Mara
A trained pastry chef who swapped the city restaurant world for valley life, Mara runs the kitchen and the garden. If you smell fresh bread at 7am, that's her. Ask about her sourdough — she'll happily share the starter's life story.
The house
A farmhouse with a hundred-year heart
Willowbrook House began life in 1894 as a working farm, its thick stone walls built to weather valley winters and shelter generations of families. When we found it in 1997, the roof leaked and the brambles had won — but the bones were beautiful and the view stopped us in our tracks.
It took a year of careful restoration: reclaimed timber beams, a reopened inglenook fireplace, and bedrooms reimagined for comfort without losing an ounce of character. We opened our doors as a bed & breakfast in 1998, and we've welcomed guests every season since.
Today the brook still runs along the bottom of the garden, the willows still lean over the water, and the kettle is always close to boiling.
Your hosts
Meet Mara & Tom
We live on-site with our two spaniels, and looking after guests is genuinely our favourite part of the day.
Tom
Born and raised three villages over, Tom knows every footpath, pub and hidden viewpoint for miles. He keeps the house running, lights the fires and draws the best walking maps you'll ever be handed at breakfast.
The neighbourhood
A village worth slowing down for
Brookdale is the kind of place where the baker knows your order by the second morning. The high street is a ten-minute stroll away, lined with independent shops, a centuries-old pub and a Saturday market that spills onto the green.
Beyond the village, the valley opens into walking country — chalk hills, bluebell woods and a river path that leads all the way to Ashcombe Castle. We'll point you to the routes the guidebooks miss.
- 10-minute walk to the village high street
- Direct access to three waymarked walking trails
- Vineyard, castle and market town all within 15 minutes
Comforts & care
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Cooked Breakfast
Made to order each morning with local produce.
Free Wi-Fi
Fast, reliable connection throughout the house.
Log Fires
A crackling fire in the guest lounge each evening.
Free Parking
Private off-road parking right by the door.
En-suite Rooms
Soft towels, robes and locally made toiletries.
Dog Friendly
Well-behaved dogs welcome in select rooms.
Walled Garden
Loungers, a fire pit and homegrown flowers.
Tea Tray
Always stocked, with Mara's homemade biscuits.
In their words
What our guests say
"From the welcome cake to the hand-drawn walking map, every detail showed how much they care. We didn't want to leave."
— Priya R."The best breakfast of any B&B we've stayed in, full stop. The Hayloft room was full of character and beautifully quiet."
— Daniel & Sofia"Tom's tip about the bluebell wood made our trip. Genuine hosts, gorgeous house, peaceful as anything."
— Margaret H.Come and feel at home
We'd love to host you. Check our rooms and pick the dates that suit your getaway.