We had an idyllic week in Steepholm, a cosy stone-built cottage surrounded by lush green lawns and with a view over sheep pastures to the nearby hills of Hergest Ridge. The pictures on the Cottages.com website give an accurate view.
Generosity characterizes the provision in the cottage: there are ample quantities of everything you need (crockery, cutlery, towels), and all the basic utensils for meal preparation. The endless supply of hot water and the effective central heating system, the large kitchen, (no dishwasher but a separate under-counter freezer) with its extensive work surfaces, and the spacious dining room made our stay relaxed and comfortable.
Everything is spotlessly clean; the owner and her daughter clearly love the house and take great pride in making it inviting for all their guests. Living nearby, they respond quickly to any problems.
TV reception is good; there is no catch-up facility but there is a DVD player which appeared quite new. There is no Wi-Fi in the cottage but a nearby mast provides a very strong 4G signal so we never felt disadvantaged and were able to phone and text whenever we wished. The wood burner in the lounge was ready to light, had we needed it.
The double bedroom is small but had a very comfortable new double bed.
The bathroom, though somewhat old-fashioned in style, is, like the rest of the cottage, very clean. The shower is new and powerful. It is well regulated, giving a constant temperature once the hot water has made its way along a long pipe run from the kitchen.
The owner is very proud to have won an award as best landlady in a national poll and derives great satisfaction from pleasing her guests and earning high scores in reviews. Her warm and friendly welcome and obvious desire to ensure we had a good week were fundamental to our delightful first experience of Herefordshire. We shall certainly return to Steepholm within the next 12 months or so; there is so much more to see in this beautiful part of England but its attraction for us is due in large measure to the knowledge that we shall have the most comfortable and relaxing cottage to return to at the end of every day.
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo