Whatever your reasons for visiting,
you can really feel at home at Marston Lodge...There are numerous reasons to visit Minehead and the beautiful area that surrounds it.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing break from every day life,
an active holiday full of exciting and unusual things to do or sight-seeing throughout Exmoor’s unique and dramatic scenery, Marston Lodge is an ideal place to stay. Come and enjoy a truly warm welcome among others who, like you, appreciate the finer things in life.
Our luxury bedrooms are all
individually decorated and furnished and have recently been re-carpeted
to give that extra decadent feel. All of our accommodation is en-suite
and has been designed with maximum comfort in mind. In addition, the
Hotel and restaurant are non smoking.
Wireless broadband internet access and SKY TV are also available.
As well as offering unparalleled accommodation in Minehead, we are close to many attractions and amenities. The West Somerset Railway is within easy walking distance for steam enthusiasts and families alike. The South West Coast Path also begins (or ends!) just a minute's walk from the front door and extends around the breathtaking Somerset, Devon and Cornwall coast to end in Dorset. In addition we are near to Butlins so anyone looking to visit Somerwest World, or stay close to relatives who are, will be ideally situated. We can suggest a great many exciting days out so, if you need inspiration, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Marston Lodge Hotel is an impressive Edwardian gentleman's residence and retains much of it's original character. With unrivalled views of the countryside, coast and a spectacular view of the West Somerset Railway to Blue Anchor, it really is a wonderful place in which to have a holiday. The Hotel is nestled on North Hill, in the oldest and most historic part of Minehead, close to St. Michael's Church, Church Steps and Minehead's harbour.
Marston Lodge is, in fact, one of the oldest houses in Minehead and we have a fascinating collection of photographs that chart the Hotel's history from it's earliest days. While modern improvements have since enhanced the comfort of our accommodation, we have been careful to protect as many of the Hotel's period features as possible.
Guests are welcome to use the Hotel's facilities, including our peaceful lounge, bar, snooker room and extensive garden. We also offer secure storage facilities for guests bringing bicycles, surf boards, wet-suits, etc. Our accommodation is rated as four diamond and we are proud to be constantly improving in every way.
You will quickly find that Marston Lodge is a wonderful place in which to enjoy a relaxing break and pamper yourself. We have a professional complimentary therapist on hand to provide calming or rejuvenating aromatherapy massage, unusual rose oil facials and much more. Details can be obtained by contacting us or following the link on our web-site. If you prefer a manicure, pedicure or other beauty treatment do let us know, we can easily book a professional pampering session for you at the nearby Nail and Beauty Shop.
We are happy to provide fresh flowers and chilled champagne
in your bedroom. It does not have to be a special occasion
to indulge, if you are bringing someone special or feel
like treating yourself you should book these before
you arrive. Looking for an ideal honeymoon location?
Look no further. Click
here for more information and prices.
For guests with active pursuits in mind, we are perfectly situated for a wide range of outdoor activities. The most popular pursuit on Exmoor is undoubtedly walking and with miles of varied and interesting footpaths just outside our front door, walkers will find no shortage of breath-taking scenery. We can recommend strenuous walks and gentle strolls though woodlands, combes and valleys, as well as those that pass places of interest, such as the highest point of Exmoor National Park, Dunkery Beacon, or places steeped in folklore such as the Culbone Stone. The South West Coast Path is just a minute's walk away, along with some of the most stunning views along the Somerset and North Devon coast and of course, the beach.
Golf fans will be happy to know that we overlook Minehead's golf course, a spectacular seaside links course.
Other locally available outdoor activities include horse riding. Whatever your ability we can recommend riding establishments offering everything from beginners trekking to more advanced riding, fox and stag hunting and even polo.
If you're a beginner, riding on Exmoor could not be a better way of seeing the countryside and if you're already an experienced rider why not try something you have never tried before, such as hunting, polo or even driving a heavy horse? A heavy horse experience afternoon offers a really memorable day out for all the family.
A fantastic deep sea fishing experience can be booked through Marston Lodge aboard local fishing boat ‘Defiant'. Rods and bait are provided, along with hot drinks! In addition, there are nearby streams, lakes and reservoirs for trout fishing and we can also organise salmon fishing on the Barle River (a tributary of the River Exe). We can happily arrange local shooting for those who wish to test their pheasant and partridge shooting or clay shooting skills, either via driven or rough shooting. We have excellent links with a renowned shooting instructor for private tuition and can even offer stalking lessons.
Wimbleball Lake is easily accessible from the Hotel and offers a range of watersports such as windsurfing, sailing and canoeing. It is also the venue for the annual Ironman UK championship (in fact, a halfIronman event, taking place over 70.3 miles), which is a highlight of the UK triathlon calendar and promises to be an exciting spectacle for competitors and spectators alike! Miles of excellent cycle routes and bridleways can be found around Marston Lodge, providing something for every ability.
In September, West Somerset is the host to the TREC open championships, which sees horse riders competing in a tough three-day endurance event. Needless to say, the Hotel is ideally suited for competitors and we have all the necessary facilities to help prepare for the challenge in style.
One of our favourite occasions is the Somerset Stages Rally, which sees motor enthusiast from all over Great Britain and indeed the world arriving in Minehead to take on the county's best roads and off-road tracks. A thrilling spectator sport which, once again, Marston Lodge is perfectly situated for.
