Guest information
Aerial map
1. Church Lane (entrance to St James’s
Church - opposite Winscombe Court)
5. Road entrance to Winscombe
Court from Winscombe Hill
8. Vehicle entrance gate to
Winscombe Court grounds
13. Tree house and children’s
wooded play area / nature trail
15. Up Winscombe Hill towards
A38 / Cheddar / South West
16. Down Winscombe Hill towards
A371 / Winscombe / M5 / London
Event Planning
For extra special occasions, speak to our Events Manager to personalise a solution for your stay. We can offer an in-house party planning service, helping you to arrange a birthday party to remember where every detail is considered. The team have relationships with a wide range of suppliers, caterers, musicians and entertainers to cater to all your celebratory needs.
The team can also offer a full package to corporate clients, where each aspect of your retreat/celebration is tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking to send your team away for some team bonding, a reward break, arrange a board meeting or even organise a week working away from the office, we’ve got every moment covered from arrival to departure. To find out more information, please contact our Events Manager.
Matthew Crabb takes a moment of self-reflection during the installation of ‘Eyrie Is’, June 2024
'Eyrie Is’ – an original work by Matthew Crabb
'Eyrie Is’ – an original work by Matthew Crabb
Original Art
Whilst the house is filled with original artwork and paintings, our attention-grabbing masterpiece is the tree sculpture ‘Eyrie Is’ which can be found soaring in the garden by the tennis court. This 2024 commission was completed onsite in June 2024 by the world-renowned Chainsaw artist, Matthew Crabb Matthew Crabb – Wikipedia and depicts an eagle watching over her nest as the father swoops in carrying a fish. This dramatic life-sized sculpture will capture the imaginations of all who behold it. More info on the artist can be found here: Home – Matthew Crabb Tree Carving Artist, Chainsaw Carver UK
Local Area
With fewer than 50 ‘AONB’s’ (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in the UK, we are delighted to say that Winscombe Court is set in one of them.
Nestled in the Mendip Hills, this glorious Somerset home is perfectly situated to discover the natural beauty that this quiet, idyllic county has to offer. Within an easy drive are the natural phenomena of Cheddar’s limestone gorge and the Wookey Hole caves, with over 60,000 years of history. The Mendip Hills themselves are simply gorgeous and are the perfect place to explore on foot, on bike or even on horseback. Why not explore some of the Mendip Way, an amazing 50-mile long-distance trail that snakes through the hills or the local Strawberry Line, a former railroad now used as a flat walking/cycling trail. Alternatively, take time to explore the city of Wells, with its exquisite Cathedral and fabulous market, or historic and alternative Glastonbury with its Tor, ruined Abbey and Holy Well. For a grand day out, the Georgian city of Bath is nearby with its incredible Roman Baths, Abbey and impressive selection of shops and places to eat. If you’re keen to head to the beach, the seven-mile stretch of sand and dunes at Brean will definitely blow the cobwebs away, whilst Berrow South Beach is quieter and much-loved by walkers and horse riders. For a classic seaside town experience, head to Burnham on Sea, complete with a promenade lined with Victorian and Edwardian guest houses or the nearby seaside resort of Weston Super Mare.
Adventurers and retreaters alike will be spoilt for choice. Ramblers, cyclists and horse riders will love exploring the many paths and bridleways that snake across the countryside. It’s on the doorstep of the stunning Cheddar Gorge and close to Thatcher’s cider press for lovers of West Country cider.
For golfers, there are several Championship level courses within a short drive including Burnham & Berrow, a 27 hole Links course that sits at #27 of the Best Golf Courses in Great Britain & Ireland (Golf Weekly). Along with Burnham & Berrow, Mendip Spring Golf Club and Isle of Wedmore Golf Club are also less than 20 minutes’ drive away.
Burnham & Berrow Golf Course
20 minutes away – Considered one of the finest links golf experiences in the British Isles, the 27 hole golf course is ranked 27th in Great Britain & Ireland. There are several Championship golf courses within a 20 minute drive from Winscombe.
Wookey Hole Caves & Adventure
25 minutes away – Wild Wookey is a challenging caving experience designed for adrenaline-fuelled active and healthy individuals but the attraction has plenty for the kids and those with less appetite for danger! Visit the caves to see the legendary witch of Wookey Hole etched in the eerie, large stalagmite or see the enchanted valley, once home to hyenas or partake in the adventure golf (closed in Jan/Feb) or take in the Wookey Hole Circus or museum.
Glastonbury Tor
30 minutes away – The National Trust managed site is topped by the roofless St Michael’s Tower, a Grade 1 listed building. The tor is mentioned in Celtic mythology, particularly in myths linked to King Arthur.
Wells Cathedral
30 minutes away – The historic Wells cathedral built as a Roman Catholic cathedral in 1175 became an Anglican cathedral when Henry VIII split from Rome. It has been described as England’s ‘most beautiful and poetic cathedral’.
Clifton Suspension Bridge (and Bristol)
30 minutes away – Spanning the Avon and sitting over 100m above the water, the stunning suspension bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and built 100 years after Winscombe Court. It is also the venue of the world’s first ‘modern’ (i.e. probably meaning ‘safe’) bungee jump in 1979 – though they don’t do that here anymore!
Brean Down Beach
30 minutes away – The National Trust owned Brean Down sits 1.5 miles into the Bristol Channel across the way from the expansive 7 mile stretch of sand and dunes that make up Brean beach, one of Europe’s longest stretches of sand.
