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Sustainable Property
Sustonica, the first global sustainability standard for holiday lets.
Our aim is to create lasting holiday memories and we intend to do so both responsibly and sustainably.
To deliver on this we've set out a number of environmental and social pledges which help to focus our efforts;
you can read more about them in our Impact Report.
This is why we've partnered with Sustonica, the first global certification for holiday lets,
to support our owners to be more sustainable.
The Sustonica certification focuses on four key areas: energy conservation, water conservation,
waste reduction and promoting inclusiveness. They are on a mission to become the most widely
recognised sustainability standard for holiday rentals and a catalyst to reduce emissions of holiday
lets and influence guests to reduce their own household consumption too.
Properties that display the Sustonica badge have successfully passed the criteria,
which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards,
and their owner has made a commitment to look after our planet as well as you.
"As the photographs, the property is very compact but has all the amenities in a lovely setting."
The welcome pack was a bonus and the host very approachable.
Reviewed by Barrie4.1★Sep 2024
"Very suitable for two people."
A quiet and secluded location and perfectly placed if you want to tour the island in a car. Otherwise plenty of walks and beautiful scenery.
Reviewed by Anthony5.0★Jul 2024
"A darling little cottage for 1 or 2 plus a small/medium pet, like ours (Jack Russell), which is attached to The Coach House so you are overlooked but this didn't bother us at all."
On entry, you walk straight into the galley dining & kitchen which provide everything you need for your stay including washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, ( even laundry pods! ) dishcloths, tea towels and oven mit. A nice touch was the bottle of prosseco, pint of milk, tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits, salt & pepper. There is a fire extinguisher.
In the lounge , we are on the large size and found, the 2 seater comfortable. The wifi and freesat worked fine ( had to switch off and reset router once which is usual for us at home so not a bother). There is also a small selection of books and dvds.
Toilet/shower room was clean and even I could squeeze into the shower so it is a good size and water was lovely.
The provision of soap and toilet paper was a bonus.
All linen and towels are hotel grade; White and soft.
The bed is a double with a soft, bouncy mattress. Lush! You can squeeze past to get to the single wardrobe which was large enough for our clothes. There are only 3 drawers in the dresser but again this was enough for our smalls.
We could hear our neighbours only when they went up or down stairs, otherwise it is very well soundproofed.
There is a folder containing all the information you need (eg alternate bin collected on Tuesday and returned on Wednesday and they recycle).
It was very clean, albeit a cobweb, but it is in the country so we weren't bothered by this.
On leaving we were happy to strip the bedding and put into the laundry bag with used towels and ensure everything we used was washed and put away.
We spent 4nights here and enjoyed walking the grounds of the house and gardens. We truly felt we were on holiday!
Reviewed by Diana5.0★Jun 2024
"Perfect location and holiday destination, everything was well planned with all ..."
Perfect location and holiday destination, everything was well planned with all the equipment needed for a great break - thanks
Reviewed by Lance5.0★Jun 2024
"Cosy cottage, clean,but desperately needs towel rail / shelf or hooks to hang towels and place toiletries on in bathroom."
Reviewed by John4.1★Jun 2024
"A lovely cosy cottage."
Was adequate for us two and our dog. Had all necessary things we needed. I read some previous reviews. The owners have obviously read these and actioned requests although they haven’t replied. So there are coat hooks and a frying pan ! And a lovely welcome basket of goodies. The grounds are beautiful and there’s lots of lovely walks
Things to consider. The arrival time was 5pm we actually got there early. If we’d arrived at five we would not have found it as the area is pitch dark. There are several little cottages so had to get out and try to find it. We were more than happy to clean around when we left. But some cleaning items would have been good. Plus a couple of bowls for our dog
These were minor issues. And we’d definitely come again to this lovely little
Cottage
Reviewed by Jane4.1★Nov 2023
"Very clean and tidy and comfortable, if very small, cottage in the stunning grounds of an English Heritage property."