If you wish to see the beautiful countryside of Exmoor and the Quantocks without such strenuous activity there are again many options for exploring.
The West Somerset Railway, a preserved steam line, travels twenty miles through coast and countryside to Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton. It passes through ten lovingly restored stations including those at Dunster, Blue Anchor, Watchet and Williton, so gives an ideal opportunity to leave the car at the Hotel and visit Dunster Castle, Blue Anchor Bay, the marina and town of Watchet and much more. The WSR also hosts regular special events and details can be found through the Railway's web-site at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or the WSRA web-site at www.wsr.org.uk
We are proud this year to promote Discovery Safaris, an exciting venture by local expert Richard Growden in his highly modified Defender Land Rover. Seating up to 8 people, Richard will happily collect guests from the Hotel and take them on a magical tour of Exmoor.
Not only are you likely to see Exmoor's famous red deer and Exmoor ponies, you will also have the opportunity to see chocolate-box villages such as Selworthy, Allerford, Bossington, Porlock, Luccombe and Horner and maybe even meet some of the true Exmoor characters that live and work there. Depending on the time you have available, you may like to travel via ‘the scenic route' to the Doone Valley– the setting for R. D. Blackmore's world famous tale Lorna Doone. Discovery Safaris are great fun for everyone and can be tailored to suit your requirements. If it is your anniversary, why not take some chilled champagne along with you? Richard can recommend various places to stop, stretch your legs and take in the unique scenery. Advance booking essential!
If you prefer to take the wheel yourself, we can advise of numerous places to go and things to see, many of which are missed by visitors to the area. Driving in the West Country is often an experience in itself.
The main A39, which extends from Glastonbury to Barnstaple and beyond, has some of the most spectacular views and on a good day, the drive from Minehead to Lynton and Lynmouth is unbeatable, with views across to South Wales, which makes the road popular with local people, visitors and especially motorcyclists alike. Venture down some of the narrow country lanes and discover special corners of Exmoor, sleepy thatched cottages and unbelievable scenery. We can advise on the best places to go and scenic round trips, such as a visit to Porlock Weir and the infamous Porlock Hill, and can also give an idea of where to find local green-lanes for those who cannot resist getting off-road.
Local events are varied and we can advise at the time of booking what is likely to be taking place during your stay. The annual raft race is a sight to behold as local teams take on the waves between Watchet and Minehead in the name of charity. The Moor to Shore Festival also provides a range of activities designed to celebrate Exmoor 's beautiful heather-clad moorland and heritage coast. The West Country is also host to a great variety of artistic events and galleries in and around Minehead provide much interest. Local artist Maurice Bishop can often be seen painting in his Dunster Gallery, which is well worth a visit. Please contact us for more information about Minehead and the surrounding areas, we would be happy to help.
Whilst Somerset is undoubtedly most pleasurable in the warm weather of summer, it is also a great place to stay in winter. Marston Lodge is a cool haven in the summer, but also a cosy retreat in winter, where a typical day might involve a bracing moorland walk after a hearty breakfast, followed by a lazy afternoon in front of the fire with the Sunday papers. Not only is our snow-covered scenery simply beautiful, but there are many events taking place that tourists rarely hear about.
Each year, the medieval village of Dunster is host to Dunster by Candlelight, a very special weekend where the electric light is largely banished and Dunster is lit by the subtle tones of candlelight. The shops stay open late, there is fine dining to be had in the many restaurants, street entertainers perform ‘medieval style' and, among the hot chestnuts and carol singers, a wonderful evening can be had by all.
Marston Lodge is proud to welcome guests for Dunster by Candlelight and we hope that, if you have visited us in the summer, you might like to return for this unique weekend break.
Somerset, and particularly Exmoor, are becoming increasingly renowned for the excellent local food they produce. Here at the Hotel, we pride ourselves in using local produce wherever we possibly can and our full English breakfasts are fast establishing a reputation of their own!
The range of local delicacies is wide and includes everything from the traditional West Country cider and clotted cream to wild venison and other game, meat farmed on the rolling green pastures, seafood, cheeses, wines, chocolates, coffee… the list goes on. Several local farms specialise in organically produced meat and we are fortunate to be supplied by butchers of unparalleled quality.
To celebrate Exmoor 's love of good food, there is an annual Exmoor Food Festival. It is a fantastic week-long event during which most food-related businesses become involved, offering special ‘food festival' dishes and discounted rates for the week of the festival. It culminates in a fair at Porlock, where foods can be tasted and purchased and where awards are presented – could you help decide who produces the best tasting sausage?!
We currently offer bed and breakfast accommodation but are close to many places that offer evening meals; everything from a really sumptuous candlelit dinner to a popular favourite at the seaside - fish and chips. There is a wide choice of restaurants and pubs within easy reach and we are happy to recommend places from personal experience. We are hoping to take on a chef to provide evening meals at the Hotel so please, if you know of anyone who might be interested in running a restaurant here, do put us in touch.
We would be delighted to welcome you to Marston Lodge for a break that is truly suited to your needs. Whatever your reason for visiting, we hope you will enjoy a truly memorable stay at our small but friendly Hotel. If you have any queries at all we are always happy to help so please get in touch!
Marston Lodge, St. Michael’s Road, Minehead, Somerset. TA24
5JP
01643 702510 or 07768 427136
