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The Old Byres, Washford

Guest Rating
Rating
5.0
out of 5
Sleeps up to 16
Pets 1
Hot Tub
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 7

The Old Byres is a luxury eight-bedroom holiday cottage in Washford, West Somerset. This property sleeps 16 guests and works brilliantly for family celebrations. The cottage features a heated swimming pool, a private hot tub and a games room with pool table. Two woodburning stoves and underfloor heating keep everyone comfortable.

The property sits in rural West Somerset with easy access to Exmoor National Park and The Quantock Hills. You're just two miles from the coast at Watchet.

Eight bedrooms include four super-king-size rooms with en-suites, one ground-floor twin with en-suite, one family room with super-king and single bed, plus one double and one single. Seven bathrooms total.

 

About The Old Byres

The Old Byres is a luxury eight-bedroom holiday cottage in Washford, West Somerset. This property sleeps 16 guests and works brilliantly for family celebrations. The cottage features a heated swimming pool, a private hot tub and a games room with pool table. Two woodburning stoves and underfloor heating keep everyone comfortable.

The property sits in rural West Somerset with easy access to Exmoor National Park and The Quantock Hills. You're just two miles from the coast at Watchet.

Eight bedrooms include four super-king-size rooms with en-suites, one ground-floor twin with en-suite, one family room with super-king and single bed, plus one double and one single. Seven bathrooms total. The kitchen has two ovens, two microwaves, two dishwashers and a large fridge-freezer. There's a sitting room with exposed oak beams, a snug with board games and a games room.

Visit Tropiquaria Wildlife Park (1.5 miles, 5 minutes) or ride the West Somerset Railway from Watchet (2 miles, 6 minutes). Dunster Castle sits 7 miles away (15 minutes). Minehead beach is 6 miles (12 minutes).

The Old Byres delivers outstanding facilities for large groups wanting space, entertainment and coastal access.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at The Old Byres

Heated Swimming Pool

The pool is heated June to August and maintained daily. Kids and adults spent hours enjoying this fantastic facility throughout their stay.

Private Hot Tub Access

Sole use of the hot tub with daily maintenance checks. Perfect for relaxing after days exploring the Somerset coast and countryside.

Two Dishwashers

Guests loved having two dishwashers for large family gatherings. This practical feature made catering for 16 people significantly easier and stress-free.

Games Room Entertainment

Pool table and electric woodburner provide evening entertainment. Families didn't need to go out as everyone enjoyed the extensive facilities indoors.

Spacious Group Accommodation

Eight bedrooms with seven bathrooms mean no queuing. Plenty of space for everyone including multiple social areas and comfortable en-suite bedrooms.

Coastal Location

Just two miles from Watchet harbour and six miles from Minehead beach. Easy access to Somerset's beautiful coastline and Exmoor National Park.

Getting To The Old Byres

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach The Old Byres by car, take the A39 through West Somerset and follow signs to Washford. The property is easily accessible from the main road with off-road parking for five cars upon arrival.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Watchet on the West Somerset Railway, just 2 miles away. For mainline services, Taunton station is approximately 20 miles from the property with regular connections.

Off-road parking for five cars
Watchet station (2 miles)
Easily accessible from the A39

