Guests say
The Bull Pen is a beautifully maintained and stylish cottage, praised for its immaculate cleanliness, peaceful setting, and comfortable furnishings. Guests consistently highlight the tranquil garden, well-equipped kitchen, and thoughtful touches throughout. The location is ideal for exploring both Essex and Suffolk, with plenty of scenic walks and attractions nearby. Many reviewers appreciated the warm welcome and enjoyed relaxing in the private outdoor space. Occasional minor suggestions were made, but overall, guests found their stays relaxing and memorable, with many planning to return.
Cleanliness is repeatedly described as spotless, immaculate, and maintained to the highest standards, with no negative comments noted.
The location is highly praised for its peaceful countryside setting, proximity to local towns and attractions, and excellent walking opportunities. A few guests noted the property was a little tricky to find, but this did not detract from their overall experience.
Guests found the cottage extremely comfortable, highlighting the quality of the bed, bedding, and furnishings. The peaceful environment and cosy atmosphere were frequently mentioned.
Facilities are described as excellent, with a fully equipped kitchen, modern appliances, and well-maintained garden and patio. Minor suggestions included a grab bar for the bath and a blind for the main door, but these did not significantly impact guest satisfaction.
Many guests appreciated thoughtful touches such as homemade scones, jam, cream, and fresh flowers on arrival. While these gestures are frequently mentioned, it should be noted that such gifts are not guaranteed for every stay.
About this property
This luxurious barn conversion makes a great base for exploring Constable Country and the stunning scenery that was the artists inspiration.. 1 step to entrance.
All on the
Ground Floor:
Open plan living space.
Living area: 32" Freeview Smart TV, DVD Player, Woodburner
Dining area.
Kitchen area: Electric Oven, Electric Hob, Microwave, Fridge/Freezer, Dishwasher
Bedroom: Kingsize (5ft) Bed
Bathroom: Bath With Shower Over, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet.
Gas central heating (underfloor in bathroom), electricity, bed linen, towels, Wi-Fi and logs for wood burner included. External utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer (shared with owner). Welcome pack. Lawned garden with patio and BBQ. Private parking for 1 car. No smoking. Please note: There is a fenced pond in the garden, 200 yards away.. The Bull Pen is a lovingly restored barn conversion in the delightful village of Lawford close to the Suffolk and Essex borders. Ideally placed to explore both counties whilst enjoying a luxurious base, comprising open plan living space and wood burner, with views across the surrounding fields from the patio area. This is a detached, single-storey conversion making it ideal for those less mobile. Situated in the grounds of the owner’s home, you are tucked away in a corner and will enjoy all day sunshine from its south facing aspect.
Close by you will find Dedham, set by the River Stour which is in the heart of Constable Country. The high street is lined with Georgian fronted houses, old inns, fine restaurants and superb architecture. The Stour Valley itself is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and perfect for walks and drinking in the landscape, famous for inspiring the artist John Constable. You can also hire a boat, visit the many art exhibitions or the impressive Dedham church, a 15th-century church that stands proud in the middle of the village.
Further north is Colchester, the oldest recorded town in Britain, where some of the most important events in British history have taken place. As you walk through the town there is 2000 years of history to discover, mixed with shops, restaurants and attractions. A short drive to the east you will find the quintessential British seaside towns of Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze. Beach 15 miles. Shop 1¼ miles, pub and restaurant 3 miles.
The laundry facilities are shared. The property is pinpointed on the map incorrectly, it is actually 600 yards south of the marker.
There is open water in the property grounds.
Nearby points of interest
- Colchester Zoo
- West Mersea Beach
Reviews (37)
-
Alison Hardman
Spent 4 nights at the Bull Pen recently and loved every minute of it. The cottage itself was well appointed with everything you could need for your stay. The cottage has a well equipped kitchen area with all modern appliances including dishwasher, refrigerator with ice box, microwave, oven, and hob, toaster etc It is beautifully decorated and looked after, spotlessly clean. It has its own garden with table, chairs and umbrella and also two reclining sun loungers. There is parking for one vehicle. We arrived to find scones, jam and cream awaiting us which was a lovely touch and fresh garden flowers. There are places to visit locally, Denham village, Flatford Mill, Mistley, Manningtree and Colchester also seaside resorts of Walton on Naze, Frinton and Clacton within a short drive. We really enjoyed the peace and tranquillity offered by the Bull Pen and look forward to making another visit in the future.
-
Kim Marsh
We had an excellent stay in this superb cottage. Everything was spot on both inside & out! Highly recommend to all! Unfortunately we didn’t get to meet the hosts in person who sound very nice, but we did get friendly with some of the animals ie Jixen the Cat, Colin the Tortoise and his new toad friend who we named Toadzilla! We plan to return in the not too distant future :-) **
-
Martin Smalley
It was rather difficult to find but we were very pleased with the cottage when we did. The keys both front door and patio were too stiff for my partner and may be a problem for women or left handers. In general we were very pleased with all the amenities.