Dog Friendly Cottages in West Midlands

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Gaynor - Verified booking

  We really enjoyed our stay at the Island Yurt.

  I had read through a lot of the previous feedback over the past couple of years and it came in handy, we prepared a few things which made our stay better. For people wondering whether this stay is for them: We found that the owners were very generous with facilities like the sauna, the hot tub, the row boat, the gas bbq, the firewood and brazier. No extra charges for these. Also immediate hot water, dishwasher and a powerful shower. Bed was comfy, with nice cotton sheets and feather duvet. It was super private, hidden away amongst the trees on the lake (2 other yurts on the lake but both hidden away only found when on the row boat!). The projector, dvd player set up was handy, it made us laugh that to keep the projector screen from flying up it needed to have the hot water bottle hung from it as a counter weight :) There was a nice shaded deck area to sit and also a covered porch and watch the ducks, geese, moorhens and swans float about the lake. If you can't bear spiders or bugs you would struggle here. You are in the trees and over the lake. Spiders in the yurt help keep the other bugs at bay so you just have to see them as part of your cleaning crew. This holiday was dog friendly, the yurt grounds had a gate which meant he was off the lead and able to mooch about as he liked. Also he really enjoyed his walks (mainly off the lead unless the geese were on the paths) around the lakes and through the grounds. Parking beside the yurt was very helpful. Also it is very close to the M5 (not so close to hear it, but perfect for getting around). We enjoyed visiting Stratford upon Avon, Evesham, Worcester and Gloucester cathedrals are dog friendly so when it got to 30 degrees we took our hairy black dog there to cool off. Cheltenham is also nearby. The upkeep of the outside of the yurt/porch looks like it has been challenging and it probably needs a bit more attention than a once over. Some feedback for the owners: 1. A window which can be opened in the bathroom would help massively with the damp and steam in there. 2. Consider at least obscuring the bathroom window, I have seen a lot of feedback about there not being a blind, opaque sticker would help (we took some paper and blutacked it over the window for privacy) 3. An insect screen on the kitchen window and an insect screen door into the yurt would have been very useful to help get air into the yurt without increasing the bugs and midges. We fashioned a midge net above the door ourselves otherwise we would have been roasted with the door shut or infested with bugs with the door open. 4. I have very bad reactions to insect bites so I always prep well and carry a large mosquito net (and this time a cheap metal pole gazebo) which we erected above the bed. This meant we didn't have to worry about midges through the night. It was nice to have what felt like a 4 poster bed. 5. We took our own telescopic duster to help clear some of the cobwebs from inside the yurt. 6. A hand towel and teatowel for the kitchen area would be useful (we should have asked you if you had some but we never got round to it) 7. We brought our own foldout chairs to use, but we loved the metal table and chair set outside, just consider providing thin cushions for those seats and they would be perfect. Overall we thought it was a quirky, relaxing holiday in an area we haven't been to before, which was good value and our dog had the best time. If we lived closer we would probably like to go back. Many thanks, Gaynor, Ian and Alfie x

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• Dawn - Verified booking

  We very, very rarely leave a negative review, however, we wish we had read between the lines of other reviews and noted the dates (often 8-10 years ago with few recent reviews), before booking the Island Yurt in Beckford.

  We have stayed in yurts before and each time experienced a wonderfully relaxing break in a beautifully furnished yurt, clean, cosy and welcoming, set in idyllic countryside. There are four yurts in Beckford, erected over 10 years ago in 2014 and they have evidently never been dismantled or refreshed. The photos online appear idyllic, however, sadly do not reflect our experience. Fishing from the tired decking and landing a larger fish would have been extremely difficult given the old BBQ, overhead construction and hot tub in the way. The surrounding water was inaccessible, very overgrown and smelt stagnant. Several reviews reflect the reality as politely as possible and mirror the need for a deep clean and refurbishment, items that require attention or replacement, ageing decking and old fake grass matting, fly and grime-covered light bulb, rusty BBQ, ancient spider webs, vegetation overgrowth and the acrid stagnant smell that permeates the yurt and surrounding area. The owners appear friendly and offered to call someone out to fix the hob that wasn't working. The yurt had been cleaned inside and clean bedding, towels and robes are provided by a professional company. However, for a neutropenic cancer patient approaching more surgery the risk of infection was too great for my husband, so we didn't even unpack the car and sadly returned home. Extremely disappointing and no refund forthcoming on the basis that 'the owners couldn't smell anything'. This place could be so much better with some dedicated TLC and investment in the guests' holiday surroundings and experience.

