The centre of Winsford is just a 5 minute stroll away from Ball Cottage. Here you'll find the famous 12th century thatched Royal Oak Inn, which serves great food and is family friendly. The Bridge Cottage Tearoom serves delicious home-made cakes, cream teas, cooked breakfasts and Sunday lunches. A small shop is run from the Royal Oak pub selling milk, bread, newspapers, and some other basic supplies. There is also a village green with swings and a stream.

Wheddon Cross, approximately 4 miles from Winsford, is a small village with a mini-supermarket (open 7 am to 8 pm), post office, ATM and petrol station. Dulverton, around 7 miles away, is a small town known as the southern gateway to Exmoor. Dulverton also has a mini-supermarket plus a butcher, post office, some lovely restaurants and independent shops.

Minehead is the main town in West Somerset, approximately 14 miles from Ball Cottage. Here you will find the larger supermarkets and petrol stations (Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl are all situated on the outskirts of the town), most major high street banks with cash machines, plus a range of other shops, including health food stores.

Local area
Winsford is one of the prettiest villages in the Exmoor National Park. Deer and wild ponies roam the moor above. Many birds live along the River Exe, which winds through the village (a neighbour has counted 41 species). On clear nights you can see a world of stars; Exmoor National Park has been designated England's first Dark-Sky Reserve. Winsford is an ideal centre for exploring Exmoor on foot or in the car, and there are opportunities for horse riding and fishing too.