Higher Melcombe Manor

Exceptional and considerate hosts. A very special place with special people who went above and beyond to make our stay memorable.

The house was incredibly beautiful, well kept, and full of history. It's a quiet spot in a lovely valley. There's a wonderful homely atmosphere there. Simon and Nicky couldn't have been more welcoming. Thanks for a lovely stay.

Nil

I did not realize how old and history-rich the manor was until we got there. As a history lover and someone who is absolutely enchanted by medieval history & architecture, I could barely contain myself once I found out. I wanted to search every nook and cranny for pieces of history, however this IS a working farm manor and it IS a family's home, so I kept my curiosity to myself. But it IS a magical place, with its own chapel, which the host kindly allowed us to see and I had to try very hard not to get too excited! You can tell the upkeep is a hassle but you can also tell how laden with history it is - it has been fixed and changed through the years of course, but you can spot old beams throughout the house, old mason work and windows. Even the stained glass that had to be replaced was replaced with an identical one. It's a delight to look at those stained glass windows when the sun shines through them, or at sunset. You have a TON of grounds to walk through and it is close to a small village with a couple of lovely pubs. The village is a delight to walk and the fields, especially at sunset, are a beautiful sight. It's quiet and you can watch the manor's cows and horses sitting on the benches outside or from your windows. The hosts have three dogs and a cat and we loved giving them pets and attention (save for the cat, who was not impressed with our presence but I loved them just as much, even if only from afar). They were very friendly animals who did not mind us at all. If you love animals, pets, this will be a lovely bonus added to your stay. The hosts themselves work the land and care for the animals and I wish we would have had more time to speak to them as they lead the life both of us wish we had - it is hard work and you can tell, but it is a marvel of an estate, and from the little conversations we managed to have with them, we found out a lot of interesting things.

It IS a family home and to get in you have to go through some of the main rooms in the house, so we felt a bit like we were imposing - not really a 'did not like' to be honest, we just felt bad for giving them trouble. They seem like super hard working people and we respect that a lot, and we just didn't want to be too much trouble on their already busy day. But I would not really put it into the 'did not like category' - I honestly cannot stress enough how lovely they were.

Fabulous manor house with dogs and great hosts.

Superb location. Simon +Nicky always very helpful and available for advice. Huge old mansion nice family atmosphere . good breakfast

The kitchenette adjacent to the bedroom was very basic, lacking simple amenities eg a toaster. Cooking + washing up facilities. The only downside on a great stay

We had a great midweek stay with Nicky and Simon, their three friendly dogs and their free-range cat. Comfy room in a remarkable house and we can recommend the fresh breakfast. Lovely people and nothing too much trouble. Looking forward to staying again soon.

The owners were extremely friendly. Very quiet and peaceful setting. Breakfast was fantastic, all cooked fresh to order.

Amazing property and the most lovely couple who runs the manor.

The location is an excellent base for walking, visiting the coast or to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The hosts are so welcoming and friendly. We look forward to returning in the near future!

Higher Melcombe Manor is a gem! The house is a beautiful Grade 1 listed manor house on a working farm with an 11th Century chapel attached to the house. It's so beautiful! There's a lovely pub just a mile up the road (The Fox) for dinner. Breakfast at The Manor was great. Simon and Nicky are wonderful hosts. I enjoyed my stay very much. Highly recommended.