Dowlish Wake is just 2 miles from the luxury large group holiday houses at Malherbie Group Stays, so it’s very much our local village. Drive or walk there when you’re staying here on your group holidays in Somerset and you’ll like what you see. Centuries old thatched cottages where roses scramble up to the eaves and flowers ramble over the garden walls, a17th century packhorse bridge by the ford, a welcoming pub, and a cider mill with a farm shop, cafe and museum.
The History of Dowlish Wake
Go to Dowlish Wake and we’d bet our last tuppence your first thought would be “Oh, how lovely!” And so it is. The way of life in this quiet corner of Somerset is peaceful and unhurried; a brook flows through the centre of the village beneath the packhorse bridge, the cottages and some rather grand houses stand as they have stood for time immemorial. But a little delve back into the past reveals some fascinating history.
Way back in the 12th century the manor of Dowlish Wake was held by the Wake family, later passing to the Speke family who retained it for several generations until the early 20th century. Their most famous son was the explorer John Hanning Speke (1827-1864), who in 1858 identified Lake Victoria as the source of the River Nile. Tragically, he accidentally shot himself when partridge shooting with his cousin in Wiltshire; over 2000 people, among them Dr Livingstone, attended his funeral in Dowlish Wake where he was buried in the family vault. His tomb and a wall monument can be seen in the Speke Chapel in the church of St Andrew’s at the top of the village.
Less than a mile from the village at a crossroads, as shown on OS maps, is Mary Hunt’s Grave. Rumour has it she was a witch and so couldn’t be buried in consecrated ground, but another, more plausible legend has it that she was laid to rest there in 1649 because she committed the heinous crime of infanticide. Apparently, she was an unmarried servant who found herself in the family way after her master, Thomas Plympton, a Yeoman of Cricket Malherbie “had the carnal knowledge of her body” “in his house at Cricket Malherbie”. Oh yikes – we hope that wasn’t our house!
Witches and infanticide apart, life in Dowlish Wake seemed to be free of scandal. In the 17th century it was a centre for silk manufacturing and a flour mill stood on the brook. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the main way of life here was farming, with most of the inhabitants employed as agricultural labourers or field workers. A long-standing tradition was cider making, which continues to this day – a 500 year old barn at the heart of the village is home to the award-winning Perry’s Cider, founded in 1920 and now in its third generation.
In 2004 there was a remarkable find in the village. Tucked away in one of the cottage gardens was the grave of a much loved pet cat, Winkle. Marking his resting place was an old stone found in a local quarry. Nothing unusual about that, you might think. Ah, but this particular stone only turned out to be a very rare 9th century Anglo-Saxon carving of St Peter! If you want to see it, you’ll have to go to the Museum of Somerset in Taunton where it’s on display.
Walk From Malherbie Group Stays to Dowlish Wake
If the weather’s good, pop on some stout shoes and walk to Dowlish Wake from Beaverbrook 20 or Churchill 20. It’s only a couple of miles so won’t take much more than half an hour and it’s a lovely stroll through the countryside. Climb over the stile just across the road and amble across the field, into the woods and over the stream. Carry on across 3 more fields, skirting the edge of another wood, and you’ll come out on a lane; from there it’s just a short dawdle into the village. Meeting anyone else along the route is unlikely; you’ll be in the company of good friends or family, strolling carefree in the beautiful Somerset countryside. Take the time to stop and stare, have an App at the ready to identify the birdsong and wildflowers, and your camera primed to take pics. In April/May the woods are carpeted with bluebells, the hedgerows are brimming with vibrant red campions, starry white stitchwort and clouds of cow parsley.
Things to Do in Dowlish Wake
If you’ve walked to Dowlish Wake, good for you. If you went by car (about a 5 minute drive) park at the Village Hall. Then go and explore. How pretty it all is, how very charming! Allow yourselves to daydream a little, of what it would be like to live here, so far removed from the noise and chaos of the city. No traffic, no fumes, no sirens or alarms blaring. Just peace, and harmony with the surrounding fields and hills.
