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Ivy Cottage at Stumpfields

Entire guest suite
hosted by Stumpfields
  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 bath
Great location
95% of recent guests gave the location a 5-star rating.
Great check-in experience
90% of recent guests gave the check-in process a 5-star rating.
Park for free
This is one of the few places in the area with free parking.

AirCover

Every booking includes free protection from Host cancellations, listing inaccuracies, and other issues like trouble checking in.
This is a self-catering cottage with a bedroom/ living area, kitchen/dining room and an en suite bathroom. With exposed brick walls, walnut finished wood and hand painted tiles, Ivy Cottage is delightfully shabby chic. Rustic and yet luxurious, its red, white and black color theme and art work reflect local tribal culture and the animals of the Nilgiris. An entire wall of floor to ceiling windows look out on a private patio and gardens and a stunning view. Gardens are shared with other guests.

The space
Just 7 kilometers outside of Ooty town, this property is close to all the major tourist highlights but is secluded and remote at the same time. Away from the hustle and bustle of Ooty town, Ivy Cottage is a serene and peaceful retreat, overlooking tea estates, wild forest and mountain ridges. Two other houses, Stumpfields and Bilberry share the 1.5 acre property. Bilberry Cottage is directly above Ivy Cottage. This is a mountain retreat, not a five star hotel. We have staff here during the day to support guests, but not at night.

We have beautifully equipped kitchens so you can cook your own food, but we do not have a restaurant. We understand if you do not wish to cook on your vacation, so you can hire one of our ladies for a "Book A Cook" option, (please see the house manual for more details). There is Highland Hotel with a good restaurant just 1.5 km away.

We urge only resilient, nature loving, independent, resourceful, adventuresome people to book a holiday here. Its a wild and steep terrain, and at night you will not hear the noise of traffic, but rather the sound of wind in the trees, owls in the dark, rain on the roofs, bird and animal calls. While the evenings may have firelight, candles and electricity, once the lights are out, it will be pitch dark all around. When skies are clear the stars and moon are perhaps the most beautiful you will ever see. Its something about being in the mountains 8,000 ft high, with no pollution covering the atmosphere. Other times of the year, especially in the monsoon, its just incredibly dark. The mountains of Ooty are also very cool year round, especially at night. While the indoors are warm and cozy, mountain air outside is brisk!

For those who want complete luxury, room service, wifi, TV's, a restaurant, and 24 hour staff service we recommend you book a hotel in the town of Ooty.

Come here ready to unplug from emails and the internet, TV's and movies, and try curling up by the oil heater with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Let your body and mind re-set and re-charge as you decompress and let the nature around you remind you there is a different way to live.

A little iron gate invites a short walk into national reserve forest surrounding the Stumpfield property. A private flight of stone steps leads down to the orchard of fruit trees and herb garden. If you look carefully you might find some strawberries as well! Feel free to pick your own herbs, spring onions or leeks, or just sit back and sip some tea at the garden table. For those who want some serious hiking, just ask our helpful caretaker who can either guide you or point you in the right direction.

Where you'll sleep

What this place offers

Kitchen
Free parking on premises
Paid washer – In building
Paid dryer – In building
Patio or balcony
Backyard
Hair dryer
Fire pit
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm
Unavailable: Smoke alarm

Where you’ll be

Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India

We live in the wilderness, completely secluded with no other neighbors around. You probably won't feel too isolated because we have two other houses on the property, with guests and staff during the day. At the end of our drive, along a main road is a small village where the local tea-pickers reside. You can catch a glimpse of this village from the balcony of the cottage. There is a dry goods shop in Buttercombai, which has rice, sugar, tea, lentils, onions and eggs. At the top of Thumanatty Road and Kotaghiri Rd. junction there is an Aavin store with all dairy products, just. 5 km away. At that lookout point, local villagers also sell vegetables and eggs. You can also order food from a couple restaurants that delivery straight to your cottage. For greater variety be sure to shop for food in Ooty town before arriving at Stumpfields. While I used to provide many spices and sugar, as of Feb 1st, 2022, I will be providing salt, pepper and oil. So, if you are planning to cook, please bring your fresh veggies and or meat and fruit. Since we live at the top of the mountain, we have a freshwater well, and you can drink straight from the tap, no boiling needed, so don't plan on buying water. Since Ooty is 7 km from, its best to buy your food in the market in Ooty before arriving at the cottage.

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4.80 out of 5 stars from 178 reviews

Hosted by Stumpfields

Joined in October 2015
  • 621 Reviews
  • Identity verified
Mala and Greg moved to Ooty in 2005. They bought land that overlooked mountain ranges and tea plantations and designed and built Stumpfields. Greg and Mala love peace and quiet, love the wilderness and enjoy hiking with their dogs, gardening and designing new projects! Lord of the Rings is their favorite trilogy, classical literature is Mala's favorite genre, while Greg prefers John Grisham. They love choosing veggies from their organic garden, and eating healthy. Greg and Mala have lived and traveled all over the world. They came to India in 2000 in order to help rescue girls under the age of 18 who have been forcibly trafficked into commercial sex exploitation. In 2006 they started an NGO called Freedom Firm. Check it out online if you get the chance! A portion of the income from the vacation rental of all 3 listings, Stumpfields, Bilberry Cottage and Ivy Cottage goes to the work of Freedom Firm.
For Mala and Greg their life motto is "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God"

Mala and Greg moved to Ooty in 2005. They bought land that overlooked mountain ranges and tea plantations and designed and built Stumpfields. Greg and Mala love peace and quiet,…

During your stay

Greg and I travel frequently so may be away when you visit. We keep our property well-staffed with 2 maids, and a caretaker. They do not stay at the property at night. They arrive at 9:30 am and leave at 7pm. They are all very helpful and will answer all your questions. Feel free to reach out to me on email if you would like to give me some feedback or have specific questions and I'll do my best to answer promptly.
Greg and I travel frequently so may be away when you visit. We keep our property well-staffed with 2 maids, and a caretaker. They do not stay at the property at night. They arriv…
  • Language: English
  • Response rate: 88%
  • Response time: within an hour
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Rated 4.80 out of 5 from 178 reviews.