Guests say
The Hen House receives high praise for its cleanliness, stylish and comfortable accommodation, and tranquil location. Guests appreciate the well-equipped property, friendly hosts, and thoughtful touches like a welcome bottle of Prosecco. The secure garden and hot tub are standout features. Some guests note the living space can feel cramped for four adults and mention minor issues with Wi-Fi and furniture size.
Guests consistently describe the property as spotless and very clean, indicating high standards of cleanliness throughout the property.
The property is praised for its peaceful setting with beautiful views, proximity to local attractions, and good walking opportunities, making the location highly regarded by guests.
The property is generally found to be comfortable with stylish decor and well-equipped facilities. However, some guests find the living space and sofa slightly cramped for four adults, and there are occasional comments about the size of the beds and sofa comfort.
The facilities, including a quality kitchen and hot tub, are well-received. Guests mention the provision of general items needed for a stay. Some guests experienced issues with Wi-Fi and suggested improvements in furniture size and additional seating.
Many guests mention and appreciate the thoughtful gestures such as welcome gifts of Prosecco, bread, and milk. It is noted that such gifts enhance the experience, although they are not guaranteed for every stay.
About this property
Rugeley 3.6 miles. Situated on the Staffrodshire Way footpath network, in the hamlet of Stockwell Heath, near Rugeley in Staffordshire, is this lovely detached barn, The Hen House. This property has off-road parking and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, and as you enter The Hen House you will find an open-plan living/kitchen/dining room, with a cosy woodburning stove in the sitting area, alongside a leather sofa and a wall-mounted TV with Freeview. Behind you is the kitchen area with dining table and seating for four, where you can enjoy meals together and make plans for the duration of your stay, while the farmhouse-style kitchen is well-equipped with all of the modern conveniences you could wish for and even displays original egg laying boxes and a fabulous wine cooler, so you can enjoy a celebratory toast to your wonderful holiday. The property has two bedrooms; a king-size double with en-suite shower room and a twin with zip/link that can also be made into a king-size double upon request, as well as a TV and ample storage space, while the wetroom style bathroom has a heated towel rail and means no queues for the bathroom in the mornings. There are doors at either end of the living area that lead onto the garden, which is enclosed by a pretty fence and has a large lawn and a patio area with furniture, a barbecue and a hot tub, ideal for making the most of the good weather, dining alfresco and ending the day with a luxurious dip in the tub. The surrounding countryside is a haven for walkers and cyclists, encompassing the captivating scenery of the Cannock Chase AONB, while the centre of Stockwell Heath is less than a mile away and features an attractive duck pond and nice gastro pub. Further afield, visit Shugborough Estate, a manor now owned by the National Trust, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's The Wolseley Centre, 26 acres of land that's free to visit and where you can see a variety of wildlife, Trentham Estate, just outside of Stoke-on-Trent, the family-friendly Alton Towers theme park, the city of Lichfield, with its rich history, Georgian museums and incredible three-spired Medieval cathedral and to venture further out of town, the train station is approximately two miles away, offering fast links to Birmingham. Note: This property is next door to Ref. 1006989, together they can sleep 6 guests.
A historic market town nestled next to the captivating scenery of the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Rugeley can be found close by to the River Trent, making it a brilliant base for exploring the lands of Staffordshire. Once thriving for its iron workings and glass manufacturing, the town now stands as a well-built area popular with both locals and tourists. Within the town itself you will stumble across ample opportunities to indulge in delicious foods, from well-known pubs to independent restaurants, the town offers something for all tastes, and that doesn't just go for the food. Holding markets since the 13th century, Rugeley makes a wonderful spot to gather fresh produce and souvenirs for your loved ones back home. Cannock Chase is a must-see whilst in the area, with wonderful landscapes, history and wildlife, it offers a great area for the avid walker to the leisurely stroller. Within the forest itself you can find wonderful amenities such as the tree-top adventures of Go Ape, woodland trails, and ways to experience the scenes in a different way via segways. A short journey away (20 mins) is the Cathedral City of Lichfield, with plenty of history to explore whilst roaming the streets; the beautiful Victorian gardens of Beacon Park, the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, and the National Memorial Arboretum, just to name a few. Rugeley is a fantastic location for your tranquil trip, surrounded by beautiful lands with an abundance of activity nearby, it makes a brilliant spot for all the family to enjoy.
Accommodation
All-ground-floor.
Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size double with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x twin (zip/link, can be made into king-size on request).
Wetroom.
Open-plan living/kitchen/dining room with woodburning stove
Electric underfloor heating and woodburning stove.
Thermostatic controls in every room.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge with freezer compartment, dishwasher, wine cooler, TV with Freeview, and WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent (hot tub towels not provided).
Travel cot available.
Off-road parking.
Secure garden with picnic bench, barbecue and hot tub.
One well-behaved pet welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 3.3 miles, pub 2.2 miles.
Note: This property is situated on the Staffordshire Way footpath network.
Note: this property has a £200 Good Housekeeping Bond.
Reviews (64)
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Shirley
The sofa in the lounge was too low, for the same reasons and difficult to get up from. There were no other comfy chairs in the property, only 4 kitchen chairs. No chairs in the bedrooms. The cups and glasses were in a cupboard too high to reach and behind a board which made it difficult to get them out. There were also lots of flies about. Fly spray was provided but made no noticeable difference.
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Tanya
We loved the privacy the cottage gave us, the views over the fields and, of course, the hot tub. The prosecco was a nice touch, thank you. Hayley was great with communication in the lead up to and during our stay and it was nice that she met us when we arrived. We found the property smaller than we expected - the photos show a kitchen, dining area and a small living area but to get the furnitute like this, the sofa would need to be almost touching the opposite side. The table was folded down next to the side wall rather than behind the sofa as shown and the chairs didn't fit under it making g the already small space seem smaller. We were lucky with the weather and ate outside most days but if the weather had not been kind we would have had to rearrange the furniture to fold the table out to fit the 4 of us (2 children, 2 adults). This is not what we had hoped for so we just didn't use the table. This was disappointing. The second bedroom was also much smaller than we expected and a bit of a squeeze for the 2 children. We had our labrador with us too, and it just felt a bit cramped. Overall though, we had a pleasant stay. We would recommend the Wolesley Arms pub in Wolesley Bridge - great after a dog walk by the canal and the Shugborough estate in Cannock Chase. We also made the 50 minute trip to Ironbridge for the victoriana museum and that was doable. There were also lovely walks from the cottage and we took the dog round the fields at the back, where there is a little stream.
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Anne
This is a lovely, peaceful, countryside retreat within close proximity of shops and activities. Very private. Very comfortable beds, spotlessly clean and very well equipped. Fridge is standard under the counter size but with Tescos and Morrisons not far away thatâs not a problem. Fridge in Hen House View is bigger. The six of us ate comfortably in The Hen House on a rainy day. Martin offered to bring extra chairs but we didnât need them. Good BBQ which was adequate size for all of us and we enjoyed the food we cooked from Canalside butchers. They also have a good range of fresh fruit and veg. We ate outside whenever weather allowed. Hot tub is a great size and the children loved it. Wi-Fi worked well for us. Nice small enclosed garden which was good for keeping the children and small dog safe. Trips to Lichfield, Amerton Farm, Trentham Gardens and the Monkey Forest all greatly enjoyed. Ye Old Dun Cow was good for food and within walking distance although we found it a little expensive. This was our 2nd stay at The Hen House. All in all we had a lovely time and would love to return again. Thank you Haley and Martin for the welcome treats and for the use of your properties.