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Tropiquaria Wildlife Park
Distance: 1.5 miles
TA23 0QB
West Somerset Railway Watchet
Distance: 2 miles
TA23 0AQ
Dunster Castle
Distance: 7 miles
TA24 6SL
Exmoor National Park
Distance: 8 miles
TA24 7NP
The Quantock Hills
Distance: 12 miles
TA5 1HW
Watchet Harbour Coastal Path
Distance: 2 miles
TA23 0AQ
Minehead Town Centre
Distance: 6 miles
TA24 5NQ
Taunton Shopping
Distance: 20 miles
TA1 3PN
Watchet Local Shops
Distance: 2 miles
TA23 0AN
Minehead Beach
Distance: 6 miles
TA24 5UQ
Blue Anchor Bay
Distance: 3 miles
TA24 6JS
Cleeve Abbey
Distance: 1 mile
TA23 0PS
Tropiquaria Wildlife Park
Distance: 1.5 miles
TA23 0QB
West Somerset Railway Watchet
Distance: 2 miles
TA23 0AQ
Dunster Castle
Distance: 7 miles
TA24 6SL
Exmoor National Park
Distance: 8 miles
TA24 7NP
The Quantock Hills
Distance: 12 miles
TA5 1HW
Watchet Harbour Coastal Path
Distance: 2 miles
TA23 0AQ
Minehead Town Centre
Distance: 6 miles
TA24 5NQ
Taunton Shopping
Distance: 20 miles
TA1 3PN
Watchet Local Shops
Distance: 2 miles
TA23 0AN
Minehead Beach
Distance: 6 miles
TA24 5UQ
Blue Anchor Bay
Distance: 3 miles
TA24 6JS
Cleeve Abbey
Distance: 1 mile
TA23 0PS

Is The Old Byres Right For Your Group

Discover why this cottage is the one for your party or family reunion...

For Families
Children love the heated swimming pool available June to August with daily maintenance. The wendy house in the garden provides outdoor play space. Table tennis and pool table offer indoor entertainment. Traditional board games are available in the snug. The property has cot and highchair available. Safe lawned gardens lead to accessible fields for running around.
Groups Will Love...
The heated swimming pool is maintained daily and provides hours of entertainment for all ages. Available from June to August, this facility was highlighted by multiple guests as a highlight of their stay. Combined with the private hot tub, sauna and games room with pool table, The Old Byres offers exceptional leisure facilities for large group gatherings and family celebrations.
Pet Friendly
The Old Byres welcomes up to three dogs. The property has a private patio and lawned garden with furniture. Shared lawned gardens open onto an accessible field perfect for exercising dogs. You're two miles from coastal walks at Watchet and close to Exmoor National Park trails. Care should be taken around the outdoor steps and stream in the grounds.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at The Old Byres

The West Somerset Hotel

Located 2 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: TA23 0AJ

The Bell Inn Watchet

Located 2.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: TA23 0BZ

The Smugglers Inn Blue Anchor

Located 3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: TA24 6JT

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about The Old Byres

How many people does The Old Byres sleep?
The property sleeps 16 guests across eight bedrooms with seven bathrooms. The accommodation includes four super-king rooms with en-suites, one twin, one family room, one double and one single bedroom.
Is The Old Byres pet friendly?
Yes, up to three dogs are welcome at this property. There's a private patio and lawned garden plus access to shared grounds and an open field for exercising your pets.
What entertainment facilities are available?
The property has a heated swimming pool, private hot tub, games room with pool table, sauna, table tennis and a wendy house. There's also a snug with traditional board games and two woodburning stoves.
Is there parking at the property?
Off-road parking is available for five cars. The property is easily accessible from the A39 main road through West Somerset.
When is the swimming pool heated?
The swimming pool is heated from June to August and maintained daily by the property manager. The pool is smaller than it appears in photographs according to guest feedback.
What kitchen facilities are provided?
The kitchen has an electric range with double oven and ceramic hob, two microwaves, two dishwashers and a large fridge-freezer. There's also a washing machine and tumble dryer available.
Are there ground floor bedrooms?
Yes, five bedrooms are on the ground floor including two super-king rooms, one twin, one family room and one single. Four of these ground floor rooms have en-suite facilities.
What's nearby for days out?
Watchet harbour is 2 miles away with the West Somerset Railway station. Tropiquaria Wildlife Park is 1.5 miles away and Dunster Castle is 7 miles from the property.

