The Lavendrye Barn an Idyllic Country Retreat

The Lavendrye Barn is the perfect couples retreat in the picturesque Forest of Dean within the grounds of the owners historic timber framed Grade II* listed Manor House. Great in the summer and equally welcoming in winter, benefitting from a hot tub and roaring log-burner on chilly nights. With a backdrop of ancient woodland, the grounds extend to a wildflower meadow and walled garden for you to enjoy the panoramic views over rolling fields to the River Severn and the Cotswold Hills beyond The space What to Expect: An idyllic detached two storey converted stone barn set amid rolling fields and woodland. A magical tree covered ancient track leads to the property. Outside you’ll find parking with an EV charging point and several fenced outdoor garden areas to enjoy including a wood fired hot tub, pizza oven and fire pit. Inside: Recently renovated, on entering you will find yourself in a cosy and characterful open plan living and dining area. A snug with a comfy sofa and footstool for curling up in front of the log fire on rainy days or winter eves, leads into a beautiful vaulted double height kitchen which highlights the original barn features and showcases the beautifully crafted oak and glass mezzanine bedroom above. The kitchen is fully equipped with all you need to create a culinary feast if you so wish but equally we offer a range of delicious add on produce and ready made, locally produced, meals if you feel like a night off. Gorgeous one of a kind ceramics fill the shelves and you have all you need for the all important brew in the morning, ethically sourced coffee and Cafetiere, or a Nespresso machine plus complimentary recyclable pods. Each guest is welcomed with a generous hamper of local produce (dietary requirements accommodated, just let us know beforehand!). The bedroom is designed with comfort and luxury in mind. Sink into a comfortable king size bed, dressed in 600 thread count Egyptian Cotton bedding, draped with natural linen throws. Feather/down duvets will envelope you (alternatives available) for a cosy night sleep. Thick, fluffy robes and plentiful towels are also supplied. The view from the bedroom across the rolling fields makes it hard to drag yourself out! Gambolling lambs fill the fields in spring and some truly gorgeous sunrises can be watched with a brew in hand. A modern shower room is found on the ground floor. Outside: ​ Outside you will find several areas for your enjoyment. A terraced seating area with a wood fired hot tub, pizza oven & BBQ (on request) and fire pit sitting above a pond and surrounded by abundant planting. Also a flower filled walled parterre garden, its borders overflowing with foxgloves, roses and hollyhocks, the perfect spot for an al-fresco breakfast. Why not treat yourself to a breakfast hamper filled with local produce, delivered to your door? Beyond here wildflowers scatter and scramble as far as the eye can see, throughout the wildflower meadow area to the side of the property, where you can find further areas to relax and enjoy the spectacular views. For those who enjoy rambling, this is a walkers paradise, with walking trails leading straight from the door. For guests with dogs: The garden area is fenced with standard height stock fencing (80cm). Any escape artists or small dogs could get through with enough determination! There are sheep and lambs in the fields surrounding the property so we can only accept dogs who can be kept under control around livestock (no barking at, or chasing the sheep!). Footpaths lead through these fields, so again, when using these you’ll need a lead but once in the woods, there is plenty of off lead space to enjoy! Guest access Guests have sole access to the hot tub, walled garden and wildflower meadow. Private areas are clearly signposted. Other things to note The track to the property is a farm lane, so we don't advise washing the car before coming, especially in winter when it can be quite muddy. Equally if your car is particularly low slung, this may not be suitable for you. It's worth the drive though, we promise! ​​ The Lavendrye Barn is situated next to our own house and there is one neighbouring property (see aerial photo for clarity). So if you are looking for complete seclusion then we might not be the best fit. That being said, we do not share the same outdoor space and have worked hard to create privacy within the garden areas. We also have a dog, who is very friendly but if you do not like dogs, or if your dog is reactive, then let us know ahead of time so we can make sure she is not waiting at the gate to greet you! If you would like to bring your dog, please reach out to us first. As we are surrounded by farmland, we can only accept well trained dogs who are used to being around livestock (particularly important during lambing time).