Coombe Mill is an absolutely stunning site, I could write all day long about the biodiversity and geography of the site. Its truly a highly valuable haven for wildlife, and we are so lucky to be able to witness and share it! Set near to the start of the River Camel with no industry, excessive monoculture or building sites upstream so the water runs pure and clean, which is a rarity to find. We read about the River Camel which is a special area of conservation before we travelled. One of the times we were talking to Anya she mentioned they'd hoped to knock down some of the older buildings and replace with Scandinavian log cabins which is a wonderful idea. There are restrictions in place which require biodiversity around the river to be protected and enhanced, particularly focusing on minimizing phosphate pollution. Anya had a negative opinion of this regulation saying it would stop the plans as they would be required to plant hundreds of trees, I personally don't see that as an obstacle or negative. Habitats and wildlife - especially areas as unique and thriving as Coombe Mill and the River Camel area need protecting at all costs. Humans should strive to be stewards and protectors of the land, Emma and Anya are very lucky/fortunate to be able to care for such uniquely biodiverse land. I am surprised that more sustainable measures aren't being added to site - such as rainwater harvesting and solar, it could be a great financial and environmental investment. The Cabins/Holiday homes are practical, cosy and welcoming in design. The furniture is mostly solid pine which is really good quality. The beds were also excellent quality and actually the comfiest mattresses - which is so needed after a long day exploring! The addition of the smallholding and daily tractor rides to feed and interact with the animals is wonderful and special. I studied Horticulture and Agriculture and my Husband studied Horticulture and Ecology, we both grew up on farms/small holdings however we're unable to give the same experience for our children so we leaped at the chance to give them a week on a small holding in beautiful surroundings. Our youngest particularly thrived, having physical, cognitive and emotional developmental difficulties it was a truly beautiful to see him thriving, he made great progress with his physical skills and speech in just one week. Although we do live in a Fenland Countryside village surrounded by fields and frequently visit woodlands, it does not compare to spending a week truly immersed in Cornish Countryside and wildlife! Emma the Farmer obviously adores all the animals and is a natural with the children, she is patient, kind and informative when the children asked questions. The children were ecstatic to take home an egg each day, help with feeding, hold the chickens and pet the goats and pigs. I've never seen them so continuously happy for an entire week! The location is also perfect for dozens of wonderful tourist attractions and local gems, an easy drive to multiple beaches, forest/woodland walks, farm parks, museums, and even a huge soft play (kidz world). Unfortunately, there's some negatives as well, that has meant I've put off writing this review however I feel its important people know exactly what they're getting for their money so they can make a choice. The holiday cabin/home was disgusting! We both grew up on farms, we know how dirty/dusty agriculture and living in the countryside is, we know its difficult to keep on top of. However, there is no excusing the state of the cabin we stayed in. We spent hours on the first day cleaning. The bathrooms hadn't been cleaned, the shower even had hairs in it (and not the kind from heads). The kitchen drawers were filled with crumbs, the carpets hadn't been hoovered and had animal hair stuck in the edges, the kitchen tiles and cupboards thick with sticky grease and grime, the kitchen appliances over 20 years old, the dishwasher was broken on the front and didn't clean the dishes at all, the washing machine was the smallest I've ever seen and didn't fully spin, several bulbs around the property were blown, there were dead flies and thick dust on every window sill and picture. There is a tumble drier available - in a separate building and costs £1 for 20 minutes - one tiny load costs us £3 to dry! The kitchen was a mixed bag; there was plenty of basic crockery, mugs, glasses, cutlery and pans and good condition/quality, however the utensils and tools looked like the reject section from the charity shop, with utensils older than me! The 'toys' were broken and in my opinion an actual danger - disgusting stains on the rocking horse which looked suspiciously like urine, a ride on that was peeling and flaking pieces, and a couple odd toys that didn't make a set. The cushions on the sofa were a disgusting brown colour and were sticky they were so dirty. I hid all the toys and cushions the first night we got there and I am so thankful we packed our own bedding and toys! The cot provided in the main bedroom is not even EU compliant (let alone UKCA), the mattress is more than 20 years old and definitely not safe for a toddler or baby to sleep on, the cot frame looks vintage and I suspect could be lead paint which is a huge danger. We covered it with a blanket in the corner of the room so the children couldn't touch it. (but I am over cautious with vintage/antique items, most people would be unbothered by this) The 'play room' which is actually similar to a temporary office or portacabin, looks like it hasn't been cleaned since winter, it looked like a Halloween scene with how many cobwebs there were over everything. The walls had patches of mold and fungus, the toys covered in dust, cobwebs and dead flies. The guinea pig shed which is something my children were extremely excited for was shocking, there were dozens of malnourished guinea pigs in one shed, interbreeding! They were cleaned only once a week (we asked how often they are cleaned), it doesn't appear they deep clean or disinfect at all, their water bottles were leaking which meant the entire floor became a poop soup sludge! The guineapigs were walking through it so they were dirty, the children needed baths and new outfits after ever visit. The guineapigs were overrun with mite, the worse outbreak I've ever witnessed which we were reassured was being treated but I saw no evidence of that. Its extremely easy to treat mite and shouldn't take more than 8 days to eradicate them with treatment and cleaning. When we approached the owner about cleanliness we were dismissed with 'oh I know who cleaned that property, I'll have a word with them about doing a better job' however, this is clearly not a one off, one week problem, the kitchen has months of grime build up, the entire property has suffered neglect for a long time. The second time we approached Anya about the play room we were dismissed with 'oh that's the nature of living in the countryside' as if anyone living in the countryside has never heard of cleaning! The owners moved from being teachers in a City to Coombe Mill only a few years ago, having worked on similar sites (before becoming disabled) I know how high the work load must be for them doing it alone (and with children to care for), I suspect they are struggling to manage the work load of both a smallholding and holiday lets. However, there are options - accept less bookings or employ someone to reduce the work load, I don't feel its fair for families to be paying such a high price for inadequately maintained and cleaned cabins. So that's my review, the good and the bad. The kids desperately want to go again and it was a wonderful experience for them which I am grateful for. Would I recommend Coombe Mill? it depends on perspective and what you expect/hope for from a holiday. If you're happy with cleaning on arrival, your kids are a bit older so hygiene is less of a priority, and can tolerate the outdated/broken appliances and bulbs, if you love adventure and wildlife - you are onto a winner! If you want a low stress, relaxing holiday in a home that's fully functional and equipped, or like us - have young children and disabilities so cleaning is very strenuous and hygiene is essential - I would not recommend. (I've edited this review to add photos after the owners reply to my google review accused me of defamation. I've not added all the photos I took as I feel this would make the photos on trip advisor unbalanced. I do not intend to make any false statements or damage their passion and business, I just like to write reviews and with that I am honest about the good and the bad so people can make their own choice. I am also disabled so we chose this specific holiday based on that - that there was a dishwasher and laundry facilities provided, cleaning is particularly strenuous for me personally so this impacts my opinions and review (at home I have a carer and cleaner to assist me). Most people do not find cleaning or carrying washing to the tumble drier room strenuous so the majority of people should not be negatively affected by this review, but for some people that may be affected by these issues, I hope this review will help them make an informed choice if this is the right place for their needs. )…