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• Kimberley - Verified booking

  What a lovely little holiday this was.

  So relaxing and away from the world. Lovely local pubs and a nice fish and chips shop what we found 8mins up the road. Which was also nice. Inside the yurt wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. But for us it was everything what we needed. My honest opinion tho, it could do with a good deep clean and abit of tlc in places but overall this didn't bother us. This is just feed back for the owner to take on board. We would still come back . Owner was very friendly and left us to put own accord. Top bloke. We did some fishing, the hub tub was lovely and sauna. We used the BBQ one night and the film projector kept us entertained on the rainy nights. The ducks are hungry little monkey and they would be waiting at the back door every morning waiting for some food. I love the wildlife so this was right up my street. I named a few of the ducks as they was pretty funny to watch. They obviously was very used to humans and they sat inches away from us. The family of goose and black swans came and visited us every day too. And the 2 herons sat close to there willow trees. So loads of wildlife to explore. We also had another yurt which my mum and dad stayed at. My dad's a big fishing guy and he caught some good sized fish. So there are some nice carp in there. Overall the surrounding kind of out lay the little points I said what need improving. But till would make a better experience next time. Thanks again and hopefully see you again in the future The mckeons And the head family's

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• Jonathan - Verified booking

  An amazing getaway hideout for our honeymoon.

  We stayed on island Yurt for a week the setting is perfect and so peaceful. Our Yurt was clean and ready on arrival the owner met us and showed us around. Kitchen contains all pots, pans and cutlery with kettle, toaster and microwave with grill, fridge with small top freezer box and a dishwasher. Bathroom with good size shower and instant hot water, large comfy bed, sauna, hot tub, firepit, BBQ and reclining chairs all in a good outside space set on the scenic lake. A small area exists at the back of the Yurt for parking which is handy for unpacking and packing, there is also a small rowing boat with is fun to cruise around the lake. The wildlife around the lake is amazing with Australian Black swans, Canadian Geese, Heron, Squirrel and some of the most beautiful dragonfly you'll see. With permission the owners are happy for you to fish, caught lots of Roach and Rudd but not carp as conditions were extremely hot for the week. Location is ideal for exploring the cotswolds sited 10 miles north of Cheltenham with easy access to the A46 with Evesham and Tewkesbury Close by for shops. Had we not gone out exploring we wouldn't have seen a soul so peaceful is the location but owners on hand via a quick call if any queries. Wouldn't hesitate to rebook fantastic place.

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• John - Verified booking

  Lovely, warm, clean, quiet and well-kept accommodation.

  Great to have 2 TVs, comfortable seating in the lounge and an office with a large desk, especially as I had some work to do on my laptop. The bed was very comfortable, the overhead lighting excellent for reading and the amount of cupboard and wardrobe space was astounding; also plenty of storage space in the well-equipped kitchen. Just one niggle: we found that the very small fridge/freezer wouldn't initially accommodate all we had brought and, as it's free-standing on the floor, we had to keep kneeling down to see inside and optimize its space. The pleasant and helpful owners gave us useful information and very kindly provided a bottle of wine. The village is very nice and walks on quiet lanes are possible in various directions. A pleasant walk can be had at Downs Banks (National Trust) and from there along the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Stone centre. We had excellent lunches at the Shoulder of Mutton in the village and at the Black Lake Inn and the Spotgate Inn, both of which are within easy walking distance. Despite some poor weather we had a very enjoyable week and have no hesitation in recommending this charming and good value accommodation.

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