What’s The Garden Room like?
As the name suggests, this one-bedroom guest suite is attached to the owner’s characterful property and looks out over the garden. The accommodation is all on one level and has been furnished to the highest standard. Pitstone is located at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, near Tring.
How dog-friendly is The Garden Room?
Good. No provisions are provided for pets but they will receive a very warm welcome here. Dogs are welcome to roam the garden – which is mostly secure when the gate is closed – but be aware it is not private, as access is shared with the owner, Avril. Up to two small dogs are allowed to stay at a time for free.
Tell me more about The Garden Room
This light and airy guest suite has been cleverly designed to focus on those all-important garden views. You enter via a set of patio doors, which lead in to a glass-framed dining area, complete with table, chairs and kitchen basics. From here, a corridor runs down to the bedroom, where you’ll find another set of doors leading out to the garden and a handmade four-poster bed. This really dominates the room, meaning there’s not much space for additional storage – or dog beds! – but it’s truly gorgeous. It’s incredibly comfy too and the high-quality bed linen is a real treat.
The sleek, modern bathroom is located just off the corridor too and there are complimentary The White Company toiletries for guests to use. Some people might find getting to the loo – which is tucked into a recess – a bit of a squeeze, though! The Garden Room has tiled floors throughout with additional rugs in the bedroom to make it feel a little more cosy. The windows have also been fitted with on-trend wooden shutters. We did notice a fair amount of noise from the nearby train line during our stay but it didn’t really disturb us. Also note that while the suite has WiFi, there is no TV or radio.
What’s the food like at The Garden Room?
There is no kitchen at The Garden Room but guests have access to a small fridge, toaster, kettle, microwave and coffee machine, as well as cups, plates and crockery. Avril provides all the essentials for a continental breakfast too. When we visited, there was a small loaf of bread, orange juice, milk and a range of cereals as well as miniature Tiptree jams. There was also a selection of tea, Nespresso pods and KitKats.
Avril recommends several local takeaways, including The Haldi Indian takeaway and Woodz, which serves wood-fired pizza. We chose to get some food from the latter, pictured above, and it was delicious! There are also a number of dog-friendly pubs nearby, such as The Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe and The Red Lion in Marsworth. Be sure to check out the Curiositea Rooms in Pitstone Memorial Hall too. It’s a great place to go for breakfast or a coffee and cake.
Are there resident dogs at The Garden Room?
No, but we encountered a few local pooches while out walking in Pitstone.
Where are the best dog walks near The Garden Room?
You can walk to historic Pitstone Windmill, pictured above, in around half an hour from The Garden Room. The windmill, which is maintained by the National Trust, is one of the oldest surviving examples of a post mill – where a large post drives the machinery and sails. The windmill has been fully restored by a team of volunteers and often opens its doors to the public. To get there, you have to walk across a field, but there is a very well-trodden path. There is also a free car park nearby.
The Garden Room is close to the Grand Union Canal too and you can enjoy some wonderful walks along the towpath. If you fancy stopping off at a pub along the way, try this three-mile recommended route from Pitstone to The Grand Junction Arms, just outside Tring. And don’t miss a visit to the sprawling Ashridge Estate, which covers around 5,000 acres. The estate, which is also maintained by the National Trust, has scores of footpaths to explore. To see the recommended walking routes, ranging in length from one to eight miles, click here.
What Ernie loved about The Garden Room
Having the garden to explore, keeping a watchful eye on things through the patio doors
What I loved about The Garden Room
The lovely four-poster bed, the quiet location, the thoughtful little touches
How to book The Garden Room
Overnight stays start from £55, plus a cleaning and service fee. For more information or to book, visit The Garden Room at The Old Bakehouse Airbnb listing.