Worthy Farm, site of Glastonbury Festival
40 minutes away – This working farm transforms almost every summer into one of the most famous festivals in the world with 200,000 visitors. It’s a lovely place for a walk but you’ll need to stick to the footpaths. If you wish to gain more insightful access, you’ll need to contact the Worthy Farm office.
Bath Spa
50 minutes away – This world famously elegant city has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times. The modern Thermae Bath Spa houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain that you can bathe in. A stunning day out.
Longleat Safari & Adventure Park
60 minutes away – For a family day out, Longleat Safari & Adventure park is an hour away and home to all manner of creatures including gorillas, giraffes, lions, elephants, rhinos, tigers, hyenas, snakes and crocodiles.
Stonehenge
75 minutes away – One of the best-known ancient wonders of the world is a bit further afield but still doable for a day trip. The prehistoric monument aligned with the summer and winter solstice is a wondrous sight to behold!
Strawberry Line Cycle Trail
Crook's Peak
Thatcher’s Cider Press
5 minutes away – The home of Somerset’s favourite cider has a farmshop, restaurant/pub (The Railway Inn) and with pre-booking, you can have a guided tour learning the processes and history of this 120 year establishment.
Cheddar Gorge & Caves
10 minutes away – The world-famous limestone gorge, site of the Cheddar show caves where Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton (9000 years old) was found.
The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Shop
10 minutes away – Visit this working dairy and watch ‘live cheese making’ every day (including weekends but not in December) between 11.30am and 3pm. Dating back 900 years, the UK’s most popular cheese was created in this beautiful and historic corner of Somerset. King Henry II purchased 5 tonnes of Cheddar in 1170 and Scott of the Antarctic famously took 1.5 tonnes of Cheddar on his famous expedition in 1901.
Cheddar Gorge
10 minutes away – Voted as Britain’s second greatest natural wonder (Radio Times) following its appearance in the TV programme Seven Natural Wonders in 2005. The gorge attracts half a million visitors each year
Helicopter Museum
10 minutes away – The award winning Helicopter Museum holding over 100 rotary wing aircraft from across the world is just around the corner. Closed on Mondays/Tuesdays.
Bristol Airport
15 minutes away – For international guests (or those who fancy a bit of plane spotting), Bristol International Airport is only 15 minutes away by car.
Puxton Park
15 minutes away – An Adventure Park with water pursuits, tractor tracks, mini railway, animal zone, falconry and farmshop.
Weston Super Mare Beach/Grand Pier
20 minutes away – The traditional seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare with its vast sandy beaches and historic pier offers Winscombe guests a taste of local charm and character.
Weston Super Mare Beach/Grand Pier
20 minutes away – The family run attraction won the title of Family Amusement Centre of the Year (Southwest Prestige Awards).
FAQ
Many FAQs can be answered in our Guest Handbook (found here) or by speaking to our House Manager Connie on 07969 358416. Below are some of the FAQs we receive:
We try to accommodate guests where possible. While it helps to have a check-in date of Monday or Friday for our ‘turnaround teams’ scheduling, if we have availability, we can try and accommodate unique or bespoke use of the house. Please contact our House Manager, Connie 07969 358416 to discuss your requirements if you cannot input your preferred dates via our booking platform.
Winscombe Court is a family home, designed for families or multi-generations. We ourselves have hosted many wider family gatherings and there is plenty to do both onsite and in the local area. Children are provided for with a range of accessories such as toys, swim nappies, cutlery, crockery, high-chairs and cot beds as well as a treehouse, nature trail and woodland play area outside. Please speak to our House Manager if you wish to explore further.
Yes, we have guest towels in the house and separate towels in the spa – exclusively for guest use.
The spa is for the exclusive use of visitors to Winscombe Court. It is not open to the public and is not available to people who are not staying at the house.
Check-in is from 4pm on day of arrival and check-out is 10am on day of departure (Monday to Saturday). For guests who are checking out on a Sunday, the property can be used up until 5pm on day of departure. Late check-outs during the week do need to be pre-agreed with the House Manager but owing to scheduling of our turnaround teams are not always possible.
We have invested significantly in ensuring broadband can reach all parts of the house. We have a business broadband connection and in spite of 3ft thick stone walls in parts, we are pleased to say that our Wi-Fi is very good. We also have Wi-Fi in the spa building and it is accessible on the roof terrace.
We have 3 TV’s in the house, all of which are Samsung Smart TVs with Sky Movies, Sports and BT Sports subscriptions. We also have a paid Netflix subscription for guest-use but you will need to sign in to other streaming platforms.
Yes, all of the above are provided for guest use. Please note we provide 4 x tennis balls. Any errant shots that find their way into the sheep pasture will need to be foregone as the neighbouring field is private land. For the putting green, please note, it is for putting only! We also have other outdoor play equipment for guest use including badminton, jenga, croquet as well as picnic blankets, loungers etc.
Yes, you will find a welcome hamper, some fresh milk and all the essentials such as salt, pepper, oil, kitchen roll, washing up liquid, dish brush/sponge, dishwasher tablets, surface cleaner, foil, tea, coffee (beans – for the machine), tea-towels. All bathrooms are stocked with toilet rolls, and Noble Isle soap, shower gel and shampoo. All towels (spa and bathroom) are provided by us.
Yes, a wide range of supermarkets deliver to Winscombe Court. Please speak to our House Manager to discuss.
We recommend unloading/loading at the house and parking by the spa building to the left of the entrance gates. Parking is available anywhere on the gravel and there is space for approx. 15 cars. Please do not drive/park on the lawns.
Winscombe Court is not a wedding venue (i.e. we do not have a license). We have hosted more intimate ceremonial celebrations and if this suits your plans, please do discuss with our House Manager before making your booking.
