Byways

Byways was a lovely big house in a good location with easy access to Great Malvern, the Malvern Hills and Worcester.

The beds were comfortable, plenty of space for everyone and the games room was a great edition. The hot tub was lovely but really long to heat up and it is wood fired, I think it was disappointing considering how much we paid that it was not ready for when we arrived. Took the whole next day to heat up, and had to be lit everyday we wanted to use it to reheat slightly. By day 5 it didn't smell very pleasant as there was no one on site to add chlorine to it so we stopped using the hot tub. The house was not clean, despite cleaners apparently being there all day on the day of our arrival. The house missed a few essentials that would have been nice to have in the kitchen, and other than the cleanliness of the place overall it was a good property.

The house is delightful, tastefully decorated, plenty of outside space and in a lovely rural setting.

Our queries to Marie of the Madresfield Estate were promptly and helpfully answered.

Instructions for the hot tub were not very good, would have been to known it can take between 4-10 hours for it to heat up so we didn’t get to use it for the 1st night as the water was freezing, maybe worth in the future asking the visitors if they are planning on using the hot tub the 1st night and then get it started ready for when the guests get there so it’s warming up already, we could not check in until 4 so by the time we got sorted and settled there was no time to get it started warmed up.

The house was beautiful but it looked like it had not been cleaned properly, a few of the dishes were still dirty, there were some large cobwebs all over the place, dead flies all over the windowsills and floors. As said the house and the garden were beautiful and its was plenty big enough for 6 adults, 1 child and 2 dogs, we would stay again, the main issue we had was the hot tub and not knowing it took so long to get heated. We have stayed places before and on the morning of the booking we have had an email or a message asking if we are planning on using the hot tub when we arrive and they have had the fire going and pre heating the hot tub ready to be used the 1st night.

A lovely cottage with plenty of facilities for a great family holiday.

Great setting, close enough to Malvern but still felt secluded. The house was clean and welcoming. Some self catering places we’ve been to don’t have enough utensils and pans to cook for a family. There was more than enough at Byways. We really can’t fault it and would recommend dinner at their restaurant in Malvern it was fantastic.

We had a terrific stay at Byways.

We were a group of 7 with 2 dogs. The property was lovely and in a perfect location for easy access to Malvern Hills and The Cotswolds. We also enjoyed some nice trail runs and walks around Madresfield. The property was spacious, well appointed, and very clean. The games room was a great touch, especially on the one rainy day. We experienced the same difficulties as others with the hot tub, and ended up giving up with it, but this is the only minor issue on what was otherwise a great stay. We would highly recommend.

This is a beautiful property in a great location for visiting RHS Malvern, climbing the hills, lovely restaurants and places to visit.

The beds were extremely comfortable and everyone commented on how well they slept on them. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and made even more special through being able to visit Madersfield Court whilst we were there - A stunning and homely property in an exceptional setting. Highly recommend and may well be visiting again next year! Happy for the following to not be published, but shared with the owners: A couple of things would have made it better - having a few more basics in the kitchen eg more sugar, cooking oil maybe, salt and pepper. A Nespresso or similar machine would be amazing too - Found these in a lot of properties we've stayed in recently and it has been a real bonus. Cafetieres are not the same sadly Also, the lounge soft furnishings appeared clean and were comfortable, but could do with a good airing or cleaning maybe? My daughter has very mild allergies to dust etc, but after a very short time sitting in the lounge her eyes were streaming and she was sneezing, so could not sit in there. We have recently lost our dog and she was not allergic to her or any other dogs, so couldn't be dog hair as we know it is a dog friendly property. Also she has no problem with feathers if that is in the filling - We struggled to put our finger on what was causing it, but she reacted very quickly once she sat down in there and she was fine everywhere else! Thought it best to mention it. Hope you don't mind. Otherwise we were very happy with the property :)

Beautiful house in a fabulous setting everything we needed was there.

It was in easy reach of local facilities as well as the wonderful Malvern Hills.

The accommodation was excellent.

