Brook Cottage is highly praised for its peaceful and idyllic setting, offering a tranquil retreat with a hot tub and modern amenities. Guests appreciate the cleanliness, comfort, and the dog-friendly environment. While some minor issues are noted, the overall experience is one of relaxation and enjoyment in a beautiful location.
Most guests found the cottage spotless and well-prepared, contributing to a comfortable stay. However, a few reports of mould, stained linens, and a lingering pet odour suggest room for improvement in cleaning standards.
The cottage's location is consistently lauded for its tranquillity and proximity to nature, with easy access to walks and local amenities. It serves as a perfect base for exploring the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas.
The majority of guests report a high level of comfort, with a particularly comfortable bed and quiet surroundings. Some concerns about an extractor fan and parking tightness slightly detract from the overall comfort.
Facilities are generally well-received, especially the hot tub and high-spec kitchen. However, maintenance issues like a leaking sink and extractor fan problems indicate that some facilities require attention.
While many reviews express satisfaction with the overall experience, there is no specific mention of gifts or extra thoughtful touches provided by the hosts. Therefore, it is not possible to assess this category.
Lydney 2.9 miles. This peaceful country cottage, Brook Cottage, is accessed by a private lane which only leads to one other property on the fringes of Aylburton village, near Lydney, Gloucestershire; making for a quiet base with no passing traffic. It has an all-white exterior except for the pale sky blue shutters on the outside of the windows, adding a touch of charm and character; the front garden also rests next to an enclosed parking area for two cars. Brook Cottage is bordered by a brook to the front and enjoys exclusive use of a private insulated, fully fitted hot tub in an enclosed fence yard to the rear; the gate from the rear patio leads to an open field - a doggy heaven! The cottage itself has been finished to a high standard and enjoys clean, laminate flooring throughout, whilst also being powered by the latest solar panels and slim, hi-tec air conditioning units in the bedroom and lounge, which not only heat efficiently but also keep you cool in the summer! Entry is gained straight into the delights of the contemporary sitting room, decorated with peace in mind and a Smart LED TV with a DVD Player for those quiet evenings in. Just off from here is the kitchen, well-appointed and sporting a fresh, reviving colour scheme and features everything you need, such as a Neff oven, Bosh dishwasher and a super-fast induction hob. Access to the enclosed patio can be acquired from here through the rear door, with a lovely hot tub to relax away your troubles, whilst listening to the birdsong from the woodland and the babbling brook, after a venturesome day out in Gloucestershire, and a wine cooler to get a bottle or two chilled and kept to hand. In the evening, progress through the property to find a double room that is enhanced by a flourish of stylish fittings and furniture; the French doors offer another route out onto the rear decking. The luxury shower room is situated nearby and features a double shower enclosure with a rain head shower, heated towel rail and a clever bluetooth ceiling speaker to play your own music. Head to the front of the cottage and lounge in the picnic area, with its gazebo and picnic bench shaded by trees. The property rests in a prime location with easy access to a public footpath from the rear yard, which takes you across the farmland to The Globe, a fantastic gastro pub. For things to do in the nearby area, head into Lydney town for shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as sports facilities. For the more adventurous, there is climbing, abseiling and caving amongst the Royal Forest of Dean. You can explore the Cotswolds, not too far away and even walk the trails promised at the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons), its wonderful landscape scenery awaiting your arrival. The thriving cities of Cardiff, Cheltenham and Gloucester are further afield with a whole wealth of activities for a fun-filled outing. This wonderful cottage brings guests a relaxing stay to couples, the year-round.
The town of Lydney is situated between the eastern edge of the Forest of Dean and the River Severn in Gloucestershire. Lydney has a range of shops, a leisure centre and sports facilities, as well as pubs, cafes and restaurants serving a wide variety of meals. The Royal Forest of Dean, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, boasts numerous trails that can be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback. Caving, abseiling and a high wire rope course are for the more adventurous, whilst fishing, golf, kayaking and canoeing are other popular activities in the area.
All-ground-floor.
One king-size bedroom.
Shower room with double walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC.
Kitchen/diner.
Sitting room
Solar panel heating.
Electric oven, induction hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine.
Smart TV with Amazon firestick and Freeview channels, DVD Player, superfast WiFi, DVDs.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Off-road parking for 2 cars.
