Snaptrip says
Upper Barn is a well-received holiday rental, praised for its spaciousness, attractive layout, and rural charm. Guests appreciate the ample parking, enclosed garden, and the property's suitability for family gatherings. The location offers a pleasant mix of countryside tranquillity and proximity to local amenities and attractions. While some minor issues are noted, the overall sentiment is positive, with many guests expressing a desire to return.
Guests that stayed at this property said
The property generally maintains good standards of cleanliness, though some guests have noted areas for improvement, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. These comments appear to be exceptions rather than the rule, suggesting that cleanliness is usually well managed.
The location is highly regarded for its pleasant rural setting, which is not too remote, offering a balance of tranquillity and accessibility to pubs, shops, and places to visit. The proximity to local attractions and the countryside ambiance contribute positively to the experience.
Comfort is generally well-received, with guests finding the property warm and the outdoor space enjoyable. However, some guests have mentioned that the beds are very soft, which may not suit everyone's preference, and issues with heating in one of the bedrooms have been raised.
Facilities are adequate, with a well-equipped kitchen and ample space for dining and relaxation. However, guests have reported some maintenance issues such as wobbly furniture and inadequate Wi-Fi, which have impacted the overall experience. The presence of games and outdoor amenities is appreciated.
There is insufficient information in the reviews to assess the level of thoughtfulness in terms of gifts or special touches provided by the host. Therefore, a score cannot be given for this category.
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
Nearby points of interest
- Cbeebies Land
- Alton Towers
- Gladstone Pottery Museum
- Staffordshire University
Reviews (36)
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Janina
The house was clean, warm, comfortable and attractive. We didn't use any outside equipment because of the time of year but they looked very useful. The garden was ideal and safe for our two small/medium dogs. A few issues, the shelves above the basins in the bathrooms could be higher to avoid some head butting whilst toothbrushing plus the sliding doors would not stay closed so privacy was a problem. Downstairs the dining table won't seat eight people with the chairs provided. It's also extremely top heavy with loose legs and didn't feel stable. We are likely to book Upper Barn again but we'll take salt and pepper, tea and coffee and milk at the very least for a hot drink on arrival plus a vegetable peeler. The mugs and glasses were super sized, so bear that in mind if you have children.
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Matthew
In the spirit of helpfulness for future bookings, the mattresses were a little uncomfortable and the Wi-Fi was very slow and didnât cope well with streaming movies. But we would definitely love to book the barn again, thank you :)
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Helen
The open plan layout was perfect for a family gathering. Everywhere was very clean and comfortable. Due to reading another review prior to our stay I was aware that I needed to take basic condiments such as salt & pepper, this would be useful information to be made aware off. Overall beautiful place in beautiful countryside.