Entire home

The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream

Photo gallery for The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream

Property grounds
Beach
Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pet friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor Space
  • Free WiFi

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream

A stone built converted coach house and granary serving the ancient watermill which operated on this site from Saxon times until the 1950s. The current buildings date from the 17th century. The present owners have converted the Granary into a charming open plan apartment with a separate bathroom (with shower). There is a well equipped kitchen/dining area and a bedroom area (which can be curtained off) with two single beds and two pull-out beds for occasional use. In addition we have stationed a charming vintage gypsy caravan on the lawn outside, which has two single beds and will be in use from April through to the end of September.
Set in a tranquil garden of 2.5 acres with a babbling stream, tree swing, trampoline, well kept lawns and outdoor furniture, the property lies on an intersection of well used footpaths and is just a few minutes' walk across the fields from the delightful Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary. Easy access to beautiful beaches such as Steephill Cove, Shanklin and Ventnor. One mile from the picturesque tourist village of Godshill with its many pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Perfect for children and pets who will love the sunny garden and cooling stream, the Granary is a relaxing place to spend time, not just a bed for the night.

Prospective guests need to be aware that, due to the age and siting of the Granary, in extended periods of rain and certain atmospheric conditions it can become a little damp, and while we provide a dehumidifier and fan heaters, if a member of your party suffers from allergies or asthma which might be affected by dampness, we would advise you to avoid the wetter times of year. We have taken measures to limit this as much as possible and any smell of damp usually disappears once people are living in the building. Please also be aware that due to the narrow pipes that service the Granary, the water pressure is always fairly low. We hope that you will regard these issues as minor considerations which are easily outweighed by the overall charm.

The garden is a haven for wildlife and we share it with badgers, foxes, rabbits, moles, mice, voles, frogs, toads and occasionally a red squirrel. We have buzzards nesting at the bottom of the garden and the stream is often visited by herons and ducks. The trees provide a home for a colony of jackdaws, woodpeckers, owls and a assortment of songbirds. Less welcome indoors but impossible to entirely keep out is the army of grass spiders plus many other insects. In this age of declining wildlife, we are pleased to provide a home for most of these creatures, although we prefer it when the badgers and moles do their digging in the more remote parts of the garden!

Property manager

Mrs Rebecca Phillipson

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Electric kettle
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Toaster
  • Spices

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 1 bedroom
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV
  • DVD player
  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine
  • Near laundromat

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 total pets

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Permitted outside only

Services and conveniences

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the bay

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Marina nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Composting
  • Recycling
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Double-glazed windows

Similar properties

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
2 total pets
Note from host: Well-behaved pets are welcome

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: There's plenty for children to do
MONETIZATION_ON

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Please enquire first
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

The Granary at French Mill

About the neighborhood

Map
Sandford, Isle of Wight, ENG

What's nearby

  • Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Godshill Model Village - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Shanklin Beach - 15 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Ventnor Beach - 16 min drive - 6.7 km

Getting around

  • Shanklin Station - 11 min drive
  • Southampton (SOU) - 97 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Fighting Cocks - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Barnhouse Bar & Restaurant - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Laburnum Cottage Tea Rooms - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Copper Kettle - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Townhouse Bar - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 2 mi (3 km) of Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Godshill Model Village, and Appuldurcombe House. Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre and Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are also within 2 mi (3 km).

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The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 91 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 27 out of 91 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 91 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 91 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 91 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Vivienne E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quirky stay
Great place for exploring the island
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John H., wirral

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful
Our second stay at this beautiful property and we have already booked for next year. We love staying here the property and grounds are beautiful and peaceful and in a very convenient location.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

mick h.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Charming it is not
Damp smelly overgrown dont be taken in by picture or discription
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joanne P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A delightful cottage in the most charming garden
The Granary is quirky and very comfortable, equipped with everything you need for a self catering stay. The garden is just wonderful and the real highlight of our stay. Rebecca is a five star host and we can’t recommend her property highly enough. With a car or bicycles, it’s in an ideal location for exploring the island. Without, the buses are frequent, convenient and inexpensive.
Stayed 46 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Dev M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good
Perfectly located near the beaches
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing cottage
The garden is beautiful, the green surrounding the cottage makes everything very peaceful...a perfect break for all three of us (Westie included)
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

karen d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Long weekend break
A beautiful relaxing place to stay. The granary+caravan were amazing and so pretty. Rebecca made us very welcome. Would definitely recommend and return..
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Sujita D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cathartic private dwelling
A lovely little dwelling in the quiet countryside to use as a base as we explored the Island.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

David L.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location and a wonderful property
The landlady have great communication skill. The property is set on a peaceful and beautiful ground. Had a great time at the cottage escaping the city hussle and bustle.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good location and nice property
I liked it. The romany caravan in the grounds was lovely and the property itself was very nice. The check in was easy. There is a long and interesting garden. It was easy to reach everywhere on the island.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maureen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing
The Granary was ideal for our use. Everything we needed was there and our small dog (Chihuahua - Snoopy) was delighted with the garden! We really enjoyed our stay and wished we had been there for long. Sorry not to meet Rebecca - next time!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just 2 nights
Just the friday and sat night. Good base. Cute little place. Owner met us there. Got 2 new beds installed. Comfortable. Can get anywhere by car easy
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Isabel S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved it
We had a great time in the area, the Granary, the romany caravan, the gardens and the little river. It was perfect for us. Hassle free. Isabel
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne H.

