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Bull Pen

Bull Pen

4.9
out of 5
Ratings from 11 reviews
100% of guests
recommend
Cleanliness
4.9
Comfort
4.6
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.9
Customer
Service
4.9

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The Bull Pen is a lovely couple’s holiday retreat surrounded by gorgeous Cotswold countryside in the village of Dyrham, just 8.5 miles from Bath. This converted barn has a light and spacious open-plan kitchen-dining-living area, with full length bi-fold doors that open onto a patio with outside seating. The super-sized bedroom features a king-size bed with an open-plan, wet-room-style shower room.

The owners have renovated the barn in a unique, architectural-chic style with exposed stone walls, raw wood and stone flooring, with natural textiles and colours softening the feel and look. Guests are invited to explore the 500-acre farm and 70 acres of private woodland, meet the farm animals, walk the owners’ dogs, go wild swimming, fish for crayfish and have fun in the play area. Art experiences can be booked separately.

Lovely farm stay

Review submitted on Sun, 13 Aug 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We stayed for 2 nights and had a wonderful weekend. The barn is beautiful and well equipped, the location is remote but easily accessible and provides a lot of privacy. Next time we would book for a longer stay as there’s so much to do and discover.



Beautiful barn in a lovely location

Review submitted on Mon, 24 Jul 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
A lovely relaxing weekend at The Bull Pen. Visited Dyrham Park (the house tour very good for a rainy day activity) & dinner in the The Bull in Hinton was superb - relaxed atmosphere with great food.
Will definitely be back to explore more of Sands Hill Farm



A very enjoyable stay

Review submitted on Sat, 27 May 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
The Bull Pen is a very comfortable stay place. Farmer Tom is very welcoming and socialable. The farm is located within easy reach of Bath and Bristol. It is a working farm so the approach is via a farm track. There are a number of dogs on the farm and they all are approachable and fun to have around. The location is generally quiet.



3 night mini-break

Review submitted on Wed, 19 Apr 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Tom and Kate (and all the pets!) were great hosts. A perfect relaxing break in idyllic countryside. Really comfortable and modern accommodation. Would definitely recommend Bull Pen!

Sean & Karen



A fabulous stay

Review submitted on Mon, 10 Apr 2023
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Beautiful converted barn, in the middle of nowhere. A stunning space, perfect to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, with plenty of animals thrown in for good measure. Would highly recommend.



Stunning and relaxing

Review submitted on Tue, 28 Feb 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
I would definitely recommend a stay in the Bull Pen. We had a wonderful, relaxing break with accommodation which felt like home. The hosts were very friendly and accommodating if we needed them. The location was beautiful and a short drive to local amenities... we really didn't want to leave. We had some lovely walks in the area and even had a guided tour by the owners dogs which was a wonderful addition to our break! We would love to stay again in the future.



Wonderful place

Review submitted on Sat, 29 Oct 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Wonderful place to stay close to surrounding place to visit i.e Bristol Bath , accommodation was 10/10



Great stay in lovely converted Barn Kate and Tom brilliant hosts will definitely be back soon.

Review submitted on Mon, 08 Aug 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Great location for cycling running and walking, with a naural spring lake to swim in.
Really close to Dyrham house (fab) pub In walking distance lovely food.
Not far from Bath we had a fantastic time.
Loved the bifold doors the dogs are really well behaved. Can’t thank you enough.



Exquisite, go for it !

Review submitted on Mon, 06 Jun 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
After an exhausting ten days we arrived at the lane to the farm. We agreed after those ten days the coming week could be either a disaster or blind. Very quickly we realised it would be bliss and so it was.
The Bull Pen is a fabulous place to stay in a wonderful environment .
The cottage has all necessary facilities for a good stay. Our hosts could not have been more helpful. The countryside around is peaceful and enjoyable and the Bull is central to many enjoyable excursions within 20 miles without going into Bath.
And the wild swimming is genuine as my daughter who visited us found to her pleasure strangely finding the water warm but then she is used to finding pools in mountains.



Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Hi David Thank you for your review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay

Short stay

Review submitted on Sun, 30 Jan 2022
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
The cottage was great, fully equipped with everything you’ll need. I stayed with my 10 month yr old son & wife & it was a lovely little break.

We had a few small walks and the surrounding area was beautiful. The gentleman who greeted us was a nice chap.

If I were to be really picky all I would say is the mirror in the bathroom needs a light above it as the lighting is just ok in the wet room. Lovely having a shower in there by the way.

Thank you for having us.

Jason, Alice & Frankie!



Great property but lacking home comforts.

Review submitted on Fri, 23 Jul 2021
4.2
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
4.0
We arrived for a week’s stay during a mini heatwave in summer 2021.

It was immediately noticeable how warm the whole property was. Unfortunately, to add to the heat, the electric towel warmer in the bathroom had been accidentally left on which made the bedroom swelteringly hot.

We enquired about the possibility of a fan for the bedroom but unfortunately none were available. Even with all the doors and windows left open through the night, the temperature in the property made it very difficult to get to sleep throughout the whole week.

The property itself has been done to such a high standard, the kitchen area and bathroom space are fantastic. However, the small comforts you’d hope for, in some places, let it down. The pillows feel quite well used and very lumpy. The hairdryer is a small travel one. The TV set is quite dated. We had no tea towels or oven gloves or hand soap in the kitchen.

The grounds and space that the farm is set on is just beautiful. There are some very friendly dogs that stroll around and love being pet. The owners and farm manager were also very friendly and lovely to chat with. The location had very easy access to both Bath and Bristol in a car or taxi/Uber.

Overall, as a base, the property was great. However, for the money paid, I think the home comforts need to be looked at and brought inline with the standard of the rest of the property. Starting with a tower fan for the bedroom!