Dog Friendly Essex Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Elaine - Verified booking

  Beautifully appointed property, tastefully decorated and very comfortable.

  We all found our beds really soft and comfortable - although a sheet had been placed between the duvet and bottom sheet, which on 3 of the beds was very crumpled up and twisted and meant having to re-make the bed. The dining chairs were the most comfortable I've ever known and meant sitting over long luxurious meals was a dream. We felt the kitchen could have been better stocked with essential equipment - there was no whisk, so whipping cream and eggs with just a fork was rather laborious! There was no ice cube making tray/container so we just filled up plastic boxes with water and once frozen, had to smash it up! There were only 6 mugs, no cups so meant having to run bowls of washing up water or putting the dishwasher on every time we had hot drinks was a bit of a waste of water! Ideally I'd recommend at least 12 to 18 mugs to allow for enough hot drinks throughout the day! When we arrived and began hunting for mugs, we found them in the dishwasher along with some other crockery, which hadn't been emptied! On the whole, we had a wonderful weekend and the weather enabled us to enjoy sitting out in the lovely garden - although, it would have been nice to have some seat cushions as the wooden chairs were very hard and a bit worn/mossy and a parasol would have been useful. The only entrance to the property had a very high step, which a couple of us less fit ladies found quite a struggle to climb up - a smaller step outside the door would make it safer and easier. Having ground floor bedroom and shower room and being so spacious inside, makes the property ideal for a wheelchair user, if only the entrance could be re-jigged - just a thought for the future as it is so difficult to find suitable properties for the physically challenged! A lovely holiday cottage and we would go back if the entrance was easier!

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• Confirmed Guest - Verified booking

  What a wonderful place this is. Located in a beautiful, historic, semi-rural part of Essex just outside Colchester, quiet but just 20mins from the heart of city and with other small towns and villages nearby. The property has been very sensitively renovated, to create functional, comfortable holiday accommodation that retains its historical characteristics. Inside, there is more space that one might imagine with two receptions, a large, well-equipped kitchen and downstairs WC, plus two large bedrooms, both with large ensuite bath/shower rooms. The beds are really comfortable. All that was missing for us was a full-length mirror and hooks on the back of the doors (hoping the owner will add these!). We cook every day and found the kitchen had everything we needed (although no salt/pepper that we could find - please add this!). The oven and hob were clean and really easy to use. Outside, the space is extensive and private and the inclusion of a hot tub is very welcome (staff check it daily on weekdays but are friendly and unobtrusive). Ideal for relaxing and also as a base for exploring the local area. Just half an hour away from the lovely beach at Mersea Island. There are another five lodges on the site but they are some distance away from Crows Hall, although as guests of the estate we were free to roam the entire site, which includes a fishing lake, which we really appreciated. We have stayed in many self-catering places and this is one of the best.

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• Andrew - Verified booking

  Pros: Number 19 is spacious, very clean, and comfortable, especially the bed.

  Car parking is very good and secure, although the layout of allocated spaces is strange. Good view from the balcony across the water to Felixstowe. Cons: The toaster is hopeless!! It would be useful if the fused switches in the kitchen were labelled as it took us a while to work out that the dish washer was on the same circuit as the plinth lighting. Buttons on the washing machine had been pushed in, but we were able to release them slightly by carefully using a knife. This should be looked at. Also, the cabinet door is attached directly to the washing machine, so when the machine moves when spinning (adjust feet?), the cabinet door goes out of allignment with the cabinet. The drainage on the shower cubicle is poor and would probably benefit from some drain unblocker liquid. My partner found the towels rough, and she resorted to using her beach towel in the bathroom. The main photo in the listing is misleading since number 19 is actually in the block behind the one shown. We were only informed of this once we had booked, although careful scrutiny of the other photos give clues to the actual location. Overall number 19 is a good place to stay, with the sand & stone beach just across a quiet road, and a reasonable bar/restaurant next door. Redoubt Fort just up the road in Harwich is well worth a visit. We enjoyed our stay and would have given 5 stars were it not for the little maintenance issues.

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• Sue - Verified booking

  This house is amazing both in character and convenient position for the beach which is one of the most child friendliest around.

  The hosts went out of the way to make sure we had a brilliant time and left us a beautiful basket of age appropriate goodies. The garden was super for little ones to play safely and to hide in all the little dingle dells. We loved the dining room with space to sit and eat as a family, the children pretended it was a restaurant and served dinner! We cannot fault the effort made by the owners and the quality of towels bedding etc. We did take our own safety gate as the stairs are big and our babies were 4 and 2. Walton on the Naze beach and the Tower are worth a visit we didn’t really need to go anywhere else ! This house is the secret you want to keep but feel you should share with everyone it is a home not a boutique show house there is one tv in the lounge for those quiet evenings when the little ones are in bed and a super veranda that Nana spent most of the week on! With grandchildren curled up beside. I would love a washing whirling thing in the garden as the airier wasn’t big enough for 8 towels/ swimmers baby gear etc. We wanted to save electricity and not use the dryer. Definitely a 10/10 holiday. Highly recommended. We will be back.

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• Sanya - Verified booking

  The bedrooms, bedding and towels were excellent.

  Lots of toothpaste and toothbrushes However the kitchen is poorly equipped. We had to buy spoons, frying pan roasting trays and wine glasses. The saucepans available have been scratched and rusting. The washing machine has been left fully loaded with wet linen and towels. The insides of the cupboards was dirty covered with stains and crumbs. We had no cutlery on the first night of our arrival and no instructions have been left about the hidden draw compartment. When we telephoned the agency on Sunday night, there was no reply. We had telephoned back on Monday morning and once we have stated the issues, Kevin promised us he would contact the local team and update us. That did not happen at all. Just by the pure luck, one of the workers on the camp side told us about the hidden cutlery drawer but alas - still no spoons. No washing up liquid and no basics. We had to buy tea towels , sponges, ect. The The property is lacking in basic kitchen utensils. Never book this property. Our stay has been spoiled by the lack of care and some genuine hospitality.

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