The Dairy Barn | Fakenham | Canister Hall | East Anglia

4.4★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
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Features

Swimming pool
Off road parking
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Games Room
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

29 Customer Review(s)

Jenny
December 2024

“We decided to get away for Christmas this year and this barn seemed absolutely perfect.”

However there were a few things that we were quite disappointed with. The games room: incredibly dusty and not kept clean, there were no decent snooker cues all had bad tips or no tips, the felt on the snooker table was also split in places and covered in dust and debris it is also very poorly lit. One pool table also has balls missing. There were balls and bats for the table tennis however one table was damaged across one corner and not usable. The pool is absolutely freezing, there are no ...

However there were a few things that we were quite disappointed with. The games room: incredibly dusty and not kept clean, there were no decent snooker cues all had bad tips or no tips, the felt on the snooker table was also split in places and covered in dust and debris it is also very poorly lit. One pool table also has balls missing. There were balls and bats for the table tennis however one table was damaged across one corner and not usable. The pool is absolutely freezing, there are no toilets in the area so you have to go back to house for a toilet. There are three changing areas in the pool area (shower curtains attached to the wall) no showers in pool area. Lots of pool accessories such as a football goal, balls, arm bands and floats, however none in tact and need replacing which was disappointing as we had a small child with us and were looking forward to spending lots of time in the pool. The house is beautiful with great views, comfy beds and a well equipped kitchen (utensils, pots and pans. However it really lacks some TLC and needs a serious deep clean there is a lot of dust and so much of it under the sofas and beds (we had a few toys roll under the sofa and bed hence how we noticed). There were no extra bin bags, washing up liquid had not been refilled, and there was only one toilet roll provided for our 5 day stay there were also no hand towels provided in the kitchen. Overall we made the most of what we had with what was available. We believe that with some extra attention paid to the upkeep and cleanliness it could be a place we would return.

- Jenny, December 2024
Andrew June 2024

“Well equipped cottage.”

We arrived to the warmth of the cottage. Heating, hot water all day long. Comfortable beds. Enjoyed the games room. Internet not good at times. Lovely swimming pool but had boiler problems, waiting for parts. Incentives for children, both inside cottage within the grounds. So many rabbits nature around us.

- Andrew, June 2024
Mark May 2024

“It would be nice to have warmer pool We have a additional needs son and could ...”

It would be nice to have warmer pool We have a additional needs son and could not use the pool Beds on the hard side

- Mark, May 2024
Simon October 2023

“Very nicely presented.”

Internet was via mobile router, so was usable, but a little patchy (only able to stream one thing, and often would become unusable if more than 2-3 devices was accessing content). Our Blu-Ray player wasn't working (device was, but controller wasn't) - not the end of the world! Swimming pool as a little cool (was heated, but clearly struggling with temperature in early Nov). Games room was excellent - although I would suggest getting new 'consumables' (chalk for pool cues, nets for table tennis, etc.) would make it even better!?

- Simon, October 2023
John Frederick September 2023

“Well furnished and appointed.”

Had some difficulty finding the Barns - a sign would be helpful. If we visit the area again we will probably use the Barns again.

- John Frederick, September 2023
Rachel July 2023

“The Barn itself had everything you could need, the shower was powerful, the mirror in the bathroom the girls loved, towels were nice and fluffy and dried you beautifully.”

Main bedroom, the bed is firm, husband found it comfortable and slept well, the lampshades had cobwebs on them and generally dusty, the twin room was a bit tight for space but the girls ( X2 16 year olds) managed and slept well. Kitchen had a dish washer big enough to cope with a family of 4, we did do a Sunday roast, tall fridge freezer, not much in the way for cupboard space. Internet is slow, was unable to watch Netflix without it being pixelated or reloading, tried to do some uni work but internet pages were slow to load up, gave up. Games room would be better if there were more usable cues, there were many without tips, there were only 2, I would say, that were of any good, when you've got a snooker table and 2 pool tables- definitely not enough to go round. The swimming pool is technically heated as can feel warmth coming through the pump but definitely not warm/up to temperature, needed to get acclimatised to the water temperature before being able to swim, a family had used the pool the day before and had left a window open, which resulted in loads of flies/bugs being in the pool, spent about 20 mins trying to get them into the filter, no equipment to be able to skim the water to remove them, got out in the end as couldn't swim in it without being surrounded. Also no shower area near the pool, have to go through the barn to get showered. Whilst there we had an electricity cut- not isolated to the barns (covered 6 postcodes, quite a large area affected) but we had to contact the 'maintenance team' who let us know what was going on and sent us a link to follow the engineers repairs. However, no contact from the owner all. Not sure if I would recommend to others given the cleanliness and lack of maintenance, we probably won't return either but we enjoyed our week away.

- Rachel, July 2023
Jennifer June 2023

“Lovely courtyard of cottages.”

Great amenities for families - games room (inclusive of pool, table tennis), swimming pool and less exciting - laundry facilities. That said, whilst there was lots of available activities, there was relative quiet to hear birds and enjoy the countryside location.

