Last Minute Cottages in Barnard Castle

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• John - Verified booking

  This holiday cottage is not exactly as described by Sykes Cottages.

  I do not know if this is down to Sykes or the owner. The cottage is in need of updating and refurbishing. The fixtures and fittings are worn and some are broken ie the blinds and curtain retainers. I had to repair the toilet seat just to use it. The site describes the cottage as having a garden and patio seating area. The garden is unkempt and there is no patio - the whole garden is ten feet square. The parking is ok but shared with a neighbour so you must park tight to your side. The parking area and path to the cottage is done in large cobble stones which are difficult underfoot. If you are elderly or not particularly fleet of foot you may find this a problem. We are not elderly but my wife managed to fall within the first ten minutes. The steps up to the cottage are steep for access and luggage loading. You can enter and exit via the bathroom door. The stairs in the cottage are steep and poorly lit - not aided by a dark coloured carpet. If you have a dog its easy for it to fall down the stairs. The cottage is upside down so you get good views from the upstairs windows. Please be aware that although the cottage is secluded the lane outside is used for farm traffic and whilst we were there it seemed the speed limit was non existent with vehicles flashing by. The caveat is to keep your dog on a lead because if it strays from the area around the cottage it may well succumb to a LandRover and trailer passing at forty miles an our. The local area is very nice and we spent our time exploring the lovely scenery and the Lake District. The cottage is ok if you are just needing a place to base yourself but do not expect luxury fixtures and fittings. The sofa in the lounge area is poor and the tv is tiny (we had to fit new batteries to fix the remote). Overall would we stay here again? - that would have to be a no.

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• Dawn - Verified booking

  The overriding issue was that Sykes added an extra £140 on the original booking when we had to defer the holiday due to unforeseen circumstances which meant that Hawthorn Cottage was overpriced for the accommodation on offer.

  The “free parking” was on the opposite side of a busy main road and it wasn’t always possible to park close to the property. Transferring suitcases became a challenge to say the least. The cottage itself was clean and tidy but very small and the lack of privacy both in the front room and the backyard could have been improved upon. The provision of logs for the burner was welcome but a set of saucepans and a bread knife would have been even more so. The packet of biscuits as a welcome pack was pleasant but to be honest, after a long drive, a small bottle of milk plus some teabags would have been more useful. Judging from the comments of other guests in the visitors book, we are in the minority but based on our experiences of many other holiday rentals Hawthorn Cottage was disappointing, sadly; especially in view of the overall cost of the holiday.

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• Dawn - Verified booking

  The overriding issue was that Sykes added an extra £140 on the original booking when we had to defer the holiday due to unforeseen circumstances which meant that Hawthorn Cottage was overpriced for the accommodation on offer.

  The “free parking” was on the opposite side of a busy main road and it wasn’t always possible to park close to the property. Transferring suitcases became a challenge to say the least. The cottage itself was clean and tidy but very small and the lack of privacy both in the front room and the backyard could have been improved upon. The provision of logs for the burner was welcome but a set of saucepans and a bread knife would have been even more so. The packet of biscuits as a welcome pack was pleasant but to be honest, after a long drive, a small bottle of milk plus some teabags would have been more useful. Judging from the comments of other guests in the visitors book, we are in the minority but based on our experiences of many other holiday rentals Hawthorn Cottage was disappointing, sadly; especially in view of the overall cost of the holiday.

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• Julie - Verified booking

  Holwick is the perfect location if you want to enjoy stunning countryside and a real break from town or city life.

  With long or short walks easily accessible directly from the cottage, it’s a perfect place for people who enjoy being outside. The cottage has wonderful views from the living area. We loved watching the changing weather over the dales and the cows, sheep, rabbits and pheasants in the fields just outside. The owner is very helpful, when we couldn’t work out how to light the oven, we rang her and she arrived within 10 mins. The local pub is very friendly and has a great selection of beers, ciders, good food and a beautiful garden. I agree with previous reviews that the living area decor at the cottage could do with updating and that the small garden would be a very pleasant place to sit and enjoy the stunning views but is in need of some TLC. Overall we had a lovely week and would recommend a visit.

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• Graham - Verified booking

  A fantastic barn conversion in a superb very remote location!

  The host was at the cottage to meet us as arranged and everything was clean and in order The locals were extremely friendly and waved everytime they saw us and spoke when passing which makes all the difference when you are visiting a new area We knew the location was in a Hamlet down a dead end and the views were superb out of every window. Noise was almost non-existent - apart from the odd car or quad going past, we only ever heard the wildlife Sights such as Low and High Force were in walking distance and more were just a short drive away The only thing we were slightly let down by was the fact that the local pub, which is advertised in the listing, was shut but it wasn't a show stopper I'd highly recommend Meadows Edge to anyone and we will be back in the future Thanks

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