The Herdsman
Escape & Relax
A spacious open-plan barn conversion with character, set in a rural location, perfect for unwinding and relaxing while exploring the local area
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Just returned from spending a lovely week at Brook Farm with my dog. I would highly recommend it! Lovely cottage and beautiful surroundings, best of all its very dog friendly. I’m hoping to return next year.
Jodie Hicks
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Had a lovely relaxing short stay at The Herdsman over the weekend. A fabulous setup in a beautiful setting with a warm welcome on arrival. I combined my stay with a workshop held at the farm and enjoyed the surroundings during the stay we were even lucky enough to see the Red Kite fly overhead whilst eating breakfast!
Vicky Slack
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Just returned from spending a lovely week at Brook Farm with my dog. I would highly recommend it! Lovely cottage and beautiful surroundings, best of all its very dog friendly. I’m hoping to return next year.
Jodie Hicks
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Jane was there to welcome us when we arrived and showed us around the property, everything we needed was there even for the dog, she made the dog feel welcome and all very comfortable for him, this was his first holiday and had lots of space for a run,cannot fault it at all..definitely would visit again.
Susan
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What an amazing peaceful break away! No need to worry about anything as Jane is very helpful and great with recommendations. The barn is so cosy like a home from home. Lots of walking to do with dogs. Jack and barley are super friendly too (hosts dogs) and like to play and come walking with you. We loved every minute and hope to be back next year!
Annie
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Great hospitality and county location. Well appointed accommodation with all creature comforts. Perfect for our two Cockerpoos who felt right at home. Will definitely be back!
Paul
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Just had a great week with my dog Barnie at The Herdsman, a real home from home. Jane was a fantastic host, very welcoming, nothing seemed too much trouble. Barnie loved running through the fields with Jack and Barley, he didnt want to come home. Looking forward to returning soon.
Stuart
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We were very happy with the cottage, it was the perfect weekend away. Jane, our host, was most attentive and informative about the cottage and its features. There is plenty of space to stretch your legs in the surroundings, our 3 dogs were very content! Would high recommend!
Megan
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The barn conversion is very comfortable and spacious. Ideal place to take dogs on holiday with many lovely walks on the doorstop. The owner is very friendly and helpful. Loved seeing the horses in the paddock from the patio doors.
Jenny
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A very nice quite location and a very nice and helpful owner. (Jane) Reviewed by Trevor, 17th May 2019 It was ok as a base but it would have been nice to have had a better outlook that's our opinion. Garden fence is rather low if you have a dog that can jump!
Garry
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If you have dogs, this accommodation is fantastic, great walks, secure accommodation. spacious, relaxing environment. loved it
Eileen
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Great Place,Great Hosts,Great Price. What more can you say !!!!
Jason
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Everything was very pleasantly comfortable. Nice touches in case you forget a few personal items. It is an ideal tranquil place to escape to. Jane is qualified to offer plenty of relaxing therapies to help you unwind. Dogs and horses are friendly and happy to have visitors nearby. Wellies are useful! Great property and great owners.
Donna
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Wonderful quiet place and perfect escape from the rat race! Very well equipped property and extremely comfortable. Definitely hoping to come back.
Adrian and Vicky
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This cottage is perfect, a real converted barn. Very spacious. Mr and Mrs Gilbey could be more welcoming and heloful. If you have dogs lovely place to walk round the farm. The owners dogs are very welcoming. Really could not this place and will definitely be returning.
Suzanne
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A wonderful place to stay home from home. Made to feel very welcome by he owners. It is a great location central to either Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, London. Generous welcome basket. We look forward to staying again.
V
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Amazing place to just chill out and have adventures. Fantastic place, fantastic animals, fantastic property and fantastic people. Thank you 😊
Adrian and Vicky
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Wow! This place is amazing. The dogs had such an amazing time, so quiet and relaxing. We will definitely be coming back.
Neil, Fiona, Bentley and Bella
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Really enjoyed our stay. Great for the dogs to have so much space to run around. Lovely house, had everything we needed.
Jackie, Derrick, Fred, Marbles and Ozzie
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Thanks you Jane and Steve, we loved and enjoyed our restful weekend. Our 2nd visit enjoyed as much as the 1st.
Sue and Phil Pellatt
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Very beautiful cottage, perfect for the relaxing two weeks we had planned. Enjoyed watching the horses and Vegas and Phoebe loved their walks and space to play especially when Jack and Barley joined us. Big thank you to Jane and Steve.