Just outside the door and the lounge window is a great place for BBQs; sadly these are held by the guests in the adjoining cottage whose back door is just out of camera shot in the main picture. Fortunately we got on well with these folks, but unknown people eating and joking right outside your only ground floor glazing might be off-putting for some. The only missing articles which would have been appreciated were a tea pot and cafetiere but otherwise everything was fine. Thank you.
Reviewed by David4.1★Sep 2023
"The Retreat was a perfect location with great walks on the door step, stunning views and easy to access all parts of the island."
It was quite small but OK for our stay. The biggest issue was the cleanliness of the kitchen pots & utensils which all needed washing before use (and no coffee pot!!). Overall we enjoyed our stay.
A new dishwasher has been fitted since your stay so hopefully this should no longer be a problem !!
Property Owner
Reviewed by Steve3.8★Sep 2023
"The location of the cottage is fantastic however, we were unprepared for members of the public to come up to the door and have a look."
The cottage was cosy but smaller than it looked in the photographs The cottage does need a little TLC, we had a leak under the sink when we arrived and blocked drains the second week, these were rectified quite quickly. There is not a private outdoor seating area for the Retreat, there are 2 chairs that can be taken into the grounds of the house.
Reviewed by Barbara2.8★Jun 2023
"Lovely cottage, only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the lack of privacy in regards to next door."
This could have been offset by a small table and chairs at the side of the property but unlike the Gatehouse which had a bench there was simply nowhere to sit outside apart from bench and table round the front but it wasn't private. Terrific welcome pack and the towels were in the shape of swans, a lovely touch from the housekeeper.
Reviewed by Mark5.0★May 2023
"A cosy, comfortable stay for an older couple attending a wedding at Appuldurcombe House and wanting to explore the Island for a few days afterwards."
A little tight on space, but we knew the cottage was small from the listing, so this was not unexpected, just something to consider for others staying here.
Reviewed by Lindsay5.0★May 2023
"Pleasant, small, compact and bijou accomodation."
We had a pleasant stay at The Retreat only let down by the cleanliness and a liitle bit damp!
Lots of dust cobwebs and dead flys. Needs a good spring clean.
Parking was convenient. Our dog could safely wander round the grounds. Kitchen is small but adequate. Sofa was very uncomfortable. TV worked most of the time but the wifi did keep crashing and needed re booting.
Bathroom is very small!.Shower was hot and didnt leak if you were careful!
Bed was comfy but very tight to get in and out of. Nowhere to put your tea in the morning!
Convenient shop down the road but avoid the local pub.
Close to Ventno,Shanklin and Sandown which all have great beaches for the dog from the end of September.
Reviewed by Trevor2.8★Oct 2022
"Having Tea, Coffee, Sugar, biscuits and a bottle of wine left for our arrival was a very nice touch."
Rubbish bags, dirty linen bags and clean tea towels were left for us to use as well. The property is small but perfect for 2 people and our dog we had with us. The front door frame is looking a bit rotten and will need repairing/replacing as some point but did not cause us any issues. Plenty of on site parking and very quiet location. The bathroom skirting boards and walls were grubby and needed a good clean. The rest of the property was very clean. The kitchen was well equipped and also has a small dishwasher. Overall, a very pleasant stay at The Retreat.
Reviewed by Martin4.4★Sep 2022
"Visited The Retreat for a weeks holiday, just me and my dog."
Property was perfect for us, well laid out and cosy. All facilities available including a lovely shower. Lovely thoughtful welcome pack including bottle of prosecco. Set in the grounds of Appuldercombe House, it was a lovely quiet location and except for a couple of other properties, no other houses and no passing traffic. Ideal location for sightseeing around the island, and the donkey sanctuary only a few minutes drive. If I come back to the Isle of Wight on my own I would definitely stay here again.
Reviewed by Joanne5.0★Sep 2022
"Lovely, peaceful property and would stay again."
