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

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February 2025

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

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

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

Explore the area

Map
Sandford, Isle of Wight, ENG
  • Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
    13 min walk
  • Old World Tea Rooms
    2 min drive
  • Shanklin Station
    11 min drive
  • Southampton (SOU)
    97 min drive

Room options

About the area

Ventnor

In Ventnor .Within 2 miles (3 km) of this Ventnor cottage, you'll find Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary and Godshill Model Village. Appuldurcombe House and Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre are also within 2 miles (3 km).

What's nearby

  • Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary - 13 min walk
  • Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre - 3 min drive
  • Shanklin Old Village - 4 min drive
  • Shanklin Beach - 15 min drive
  • Ventnor Beach - 16 min drive

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

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
  • Spices
  • Blender
  • Ice maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Coffee/tea maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 1 bedroom
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

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

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Books

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
  • Hiking nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Scuba diving 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

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 are welcome
  • Maximum 2 pets
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • 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

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30. Note from host: Please enquire first

Property is also known as

The Granary at French Mill

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

2/10 Terrible

mick h.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Charming it is not
Damp smelly overgrown dont be taken in by picture or discription
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Monika D.

Liked: Cleanliness
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
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jacqueline A.

Liked: Cleanliness
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., wirral

Liked: Cleanliness
Delighted Accommodation
Beautiful cottage with character in beautiful grounds quite idyllic
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ruth A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely stay
What a lovely place to stay - the children loved staying in the wagon and I loved the peace of the mill! Thank you for everything. A lovely welcome, lots of interesting hints of things to visit, and a perfect location. Thank you! Ruth, Ellen and Annie.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jon B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely stay - incredible gardens
Great stay in a beautiful location with amazing gardens. Friendly communications and the garden on site was super helpful and kind. Thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alyona S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful oasis we didnt want to leave
Its a much bigger property plot than i imagined from the description , lush and green with a delightful stream on the property, rope swing, huge firepit,gigantic trampoline and a gypsy wagon - all these made both adults and kids equally happy. I heard so many genuinely giggles and "wow" that made my mother's heart extremely happy. It's got games, books, fully equipped kitchen if you are into cooking and to be honest is more than enough things to do there without the need to even leave the property as such. Plenty of things to do around within walling distance and short driving distance. The owner is super helful too! Note to self no 1: to read the description better and all the way to the bottom as bedding /towels wasn't included into shorter stays ( the owner advised where to purchase cheap ones as we didn't bring any) Note to self No 2: Though yes 4 ppl can sleep there in fact id say even 7 in summer time , there's no separate bedroom. All thr sleeping arrangements are in the lounge. Having said that ,in our case the parents slept in the gypsy wagon while the child and grandparent in the main house. If the child was a bit older or it was couple of them, or it was warmer, im sure we'd be fighting for that gypsy wagon sleeping arrangements:) Overall,fabulous stay, all of us, including the pet, returned home fully recharged, thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joanne P., Cambridge, UK

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Maureen H.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Dev M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good
Perfectly located near the beaches
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vivienne E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quirky stay
Great place for exploring the island
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John H., wirral

Liked: Cleanliness
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

8/10 Good

Sujita D.

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

karen d.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Emese S.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

David L.

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

Gianetta R.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

jeannette w., Deal

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R., Lemuy, France

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful hosts
Rebecca and Guy are wonderful hosts who made sure we felt at home throughout our stay at the cottage. We particularly enjoyed exploring their extensive grounds by the river.
Stayed 63 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Linda L.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Jackie P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ideal location
Very pleasant cottage, ideal for dog walkers.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alana P.

Liked: Cleanliness
A lovely stay
We enjoyed coming back to the French Mill after our big days of exploring the island. We used the bus system and it was easy to get around. We ate at Taverners in Godshill on our last night and it was delicious.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022