Becky and Dale Dawson
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Had a relaxing time at the barn, so quiet and the dogs had a ball out in the fields. Jane was so welcoming and so were her beautiful dogs. Hope to return soon.
Stuart, Carole, Rory, Cooper and Gideon
ACCOMMODATION
Holiday Barn
Set amongst acres of rolling countryside, the farm on which the barn is situated, offers additional activities such as complimentary therapies and classes on the doorstep. Those wishing to find scenic footpaths or cycle tracks need not venture far with local woods and for day trips, why not take a short drive to Mersea Island with locally caught seafood, sailing and beaches or a boat charter from Maldon. Alternatively, Colchester is widely regarded as Britain’s oldest town, with a history extending back to Roman times evident when wandering the quaint cobbled streets with independent shops. Other popular sightseeing destinations in the area include National Trust properties, Flatford and Bourne Mill and the highly renowned Colchester Zoo. The train station at Kelvedon gives you direct access into London for a days sightseeing.
3 dogs welcome at The Herdsman (Please advise if large breed dogs)
Free WiFi included
Local Nature Walks
Shop 2 miles and pub within walking distance
Off-road parking for 2 cars
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer and washing machine
lockable barn for bikes, a dedicated
wash down area for bikes
Charcoal BBQ available
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Everything was very pleasantly comfortable. Nice touches in case you forget a few personal items. It is an ideal tranquil place to escape to. Jane is qualified to offer plenty of relaxing therapies to help you unwind. Dogs and horses are friendly and happy to have visitors nearby. Wellies are useful! Great property and great owners.
Donna
Great Place,Great Hosts,Great Price. What more can you say !!!!
Jason
What an amazing peaceful break away! No need to worry about anything as Jane is very helpful and great with recommendations. The barn is so cosy like a home from home. Lots of walking to do with dogs. Jack and barley are super friendly too (hosts dogs) and like to play and come walking with you. We loved every minute and hope to be back next year!
Annie
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Great hospitality and county location. Well appointed accommodation with all creature comforts. Perfect for our two Cockerpoos who felt right at home. Will definitely be back!
Paul
A very nice quite location and a very nice and helpful owner. (Jane) Reviewed by Trevor, 17th May 2019 It was ok as a base but it would have been nice to have had a better outlook that's our opinion. Garden fence is rather low if you have a dog that can jump!
Garry
The barn conversion is very comfortable and spacious. Ideal place to take dogs on holiday with many lovely walks on the doorstop. The owner is very friendly and helpful. Loved seeing the horses in the paddock from the patio doors.
Jenny
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Jane was there to welcome us when we arrived and showed us around the property, everything we needed was there even for the dog, she made the dog feel welcome and all very comfortable for him, this was his first holiday and had lots of space for a run,cannot fault it at all..definitely would visit again.
Susan
If you have dogs, this accommodation is fantastic, great walks, secure accommodation. spacious, relaxing environment. loved it
Eileen
This cottage is perfect, a real converted barn. Very spacious. Mr and Mrs Gilbey could be more welcoming and heloful. If you have dogs lovely place to walk round the farm. The owners dogs are very welcoming. Really could not this place and will definitely be returning.
Suzanne
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Just had a great week with my dog Barnie at The Herdsman, a real home from home. Jane was a fantastic host, very welcoming, nothing seemed too much trouble. Barnie loved running through the fields with Jack and Barley, he didnt want to come home. Looking forward to returning soon.
Stuart
A wonderful place to stay home from home. Made to feel very welcome by he owners. It is a great location central to either Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, London. Generous welcome basket. We look forward to staying again.
V
We were very happy with the cottage, it was the perfect weekend away. Jane, our host, was most attentive and informative about the cottage and its features. There is plenty of space to stretch your legs in the surroundings, our 3 dogs were very content! Would high recommend!
Megan
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We stayed in The Herdsman at Brook Farm earlier this year and had the most wonderful, relaxing time. The cottage itself is just lovely; spacious, clean, beautifully decorated and furnished, with cosy cushions and throws and everything we needed for our weekend stay. My partner and I had the double bedroom with ensuite whilst our daughter slept on the comfy sofa bed. Nice little touches like a basket of breakfast goodies, bread, eggs, jams, tea, coffee etc were much appreciated and there was plenty of information provided on things to do locally. We all enjoyed relaxing in the cosy living room in front of the wood burner (we visited in winter) and eating breakfast by the patio doors, overlooking the farm.
