Dunster Castle. 01643 821314
5-12 September – The Flying Scotsman visits West Somerset.west-somerset-railway.co.uk