Bookings & Enquiries
Telephone: (+44) 01398 371 322
We have lots of signs of spring here at West Withy Farm – seasonal bulbs, of course and signs of catkins and pussy willow. Our lake is quite crowded with about 10 wild mallard in addition to the usual residents. Four seem like our regular mallard couples and there is lively competition among the other to […]
Read MoreThese ducks have been seen on the lake at West Withy Farm for the last 10 days. We see them swimming on our lake first thing in the morning. They are easily spooked by the slightest noise – like the sound of a camera shutter – at 30 meters. Each morning, there is just one opportunity […]
Read MoreOpportunities on Exmoor for novice stargazers to build experience? 2016 Exmoor Stargazing Calendar Event Comment December 2015, February 2016 April 2016 International Space Station in Exmoor evening sky British astronaut, Tim Peake goes to ISS mid December. Early/Mid January Early/Mid February Winter Milky Way Exceptional from Exmoor. March Jupiter in evening sky Very accessible. Jupiter […]
Read MoreAgain this year, the West Withy Farm telescopes will be with Seb Jay at Dunster by Candlelight. In 2014, the moon dominated the night sky for Candlelight, illuminating Dunster Castle and thrilling over 500 Candlelight visitors who took the opportunity to look at the moon through the two telescopes set up in Dunster Village Garden. For 2015, Seb […]
Read MoreLorena saw the kingfisher again today. Soon, we will be able to claim it as the West Withy Farm kingfisher. She was working down by the lake on a new lake-side planting scheme – and there it was. When Lorena told me about her sighting, I said – ‘Did you take another photograph of the kingfisher?’ Lorena said […]
Read MoreEco gardening at Exmoor self catering cottages. When plants in your new garden planting scheme do not flower, recycled plumbing materials capture eco gardener’s vision. Can you guess the plant? Aliums.
Read MoreAt West Withy Farm, we are committed to recycling as much as we can, in tune with the ethos of Exmoor National Park. But some items are challenging. When we replaced the bathroom in Upton Cottage, we hit on a new use for the old cast iron bath. If it can keep water in, maybe inverted, it […]
Read MoreIt sometimes rains on Exmoor, but on 12 August, the evening showers were of the Perseid Meteor variety. Seb Jay of Dark Sky Telescope Hire and author of Exmoor Dark Skies wowed guests staying in the self catering cottages at West Withy Farm with sights from a blazing evening display. He explained the bright flashes […]
Read MoreCaptured at last!! – a kingfisher photographed at West Withy Farm lake. It has been a bit of a ‘cat and mouse’ game to see and photograph the kingfisher sat on a branch with a fish in its mouth. It is not a great photograph – the skills (and also the equipment) of a sports […]
Read MoreSeb Jay of Dark Sky Telescope Hire and author of Exmoor Dark Skies gave a stargazing skytour for guests staying in the self-catering, holiday cottages at West Withy Farm on Exmoor last night. Guests began at 10pm. by viewing the moon though Seb’s telescope. This was followed by a tour of Saturn in the southwest sky using the telescope’s […]
Read MoreBoth Lorena and I have now seen a Kingfisher at the West Withy Farm Lake in the grounds of our Exmoor, self catering cottages. It has been at our lake for about 10 days now but so far we have seen just flashes of vivid blue. We will try to be prepared with a camera for next time, but […]
Read MoreThis is a blog about a young family’s stay in Stable Cottage. Enjoy reading about what they did – when ‘social media was switched off’ – a family #digitaldetox. How to Have a Digital Detox Family Holiday at West Withy Farm in Exmoor
Read MoreRoughmeasures stayed at West Withy Farm on a Digital Detox weekend. The silence here, the darkness, the birdsong and wildlife, all make this a perfect location to escape #socialmedia and offer #timetologoff You can read about Roughmeasures expriences here and on #Exmoor in her blog. And then sample the very healthy recipes on the roughmeasures […]
Read MoreToo much time and concentration spent on #socialmedia? Here are the expected benefits of a #DigitalDetox with us here on #Exmoor. 7 Benefits of a Digital Detox Family Holiday!
Read More4 Reason’s Why I’m Doing a Digital Detox and You Should Too!
Read MoreOur Christmas Greetings and best wishes for Christmas 2017. We hope you have a memorable day with family and friends. Ian, Lorena and Rufus. Photo – Geese on West Withy Farm lake.
Read MorePreparations for Stargazing. The Bosman family from The Netherlands stayed with us in July 2017. They kindly shared this photo taken at dusk, as they prepared for an evening’s stargazing. One hour later, with all lights off, the summer Exmoor night sky was revealed in all its glory. Already clearly visible is the summer milky […]
Read More@Top50Gastropubs Exmoor pubs were celebrating yesterday in London when the winners of the UK Gastropubs of the Year were announced. Three of our favourite local pubs finished in the @Top50Gastropubs. All three feature in our list of our favourite local eateries for our guests to try when staying in our cottages. See our recommendations at […]
Read MoreA weekend of stargazing and winter joy in Exmoor Zoe Dawes – aka The Quirky Traveller – stayed at West Withy Farm on her visit to Exmoor in December 2016. Zoe timed her visit to allow her to experience a sky tour with Seb Jay in her cottage at West Withy Farm and the delights […]
Read MoreZoe Dawes, The Quirky Traveller visited Exmoor in early December 2016 staying in Upton Cottage, West Withy Farm for her 2 day visit. It was an action packed trip including a sky tour with Seb Jay of Dark Sky Telescope Hire, a meal in Woods in Dulverton, trips to Lynmouth and Dunster by Candlelight. Over […]
Read MoreWildlife at West Withy Farm Lake. It has been an Exmoor winter’s day, today – sleety snow in the morning, then rain – cold and damp but with little wind. So not a great day outside for humans, really. But when I ventured out early afternoon, I was very well rewarded around our lake. The […]
Read More