Wonderful - loved the swing,
Very friendly environment and stunning garden. A microwave would have been useful but all necessities covered. Many thx
Stayed 11 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Harriet L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A very happy stay on the much loved Isle of Wight
Loved staying at the French Mill. The Romany Wagon was definitely an added bonus for the girls. It gave them a truly magical and memorable experience. Ideally located and charming holiday rental property for visiting the island. Only sorry not to have been able to actually meet our host Rebecca who was very communicative and helpful before and during our stay.. we were also pretty fortunate with the weather. Hope to come back one day …
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gianetta R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Short Break
The Granary is very sweet and very nicely fitted out. Perfectly suited for either a short break or a young family perhaps. It is set in lovely grounds which when I was there were full of daffodils. I have two small gripes: the mattress made my back ache it was so hard and the internet was definitely dodgy on the first night but then work very well afterwards
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sujita D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Magical birthday getaway
The property was located in an idyllic part of the IOW. Very peaceful and calming, felt truly relaxed and safe. A great garden to explore and allow the dog to roam in. It was very useful to be able to self cater in the modest but functional kitchen. A great base to set off on a day of adventures and return in the evening for some down time. The hosts were very lovely and we look forward to returning!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emese S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Holiday at the Granary
The place is like a literal fairy tale. There is a stream in the backyard with a tiny little boat house for children to play with. Flowers all over the place, and you step into a literal forest from the back of the house. It is stunning and unspeakably peaceful. Rebecca is a lovely host she was always available, even gave us a jar of home made jam as a gift to take with us. It was a perfect holiday, we made so many memories on the island, I can't recommend enough. We are hoping to return in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

jeannette w., Deal

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Ideal for us
Lovely and cosy with double glazing. Couldn`t hear the main road or the incredible winds we experienced when we were there. A lovely run in the garden for Chief who enjoyed it there. IOW people, as polite as ever and the island was so dog friendly, there was nowhere we wern`t accepted. Perfect! Lovely hosts that were as efficient and friendly as possible. Thank you Rebecca and Guy
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2022

6/10 Okay

Victoria W.

Pretty But
The Granary was very sweet....but there was no welcome pack. There was no milk and the basics that were in the kitchen were in greasy jars. Stuff that had been left by previous guests were stuck to each other and stuck to the shelves. There were no towels, so as soon as we arrived we had to go to the supermarket to purchase some. Once we had bought the essentials, we had a lovely time there. The garden was lovely, as was the owner.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

2/10 Terrible

Sheila B.

Owner not aware of her responsibilities when letting
We rented the cottage for three days in July. The owner was appalling. She said she had no cleaners and would we clean the cottage and change the bed linen for the next guests. She said she couldn’t understand why the previous guests had written in the comments book that the cottage was dirty. As my friend is a very conscientious person she got up very early on the last day and spent three hours cleaning the cottage, even though we hadn’t cooked or been in during the day. This had hung over her during the stay and did not make for a relaxing time. At the owner’s request for an earlier check in time, we arrived 10 minutes before we said and she was annoyed “I haven’t put the dinner out” and disappeared for 20 minutes. She then criticised people who did short lets of 3 days and she wanted to make financial penalties for this– it was only vacant for three days. A note in the kitchen said that all breakages must be replaced, the crockery etc was mismatched left overs or cheap; in contrast the owner of the previous cottage we had been to wrote “ don’t sweat the breakages its only IKEA”. The kitchen cupboards and shelves were full of left overs from other guests.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Monika D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyable Summer Break
My family and I stayed at the French Mill Granary for 3 nights. We really enjoyed it. Our teenage daughter slept in the gypsy caravan which she loved. The garden was fabulous (our dog loved to run and discover various parts) and the swing was a hit. Everyone was very helpful giving us ideas about the places we could visit. We really enjoyed the Isle of Wight and staying at the the Granary which is in a very good location to travel around. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

David L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jacqueline A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Isle of Wight Stay
The hostess was very friendly. The guest house was spacious and loved the caravan. The property was beautiful and would definitely recommend it.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

John H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Delighted Accommodation
Beautiful cottage with character in beautiful grounds quite idyllic
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024