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Box Valley Cottage

Box Valley Cottage

4.9
out of 5
Ratings from 24 reviews
100% of guests
recommend
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.8
Value
4.7
Customer
Service
4.9

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Immaculate cottage renovation with great space and high quality finishes throughout that offers the best pubs, views and walks in the Dedham Vale.

excellent few days

Review submitted on Mon, 25 Mar 2024
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 had a lovely few days at stoke by nayland. box valley cottage was perfect for us, the cottage had been well thought out with nice touches, for example the speaker in the kitchen, nice to have the radio on with a cuppa in the mornings. our very timid dog even settled in quickly and enjoyed running in and out the enclosed rear garden.
Welcoming pack was nice, really couldnt fault anything, we particularly liked the seating looking out on to the garden and luckily the weather was nice so we even got to sit on the garden bench before we headed out each day.
there are nice walks around stoke by nayland and we also enjoyed trips to frinton on sea, dedham and flatford.
The local dog friendly pubs were good, food was excellent. we will defiantly be returning at some point and will be recommending to friends and family.



You won’t be disappointed…

Review submitted on Thu, 21 Mar 2024
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
Easy to find, easy to park, easy to get in and created a fabulous first impression. Plenty of hot water, good heating and very cosy. Two decent bedrooms and a great layout/use of space downstairs. The little patio garden was clean and inviting, easily accessed from the French doors and perfect for us with two little dogs (who like wandering in and out and basking!).



Nice cottage in rural suffolk

Review submitted on Wed, 14 Feb 2024
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
Very nice cottage with good equipment especially living room & kitchen/dining area in rural suffolk not far from Colchester.



Perfect spot in countryside

Review submitted on Tue, 02 Jan 2024
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
Nice size, equipment & location with nice owner to help when needed. And closeby to anything you need, rural walks, nice pubs, colchester & seaside



A week in November

Review submitted on Wed, 15 Nov 2023
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We were lucky with the weather but walked every day with the dog straight from the cottage- wonderful walks and beautiful scenery.

The cottage is fantastic, everything you need, attention to detail, warm and comfortable. Great pubs in the area, especially The Anchor at Nayland, and all happy to have a muddy Golden Retriever in.

Can recommend the cottage and the area for a really nice break.



Fabulous cottage in a beautiful area

Review submitted on Wed, 18 Oct 2023
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Beautifully furnished cottage in a very pretty village. Really clean and well equipped, can’t think of anything to fault it. There is a lovely courtyard garden which would make a great outside space in warm weather. Parking absolutely not an issue. If the space next to the cottage is too tight for your car there is always room directly outside on the road (20mph limit). Great centre for walks either directly from the cottage or within easy distance. I had always discounted this area before as I thought it would be a bit urban being so close to the A12 and Colchester but that was very wrong. Very quiet and rural. Very cosy to return to after a day out with plenty of hot water for a good bath and really comfy bed (always two of my main criteria). Dog friendly along with treats left in the lovely welcome pack.



Great location, nice property but shame about the fundamental problem with the parking.

Review submitted on Mon, 17 Jul 2023
4.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
2.0
To borrow a catchphrase from The Fast Show; 'Suffolk...brilliant!' and Stoke-by-Nayland is ground zero for enjoying its brilliance. Location-wise you can't go wrong here - footpaths go off in every direction and you are also within a short drive of Long Melford and Lavenham.

The property is right in the middle of the village, within walking distance of the well-stocked local shop and outstanding Crown Inn. It's a well-presented two-bedroom semi-detached cottage, with bedrooms at front & rear, both with lovely views. There is a good-sized lounge and a long kitchen and dining area. There is an upstairs bathroom with shower over bath and a downstairs toilet. I'm 1.94m (6'4" in Brexit terms) and could stand quite comfortably under the shower. The water pressure was more than adequate and the water temperature controllable, for back-to-back showers.

The central heating is very effective, coming up to temperature very quickly and I imagine this would be very cosy in the winter, even before using the woodburner in the lounge.

The kitchen is well-equipped with a large fridge freezer (the fridge section is enormous); dishwasher; range oven (at least two cavities, at least one fan-assisted); five-ring induction hob and a washing machine (in the downstairs toilet/utility room). Top marks for including a more than adequate number of premium brand dishwasher tablets, as holiday properties usually leave a couple of Kwiksave Value tablets because it puts a few pence on the bottom line, despite irritating your guests by making it impossible to actually clean the dishes.

