East Harwood Farm Cottage, Timberscombe

There are a number of excellent pubs and restaurants in in the area. A full list is available in the cottage.

Exmoor provides some of the best walking in the South-West. Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on the moors, can be reached directly from the cottage. Otherwise there are many walks in secluded wooded valleys, or along the cliff-tops. Many end up at wonderful tea shops. 

Horner Wood nature reserve is famous for its Pied Flycatchers and range of lichens. The owner can provide local advice on bird-watching.

During the summer children can enjoy a trip on the West Somerset steam railway, crabbing at the harbour in Minehead or Porlock Weir, or maybe even a boat trip to Lundy island in the Bristol channel.

Lynton can be reached via its famous cliff railway.

A visit to Dunster Castle (NT) is a must. Special tours take visitors to inaccessible parts of the Castle. The grounds and the Water Mill are also worth a visit. 

Fishing trips can be arranged from Porlock Weir, and there are several stables for those who enjoy a hack across the moors. Minehead has a golf course.

The walks are too numerous to list individually.

But among our favourites are the walk from the cottage to Webber's Post, along the river at Tarr Steps (begin and end at the tea-shop/pub), down the East Lynn to Water's Meet (another tea shop), and along the cliffs at Countisbury (start at the Blueball Inn).

As for beaches, dogs are allowed at Blue Anchor bay, which has a doggy-friendly cafe called Driftwood. 
Most of Dunster beach is open to dogs the year round. This is a mixture of sand, shingle, and mud at low tide.

Minehead beach - known as the Strand - is partly sandy, but closed to dogs from March until September.

The best beaches for surfing, swimming and sandcastles are further west in North Devon.