Relaxing Way to Ring in the New Year

Guest: Kelly (Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 12/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

We spent three days / two nights at Ellen's Cottage over New Years and found it to be a wonderful way to ring in the New Year. The property is beautiful and we felt like we were the only people on the mountain during our entire stay. There were so many great things (golf cart, electric bikes, etc.) but unfortunately we had a lot of rain and didn't get a chance to do too much exploring. There is great hiking in the area that makes for a fun half day. Loved the fact that my cell phone was out of service was really able to just unwind and relax. The kitchen was wonderful and we enjoyed a lot of great meals while watching football on the flat screen. The only downside of the stay was that we had some trouble with the futon and ended up just using the air mattress instead to sleep. It's probably because we just aren't good with futons :) Overall the stay was great and we definitely want to come back in the fall when the leaves are changing.

Owner response:Kelly, sorry you had problems deploying the futon. It's definitely non-intuitive. The good news is it's very comfortable, with a 6" thick mattress, if you can get it out. If you forget Dean's demonstration on how to operate it, the Cottage Manual on the bookshelf has pictorial instructions. Once you do it, it's pretty easy. Feel free to call Dean again if you have problems.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Excellent vacation

Guest: Tom (Livingston, NJ)
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/01/12

My wife and our dog stayed at Ellen's Cottage for 3 nights end of December and we had a wonderful time. The place is very secluded but spectacular with every modern amenity one can ask for. Both the home and property are incredibly well kept. The care taker met us at the cottage even though we were at least 2 hours earlier than we originally told him. He was extremely helpful and welcoming. We would definitely want to vacation here again and recommend this place to all our friends and family.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+.

comfort and seclusion in a gorgeous setting

Guest: Jeff (Washington DC )
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 11/22/11

There is so much to explore here, great trails criss-cross the hills of the property. The golf cart was great for a quick trip up to the gazebo for fantastic views and a campfire, or to venture over to the pond for a spin in the paddle boat. The cottage is stocked with everything you need to cook a nice meal and get a good night's sleep. We'll definitely keep this place in mind for our next retreat.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Amazing!!

Guest: Jiggsy (Philadelphia)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

The location is stunning. It really allows you to change the pace and enjoy the simple things - the cool early morning mountain air, the sunrise from the front porch, the hummingbirds... Explore the 300 acres and then come home and jump in the pool from the bridge. After all that, take a ride in the golf cart. So much fun..! My wife and I haven't had this much fun in a long time. After all that get cozy in the cottage and watch a movie from the movie library on the flatscreen TV. The cottage is really well appointed. The owners have really thought of everything. Most importantly, this is amazing value for your money!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Get away!

Guest: Lisa (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

This beautiful place is very remote and perfect for a couple who really want to "get away". The house is beautifully renovated, immaculately clean, and exceptionally well taken care of. More than enough linens, blankets, towels, and kitchen supplies are available. My only suggestion to future visitors is to pack and bring all of your food and beverages, or make sure there is somewhere to stop on the way to the property; especially if you are not travelling to the property from I-81. It seems as though the owner and caretakers have thought of everything! The house does not lack anything! A golf cart and 2 electric bikes are available for use to roam and explore the property. The view of the Blue Ridge Mountains is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The property care takers were so welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Our whole experience was just perfect!

Recommended for:Pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+.

Exceeded Our Expectations

Guest: Shelly (Burtonsville, Maryland)
Date of Stay: 07/04/11 Review Submitted: 07/11/11

My husband and I stayed in the cottage for a midweek getaway last week. We had a wonderful time. My husband, who pays very little attention to decor, commented that the cottage is even nicer in person than it appeared in the photos. We enjoyed the large flat screen with direct tv and wi-fi when we were inside. When we were outside, it seemed that there was always something to do. We had our American Bulldog puppy with us and he had such a good time running around, taking in the scenery, splashing in the lake and playing with the cows. The cottage is equipped with everything you could possibly need - linens, including blankets, pillows and sheets; towels for the bathroom and the pool; the kitchen is equipped with a microwave, 5 burner range, full-sized oven, coffee pot, toaster, cutting board, plates, bowls and other serving pieces; outside the cottage there is a barbeque grill with all the tools you could possibly need and deck chairs; by the pool, there is a shade shelter, lounge chairs, fire bowl, pool rafts and an outdoor dining table. If you venture out into the acreage you can enjoy the lake, where there is a picnic table and an opportunity for fishing or a paddle boat ride or you can walk/hike to the gazebo on the mountaintop and take in the views and build an old-fashioned camp fire. The caretaker and his wife, were as kind and welcoming to us as they were to our puppy. We were provided with a map of the area and some ideas about nearby attractions -- we never felt the need to leave the property. We would definitely recommend the cottage to anyone looking to get away.

Owner response:Thanks for this review. I think we can safely say that Shelly & co. fully utilised all amenities during their stay, especially the golf cart (inside joke)!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+.

Peaceful solitude

Guest: Lorraine (Durham NC)
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

My husband and I stayed here for a week in early spring with our 2 dogs. The property is beautiful, the cottage very well equipped, modern and tasteful. We wanted to be cozy, let our dogs run, roam around without getting in the car, and it met our needs. It feels very spacious. The owner and caretaker were very responsive when there were a few glitches (internet, TV). We were there before swim season but the pool looks like it would be lovely (for adults and older children). The golf cart is fun and would help a lot if you weren't too mobile. The cottage is very small and you have to switch the futon couch into a bed each night (it is quite comfortable for both); more than 2 guests would be tight. Since we really wanted to spend most of our time based at the house, we were surprised at how close the cottage was to the road given the huge acreage (it's not right on the road but just a little ways up and the road is in full view - not too busy when we were there). We wished there was more outdoor sitting with comfortable chairs facing a view from the cottage. This is a new rental so I think there will be improvements coming and I think the owner would try hard to accommodate. The area all around is beautiful.

Owner response:The road is a couple hundred feet from the cottage, and is a gravel/dirt road that was an old stagecoach trail. You can expect traffic of about one car an hour. The cottage was built on the 150-year old foundation of a smoke house for curing meat. More chairs and lounges have been acquired. In addition to the golf cart, we bought a couple of electric bikes that are a blast to ride- powerful and silent.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+.

FANTASTIC cottage!

Guest: Time to Escape! (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 02/20/10 Review Submitted: 03/07/11

What a wonderful place! Completely relaxing... away from it all. Lots of lovely amenities at the cottage, and the land and location is just perfect. Very welcoming reception -- by our host as well. I will return as soon as I can!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.