A SMALL West Somerset boutique holiday cottages business has won a coveted tourism award for the warm welcome it gives to visitors.

Exmoor Character Cottages was awarded a VisitEngland Rose Award, which celebrates establishments irrespective of their star rating, style or type of accommodation, where outstanding experiences are provided for customers.

The 100 Rose award winners are nominated by VisitEngland’s quality scheme assessors and selected from assessor comments and online feedback from overseas and domestic visitors.

The awards were presented this week at a lunchtime ceremony held in Egham, Surrey.

The Oval, in Dunster, one of the Exmoor Character Cottages holiday lets.
The Oval, in Dunster, one of the Exmoor Character Cottages holiday lets. (Exmoor Character Cottages)

Exmoor Character Cottages has four gold-rated luxury self-catering holiday cottages in Minehead and Dunster which welcome up to 1,000 guests a year from the UK and abroad.

Business owner Lucy Green said: “From the housekeeping to maintenance, gardening and hot tubs, everybody in this small Exmoor business works hard to ensure all guests have what we call a ‘Happy Holiday’.

“To have our standard of service recognised with this prestigious award from VisitEngland is a very proud moment for all of us.

“We know how important people’s holidays are, especially at the moment, and we strive tirelessly to help make them special.

“Guests reward us in return by leaving excellent feedback in our visitor books and online, and by booking further stays.”

Since welcoming her first guests in 2009, Lucy has introduced thousands of visitors to Exmoor, many of whom return to stay in her cottages again and again.

In 2018, to help guests plan their stay, Lucy authored ‘The Little Book of Walks’, which features 12 local walks together with tea rooms, restaurants, pubs, shops, and attractions for guests to visit.

The book is left for all visitors so they can plan their days out.