Very spacious both internally and externally, certainly a good garden if you would be staying with a dog. The accommodation was very clean and all of the bathrooms are of a good size and powerful showers. The Games Room is an added bonus which we really enjoyed. The communication with the letting team was also excellent with very quick response to any request we had. The only downside was the wood-fired hot tub. Even after 4 hours of trying to get it warm it was, at best tepid. To actually enjoy the hot tub you would certainly need to put the effort in. So, if the hot tub is a big factor in selecting a venue you may wish to consider options, but for everything else you would not be disappointed booking Byways. It really is excellent accommodation.

Lovely house and garden,beautiful decor,furnishings etc.

comfy beds,all very clean and well maintained.The games room and hot tub were great,as mentioned by others -the hot tub does take some hours to heat up,but well worth it when done.The welcome basket was nice and the breakfast items in fridge plus milk. The only negatives we found were lack of kitchen items,most places we stay have more condiments-eg. oil,sauces etc.and provide more than 1 toilet roll per bathroom plus kitchen sprays etc.but that's our view, but fortunately shops not far away for purchases.Lovely walks for family and dogs from doorstep,lots of interesting places to visit.Very peaceful spot,occasional waft from the dairy farm and noise from the cows but that is stated in details.All the family enjoyed a lovely long weekend and celebrated a daughters 40th birthday .

A beautiful property in a wonderful location.

We had an excellent time and really enjoyed the sausages which was a lovely touch. The garden was perfect for our big Labrador and secure.

We had a great stay at Byways.

Plenty of space, warm and cosy. The hot tub took a while to heat up but then retained heat and was roasting hot for the next few days. Games room is completely separate, so a great room for the teens to hang out (careful not to lock the key in there like we did!). Unexpectedly loved the darts and table footie! Beds super comfortable. Kitchen very well resourced for cooking. We loved it!

Byways Cottage was perfect for our pre-Christmas family get together!

The description of the facilities was accurate and the equipment in the kitchen was everything we needed. The location was perfect for The Malvern Hills and Worcester. Our first granddaughter loved the Cathedral Christmas trees. Overall, all of our family had a relaxing and comfortable stay.

Byways was an excellent choice for a family get together, spacious well decorated, clean and many little thoughtful gestures including Christmas decorations.

The table was also laid for Christmas dinner, it looked stunning. The takeaway from the Mayflower was very good. The fish and chip delivery was also the best that I've tasted for a long time- Sorry I can't remember the name of the takeaway . Byways is ideally situated for the many amenities offered in Malvern and the variety of shops. Altogether an excellent holiday venue

Beautiful old cottage, very well equiped.

Lots of space for us, visiting with our extended family. Hot tub, games room & garden were well used. Lovely quiet area. We had a fantastic time and would recommend

Enjoyable family get-together.

Perfectly comfortable in all respects! Only disappointment was our Saturday walk into Malvern. Three Choirs Way is very close to Byways but first field to cross is marred by slurry. If part of estate then please improve footpath. Walking directions to central Malvern would be appreciated.

We had a wonderful time at Byways.

It's the best holiday home we've ever stayed in. Very comfortable and in a lovely location. We hope to return one day.

Byways was very comfortable and a great size for 6 adults a toddler and 3 dogs.

The garden was ideal, large and very secure. The wood burning hot tub was well used, took a good few hours to warm up, but then we topped it up daily with a log or two and used it most evenings. The cleanliness, behind beds/sofas and doors wasn't great, and there was a shortage of tea spoons and dishes. But overall an amazing place to stay and we all really enjoyed ourselves. Madresfield butchers and grill did a fantastic Sunday lunch, and the staff were lovely. The sausages we were given to try at the house were very good too.

We loved our stay at Byways - the house itself is very well maintained and beautiful, in a very peaceful area and not far from towns or pubs to eat in.

Loved the hot tub and loved all the little touches, like the wood that was available for the fires, even kindling and matches. We also loved the welcome pack and the sausages were gorgeous. Thanks for making our holiday so enjoyable.

The property was spacious and comfortable, with a large lawn which was enjoyed by dogs and our grandson.

Weather was very hot for much of the stay and we used the BBQ most evenings and relaxed outside. Brilliant location for exploring the area. It was our first visit to Malvern and we hope to return.

Lovely property, very comfortable and very clean, would definitely return.

Thank you.

