Guests say
Upper Barn is a well-received holiday rental, praised for its comfortable and spacious accommodation, modern bathrooms, and ample parking. The enclosed garden is appreciated by dog owners, and the property's rural location offers peace and tranquillity. Guests enjoyed the well-equipped kitchen, outdoor space, and the proximity to local attractions and pubs. Some minor issues were noted, such as Wi-Fi connectivity and the need for additional mirrors, but these did not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.
The property generally maintains good standards of cleanliness, though some guests noted areas that could benefit from more attention, such as dusting and oven cleaning. These comments were relatively minor and infrequent compared to the overall feedback.
The location is highly praised for its peaceful countryside setting, proximity to local amenities, and attractions within a short drive. The rural charm and quiet village atmosphere contribute positively to guests' experiences.
Guests find the property comfortable, with modern bathrooms and cosy bedrooms. However, some guests mentioned that the mattresses were too soft for their preference, and the ensuites were a bit cramped.
The property is well-equipped for cooking, dining, and entertainment with games and outdoor space. Some guests suggested improvements in Wi-Fi connectivity, the addition of an iron, and minor maintenance on furniture. The presence of a games room was a plus.
There is insufficient information regarding specific thoughtful gestures or gifts provided by the host, so a score cannot be accurately given. Guests did not mention receiving any gifts, so it is not possible to comment on this aspect.
About this property
Resting in the quiet rural hamlet of Drointon in Staffordshire is this superb barn conversion, Upper Barn, sleeping up to eight guests, it presents the perfect setting for a wonderful family holiday in the country. Surrounded by farmland and open fields, Drointon is also within reach of the Cannock Chase AONB, Alton Towers, and is an hour from the Peak District. Enter into this beautifully renovated property and come straight into the open-plan living space decorated with bright, neutral hues, it is a serene setting to enjoy with your loved ones. An attractive dining table and chairs sits in the middle of the room before the bi-fold doors opening up to the garden, with the kitchen and sitting area on either side. A large range cooker with a gas hob sits in the fitted kitchen, next to pristine white counter tops, a classic Belfast sink, and several high-quality appliances. The sitting area offers plenty of soft seating to relax on as well as the multi-fuel stove placed in the corner, gather the family to watch a film here on the large Smart TV and be warmed by the fire. The garden has been beautifully designed to offer a large lawn space for children and pets to enjoy, as well as a large outdoor sofa seating for relaxing on the patio, with an external utility and cloakroom resting at the end of the garden, as well as a sheltered area with table tennis, perfect for a summer afternoon. Also on the ground floor is a cloakroom where the washing machine also lives, while upstairs on the first floor you can find the stunning main family bathroom, as well as the four lovely bedrooms. A king-size bedroom and a double bedroom benefit from an en-suite shower room each, with the remaining two bedrooms being a double and an adult bunk room, all with tasteful and elegant decor and plenty of storage for your things. Upper Barn is perfectly placed for visiting a host of popular UK attractions including Alton Towers theme park less than 20 miles away, where thrilling rides and rollercoasters are sure to satisfy any adrenaline-seeker. South of Drointon is the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, not only home to a wealth of great walking country, but also the National Trust Shugborough Estate where a beautifully preserved Georgian mansion rests amongst sweeping parkland and formal gardens, as well as Go Ape Cannock where treetop adventures await for the whole family via a rope course in the tree canopy. The Peak District is around an hour's drive away for those eager to seek a walking challenge, while the city of Stoke-on-Trent offers plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs to enjoy. Great days out can be had in nearby historic castles like Stafford Castle, Tutbury Castle and Chartley Castle shedding history on the local areas. Upper Barn proved perfect for an idyllic family holiday in the Staffordshire countryside.
Hixon is a small village found in Staffordshire, resting around two miles from the banks of the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal, it enjoys a rural position surrounded by farmlands and open fields. The village is home to a local shop, a pub, a fish and chip shop, and a handful of local businesses. The Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is close by as well as the National Trust Shugborough Estate offering a lovely day out. For those who love thrilling adventures, Alton Towers is less than 20 miles away.
Accommodation
Four bedrooms: 1 x king-size with en-suite shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 x double with en-suite shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 x double, 1 x adult bunk room.
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC.
Cloakroom with basin and WC with washing machine.
Open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with multi-fuel stove.
External utility with cloakroom
Gas central heating with multi-fuel stove.
Electric range cooker with gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, freezer, dishwasher, Smart TV and WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Highchair, travel cot and stairgate available on request.
Two well-behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 2.1 miles, pub 1.9 miles.
Please note dogs are not allowed upstairs or on the furniture.
In the garden there is a sheltered area with table tennis, perfect for a summer afternoon
Reviews (43)
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Cathryn
There were some really good pros for the property but also some cons, which I am surprised to need to write after booking a property with 5 Sykes ticks and a review rating of "4.5 Outstanding". Pros Very clean Very cosey on cold days and nights Kitchen had everything we needed, pan and crockery wise Good white goods Nicely presented garden and interior Space for multiple cars to park off road Very quiet location Excellent amount of wood and starter fuel for the fire Proper deep kitchen sink Key safe worked ok and key collection was thus ok Good location close to where I grew up as a child Comfy beds Cons All sinks are ridiculously small with silly glass shelves above, washing hands was a nightmare let alone washing faces leading to wet floors No hair dryer Welcome pack consisted of very dry cookies, Schloer (not wine) and a pack of cafe latte. Properties of this type and cost usually have more personalised local items Kitchen lacked basics that we have become used to in other similarly priced properties (sauces, cooking oil, condiments, complimentary shampoo / shower gel) Bedding etc was on the cheaper side Bedrooms lacked wardrobes (except main room) Boiler was quite loud under the floor of the bunk room, light sleepers should avoid that room Sound travelled, internal walls are probably stud not solid brick If you have more than 2 cars on the drive you need to shuffle them about to turn around No rural views from ground floor (though it didnt advertise any) Probably better to have designed this as a 3 bed house rather than 4 and made more space for sinks and wardrobes Stair gate was left installed at the bottom of the stairs and was quite a trip hazzard on the small steps We never saw the owners, some would say that is a pro, others would say it's a con. But communication of details via text ref arrival was good. We always have a good holiday regardless of the property we stay in, it wouldn't take much to cure most of the cons above and I only mention them to give anyone considering this property a true reflection of what to expect.
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Joanne
Good location.
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Jenny
! Good outdoor seating area, although much smaller than expected from the photo's!, very disappointed with the notice that said 'no ball games in the garden', this might have swayed our descision to book as we had 2 young boys who love football/cricket. Better pillows on some of the beds. Nice quiet area, good local pub food.