Reviewed by Vicky4.1★Aug 2022
"We enjoyed our stay , however dont think you should ask people to strip beds when you have a checkout time of 9am"
Reviewed by April4.1★Aug 2022
"The Retreat is a wonderful cottage for a holiday!"
Peace and quiet, glorious surroundings, and a cosy base from which to explore the island! We look forward to our return!
Reviewed by Michael5.0★Jul 2022
"Location excellent,especially for dogs."
Accommodation tiny.
Reviewed by Sylvia3.8★Jun 2022
"Brilliant"
Reviewed by Kevin5.0★May 2022
"A delightful location, small but adequate accommodation."
The location was brilliant. I liked the bed, sitting-room and kitchen. The bathroom was a little cramped. The lack of bedside tables/shelf and power supply was frustrating.
The neighbouring accommodation presented some issues; I don't know if they had a large dog, pet elephant or they were just heavy footed and nocturnal, their movements disturbed the evenings and woke me a couple of times during the night.
It would have been nice to know about the wedding before booking, but it was not as "disturbing" as the "clomping" around of next door.
Reviewed by Stuart4.1★Apr 2022
"This was a very clean property with parking and lovely location, It's in the ..."
This was a very clean property with parking and lovely location, It's in the middle of the island ,So access to all areas of the island are within easy reach
Reviewed by Stuart5.0★Mar 2022
"I have stayed at The Retreat a few times now and cannot fault it."
The property is very cosy and comfortable and is set in beautiful grounds. Very peaceful, perfect for couples who want a real rural retreat.
Highly recommend this place, you won't be disappointed!
Reviewed by Eve5.0★Mar 2022
"The cottage description is fair and photos are accurate, however when you are there for a week and particularly if eating in every night you do realise just how small the retreat is."
The grounds and location are excellent, tens of walks on your doorstep and we only needed the car once all week
Agree with a lot of the other feedback, front door not weatherproof, kitchen missing certain essentials and the fridge is nowhere near big enough for two for a week either. Although the kitchen is the largest room it is sparse and not easy to fully self cater in.
Shower was spacious and comfortable however remainder of bathroom tiny and no storage at all
Bed was very hard and bedroom window didn’t shut properly
The property is fogged before arrival which seems a sensible precaution but did mean we spent the first hour picking up dead insects, plus plenty more came in during the rest of the week.
Reviewed by John3.1★Oct 2021
"Accommodation was very small and cramped especially as my husband has mobility issues."
Reviewed by Janice2.2★Sep 2021
"Overall it was a lovely holiday cottage, it was just the right size for me and my daughter and in a beautiful location."
My only gripes are the following:
1) Please have the owners install an electric towel rail. The welcome manual advises no clothes to be hung over the electric heaters and suggests you hang towels over the bannister to dry. After 2 days of wet towels, wet shoes there was a definite dampness in the cottage. We were lucky with the weather so hung wet towels on our camping chairs at the front of the property but had this been typical British weather, we would’ve struggled.
2) the front door wouldn’t stay open by itself so with trying to let air circulate, we had to use the broom then eventually a rock that was used to keep the bin lids shut to keep the door open. There is poor ventilation in the cottage so Please ask the owner to fix a hook to the wall so the door can be latched on to.
3) And finally, a cheese grater. This may not sound an essential holiday need but keeping with essential kitchen utensils, it would’ve been very useful, we had to use the potato peeler instead so all was not lost.
Reviewed by Suzanne4.4★Aug 2021
"When it rained it came under kitchen door"
Reviewed by Susan5.0★Aug 2021
"The owner was very nice and helpful only one problem for anyone having problem with stairs is having to come down, stairs at night to use the bathroom."
I think people should be made, aware of this as it caused a problem for my husband at night.
Reviewed by D4.4★Jul 2021
"Lovely holiday, super cottage, everything nice and easy, just how you’d want a holiday to be."
We’ll be looking forward coming back next time!
Reviewed by Michael5.0★Jun 2021
"A couple of things, a washing up bowl and a drainer for cups, plates."