We had a wonderful time with our family celebrating my son’s 26 birthday.

Great house, furnishings and decor. Wonderful hot tub and games room. We hope to visit you again in the future. Thank you very much

A beautiful top-notch property.

We stayed in 2024 for a few days and loved it so much we came back in 2025 for a longer stay! Spacious, beautifully and thoughtfully furnished, lovely secure garden (dog friendly) and we made good use of the hot tub and games room. Lovely area with lots to do and explore. Thank you to all who look after the house for all you do. I’m sure we’ll be back again!

A lovely property (semi detached) in a great location for exploring the area.

Plenty of room for our large party to spread out ! Good WiFi . Would have been great if there was table tennis in the games room , but the games room was still well used. Hot tub took a couple of days to get to the temperature we wanted (39c) but once there was used daily . Just needed a few logs each day to maintain the temperature . The very hot weather all week helped to keep it warm. Dog friendly with a secure, fenced ,large garden for our dog . Large enough to throw a ball a long way ! . Lovely walks from the house. House very clean but some deeper cleaning at times would not go amiss - skirting boards dusty for example in places, but nothing major. Would definitely return .

Byways was one, if not the best presented holiday lets I have ever stayed in.

The facilities were first class and exactly as described on the website; the stay wasn't cheap but proved good value for money. A representative from Madresfield Estate, the owner, was readily accessible to answer queries and to take orders for the Estate butchery. The house is well located for the Malvern Hills and Great Malvern area, with supermarkets close by. A particular pleasure was the constant supply of heat and hot water, an area where many owners fall short in an attempt to save expense. Not a criticism, more of a 'heads up', don't assume you will find a few tea bags or a crafty bag of sugar left by previous renters at the back of the cupboard as you'll be disappointed, so travel with, or be prepared to buy everything you need.

Wonderful stay thank you.

Property very comfortable and well equipped, would recommend to anybody.

A lovely house in a lovely village but it lacks hanging space for clothes.

Otherwise well equipped.

It was perfect.

Exactly as described. Well equipped, great enclosed garden and very dog friendly. Very comfortable and loved the comfy chairs for reading and relaxing. The sausages were a great addition to the welcome pack. The hot tub was a success too. My grandsons appreciated the games room.

This is a beautiful cottage, well equipped in beautiful surroundings.

Highly recommended. Everything you’d need. Modernised to a high standard.

Beautiful property, we had 5 adults, 1 child and a dog.

Very spacious, well equipped house, with lots of extra. Comfortable beds and homely. A big driveway.

We had a wonderful stay at Byways and would love to return.

We were unable to use the hot tub due to the strong winds and cold weather but the maintenance team very kindly tried to help us, even coming out on New Year's Eve. The property is stunning and well-maintained with beautiful furnishings throughout. We travelled with another family; there were 7 of us in total, including two teenagers and a toddler. The property was suitable for us all. The older children loved the games room which gave them space away from us, too. There is a beautiful walk which you can do from the house: https://www.visitthemalverns.org/walk/madresfield/ We would definitely recommend Byways.

Gorgeous house.

Very spacious with the added benefit of a games room. Everything finished to a very high standard. The welcome pack much appreciated too! Very happy here.

Byways allowed four friends from different locations to meet up for a great weekend of catching up in a very comfortable, cosy surroundings.

Unfortunately Storm Darragh curtailed much opportunity to explore the surrounding countryside but we enjoyed the inside space the property gave us & had fun playing darts in the games room! We would be very happy to return on a future occasion.

This was an incredible property.

Exquisitely decorated, extremely comfortable and immaculately clean. Everything you needed for a stay. Responsive and helpful communications with the owner before our arrival. Best property we have stayed in. Will be back!

Outstanding property and surroundings.

The house was immaculate with beautiful quality decor and finishing touches. In the welcome pack was locally sourced produce which did not disappoint and demonstrates a true representation of Malvern and the friendly people. The maintenance team where very responsive and couldn't help enough ensuring our stay was relaxing and enjoyable.

Byways is beautifully comfortable and decorated in a relaxed and contemporary but luxurious style.

