Hot tub, gardens and grounds
The views pan forever across the rolling farmland. The silence reboots the soul. The multi-coloured koi swish around in the courtyard pond. The table’s set for dinner, the wine’s uncorked, the sun’s out and the kids are all over the Rainbow climbing frames, swings, ladders and slides.
This is three acres of lusciously landscaped grounds. Stay out here all day, with the heat coming in waves off the patio heater and extending the summer. After dinner, skewer your marshmallows and turn them over in the firepit. As evening descends, head for the hot tub, clink your glasses and be stared at by a gazillion stars.
Living spaces
In the main house, a cosy evening awaits around the bio-fuel fire. Switch off on the sofas and switch on the Sony 65” TV with BOSE surround-sound. Pick a DVD for the 4K Blu-ray player. Find a film on the Skybox. Or get the gas stove going in the snug, with its L-shaped leather sofa, plasma TV and Skybox.
Fancy a little competitive gaming? There’s a PlayStation in the snug as well. For a quieter time, books abound in the library above bedroom five for seasoned head-buriers, while kids will love the toys that dot the place. Wifi whizzes around the house thanks to the wizardry of EE dongles. Stream, email, surf, binge on box sets.
Baytree Barn is an oasis of contemporary luxury bursting with charisma and cutting-edge touches. There’s space here to party and spaces to slip apart. Recharge, reboot, refuel, return as soon as humanly possible.
Cooking and dining
This is some kitchen, with an island the size of Zanzibar. But if you really can’t face the Aga, the fan-assisted oven, American-style fridge/freezer, two microwaves, steam oven, warming drawers, wine cooler, and two dishwashers, we have chefs happy to step in for a one-off or a fully catered break.
The monster island comes with bar stools and extends into the dining room, for sociable choppery and chattery, and there’s a nice flow out through the French doors onto the terrace. Eat out there among the koi carp, under the patio heater. Or just slip into the dining room with table and chairs for all 14 guests.
For al-fresco affairs, there’s a coal-fired barbie out in the Essex sunshine and, as the sun dips over London, you can wrap up proceedings gathered around the firepit with marshmallows. Pubbing it? Head to The Swan in Chappel for viaduct views, crazy golf and stone-baked pizza.
Pop out to The Chequers in Great Tay for quintessentially English fare with a pub quiz to boot. Stroll to The Barn Brasserie for lemon and thyme chicken breast or herb-encrusted salmon. Tuck in to the tantalising taste of the East at River Spice. Or fine-dine at Le Talbooth with a lovely side of weeping willow and River Stour.
Bedrooms
Choose from six beautiful bedrooms sleeping 14, four with en-suites, and sleep beneath characterful oak beams wrapped in crisp cotton.
Bedroom six on the ground floor is a family bedroom sleeping three in a double and a single. On the first floor, the en-suite master bedroom offers a kingsize bed and walk-in shower. Laze away at least part of the day in the freestanding bath, then decide what to wear in the dressing room.
Bedroom two offers a double bed and en-suite bathroom. Choose from another freestanding bath or walk-in shower. Bedroom three on the mezzanine level is a family affair with a double and two singles. The en-suite bathroom comes with walk-in shower.
Bedroom four provides a double bed with en-suite shower room, while bedroom five is a twin sharing a bathroom with bedroom six located on the ground floor. All rooms offer peace, seclusion, verdant views and a heavy rustic silence.
What people say
Hens, elephants and big brands
How about milking the cows and feeding the hens at Bodell’s Dairy Farm? Meeting Thomas and the Fat Controller at the East Anglian Railway Museum? Hand-feeding elephants at Colchester Zoo? Grown-ups can swing away at Essex Golf and Country Club, see Radio Caroline in action, or shop for big brands at Braintree Village.