Didn't feel the bed although very comfortable was ideal for such a small bedroom. , My legs are covered in bruises from the corners of the wooden bed.
We had a lovely time and the grounds were beautiful, which our dog total loved exploring. Would definitely stay again.
Reviewed by John4.1★Jun 2021
"If you ever need to recharge your battery, to just enjoy the beautiful scenery, and enjoy the watching red squirrels, and even a late night visiting Badger , this is most definitely the place."
Reviewed by Martin5.0★Apr 2021
"Freezing cold shower the first night, went round to report the problem the following day and was told that this is due to an air lock in the hose and has happened in the past."
If this has been a problem in the past, surely this should be fixed so guests don’t have to endure cold showers?
Front door not weatherproof, we had really bad weather the weekend we stayed, the rain made its way under the door making the floor very slippery. There could do with being a doormat cut in for the first part of the floor as the doormat provided was inadequate and got pushed out the way when you opened the door, this lead to a very wet muddy entrance to the house.
Reviewed by Nicholas4.1★Oct 2020
"The cottage was lovely and clean, and in great location."
Would definitely recommend and love to return!
Reviewed by Laura5.0★Oct 2020
"Excellent location, property is very clean and well maintained."
We have stayed at this property twice now and each time we have a very pleasant stay. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Eve5.0★Oct 2020
"Very peaceful location away from any noise."
Plenty of wildlife - look out for bats, badgers and red squirrels.
Reviewed by Malcolm5.0★Sep 2020
"Generally speaking the cottage did meet our expectations although we found the kitchen rather small ( pictures do lie !"
!). During COVID the cottage had been "fogged" and cleaned OK .
Your literature indicated a working DISHWASHER so we presumed the tablets to go in it would be provided, in the event there were none and when we asked about being supplied were told quote "we don't normally supply these" although in the end a few were given to us. Also a tin with sugar was found in the cupboard with mould in it and this had obviously been in that state for weeks plus "rust" was found on both of the eggcups so they could not be used I have pictures of both of these iterms.
Many thanks for your feedback. I can confirm that the egg cups have now been replaced with ceramic ones. As this is a self catering property dishwasher tablets are not provided but I am glad to have been able to provide you with some when you mentioned it. I pride myself on wanting guests to have a great time at the property and if there are any issues to please let me know and I will assist you as soon as possible.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Richard3.8★Sep 2020
"The place was great to stay and there are few, if any negatives."
One or two bits to enhance the stay include: the remote control had no batteries in, the vacuum looked like it had never been emptied, no recycling instructions, the microwave instructions were incorrect and rainwater came in through the base of the door. But these were outweighed by the tranquil site, good walks and great surroundings. We will be back I’m sure.
Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Mar 2020
"Lovely little cottage to stay in, ideal for a couple with a small dog."
Kitchen had everything that was needed for a short break and the bottle of prosecco was a nice touch. Warm & cosy on a very wet weekend, nice location for travelling around the island and lovely to just open the kitchen door and let the dog run around. Nice grounds to walk around in and to see the main house in its derelict condition is pretty cool. Would happily stay in again
Reviewed by Peter4.4★Feb 2020
"Maximum useage of a small space and nicely furnished ."
Storage will always be a problem and a couple of glass shelves over the w.c. would be useful to accommodate the bathroom towels . Curtains or blinds in the bedroom would help with sleeping . No complaints just constructive comments .
Reviewed by David4.7★Nov 2019
"Just wonderful, we will be back."
Reviewed by Eve5.0★Oct 2019
"I think that the retreat was a fantastic place to stay very relaxing for one ..."
I think that the retreat was a fantastic place to stay very relaxing for one person or two there are some very nice walks on site to enjoy a very nice pub in the village called the star which does great food not far to walk to a little shop that’s stays open till 10 pm most nights if you forgot any thing so come stay at this fantastic place and relax love mr cheeky in Kent
Reviewed by Glen5.0★Sep 2019
"No everything was fine as the listing says it is very small but ideal for 2 who eat out mainly and in a lovely spot."
