Squirrel's Leap

This was my third stay at the cottage and, once again, it was the most lovely, peaceful and wonderful break.

It is always such a pleasure to return and it never disappoints. The cottage is beautifully maintained and comfortable. Carolyn is a wonderful, attentive host. I wouldn’t hesitate to return again and would highly recommend this cottage to anyone looking for a tranquil getaway.

This was my second stay at this property, and it remains one of the most beautiful, cosy, and comfortable homes I’ve had the pleasure of staying in.

Carolyn is a wonderful host; always responsive, helpful, and willing to go above and beyond to ensure a great experience. The property is consistently immaculate, thoughtfully presented, and exceptionally comfortable. It provides the perfect base for working away from home, situated in a beautiful, quaint, and peaceful village while still offering easy access to major routes and transport links. The dedicated desk workspace is a huge bonus and made working remotely particularly convenient. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and would highly recommend this property to others.

Delitful property in a pretty village, well appointed and comfortable.

Carolyn was very accomodating. Would recommend this property.

Warm and cosy when we arrived and had all we needed for our 4 night stay.

Such a pretty village and so good to be close to the local dog walks. Easy travelling to Winchester and Southampton - all in all a good relaxing break

Lovely comfortable house very close to Winchester and many other points of interest.

We were able to use our telescopes at the back of the garden for two nights of stunning stargazing; the village has no street lights so it was perfect. The only negative comments I have is that hand towels were not provided with each bath towel and there were no waste paper bins upstairs, no toiletries other than soap and no tea, coffee or milk which would prove difficult for any party arriving late and/or from abroad. Otherwise - perfect.

On the surface the cottage decor looked fine and I’d spent a lot of time choosing accommodation in the area.

The reality was somewhat different and definitely not up to a 4 * rating as advertised and was definitely not compared to other 4* accommodation we have stayed in. The two main areas of disappointment were the bathrooms/downstairs toilet and kitchen. They had been cleaned but not thoroughly. The kitchen sink looks very old and needs replacing. There was no washing up bowl provided and no clean washing up cloth or sponge and the cupboard under the sink was very dirty. The dishwasher didn’t work well and when we reported this to the owner she said it had new racks put in but they did not fit properly and she blamed a long term tenant for the condition of the kitchen which again was tired and not clean. There was just four items of crockery of various types provided which meant we had to wash up more than once a day because the dishwasher was not working properly. Some of the kitchen utensils were dirty and the oven looked like it had not been properly cleaned for some time. There was old food/condiments in cupboards which needed throwing away as they were grubby and sticky and probably stale. Many of the cupboards and draws provided throughout the property had old boxes and other bits of tat in them eg broken mirror in bathroom cabinet. They just needed to be cleared out. The bathroom had very small towels, there was no light in the shower, the tray was yellowing and the large shower head needed a descale. Although we didn’t use the garden because of the weather it again was neglected and not just because it isn’t the best time of year for gardens. Clearly a lot of time and thought had gone into the decor and furnishings but there was just a lack of maintenance and attention to detail and not particularly welcoming. I emailed the owner to confirm our arrival and got a rather terse response and unlike other cottages there was no welcome pack. These little touches make a huge difference.

Pretty place but needs a deep clean & lots upgrades on appliances can’t be bothered to list all the thing wrong with the place as have an ongoing dispute about our stay.

My advise is untill the problems with this property are dealt with it’s not worth the money☹️

We loved Squirrels leap.

It has a lovely feeling to it as a place to stay and was perfect for our requirements. There were a few little niggles but nothing that affected our enjoyment. It has clearly been decorated with a lot of care and thought. The village is really beautiful and well provisioned with great walks locally.

What a beautiful place to stay.

Very comfortable and beautifully set out. Forgot to pack our dog’s sleeping crate but he slept on his bed in the hallway with no issues. Many thanks to the owner who warned us about a couple of things before we arrived - we were well prepared. Would love to visit again

Beautifully clean on arrival and great communication with owner.

