Simon and Ruth extend a warm welcome to you to their secluded cottage close to the Wye Valley and in the Forest of Dean. The cottage is available for weekday or weekend short breaks in the autumn through winter and week long stays at any time of the year. Cosy and warm in winter with log burning stove. A cool and charming cottage in summer. This is a gem of a holiday hideaway.
If you are looking for something different from a super luxury, apartment-style city break then our rustic cottage stay on the edge of woodland in the countryside is likely to appeal to you!
This is a chill out and relax destination. Families will find it a great base for adventure and activity days out. Honeymoon couples will find this ideal. Nature lovers will enjoy the abundant wildlife. Those who need to relax and recharge will delight in the sauna and hot tub in the private spa area.
.jpg.jpg "View of the cottage from the approach road")
Pike House cottage is available as a self-catering, two bedroom holiday let. The cottage sleeps 4. The bedrooms are set up as 1 double bedroom and 1 twin bedroom. You get use of the whole place to yourselves when you let.
Are you just one couple? You can receive a discount and have just the double bedroom open. Please see the Prices page for details. You get use of the whole place to yourselves - apart from the twin bedroom - when you let.
We aim to meet and greet all staying guests, at least for their first stay. We'll briefly show you the main features and leave you with a printed cottage guide so you'll have no concerns. We aim to provide a warm and helpful welcome. Our holiday cottage is very special to us and we will help you settle in so it's a special stay for you.
Whether it's Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter our holiday hideaway is a cosy location for a holiday break. In Winter the log burning stove provides a warm comforting glow. Logs are provided and usually you will find fire lighters ready for you too. In addition, the whole cottage is nicely warmed by oil-fired central heating throughout.
In the Autumn, with the leaves disappearing from the trees, there's plenty of colour in the cottage's enclosed secluded garden. The Forest of Dean is glorious in late October. In the Spring, hear the birds singing and watch them feeding in the garden from your bedroom window. In Summer the sheltered, secluded garden is perfect for those who enjoy sunbathing, affording the possibility of an all over tan.
Access to the cottage is good come snow, rain or shine. The road past the cottage is kept open and well gritted in all but the most extreme of winter conditions. The Forest of Dean welcomes visitors all year round. The Wye Valley is only a mile and a half from the cottage.
Our holiday hideaway is former toll house built in the early 1800s. It was very sympathetically extended in the mid 1970s. The cottage retains the charm of the old toll house while providing the comfort of a modern home.
The original part of the cottage still has the old beams. It is this original part that is now the living room. A stone surround fireplace with log burning stove adds to the charm and cosyness.
We are delighted to be able to offer our holiday cottage as self-catering accommodation in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK.
.jpg "Enchanting fully enclosed private garden")
Pike House Cottage is the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. It is just south of Coleford and a few minutes drive away from Clearwell caves and from the increasingly popular Puzzle Wood. Access by car is excellent. See the photo at the top of the page as it gives a good impression of the setting of the cottage.
Our cottage is just 2 1/2 miles from Park End. Parkend is the village many would consider most central to the forest area of the Forest of Dean. It is also the top most point of the Dean Forest Railway.
The cottage is set apart from other properties. It has a wonderful sense of peace and rest about it. There is some sound of vehicles but most people don't find any distraction from this and the birds singing outside the kitchen door get much more of their attention.
The cottage functioned in the 1800s as a toll house, such toll houses are locally referred to as a pike houses. Our cottage is probably the best example of a pike house left in the Forest of Dean.
The Wye Valley is easily accessed from the cottage. The river Wye is less than 3 miles away if you drive to its nearest point through the villages of Clearwell, Newlands and then towards Redbrook. When the road reaches the A466 - which follows the Wye Valley - turn left for Redbrook and right for Monmouth.
Interestingly, you don't have to cross the River Wye to be in Wales. The Welsh border reaches to Staunton on the Forest of Dean side of the river and only a couple of miles from Coleford.
Photos on the top right are places and scenes in and around the Forest of Dean. Hover your mouse over any one of those photos to see where it was taken. Please see our Forest of Dean page for more information about the attraction of the Forest of Dean and things to do and see.
At Pike House Cottage there are two pubs serving meals just a short walk away. The closest is The Miners Country Inn which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. The other, only a little further away, is The Orepool Inn which has established such a good reputation that you need to book for Saturday nights in advance.
Actually the quality of the eating places in the area is amazing. You'll be spoilt for choice. Another nearby place recommended by guests is The Ostrich Inn in Newland. Their website (theostrichinn.com) provides a menu with prices. A little further away is The Boat Inn. This is nestled in the Wye Valley and situated right on the edge of the River Wye overlooking the old railway bridge that crosses from Redbrook to Penallt. Their website (www.theboatpenallt.co.uk) also provides a menu with prices. A bit nearer is the Wyndham Arms in Clearwell (www.thewyndhamhotel.co.uk) with a good report from our guests.
In the nearby market town of Coleford there are good shops and other amenities such as a laundrette.
For Sunday newspapers, for example, the nearest corner store is at Milkway. It's only 3/4 of mile away. There's a post office in the corner store too. Head towards Coleford and turn right when you see the sign pointing left for Clearwell Caves. The corner store is in front of you at the next junction.
Travelling from the North taking the M50 and then the A40 until Ross-on-Wye is a good route. Follow sign for Forest of Dean from there.
Travelling from South Wales, heading for Monmouth also makes a good route. Monmouth is only about 10 minutes drive from the cottage.
Travelling from the South the M4/M5 Almondsbury interchange is only 35 minutes drive by car from the cottage if you take the M48 over the old Severn Bridge.
It is only 50 minutes drive from Cheltenham taking the A40 then A48. See our "Forest of Dean" page for a map. If you're travelling from the north you might want to take the M50
Reaching the cottage by train is also possible by getting off at Lydney. Cheltenham Spa station to Lydney Junction station, for example, normally takes 32 minutes by train and trains run approximately hourly at most times of the day. The cottage is 6 miles from Lydney station.
“We needed a break. We needed peaceful time. We wanted to be cozy and warm. We wanted some us time. We found it here. Will be back ASAP. Thank you, Simon and Ruth.” Bob and Wendy - Jan. 29th 2023
“What a week of wonderful weather and visiting an area we had hardly ever seen before. Good nights' sleep on a lovely comfy bed, lovely clean and well equipped cottage, pretty garden, super hot tub and garden facilities and a helpful host. We have enjoyed our stay with you. Thank you so much.” Norman and Trish - Jul. 24th 2021
“Simon and Ruth’s place was an amazing choice for my friend and I for a weekend away to relax and unwind. Set on its own in a beautiful part of the forest, we had superb privacy all weekend, and were able to fully utilise the spa facilities, which are absolutely amazing! We spent our Saturday night sipping tea in the hot tub under the stars, in the forest, and had a quick spell in the sauna... we couldn’t have asked for more! The house is kitted out with everything you may need for either a long or short stay, and as well as the pubs being a stumble away, a large shop is only a few minutes away by car and had nearly anything you would want/need. Simon greeted us on arrival, and gave us a tour of the place and some really useful tips around the house and for the spa. He was great with communication, and is a super host! Thanks again for letting us stay!” Nicola (Nicola posted this on Airbnb) - Mar. 15th 2020
