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Swifts Retreat

Swifts Retreat

4.5
out of 5
Ratings from 26 reviews
88% of guests
recommend
Cleanliness
4.4
Comfort
4.6
Condition
4.7
Location
4.7
Value
4.3
Customer
Service
4.6

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Swift’s Retreat is a beautifully appointed one-bedroom barn conversion with a private hot tub and enclosed garden. This lovely retreat shares a large courtyard with four other holiday homes that comprise Oosland Barns, a family run arable farm that is just half a mile, and an easy walk, from the historic riverside village of Bidford-on-Avon. This is a wonderful spot from which you can also explore Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, just 7 miles away.

High standard relaxation

Review submitted on Thu, 31 Oct 2024
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
4.0
Excellent accommodation and location. ideal for exploring cotswolds. Everything you need is provided… a real treat.



Mini Staycation

Review submitted on Thu, 22 Aug 2024
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We recently had a fantastic short stay at Swifts Retreat, this barn conversion was in a great location and well equipped, feeling like a home from home. We enjoyed a relaxing break, the hot tub was warm on arrival and its located only a short drive to Stratford upon Avon and other local facilities. We would highly recommend as a quiet rural break and would certainly stay here again.



Very relaxing, great place to stay!

Review submitted on Tue, 13 Aug 2024
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Our stay at Swifts Retreat was great, upon arriving we immediately felt we could relax, the setting for the retreat is beautiful being on a working farm. Sitting in the hot tub in the evenings watching all the birds was a real treat.



Improvements

Review submitted on Wed, 08 May 2024
3.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
3.0
Location
3.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
3.0
Slightly disappointed with the cleanliness of the property, cobwebs everywhere. Also the duvet cover had not been ironed, even though there was an iron & ironing board in the cupboard. £80 cleaning fee is a bit extortionate, I left the property cleaner than I found it.

I didn't use Customer Services



Bolthole Retreats replied 238 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Swifts Retreat. We are disappointed to read your feedback about the cleanliness and have shared your feedback with the owner who wishes that you had reported this when you spoke to her.

Perfect!

Review submitted on Tue, 05 Mar 2024
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Perfect location to visit Cotswolds and Stratford.

We booked 3 cottages and each one had everything we needed down to flip flops and robes for the hot tubs!

Would definitely recommend and would book again. Thank you



Stunning place with maintenance issues

Review submitted on Sun, 10 Sep 2023
3.0
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
1.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
2.0
Customer
Service
2.0

Although the bolthole was impressive when we first walked in, we soon became less than impressed with the state of the accommodation.

The floor was dirty and gave us black feet, the blinds has been splashed with reddish brown stains and when the sofa when slightly moved, revealed shards of glass that had not been picked up.
The boltholes must have had a quick spritz rather than a good clean between guests.

Hopefully after my feedback, future guests benefit from a cleaner property.



The hot tub was not cleaned as stated on the website, there was a layer of grime and muck on the sides of the hot tub and dust and residue at the bottom of the tub.
The floor was filthy and we soon realised that our feet were blackened by dust.
On closing the blinds at night time, we realised that the blinds were splattered and stained with food or drink. Some unknown substance that was not nice to look at when relaxing by the tele.




Amazing

Review submitted on Sun, 27 Aug 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Perfect place to stay for a break.
Such a pretty area, and the barn was clean, well equipped with everything we needed.
Definitely recommend and would love to go back and stay again!



Swifts Retreat

Review submitted on Tue, 27 Jun 2023
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
3.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
The house itself was lovely and had everything we needed for our stay. On a slight downside the view from the back garden overlooking the farm wasn't particularly appealing as it was a view of old rusting farm machinery and packing crates which i am sure wouldn't have taken much effort to move from the line of sight. Or alternatively make the fence same height as other side. Also a nice touch would have been a couple of sun loungers on the grassed area as laying on a towel isn't very comfortable. Also I am at a loss to understand the bi-fold doors in the bedroom which are never likely to be opened proper windows would have been better so they could be opened on a night as the bedroom could be quite hot and stuffy. Apart from those slight criticisms which could be easily rectified apart from the bedroom bi-fold doors we enjoyed our stay even if it was rather expensive.



Our staycation

Review submitted on Thu, 11 May 2023
3.5
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
2.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
3.0
Location
5.0
Value
2.0
Customer
Service
5.0
When we arrived we thought the property looked just as it did in the pictures on the website, it was very pretty and a very lovely location. However, there was dust on the microwave, television, the extractor fan in the bathroom was covered and other places along with many cobwebs. For me this isn't acceptable when a property is cleaned professionally so frequently between people staying there. The property details said there was games under the TV, of which there were 2 for children, even though this is a property for 2 people so more suited to couples. The middle light on the ceiling in the lounge didn't work. Every time we were in the kitchen we found ants on the work surfaces, we couldn't determine from where they were getting in but there was a few every time we used the kitchen which is not acceptable at all. Also, when using the shower for the 1st time the bathroom flooded so we removed the plug from the drain and had to leave it out and every time we used the shower had to turn it off after a few minutes to let the water drain. So, whilst the location was great and it was very pretty, there were many details that let it down and sadly we would not recommend people to stay here because when you have spent as much money as it costs you expect much better.




Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback following your stay at Swifts Retreat at Oosland Barns, We are glad to read that you found the Barn was a very pretty and lovely location, however, we were sad to read the other points you mentioned, the barns are on a working farm and lots of activity at the moment which will cause dust to settle inside the barn after the housekeeping team have been, we are sorry these issues had occurred, had you of let us know we would have happily put things right, we would like to thank you for bringing these points to our attention.

Fantastic accomodation

Review submitted on Mon, 17 Apr 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Super cottage. Warm, comfortable and very well equipped. Hot tub was lovely - extra towels and bath robes included!



Long weekend

Review submitted on Mon, 03 Apr 2023
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Swifts Retreats is a lovely property and overall we really enjoyed our stay there. A couple of points for improvement but these are just minor points.
The fence next to the hot tub is too low and doesn’t provide enough privacy. There were people constantly coming and going from the barn opposite the property who could see us getting in and out of the hot tub, as 6 foot fence would be better.
There were a few spiders webs around the inside of the property. Just needed a feather duster but this is a minor point and probably not easy to clean with the high vaulted ceilings.
Lastly the sofa isn’t very comfortable, it’s ok but kinda lets the rest of the properties furnishings down. It’s also quite low to the fall, wouldn’t be good for older people.



Nice and cozy!

Review submitted on Fri, 27 Jan 2023
4.2
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
1.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Comfortable stay, owner was accomodating and allowed late checkout, a week before the visit, appreciated,

Name escapes me and for that apologise

Heated floors and jacuzzi well worth it



Relaxing stay

Review submitted on Mon, 24 Oct 2022
4.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
3.0
A beautiful location and perfect if you just want to relax in peace. We really enjoyed our stay but even for out of season it’s on the high end of prices. Other than one hot tub problem which was quickly fixed... Overall we had no issues with our stay.
Thank you to all the team, we would love to come back



Perfect getaway

Review submitted on Sat, 15 Oct 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Swifts Retreat was the perfect place to have a few days getaway. Very clean and a very high standard of accommodation. Situated in an ideal location for the Cotswolds and Stratford-on-Avon, beautiful canal walks and quaint villages nearby. Hot tub was an added treat. Thank you for making our stay just perfect.



Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for leaving this lovely review. We hope to welcome you back in the future.

Our Friends 50th

Review submitted on Sun, 09 Oct 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
What an amazing property and we especially loved the fat that our friends were all around us.
We will definitely be coming back and only a short walk away is some great pubs with amazing food.

Thank you



Relaxing confortable stay

Review submitted on Thu, 29 Sep 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Ended up staying here alone as my friend couldn't make it with late notice. I felt very safe in the property and it is so comfortable. Location is good and you can walk into Bidford so using a car when there not essential. The hot tub was such a nice treat, I spent a lot of time in it!
It is such a lovely well thought out property, there were only minor niggles and to be honest Id be really clutching at straws to even bother listing them. I will be returning, thinking I might make it an annual treat to myself to have a weekend alone here!
My only feedback would be that it would be useful if the courtyard was lit better at night, I arrived at 10pm and on my own and it was really hard to figure out which door and which direction I needed to head in! Luckily another lady staying in the adjacent property helped me with a torch so I could see where to go



Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for your review and feedback. We're so pleased you enjoyed your stay and we hope to welcome you back again in the future.

Lovely place in an ideal location

Review submitted on Fri, 02 Sep 2022
4.3
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Perfect place for a short getaway. Ideally located to visit Stratford and cotswolds. Great hot tub!!



A lovely stay

Review submitted on Sun, 14 Aug 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Wow what a beautiful little property suitable for a relaxing getaway in beautiful surroundings. We loved our stay here and would highly recommend. The cleanliness was to a very high standard and it was equipped with all we needed, even down to the eco friendly products.
There is just one little suggestion that we would make and that is to have some comfy garden furniture although the furniture there was pretty it was not comfy to relax on especially with the weather that we had been blessed with recently and most of the time we were outside. Also just a suggestion to have larger bins in the communal area to eliminate overflow that’s we experienced the day of vacating.
Thank you for such a lovely stay. We would definitely come back again.



Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Hello, We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for your helpful comments which have been sent on to the owner for her attention. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Best wishes, Bolthole Retreats

Lovely Break

Review submitted on Tue, 12 Jul 2022
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Our stay was perfect, it had everything we needed and the hot tub was even better. We will definitely be coming back.