It has been thoughtfully furnished, creating spaces both for relaxing together and for enjoying some quiet space. The wood-fired hot tub was fun for everyone, kept its heat well and was easy to use - we rather enjoyed getting the fire going to quickly bring it up to the right temperature! We were particularly delighted with the location of Byways: Madresfield is ideal for quiet strolls and as a starting point for longer walks; with an easy 15 minute drive you can be walking up in the Malverns with truly incredible views; in 10 minutes you can be in Malvern for a coffee; in 7 minutes you can be at the station to take the 10 minute train journey to the centre of Worcester; and you can drop in to a proper supermarket on the way back to the cottage for a peaceful evening, cooking and relaxing together. Perfection. This has been one of the best cottages we've stayed in - thank you for a very special holiday

Byways was perfect in every way.

I would highly recommend it. The welcome pack of bacon, sausages, eggs, milk, bread etc was really good. Our dog loved the fully enclosed rear garden. Owners were very helpful in every aspect. Will definitely be returning.

Stunning cottage in a beautiful village.

Great place to explore cotswolds and malvern. Great walk on doorstep. Perfect cottage for dog loving family holiday. Really enjoyed the stay and highly recommended

Stunning property, beautifully furnished, well equipped and in a beautiful location.

We loved it all and hope to return again.

Byways was absolutely beautiful and perfect for our stay with friends.

The cottage was extremely well appointed, comfortable and we all loved it. The gift of bacon and sausages, milk and eggs was a pleasant surprise and much appreciated. We loved the games room and enjoyed several darts matches. Perfect.

We loved our stay at Byways It is a beautiful house and perfect for a family gathering.

We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and couldn’t have chosen a better place. When we arrived everywhere was spotlessly clean and there was a lovely welcome basket. Plenty of room for everyone, comfy beds, kitchen well equipped and the hot tub is ace. We have already recommended to friends and will definitely return.

Beautiful and stylish interior with luxuriously comfortable beds.

Excellent place for family gathering with dogs. The location is great for peace and surrounding countryside but with easy access to Malvern. The complimentary sausages and bacon were delicious. We could not get the hot tub up to a high enough temperature to use even after several hours. The games room is a great addition but a bit dark, particularly above the dartboard. Overall we had a very enjoyable weekend and would recommend.

Stunning period cottage refurbished to an extremely high standard.

Superb facilities, lovely extra little touches & situated in an ideal location to enjoy The Malverns. Couldn’t have chosen a better venue to celebrate our first ever family Christmas away from home!

Top class!

A very happy weekend. It would be a good idea to warn people how long it takes to heat the hot tub As this did not work out for us. Regards Paul.

Property is 5 Star accommodation.

The welcome basket was fabulous. The estate sausage and bacon was a bit hit with the family. Games room gave us the opportunity to have fun and then relax in the hot tub after. We took our two dogs and they even provided treats for them. We only live 50 minutes away but it gave us the time to have a chilled family break.

The property was lovely.

It has been refurbished top to bottom with a lot of attention to maintaining its historical charm and features. The furnishings are lovely throughout and the cottage has a cosy feel, but is quite spacey with a large lounge and dining room, plus the games room outside. A thoughtful welcome basket included a loaf, sausages, eggs, bacon, honey and a few other bits which was most welcome. An issue with two radiators was fixed very quickly - the estate team was very responsive. Some nice walks from the house including a 2+ hour loop to Callow End (The Old Bush pub and cafe Shop at The Top). Try to walk at least part of the Malvern Hills (it’s possible in one go if you have two cars and 5+ hours spare) - the views are stunning and the clouds come and go quickly if it is overcast. No negatives at all but feedback for the estate owners: a hose section is a must for dog and bike cleaning and being picky the dart board in the games room really needs a spot light because the lights are very ambient in the GR and it’s very hard to see. Overall we highly recommend the property.

We had a lovely stay at Byways - a fabulous cottage, with plenty of room for our group of 7 - and lots of parking as we had 3 cars between us.

Beautifully decorated and spotless. It was just like home from home, with everything you could need. The 'Welcome Pack' was amazing with local produce and some very yummy biscuits ! Would definitely recommend Byways to anyone and next time we are up this way, we will stay here again. 10 out of 10 to the owners !!