Reviewed by Jeremy3.8★Aug 2019
"The cottage was very clean, comfortable and welcoming and we thoroughly enjoyed the week."
The booking process was simple and the instructions provided by e-mail were accurate and easy to follow with a helpful reminder sent the week before we went. This was our first holiday with Sykes and based on this experience it will not be the last.
Reviewed by Matt5.0★Jun 2019
"Lovely place to stay ,in a beautiful location , it is small but is a fine size for two to see the isle of wight from"
Reviewed by Stuart4.7★May 2019
"It was far quieter than we expected when the grounds were open to the public."
Also, it was lovely not to hears traffic noise. The kitchen was well eqipped.
Reviewed by John5.0★May 2019
"Lovely peaceful place to stay."
Ideal for a couple to have a cosy holiday but who ate their main meal out. There is a pub in the village with delicious food and a very friendly welcome. It would be really nice if there was a toaster. Also shelves and a towel rail in the bathroom. We had a lovely holiday and would probably stay there again.
Reviewed by David5.0★Mar 2019
"On the negative side, no information regards to arrival and departure times."
Cooker hood and meter cabinet very low, bumped my head a number of times. I would also suggest, do away with the fridge/freezer and install a bigger fridge, and somwhere to dry wet clothes.
On the plus side, the property was comfortable, warm and nice, while the situation, with access to the house ruin made for a memorable stay. Go down in the dark and watch the bats and owls flying overhead. All in all, the pluses out weighed the negatives.
Reviewed by Stanford3.4★Sep 2018
"Cottage is in a beautiful setting and it was lovely to walk around the grounds of Appuldurcombe house."
The cottage is cosy and very comfortable. Bedroom nice and served its purpose. Bed was very comfortable.
However, here are my negative points..
The shower is too small and anyone who is a bit weighty will struggle to get in. In fact, I only just did get in through the small opening of the door! I have to say also that the shower tray was stained all round the bottom and the water hole had hair in it. Me being a person who likes things clean , I pulled the hair out before my granddaughter had her shower and to my disgust out came dirt and slime. I had to clean the shower with bleach before it was used.
The shower room floor was dirty and on closing the door I found dirt, dead small spiders and hair.
The cleaning needs to be looked at as it’s not What one wants when they go on a holiday.
The kitchen had no frying pan ( I took my own as I read another recent review saying there was no frying pan) 2 glasses has chips on them and there were no large glasses. Cutlery was of bad standard and stained.
The kettle had water in it and was full of scale pieces. I cleaned it out before I could use it.
All in all we loved the cottage but the owner needs to have a word with the cleaner as it was a bit of a let down.
I clean every day and it’s not something I want to do on holiday.
I would defiantly stay in the retreat again but would complain if the cleaning wasn’t up to standard in the bathroom like the rest of the cottage was . Beautiful place in a peaceful setting.
Reviewed by Victoria3.4★Aug 2018
"Shower to small anything bigger than twiggy will struggle _mugs stained plus cutlery all these were mentioned by a previous guest."
Bedroom more of a mezamane open plan so watching TV disturbing partner in bed.
Reviewed by Ian3.4★Jul 2018
"Beautiful place."
The accommodation was well decorated and comfortable in most, but not all, respects. There were some strange and unexpected omissions. Cutlery and crockery and cooking equipment were of poor quality or lacking e.g. mugs were stained and unable to be cleaned (dishwasher and scourer didn't clean them), poor quality cutlery, no frying pan even though there were utensils to go with them, pyrex lids but no dishes to go with them! There were no long drinking glasses, so we had to buy some.
The information folder there was of tatty student quality with very brief and rather inadequate information inside. Good quality TV, but didn't work much at all for the first day or so. Once retuned it was excellent and some scant reference to it in the folder indicated that it was problematic, but we shouldn't be expected to have to waste our holiday time working this out. The folder also contained comments from another previous tenant which echoed all the points I am making. One hook in the bathroom and no shelves or towel rails at all - very strange. Luckily we are not obese, because if you were, you wouldn't fit in the shower. Indeed you wouldn't get through the shower doors
Lastly, we realised from the pictures that the bedroom was small, but was it really necessary to provide a protruding bed base with such sharp wooden corners in such a confined space? I noticed it straight away, but in the dark and when tired, my shins were obviously not going to! I could almost guarantee anyone staying there would suffer the same fate.
