Souters Holiday Cottage, peaceful barn set in woodland, ideal for a quiet break - 1 Bedroom (Sleeps 2) Barn in Colchester
An abundance of wildlife from your door, private grounds and woods to wander through down to the river Brett. A beautiful, historic locality to explore. Or just relax
Book with the owner direct
Owner/Property
Manager: Nick and Cath Marno
Book this Barn by contacting the owner
directly to confirm
price, property details and availability.
Booking directly with the owner means you pay the owners price with
no added booking fees or extra charges.
Overview
Description
Souters is a small converted barn and is suitable for couples. It has a large sitting room with a high vaulted ceiling, a well equipped open plan kitchen, separate bedroom with king size bed and a shower room with power shower. It is all on one level inside but has sloping paths and steps outside. There is a small mezzanine area reached by a spiral staircase suitable for quiet relaxation. It has underfloor heating throughout and also a stylish modern woodburner which makes for very cosy evenings in the colder months. Outside there are two terraces to be enjoyed during the summer and a large grassed area for play or relaxation. Fresh herbs can be found in the garden borders which guests are welcome to use. .Souters Holiday Cottage is found in the grounds of Valley Farm Cottage, home to the owners. It is just off the track leading to their smallholding and fields, which stretch as far as the river Brett, a tributary of the River Stour. The smallholding is in the process of being regenerated for wildlife habitat. It is a great spot for bird watching and present through various times of the year are nightingales - growing in number each year and usually to be heard immediately around the cottage from mid-April to the end of May, kingfishers, hobbies, woodpeckers, owls, buzzards, sparrow hawks and numbers of other woodland, river and garden birds. There is wildlife in abundance too including deer, foxes, badgers, slow worms and grass snakes, stoats and a great number of rabbits . Guests are welcome to follow the path through the coppiced chestnut woods and walk down to the river meadows.
We happily accept up to 2 well behaved dogs (we ask that dogs are not allowed on furniture or beds). Please note that the garden immediately surrounding Souters is not securely fenced; however there is a large field adjacent which is fenced and in which we encourage guests to walk their dogs. Fees for dogs are £50 per week per dog or £10 per dog per night for shorter stays.
Responsible smoking permitted OUTSIDE only.
Bedroom Details
Bedroom 1
1 x King Bed
King size bedroom, overlooking woodland
80 Reviews
Peacefully idyllic
By Eleanor and Calvin on 06-Jul-2026Thank you for a lovely stay. So peaceful. The cottage is idyllic. The cake was lovely, a very nice touch. We arrived wired and left relaxed. ~ Eleanor and Calvin
Souters Holiday Cottage
By Becky, Joe and Barnaby on 20-May-2026Wow, what a truly peaceful setting and a beautiful cottage. Thank you for the cake, it was delicious! We totally relaxed and recharged our batteries. ~ Becky, Joe and Barnaby, Suffolk
Souters Guestbook
By Mark and Em on 26-May-2026Well, we said we would be back!! Another lovely, peaceful week in this beautiful barn - asides from the constant and wonderful chorus from the birds (and did you know about blue tits nesting on one side and great tits on the other?!) Another week of delish lunches across the county and plenty of space for the furry boys to roam, sniff and break the hearts of everyone they met along the way! The starry night sky is something to behold with no light pollution, grab a seat and just look up! Beautiful. ~ Mark, Em, Abe and Todd, Dunstable
Souters - Woodland setting
By Jean and David, West Sussex on 30-May-2026We had a good week although the weather could have been better. A lovely spot to stay - tranquil and peaceful with wonderful night skies. Many thanks for the delicious cake and letting us stay in your lovely barn. ~ Jean and David West Sussex
Reconnect with Nature
By Jamie C on 26-Jun-2026Cath is the perfect host with a perfect retreat. I spent a wonderful time here reconnecting with nature. Many thanks! ~ Jamie C
Relax and recharge
By Ian on 10-Jul-2025If you’re seeking a quiet getaway, somewhere to relax and recharge, Souters scores very highly. It’s off the beaten track, down a gravel lane, but well placed to explore the beautiful Suffolk countryside and coastline. The cottage is well stocked with kitchenware, and if you’re lucky you may find a freshly baked cake awaiting you on arrival, along with flowers and a pint of milk in the fridge. I stayed for a week and loved it.