Enclosed rear patio with fully fitted, insulated hot tub and furniture.
Front garden with picnic area, gazebo and furniture.
Two well-behaved pets welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 1.4 miles, pub 1.2 miles.
Note: Guests are asked to respect the peaceful nature of the surroundings and refrain from playing music or making noise after 9pm.
Note: Due to the unique and beautiful location the property is in the air quality is something guests with respiratory conditions may need to consider this when booking - Please contact us before booking if you have any concerns.
Note: The cottage has a property bordering on one side of the rear yard but you are not overlooked, the neighbour has a narrow alleyway between the two properties but this is only used for maintenance and is high-fenced for privacy.
Note: Disposable barbecues are permitted in the picnic area to the front of the property.
Note: In winter months, guests may prefer to drive the short distance along the A48 to the Globe pub, rather than use the public footpath.
Note: Check-in is from 4pm, check-out by 10am
Susanna
The quality of fixtures, fittings and appliances etc are very good. However, the property is let down by the current standard of cleaning. Upon first entering the property, we were greeted by an overpowering smell of damp dog, which did not disappear even after opening all the windows and doors. Unfortunately, the smell is impregnated into the two sofas in the living room and no amount of airing improved this over the course of the week. We were aware that the property allowed dogs (we have dogs ourselves) and have stayed in other homes where dogs are allowed, but have not before experienced such an overpowering smell to ruin the stay. The other issue regarding pets was outside and, when it warmed up and we sat in the small garden, there was a strong smell of dog wee coming from the worn astro turf, which made it quite unpleasant sitting outside. The cottage was also quite damp with black mould in places, which probably didn't help with the overall smell. Just before leaving, when packing up and making sure nothing was left behind, we removed the sofa cushions and realised that they had not been cleaned for a long while, as there was a thick mat of dog hairs etc under the cushions. Under the bed had also not been cleaned for a while, as there was dust, dirt, crumbs and tissues, which again we realised when checking under the bed for any socks etc that may have slipped underneath. Had we seen these two issues at the beginning of the week, we would have contacted the owner and asked for it to be cleaned properly. We want to give a balanced review as the cottage was obviously well appointed and it now just feels a little unloved. The outside, both front and back, is very tired and needs cleaning/ updating. The arbour, once bright and inviting (as per photos), is now dark and gloomy with algae etc. We had a small issue with needing new frying pans (the ones at the property were very scratched and burnt) and the owner was quite happy for us to purchase new ones and reimburse us, which he did swiftly! I'm not sure how long it is since the owner has visited the property and checked the cleaning and condition (and condition of cookware etc), but this is something that maybe needs doing more regularly to keep on top of issues before they arise. Overall, the cottage could be a fantastic place for a relaxing break but, sadly, we would not return as our holiday was marred greatly by the awful smell in the living room, making it hard to relax of an evening. It is a huge shame as there was obviously lots of love and effort put into the property to start with, but it now feels forgotten and a bit sad. If the sofas were deep cleaned and then waterproof backed covers used, that could be washed and replaced, this would combat the smell of dirty/ wet dog and it would be a much more pleasant place to stay. Likewise, if the back was paved, rather than having astro turf, it would be easy to bleach down to eradicate the smell of dog wee etc outside. Just a few small changes and it would be such a beautiful, pleasant smelling place to stay! We holiday just once a year and it was very disappointing this year compared to other years due to the issues above and I hope the owner can take on board our comments as constructive criticism, so that these issues do not crop up for holidayers in the future and the cottage can feel loved again!
Neil
The owner, Tony, came over to help sort a problem with the Internet and was very friendly. Just a small thing, but we could have done with a bit more crockery and cutlery, as, although there were only two of us, it was difficult to fill the dishwasher to make it worth using. Nevertheless, we had a nice, pleasant stay at Brook Cottage.
Susan
Spotlessly clean and very comfortable. Everything that is needed for your comfort is supplied - from kitchen essentials down to towels, dressing gowns and shoes for use of the hot tub. Hot tub spotless and a welcome addition at the end of the day. Completely private. So quiet and peaceful. Lovely walks for dogs. Perhaps the only downside from my point of view would be the narrow entrance into the parking area.
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