Long Hill Carriage
- Premier host
- Wincanton, Somerset, England
- See on map
- Sleeps: 2
- Bedroom: 1
- Bathroom: 1
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
Nestled in an idyllic cottage garden setting on the rural borders of Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, Long Hill Carriage is the perfect stop for two world-weary souls.
The owners rescued their unique 1882 Great Western Railway carriage when it was originally destined for the bonfire. With a little help from a master craftsman, they set about transforming it into a beautiful garden retreat, taking care to retain as much of the original woodwork and fittings as they could.
The later addition of a 1952 Western Region goods wagon, transformed into a delightful en-suite bedroom, completed their stylish and characterful makeover. Featured between the pages of high-end magazines including Country Living and The English Garden, and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, the interiors breathe with cheerful colour, retro vintage touches, and fresh flowers from the garden.
No fewer than twenty windows flood the carriage with daylight, while double doors lead onto the pretty ‘station platform’ terrace; and there is a separate balcony, accessed from the bedroom, where you can unwind to the most incredible garden-and-valley views over the Blackmore Vale.
As the sun begins its glorious descent over the valley, pour another glass of wine and get lost in conversation with your loved one, or perhaps imagine yourself as a character in one of Thomas Hardy’s famous novels!
On chilly evenings, light the wood-burner to feel ridiculously cosy, as you snuggle up in front of the TV, or set the soundtrack of your choice on the Roberts radio. A well-equipped kitchen takes care of romantic feast-preparation, and you’ll be welcomed with a basket filled with home-made scones, jam, clotted cream, apple juice, milk, oatcakes and award-winning local cheese from the village cows.
When it’s finally time to say goodbye to the day, you can curl up in a comfy double bed dressed in 100% Egyptian cotton linen, for a dreamy night’s sleep. Ease into the morning with a cup of coffee on the balcony to a sweet chorus of birdsong, before planning the rest of your day over a hearty home-cooked breakfast.
Keep readingAt a glance
- A stylish and lovingly-restored Victorian railway carriage, featured in various high-end magazines and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.
- Secluded in a glorious West Country cottage garden in the hilltop village of Cucklington, with stunning panoramic views across the Blackmore Vale.
- The carriage features full self-contained facilities, with a well-equipped kitchen (and a welcome-basket packed with organic goodies!) and a double bedroom with en-suite bathroom housed in an adjoining wagon.
- Head through the double French doors onto a scenic balcony with your own west-facing private garden and sunset views over cow-dotted fields.
- Conveniently situated on the borders of Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, there is a wealth of places to see and things to do in the local area, including Stonehenge and the heritage city of Bath.
Features
Adults Only
Facilities
Double bedroom with 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen and towels, en-suite bathroom with shower, eco-friendly toiletries, heated towel rail, WC, washbasin, hairdryer. Wood-burner with logs, electric heaters, TV/DVD player, Wi-Fi, Roberts radios, binoculars, fresh flowers, well-equipped kitchen with electric oven, hob, fridge with icebox, welcome basket (including home-made scones, strawberry jam, clotted cream, and other West Country produce), tea, coffee, milk, sugar and olive oil, eco-friendly cleaning materials, washing machine/tumble dryer, eco laundry liquid, iron and ironing board. French doors to balcony and private garden with outdoor seating. Off-road parking for one car.
Local Activities
Walking, cycling, wildlife-watching, historic sites, galleries, farm shops, award-winning restaurants and pubs, National Trust properties and gardens, stargazing, picnic spots.
More information
If you can bear to disembark from the carriage, you’ll soon find you’re in the ideal location to explore some of the UK’s loveliest and most iconic places. These include Stonehenge and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath, both of which are under an hour away.
You could also choose to visit the nearby hilltop town of Shaftesbury, where you can walk up-and-down the cobbled Gold Hill… also known as ‘Hovis Hill’ after the legendary TV ad! Or spend time in nearby Bruton, with its art galleries and award-winning restaurants.
Prefer taking an old-fashioned turn around magnificent grounds? Stourhead, a National Trust property that comprises a romantic Palladian house and a world-famous landscape garden, is a mere ten minutes away.
However you decide to while away your precious holiday time, your carriage awaits at the end of another invigorating day, ready to welcome you back on board.
Things to note
Open from mid-March to mid-November.
Minimum 3 night weekend stays and 4 night midweek stays (although 2 night weekends and 3 night midweek stays may be possible. Please contact us to enquire). Changeover days are Monday and Friday. Check in from 4pm, check out by 10:30am. Sadly not suitable for children or pets.
Detailed pricing info
Low Season (March and November) £140 per night
Mid Season (April, May, September and October) £155 per night
High Season (June, July and August) £170 per night
Peak Season (Bank holiday periods) £185 per night
(Bank holiday weekend periods for 2023 are: 7–10 April, 28 April–1 May, 26–29 May, 25–28 August)
Where you'll be staying
Wincanton, Somerset
What the guests of Long Hill Carriage say
“Thank you so very much for allowing us to live in your paradise briefly! You’ve worked so hard to create something we will find unforgettable, and to list all the colourful, fragrant and nostalgic delights on every shelf, around each corner inside and outside the carriage, wagon and garden would take many pages. You’re to be hugely congratulated on creating a haven of tranquility in a stunning landscape that must surely refresh everyone who comes here. Thank you for being generous hosts who’ve made us feel very welcome. We’ll be back…”
“Thank you for such a wonderful stay in this beautiful carriage – everything was perfect from start to end. Every detail has been thought of to make it such a relaxing stay and the welcome basket was lovely with the delicious homemade scones! We were so lucky with the weather and made the most of spending every minute we could sitting outside enjoying sheep sounds, sunshine and of course the stunning views!! Wish we didn’t have to leave but thank you again for such an amazing few days. It was just what we needed.”
“Simply stunning! The garden and carriage are beautiful! I felt really at home here, the vintage decor, very much my style! The attention to detail is amazing, a feast for the eyes! It was lovely to read about the history of the carriage and how you have restored it. To top everything, the icing on the cake has to be the beautiful views across the vale! Thank you, we really enjoyed our stay and would love to come back in the summertime.”
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