Dog-friendly Essex

Located in the quaint village of Birch, these semi-detached, cosy cottages (31049 and 31050) have been built with the purpose of a holiday home in mind. Adjacent to the owner’s home, both properties comfortably sleep 2 guests with the option of extra guests with the sofa bed in the living space. Wood burners give a warm and welcoming feel to the cottages which have a contemporary theme throughout. It is a good base for exploring Essex and Suffolk, birdwatching on the nearby nature reserves, sea angling from Mersea Island, or just enjoying the local beaches and countryside. Close to Colchester, Britain’s oldest recorded town with a castle, museums, art gallery, many Roman remains, a good shopping centre, Colchester Zoo and a mainline rail link to London (40 minutes). Mersea Island is 8 miles away for its locally caught fish and oysters, as well as its sailing and beaches. Within easy driving distance are the popular sightseeing destinations of Flatford Mill, Lavenham, Finchingfield and Kersey. Shop 4 miles, real ale pub serving food 300 yards.

Surrounded by 6 acres of paddock and woodland, Evie Rose Cottage is a stable conversion which is semi-detached with the owners’ home, and offers a private bolthole, making it a perfect base for touring the area or just relaxing by the fire. It has been restored, decorated and furnished to a good standard and is a quaint, comfortable property.
Located next door to a state of the art, brand new driving range which is flood lit for guests to enjoy; 9-hole golf course, adventure golf, club house with bar and restaurant, plus a well-equipped gym (at cost). Pets are welcome too, so why not bring along your 4-legged friend and enjoy the open space? A village shop, hairdressers, post office, pub and takeaway can be found within 1 mile, whilst the village of Stansted, 3 miles, has a variety of shops, pubs and restaurants. Local attractions include Audley End House, Stansted Mountfitchet Castle and Toy Museum, and Hatfield Forest. Also nearby are many attractive historic villages, including Thaxted and Finchingfield. There are also excellent train links from Elsenham train station, 1½ miles, to Cambridge 30 minutes and London 45 minutes and only 2 miles from Stansted airport. Shop 1 mile, pub ½ mile and restaurant ¼ mile.

Oasis is a stunning end of terrace cottage which has been lovingly updated and extended to a high standard. It is perfect for families and couples wanting to explore the Essex countryside. Oasis is a gem with a fabulous open plan modern living space, featuring underfloor heating, a 43” Smart TV, Laura Ashley leather sofas and a large snuggler armchair. The dining area can easily seat eight, and the kitchen is well-equipped. There is also a cosy snug with an ornate wood burner, 46” Smart TV and a chaise-style couch and armchair. From here a door leads to some steep, 18th-century stairs to two of the bedrooms, which both have casement windows with lovely views over the front garden and village street. The snug also leads to a wet room with a multi-jet ’tower’ shower, and a utility room with a washing machine, tumble dryer and a butler sink, and there is a half size door through to to a patio area and garden.
Upstairs there is a master bedroom with Juliet balcony and stunning views over the garden. The generous 1/3-acre garden is laid mainly to lawn, with a variety of mature trees, including ash, birch, horse chestnut, walnut, palm trees and various fruit trees. The rear garden is enclosed, whilst the side garden is laid to gravel and provides parking for five cars.
Bradwell-on-Sea is a friendly unspoilt village located on the Dengie Peninsular. Here you will find the oldest chapel in England (St.Peter’s) dating back to 653 AD. There are excellent water sports available on the Blackwater estuary and nearby attractions include RHS Hyde Hall, and the town of Maldon with boat trips and fantastic splash parks for children. Beach 1 mile. Shop, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.

Bring the whole family to this relaxing home ideal for exploring the Suffolk countryside. Sleeping nine guests across five bedrooms. Saskia’s Place is a stylish, comfortable holiday home, located in the village of Brantham.
There is also a cloakroom, shower room, kitchen, dining room and a sitting room with a gas fire and panoramic views of the countryside and river stour. There is a large, enclosed garden, featuring a large hot tub and outdoor seating area, as well as off-road parking for two cars.
Saskia’s Place is the perfect location for an indulgent escape to Suffolk. Brantham village has a small village shop which is open daily. Larger supermarkets and shops can be found in Manningtree, Ipswich, and Colchester. A few minutes’ walk from the cottage is the Brantham Bull pub, an inn dating from the 16th century.
Jimmy’s Farm, owned and run by Jamie Oliver’s friend Jimmy Doherty, is off the A137 to Ipswich at Wherstead. You can take a trip to Alton Water, a large reservoir, with nature trails, cycle hire, sailing and footpaths.
There are several attractions in the towns of Ipswich and Colchester, including a Norman Castle, Roman ruins, and a zoo, while historic Ipswich is home to the historic Christchurch Mansion, as well as a newly revitalized waterfront. For security purposes the owner has CCTV installed covering the exterior of the property.
No single sex groups, hen or stag parties permitted.

Mark Farmhouse is an early 20th century, traditional weatherboard farmhouse, deep in the Essex countryside. A perfect base from which to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities on the nearby coast and in the surrounding countryside, or to make visits to the county’s historic towns and villages. There is a dog friendly beach within 3 miles.
Located on an organic farm, Mark Farmhouse provides space, peace and tranquillity in which to relax and unwind. Modern facilities, wooden floors and comfy furniture combine with original fireplaces in several rooms. A large, yet cosy living room is the perfect room for adults to chat over a cup of tea or glass of fizz while the children play games or catch up on TV in the snug next door. A door leads from here through to the dining room. Walk through to the kitchen where you can sit and drink your morning coffee at the breakfast bar and look out towards the coast or spot the many different birds just beyond the window. A step down from the kitchen leads to the utility room, great for storing muddy boots or cleaning the dog after a walk in the fields. There is also a downstairs shower room and toilet.
Upstairs the light, double-aspect, kingsized bedroom overlooks the organic farmland. A further two bedrooms both with zip and link beds are on this floor, as well as a children’s bedroom with a single bed and cot. A family bathroom and separate toilet can also be found on this level. Beach 2 miles. Shop and pub 1 mile, restaurant 3 miles.