Little Summerhill Cottages are situated on our small holding in the beautiful countryside of Staffordshire on a country lane only 1 mile from the A52 between Stoke on Trent and Cheadle.
Chestnut Cottage has two bedrooms, a ground floor double and a galleried twin room with its own seating area, TV and DVD player, designed to accommodate carers, giving them and their charge privacy but still readily accessible if needed. It is suitable for the elderly and less mobile.
Pre-arrival
We are approximately 5 miles from Stoke railway station and taxis are available at a cost of about £20-25.
The nearest bus stop is on the A52 about 1.5 mile from the cottages and is the Number 32 from Cheadle to Hanley. There is no pavement from the bus stop to the cottages.
Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Asda will deliver direct.
Arrival
If notified of an estimated time of arrival there will be someone here to meet you at your car. Closed circuit television linked to a beam across the drive usually tells us when you have arrived. If we do not attend within 5 minutes, please sound your horn and we will come to you with the key and show you round the cottage.
The car park is about 10 meters from the bottom of the ramp but you do need to cross the drive to the farm which is roughly surfaced. There is one parking space per cottage.
There is security lighting outside the cottages.
Entrance
There is a ramp and 6 steps to Chestnut Cottage with a handrail to both the steps and the ramp.
The external door width is 900mm 35" and all internal doors 800mm 31".
The lounge/dining area is well lit with evenly spaced recessed lighting in the ceiling.
The flooring throughout the downstairs is ceramic tile with underfloor heating and removable bedside mats.
Stairs
These are 750mm 29" wide with a 180 degree bend and good quality carpeting. Not suitable for the less agile but give access to the galleried twin room with its own seating area, TV and DVD player designed to give both carer and their charge privacy whilst remaining readily accessible.
Lounge/Dining area
The television and electric fire are wall mounted and the heating is underfloor. There is a leather corner seating unit unhindered by any other furniture.
The table is a butterfly table which can be folded away or extended as required. It does have support legs and the underneath height is 700mm. Folding wooden chairs fit inside the table and there is a metal armed chair in the bedroom which can easily be moved about as required.
Kitchen
The downstairs is open plan with no door to the kitchen. Worktops and hob and microwave are at 900mm 35". The drop down oven is 300mm 12" high. The fridge and dishwasher are under the counter.
There is also a small countertop freezer. The wall cupboard containing crockery and glasses is 1500mm 59" high but these can be moved to an under the counter cupboard if requested in advance.
All sinks have lever taps.
Lighting is by a row of spotlights and the kettle is cordless and revolves 360 degrees.
Downstairs bedroom
There is one downstairs bedroom with double bed, height 600mm and space underneath 300mm 12". All furniture can be moved but there is adequate space for wheelchair tansfer and access to opening window.
There is a rack to adjust the height inside the wardrobe and a handbell is available to summon assistance within the cottage.
Wetroom
This has level access thoughout with shower accessible to wheelchairs and a shower chair provided on request.
The WC is 450mm 17.5" high but a riser is available. Washbasin in semi-recessed and 800mm 31"high. Taps are levered. There is a vertical grab rail in the shower with readily accessible controls and shower head. There is also a diagonal grab rail to the wall side of the toilet and a moveable trolley. A ceiling light provides good lighting and there is both a shaving mirror and a long mirror at an appropriate height for wheelchair use.
The colour scheme is cream and light brown tiling with brown towels.
Garden
The patio area outside the cottage is 1350mm 53" wide by approximately 3000mm 120" with a table and chairs.
Additional information
Assistance dogs are free to run in the fields during the winter months when cattle are housed inside but must not be allowed to roam in the farm yard.
The tiling throughout is light in colour with Magnolia walls, white paintwork and kitchen units. The worksurfaces are black as is the lounge seating.
4G Wi-Fi is available at no extra charge. Mobile phone reception is satisfactory for most providers.
Docotors surgeries are availble in Cheadle (approx. 10 minutes away) and we are about 15-20 minutes from the University Hosptial of North Staffordshire.
Future plans
We have proivided better internet provision,and are still looking into aids and equipment for the hard of hearing and reviewing our website for the partially sighted. We are also open to ideas from our guests on how we can improve our service.
We are always willing to help and can generally be available when needed if we know in advance.
Contact information
Beth Plant
Little Summerhill Cottages
Tickhill Lane
Dilhorne
Staffordshire
ST10 2PL
01782 550967 and 07976 068560
info@holidaycottagesstaffordshire.com
Beech Cottage
Beech Cottage does not meet the requirements of M1 but has been used by guests in a wheelchair and is accesible with our portable ramp. It has an over the bath shower but does not have levered taps or grab rails.
If you would like information on this cottage, please ask.
Oak Cottage
This cottage is similar to Chestnut and is often used by older guests.It is perfect for anyone with a recent knee replacement - I know as we moved into it when I had my first one done!
If you would like information on this cottage, please ask.