About the Location
Lea Hill cottages are remote, hidden away among very narrow lanes, yet within easy reach of the Devon Coastline. (Please follow our directions, not your Sat Nav)We are a short stroll from the friendly, pretty village of Membury (one of a handful of English parishes still celebrating the tradition of Oak Apple Day in May). The village is also home to Membury Castle, one of several impressive iron age hill forts in this historically rich area.
Lea Hill Cottages are set among a network of bridleways and footpaths wandering through some of the most attractive country in the whole of England. A perfect place for off-road walking and riding with livery available locally by arrangement. Perfect for dogs. Easily reached starting points give access to the famous South West Coast Path, walk along the coastline of Dorset and Devon with public transport pick ups to return you to your starting point.
Membury lies within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are about five miles from the East Devon and the Dorset ANOBs. So we are an ideal centre for discovering a delightful, unexplored corner of Devon but also bordering both Somerset and Dorset.
History and nature abound; the Hawkswood and Thurlbear Wood nature reserves are nearby. Borrow our binoculars to view the abundant birdlife or encounter shy deer in our copse. Deep in the countryside as we are, in favourable weather, dark sky enthusiasts can view the milky way with the naked eye.
Surrounding Areas
Just four miles away lies Axminster with its historic carpet making tradition and heritage centre. Enjoy a range of shops and eating places . Visit the historic Minster church with its summertime season of concerts.
Venture further afield and we are an ideal centre for discovering a delightful, unexplored corner of Devon bordering both Somerset and Dorset. To the North the quiet roads and charming villages of the Blackdown Hills, the Somerset levels and Vale of Taunton. Or go South to enjoy local beaches and coastal towns—from Lyme Regis, to Seaton and the Seaton's tramway, along the wildlife-rich Axe estuary to Charmouth's visitor centre and fossil hunting. These offer sand and shingle, rocks or promenades. There is variety enough at our World Heritage Site coastline to interest all ages at the Jurassic Coast. Great to explore by bus—watch this video!
To find out what's on locally, visit the links below.
Out and About
Very Local Places to visit
- Ferne Animal Sanctuary
- Burrow Farm Gardens
- Seaton Jurassic
- Seaton Tramway
- Fishing opportunities / fly fishing
- Golf Club
- Lyme Bay Winery
- Pecorama gardens and model village
Visitor attractions
Many attractions lie within 40 minutes' drive meaning that there is plenty to do whatever the weather. Here are some local suggestions:
- Forde Abbey
- Beer Quarry Caves
- National trust houses in Devon & Somerset—Shute Barton, Loughwood Meeting House
- Bicton Park
- Crealy Adventure Park
- Dinosaurland Fossil Museum Lyme Regis
- Coldharbour Mill
- The Donkey Sanctuary
- East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- Landrover Experience—off road driving.
- Escot
- Fleet Air Arm Museum
- English Heritage—Maiden Castle, Muchelney Abbey, Abbotsbury Abbey, Sherboune Castle
- Haynes International Motor Museum
- The Tank Museum, Bovington
River Cruises
Stuartline cruises Scenic trips - Book for special bird watching trips on Exe estuary, Dawlish air show and more.
Day trips by train
Axminster railway station provides car parking and easy access to the South Western Railway system of routes to places such as Salisbury and Exeter for easy day trips. You'll be surprised at how simple it is to make these journeys through the attractive countryside and historic towns of Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
Annual Events
Other useful links
History and Present Day
There is evidence that people have lived in this beautiful corner of the Blackdown Hills since prehistoric times. The first record of a dwelling here at Lea Hill is in what is called the Lay Subsidy of 1352, when an Edith de Legh was the owner.
The oldest part is the thatched, flagstoned and low-beamed farmhouse, which dates from the 14th Century, when people were a lot shorter than they are today! In those days both the animals and the humans lived under one roof separated by thin walls and screens.
For most of its life Lea Hill has been a working farm with far more than the 8 acres which remain today. John Smith, the leading local Quaker once lived here and was sentenced to death in 1685 for supporting the Duke of Monmouth's attempts to seize the English Crown, when he landed at The Cobb Harbour in nearby Lyme Regis, Dorset.
Ties with the Quakers continued for many years and today there is still a converted meeting House down the hill below the house and a Quaker burial ground on the hill above us. An annual pilgrimage is made to this site.
Today Lea Hill is a characterful country house with its historic barns converted into pretty cottages. It is owned and personally run by the Avis family. Lea Hill offers not only a respite from stressful times; it's a gateway to the beautiful and stunning South West of England.
How to find us
We provide well equipped self catering accommodation in Devon.
Stunning setting. Dogs welcome. Four Star holiday cottages. Green Tourism Silver Award.