Durslade Farmhouse

Rooms

Spread over three floors are six spacious double rooms. On the ground floor, off the magnificent Rist dining room, is the Master bedroom (the largest) with its own spacious bathroom with roll-top bath. The farmhouse kitchen, study, two lounges and private outside terrace are also on the ground floor.

On the first floor are four more bedrooms. The Graffiti room overlooks the road and the dovecote beyond, and is next to the Piplotti Rist room (one of our favourites). Along the corridor is the Brass bedroom, the smallest room with a tall, vintage brass bed and some amazing vintage wallpaper. Adjacent is the vast Paul McCarthy room, complete with a vintage wicker throne chair and a striking blue colour scheme.

On our last visit, we chose to stay in the final bedroom, Niki & Jackie's room, up a narrow flight of stairs and into the eaves. The sloping ceilings limit headroom but the room is so long and spacious it wasn't an issue. We loved how bright it was and the feeling of being hidden away in the attic.

Features include:

• Board games
• Hairdryer
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

We loved the cosy farmhouse kitchen, complete with a fabulous mish-mash of vintage crockery and glassware juxtaposed with mod cons - a Smeg range, Smeg 50's-style fridges plus Nespresso maker and Le Creuset pots and pans. An irresistible hamper of delicious local produce was left for us on arrival. Basics are also provided, such as eggs, milk, butter, oil, tea and coffee pods for the Nespresso machine.

For more supplies look no further than the Farm Shop across the road. This community-focused space boasts its own in-house butcher and forager, as well as excellent seasonal produce and top-grade meat sourced from the surrounding pastures including Durslade Farm itself, local cheeses, home-made preserves, and bespoke baked goods.

Guests can opt for an in-house chef experience for a very reasonable price, where the chef and front-of-house staff come and prepare, serve and seamlessly clear away a three-course meal. There's also a more casual 2-course meal delivery service, where ingredients/ dishes are prepared and left in the fridge or on the stove with instructions from the chef on how to put it all together. Breakfast and lunch deliveries are also available on request.

So, if you love to cook you can certainly dine in style here, but if you prefer the easy way out then book a table across the way at the very popular Roth Bar & Grill (closed on Mondays), which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We arrived in time for a Sunday roast: Durslade Farm beef striploin and lamb shoulder with all the trimmings, followed by sticky toffee pudding & a cheesebard. Heaven! Alternatively, head into Bruton to one of the other local eateries. There are a couple of village shops and bakeries, including Godminster cheddar here too.

Features include:

• Bar
• Dinner by arrangement
• Full kitchen
• In-house cook
• Kids' meals
• Lunch by arrangement
• Meal delivery service
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Amble over to Hauser & Wirth to enjoy thrice-yearly changing exhibitions of contemporary artists. There is also a sister gallery in central Bruton exhibiting contemporary craftwork.
  
• Stroll around Bruton and pop into the pubs and boutiques along the high street.
  
• Put on your walking boots and head out for a hearty hike across the beautiful Somerset countryside.
  
• You're not far from Stourhead, one of the most beautiful National Trust properties in the South West, with its renowned gardens.
  
• If you want to get a retail fix you could head to nearby Shepton Mallet for the award-winning Kilver Court, featuring Mulberry, Toast and Whistles.

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Walking

Kids

Families are very welcome but children do need to be respectful of the antiques and artworks in the house. We'd say it's best for older kids (8+). No single beds or twin rooms. High chairs and cots can be provided - just ask.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

None of the bedrooms have twin beds but there is plenty of room in most to set up a travel cot.

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour (Bristol)
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Durslade Farmhouse is set just outside Bruton, on the Hauser & Wirth gallery plot, next door to the main gallery. Bruton is near the Somerset/Wiltshire border in the southwest of England. It's an hour from Bristol, and two hours from London.

By Air:
Fly into Bristol (46km away) or one of the London airports.

By Car:
Bruton has good road links within the South West and is easily accessible from the M3 / A303, M4 & M5. For car hire see our car rental recommendations. Parking is available at the on-site gallery.

By Train:
Bruton rail station is on the Bristol to Weymouth train line and is a five-minute walk from the farmhouse. Alternatively, a direct train service from London stops at nearby Castle Cary and Gillingham stations. It takes approximately 15 minutes by car from Castle Cary / Gillingham to Bruton. A taxi rank is available at the station entrances.

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