So, what to do in Dowlish Wake, apart from strolling and admiring? Well, there’s the village pub, the New Inn, where you could swing by for lunch and a drink in the garden. And there’s Perry’s Cider, where you can browse the local goodies in the Farm Shop, stop for a bite in the Café, sample the cider in the Tap Room, and see a collection of farming and cider making bygones. On a sunny day there can’t be anything better than to sit beneath the apple trees in the orchard with a nice cold pint of cider, crafted onsite.
If you’re into church bothering, go and poke about in St Andrew’s at the top of the village. Parts of it date back to the 13th century and the tower is 14th century, but most of it is Victorian. In the Speke Chapel you can read all about John Hanning Speke and his explorations in Africa.
If you’ve got kids on board, take them to the playing fields at the Village Hall and let them loose in the adventure playground. Fly a kite, play Frisbee, sit on the grass and just love being there, or follow the footpath across the field and see where it takes you.
Perry’s Cider
Perry’s Cider produce award-winning ciders and apple juice, made only with apples that are grown in Somerset, with most coming from their own orchards. Ciders are naturally fermented and made to small batch techniques without concentrated juices, flavours and colourings. It’s as nature intended and it’s good stuff.
As you’re in Somerset on your large group holiday it would only be right to try some of the delights that are made, grown and raised in the county. The Farm Shop at Perry’s Cider is full of such goodies, from jams, chutneys and cheeses to meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, and craft beers. If you’re looking for a little something to take home and remind you of your holiday, there will be plenty to tempt you by way of gifts.
There’s also a Cider Bar where they offer tastings; sip and savour at the bar, or take a Tasting Paddle outside and enjoy in the sunshine.
The café is open from 10-3 Monday to Saturday and serves homemade food to eat in or takeaway. Stop for a barista coffee and cake, or tuck into brunch or lunch, all made using local ingredients and cooked fresh to order. Take a look at the menu and if you’re tempted remember that larger groups of 8+ should email or call to book in advance.
The 16th century thatched barn is also home to a small museum showcasing historic cider presses, agricultural tools, and wagons. Here’s where you find out how things were done in the old days - a fascinating glimpse into the rural history of these parts.
The New Inn
The New Inn is very much a village hub, welcoming locals and visitors Tuesday to Sunday, serving good homemade pub food, and of course, local ales and ciders. So if you fancy going out for lunch or dinner, book a table and tuck into delights like Beef, ale & mushroom pie, Pork loin steak stack, Chicken Italiano, and Stilton & broccoli bake. On Sundays they do a hearty roast, Tuesday is Steak Night, Wednesday is Curry Night, and they run regular Pie & Pint Nights and Quiz Nights.
Inside is very much traditional country pub with lots of original character in the thick stone walls, the hefty beams, and on colder days, a log fire to keep things toasty. For the warmer days there’s a large beer garden at the back of the pub.
More Walks Around Dowlish Wake
Dowlish Wake is a good starting point for a walk, with footpaths and lanes leading to neighbouring villages, and the little town of Ilminster. Some designated trails actually start in Ilminster, but that’s fine, it’s not far, and you can use Dowlish Wake as your stopping point for sustenance. If you prefer to forge your own route, there are paths that follow the Dowlish Brook and take you through woodlands, and a network of lanes where you can walk as little or as far as you like.
The 4.5 mile Dowlish Wake & Kingstone Walk takes you through the heart of the village and onto the hamlet of Kingstone, mostly on field footpaths, with some short sections along roads:
If you really want to stretch your legs do the 8 mile route from Dowlish Wake that takes in Higher Chillington, a sleepy little hamlet tucked away beneath the A30 ridge at Windwhistle.
We love our local village so it’s only natural that we want to share it with people who come to stay at our big and beautiful holiday houses. Dowlish Wake is lovely all through the year, but honestly, sometimes, on a warm day when the birds are singing and the sky is blue, there isn’t a better place to be.
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