Testimonials

The cottage was very big and bright and had everything we needed. It was very nicely decorated and felt very homely. The views and surrounding countryside were spectacular - unspoiled by pylons etc. We felt very safe and secure (not at all like home!). The owners Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald obviously put a great deal of effort into the building and grounds and are very warm, welcoming, friendly and helpful people. In fact, you could not wish to meet nicer people anywhere.

Having the sheep,horses and chickens around was novel and not bothersome at all. We found the neighbours and workers all very friendly and sociable and not at all intrusive.

We used the cottage as a family reunion base and at the same time for our wedding and honeymoon. A truly memorable experience that we will treasure forever.

The fresh eggs left for us by Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald were a lovely touch and very delicious.

All I can say is that you don't really get a true feel for the place from the internet, I would encourage everyone to stay here.

It is a great location, the dog enjoyed the countryside walks and it feels quite isolated, but in fact Longleat is on the doorstep and several attractions are within easy reach by car. It was so quiet that it was very relaxing.

My husband was in awe of the night sky - the stars were spectacular - where we live in High Wycombe there is too much light pollution to be able to appreciate them.

We loved staying here and hope to be back in the not too distant future.

With sincere thanks.

The Newly weds, Mr and Mrs. Squires

The cottage and location were idyllic, (exceeding expectations), and despite the remote location, found access to civilization (Wincanton) straight forward. Peter and Sarah (the owners) couldn't have been more friendly, having us over to look at their lovely garden as well as have use of their boat on the lake (complete with the ships captain, Pumpkin their Jack Russell :-).

We are planning our return visit (for two weeks) next year as we cannot think of a more beautiful, restful and friendly location to unwind and enjoy a bit of 'real England'!

Kind Regards

Charles Kane, QA Test Manager, Thomas Cook UK & Ireland

We stayed at Pen Mill Cottage nearly six months ago with our two young daughters (18 months and 3 years) and our eldest daughter is still talking about it and wanting to go back! We loved our stay at Pen Mill. The girls particularly liked all the animals and our walks around the farm and we had a fabulous trip to Longleat. Pen Mill really felt like a home away from home and we hope to one day visit it and it's lovely hosts Peter and Sarah again."

Jason, Sarah, Isabelle and Zoe from Sydney, Australia

Nuestra estancia en la granja ha superado todas nuestras expectativas. La casa muy agradable y tranquila. La cocina muy acogedora desde la mesa teniamos unas vistas de la colina con caballos y ovejas pastando.
Sarah y Peter son unos anfitriones muy amables y han estado atentos en todo momento.

Los niños se lo han pasado genial, han jugado a ping pong, han ayudado a Sarah a dar de comer a las gallinas y ovejas y han explorado todos los rincones de la casa incluso se han dado una vuelta en barca en el lago de Sarah y Peter.

Se pueden hacer muchas excursiones o simplemente quedarse en casa relajado. Que más decir unas vacaciones estupendas y totalmente recomendables.

Josep Miquel y Pilar from Barcelona, Spain

A comfortable and enjoyable week was spent at Pen Mill Cottage. We particularly enjoyed the setting of peace and the surrounding scenic hills. Returning home in the early evening to the cozy Aga and the opportunity to do some creative cooking was a particular treat. Our hosts were always ready with answers to many queries and made the atmosphere warm and welcoming.

Beverley, British Columbia

Having chosen Pen Mill Cottage off the internet from Canada, we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. We have been nothing but thrilled ever since we arrived – from the narrow roads to the beautiful stone houses and our very own terrace and pond! Our three children have explored every nook and cranny possible and have enjoyed every minute they’ve spent here!

Thanks so much

Lawrence family, Canada

We're so sad we have to leave today....... Once again, we've had a wonderful holiday. This cottage is such a peaceful place to relax and unwind. Thank you, Sarah and Peter. We're looking forward to our next stay already!

Sarah and Helen, Surrey

Our stay at Pen Mill Cottage has exceeded all expectations. We knew when we stumbled across Pen Mill on the internet that we had found something special, and special it is! Magical, serene, a truly peaceful haven where we all felt at home. Thanks to Sarah and Peter's invaluable tips we also managed to discover wonderful places tucked away in the countryside. You really have no idea how much we have enjoyed our stay here.