- Jennifer, June 2023
Ian May 2023

“Disappointed with the recreational facility from the point of view that we could not use it due to us having a dog, dogs were not allowed in the games room and you were asked not to leave your dog alone in the cottage, so not really dog friendly.”

Woman who seems to live in the adjacent Hayloft cottage masquerading as the owner was openly hostile towards dogs so this took the enjoyment away from our stay, would not recommend to dog owners.

- Ian, May 2023
Madeline April 2023

“It’s a beautiful property but it could do with a deep clean.”

There was a lot of debris under the sofas and things like sweets and chocolate wrappers behind and under the beds

- Madeline, April 2023
Devereux February 2023

“We had a great stay at the Dairy Barn and will definitely return!”

- Devereux, February 2023
Dave December 2022

“The cottage was lovely, lots of home touches, we really felt comfortable.”

The only drawback was the lack of hot water. We could only get enough water for 2 showers a day and both the emersion heaters were on all the time. The pool was wonderful but there was a LOT of green mould on the ground around the pool, the maintenance of the pool area seemed non existent.

- Dave, December 2022

Thank you very much for your feedback. We have fixed the problem with the immersion heater and the pool area has been refurbished. Property Owner
Sophie November 2022

“Beautiful property, with everything we needed.”

- Sophie, November 2022
Alan November 2022

“The holiday barn was fine, cosy and warm.”

TV programmes were limited as reception kept breaking up (no BBC channels). The leisure facilities however (swimming pool and games room) are badly in need of attention. Damp and fusty smell was a real issue.

- Alan, November 2022

Thank you very much for your feedback - the pool area has now been fully refurbished. Property Owner
Di November 2022

“The purpose for our stay was to have accommodation close to Thursford and the cottage was perfect for that.”

The show was fantastic. Disappointed to have to arrive when it is dark - the 5.00pm arrival in winter months is not good. It also makes the two night break very short, only one full day!

- Di, November 2022
John September 2022

“The swimming pool area needs major work done to it .”

Mould on the walls and carpet around the pool

- John, September 2022

Thank you for your feedback. We have passed on the comments to the pool management company and they have confirmed that they are working on making improvements to the area surrounding the pool. Property Owner
Celia August 2022

“We had a great time staying at the Dairy Barn, the highlight being the shared swimming pool which we could book for an hour each day to use privately, and the games room (available all day).”

The new fitted kitchen with dishwasher was a great addition and the cottage very comfortable. We were staying in a very hot spell so the warm duvets where totally unnecessary although winter guests would probably appreciate them! Thank you for providing fans to keep us cool inside. The cottage was a good base for exploring the region - seaside and lots of nearby places of interest. Thank you.

- Celia, August 2022
Susan May 2022

“It is a cosy cottage with good facilities, especially the games room.”

It is very convenient for visiting local attractions. The double bed is quite hard and not terribly comfortable with a heavy and awkward duvet which didn’t quite fit into the faded and rather old cover. You need to be quite slim, fit or a child to fit into the other bedroom. A couple of downsides but overall a good place to stay.

- Susan, May 2022
Stellios May 2022

“Had a totally wonderful time at Dairy farm, the boys loved the games room and swimming pool.”

The cottage was comfortable and well set out with lovely touches to make you feel at home.

- Stellios, May 2022
June March 2022

“Lovely cosy all mods cons you need loved the swimming pool has not been modified so much feels warm and welcoming.”

- June, March 2022
Clare October 2021

“We had a wonderful holiday at the Dairy Barn.”

The cottage was well equipped and toasty-warm for a cold October holiday. The kids loved the pool and games room too. Would definitely recommend.

- Clare, October 2021
Katy August 2021

“Lovely cottage, pool, games room and outdoor space was brilliant.”

- Katy, August 2021
Rebecca June 2021

“Holiday home was perfect for us with a toddler and baby.”

Swimming pool made it extra special and was used every day. Perfect distance from beaches and local attractions. Really good value for money.

- Rebecca, June 2021
Beverley October 2020

“When booking this cottage the representative I spoke to was exceptional.”

He was very helpful indeed. He also held the cottage for 24hrs for me to ensure my husband could get the time off. I rang back the next day to ask another question and that person was also very helpful. We went on holiday and had an amazing time, everything was perfect.

- Beverley, October 2020
Martyn September 2020

“Barn & furniture {beds, settees, cooker, fridge etc.”

} were very clean. All appliances that you could need were provided & fully functional. All cleaning products were provided by the owners to enable coronavirus prevention. The site had a heated swimming pool & kitted out games room. Simple booking procedure for the pool - keys provided for access that should be labelled please. Wifi worked but no internet connection which stopped Netflix from working.

- Martyn, September 2020
Sharon August 2020

“A great little place for a small family.”

Home from home feel. A good base for visiting nearby places in a lovely part of the country. We have a second booking next April. Took an educated risk in booking for two separate dates last November, based on the very positive reviews. Looking forward to returning.

- Sharon, August 2020
Sam July 2020

“A really lovely holiday cottage.”

