We spent two glorious weeks in this house in Sheffield at the end of July and beginning of August, 2015. Turning off S. Undermountain Road (Rte. 41) up a long, unpaved drive we arrived at a clearing where the house sits surrounded by profusions of black-eyed susans and day lilies - a promising start. Once inside the house we were immediately struck by how pristinely clean and comfortable it looked, an initial observation that held up to further scrutiny.
The house is well-provisioned and despite one week of muggy summer heat, plenty cool without the benefit of air-conditioning. The many windows and tight screens allow lots of airflow and have the added benefit of keeping out the bugs. The downstairs includes a living room, dining room and kitchen that are filled with light even on rainy days. The open space plan allows for a very comfortable roost between dashes to Great Barrington (10 minutes) or Tanglewood (25 minutes). There's a lovely Juliet balcony off the master bedroom suite that overlooks the gardens and two additional bedrooms, one of which was helpfully outfitted with a crib. The beds were comfortable, bathrooms well-designed, and there was plenty of hot water and towels. The kitchen was stocked with anything one could need to cook up a meal and the gas grill was easy to use for those of us who do not have one at home.
I can't say enough about the owner, Juergen, who was readily available to answer any questions via e-mail. He was unfailingly helpful and responsive, not to mention patient with us as we fumbled with the appliances during the first day of our stay.
The house is a bit isolated but we rather enjoyed the solitude. If you tire of your own cooking, a comfort food meal is available just a short walk down past the end of the driveway at the nearby Stagecoach Tavern. The restaurant is attached to the Race Brook Lodge which also offers live music in their barn.
At the top of our list for best places to stay in the Berkshires, Sheffield itself is a less explored gem in South County, and if sampling the local spirits interests you, the Big Elm Brewery and Berkshire Mountain Distillers are only a short hop away. Beautiful bike rides and hikes are close by, as well as farm stands in the NY state area that were a revelation as this house is close to the NY state border. All in all, a truly relaxing getaway.