The beds were comfortable with medium mattresses that aided a good night's sleep. There were plenty of additional pillows as well as towels available.

The rear garden is compact but thoughtfully laid out with shrubs & flowers but the party piece is the L-shaped rattan-style sofa and BBQ. It is a veritable suntrap in the afternoon and sitting outside was wonderful, with the option of alfresco cooking if you fancied it. All of the cushions for the sofa was kept in the shed and so were in good condition, as previous guests had clearly taken the time to put them away after use/when vacating the property (as did we).

On the downside;

1. while clean inside, the windows could have done with a little attention on both exterior & interior, especially the rear patio doors. There is nothing like bright sunshine to show up existing dirt and water marks. It's not a big issue and is unlikely to impact your stay. It only came to light as I've a partner who - in addition to lipstick and a knuckleduster - carries Windowlene in her handbag because she likes glass to be clean.

2. the downstairs toilet functions as both sanitary accommodation and utility room but has no window or extractor fan, meaning it does not conform with Approved Document F of building regs. You could maybe argue that as it is a holiday home it is not a dwelling although it is a self-contained single unit designed to accommodate a single household, so it is. Again it's not a big issue and if anything it will disadvantage the owner over time through the accumulation of moisture and mould. The bathroom upstairs has very effective extract ventilation with a long overrun, as well as a window, so it's anyone's guess as to why the downstairs toilet has neither.

3. in the property's picture gallery, the kitchen worktops are free of appliances which may look uncluttered but you have no way of knowing until you get there and unpack your stuff that there is a coffee machine, toaster etc... - they are put away in the cupboards and therefore hidden from view. As a suggestion, either list in full what is available in the kitchen in the listing or include a photo of the cupboards with the doors open, so you know what you do need to bring with you and what you can leave at home.

These first 3 are relatively minor and aren't going to adversely affect your stay unless you really have got a thing about the smell of coffee pods in the morning. The last one however is pretty important;

4. the road through Stoke-by-Nayland is narrow, narrowing to very narrow at several points. This is why any local who has a car wider than a Noddy car parks it in their drive. The property is marketed as having "off street parking" and just to double-check we looked on Streetview before leaving to check and also help decide which car to take, the large 4x4 or the hideously large 4x4 but with all wheel steering and parking assist. Streetview suggested we would be fine and so we opted for the latter as off street parking is off street parking, especially as there is nothing in the property's listing that says, for example, 'note: parking is narrow and suitable only for those Little Tikes cars you can buy in Early Learning Centre.'

When we arrived we discovered that - invisible to Streetview - there is a raised stone pathway on one side of the drive that belongs to the property next door, which runs from the pavement to that property's side door, increasing in height over its length. Given the driveway's width you have to reverse in - else you can't get out the driver's side - but having managed to manoeuvre the car into the drive between the cars parked either side on the road, it could only be done by placing half of the tyres on the driver's side up on the path, half suspended in mid-air. Ignoring what that may do to the alignment, we were more concerned about potentially damaging the neighbour's path, so we unloaded the car by literally lobbing everything out onto the driveway. I then left my partner to sort out the pile of bags before driving off and loitering around the village like an A-10 (look it up) trying to work out what to do.

So, for starters, it is not possible to park a large car on the driveway. It is possible to park on the road although the spaces on the wider parts of the road close to the property were all taken by locals so the only option would have been to park on a narrower part and risk it or park a long way away, since 'off street parking' could be interpreted to mean 'off street in the car park behind the playing fields parking'.

It's decades since UNPROFOR but you never forget your training on getting the locals onside and through some negotiation I managed to sort something out with a local resident. Without it, well we would have been stuffed, especially since when I walked back to the cottage I saw that someone had parked on the road partially across the driveway, effectively blocking it. It may well have been the occupant of the property next door who doesn't like the fact that their next door property is a holiday home for uitlanders and who is - understandably - irritated at them driving over their path time & time again, as the rear of their car was lined up almost precisely with the edge of their path, as if they 'owned' the pavement and road in line with their boundary. Whatever the reason, it meant that it was not possible to use the driveway throughout the stay, regardless of car size.