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The Old Byres Reviews

Frederick
As we walked through the front door we knew we'd made the right decision for our 4 generation 4 to 89 years family gettogether. Amazing thought has been given to this property with plenty to amuse everyone in comfort. 6 ensuite bedrooms, masses of cutlery, crockery etc and enough sofas scattered around for 1 each for all 16. Games & books for babes through to the 'oldies' catered for rainy days if the pool table was engaged and I don't think we bothered to turn on any of the numerous TVs!
The property was amazing so much room with 16 adults staying we didnt feel like we were on top of each other, it was also very well stocked with crockery, glasses and cutlery. The host was really welcoming and quick to respond to any query and provided local information and a welcome pack I would thoroughly recommend this property to anyone
Michael
We really enjoyed our stay at the Old Byres. Its well set up for groups, plenty of ensuite rooms, large well equipped kitchen, comfy lounge and sitting spaces and a lovely sunny courtyard. So good, were already booked for next year! Theres plenty to do in the area if you like walking, some great coastal walks and the Quantocks and Exmoor on the doorstep. Would highly recommend.
The Old Byres is definitely a cut above normal cottage accommodation. I hired it for a week to celebrate my 30th Wedding Anniversary with 15 of my closest family and friends and from the first day to the last it was amazing. Loads of space, loads to do and loads of lovely little touches such as ample glassware, cutlery & crockery, two dishwashers amazing and the pool table, sauna and hot tub were brilliant to add variety and something different to do. The outside space was great and our weather was fab so all sitting round the pool for one of the afternoon's was like being abroad. Lots to do locally with Watchet having lots of amenities, Tesco delivered our shopping and the The White Horse did amazing food when we wanted to eat out! All in all I can't recommend this accommodation highly enough and Sarah our host was available for support when needed. We will definitely be back in the future
Perfect for our families to get together. There was 14 of us and 1 dog. Lots of space for everyone, we enjoyed our days out also the hot tub, pool table and sauna to entertain us in the evenings. Beautifully furnished throughout, the beds were super comfy, plenty of kitchen equipment to cook for us all and 2 dishwashers to clean the pots
Richard
Well equipped and spacious for its capacity. Our kids spent a lot of time in the pool. Also well positioned with walks available out the back clear of the main road. Comfortable and recommended.
Angela
We have been coming here for the last seven years for our family holiday, averaging 15 people that says it all.
The property was more than we expected. It had everything we needed. Even two dish washers which was great with a large family gathering. The beds were super comfy. It was clean and comfortable. We were very well looked after by Hannah, who came daily to check the hot tub and pool. She was helpful. Perfectly situated to explore the surrounding area.
Robert
Outstanding facilities. Already decided to book again.
Excellent place to stay every modern convenience was available the amenities were first class and the pool hot tub were meticulously maintained each day a great place to bring all the various members of the family together.
Angela
This property is second to non, when I arrived it was warm, cosy, super clean, tidy and the Christmas decorations were such a lovely festive touch. My messages were answered immediately and all information concerning the property was accurate and easy to accommodate. It's my third time staying at the Old Byres and it certainly won't be the last! Thankyou for helping make my 60th birthday very special.
Roland
Excellent house for family gatherings,loads of space very clean great facilities. Highly recommend
We all had a great holiday in this amazing house. When we booked The Old Byres for our family holiday our expectations was high for us all be together and make life long memories the house has so much to offer in this high standard accommodation i would highly recommend and have no hesitation to book again. Only have one issue, as the weather was not perfect the pool for the children was not hot warm enough, having said that what brilliant holiday.
Dominic
A perfect house to celebrate my 70th birthday together with my family of all generations. The extensive entertainment facilities offered something for all to enjoy we didnt really need to go out in the evening, everyone had fun in the house We would certainly consider returning
Jennifer
We all enjoyed the holiday in Old Byers, I have booked to take the family again next year. Obviously a big effort is used to make sure all the facilities at the property are in good condition.
Angela
This property is perfect for family group holiday. Comfortable and plenty of room for everyone, especially when raining. Kitchen is the hub of the holiday. The chef is not cut off from rest of party.
Alison
