“We had a lovely break at The Briars.”
The location was quiet, peaceful and relaxing. We didn't hear a peep from neighbours, traffic, workers etc for the whole week including the weekend, except for the Asda supermarket delivery driver and if we'd known he delivered locally we would have ordered a few forgotten items ourselves!
We visited in November so weather was chilly but the electric radiators were brillant, even in the extension.
The interior pictures in the listing are great and show how well maintained and finished the whole appartment is. Everything was spotless. There was a lovely little welcome package waiting for us when we arrived and good instructions on heating, hot tub and other essential info. The TV package was a great boon, we got to view some evening movies curled up on the comfy sofa. The full size fridge freezer was a master stroke too. No worries about wasting our holiday time to shop every couple of days. We just bought it all for the freezer before arriving, didn't need to go out again.
Its worth noting that the image of the frontage is mainly the owners property. The annexe is accessed via the side gate and comprises of the ground floor of the brick portion of the house (with bedroom window visible on the left), the large glass extension attached behind, and the open plan kitchen/living room sandwiched between. The underfloor heating mentioned seems to extend to the bathroom only, wish I'd taken my slippers! The lower garden and tub are perfectly private with tall panel fencing.
The hot tub was enormous and delicious to soak in after a cold walk on the seafront. Again I found it a bit difficult to tell from the picture but the tub is just outside the glass extension, you just walk around the outside of the extension to get to it. You will need footwear, or a very big leap to cross the meter or so of gravel between the path and the tub deck. We enjoyed lounging there watching the very active bird life and fearless squirrels dancing around the trees only feet away from us.
The stone steps behind the tub lead up a slope to a little secret strip of grass at the top of the garden, home to a picnic table at the left end, and two loungers at the right end. The fence at the top backs onto open fields giving a nice outlook at the grazing horses. This along with the excellent planting of shrubs and trees on the slope below, gives complete privacy.
The footpath to the beach was easy to find, just a short distance down the lane and it took us just 10min to walk there each day, winding through a small holiday park. We stopped at the pub next to the beach for a hot chocolate to warm up and some friendly chatter, then a further 20min walk along the promenade above the beach straight into Stepaside, a busy little town with plenty of places to eat, drink, shop for nick nacks, or pick up groceries at the tesco express or spar. On the beach front they also had a cafe, immaculate public toilets, beach sport facility and shop.
Would definitely stay again.