Great location to visit Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire.

Review submitted on Mon, 20 Jun 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
SWIFTS RETREAT IS ON A WORKING FARM IN BIDFORD ON AVON . IT IS A CONVERTED STABLE BLOCK OF FIVE PROPERTIES ALL WITH GARDEN AREA. THIS ONE ALSO HAS PRIVATE GARDEN AND HOT TUB.IT IS A PEACEFUL LOCATION. THE PROPERTY IS VERY CLEAN SPACIOUS AND HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED. SHOWER IS VERY GOOD TOO. MICROWAVE WITH GRILL. OVEN DISHWASHER WASHING MACHINE IRONING BOARD CLOTHES AIRER . COFFEE MACHINE. EVEN BATH ROBES TOWELS AND FLIP FLOPS FOR HOT TUB USE. WE WAS ABLE TO VISIT MANY PLACES WHILST SPENDING 7 DAYS HERE WITHIN 4 COUNTIES. CLOSE BY IS A FEW OF PUBS THAT DO FOOD AND WALKING DISTANCE 10 MINS A INDIAN RESTAURANT AND CHINESE AND FISH CHIP TAKEAWAY. STRATFORD ON AVON APPROX 10 MIN DRIVE . BROADWAY APPROX 15 MINS. WORCESTER APPROX 30MINS . TOO MANY OTHER PLACES CLOSE BY TO MENTION. TESCO SUPERSTORE ABOUT 10 MINS DRIVE OR CO OP AND ONE STOP IN BIDFORD. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS PROPERTY FOR A PEACEFUL PLACE TO STAY WITH HOME FROM HOME AMMENTIES AND MORE .



Good but could be better

Review submitted on Tue, 10 May 2022
3.7
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
2.0
The cottage itself is lovely - really beautifully decorated and perfectly located for easy access to the Cotswolds. However, there are things that really let us down - small things that would have made our stay a lot more comfortable like providing more than 1 roll of toilet paper (we stayed there for 5 days), some spices and oil for cooking. Another thing that was really disappointing was that for a whole day there was no hot water in the shower so we couldn't use the hot tub - when calling the owner to request someone to fix it she said she is aware of the issue and couldn't do anything about it (it would have been nice for her to call us or send us a text message to inform us about the issue in the first place). She said she would bring water bottles later in the day but that never happened. Also, the "private" garden where the hot tub is is not actually private. There is a very low fence that faces the road and farm so anyone driving or walking past can see you in the garden/hot tub so there is no real privacy. Overall, I don't think this cottage is good value for money as we've stayed in places that cost less and provide more.



Relaxing weekend

Review submitted on Tue, 22 Mar 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Very quiet and relaxing, for the perfect weekend away, the apartment was very clean and tidy, beautiful views, close village and great walks.



Valentines Weekend

Review submitted on Sun, 13 Feb 2022
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Lovely place to relax and take a well needed break with my partner for the weekend.
No faults other than there was an unclean baking tray left in the oven when we arrived.



Fantastic Stay

Review submitted on Fri, 11 Feb 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Highly recommended:
Barn was super clean with lovely bedding and towels and a coffee machine and pods
Good pubs in town 1/2 mile away (Frog good for food)
Great cafe in town for lunch
Fancy restaurant was lovely (Bridge - good 2 course offer)
Did 2 good walks from town
Stratford just a short drive away (recommend the MAD museum and lunch at Boston Tea Party)



Stunning

Review submitted on Mon, 01 Nov 2021
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Our stay away was absolutely amazing. The property itself was so cosy and full of character. Hot tub was perfect in the super cold evenings and even better late afternoon when you could take in how peaceful and beautiful everything was. We had everything we could possibly need. The 10 minute walk into the village was perfect for a few glasses of bubbly in the evening!



Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Dear Joni, Thank you for taking the time to review your stay at Swifts Retreat. It sounds as though you had a thoroughly wonderful time. We hope we can welcome you to another Bolthole Retreats property again in the future. Kind regards Bolthole Retreats

A great week in the Cotswolds

Review submitted on Sun, 24 Oct 2021
4.3
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We have just returned home from a week at Swifts Retreat. It was clean and comfortable and had everything we needed for a self catering stay.
Owner very kind and helpful. Could maybe do with a replacement sofa as no much support sitting in the evening but there is a very comfortable individual chair. Bed good but we are used to a mattress topper so felt quite firm which would suit some people maybe. Very well placed for getting to many places of interest and very peaceful setting. Overall good place to stay.



Bolthole Retreats replied more than 1 year ago
Hi Wendy, Thank you for your review and feedback. We will share this with the owner so that they can check the points you raised. Glad you enjoyed your trip! Best wishes Bolthole Retreats