An excellent holiday cottage, great for our family holiday. Listing does not do The Old Byres justice! There was a lot more space both inside and out than we expected but the pool was smaller than it looks in the photos. Our 5 young children loved the enclosed garden with the Wendy house and we all enjoyed the large field at the back of the house. The house was very well equipped for 16 with plenty of space for everyone and their multiple activities. We would certainly recommend this holiday property but be aware it is not easy to walk from as it is on a busy main road with no pavement.
Catherine
Wonderful property. Spacious, extremely clean, and ideal for a large family of varying ages to enjoy. Plenty of toys and games for the youngsters including a charming playhouse in the garden. Pool table, hot tub, table tennis and swimming pool for all to enjoy. All contents and fittings of the barn of very high quality. Our family of 13 thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to return again and stay a little longer.
The booking of Old Byres was for a special family celebration and the venue proved ideal a friendly and helpful owner, great facilities and close to pleasant walks, a great pub and lovely beaches. Thank you.
Fantastic house for a lot of guests plenty of room and equipment absolute god send having 2 dishwashers everyone had a fantastic time. Cooking Christmas dinner for 11 people was a breeze. Communication with the owner was excellent having had a Airbnb ourselves we new how much you have to do to get the good reviews everything was spick and span The 5 star review is well deserved . The only thing is the pub in walking distant is closed and the next closest was too dangerous to walk in the evening but plenty of us to drive and was a good pub Many Thanks for such an enjoyable stay
A fabulous property,spacious,warm and perfectly equipped for a large party of people ie16. .Amenities,sauna,hot tub,pool table kept the family entertained despite the inclimate weather,the best property we have ever stayed in
Our stay was great, but the house needs some TLC. Lots of light bulbs out, mattress seen better days, can opener not working, dining chairs had legs broken, and are actually dangerous, sofa had no support and the wifi is really terrible. Not all doors had keys that we could find. We were also shocked to find the building of at least 5 houses next door, that meant we had a week of builders on roofs looking into the garden and music and the beeping of machines going from 8am! We felt that this really should be disclosed before booking. We did have to ask someone to come out due to the hot tub smelling after the first day, and the next day it was dealt with. The swimming pool really does need a good clean at the bottom but no one does clean it unfortunately. We did ask for more bin bags but they never did get delivered. We saw that the house is up for sale and felt perhaps this was why lots of things werent up to a high standard. All this said we had a great time and had plenty of space, the rooms are all a great size. The use of the field next to the house was amazing for us to walk our dog.
A wonderfully spacious house even for 15 adults, 3 toddlersbabies and 2 dogs. Plenty to do especially as the kind owner kept the pool open beyond its normal operating time. The kitchendiningsnug room opening onto the table tennisWendy houselawn area provided most of the social interaction time for our party and the huge field beyond the pool was perfect for exercising the dogs. I can't recommend the place enough.
Barbara
The service was great when the smoke alarm decided to play up. We loved the house. A couple of very small things Some of mattresses are beginning to feel a little lumpy. Couldnt find a butter dish. Welcome pack was much appreciated particularly the milk in the fridge. Would happily return again.
We very much enjoyed our stay. The property was all we had hoped for and the location is excellent with the heritage railway just a short walk away and Tropiquaria just a short drive away, to mention just two attractions. I have given 'facilities and maintenance' a notch lower than the other ratings because the recycling bins were mostly full when we arrived so within a day or so they were full...but I accept this is beyond the direct control of the Old Byres team. They were always on hand via WhatsApp and communication was good. Overall and excellent holiday!
Michelle
This was our second visit to the old Byres and like our first stay the holiday was superb. The house is extremely well laid out for a large family gathering and has so many things to do and such useable space, the pool was a lovely temperature which with the lack of sunshine was much appreciated The adjacent field was great with the dogs and the children, all in all an exceptional house, we had a wonderful time.
Angela
The perfect house for family holidays. Plenty of things to do. Not all on top of each other.
Everything was excellent and great fun opening the drawers and cupboards to find things especially in the kitchen. There was considerable traffic noise and as the weather was rather hot , we had to have the windows open. However this was mentioned in the description info. The pool was very popular with our family, but I would have liked a grab rail as I am unable to manage steps safely. Unfortunately the builders next door did cause some noise but not enough to spoil our perfect week.
