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It is now law for any property that lets out a room or the entire space even if for only one day a year to have in place a written Fire Safety Assessment done by a competent assessor and to be acting on any recommendations.

As evident from the certificate below, our assessment was completed at the end of June and the full report can be accessed here if required. In short, the level of fire safety risk at The Old Quarry was deemed to be “tolerable”, meaning that “no major additional fire precautions (are) required. However, there might be a need for improvements that involve minor or limited cost”.

We have already begun to act on the finding from the assessment and return visitors to the cabin will note the addition of emergency lights in each bedroom. Checking they are still present and the fire alarm is working is now part of our checks at each changeover (evidence that this has been carried out is available on request) and we are working with a local carpenter and joiners to identify a suitable way to add the additional door that has been requested. The nature of our oversized doors (which we want to maintain as they’re great for disability access) means that the new door unfortunately won’t be a “minor cost” as described, but we remain committed to our guests’ safety and peace of mind above all.

The sun is well and truly out here in Somerset. We decided to strap the bikes on to the car and head off to the picturesque Wimbleball Lake. On Exmoor, this is just over 20 minutes away from The Old Quarry and another reason to stay. Wimbleball Lake is actually a large reservoir, created in the 1970s by stemming the natural flow of the River Haddeo. At the Activity Centre on site, we learnt it covers 374 acres and is the deepest in the South West. All in all, it has a capacity of around 21,320 megalitres, enough for over 90 billion cups of tea! It’s certainly an impressive size, with a 8.5 mile walking route around the edge.

Our focus today was cycling. There are a variety of recognised routes to choose from, covering a range of distances and abilities. With a nine year-old having his first real experience of off-road cycling, we opted for the easiest Green route after having a quick bite at the onsite café. The onsite maps aren’t perhaps the most helpful and we ended up going completely the wrong direction and very off-road. Once back where we started and revived with the help of an ice-cream, we decided to cycle the other way to Wimbleball Lake dam, only learning later that this was the route we were meant to have taken all along!

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Dropping down to the lakeside, plenty of adults, children and even dogs were trying their hand at paddle-boarding and canoeing. From there, we took the loose stone path south to the dam, some 1.3 miles away. The path dips and rises a little, but is generally fairly level and our son generally coped well. Sometimes the views are open and expansive, sometimes we got to enjoy the coolness of woodland shade. All along, we were accompanied by copious amounts of wild flowers, butterflies and even passed rabbits sunbathing in a meadow. And, on the left, our constant companion was the lake itself, glistening in the afternoon sun.

At the dam, we left our bikes to explore and admire the impressive feat of engineering on foot. Standing 49m high, peering over the side of the dam is not recommended for those with vertigo. The massive angled wall is strengthened by giant concrete buttresses, with a series of terraced pools adding interest. The views from the top over the valley below are the real spectacle though.

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Back in the saddle, we retraced the path back to paddle-boarders and canoeists. Stopping in at the Wimbleball Lake Activity Centre, we learnt about what else the lake has to offer. As well as cycling and walking routes, there’s a children’s play area, nature safaris and activity sheets for the little ones. There’s trout fishing, archery and a high ropes course. There’s also instructor-led sessions available for windsurfing, kayaking, paddle-boarding and raft-building. And you can hire equipment, wet-suits and buoyancy aids and have a go yourself. I think we may be heading back!

Last weekend was a busy one. We had a young couple booked in. This usually means that the changeover is on the quicker side, with less beds and bedrooms to make up. Rachel says that it’s her longest changeover yet!

We knew this one was going to be a bit special. When booking, the guest had mentioned that he was coming to surprise his long-term girlfriend and propose to her. We offered any assistance that might be needed. As his plans developed over the ensuing weeks, we had a packet of balloon letters delivered to us. The idea was to string them outside across the veranda to surprise her as soon as they arrived. On the day, 40 mile-an-hour winds put pay to that idea. Plan B was to move the letters inside to the bedroom, add extra decorations and artistically scatter rose petals here and there.

