Tapps Lodge

There's a lot to like. Spacious. Large table suitable for working on. Well equipped "home-from-home" kitchen. Log burning stove. Very quiet and secluded, on edge of substantial woodland, overlooking fields. Nearest neighbour about a quarter of a mile distant. I stayed for about 12 days and would gladly have stayed longer. In October it was adequately warm. Comfortable bed. Recommended for: (1) couples wanting to reconnect in a very secluded comfortable environment, surrounded by nature (2) Families wanting relaxation time where the children have access to the garden. (3) People who want to read or write or paint in seclusion. Definitely a bad choice if you need the buzz of urbanity to make you feel alive or safe.

The negatives weren't of a kind that spoiled my pleasure but some people might find it useful to know about them: Mobile phone reception was flaky at best. I did manage to get Internet access for my work but only with careful positioning of the phone and it was still a bit inconsistent. I had to sit outside to have a voice conversation. The final mile or so of public road by which you'll travel to the site is very narrow, badly maintained and could be slippery with wet leaves or ice. If you meet a pedestrian you will have to stop while they squeeze past your vehicle. Fortunately it has very little traffic, so I rarely had to reverse to a passing space. Blinds on the kitchen window would have been helpful for those times when the low sun was dazzling while sitting at the table. My usual complaint about UK guest-houses and hotels is the poor lighting (usually "warm yellow" and less bright than I'd like) and that was true here also. If you are trying to colour match clothes or cosmetics or see whether or not something is dirty, you'll struggle unless the sun is up. Usually I carry my own high-intensity 'daylight' lamp as mitigation, but alas, I forgot this time. Tendancy to get a bit damp. Difficult to dry clothes. This was my biggest 'problem' during my stay and if I were to visit again, I'd bring a dehumidifier.