Dog Friendly Villas In South East

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• David - Verified booking

  The owner Mandy welcomed us on arrival and was always on hand if needed.

  A few suggestions were offered of places to visit and we also used the information provided in the welcome folder. We were able to book tickets for a steam day on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway and everyone was delighted that Mandy was in the garden waving when we steamed past. The property was spotlessly clean and plenty large enough for 6 guests. We did struggle for fridge space on occasion, however put some of the items in the freezer and just cooked from frozen or remembered to defrost. The doors and some of the beams are low, but for a property originally built around 1600 it’s to be expected, you don’t tend to bump your head twice. The kitchen was clean and we didn’t generally want for anything that wasn’t there apart from some scales, the cast iron ones sufficed but we’re very heavy to move. We used the wood burning stove on the first evening. Our elderly parents were in the ground floor bedroom with ensuite but found that once the living room and dining room were up to temperature the heating went off and this bedroom was cooler than the rest of the house. It needed a bit of balancing act with the heating to ensure the radiator was on just before they went to bed and got up in the morning. There was no welcome pack on arrival so ensure you take essentials. Princes Risborough is only just up the road by car and has a large M&S Simply Food, Tesco Superstore etc. Our two dogs enjoyed the large enclosed rear garden, unfortunately however whilst the weather was kind it was not warm enough to spend a great deal of time outside. There is a vacuum cleaner in the cupboard which was handy with a border collie, and so many properties don’t provide one. We had a great week, found plenty to do, however book restaurants early. We found the Black Goo Cafe and Tap Room in Thame, the cakes are amazing and the portions enormous. We had takeaway and we’re still eating the slices 3 days later. My only comment is that we had two cars and it’s unlikely that you’d be able to park a 3rd on the driveway without blocking in the owners vehicle. We had a great week, and even visited Bicester Shopping Village where we haven’t been for nearly 25 years and would suggest getting there early.

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• Stephanie - Verified booking

  We arrived for the 1500hr check-in to find the patio doors open and the owner still busy inside.

  The dishwasher and washing machine were partway through their cycle and the owner departed to purchase mould remover for the bathroom. He returned with wine, chocs and strawberries which was very kind of him. However, he left with the washing machine and dishwasher still going. We then noticed that the lounge and both bedroom doors had been damaged in what appeared to be a fight, with one bedroom door sealed shut. The lounge carpets were dirty with crumbs and hairs and all surfaces were very dusty. The kitchen floor and table were also dirty with dust, hairs and crumbs with greasy surfaces. There was a lack of cutlery, crockery and drinking vessels and the sink and taps were loose and unclean, with plates etc still on the drainage tray. It was so awful that I vacuumed the entire place myself and attempted to remove the grime from bedside tables and worktops. Despite this, our friends who arrived later noticed immediately how grubby the whole place was - very embarrassing for myself as I organised this break for everyone. The bedrooms and bathrooms were also filthy and strongly reeked of cigarette smoke, with aged pillows and mismatched bed linen in one of the rooms and a blocked toilet in the other. The smell when in bed was so bad that we left the next day. The 'double' beds were also 2 single mattresses held together by a double fitted sheet which came partially off in the night and the mattresses separated to leave an annoying gap. One of the beds had spiders in it which appeared when the duvet was turned back. I spent most of the night on the settee in the lounge. This 3 day stay cost us £939 and it was terrible - I don't know how it has a 3 star rating. The owner needs to get the entire place professionally deep-cleaned and dispose of all the pillows and probably mattresses, which we didn't dare look at. And properly stock the kitchen and clean and tidy all the drawers and cupboards. And sort the doors and fix the toilet. There was also a lack of smoke alarms.

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• Juliet - Verified booking

  Bakehouse Farm is a real gem.

  We came for a family wedding and had been told by my sister who lives nearby, to book it as it looked lovely and has great walks from the doorstep. After driving our hire car from Luton airport with my partner and 2 elderly relatives all thinking they knew better than google maps, it was a great relief to leave the car and relax into such a beautiful old house in a village, all of which seems to have been untouched by time. This house is full of lovely, ancient and unspoilt features and has a very special welcoming atmosphere. It's also amazingly clean, especially given all its little nooks and shelves. Mandy had kindly called me a day or two beforehand to explain the things we needed to know. When we arrived (an hour later than I'd advised her) she gave us a warm welcome, showed us into the house and then left us to recover from the journey. She had provided good written information about the house and recommended the village pub just a short stroll away. As we walked there in the evening sunshine, we passed under a railway bridge just as there was a hoot from the steam engine above. The barman gave us another warm welcome. The pub is just as beautiful and full of character as the house, with tables on the green, and cosy inglenooky tables inside. The food was delicious. The surrounding countryside is very green with lots of hedges full of birds singing and other wildlife, pretty fields, woodland and some hills - well worth staying here for a proper length of holiday. Mandy left us in peace but was on-hand next-door to help us with any questions and came over very quickly to help us when we were too dopey to turn on the hob. We spent a lot of time drinking coffee and laughing in the sunshine at the garden table and we may have pinched some maple leaves and forget-me-nots to adorn our wedding hats - sorry Mandy - and thank you for a perfect stay at Bakehouse Farm - we just wished it had been for longer!

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• Helen - Verified booking

  We had a lovely stay at Bakehouse Farm, we were very lucky with the weather so could make the most of the beautiful and fully enclosed garden.

  Mandy the owner lives next door and was very friendly and helpful, we had an electric issue on arrival which she was keen to get resolved but was respectful of us being in the cottage at all times - this didn’t impact our stay. The blinds to the owner’s accommodation were closed as soon as we arrived so the garden was completely private, there were plenty of chairs and cushions available for us to use so we were able to make the most of the weather and enjoy the peaceful garden. The cottage has lots of character, dating back to the 16th Century and there was plenty of space for us to spread out. The beds were comfortable and the wifi coped well - we had two young adults with us so this is essential! The kitchen was well equipped, as previously mentioned there are two corner carousels that you need to push the door to access (I wouldn’t have realised!). The dog loved his stay, was made to feel welcome and enjoyed chasing the local rabbits out of the garden each morning (he is 9 and has no chance of catching them). There are some nice walks from the village and nearby, we visited Whiteleaf cross, Wendover Woods and Dunstable Downs and had a delicious lunch at The Crown in nearby Radnage. Things to note: The building is very old so some ceilings and doorways are very low, my husband and son are not particularly tall but bashed their heads several times. Also whilst there is a lovely downstairs bedroom with en-suite there are lots of odd steps internally downstairs due to the age and nature of building being extended over the centuries. If you have poor mobility where one or two steps would be an issue then this may not be suitable.

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• Jan - Verified booking

  A spacious property, perfect for our group of 8.

  Mandy happily chatted on the phone to resolve some queries before we travelled, greeted us when we arrived and was very friendly and helpful. She lives adjacent to the cottage and was on hand in case of any issues but left us to just enjoy the property. The garden was fabulous and although it is overlooked by the owners property, their blinds remained closed the whole time we were there so our privacy was respected. It is in a lovely location with a good pub at the top of the lane, serving excellent food. Locals were extremely friendly and we were invited to and welcomed with open arms at the local cricket club....Good beer and a pub quiz. Plenty of trails to follow for good walks. Previous comments stated the kitchen was ill equipped. We found this not to be the case....but check out the concealed carousel corner cupboards and the drawer beneath the cooker. More equipment than Gordon Ramsay would need !! There was an issue with the oven which Mandy was getting rectified, but it was explained when we arrived and we did manage to cook meals for us all. This was an excellent weekend and we would most definitely return.

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