I contacted the booking agent the following day to flag this issue, including some photos to verify the situation but received a somewhat impuissant reply. It acknowledged there was little they could do about the driveway being blocked but confirmed that the parking "usually works well for standard size cars and is less appropriate for large 4x4s". In which case, disclose this to potential guests so that they can make an informed decision as to where to stay.

Be honest with your customer: if I would like to stay in your property A but I read that parking is tight for large cars, I will discount Property A and look to stay in Property B or C from your portfolio. No problem. If you don't tell me until after I've turned up and raised the issue with you, I'm not best-pleased.

It may be that we unwittingly stumbled into some ongoing dispute between neighbours over access to and use of the driveway but whatever the reason, the guest should not be disadvantaged by this. If 'off street parking' is available only for smaller cars this should be disclosed on the booking website as failure to do so is a misrepresentation. It is a fact that materially affects whether or not you make a reservation and had we known, we would have booked another property from within the portfolio.

I really don't like leaving negative comments but feedback should always be direct & honest. Were it not for the problems with the parking, the review scores would have been higher but not being able to park because the driveway is blocked for days - quite likely on purpose - is unacceptable.

It's a real shame as the property is lovely and smack bang in the right place to explore and enjoy Suffolk's majesty.

Would I recommend it? Yes but only if you don't have a car.




Beautiful Country Cottage

Review submitted on Thu, 22 Jun 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 at Box Valley Cottage twice while visiting the UK from Australia. Box Valley cottage is in a beautiful location with easy access to many pretty villages nearby and lots of fabulous pubs and restaurants.
The cottage was absolutely spotless and fully equipped including a welcome basket with lots of treats in.
The beds are very comfortable and nice and cosy. There is a log fire but we did not need to use it as the weather was fantastic.
We particularly enjoyed sitting in the pretty garden listening to the birds in the morning.
Off street parking is available next to the cottage for a small car or plenty of on-street parking.
We will definitely stay here again when in the UK :-)



Gorgeous cottage!

Review submitted on Sun, 04 Jun 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
Box Valley cottage is super comfortable with lovely fittings and furnishings. The bed in the main bedroom was so comfortable, the garden is gorgeous and a lovely place to sit out on a summer evening. The Crown Inn was excellent both for food or just to go for a drink. The village has a well stocked shop which was great if you ran out of something. Location was great as we visited places in both Suffolk and Essex.



Just lovely!

Review submitted on Wed, 17 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
Box Valley Cottage is gorgeous. It was spotlessly clean, very stylish, warm, comfortable and very well equipped. The cottage even smelt lovely as we walked through the front door! The colours, fabrics, and furnishings make the cottage a very relaxing and calm space to enjoy. The garden is secluded and peaceful with plenty of seating. The only noise came from the birds and local cows.The garden is fully enclosed so you can relax if you have a dog with you (although the back wall/fence is not particularly high if you have a large dog!) We found the village to be attractive and quiet, with friendly locals and a well stocked village shop.
The surrounding area is very nice with pretty villages and small towns to explore, with independent shops and cafes.




A lovely Suffolk bolthole

Review submitted on Sun, 30 Apr 2023
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Welcoming cottage, clean, warm and comfortable. Well stocked courtyard garden with views over countryside with seating and table. Good location in small village within walking distance of pub and shop. Private parking at side was a bit tight but able to park on road as well if easier. Plenty of books and guides provided to help explore this beautiful part of Suffolk. There were only 2 of us - but the second bedroom would be very cramped if 4 staying.



Wonderful property!

Review submitted on Wed, 08 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
My partner and I stayed at the Box Valley Cottage for 5 weeks as we needed a temporary reaidence while relocating to the area. The cottage was perfect for us. The kitchen is very well apportioned. Large and roomy, easy to cook in with a large refrigerator and cooktop. The living space is cozy and comfortable. The beds were extremely comfy and we felt at home. The property had a beautiful backyard garden with views of the countryside. The Crown pub is excellent, the Angel Inn restaurant was incredible. Everything in the cottage was exactly as advertised. The washing machine was very welcome and the bathroom and shower was great. Just a wonderful stay.