We knew it would take a bit of extra time and were prepared for that. With the changeover completed and The Old Quarry fully cleaned, there was still plenty of time to prepare. All that remained was to blow up the balloons, set up the surprise and beat a hasty retreat before the guests arrived. It turns out, however, that some of the letter balloons contained confetti. If you let go of them accidently whilst trying to tie them, they proceed to fart their contents all over your newly cleaned cabin! Obviously, all this needed to be cleaned up or risk ruining the surprise.

Despite the double clean, the place was prepared and the surprise was set before the guests arrived. After the extra work we’re so glad that she said yes!! It’s always a joy to help others make memories whilst they stay with us. In fact, it’s probably the biggest driver for us as owners of the business. It was such a privilege, this time, to be involved in creating a moment that will last them a lifetime!

We just managed to stay open for Christmas Day, but entered Tier 3 soon afterwards and had to close. Passing quickly through Tier 4, we were soon in a lengthy third full National Lock-Down. Usually, the time between guests is a matter of hours and the time we have available for maintenance is limited. Our enforced closure meant three and a half months between guests. It was a sizeable window to get a big job done and there was none bigger than a brand new kitchen.

Ever since we bought The Old Quarry in December 2018, we’d been aware than this needed attention at some point. The kitchen was over ten years old and beginning to look tired. Having low wall cabinets hadn’t helped, as the toaster’s heat had damaged them. This wasn’t in an unobtrusive area either, but the first thing you saw as you walked through the door! In fact, our Christmas guests phoned soon after arriving to ensure we knew that the damage wasn’t their fault! Here was our moment to change that.

A lot of measuring up and thought ensued. We drew up a wish list for the brand new kitchen. At the top, was trying to raise the wall cupboards, create more usable space and install a dishwasher. We were keen to add this appliance after hearing it is the fourth most desired item when choosing holiday accommodation). A large part of creating more usable space was going to be clearing the worktop. This would mean moving from a free-standing to a built-in microwave, so reducing cupboard space. This dishwasher addition was only going to steal even more space. We were already very conscious that guests had little space to store their shopping. It was quite a conundrum, that required careful consideration.

As part of the process, we phoned guests who had booked with us again to see what we should consider. Their thoughts chimed with ours, with a dishwasher and raised wall cabinets getting the most frequent mentions. We spoke to other holiday let owners and gathered their thoughts. This process helped us see that designing a kitchen for holiday accommodation is different to designing one home. Simplicity and ease of use are so much more important when different people are using the facilities every few days.

More than once we heard the recommendation to consider induction appliances rather than gas. We certainly liked the idea of not having a naked flame in a log cabin! With only the hob and oven using gas, it would simplifying things to remove the gas system completely. At the same time, we were aware that some people, such as those with pacemakers, are warned off using induction. We certainly didn’t want to force any of our booked guests to cancel by making such a change. Phoning each in turn, we checked there would be no issue before deciding induction was the way we would go.

Decisions made, we found our supplier and negotiated the price. We researched and shopped for the new appliances we wanted to install. We found a local fitter (the brother of one of our regular guests as it happens!) to do the installation. We booked in the installation to finish with three weeks to spare before the first guests arrived. This left plenty of time – or so we thought!

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One fitter couldn’t work for the first couple of days, having been hit for six by his COVID jab. The job was going to have to go on for longer and then we encountered issue after issue. Firstly, our suppliers didn’t send all the parts. Then they sent the wrong parts. Then we found out that the dimensions they’d listed were incorrect and the microwave didn’t fit. Then, to cap it all off, we discovered that they’d made errors when measuring and the kitchen wouldn’t fit!! Much head scratching and clever problem-solving ensued, together with many trips to and from the suppliers to remedy the situation.

By the time the finishing touches had been completed, it was probably two weeks after we’d anticipated having it ready. We were pleased to have it all in place and working perfectly for our guests arriving a week later. They’d be able to enjoy it without any idea of the stress that had gone into fitting it in time. All we had to do was write some simple instructions for our guests on how to use the new appliances. There was no better way to do that than to road test the new kitchen ourselves.

