Guests say
Guests consistently praise Woodpeckers for its immaculate cleanliness, welcoming host, and thoughtful touches, including welcome gifts. The property offers a comfortable stay with modern amenities, a hot tub, and a pet-friendly environment. The serene location with wildlife and convenient transport links adds to the charm, making it a highly recommended retreat.
Reviewers unanimously commend the property's cleanliness, describing it as 'spotless' and 'very clean', indicating meticulous maintenance and attention to detail.
The property's location is appreciated for its tranquility and wildlife, with convenient bus and train access. Some guests mention a nearby busy road, but it does not significantly detract from the overall positive feedback.
Comfort is highlighted with mentions of a peaceful environment, a fantastic bed, and a cosy atmosphere. The property is described as a 'home from home', suggesting a high level of comfort.
Facilities like the hot tub and swimming pool are frequently praised, though there is a mention of the pool being out of use during one stay. The property is well-equipped, but a minor note on the lack of charging points in the bathroom slightly impacts the score.
The host's thoughtfulness is consistently noted, with special mentions of welcome packs for both guests and pets. While these gifts are warmly received, it is politely noted that such extras, though likely, are not guaranteed for every stay.
About this property
A charming, ground-floor annexe, attached to the owner's home and amidst their extensive and pretty grounds on the outskirts of the village of Alresford in Colchester. Woodpeckers is an ideal holiday property for a couple looking to explore the Essex region, well-placed for discovering the coast, the town of Colchester and the city of Chelmsford. Enter the property to discover a neutrally styled, contemporary kitchen, with wooden flooring and worktops, well-equipped with all the appliances you'll need to create wonderful home-cooked meals during your stay, which can be enjoyed at the dining table in the living/dining room. After dinner, kick back on the cosy L-shaped sofa, which can be turned into a sofa bed, should you wish to bring additional guests, and enjoy watching your favourite shows on the large, wall-mounted TV, or read a good book under the light of the lamp, while the window offers pretty views out onto the garden. Enjoy your rest in the spacious super king-size double bedroom, neutrally decorated with soft grey carpet and overlooking the garden, while the stylish, modern shower room offers a walk-in shower for you to prepare for each day, as well as a heated towel rail for extra comfort. Outside there is plenty of off-road parking available, plus an enclosed patio area with outdoor furniture, hot tub and bbq. Additionally, between the months of May and September there is an outdoor pool to enjoy, perfect for cooling off in the warmer weather. Alresford village has a good selection of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the property, as well as riverside strolls along the River Colne and access to several fantastic nature reserves and gardens worth exploring, such as The Beth Chatto Gardens, planted in the 1960s, Cockaynes Wood, an ancient woodland mentioned in the Doomsday Book and home to a variety of birdlife, including barn owls, as well as the Essex Wildlife Trust's Fingringhoe Wick, a set of quarries that have been turned into a nature reserve and form part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. Seven miles away, the historic town of Colchester offers a wider range of amenities and eateries, as well as an impressive 12th century castle, built on the foundations of a Roman temple, and there are many remains of Roman architecture still present in the town, including the remains of a theatre in the Dutch Quarter. Stroll the park that surrounds the castle and pay a visit to Hollytrees Museum, while foodies will enjoy a trip to Mersea Island, the home of the native oyster. Explore the National Trust's Bourne Mill, originally built as a fishing lodge in the late 16th century, and for a more bustling environment, you can hop on a train and head into London with ease, should you wish to spend the day in the thriving capital city. Alternatively, head to the coast at Clacton-on-Sea, less than ten miles away, to discover a host of beaches as well as plenty of entertainment, from an amusement park to a pavilion and pier, making this a great way to spend a day when the sun is shining. The city of Chelmsford is within driving distance, with its 11th century cathedral, museum of local history and excellent shopping and dining out facilities, while the picturesque countryside of the Dedham Vale AONB, on the Essex/Suffolk border, is also easily accessible. Enjoy visiting bustling towns and cities, as well as picturesque coastline and charming countryside from this lovely abode.
The village of Alresford is situated in Essex alongside the River Colne, seven miles from Colchester and nine miles from the coast and beaches of Cacton-on-Sea, while the city of Chelmsford is a 45-minute drive away. Alresford itself has a good selection of shops, a post office, convience store and a handful of restaurants to choose from, as well as stunning gardens and nature reserves to explore, including The Beth Chatto Gardens, an ecological garden planted in the 1960s, the ancient Cockaynes Wood, mentioned in the Doomsday Book and home to a variety of birdlife and barn owls, plus the Essex Wildlife Trust's Fingringhoe Wick, former quarries turned into a nature reserve and part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. The historic town of Colchester is home to a stately 12th century castle, built on the foundations of a Roman temple, resting within Castle Park, and has a museum with ancient artefacts that are more than 2500 years old. The Dutch Quarter of town still displays the remains of a Roman theatre, while Hollytrees Museum features clothing and decorative arts that are centuries old. Colchester offers plenty of places to eat drink and shop, as well as a fantastic zoo, perfect for a family day out and why not head over to Mesea Island, home of Colchester's native oyster? Clacton-on-Sea and the coast are nine miles away, where you'll discover a variety of entertainment, as well as fantastic beaches, a pier and pavilion. A wonderful array of opportunities awaits you from this wonderful village location.
Accommodation
All-ground-floor.
One super king-size bedroom with zip/link.
Shower room with basin, heated towel rail and WC.
Kitchen.
Living/dining room.
Sofa bed
Gas heating.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, TV and WiFi.
Pool and Hot Tub.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Ample off-road parking.
Enclosed patio with seating and bbq.
One well-behaved pet welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 0.4 miles, pub 0.3 miles.
Note: Please be aware you may hear some noise from the road outside of the property.
Please note: The pool is available May - September between 10am and 4pm (weather permitting).
Note: This property accepts a maximum of 2 Adults and 1 child under 15yrs old.
Please note: Guests must bring their own towels for hot tub and pool use.
Nearby points of interest
- University of Essex
- Colchester Castle Museum
- Colchester Zoo
- Bicester Village
- East Anglian Railway Museum
- West Mersea Beach
Reviews (34)
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Seamus
We couldnât fault Woodpeckers. Everything you need is there, spotlessly clean and tidy. A nice enclosed area for the hot tub and for our dog to safely roam around in. We hope to return in the near future and have already recommended Woodpeckers to family members.
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Molly
Debbie was so accommodating from start to end. The location is fantastic as there is so much to do nearby, with many beaches being only a 30 minute drive away. The amenities are brilliant, from fresh eggs and white wine to dog biscuits on arrival. The hot tub and swimming pool are a lovely bonus too. We couldnât fault our week away if we tried, we didnât want to leave as we loved it so much!
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Amanda
From the gorgeous grounds, to the pristine, immaculate accomodation, to the lovely owner Debbie who was so very helpful and friendly, we couldnât have asked for better. My sister and I wanted a few days to relax and catch up on life, and we got to do just that in the loveliest place. Woodpeckers is so clean, and furnished to a high standard, we arrived to find some lovely goodies to enjoy too! The hot tub was fantastic, and Debbie came to greet us and showed us all that we might need to know. We will be visiting again next summer and we hope to make this a yearly treat for ourselves! Thank you so much to Debbie, it was just what we needed, and more!