Well stocked with lots of home essentials which was a really welcome touch. The games room & pool was fantastic and loved by my two boys. Lots of local information provided too which was really helpful. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely come back again.

- Sam, July 2020
Mark February 2020

“The swimming pool and games room were both fantastic for our children.”

The pool was a great size and being shallow meant it was ideal for our children but it was also fun for adults too! The accommodation was beautiful - really cosy and we enjoyed playing some of the board games. Our children were thrilled to play Minecraft and Harry Potter Lego games on the Xbox and my wife enjoyed using the coffee machine! It was a beautiful location and we would definitely be keen to return.

- Mark, February 2020
Maureen December 2019

“Everything was there, tea, sugar, instant coffee, coffee maker, washing & washing liquid.”

Will return again.

- Maureen, December 2019
J September 2019

“Very comfortable happy holiday.”

Thank you.

- J, September 2019

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Summary

Two bedrooms: 1 x double and 1 x twin
Bathroom with bath and shower over, basin and WC
Open-plan living room with a kitchen, dining area and sitting area
Games room
Utility.
Electric heating
Electric oven and hob, full size fridge/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, kettle, shared washing machine and tumble dryer, TV, DVD player, a selection of books and WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Travel cot and highchair
Ample off-road parking in car park
Shared courtyard with furniture
On-site facilities include games room and indoor heated swimming pool open all year round shared with 6 other cottages on the complex (due to COVID this operates on a rota basis)
One well-behaved pet is welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 2.6 miles and pub 2.1 miles

The property

The Dairy Barn is a lovely barn conversion situated in Toftrees, Norfolk, in the region of East Anglia.

It has two bedrooms: one double and one twin, with a separate family bathroom.

Downstairs has an open-plan living room with a fitted kitchen and dining area.

Outside has a shared courtyard area with furniture.

There is ample off-road parking available.

The Dairy Barn is the perfect choice for a countryside break.

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About the location

FAKENHAM

Norwich 25 miles; Holt 13 miles.

The historic market town of Fakenham is famous for its horse racing and offers a wide selection of shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Situated on the River Wensum, half way between Norwich and Kings Lynn it is an excellent, central location for exploring Norfolk. The town holds a popular Thursday market which takes over most of the town centre with local traders and those from further afield selling a wide selection of goods. The town also plays host to a Farmers’ Market, monthly on the fourth Saturday of every month, ideal for stocking up on fresh local produce. Fakenham is a very attractive market town with pretty brick and flint-faced buildings, narrow alleyways and side streets to explore. Often referred to as the Gateway to Norfolk this town really does offer a perfect base for exploring this beautiful county. You are only a twenty minute drive from the coastal towns of Wells-next-the-Sea, Holkham and Burham Overy where you will find miles of pine forests, sandy beaches, salt marshes, tidal creeks and great opportunities for birdwatching. There are some lovely areas of unspoilt countryside and villages and the Holkham Estate has a number of attractions and a fabulous deer park. With so many activities on offer, this area is a fantastic choice at any time of year.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Your selection:

Features

Reviews & Ratings

“We decided to get away for Christmas this year and this barn seemed absolutely perfect.”

“Well equipped cottage.”

“It would be nice to have warmer pool We have a additional needs son and could ...”

“Very nicely presented.”

“Well furnished and appointed.”

“The Barn itself had everything you could need, the shower was powerful, the mirror in the bathroom the girls loved, towels were nice and fluffy and dried you beautifully.”

“Lovely courtyard of cottages.”

“Disappointed with the recreational facility from the point of view that we could not use it due to us having a dog, dogs were not allowed in the games room and you were asked not to leave your dog alone in the cottage, so not really dog friendly.”

“It’s a beautiful property but it could do with a deep clean.”

“We had a great stay at the Dairy Barn and will definitely return!”

“The cottage was lovely, lots of home touches, we really felt comfortable.”

“Beautiful property, with everything we needed.”

“The holiday barn was fine, cosy and warm.”

“The purpose for our stay was to have accommodation close to Thursford and the cottage was perfect for that.”

“The swimming pool area needs major work done to it .”

“We had a great time staying at the Dairy Barn, the highlight being the shared swimming pool which we could book for an hour each day to use privately, and the games room (available all day).”

“It is a cosy cottage with good facilities, especially the games room.”

“Had a totally wonderful time at Dairy farm, the boys loved the games room and swimming pool.”

“Lovely cosy all mods cons you need loved the swimming pool has not been modified so much feels warm and welcoming.”

“We had a wonderful holiday at the Dairy Barn.”

“Lovely cottage, pool, games room and outdoor space was brilliant.”

“Holiday home was perfect for us with a toddler and baby.”

“When booking this cottage the representative I spoke to was exceptional.”

“Barn & furniture {beds, settees, cooker, fridge etc.”

“A great little place for a small family.”

“A really lovely holiday cottage.”

“The swimming pool and games room were both fantastic for our children.”

“Everything was there, tea, sugar, instant coffee, coffee maker, washing & washing liquid.”

“Very comfortable happy holiday.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

FAKENHAM