We spent a weekend at "The Stang Hideaway" in August, for a relaxing 3-night stay with my partner and our little dog. The views were gorgeous, and the location was as peaceful as a library on a snowy day. But there were a few surprises that gave us a good laugh!
First off, the promised celebratory bottle of fizz must have been on vacation too because it was nowhere to be found. On the plus side, the wine cooler was ice-cold—unlike the fridge, which was warm enough to double as a sauna . If you’re planning to brew some coffee, don't forget to bring your own coffee pods; the same goes for dishwasher tablets as there was non available and the free washing up liquid was limited to a very small bottle (use sparingly). The "fully equipped" kitchen was a bit like a game of culinary hide-and-seek, with basic items playing hard to get. And if you’re using the breakfast bar or that “sumptuous” sofa, be prepared to get very close to your partner—like, "hope-you-really-love-each-other" close, perfect if your on a romantic break!
Now, let’s talk Wi-Fi. Remember the days of dial-up internet? If you’re feeling nostalgic, you’re in luck—this Wi-Fi will take you right back to the 90s with its charmingly slow speeds which can cause the TV to frequently show the circle of death when it tries to catch up, perhaps it was intentional to create a romantic atmosphere.
The outside decking is lovely, but it could use a gate to be truly dog-friendly. And don't be surprised if you step outside to find a crowd in the treehouse—it’s open to everyone on the park, so you might end up with an audience for your morning coffee or romantic sunset.
All in all, it was clean and the tranquility was delightful, the stay didn’t quite match up to the price given there’s a lot of competition in the area. Here’s hoping for some improvements in the future, but hey, we still enjoyed the peace and quiet and lovely views!