Guests generally find the Darwen cottage in the Peak District & Derbyshire Dales to be a cosy and comfortable retreat with a pretty garden. The property is praised for its well-equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, and welcoming atmosphere. The village of Rugeley offers good amenities, including pubs and an Indian restaurant. Some guests mentioned minor issues but overall enjoyed their stay and recommended the cottage to others.
Most guests found the cottage to be clean and well-kept, with immaculate bedding and linen. However, a few mentioned areas that could benefit from a deeper clean, such as the oven, hob, and shower tray.
The location is highly regarded for its proximity to local amenities and attractions, with easy access to pubs and restaurants. The village setting is appreciated, though some guests noted traffic noise due to the cottage's position on a main road.
Guests frequently complimented the comfort of the cottage, mentioning the cosy atmosphere, snug beds, and the warmth of the property. The garden was also a highlight for relaxation and for guests with pets.
The cottage is generally well-equipped, especially the kitchen for cooking and baking. Some guests suggested improvements in the second bedroom and mentioned occasional maintenance issues like power outages and non-working lights.
While guests appreciated the welcome pack and the host's communication, there are insufficient references to specific thoughtful gestures or gifts to accurately score this category. It should be noted that while some guests received a welcome pack, such amenities are not guaranteed for all stays.
Darwen is a pretty three-bedroom cottage which boasts charming character features. Recently redecorated for Spring 2024, it is a cosy and comfortable bolthole located in Abbots Bromley, a historic, quintessentially English village in the heart of rural Staffordshire and at the gateway to the Peak District..
Abbots Bromley has many local amenities all within walking distance of the cottage. There are four traditional local pubs which serve excellent ale and food, a local shop, an award winning Indian restaurant and two coffee shops locally renowned for their delicious homemade cakes!
Darwen House is the perfect place to come if you're looking to spend some quality, peaceful time with the ones you love. Step into the beamed dining room with a traditional quarry tiled floor, inglenook fireplace and gas fired stove. A large farmhouse style table can comfortably accommodate six dinners. The well-equipped galley kitchen has views onto the beautifully mature and secluded south facing garden. A serene setting in which to create homemade culinary delights and experiment with the Good Housekeeping’s product of the year: the Thermomix – “a revolutionary multi- cooker, the ultimate do-it all kitchen gadget.” Newly acquired for the 2024 season; short of pouring your dinner party drinks or doing the dishes afterwards, there isn’t a whole lot the Thermomix can’t do. It can chop, blend, peel, steam, cook, stir, whisk, mill, weigh, ferment, mince, sauté and more. You can create cocktails, canapes, soups, delicious main courses, sorbets and sumptuous sweets. A must have for all serious chefs, or indeed interested amateurs -the options are quite literally endless! You will be supplied with the Cookidoo recipe app login details prior to your visit with which you can plan your culinary delights.
Rest assured any four legged friends will also enjoy discovering the large lawned gardens which extend a significant way back and are fully enclosed. In the summer months, the large patio area is the perfect place to dine al-fresco or simply enjoy a glass or something cold and refreshing! The secure shed can also house up to six bikes should you wish to explore the many cycle routes in this area.
After a day sightseeing or walking, relax and unwind in the comfortable sitting room. On a sunny day, open the French windows onto the patio or on more Autumnal days, curl up in front of the cosy log burning stove.
Retire upstairs to discover three well-appointed bedrooms each with ample clothes storage facilities, A cot bed is available on request. A large, family bathroom with separate shower, large corner bath and double sinks overlooks the garden to the rear of the property.
Abbots Bromley is famous for hosting the annual ‘Horn Dance’. A quirky pagan festival, reportedly dating back over 800 years – a sublime mixture of Morris dancing, antlers and a pub crawl around the many traditional eateries in the area. Being located on the Staffordshire Way and the Heart of England Way, there are many scenic walking routes to take advantage of around the village. Also nearby is Blithfield reservoir and nature reserve where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll, fishing or sailing.
Explore the Cannock Chase AONB, rich in wildlife and enjoying remarkable scenery for avid walkers and dogs! Also located here are purpose built mountain bike trails for all abilities.
Also within easy reach are the friendly market towns of Stafford, Ashbourne Uttoxeter and Rugeley home to a flurry of independent shops. A short drive away is the historic city of Lichfield, Darwen’s birthplace. For an action packed day filled with fun, use Darwen House as a base and head over to Alton Towers, Drayton Manor Park, Twycross zoo, St George’s Park, National Forest Adventure Farm or Go Ape. For those seeking a more peaceful way to spend a day, head to the National Arboretum or the National Trust site of Shugborough Estate to wander around the Georgian mansion. A short journey away you'll also arrive at Uttoxeter Racecourse, hosting race days and hospitality packages, or perhaps unwind on your getaway, by visiting Hoar Cross Hall for a spa day or full use of leisure facilities.
For a character cottage located in a beautiful setting with much to see and do for everyone, visit Darwen House.
The Cannock Chase aonb and the city of Stafford are easily accessible from this lovely village and civil parish, which is situated in Staffordshire not far from Rugeley. There are plenty of stores, bars, and eateries in Abbots Bromley, along with a village hall, a cricket field, and a playground for kids. You may take beautiful walks around the Blithfield Reservoir, at the nearby natural reserve of Brankley Pastures, at Fradley Pool, and in the nearby historic forest of Needwood Forest. Explore the National Trust's Shugborough Estate, the treetop experiences at Go Ape Channock, and an abundance of beautiful walking and cycling routes through forest parkland and high heaths by entering the market town of Rugeley, your entryway to the Channock Chase aonb.
Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x double, 1 x twin.
Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, double basin and WC.
Kitchen.
Dining room with gas stove.
Sitting room with woodburning stove
Gas central heating with gas fire and wood-burning stove.
Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, undercounter fridge, freezer, washing machine and dishwasher.
Travel cot, highchair and stair-gate available upon request.
Smart TV, WiFi.
Fuel, power and starter pack for wood-burning stove included in rent.
Bed linen & towels inc in rent.
On-street parking outside property.
Rear enclosed garden with lawn, patio, furniture & secure shed for storage of up to 6 bikes.
Well behaved dog’s welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 0.4 miles, pub 0.1 miles.
Alexandra
Very well equipped and clean. Our dog loved the garden and we found parking very easy.
Bev
We booked as the garden was advertised as "fully enclosed" but the fencing is only 3ft, shorter in placed and at the very end of the garden is a piece of trellis with big holes which opens to a drop to a brook that runs at the bottom. Our little dog could of easily fitted so they couldn't be left to roam without supervision. Also it wasn't stated it had a shared access, so to our surprise 2 nights on the trot a man was walking past the patio doors with bins. One evening he was moving bins his at 10.15pm which actually scared me. (I'd already sorted ours) He also put our garden light on and to do this the light switch was at our back door. Again very off putting! So every time we went to let the dogs out we had to check gates. If we'd known this activity would be happening we'd of been less scared.
Pamela
The garden is bright and peaceful. The village is nice and quiet but with several great pubs selling food. One word of warning, itâs a period house so all the door frames are very low. My 6â2â son kept cracking his head. If it werenât for that, we would definitely be rebooking.
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