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The Old Barn, Organic Residence, Secret Garden

The Old Barn, Organic Residence, Secret Garden

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'Tuscany in the Chilterns'
'relaxed Sitting area with commanding views'
'vaulted limed beams for a calm relaxed light feel'
'Wallingford by evening light' 5mins by car through open countryside
'Henley-on-Thames' 17mins by car through open countryside, across the chilterns

Overview of The Old Barn, Organic Residence, Secret Garden

Reviews
9.6 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Check out the area

Map
wallingford, ENG
  • Popular LocationThames Path5 min drive
  • Popular LocationWallingford Museum5 min drive
  • Popular LocationDidcot Railway Centre12 min drive
  • AirportLondon (LHR-Heathrow)54 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Old Barn, Organic Residence, Secret Garden

" Tuscany in the Chilterns ",' "Midsummer Murders", "Wind in the Willows" & Agatha Christie's " Miss Marple & Poirot country", 200 year old country barn two fields from the thames, beautiful views, on a par with National Park Status, one of a few areas in the UK where you have hills and valleys and a navigable river wrapping around them, encircled by picturesque riverside towns

The old barn is set in the center of an AONB conservation area, two fields away from where the river Thames wraps around the Chilterns, a unique area of the Chilterns that has the benefit of the hills and valleys as well as the thames, a proper navigable river, wrapping around it, and encircled by the riverside towns of Wallingford, Dorchester-on-Thames, Henley-on-Thames, goring & Streatley, Whitchurch-on-thames, Pangbourne and Sonning on Thames , all with thier beautiful stone and timber bridges straddling across the Thames, great for a romantic break from a stressed busy life or big city, a walking , golfing , painting, horse riding or cycling holiday , and boating or fishing on the river Thames, if you want to stop off the world for a while, friends call it the sanctuary ! also useful if in the area for meetings or conferences and need somewhere to stay, fully fitted kitchen so self catering if you prefer and totally self contained

Groceries - I,m very interested in organic farming and local produce, all the farm land around the barn has gone organic, and conscious of the journey you might have made to get here, i always leave in the barn, fresh loose tea (there's a nice china tea pot) and fresh organic bread, for tea and toast for your arrival, there's also fresh organic butter, organic eggs, organic honey and malt whisky marmalade, organic milk, and organic biscuits , so you can just stop and relax and recenter yourself

Accommodation comprises the whole upper main vaulted and beamed floor of the barn which feels very light and airy, with amazing views across open Chiltern countryside and has a continental style with french greys and creams, open vaulted limed oak and elm beams give a cheerful calm relaxed feel, and makes a self contained private apartment, with its own entrance, comprising of two bedrooms , two en suite bathrooms also with baths and power showers, a central sitting room area and kitchen,

Beds & Bedding - its one of the most important aspects of your stay, so with sensitive consideration, the beds are new King size large 5ft wide handmade, hand tufted, Organic lambswool and organic cotton quality 3000 individual pocket sprung divan double beds, being totally natural they support you really well and allow air to circulate, to give a better night sleep. the crisp white bed linen, sheets, duvets and pillow cases are 100% percale cotton linen, which allow air to circulate and you feel more comfortable as natural, and there is a 4.5 tog duvet and 9.5 tog duvet set for each bed, which along with the three pillows per side are all goose and down feather for more comfort and they also allow air to circulate for a deeper natural sleep. All the fresh white towels along with four extra large toweling spa robes are natural 100% cotton as well,

The accommodation works really well for a couple who want to spread out across two bedrooms, and take advantage of separate bathrooms, or two friends on a walking holiday needing separate bedrooms, or a couple and one or two children if the children don't mind sharing a double bed or two separate couples, any other guest combination please message me first before booking so we can make sure we can accommodate your needs, thanks

Interaction with Guests

as the barn is accessed through a shingled courtyard, surrounded by high trees and hedging, guests can enjoy a discreet and private stay, we like to show you were everything is on your arrival, then leave you to it, but only a phone call away if needed

The Old Barn could be useful for.,
Walking holidays , painting holidays , self contained , self catering , short lets , long lets , horse riding holidays , weekend breaks , bed and breakfast , barn holidays , accommodation , regattas , weddings, festivals, golf & golfing breaks, corporate accommodation

attractions, the ridgeway , grimms ditch, river Thames , country pubs , riverside villages , views , golf, midsummer murders, Agatha Christie, Poirot , Miss Marple, wind in the willows, History of Mr Polly, ancient history, award winning gastro pub and resturants

Property manager

Alexander

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Fireplace

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
i,d rather my guests were sensible using the barn and the only real rule is to not smoke in the barn as its a 200 year old building with allot of oak and elm beams, it has been put together with allot of love and care and beautiful craftsmanship and i know my guests want to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and leave it in good condition for other guests to enjoy,

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Wallingford

Located in Wallingford, this holiday home is in a rural area. Wallingford Museum and Didcot Railway Centre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Thames Path and The Ridgeway. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Henley Cricket Club or Madejski Stadium. Jet skiing and waterskiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and cycling nearby.
Map
wallingford, ENG

What's nearby

  • Thames Path - 5 min drive
  • Wallingford Museum - 5 min drive
  • Didcot Railway Centre - 12 min drive
  • Oracle - 18 min drive
  • University of Reading - 20 min drive

Getting around

  • Reading Goring and Streatley Station - 8 min drive
  • Oxford (OXF) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Ox Shed Cafe - 5 min drive
  • The Boat House - 5 min drive
  • The Keep Bar & Bottle Shop - 5 min drive
  • The Coach & Horses - 5 min drive
  • The Old Post Office - 5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Old Barn, Organic Residence, Secret Garden pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

Where is The Old Barn, Organic Residence, Secret Garden located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of Chiltern Hills, Thames Path and Wallingford Museum. The Ridgeway is 3.1 mi (5 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews" "

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

8.8/10

Location

8.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

margreet v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cosy cottage
Very cosy, homy and personal!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous!
This property is a wonderful and relaxing place to stay. The host is very accommodating and helpful. The overall amenities were luxurious. I would definitely stay here again, and again!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

John P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Thames-side short break
Lovely stay in a very cosy cottage
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa V.