If had one minor complaint would be lack of instructions for Hob, tv, and nothing about wi.fi password. We managed to overcome these but feel others may not. Whilst discovering wi.fi password Husband upon standing up hit head on sharp corner of stair support.None of this distracted from a great stay at the property which hopefully we will book again

Nicest holiday cottage I have ever booked!

Accessible, well appointed and extremely comfortable. The dishwasher and washing machine were a welcome addition. My older parents were concerned the stairs would be a problem — they were not - and the walk-in shower and spacious additional downstairs toilet made things much easier. The Wi-Fi was fast and reliable and mobile reception was good. The village is beautiful, well served by a village store and pub, and a short drive from Winchester. The owner was responsive and helpful. The cottage is very good value for money and I would book again. Can only recommend.

To be completely fair, the cleanliness of the kitchen was a concern and would benefit from a deep clean, along with some additional touches to enhance the space.

The kitchen equipment is outdated and needs upgrading to align with the rating of the property. A toaster would be helpful, and providing updated utensils and more cutlery would improve comfort. It’s always best to have more than necessary. Additionally, areas like under the sink need attention, and the freezer should be defrosted. The lounge area is very relaxing, clean, and comfortable. The presence of a smart TV was a nice touch. The room felt cozy, clean, and airy, but some of the cushions were quite worn with visible holes and splits. Furthermore, the coffee table is very small; while I understand the concern about space, it feels inadequate for accommodating the maximum number of guests. The downstairs bathroom had a damp smell, likely due to a previous flood or a damp issue, which is evident in the wall decorations behind the toilet. Additionally, the hand wash provided was empty; in our opinion, it would be better not to provide it at all than to leave it empty. This area could also benefit from a deep clean—it wasn't dirty, but it could use some refreshing. The overall appearance upstairs was bright, airy, and pleasant. The master bedroom presents challenges for elderly guests or those with mobility issues due to the tight space around the large bed, which is situated too close to the radiator. While the bed was luxurious and comfortable for sleeping, it is not ideal for rental accommodation considering access around the room. Also, only one of the bedside lamps worked, and the ornamental wardrobe handle needs to be fixed as it keeps falling off. In Bedroom Two, our guests expressed complaints about the comfort of the mattress springs. I believe a new mattress would significantly improve the situation. Nonetheless, the room was clean, tidy, airy, and pleasantly adorned with cottage furnishings. The upstairs bathroom shower could use some cosmetic updates, including new fixtures and a showerhead. A few vanity amenities would also improve the appearance under the sink, along with some general bathroom comforts to meet the property’s ratings. Lastly, the cottage would benefit from having a TV in the bedrooms for a more luxurious and comfortable feel, as some guests prefer to relax in bed. We believe that having a TV, at least in the master bedroom, is necessary to align with the cottage's rating. Although a vacuum is provided, it is insufficient for the size of the property; another vacuum could be easily added. No mop or broom was found either, which would be beneficial to have on hand. We felt that the garden space leading from the kitchen is nice, but it doesn't fit in well with the area or the neighboring gardens. It lacks shrubs, and some cut borders would enhance its appearance. Overall, the garden is somewhat disappointing for a cottage setting, especially considering the official property rating. A barbecue and a four-seater table with chairs would also be a nice addition. However, the front garden area is lovely, and the general approach to the building is appealing. In general, the property is pleasant. The windows, blinds, and decoration are superb, and the area is calm, relaxing, and peaceful. We enjoyed the short walk to the local pub, and the town has an air of class and superiority with its surrounding shops, restaurants, and local sights, all of which were very clean. Thank you for providing us with our stay. However, we feel that the property did not fully meet the official ratings provided. If the above points are addressed, it could easily attain a rating of 4 to 5 ticks. It is essential to provide accurate ratings for individual properties, considering the cost and the risk of disappointment. Kind regards.