Two dog-friendly cottages in West Somerset with three brilliant walks straight from the doorstep — Thorn Hill, the Rising Sun at Knapp, and the Bird in Hand at North Curry.
Two stays, three walks, and a farm that's happy to welcome your dog
Some places say "dog-friendly", but we’re a little more enthusiastic than that. Dogs are part of the rhythm of the farm here at Thornfalcon, and our labrador Captain runs ahead of us up to the vines, orchards and lake most mornings.
We have two cottages that welcome dogs: the Coach House and the Lambing Shed.
The Coach House
The Coach House is our two-bedroom barn conversion: open-plan, full of antiques and vintage finds, sleeps four (with room for five at a push). It's the obvious choice for a family or for two couples travelling together — and with its own private paddock and garden, there’s plenty of room for your dogs to roam.
There's a poured concrete floor across the ground floor, a woodburner for drying off and warming up, and enough room for your four-legged friend to stretch out without anyone tripping over him.
The Lambing Shed
The Lambing Shed is smaller, more secluded, and quietly romantic — a one-bedroom cabin tucked beneath the apple trees with a wood-fired bath outside. It sleeps two adults (and an infant), takes one well-behaved dog, and has the orchard for a back garden.
Three walks from your doorstep
South West Somerset has many brilliant walks and countryside to explore, and no shortage of dog-friendly pubs. We have three good walks from Thornfalcon Winery & Press, starting from our gate.
The Thorn Hill circular — about 45 minutes.
The shortest of the three. Walk up through the farm and past the lake, turn left through the fields, and join the footpath on the right, over the stile and up the hill where you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360 degree views all across Somerset, up to the Quantocks and down to the Somerset levels. On the way down, walk through Thornfalcon village and past the 14th century church at its heart. This walk takes about forty-five minutes at a steady pace, and keep dogs on a lead up the hill as there can be sheep grazing. Good for a morning leg-stretch or an evening walk with a bottle of wine to bask in the views.
2. To Knapp and the Rising Sun — about 1.5 hours round trip.
This lovely walk across the fields to Knapp drops down into the hamlet and up to the Rising Sun — a 15th-century pub with low beams, inglenooks and a dog-friendly bar. Pause for a pint, retrace your steps, and you're back at the farm in time for a wood-fired sauna by Thornfalcon’s lake, and a long bath. Around an hour and a half on foot, more if the pub is in good form. (Worth checking opening hours before you set off — small village pubs keep their own time.)
3. To North Curry and the Bird in Hand — about 2 hours round trip.
his walk takes you across the fields, up the drive and through the lanes and footpaths to the charming village of North Curry, where the thriving Bird in Hand is waiting with three changing cask ales, an open fire, and food made from local, seasonal ingredients. Dogs are welcome inside and out, and this is a great Saturday walk with a long lunch in the middle, back at the farm by late afternoon.
A note on the rest of the farm
Dogs are welcome to walk the farm with you on a lead — through the orchards, around the lake, along the edge of the vines. We ask that they're on the lead in spring as we have lambs, ground-nesting birds, and a wide variety of baby rabbits and wildlife, and that you keep an eye out around the doves and chickens, who have very strong opinions about dogs in general.
Plan your stay
Both the Coach House and the Lambing Shed take bookings year-round. If you'd like advice on which is right for you and your dog — or if you'd like to bring two dogs, or an unusual one — drop us a line.
