Villas In Bideford

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Betty - Verified booking

  The renovation of this property is stunning with many attractive features but it is sadly let down by the absence of expected up-to-date facilities and hygiene which severely and adversely affected our enjoyment.

  This lovely home is downgraded with the many and various annoying niggles that become preeminent in your feelings of enjoyment, safety, comfort and relaxation. Nothing could have been resolved by a phone call to the owners or Sykes. We took the view that our stay should not be interrupted as we were also visiting a terminally ill relative each day. In the kitchen there is one mismatched chipped mug and one large chipped plate. Some old crazed plates and bowls distract from the food placed in them. The induction hob does well with the bumpy, dirty bottoms of most of the provided old frying pans. Weak plastic utensils and blunt knives add to the frustration of cooking for 8 with several inadequate, small pans. We shopped for satisfactory implements and fly spray (see later). The microwave oven had someone else’s leftovers stuck to the plate. The fridge had a huge clump of ice with something stuck in it; it needs defrosting and cleaning. The fan oven never reaches the required temperature: meals had to be cooked using the ordinary oven. Several of the kitchen cabinet handles are pitted and uncomfortable in the hand and are ready for replacement. The door to the utility room toilet area was difficult to open at the beginning of the week as it caught on the floor and injured a guest’s chest as she anticipated it opening. The table mats in the dining area were sticky to touch so these and the table were cleaned. In the lounge unsecured rugs presented a trip hazard for several of the party. After one of the party had to be saved from a dangerous fall against the fireplace we put the rugs in the corner of the room for the rest of the stay. All the beds in the bedrooms were basic but the pillows were thin and unwelcoming. In the en-suite in the main bedroom the lock is still suspect despite notes in the log (August 2019, July 2022). The toilet seat doesn’t fit and is twisted. The extractor fan doesn’t work so towels were always damp and this was the same in the other bedroom on the first floor. The ‘balcony’ has no seating area and there are no seats in the bedroom. The floor area above the garages is uneven. On Tuesday night four of us were woken by the gate from the balcony down to the kitchen area banging. It had to be secured by a chair from outside the kitchen being placed against the gate as the lock was completely ineffective: the latch was misaligned, rusty and cannot be fastened. The outside security light constantly illuminates the bedroom window and needs attention. In the second bedroom on the first floor the hanging rail is so close to the shelf that you endanger fingers when hanging a garment up. The extent of the grounds is clearly advertised but its suitability for walking on is not indicated. Where was the boundary? Could we reach the coast? What features were worth noting? The proximity and access to prominent places of interest is exaggerated, for example, access to nearby towns as mentioned by others in the log. Outside the kitchen there are 3 rickety chairs with a small damaged and dangerous table which we cleaned as all were covered with bird faeces: the remains of the plasterer’s work is still on the wooden planking in front of you. Four chairs and an equally inadequate table rests alongside a pond. We returned each evening for a relaxing drink but we couldn’t all sit down and certainly not in the same place. We searched by the wood store where, it was promised in the folder, other outdoor furniture could be found which we were free to use: another exaggeration as this consisted of one broken chair and an unusable barbecue. When we arrived, part of the wooden porch above us lay on the entrance tiles. We were greeted by an infestation of flies and the cobwebs around the doorway, inside and out, had had little impact on the numbers. We covered all our food and fought to eat faster than the flies. It was no wonder that we ate out far more frequently than planned in adjacent hostelries which, although in the country, had no flies attacking us. We live in a listed stone building in the country with cattle and sheep as neighbours but we have never been subjected to such an onslaught with nothing to combat our unwanted and unwelcome pests. We regularly visit cottages up and down the country and at all times of the year, but we have never ever felt so let down, frustrated, disappointed and exploited as we have with this one. This was not a home from home: it was far less from than that. It was a long way from value for money and our expectations of cleanliness, safety and well-being. During the week we had killed several flies in the master bedroom shower area. Before we left, I investigated the flies’ attraction to the shower drain. I intended to clear away any hairs from our shampooing that may be there: the mess was horrific. The drain was near blocked with grey clingy matter; I felt sick that we had been using this shower all week and had paddled in this gunge. Photographs are available.

