Have you ever stayed in a place that just feels right? A place where you could imagine you and your family living? This weekend we were invited to discover what there is on offer for families in the Forest of Dean. We stayed in an idyllic two bedroom cottage called Parish Mill located on the edge of the Forest of Dean in Longhope. I had checked the cottage website out in advance of our visit and had been impressed with the decor and facilities. I was however completely unprepared for how my family and I would feel when actually staying there. An hour after arriving at the cottage we had dinner cooking in the oven, wine poured and it already felt like home!
It normally takes a day or two to begin to relax whilst on holiday but not this weekend! The main topic of conversation between Richard and I on Friday evening, after putting the kids to bed, was how we could redesign our house to replicate the cottage. We loved the tasteful decoration of the former storage barn, the original features which had been carefully restored and the spacious rooms…
When staying in self catering accommodation top of our priority list is a place which promises to cater for families. Of course one persons idea of what works for families can be very different to our idea of what works for our boys. From first walking in Parish Mill cottage we knew immediately that we were going to be able to relax and enjoy our two night stay.
Tracey and David, the friendly owners of Parish Mill since 2014, have thought of everything families could possibly need during a stay at the cottage. High chair, stair gate, travel cot, step in the bathroom to easily reach the sink and toilet, non slip bath mat, plug socket guards, plastic bowls, plates and cups, popular children’s DVD’s, games, jigsaws, books, even a home-made delicious Victoria sponge cake! Seriously impressive eh? Multi chain hotels could learn a thing or two about catering for young children from Tracey and David!
The couple have even developed the stunningly beautiful seven acre grounds with young guests in mind. As parents Richard and I really appreciated the enclosed private patio area to the front of the cottage. Not only was it a lovely space to enjoy a BBQ and alfresco dining it was also a safe area for our boys to play away from the babbling stream which runs through the garden, without us having to watch over them constantly.
Charlie and Harry would happily have spent hours this weekend splashing in the stream, playing on the climbing frame and slides and being entertained by the resident pet goats and rabbit! We unfortunately didn’t have much time for this as we were busy visiting attractions all weekend. We did however thoroughly enjoy exploring the private grounds and climbing the hill at the back of the cottage to experience these incredible views of the surrounding valleys…
In addition to the fab facilities for children we also loved the complimentary wifi, the fluffy thick towels, the soft bedding which smelt heavenly and the fully equipped kitchen. Not only did the kitchen have every appliance we could possibly need including dishwasher, washing machine and coffeemaker it was also kitted out with all the essentials to avoid needing to visit the local shops. Salt, pepper, olive oil, kitchen roll, washing detergent, tea, coffee, sugar, local eggs and fresh bread were all provided.
Normally when reviewing accommodation I have no problems coming up with a long list of things that could be improved. For Parish Mill Cottage however I have to say it is pretty much spot on! One thing I feel worth noting is that the cottage is located near a road so you can hear some road noise BUT the incredible views and pitch black sky which was great for star-gazing more than make up for it!
If you are looking for a cottage which caters for families we can highly recommend Parish Mill Cottage recently graded 4* gold by Enjoy England. The cottage has a large en suite double bedroom downstairs (with lots of room for a travel cot which can be provided on request). In the converted attic there is a huge en suite bedroom (with bath) which has two twin beds and a day bed with a further two single mattresses and therefore perfect for large families.
Quick note – The owners have also just modernised a two person lodge in the same grounds called Mill Garden Lodge. I had a quick peak inside and can thoroughly recommend as a relaxing retreat for a couple!
Need to Know
Website – Parish Mill Holidays
Address – Parish Mill, Monmouth Road, Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0QD
Disclosure – We stayed as guests in return for this honest review of Parish Mill Cottage.
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I have been searching for a cottage big enough for my family, thanks for helping me out!
Perfect – they’ve got it spot on. I love it when there are little touches to show how carefully they have furnished their property. The fact that as a couple you could relax on that first night and feel at home is a great sign.
What a really lovely quaint little place this is, so sweet x
I love this place. It is just so peaceful and relaxing. No wonder you all settled in so quickly.
I have never been to the Forest of Dean and after a crazy indulgent and full on holiday abroad, this looks like a paradise of relaxation.
This looks like such a wonderful place from which to explore the FOD. I love all of those little extra touches from the cottage owners – things like a stair gate being included make travelling with kids so much easier and therefore so much more relaxing. I love the idea of a bit of stargazing here too!
This sounds like a fabulous place to stay with kids. I love the idea of resident pet goats and a rabbit. The views of the valleys are spectacular too:)
Sounds like you all had a lovely time Lisa! The pics are fab.Sounds like they really went the extra mile!
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They really did Helene. I have stayed at many self catering cottages that have said that they cater for kids but actually they just tolerate them rather than actually arms open wide welcome them! Just little touches like having the plastic plates meant that I wasn’t constantly worried that the kids were going to break anything!
This looks beautiful – just my sort of holiday accommodation! It’s great that they’ve considered everything young children might need. It certainly takes the stress out of a holiday for parents!
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Yes it certainly did Sarah! Boys had a great time, to be honest they would have been quite happy spending the weekend at the cottage and exploring the grounds but we had lots of attractions to explore instead!
This place sounds amazing – I cannot believe they provide cake too!
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It was really good victoria sponge cake too! I may have just slightly over indulged:)
I love when owners have thought about their younger guests. It makes such a difference doesn’t it!
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It definitely does! It also reduces the amount you have to cram into your car too ;)
That looks amazing….going to have to give this one a visit!
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Michelle your boys would love it at Parish Mill. I can just imagine them running up the hill and splashing in the stream ;)
Hello Michelle, we would love to welcome you to our cottage, if you would like any information please get in touch. Kind regards Tracey
Thanks Tracey, definitely interested so will be in touch for more info!