Steppes Farm Cottages

People lower the rating of this house because electricity has to be paid for separately using coins (£1 or £2), but in reality, this is not a problem at all. A day’s stay costs around £3 - 4, and I think it's easy to find that amount in coins. The house is very warm. There is a fireplace in a large hall on the second floor, and a barbecue is also available. As a bonus, there are great views from the windows. The house is located far from public transport, so you will need a car.

Unfortunately, the property owners were not able to sell logs for the fireplace, so make sure to purchase it in advance.

Location and views were stunning, but sadly that's it. Clean bedding and towels.

We were met with a very unfriendly and frosty reception from the host. Easy enough to get the keys but customer service was very poor and made us feel unwelcome. The fact that we had to put coins in an electricity metre - this wasn't noted anywhere on the booking information before we arrived. Beds were very small and uncomfortable. Property inaccurately described as 4 star which is very misleading. Smell of damp throughout property and cobwebs (which may be expected in an old property). TV was broken when we arrived, and no wifi available due to it being 'broken'. Felt very uneasy approaching the host to ask about these amenities which were advertised as available on the booking information. No backup mobile signal either, so had to drive into the local town, find a coffee shop and ask to use their wifi in order to send a few emails. Overall, no where near a 4 star stay, but the attitude of the host was the biggest negative, as it impacted our stay from the minute we arrived.

Very pretty, nicely restored, comfortable, quiet location

Electricity is by the meter so had to be careful about how much we used

Location was peaceful and the views overlooking the Wye Valley and Deer park was breathtaking particularly at sunrise. Close to Forest of Dean which we went to for cycling. Cannop cycle trails.

No complaints at all.

A real gem. Rita was very friendly and accommodating. The cottages are beautiful, characterful buildings and we were very comfortable there. We thought it was fantastic value for money.

The location is fantastic—peaceful, quiet, and with stunning views across the surrounding hills. It’s a great base for exploring the area, and parking was very easy, which made things simple on arrival. The cottage itself has many wonderful traditional features—wooden beams, old stonework, and that warm, characterful feel you hope for in a classic country stay.

On arrival, we noticed quite a bit of dust, some cobwebs in corners, and even a couple of dead woodlice on the floor. There were also some bugs on the curtains, and the crockery could have been cleaner—some plates felt a bit greasy. We were also surprised to find there were no basic cooking essentials provided—not even cooking oil, butter, or coffee—just three tea bags. It would have made a big difference to have a few basics in place. There's no dishwasher so everything relies on hand washing. It has a coin operated electricity metre which was quite inconvenience. The owner was onsite during our stay, which was reassuring in case anything went wrong, but we felt they could have been a bit more warm and welcoming.

good views from the upstairs windows, looking across the countryside

Not telling us until we arrived that the electricity is on a coin operated machine. The fact the internet didn't work for the entire time we were there The dead mice in the cupboard The general state of the place, I understand the place is on the market to be sold and they have clearly let things slip. One of my group getting accosted by the owner about why she was there, and who she was Being told not to contact them if there is an issue as she is out.

The property is absolutely stunning. Very picturesque and exactly what we imagined for a cottage in the country side

Nothing

Lovely characterful cottage, plenty of living space with tranquil views over greenery. It was all very clean and well kept, adequate provisions for cooking and dining. Plenty of parking.

Truly the only hang up was having to feed an electricity meter with coins. It feels hostile to us as guests, contradicts any idea of ‘hospitality’ and not to mention, completely out of step with the times. Nobody carries change around, and I certainly don’t expect to have to do so for a ‘luxury’ stay. Were it a bothy in the highlands or a campsite it might be acceptable but I don’t think it is here.