The Herdsman is located in a farm with acres of beautiful fields that we enjoyed exploring with our dog Bella. She loved playing in the fields with the owner's dogs Barley and Jack too! Our daughter loved the horses and was thrilled to be allowed to groom them with owner Jane. We visited a charming local pub, The Old Crown, which is just down the road and we highly recommend for food and atmosphere. We also recommend a visit to Perrywoods garden centre which has some really beautiful gifts, clothing, foodie treats and a tea room as well as all the plants of course. All in all a perfect getaway and Steve and Jane were great hosts. We will definitely return as there's lots more to see in this beautiful part of Essex and recommend a stay at Brook Farm to anyone wanting to get away from it all!
Nikki Hammond Watt
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We stayed at the herdsmen for 3 nights on the 23rd August.what an amazing place.jane and steve were lovely including there dogs.lovely and peaceful.beautiful walks.the properly itself was absolutely stunning.comfy bed.everything you need in a property was there..Great place to wind down after a long week..we recommend this place to anybody. Will definitely be going back.love it .great hosts.. thankyou so much for a great stay x
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The Herdsman was lovely. It was very comfortable and well equipped. We had a very relaxing stay. We all enjoyed walking round the farm and seeing the beautiful animals. Especially the gorgeous dogs! Jane was welcoming and very helpful. Overall our stay was excellent.
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Upon entering this charming cottage, guests will find a useful porch area for dropping off shoes or wiping muddy paws before stepping into the spacious open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner. With a mixture of exposed brick walls, vaulted ceilings and quirky windows the character of this barn has not been lost and the open-plan nature provides a real sense of space. The two lounge areas provide a great place to relax and unwind with comfortable seating and TV/DVD to catch up on any must see programmes. The wood burner effect gas fire provides a focal point for the room as well as taking the chill off any evening. The kitchen is well-equipped and provides everything required to rustle up anything from an evening meal to a light snack, with electric oven and hob, microwave and fridge/freezer, there is also a dining table and chairs. Also, for the guest’s convenience a washing machine is located in the kitchen. The generously sized bedroom features a king-size bed to ensure a peaceful night’s rest with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite shower room with shower and WC, tastefully tiled from floor to ceiling. Finishing the accommodation is a separate WC. Outside there is ample parking and the property is approached via the main gates into a large pea shingled farm yard. As you come through the gates the stable barn is opposite you. Bearing round to the left you come to the large open courtyard with the Herdsman situated to the right side of the large barn in front of you.
Court Yard Garden
For those that wish to enjoy a spot of al fresco dining, the garden offers a fine place to enjoy both the charcoal BBQ and garden furniture, offering an enclosed garden area and a patio area. There is off-road parking for two cars. Guests are also welcome to explore the rest of the farm which undulates over 20 acres and has some fantastic views to enjoy.
Out and About
The county of Essex boasts some wonderful places to visit. Essex has one of the longest coastlines with many estuaries, marshland and beaches. We have Chelmsford City and Colchester the oldest recorded town. We have Constable Country at Dedham and Brook Farm is well located for a trip to London just 50 minutes by train or for exploring deeper into East Anglia. We have pretty villages, bustling towns, country parks, woodland, cycling and walking routes and lots of dog friendly pubs. This section we have put together a list of a few of the places we have enjoyed visiting.
Dogs Welcome at the Herdsman
Welcome dogs to the Herdsman at Brook Farm. We have 20 acres of securely fenced and hedged space to enjoy and local woods just a mile along the road. Our own dogs love to meet visiting dogs. We have to be careful with our livestock and other pets and also other guests so dogs need to be on lead in some areas, but there are some areas well behaved dogs can have a good run off lead. Unfortunately we won’t be able to accommodate dogs in the new Glamping area.
Handpicked by holidaycottages.co.uk
Booking The Herdsman
Bookings for The Herdsman are taken exclusively through www.holidaycottages.co.uk, please click the button below to book your next stay or view additional information, reviews and photos.
Booking The Herdsman
Bookings for The Herdsman are taken exclusively through www.holidaycottages.co.uk, please click the button below to book your next stay or view additional information, reviews and photos.