Caroline
We had a fantastic week here beginning of June, can not fault the property at ... We had a fantastic week here beginning of June, can not fault the property at all everything you wanted was there for you
We had a great family weekend at The Old Byres celebrating a 30th birthday. We were so lucky with the weather and made good use of the pool and hot tub. We didnt get to use the sauna as we were all too warm! The size of the property was perfect for us with 10 adults and 6 children and 2 dogs. It's extremely spacious and having access to the field at the back of the property was great for us to exercise the dogs and have a game of rounders. The toddlers loved the Wendy house in the garden and the little wooden dolls house and puzzles in the snug area. We also enjoyed a few games of table tennis too. This property has something for everyone and we would definitely go back again.
Nicola
It is a fabulous property and was perfect for our group. The garden was really well designed.
Rebecca
This is a great house for large parties we had a lovely time visiting
Alexia
Due to a missed family Christmas we decided to try & all get together in one big property for a long weekend in February. Old Byers was recommended by one family member who had stayed before so that took away the worry of it not living up to the website impression. Sixteen of us stayed, very comfortably. Every room was clean, bright & comfortable. All white bed linen & towels & neutral decor make it aesthetically pleasing. There isnt any clutter but it still feels homely. There are plenty of areas to relax & so no one felt on top of each other. The hot tub was a massive bonus I imagine the pool must be fabulous in the summer and little extras like two separate garden areas were great as we took 3 dogs with us. The teenage girls discovered a games console and played a favourite dancing game for hours Whilst the boys loved the pool table. The kitchen is massive which means lots of people could help with meal prep & it wasnt all just left to muggins. Two ovens & two dishwashers made life so much easier. The property is on a main road but once inside youd never know. Our bedroom was upstairs & we heard no traffic noise. The location is perfect. <15 minutes away from the South Coast Path at Minehead, fabulous walks in Exmoor, beautiful Dunster castle & wonderful villages pubs like the Royal Oak at Luxborough. I would definitely like to return to Old Byers our stay was straightforward, hassle free & exceeded our expectations.
Joanne
Amazing cottage great location
Michelle
The property is fabulous. The accommodation lends itself really well to a large group but allows separation for a bit of down time to. The kitchen is really well appointed and there is plenty of equipment . There are lots of things available in the property from the lovely large lounge with a great film watching tv, games room, hot tub and the outside space was excellent for the dogs , we didnt go in the pool too chilly in December! It took about fifteen minutes to get to the beach for walking the dogs who loved every minute. We used two of the restaurants mentioned in The Old Byres details both of which were excellent. We visited the White Horse pub which is within walking distance which was excellent and also enjoyed an Indian from the Spice Merchant which the restaurant was happy to deliver. We loved every minute of our stay and are definitely going back.
Jeremy
We stayed here over Christmas with our large family ranging in ages from 3yrs to 86, plus dogs. We had a fabulous time. The house was decorated with lovely trees and decorations which was very unexpected and so appreciated. We made full use of the hot tub and pool table. The house surpassed our expectations. It was well equipped and super clean. We visited several local pubs for meals. Great fish and chips 2 mins away. Great Indian takeaway delivery. All mentioned in the welcome book at the house. Definitely recommend a stay here! I imagine the pool in Summer would be perfect.
Chantelle
A beautiful cottage. The owner was very helpful and was contactable if we needed anything .The cottage had everything you needed very clean and comfortable, highly recommended, and will definitely be rebooking for our next family gettogether
A couple of minor points were raised with the owners and were dealt with expeditiously. Generally we had a very good and comfortable time there.
Claire
The house is stunning! Even with 15 of us we had a ton of space. Every amenity you could think of but yet so full of characture. Beautiful part of the world as well with lots to do.
The Old Byres is a fantastic place for a complete relaxing holiday. It is full of things to do there was 12 of us and a dog. It was a family get together my daughter and son and there family. There was so.much to do and not once was there anygthing we needed. Sarah the owner was so welcoming and so was all the modern facilities.
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Unit 5, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX