4+2
2 Rooms
2 (all year)
Yes
Yes
1
Stairs
700 Westport has a proper musical heritage. This Grade II listed cottage was home to Louie Hooper, a folk singer whose traditional songs caught the attention of collector Cecil Sharp when he visited in 1903. Sharp was travelling rural England documenting folk music before it disappeared, and Hooper's repertoire became an essential part of his archive. The cottage has been completely renovated while keeping all its listed character intact. Now it's a comfortable base for exploring the Somerset Levels with those sweeping views across flat wetland stretching to distant horizons. The landscape here is like nowhere else with its network of rhynes (the local name for drainage ditches), pollarded willows and abundant wildlife. The Lamb and Lion in Hambridge does excellent pub food and sits just two miles away for evenings when cooking feels like too much bother.
Westport puts you properly out in the countryside. You're deep in the Somerset Levels here, where the landscape is all about big skies and long views across working wetland. Hambridge is two miles away with that fantastic Lamb and Lion pub, while Langport and the market town of Ilminster sit five miles away when you need supermarkets or more substantial shopping. This isn't picture-postcard Cotswolds territory. The beauty here is rawer and more soulful, and it grows on you the longer you stay. The canal running through the garden adds real character, though you'll need to keep an eye on children around the water. The birdwatching is exceptional, whatever the season. Spring brings wading birds probing the wet meadows, summer fills the air with dragonflies and damselflies, autumn sees huge flocks of migrating birds passing through, and winter floods transform the landscape into temporary lakes that attract thousands of wildfowl.
Somerset opens up in all directions from here. Taunton lies 14 miles away with all the facilities of a county town, including the castle museum and decent shopping. Yeovil sits 15 miles in the opposite direction with its strong aviation heritage. The Levels themselves deserve serious exploration. Those dead-straight rhynes and willow-lined waterways create a landscape utterly unlike anywhere else in Britain. Glastonbury makes an easy day trip with its famous Tor, ruined abbey and decidedly alternative atmosphere. Wells Cathedral is medieval architecture at its absolute finest. When you've had enough flatness, the Quantock Hills rise to the west, offering proper hill walking. Montacute House showcases Elizabethan grandeur set in beautiful landscaped gardens, while Muchelney Abbey sits in another quiet Levels village. The Somerset Cider Route winds through orchards and traditional cider makers, where you can taste local specialities. The RSPB reserve at Ham Wall draws dedicated birdwatchers throughout the year.
Owner details:
Sandra Blackford joined Independent Cottages in October 2025
Accommodation Comprises:
Recently renovated Grade II listed cottage for 4-6 with folk music heritage and the Westport Canal running through the garden.
Ground Floor
First Floor
Outside
The garden includes canal frontage, which makes it quite special for sitting out and watching the water go by. However, children must be supervised at all times because of the water. There's an outside barbecue for cooking alfresco on warm Somerset evenings, and parking for two cars.
Additional Information
Gas central heating, bed linen, bath towels, and WiFi are included. The owner regrets that they cannot accommodate pets.
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