It was then we discovered a manufacturing fault with the hob, which meant it cracked upon first use. There was also a manufacturing mistake with the oven which meant that the door wouldn’t stay open. We managed to get the hob replaced quite quickly, but the oven issue was misdiagnosed. It took three engineer visits to realise the door was missing a pane of glass and so wasn’t properly balanced. Unfortunately, this meant that our first (very understanding!) guests had to have two people to use the oven safely.

We got there in the end and, despite the many hassles along the way, it was worth it. The Old Quarry now enjoys an up-to-date, brand new kitchen. It should last for a good many years to come. We’re certainly not looking to repeat this whole experience any time soon!

Our inaugural photo competition has been won by Sam and Faith. Open to all our guests in 2020, up to five photos taken during each stay at The Old Quarry were eligible for consideration. Once we’d drawn up a shortlist, it was over to the public to vote for their favourites on our Facebook site. Two of the snaps in particular proved to be very popular, with Sam and Faith just edging it in the end with their shot taken at Exmoor’s famous Tarr Steps. Sam and Faith will now receive a 25% discount on their stay this year – congratulations to them!

Whilst it wasn’t our choice to make, with the voting process public, we really liked Sam and Faith’s photo. The Tarr Steps are an undoubted feature of Exmoor and a place we’d definitely recommend for guests to visit. While, there’s no doubt that they’re stunning in their own right, we liked how they’re almost incidental in this photo, where the focus is on the sunlight filtering between the tranquil trees and stirring the turbulent, mirror-like waters below. In the foreground, the shape of the rock also gives the impression of some kind of prehistoric sea-monster poking its head above the surface.

Thanks to all our guests who took part – we’ve loved seeing your photos from your time at The Old Quarry – it looks as if many special memories were made. The 2021 competition is now open but, of course, you’ll have to come and stay in order to enter!

Each year we hold a Photo Competition that allows our guests from that year a chance to win a discounted holiday next year. We’ve not had our full complement of guests in 2020 due to lockdowns and tiers, but there are some cracking snaps. Voting will soon be open on our Facebook page!

Lock-down gave us the first opportunity since we bought The Old Quarry at the back end of 2018 to start to put our own stamp on the place, since we had an extended period with no guests!

We were very busy in the garden. As well as redoing the driveway and levelling the lawn area (see previous posts), trimming hedges and attending to the garden furniture, we created a whole new fire pit area amongst the ferns.

We began by clearing the area and then asking a local, friendly tree surgeon to supply us with some stumps and log benches. A happy hour ensued with a chain saw to make sure it all went together well. Knowing that guests come in different shapes and sizes, we added a range of seats. And knowing that smoke can blow in different directions, we made sure there were more seats than we have as guests, so they can all find somewhere to sit that’s not downwind. We’re really pleased with the result. It’s a rustic area that feels wholly in keeping with its surroundings.

It’s all set now for guests to enjoy and, indeed, it already has been. We hope it becomes a well-used amenity and a place where many family memories are born. As the nights draw in and the colder weather begins to set in, we hope it’s really going to come into its own.

Our walk starts in Holford. This small village, set in beautiful surroundings with a history of silk making, was home to William Wordsworth for a year. You pass the remains of the silk factory in Holford Glen. Bryan Adams fans may recognise it, if they’re familiar with the video to his hit song (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.

Walking south, our goal was the summit of Black Hill which stands above the village of Crowcombe.

Standing at 358m, it is one of the highest peaks in the Quantocks and the views are fantastic. There’s certainly a reason why the Quantocks were the first to be given Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status in England. 

From there, we headed East past Wilmot’s Pool towards Dead Woman’s Ditch. This is an alternative parking spot for this walk, ignoring the Holford village section. Proceeding along the quiet Five Lords Lane, the trees here are quite striking, with many having grown in corkscrew fashion and looking dark and sombre. It somehow adds a sense of medieval mystery.

Moving onto a path once more, the route then begins to drop through Lady’s Combe to meet a small stream. It’s then a simple task of following the stream back to Holford. All this section is within the shade of trees at the bottom of the valley, criss-crossing over the small stream. It’s a delight with the sunlight filtering through the leaves and dancing off the surface of the water. 

