Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.
Beach equipment
A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Discover nearby landmarks
Near Dedham Vale
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Dog-friendly
Kitchen
Washing machine
Barbecue
Deck or patio
Explore the area
Colchester, Essex, ENG
Dedham Vale
Place, Dedham Vale
1 min walk
University of Essex
Place, University of Essex
22 min drive
Colchester Castle Park
Place, Colchester Castle Park
25 min drive
Rooms & beds
1 bedroom (sleeps 2)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area
Souters Holiday Cottage is a quiet and relaxing private place to stay. It is well placed to give access to many interesting areas, sites and actitivites. See our website for more detail: Souters is a small converted barn and suitable for couples. It has a large sitting room with a high vaulted ceiling, a well equipped open plan kitchen, separate double bedroom and a shower room with power shower. It is all on one level inside but has sloping paths and steps outside. Souters has underfloor heating throughout and also a stylish modern woodburner which makes for very cosy evenings in the colder months. Outside there are two terraces to be enjoyed during the summer and a large grassed area for play or relaxation. Fresh herbs can be found in the garden borders which guests are welcome to use.
There are a wealth of public footpaths in the area which make for good and varied walking. Up to 2 well behaved dogs are welcome. Please note that the garden and woods immediately around Souters are unfenced but there is a securely fenced adjacent field where guests are welcome to run their dogs. We ask that dogs are not allowed on furniture but if this is impossible to police and your dogs are used to doing so at home please bring adequate rugs/covers as well as their beds. Please make clear at time of booking how many dogs you will be bringing with you.
Souters Holiday Cottage is found in the grounds of Valley Farm Cottage, home to the owners. It is just off the track leading to their smallholding and fields, which stretch as far as the river Brett, a tributary of the River Stour. It is a great spot for bird watching and present through various times of the year are nightingales, kingfishers, hobbies, woodpeckers, owls, buzzards, sparrow hawks and numbers of other woodland, river and garden birds. There is wildlife in abundance too including deer, foxes, badgers, slow worms and grass snakes, stoats and a great number of rabbits. Guests are welcome to walk through the coppiced woods to the river and enjoy the peace. A new project of restoring wildlife habitat on the property has been underway for the past two years and already the benefits can be seen in the increase of wildlife, flora and fauna. We hope to develop this further.
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
£15 per pet per night fee applies
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside properties.
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Dogs not allowed on furniture please and must not be left alone at any time in property. Garden is unfenced but secure adjacent field available
Responsible smoking permitted in garden only.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 1980618
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Colchester
Located in Colchester, this holiday home is in a rural area. Ipswich Waterfront and Dedham Vale are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Suffolk Distillery and Tenpin Bowling Colchester. Brantham Leisure Centre and Green Island Gardens Ardleigh are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and windsurfing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking/biking trails.
Is Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area?
As of 22 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area on 21 October 2026 start from NZ$665, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Set in quiet woodland Souters is an ideal base from which to explore area located?
Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Dedham Vale and within 6 miles (10 km) of Bridge Cottage and Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum. Suffolk Distillery and RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden are also within 6 miles (10 km).
About the host
Hosted by Catherine Marno
Souters is found in the grounds of Valley Farm Cottage, home to Nick's family for nearly 100 years. The restoration of Souters was completed in 2012 with most of the work being done by Nick. Both he and Cath enjoy continuing to develop features at the property. Nick works as a self employed heating engineer and is a keen conservationist and prioritises habitat restoration in the woods and fields around Valley Farm Cottage. Cath works for a local organic grower, enjoys growing fruit and vegetables for the home and is known for her baking and preserving. She has planted a herb bed at Souters for guests to use. Cath also enjoys walking the wealth of country footpaths with her dogs.
Why they chose this property
Souters is an oasis of calm and peace; despite being only a couple of miles from the A12 and with very easy access to a host of interesting places. You can choose to visit any number of sites and areas nearby or you can equally choose to stay put and enjoy watching the birds and other wildlife or just put your feet up with a book by the fire. A great place for a romantic break. Up to 2 well behaved dogs are welcome and catered for. There is a safe, enclosed field adjacent to Souters in which to exercise dogs and a network of footpaths around, providing a variety of walks. Please DO NOT travel to Souters if you are unwell/suffering from Covid-19 or any covid or flu-like symptons.
What makes this property unique
Souters was a derelict stable building, surrounded by overgrown trees and brambles when we moved back here in 2005. We realised it wasn't possible to try to incorporate it into the lower farmyard (which at the time we used for livestock) but that it could make a beautiful dwelling. Nick did much of the restoration himself. We have left many of the internal timbers exposed which give character to the building and there are some carpenters marks left on the beams inside. A spiral staircase leads to a small mezzanine area for reading and contemplation. We love living at Valley Farm Cottage and particularly enjoy the peace and quiet and the wealth of wildlife apparent throughout the year. It is lovely to be able to share this with guests at Souters and we have met some very lovely people. Although within the grounds of our home it is far enough away to feel private and secluded but near enough that should any questions or problems arise they can be dealt with immediately.