Host Stay The Arches Country House

Chris and his team really look after you, making the stay feel more like visiting friends than being at a hotel. The Arches Country House is set in beautiful, peaceful countryside and is an ideal escape. Built in the late 1800s, it has plenty of historic charm, and the relaxed surroundings feel like stepping back in time. The rooms are comfortable, too. There's also an unexpected thrill for anyone feeling adventurous: you can take a rally track class and get behind the wheel. A great mix of relaxation and excitement in the English countryside.

The place felt wonderfully quiet, and I really appreciated how peaceful it was. The property is huge, everything was clean and tidy, and we had a very nice stay.

We had a pleasant stay, but I wouldn't come back. The beds were comfortable, and it was reasonably quiet when nobody was staying next door. Both weekends, though, the neighbouring accommodation was rented out, and the hot tub noise carried into the back conservatory. The location is nice and the property is spacious, but the campsite means the front isn't as secluded as the photos suggest. There also wasn't a BBQ, despite it being mentioned. The TV selection was limited, and a smart TV might be useful. A few things need attention. There were dripping taps, the kitchen lacked ordinary knives and a potato peeler, and of the different-sized saucepans only two lids fitted. Cleaning wasn't great either: there was a dead spider in the bath when we arrived and cobwebs around. You also need to take care getting the shower to the right temperature. One other thing about booking through host and stay: they take the money from your card instead of a holding deposit, then refund it 14 days after you leave, minus a £10 admin fee. I won't use them again.

The location was amazing, and the main living areas were large and family friendly. We also had the pool table and hot tub to keep us occupied. But the place was quite unhygienic. Some sheets had stains when we arrived, there was pet hair all over the carpets and cobwebs everywhere, and the outside rooms felt cramped and stuffy. The beds were really dusty too. Netflix wouldn't work on the TV. The owner said she'd sent an engineer, but nobody came, so that information wasn't true. With those issues sorted, it could be a really good family staycation.