Delightful
This place is delightful, relaxing and central for all the lovely places we wished to visit such as Ewleme, Sonning, Goring and Henley. We were very impressed by Alexander's 'welcome pack' detailing places and activities of interest, places to eat and lovely walks. The accommodation was welcoming and of high standard with many extras such as a cream tea, thank you. We would recommend this to all and would certainly visit again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Gillian H.

Charming and Friendly
Alexander went out of his way to be helpful and informative about the many things to do and see in this interesting part of the country. The Barn itself was well equipped, charming (if a little overstuffed perhaps) and the beds were very comfortable. It's my own fault for not recognising that the adjacent A road would be noisy as the lorries hurtle down it and that the RAF station close by would provide plenty of helicopter action. It's rural but don't expect complete silence.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017

About the host

Hosted by Alexander

Host profile image
Hi, originally went to Art & Design College, and work as an interior & furniture designer, i just love the understated country farmhouse feel, and making people relaxed and comfortable as possible, creating spaces that are warm and friendly, my dream would be a farmhouse in Tuscany, but i,ve been imagining an English version in the Chiltern Hills!, some guests have said its an improvement on Tuscany, as its so lush, and there is fresh English air here, so you can actually breath, unlike Tuscany, which is like walking around with your head in an oven, so more softer temperate climate, so you will get a good nights sleep, i,ve helped many private residences and Hotels, so making the barn special and comfortable for guests and sensitive to their needs is second nature to me, just here to help you enjoy your stay in the old barn and the beautiful surroundings,

also stay for a few days and if you have an hour or so, i can give you a little tour/adventure around this beautiful area, in an old comfortable range rover called "the beast", great for getting up into the hills to capture the views, and help get your bearings of places you might want to visit, with riverside settings, and help set the scene for your visit

Another unique aspect to explore in the Chilterns, is because it has such a quintessentially English Feel, most major films are set here, i can show you the original windmill, on the hill from chiggy chiggy bang bang, most Miss Marple and Poirot films are set around here, 101 dalmatians, the avengers, sleepy hollow, tank with brad Pitt, goodnight mr tom, also the series vicar of dibley,

alexander :-)

Why they chose this property

You must check out the Chiltern Hills, a unique historic and visual destination!, on a par with national parks status, its an outstanding protected area, having the river Thames wrapping around the hills gives a different more "Wind in the Willows" boating feel than the Cotswolds, as there are no navigatable rivers in the Cotswolds, and not as overcrowded, really interesting architecture and the history and origins of the country can be found here,

You can explore this beautiful area around the Barn, from different perspectives,

A) the geography is interesting, feels like an ancient map of Britain, nothing has changed, for 1000's of years, with the Thames cutting through the hills, giving breath-taking views of the Chiltern Hills on one side and Wessex Downs on the other-side, take a sociable woodland or riverside walk through this landscape and end up at brick and flint country pub, with roaring log fires at the end, fully refreshed,

B) you can explore all the Inspector Barnaby old “Midsummer Murder” villages , as Wallingford is the main centre, and "Causton" in the tv series

C) Wallingford on the river Thames is really old and historic, with the remains of the oldest and biggest castles overlooking the Thames, known as the home of famous author Agatha Christie, as she lived here for 42 years "Winterbrook House", and wrote most of her mysteries here, so Miss Marple and Poirot world, to explore, and see where her inspiration came from

D) Goring and Streatley on the thames, is known as home to the story “wind in the willows”, a great Thameside village to explore,

E) Dorchester-on-Thames has the oldest Saxon cathedral in the country, 640AD, fascinating place, as the first king of the Saxons was baptized there in the river, 600AD, how long ago is that!, isn't that incredible, it has a museum and tea shop, all the ladies in the village bake these incredible cakes! can’t recommend it more, for history and beautiful architecture, and the origins of the country

What makes this property unique

Boating holiday makers also love this area, if you can, get out on the Thames for an adventure, some guests hire boats at wallingford bridge and book a table downstream at a restaurant or pub, "have a wind in the willows adventure" or take the old fashioned river steamer from Goring bridge, with a refreshment drinks bar on board, through the goring gap, with outstanding views, the stretch of the Thames, from Goring & Streatley to Benson is the longest stretch on the River Thames without locks so you can do 1.5hours boating one way without going through a lock, which in effect is 3 hours round trip, some parts of the Thames like Windsor or Marlow is like a boat motorway where you can queue in the locks for up to 45mins, such a pain, and quite built up, whereas through this stretch, the river meanders and cuts through the Wessex hills and the Chiltern hills and is thought of as having some of the finest views of the Thames, “it’s like boating through an 18th century painting”, so a great area for outside activities like boating, walking, cycling & horse riding, fishing etc, Oxford University have their boat houses in this stretch as the longest stretch for their rowing training

Geography
Thousands of years ago the river Thames forced its way through the chalk hills, splitting them into two hills, the Chiltern hills on one side and the Wessex downs on the other side, creating amazing views of the Thames cutting through the hills, it’s actually been voted in the top ten views in England, with beautiful little riverside villages and towns and bridge crossings through this cut through,

Languages:

English
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