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• Pam - Verified booking

  The Old Chapel was a delightful house with charming features and an unexpected cosiness.

  We loved the generous space within the house and wished that we could have used the grounds outdoors more but the weather was wet for most of our week. There was an unfortunate incident on the Tuesday evening when there was an attempted break-in at the property; this included two attempts to force the front door, also there were indications of two failed attempts at opening our 2 cars. The incident was reported to the police. The housekeeper, Marcel, was clearly very concerned and offered any support that we wanted. This was followed later by a similarly supportive text from the owners. We thank them heartily. You, at Sykes, did nothing. I was amazed not to receive any communication from you following my notification to your Helpdesk. I don't want discounts or vouchers but I DO want you to know that your lack of care was most certainly noted. Therefore, my likelihood to recommend you in this case is, as above, 3 out of 10. The house and its facilities and its owner/housekeepers' support, 10 out of 10. I am glad that you will be sharing this feedback with the owners.

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• Christina - Verified booking

  This is our second time to this cottage and we love it.

  If you are looking for a tranquil, peaceful week this is the place to go. The beds are SO comfortable and we just loved sitting outside. Again we were so lucky with the weather. Review: If you are looking for peace and quiet this is the place to go. It has beautiful views and all you can hear are the sheep and cows. It is isolated (which we love) but it is a drive to get anywhere. However, my husband cycled lots (which is great if you like hills!). The woods and stream a short walk away are idyllic and our dog loved playing in the water there. The garden is not dog proof as my dog repeatedly got out but it was not an issue for us. He just crawled under the gate to get back each time. There are so many lovely pubs to visit. The beach is a good hour's drive away so although they are absolutely lovely you need to allow 1 -1.30 hours depending on traffic. We love Hedgelea as it's so peaceful and a place you can truly relax in. But if you are wanting quick access to amenities then it's not the place for you as there is no quick way out. I loved it.

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• Catherine - Verified booking

  A very wet October half term probably wasn’t the best time to be at Hedgelea.

  Four people’s wet weather gear quickly filled available coat hooks but the house was warm, well equipped, with comfy beds and great views. The owners provided a welcome cake and lots of ideas for things to do, and were super-quick to sort out a heating issue part way through our stay. Cleanliness was exemplary. The ‘but’ comes from the very rural location and the openness of the property. I found access daunting - all routes are on very narrow, rutted, single track Devon lanes which made journeys in and out nerve wracking. I didn’t find the garden was ‘enclosed’ enough for dogs. There is stock fencing on some boundaries and a fence/gate on one side of the house, but the bank to the main road is not secure and one side of the house is completely open. My dog was able to get into the neighbouring field (luckily empty of animals) on arrival day so we had to keep her on a lead for the rest of our stay; responsible but not relaxing.

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• Pam - Verified booking

  We really enjoyed our stay in this lovely characterful cottage, well equipped and very comfortable, especially the divine bed!

  Very exciting garden and local walks for our little dog. So peaceful and secluded we had lots of bird and squirrel visitors during the week, as well as a couple of deer grazing in the field in front, and a lovely terrace to sit and watch from. The approaching twisting, narrow lanes took a bit of getting used to but we actually met only one car in our lane all week! Only two small issues, handshower only in the bath, and spring water had a slightly unpleasant smell, so bought large bottled water for drinking - so no problem. Overall a lovely place to stay for peace and quiet. *** Owner Response *** Thank you for leaving us some great feedback. We were concerned to hear about the water so had it re-tested immediately. Thankfully, it all came back 100% clear and safe, so our guests can continue to enjoy our local spring water. Otherwise we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay in this beautiful area.

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