Alnwick Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Jamie - Verified booking

  Yes the property looks great and has been done to a high spec but I think this was done some years ago now and once you scratch the surface it feels now that it is style over substance.

  Some adjustments would make it a much more useable and efficient property. The Kitchen is very good I thought. #1 The number of cushions and pillows was frankly ridiculous. Looks good but realistically you need an extra room just to store them as they are mostly not required. #2 Unnecessary clutter (bowl of fake lemons wasting valuable counter space and 3 huge candle boxes on the dining table wasting space). #3 Very expensive (out of date) speaker system for Ipods or the like. Has a massively out of date docking connector making the whole thing unusable. Looks good but isn't functional. #4 Windows nearest the dining table don't open which is very odd. #5 The rear decking and view is amazing but is lost as you can’t access the rear decking from the kitchen/dining area (only through the main bedroom). This is a missed opportunity and leaves the rear decking unused, It’s a shame. If there was a rear door in the kitchen/dining area leading to the rear decking it would be a game changer. We got there at 5pm and the place was like an oven, it cooks in the summer heat. The windows have a security lock so can only be opened a smidge which meant we couldn't really get any proper air flow to cool the place down. Only at the end of our stay did we work out how to override the lock and open the window wider. This information on how to open the windows wider could have been shared given the heat. Mid-way through our stay there must have been muck spreading in the area, not the owners fault but it smelled really bad for a few days there was a constant smell and then you'd get a fresh waft in the face that floors you. I get farm smells but that was on another scale. The owners dog decides to bark from 9pm onwards non-stop with no-one telling him the shut up. I almost cracked at one point. Strangely as well we also didn't feel very welcome either even though there was a nice welcome basket with wine and biscuits, it just felt fake. I sent the owner a nice friendly message asking him a question about the use of the washing line outside, he ignored my wife’s message and I got a one word answer back after I sent another message. Regardless of his intention it felt rude and we felt unwelcome. He also mowed his lawn/fields pretty close to where we were staying and so the whole 'Retreat' aspect of the property was lost as we were subjected to various noisy periods during our stay. We really looking forward to staying there but on the whole it was style over substance and I get the feeling that he doesn't like having people on his land but it’s a necessary evil as the money he's raking in must be huge.

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• Chris - Verified booking

  We did not know what to expect due to Covid restrictions being in force, Sykes website advised us of considerations to take bedding/pillows, food, extra cleaning products etc.

  We found this advice helpful. The cottage is situated on a working farm with this causing no issues whatsoever and was interesting to see the harvesting, feeding of cows etc. The cottage is easily accessible to nearby locations and shops, excellent hilly bike rides and walks with Alnwick Gardens and Alnmouth Beach a must to visit. Host left the ploughing of his field to greet us and was very helpful and friendly, we mentioned to him in passing a couple of light bulbs had gone he straight away removed/replaced them. Host did advise due to Covid a number of home comforts such as throws in the living room had had to be removed. Although an electric heater in the living room is fitted we would suggest you take a couple of your own throws as later in the evening the living area became a little chilly around your feet/legs. We would like to mention Carlos excellent fish and chip shop located within the town; and also Lilburn's Restaurant Paikes Lane NE66 1HX - we would suggest you contact the restaurant to make a reservation as again due to Covid they become full quickly. The food is excellent and the ambience in the restaurant has been maintained with very helpful and friendly staff and their control and cleanliness during Covid restrictions being undertaken in a most considerate manner. The only suggestion we could make would be a storage area be made available at the cottage to store/secure bikes safely. Overall a very enjoyable stay in a beautiful part of the Country.

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• Ruth - Verified booking

  Our holiday was badly threatened by a depressing recent review (Aug 22) which we read before leaving home but which turned out to be totally misleading.

  Having visited 16 Sykes cottages in the last 8 years we consider ourselves to be seasoned and are used to high standards. However we had an excellent holiday and Newton Retreat is a good centre for visiting very many lovely locations and is a quiet haven after a long day sight seeing. Our pleasure was increased by deer almost at our doorstep, owls hooting at night and not a dog or lawn mower or farmer ploughing in earshot! As we do all our own cooking and never eat out we appreciated the fabulous, well-equipped kitchen...the oven/hob was sublime. The quality of everything was noticeably above average. Both rooms being en-suite, with lots of hot water and very comfortable beds was also appreciated. There are three lovely areas of decking, easily accessible from patio doors and/or external steps with countryside views. We found the cottage light and airy. As advised by Jeremy we closed the blinds when out during the day as it was very sunny, then once back opened the patio doors and the windows (easily disabling the safety catches!) which quickly cooled and ventilated all the rooms. The garden areas surrounding the cottage were well maintained and a pleasure to relax in. The owner (Jeremy) was very helpful and friendly, but not at all intrusive. Thank you for the thoughtful welcome pack and we are still enjoying the apples and plums.

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• Alan - Verified booking

  Absolutely wonderful stay at Newton Retreat last week.

  Our third stay in Northumberland and definitely the last time we need to think about where we might stay on another trip. Could not fault anything with this property. We stayed as a couple and found the property perfect in every way. A family of four or two couples would be just as suited as plenty space and storage for up to 4. When we return we are going to book for the “summer” months to hopefully enable us to use the available outdoor space and surroundings when the temperatures are warmer to sit outside in the evenings. The only noise you will hear are that of birds, the owners’ dogs when they are having a run around the farm or the occasional train but so quiet, relaxing and peaceful. A lovely welcome hamper of milk, biscuits, wine and crisps was much appreciated. Fabulous location for exploring by car, on foot or as we did mainly by bike. A good five mile return walk to Embleton but perhaps only two or three to the local pubs in Criston Bank or Rennington if you do want to walk to the village pub for a pint or two. Can’t wait to return in 2023.

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• Uwe - Verified booking

  We just came back from a wonderfull week in Newton Cottage, a lovely, super tiny, clean house, everything you need is there.

  We spended x-mas there, with lovely weather, blue sky, no rain! The owners of the house Elaine and Jeromy are sooooooooooooo ,nice, funny, kindfull, helpfull. Thanks for the whisky Jeromy ;-) We were also allowed to get to know the dog family....5 of them….how cute and friendly!!! You find some good restaurants/pubs near by the house (10-15 min drive) the local people are very friendly and kind, helpfull, out of the ordinary!!! We slept so well in the beds in the cottage, very good mattresses, in the kitchen, you find everything for cooking, good WiFi reception, nice bathrooms and everything very, very clean!!!! To greet us we found a great welcome packet with coffee, tea, cake, cookies, prosecco, water, milk and much more….so nice THANK YOU!!!!! The Cottage and the area absolutely recommendable…...and of course the owners!!!! Hope to be back soon!!!! Lovely greetings from Germany Carolin und Uwe :-)

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