Tracy, The Netherlands

We enjoyed the cottage immensely. It made the perfect, centrally-located spot for lots of touring and sight-seeing. Your suggestions were right on the mark. Wine on the patio was the perfect end to most days, and animal-watching a real treat for city folk.

Al and Barbara, USA

A lovely few days spent at Pen Mill. The house is comfy and really well equipped and cosy, and the gardens, animals and views are all utterly gorgeous. A highly recommended place to stay — thank you!

Ruth and Steve, Bristol

Why can't all hosts be as lovely as Peter and Sarah? The beautiful setting and lovely cottage would not be half as enjoyable were it not for the genuine welcome and hospitality. We all loved it.

Frank, London

We stayed at Pen Mill Cottage for our summer holiday last year. We are a dutch family with three children. We all have enjoyed the stay so much (even our 13 year old daughter), that we decided to come back this summer holiday for another two weeks. The owners, Sarah and Peter Fitzgerald, made us feel very welcome. The cottage itself is very, very beautiful. We like to watch the BBC program ‘Escape to the Country’ and our dream was to have a stay in one ourselves.

Pen Mill Cottage was a complete answer to this dream. We are now already looking forward to have breakfast in the cosy kitchen, looking at the hills with cows and horses. After breakfast we can walk through this fields with stunning views. Being city-children they loved to look at and walk among the black sheep and the chickens. The surroundings are great too. We went to several villages, museums and often went for sight-seeing the country. We even managed to visit Oxford in a day, without a rush.

For people from the continent, we live in the centre of Holland. We traveled in one day, with several stops, through the Channel Tunnel and that was well to do.

René and Carla from The Netherlands

We have just returned from our second visit to Pen Mill and cannot recommend it highly enough. The cottage, hosts and location are all perfect. Sarah & Peter make you feel so welcome from the moment you arrive and nothing is too much trouble for them. There was 7 of us staying, us our 3 young children and grandparents and there was plenty of space. We spent most of the time in the very large kitchen with a wonderful Aga to keep it warm and the fantastic garden.

We did not visit many places this time as the children had the most fun playing in the garden, watching the horses and hens and walking across the fields. The Aga is a real bonus and great for drop scones, slow cooking and drying the washing! Not to mention the freshest, tastiest eggs we have ever had. The cottage is delightful and really does feel like a second home. We have stayed in many cottages over the years, but we feel most at ease and relaxed in Pen Mill. The biggest treat for me and my husband is waking up to the most superb views in the dual aspect master bedroom, listening to the babbling brooke and watching the horses. 'Grandad' enjoyed nothing more than getting up and walking across fields to buy newspaper (route suggested by Peter) stopping for chats along the way with very friendly local folk. Should the weather be unkind there are plenty of toys, games and jigsaws for the children and freesat TV and numerous books for adults. The children love the giant lego train set and the swing on the tree in the garden. Should you wish to venture out from the cottage Wookey Hole, Cheddar Gorge & Stourhead are all within easy distance by car. For those who enjoy a little retail therapy Clarks shopping village in Street is a must (also has a wonderful wooden fort for children to play on).

Although a little expensive Longleat is a must and will give you two full days entertainment. The cottage is clean, well maintained, fully stocked (crockery, utensils etc), has efficient heating if needed, has a bath and a shower, cot, highchair and toddler bed, microwave and dishwasher. It is also easily accessible for those with walking difficulties (just one step at front door). We love it and would definitely recommend this idyllic cottage to our friends.

Clairelouise from Beckenham, Kent

We have just returned from our second visit to Pen Mill Cottage. From the moment we arrived we felt relaxed and for most of the week, we just enjoyed being in and around the cottage. The views are wonderful with the horses in the fields, the hens wandering around and the sheep in the garden! The house is cosy but very spacious and cooking on the Aga is great even if you arent used to it! We tried a couple of walks recommended by Sarah and Peter, one to a nearby pub (The White Lion) which did a wonderful roast pork Sunday lunch and a circular route during which we saw deer.

Longleat is always a great place to visit (if a little expensive) and there are some wonderful old homes in the area under National Trust guardianship which are also worth a visit — the garden walk at Stourhead is a must! Clarks Village is a great place for a little bit of retail therapy — there is a shop for everyone there! All in all, we had a great week. Sarah, Peter, Pumpkin, Chilli, the hens and the horses all made us very welcome!!! We will be back!!

Lorraine and Paul from Burgess Hill, West Sussex