We took this rental purely and simply to avoid Bonfire week as our dog is terrified of fireworks. Being in such a rural location we figured we wouldnt hear many..which was successful to the max in that we didnt hear a single one! Oh joy!
Roger the owner met us in the drive on arival, and as just one of our several chats I must say what a thoroughly decent and nice man he is! As is Sally,his wife, who joined us during our conversations. Its amazing what he has done with the whole farm never mind just the cottage..such a resourceful person and I so enjoyed our chats....he always has time for you despite being very busy with his 32000 chickens and other livestock. A most personable couple...perfect for the would be cottage renter.
I wondered whether being beside the barn buildings whether any farm noises would intrude?? Nothing like! The windows are of superb glazing and very little noise of the outside is heard.
You know when you very first walk in a place you know whether you will like it?? Exactly. This one we walked in to a lovely clean and fresh odour..everything was bright, fresh and above all immaculately clean throughout. Of course, this is a new property and only been available since July- but I have confidence that the owners will maintain it in this same fashion and standard.
The open kitchen/diner/lounge works beautifully. Comfortable, good tv, immaculate worktops and kitchen units- and it was fitted out extensively with utensils. We cooked all of our own meals-including a Sunday roast- and it fell short on nothing.
Heating is perfectly functional (although Rog gave a few tips about boosting it up if we needed the water really hot...-useful) and we were cosy all the time. Its insulation must be amazing as even though we turned off the heater at night the whole cottage was still warm in the morning despite cold winds and rain.
The shower..wow! HUGE space and torrential shower heads. Again spotlessly clean and new feeling.
Beds were comfortable and the bedroom downstairs in particular is very very spacious indeed. Just a small word of caution..dont carry the suitcases upstairs without turning on the light at twilight as I did- the roof slope at the top is ideal for practising your head butting techniques!
But ohhh the quiet and tranquility! priceless when you come from an urban area.I really did expect there to be much more of farming activity and noise but it was so quiet all the time. As it was at the end of a long privare lane you are so far from the road that you cannot hear any traffic noise at all...how wonderful is that! And the views! Situated at the top of a hill meant that you had expansive views even as far as the Cotswolds
There is nothing really that I would change about this cottage..it really did feel like home from home from minute one...we "settled in" to it immediately.
The only problem I see is that once the word is out, this cottage will become so popular that it will be difficult to book soon! Which I hope isnt the case as for sure, we will want to revisit, if not during the summer then definitely for next years Bonfire week.
Thanks Roger and Sally! You made what we thought was just going to be an "escape event" into a proper holiday and we arrived home feeling so refreshed after such a pleasant week away.