Dog Friendly Cottages in Staffordshire

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Pamela - Verified booking

  Arrangements for our arrival were great.

  And a huge cake and a Christmas tree started the holiday off well. We made a couple of adjustments to our planned sleeping arrangements because the second double room was really not a double as the bed could only be accessed from one side. Fortunately there were only six of us (and a dog). The description of the bathroom and shower room were accurate, as in there was a shower over the bath but there was no shower curtain and only one of us was short enough to be able to duck under the shower to use it - very carefully... So mornings involved a bit of negotiation over who spent how long in the toilet - and there were only 6 of us. The bathrooms, and maybe some other areas, could do with a little cheering up. The owner had provided additional roasting tins but cooking a Christmas meal, or any meal, for six was really quite a challenge with the very few saucepans and utensils e.g. no blender, mixer, scales... so quite a lot of juggling and improvising were involved! The map was very helpful to locate us in the area but we couldn't find any information about local amenities (shops, doctor, church, pub...) nor could we find any information or instructions about using the Aga, how to stop the water when the washing machine flooded the utility room because of blocked drains, how to check the 'fuses' when we had a power cut, how to use the coffee machine for which coffee had kindly been left, along with tea bags and sugar... The hot tub was well maintained but was very hot (a necessity I understand), especially as it was indoors but that didn't stop at least one of us using it each day. The beds were clean and fresh and comfortable and there were plenty of towels and tea towels for the 6 of us. The enormous leather sofas were great to sink into in front of the TVs but some instructions would have been helpful because us oldies had to wait for 'young' people to arrive to work that out. (Both TV's had Amazon fire sticks.) Everywhere was lovely and warm when we arrived but soon became too hot for us and although we quickly received advice when I sent a text it would have been lovely to have had some written instructions so that we could have adjusted it without bothering anybody. I would have done an even better job of cleaning before I left if there had been instructions on how to empty the vacuum cleaner and stop it smelling so awful. The dog enjoyed playing in the large garden but everywhere was too wet to explore much and it wasn't possible to walk along the road because there were no pavements. However the map and a bit of initiative soon found walks in Cannock Chase and other places very nearby. So there was plenty we loved and we rose to the challenges and had a good stay and a happy Christmas, but it could have been a little more relaxing and a bit less challenging...

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• Zoe - Verified booking

  Easy to find on sat nav , we were early so went to the fantastic Canal side, farm shop and café for a cup of tea before heading up to the farmhouse.

  Long sweeping drive with plenty of parking space outside and a huge enclosed garden with bbq & furniture - fantastic space and great for our dogs. Teresa had text us earlier in the day with the code to get in and instructions for the hot tub. We got in fine , had a little explore - the photos are accurate and rooms spacious . We did find a few things that caused frustration though - we arrived at 4 o’clock, and the house was freezing - I text Teresa and she called me back just immediately and talked me through switching the boiler on and the house was toasty on Saturdaymorning ! - it would have been nice to switch the heating on for us , even timed for 2pm so that when we came in , it was warm and cosy . We appreciated the milk , cake and generous fruit bowl ! Sadly , there was no welcome back to help us with things like leaving instructions / used linen and towels? what the Wi-Fi code was, instructions for the rubbish and recycling - the kitchen bin also had cardboard and paper left in it? ,The fact that the towels ( plentiful) were located upstairs in a cupboard. We discovered this when we needed to use the downstairs bathroom and weren’t able to dry our hands as no hand towel had been left in the bathroom. A house that sleeps 9 and has a hot tub surely means fizz will be drunk at some point - we were sad to find there are no fizz glasses? Fizz in a wine glass just doesn’t feel right! The fridge in the kitchen is too small! - in the room next to the kitchen - there is a huge chest freezer - our suggestion is to replace that with a large fridge freezer/ American style fridge . Sitting in the lounge - we found the lighting very stark & bright so we moved one of the table lamps from upstairs so we could create a more subtle mood . There are no egg cups , no plug in the kitchen sink , no washing up bowl . The hot tub was great but very full so the bubbles disappeared and it overflowed a little? Fab & beautiful location & very peaceful . Great house but needs some TLC X Just tips to help ! A nice weekend - beautiful location , peaceful , lovely sunrises over the fields Thank you

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• Sian - Verified booking

  I can't recommend this accommodation highly enough.

