Milling Around

Milling Around: Somerset

Set on the banks of the River Isle, this mill in deepest Somerset was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Close to a thousand years later, part of it still stands and is ideal for holidaymakers looking for a unique rural escape. The internal shell of the building has been kept much the same as it would have looked in the fifteenth century and you certainly get a sense of that with the wooden staircases, exposed stonework and a preserved waterwheel in the attic bedroom. Thankfully, plenty of modern amenities have been added, including a log-burning fire, a country kitchen and a vintage roll-top bathtub that's a relative whippersnapper in comparison to the house itself. In the surrounding grounds, guests can wander about the working farm to meet the animals that also call it home, followed by kayaking and swimming in the river or a bike ride along the adjoining National Cycle Route 33. This being Somerset, there's plenty of countryside walks nearby, as well as cider mills for when you've worked up a thirst.

Home truths:
*Although there's central heating and a log-burning fire, the original windows are a little draughty and it can get cold during the winter
*On the first floor, the ceiling is only five foot, five inches high, so taller guests will need to take care
*Similarly, the original wooden staircases require caution, especially if younger guests are present
*The host lives in an adjacent cottage and work on the land that the mill sits on
*Dogs are allowed, although there are free-roaming animals on the grounds and guests need to be sure that their pets won't cause harm
*There's free parking available on the premises