Total Length : 5.77 miles (9.23 km)
Total Ascent : 888 feet (271 m)
Difficulty Level : Moderate / Challenging
Estimated Time : 2 hrs 33 mins
Travel from The Old Quarry : 14.5 miles / 40 mins

As one of our guests recently said, The Old Quarry is located in a walkers’ paradise. There are so many great walks to choose from, so why not start with the highest of them all, Dunkery Beacon. This is highest spot on Exmoor and in all of Somerset.

Standing at 520m, from the peak it gives great views over the surrounding hills and across the moorland to the sea at both Porlock and Minehead Bays. On clear days you can also see the Brecon Beacons across the Bristol Channel to the North. So too, Dartmoor to the South and Bodmin Moor to the South West are also visible.

There are various walking routes, some of which start nearer to the summit in terms of altitude. We chose to start at Webber’s Post, a car park area just over 1.5 miles (as the crow flies) from the summit and nearly 300m below it.

Our chosen path to the summit was a gentle incline all the way from the car park. August was a beautiful time to do it, with the moorland heather and gorse in full bloom.

As well as being accompanied by butterflies, we also got to see two groups of Exmoor ponies grazing. There were also five deer, who had presumably already been to the summit themselves, descending to the car park on a different path to ours.

The summit itself is marked by a huge cairn, which you can scale for improved views. We’d picked one of the windiest days of the year (gusts approaching 50mph) to reach the top. Rather than risk being blown off, I settled for keeping my feet on the floor. Still, I was able to enjoy the impressive panoramic views from there. Even then it was occasionally difficult to keep upright!

For the return journey we chose a more indirect route. Following the ridge running Westwards, we dropped down towards a lane. As we got lower, the landscape began to change. Soon, we were walking through grassland and gorse past forested areas until we came to to the tiny hamlet and church at Stoke Pero.

From there, the walk continued across farmland, before dropping into a delightful wooded section, complete with bubbling brook. Having forded the stream (although there is a bridge when it’s running deeper), the path soon bent fairly steeply upwards. Then, we joined the Coleridge Way long-distance path for a short section back to the car park.

It’s my opinion that no good walk is complete without a watering hole or lunch stop of some description. We chose the Periwinkle Tea Rooms in nearby Selworthy village for some much needed cream tea refreshment.

Total Length : 6.84 miles (11 km)
Total Ascent : 1320 feet (402 m)
Difficulty Level : Moderate / Challenging
Estimated Time : 3 hrs 7 mins
Travel from The Old Quarry : 21.9 miles / 42 mins

We’re going back again to the theme of what we were able to get done during lock-down. Having already redressed the driveway, we used our extended holiday from guests to then turn our attention to the lawn area.

We’re very careful not to cultivate the grounds since, to our minds, their untouched feel gives the place an added charm. The wildlife certainly seems to agree with this policy as we have it in abundance.

While we don’t cultivate, we are certainly busy outside. We’ve spent many a day over the last year alone dealing with nettles and brambles. We hope we manage this in a a discrete way than maintains the wild feel.

Despite this, we did decide to do something about the lawn this year. When you next arrive you’re not going to find stripes have been mown into it. Nor will it be precisely edged. What you will find is a more level surface than before. We decided to do this as we’ve invested in a few garden games (badminton and volleyball for example) and having more of a flat area for guests to play was always going to be helpful!

We’ve added 1.5 tonnes of top soil and compost to lawn surface and used it to fill in the many dips. We then applied a liberal sprinkling of grass seed, which was left to germinate under covers.

Unfortunately, this work coincided with the start of the driest spell we’ve had this year. So, despite frequent watering, we had to sprinkle seed a second time. I suppose we should be grateful that lock-down was sufficiently long that guests didn’t arrive when all we had was bare patches!

Now, it’s greened over perfectly. Without reading this article, we doubt many would know we’d even done anything to the lawn. But, while the feel of the place hasn’t changed, we hope the feel underfoot has!