  The instructions for entry were provided very clearly and 24 hours before we arrived. On arrival, we were welcomed with a bowl of fruit, a cake and some milk, and everything we needed was on hand. The house is lovely, with a huge lawn where dogs can be allowed to run around without fear of them wandering off (as long as you remember to close the main gate first!). There are cattle in the surrounding fields, along with various wildlife, but there was no problem with them - you leave them alone, they leave you alone. Inside, the house is really clean and neat - there's nothing much in the way of ornamentation except for a couple of plants, so no need to worry about little fingers or waggy tails knocking things down and breaking them! The beds were okay, not all that comfy but not terrible either. The sofas were good, and there are two TVs (with Netflix!), so there should be no what-to-watch arguments. :) The hot tub was fab, inside the conservatory so it was under cover when it rained! It gets a bit warm in the conservatory on hot days, but you can leave the doors and windows open and get a nice breeze through. The kitchen is well-stocked with plenty of plates, glasses and cutlery. You have all mod cons to hand - and an Aga! (We didn't try this out, it was very warm while we were there.) One small issue we encountered was that no instructions were provided with regard to bins, so we didn't know what day to put them out or what we were allowed to put in the green bin. The house is easy to find if you follow the instructions, it's just off a main road but you can't really hear the road from the house. It's a very quiet and relaxing location. Highly recommended!

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• Lisa - Verified booking

  Absolutely faultless.

  This is a very well thought out property. It is well equipped, makes the most of the location and is brilliantly set out. Sunshine on the patio at breakfast and sunset either in the hut, hot tub or lower garden. Bed comfort was divine. We all hit the pillows and slept really well. The open plan layout is great when one is cooking, others playing board games or reading at the same time. Lots of lovely touches like the welcome pack, fresh flowers and toiletries. Fantastic location, easy access to daytime adventures and peaceful at night when you kick back and enjoy the magnificent views. All you hear is birdsong and farm animals, minimal passing traffic. The games barn, hot tub and heated hut take care of what to do when you're not out and about exploring. This property has all eventualities covered. A little constructive feedback: if we'd known that the lower floor was out of bounds for dogs we'd have given this place a miss.......and it would have been our loss! Thankfully we'd taken a vets pheromone spray so having their bed in a strange place away from hoomans wasn't a deal breaker. Also for small breed dogs the garden is not 100% secure. The patio table obscures a visible gap in the chicken wire and our shihtzu's discovered it. Again no great harm done, a little vigilance kept them and the cows apart. There is so much more space for them to play and explore. We thoroughly enjoyed staying here and would strongly recommend it.

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• Lisa - Verified booking

  We had a wonderful week at Pastures Barn.

  The house was clean and well equipped, especially for children and dog owners. Jo and Giles provided dog beds, towels and throws for the furniture and the artificial grass in the gated patio area meant the dogs paws were clean if they nipped out for a wee. Outside the gated patio was a larger section of grass, great for garden games, which were stored in the shed. The games room was a fantastic addition to the accommodation, we spent hours playing pool, darts, fussball, air hockey, table tennis and singing on the karaoke. The hot tub and sauna were lovely for relaxing in. Additional towels were also provided for the hot tub and sauna. The gates at the top and bottom of the stairs gave us reassurance that the dog couldn’t sneak up the stairs and the toddler couldn’t sneak down without our knowledge. This allowed us to sleep well in the comfortable beds. We also took advantage of the dog sitting service so we could have a family day out to Alton Towers. Jo sent me a couple of reassuring messages throughout the day and our 15-year-old Collie was very content in their home. In addition to Alton Towers there are some lovely places to visit. If you like a market day, head to Bakewell on a Monday. Monkey Forest and Trentham Shopping Village are about 40 mins away and worth a visit. Closer to the barn there is a large park, café and beautiful walks at Tittesworth Wate

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