23 Comments
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Hannah's avatar

Love this, I am a true self catering person, with bells on though. I’m off to Wildhive Callow Hall, in the Peak District to stay in one of their treehouses for my 50th, mainly because there is a copper bath outside, on the deck! Which is my idea of heaven, even in the rain. The hotel looks lovely too, can’t wait for that. Am going to have a nose around your place in Dorset, that is also my happy place! Thanks x

Lucy Garrett's avatar

Was there WiFi/data Ruth?

Kayte Nunn's avatar

Lovely piece and made me want to run away to an English treehouse now.

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/gloucestershire/wyld-wyld-wood-treehouses/nuthatch

This is my sister and brother-in-law’s place (he built everything), and there’s a fab selection of other places on this site too.

Ruth Crilly's avatar

This is incredible! Looks like I’m officially going to have to become a professional treehouse tester.

Emily's avatar

Ruth - that looks glorious, but OUCH, £980 full price!! I would also have been furious about other people’s children 😂 - especially at that price! (Although I know we can’t control that…)

Neeeed to hear what happened at the other hotels - or have I missed the posts? I will investigate.

Good point about saying that you can’t complain if you dont tell the host - I would have assumed in my head that the heating noise wasn’t changeable - but I know nothing about these things and actually it’s always worth mentioning isn’t it!

Really enjoyed this - thank you!

PS - I need to stay at your Dorset nook pronto x

Ruth Crilly's avatar

Well I justified it thus: a smallest room at The Pig was £380 per night and basically you’re just trapped in a room with no particular view. So this was loads less, with a view and outdoor bath etc and I didn’t have to wang fifty quid on breakfast each morning! 🤣

Emily's avatar

Oh I love that! All good points 😂 I’m not going to be able to see past “trapped in a room”, now… good point! Although my only beef with self catering is having to schelp a supermarket shop there (but that’s my beef as I hate that shopping!)

Also £380 for a box room!!! Daylight robbery!!

Ruth Crilly's avatar

I like to just eat out at dinner and lunch and take enough bits for breakfast/snacks with me. In a hotel you’d have to eat out anyway..

Emily's avatar

Good points! 😊

Deborah Price's avatar

Chewton glen have gorgeous treehouses as part of their hotel and then you have access to restaurant and spa etc . Went there for my brothers special birthday and it was gorgeous . Jacuzzi outside and you can get a little truck to ferry you around . Beach in walking distance . Only time I’ve ever stayed anywhere and didn’t have time to use the spa

Ruth Crilly's avatar

Yes I’ve stayed there too! So expensive though!

Louisa's avatar

Have you seen that the Newt have bought another building and are going to be offering self catering where you can hire a private chef? (I was doing my usual trick of being nosey at job listings I don't want or qualify for). I think they should gift you a stay and get you to review it!

Ruth Crilly's avatar

To be clear I’ve also had an amazing stay there, but the two bad ones were off putting.

Ruth Crilly's avatar

Well after my two disastrous stays at The Newt I would need some convincing. 😂

Angie Churchill's avatar

This is really interesting ... I've had two sets of friends say exactly the same about their stays. I live really close by, so have no justification to stay, but have eaten there several times. I love the Garden Cafe but The Botanical Rooms ... not so much.

Also, the staff at The Creamery at Castle Cary station need a serious kick up the arse - they have no understanding of the fact that the time of the train on the board is the time it departs the station, NOT the time by which they can serve you your coffee!!

Ruth Crilly's avatar

That’s a shame. It’s really basic stuff too like just having a bit of soundproofing, which in the new barn bits they could have done during renovation. And the fact there are NO DOORS ON ANY OF THE TOILETS IN ANY ROOMS, which is weird. Maybe they’ve added them by now 🤣

Angie Churchill's avatar

Exactly. My friends who stayed in the Farmyard bit said that they had floor to ceiling windows overlooking the pool (lovely) but NO curtains, just shutters, so it was either wandering around in the dark or be fully on display to all spa guests!

Ruth Crilly's avatar

Ffs! 🤣🤣

Louisa's avatar

oh at £500 a night i'd be fuming! I do want to try the spa day but imagine paying like £300 and being disappointed

Ruth Crilly's avatar

The spa is incredible. But on my second visit someone was HOOVERING THE NEXT DOOR WALL during my massage and even the therapist was mortified. The spa manager couldn’t have cared less.

Ruth Crilly's avatar

Try £800 a night.

Louisa's avatar

Maybe I'll stick to going on a weekend on the pretence of going for a nice walk but actually sitting in the greenhouse/on a bench reading and eating ice cream. It is the only place I willingly eat stew.