Dons Barn, style and comfort in the countryside

Award : 4 Star GOLD VisitEngland Dons Barn definitely has the WOW Factor. It has an impressive views across the orchard garden and fields beyond, through the massive oak barn door windows. The excellent local CAMRA pub with its own micro Brewery is a 15 minute walk across the fields We have an acre of dog exercise orchard and a dog washing station. Up to 2 Pets welcome: Superfast Broadband is supplied to this cottage and our Bikes are free for you to use. The space As you enter the main room to this lovely cottage, you see in front of you the lovely millstone built into the breakfast bar. A whole slice of tree was used for the work top showing the ‘waney edge’ of the tree on both sides. There is a Belfast sink and gas hob with an electric grill and oven. Beyond the Millstone is the main room with its massive inglenook fireplace and enormous Kilim covered Knoll Sofa, almost a room within a room! You can hide away from the world and cosy down for a romantic afternoon in front of the roaring log fire. The end of the room is dominated by the wonderful roof to floor handmade oak windows which cuts through the bedroom floor above. Upstairs we have created a handmade iron balcony by cutting away the floor which affords lovely views through the big oak ground floor to roof windows, straight from the bed across the orchard gardens and fields into the setting sun. There is a pretty en-suite bathroom with a double sized shower With its old ‘Suffolk White’ brick floor, soft red brick walls and lime-washed paintwork; this cottage has all the ingredients for a wonderfully cosy and relaxing atmosphere. Dons Barn is one of six cottages that make up the Old Grove Farm which dates back to the 1720s. Up to 2 cats or dogs are welcome: We have a dog washing station and fluffy white towels to pamper your pooch :) Dog owners please note there is an acre of dog exercise orchard and meadow at Dons Barn, plus footpaths directly from the cottage into open countryside with a lovely dog friendly pub just a 15 minute walk away across the fields. We have bikes for you to borrow so you can explore the tiny lanes which always lead to a lovely little pub :) The Gardens You enter the cottage through a small herb garden, you are welcome to take any herbs you wish. There is a mature orchard garden at the front of the cottage where guests can laze around under the apple and pear trees and have a BBQ in summer. There’s a table and chairs directly outside the cottage. We have a large central courtyard where you can unload your car when you arrive. The courtyard has a large open sided historic ‘Cart Lodge’ barn where guests can pull out a BBQ or just sit under the fairy lights and and watch the night skies. A second barn contains bikes for guests to use, a coal bunker and log pile, we buy coal and wood in bulk for you to purchase from us at cost - there is an honesty tin in the bicycle / wood shed – firelighters will be provided. – (don’t worry the cottage is warm and cosy with its central heating alone). Behind the ‘Cart Lodge’ barn in a second orchard garden where we have established some peaceful, private areas with tables and chairs. This is an ideal dog exercise area – next to it is a large off road car park. You can walk directly from the gardens onto footpaths leading to the church, pub or circular countryside walks. The South Suffolk Cycle route runs past the cottage and we provide bikes for free. Outside The Old Grove Farm is set in open countryside and is made up of brick buildings in a E shape, which were once a farm workers cottage, winnowing barns, dairies and bakeries. It has a large central courtyard with a long barn creating a double quadrangle. The buildings are now converted into six lovely holiday cottages with individual entrances from different areas and surrounded by gardens and orchards. This is where our business started and where we are based. While being right in the countryside, we are not cut off from civilisation and a 5 – 10 minute car drive will get you to shops and supermarkets, cafés, swimming pools, museums and the river Stour. Good pubs are all around us and our local which is ¾ mile walk across the fields, has it’s own micro brewery and a selection of the best beers and ciders – The White Horse Edwardstone. Dons Barn is a very special place that is a joy just to be in. Perfect for a couples romantic getaway. Green Credentials This building dates back to 1700 and is renovated and repaired with traditional and reclaimed original materials, like the ancient reclaimed wood, doors and beams, traditional lime plaster and paints, original Suffolk White floor bricks, locally sourced timber and locally fired or reclaimed bricks. We operate or own Clear Water Treatment plant which biologically cleans all our waste water to such a pure degree that it can be discharged back into the environment. We use many ecover products whenever possible. We encourage guests to explore the local area by bicycle or foot. Guests can take fresh herbs from our herb garden and fruit from our own apple, pear, plum and quince trees – some of these trees were thought to be extinct, but we have them! We sometimes keep bees and have many flowering plants to encourage them to our gardens. We share our grounds with bats, badgers, foxes, hares, rabbits, deer and an amazing array of birds – from buzzards and owls to blue tits, goldfinches and woodpeckers: all these animals and more find food here and shelter in our hedges. Standard Inclusive Features Kitchen: The cottage is a complete little home and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc. Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll. Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer. Living room: Your cottage has a woodburning stove and we buy coal and wood in bulk for you to purchase from us at cost - there is an honesty tin in the bicycle / wood shed – firelighters will be provided. TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ insiders-guide to the local area. Bikes: We provide bicycles free of charge for our guests to explore the local area. Washing: There is a washing machine and dryer in the walk-thru which is for the use of the 6 cottages on the old Grove Farm. There are also deck chairs and rugs for the garden. Please note that no children are accepted in this cottage but we provide a travel cot and a high chair for one infant. Please bring bedding for the baby cot. Guest access Everywhere Other things to note Up to 2 Pets welcome: Please note that cottage owners cannot accept pets that have not been paid for, so please make sure that you have paid for your pet before arrival. We are fine with up to 2 well behaved doggies but please do not leave them alone on the property because they will fret and do damage. Also, never on the sofas or beds - thank you. Banned Dogs: Please also note that if you are considering bringing a dog breed which may be thought of as a danger or a concern to others, and definitely any Banned Dogs, then Please check with us first before booking and we will discuss the suitability of our cottage for you and your pet.