The Ollerod

Rooms

Rooms are found in the main house. If you want sloping floors, character and kingsize beds, go for a Superior room - ours was enormous, with lovely garden views. If you want romance, go for a Four Poster: the best in the house, we think. Room 1 has a lavish French-polished bed and fresh floral wallpaper, while Room 3 has low lighting and rich dark colours. The line-up includes a Family Suite. The less expensive Deluxe rooms are to the rear of the house, with pretty wallpapers and views of the garden or car park.

Some bathrooms are a little dated, with bath/shower combos, but Chris and Silvana are updating them one by one. One room had a small but contemporary Philippe Starck shower, another had a spa tub that can be lit from underneath. All have Nespresso machines, smart TVs and other 21st-century staples.

Separate from the main house is the Coach House, which has two self-catering apartments. Navy and dove-grey colour schemes give them a smart, contemporary feel. Both have two bedrooms (one kingsize, one king/twin), while the ground-floor apartment comes with its own garden, so dogs are welcome.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

Chris is a former Michelin-starred chef, so you know you're in for treat at The Ollerod. There's an a la carte menu or a Small Plates menu, each of which features seasonal local produce, homegrown veggies and some surprising Asian flavours. The menus change every few weeks, but you might find flame-grilled mackerel satay with pickled Thai shallots, roast suckling pig with black pudding purée and potato fondant, or polenta and shiitake mushroom fritters. Wash it all down with an English wine from the Furleigh Estate, just down the road.

Seat yourself in the elegant dining room (Georgian panelling, crisp linens, candlelight and an Adam fireplace), or the more contemporary brasserie area (a light indoor-outdoor space that spills out of a garden room into a tent-like pavilion, and onto a patio terrace). Traditional afternoon teas complete the picture. Note that the restaurant is closed for lunch and dinner Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Breakfast (not included for apartment guests) includes a continental buffet alongside hot dishes like Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, a full English and, the Chef’s special, the all-day snail breakfast - egg and bacon topped with locally-sourced snails. Make sure you save room for some freshly baked pastries - when we visited these appeared after the cooked breakfasts were served, which we found a little odd. Mueslis, breads and preserves are all homemade.

Apartments have kitchens and dining areas for self-catering, but if you prefer to let someone else do the cooking (let's be honest, it would be a shame not to try Chris' creations), then book yourself into the restaurant.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Lace up the walking boots - some trails lead straight from the front door! Try the 11-mile Brit Valley Way, which travels south to West Bay harbour (of Broadchurch fame) and north into the Beaminster Down chalk hills. The hotel can provide maps and packed lunches
  
• Explore the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage site; the fossil-rich cliffs and long pebble beaches of Lyme Bay (Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Seatown) are within a 20-minute drive
  
• The historic seaside town of Lyme Regis is worth a day trip - hang out on the beach, stroll along the famous Cobb (a medieval harbour wall), and treat yourself to a cream tea
  
• Bridport, an old rope-making town (6 miles south), has a great mix of shops, cafes, bars and galleries, a weekly bric-a-brac market, plus Bridport Art Centre and the Electric Palace (a fomer cinema turned arts venue)
  
• Hit the beach - there are shingle beaches at West Bay and Eype, and a nice stretch of sand at Hive Beach at Burton Bradstock (9 miles southeast). The latter is home to the famous Hive Café
  
• Gardens and visitor centres: the Mapperton House valley gardens (a mile away), historic Ford Abbey (6 miles), the Abbotsbury sub-tropical gardens and swannery (10 miles), and River Cottage HQ (it’s eatery is in nearby Axminster)
  
• The hotel can organise fishing trips, shooting parties, fossil hunting, classic car runs, llama trekking, rounds of golf, and short courses in green oak carving, painting or pottery

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children are very welcome here, and don't worry about packing everything - the hotel can provide nearly everything you'd need, from potties to special children's menus. It's also pushchair friendly.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Superior Family Suite has a double bedroom and an adjoining twin room, the latter being a bit larger. Both Coach House Apartments have two bedrooms, one of which can be set up as a twin. If outside space is important, opt for the ground-floor apartment, which has a little garden. All rooms can hold a rollaway bed or baby cot (extra charge).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Ollerod is set in Beaminster, close to Crewkerne in southwest England.

By Air
Exeter and Bristol Airports are both close, and it's probably worth hiring a car so you can explore the area. Taxis are also available but they're expensive.

By Train
The nearest railway station is at Crewkerne (11km), which is on the Exeter to Waterloo line.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

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