Such small things really and easily rectified. Such a grand and beautiful place and we're glad we went, but the accommodation almost had an air of that'll do for the peasants!
Reviewed by Andrew3.4★Jul 2018
"Lovely holiday, nice surroundings very peaceful, would definitely recommend to anybody the only slight gripe was that shower could be a little larger, but would not put me off returning
many thanks from myself & my wife."
Reviewed by Colin4.4★Jun 2018
"The Retreat is in an idyllic location - the grounds of Appuldurcombe house and the surrounding countryside are beautiful."
The kitchen is well equipped, the bed very comfortable and living room cosy. The Retreat is well situated to explore the eastern side of the island but I was equally happy just to sit outside, listen to the spring bird song and admire the parkland view across to Appuldurcombe house.
I had a wonderful holiday and would thoroughly recommend this cottage.
Shower room with large shower cubicle, basin and WC
Kitchen/diner
Sitting room.
Electric panel heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview, DVD, WiFi, selection of books and DVDs
Power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Ample off road parking
One well-behaved dog allowed
Sorry, no smoking
Shop and pub 15 minute walk
Note: This property can be booked with The Gate House 960236 and The Coach House 960233 to accommodate 11 people
The property
The Retreat forms part of a cosy stone cottage, on the grounds of the 18th century Appuldurcombe House, on the outskirts of Wroxall on the Isle of Wight.
Set in a beautifully tranquil location, this bolt hole can be enjoyed equally as a romantic getaway or as a homely base for a holiday of outdoor adventure and exploration.
Enter the property and be welcomed by its well-equipped, black and white galley kitchen which also plays host to a delightful dining table set for two.
Head into the peaceful sitting room where you can unwind after a day of touring the area; a stunning French door lights the room up as well as offering soothing views of the surrounding woodland.
A couple of steps up brings you to the pristine tiled shower room, the perfect spot to get yourself ready for a night in the local Star Inn pub.
Take the stairs and arrive at the wonderfully bright and airy double bedroom, the open layout and fresh features give it a real sense of homeliness.
Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this Wroxall cottage with a morning stroll through the 300 acres of woodland that surrounds you.
The village of Wroxall has a high-quality pub serving food and a convenience store for your daily essentials.
The wonderful seaside resort of Ventnor comes within a five-minute drive and offers a wide range of amenities, as well as a golf course and a glorious sandy beach.
Even though you do not have a private garden , you are in the Grounds Of Appuldurcombe House you are able to stroll around the Parkland surrounding the house.
The Isle of Wight is easily navigated by car, meaning that you could spend the day at northern Cowes, or take a trip west to the Isle of Wight AONB.
The Retreat is a lovely and cosy cottage in an excellent location.
View on map
Where you’ll be staying
WROXALL
Ventnor 1.5 miles; Shanklin 3 miles
This pretty village sits just two miles from the south coast of the Isle of Wight, Wroxall itself along with the surrounding area offers something to suit every taste. In the village there is a well-respected gastropub, The Star Inn, as well as a convenience store. Here you can also find a Donkey Sanctuary to experience something different. Hidden away in acres of stunning woodland is the Appuldurcombe House, a historical landmark well worth a look. The seaside resort of Ventnor is just a short drive away and offers everything that you could ask for from a range of fabulous amenities, stunning botanical gardens and a sandy beach for you to enjoy. You can reach here, and nearby Shanklin by bus from Wroxall itself. The whole of the island is easily accessible by car as it is only around 25 miles wide, meaning that you can visit the Isle of Wight AONB and the Hamstead Heritage Coast with ease for your dose of fresh country air.