A wonderful experience

Review submitted on Sun, 06 Nov 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
I only have high praise for Box Valley Cottage and the owners who have evidently lavished much care on this lovely place. Everything about the house was spot on and we wanted for nothing in terms of amenities, comfort and convenience.

The attention to detail stood out and the cottage is delightful in every way. It's the perfect package and an absolute wrench to leave.



A wonderful retreat and a great place to explore from

Review submitted on Sun, 30 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
Box Valley Cottage had everything we needed for a perfect week’s break. We thoroughly enjoyed the locality and exploring this beautiful part of Suffolk. After a day out and about it was a very special place to come back to, where we enjoyed relaxing, cooking and sharing our evenings together.



Lovely cosy cottage

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
Lovely cozy cottage. Well equipped and extremely clean. Excellent location for south Suffolk and attractions in and around Colchester. Definitely recommend.



Lovely cottage

Review submitted on Sat, 08 Oct 2022
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
A superb cottage in a lovely location with a very comfortable bed. Particularly liked the kitchen/diner with the map on the wall and a lovely outlook over the garden and countryside beyond. Having the Crown Inn a few hundred yards away was a real bonus - lovely pub with good food. Good walking county and lots do in the surrounding area. Would recommend visiting Orford and walking beside the river and a visit to the artisan Pump Street bakery is a must!



Lovely cottage

Review submitted on Mon, 12 Sep 2022
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Lovely cottage that is decorated to a high standard and with comfy beds. Enjoyed looking at the view from the garden.
A good location to get to Flatford mill.



Home from home cottage

Review submitted on Wed, 20 Jul 2022
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Really lovely comfortable cottage with everything you could want. Very comfy beds with beautiful white bed linen. Cottage very spotlessly clean, equipped with well needed fans. Enjoyed sitting out in the garden, great place to relax. Many lovely walks from the village. Local shop has a good selection food and treats. Had some tasty meals in the local eateries.



Enjoyable stay in Suffolk

Review submitted on Thu, 16 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
Furnished and decorated to a very high standard. Situated in a very quiet village within easy reach of picturesque villages and lovely walks. Great food at the local pub.



Lovely little cottage

Review submitted on Wed, 18 May 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
Beautiful small cottage, everything you need is there. Settled right in the village, easy walks to the shop and thew two amazing pubs. Great place.



Lovely little cottage in beautiful village

Review submitted on Fri, 11 Mar 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
Perfect little place to explore this gorgeous part of Suffolk. Also can walk to fantastic local pubs. Highly recommended.



Beautiful, warm,comfortable well located cottage.

Review submitted on Mon, 18 Oct 2021
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 cottage is in the lovely village of Stoke by Nayland, which has an excellent shop/post office, bookshop, good pubs and an historic church. It's in beautiful countryside with plenty of local walks and well situated for visits around Dedham Vale and further into Suffolk. Stoke by Nayland is a welcoming village, we were met friendliness and helpfulness throughout our stay. The cottage is excellent, it's warm, comfortable, clean and very well equipped. It's so pretty inside with lovely furnishings and decoration and very well thought out for practicality and comfort. It has useful off road parking and a lovely private and well kept garden. The owners are welcoming, on hand to help if needed and there is plenty of useful information in the cottage for places to visit, walks and local facilities.
The customer service from Idyllic Suffolk was great too, timely, reliable, helpful and informative.



Relaxing week in Box Valley cottage

Review submitted on Tue, 28 Sep 2021
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Upon stepping inside Box Valley Cottage we instantly felt relaxed and comfortable. The property was very clean and is finished to a high standard. It feels that a lot of thought and care has gone into the layout and the decor.
Add in the rural location and enticing views of Box valley from the back of the property this really was a fantastic location to explore the Dedham Vale Aonb and wider Suffolk area.
If you are bringing an energetic dog (like us) the park in the middle of the village is perfect for exercising them as it is almost fully enclosed and of considerable size.





An amazingly clean and homely cottage.

Review submitted on Sun, 06 Jun 2021
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We had an amazing few days away. Perfect for visiting other villages.
We loved the garden and outside seating provided, and the weather enabled us to enjoy it too!
Our dog also loved the outside space.
The welcome pack was very thoughtful and there were even some dog treats.
The inside was tastefully done and spotless.