Nestled in a 2.5-acre tranquil garden with a babbling stream, the Granary offers an enchanting escape from the ordinary. With its charming open-plan apartment and vintage gypsy caravan, this converted coach house is perfect for families and pets who will love exploring the sunny garden, tree swing, trampoline and outdoor furniture.
Reviews
9.09.0 out of 10
Wonderful
Entire home
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Outdoor Space
Add dates for prices
About this property
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 amenities
Internet
Available in the cottage: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car recommended
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Ice maker
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Sofa bed
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
TV
Outdoor areas
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
2 pets total
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
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
Near the marina
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Sailing nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Windsurfing 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)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
2 total pets
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
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
Please enquire first
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Permitted outside only
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
We should mention
A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property
About the neighborhood
Located in Ventnor, this cottage is in a rural area. Appuldurcombe House and Shanklin Old Village are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary and Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre. Amazon World Zoo Park and Pirates Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Scuba diving and windsurfing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and mountain biking nearby. Visit our Ventnor travel guide
Is The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream?
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
Where is The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream located?
Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 2 mi (3 km) of Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Godshill Model Village, and Appuldurcombe House. Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre and Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are also within 2 mi (3 km).
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The Granary at French Mill: charming cottage set in extensive garden with stream Reviews
Reviews
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We enjoyed the garden and were allowed to pick fresh plums, apples,tomatoes & figs.
Our old dog also enjoyed the garden but I would have been more relaxed if there had been a barrier between the cottage and the busy main road.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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!
Stunning property & grounds with a beautiful stream & gardens galore. Historic grain mill turned into an adorable cottage with all the amenities. We would absolutely stay here again and recommend to others. Especially fabulous for families, our boys adored staying in the Romany Wagon! We were fortunate to meet the owners, Rebecca & Guy, who are lovely hosts. Very close to both the ferry port & sights we visited.
Me and my wife just enjoyed a mini break to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary, along with our two toddlers and little dog. We had a wonderful weekend and wished we could stay a bit longer! The Granary is in an ideal location to relax and unwind and a short drive away from the beach and other activities. We will almost certainly be aiming to return in 2026!
A beautiful relaxing place to stay. The granary+caravan were amazing and so pretty. Rebecca made us very welcome. Would definitely recommend and return..
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.
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.
The property was located in an idyllic part of the IOW. Very peaceful and calming, felt truly relaxed and safe. A great garden to explore and allow the dog to roam in. It was very useful to be able to self cater in the modest but functional kitchen. A great base to set off on a day of adventures and return in the evening for some down time. The hosts were very lovely and we look forward to returning!
Loved staying at the French Mill. The Romany Wagon was definitely an added bonus for the girls. It gave them a truly magical and memorable experience. Ideally located and charming holiday rental property for visiting the island. Only sorry not to have been able to actually meet our host Rebecca who was very communicative and helpful before and during our stay.. we were also pretty fortunate with the weather. Hope to come back one day …
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