Christmas Cottages in Northern Ireland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Caroline - Verified booking

  Overall, we did enjoy our stay, and while the cottage is well equipped and in a stunning location, on balance we will not be returning.

  The positives were the extremely comfortable bed, plentiful hot water, well equipped kitchen, including a very welcome airfryer. The welcome pack consisted of about 150ml of milk, a packet of chocolate biscuits, and a fruit loaf. The location is great for recharging your batteries, in beautiful peaceful surroundings. The people of Rostrevor and Warrenpoint were all so friendly and helpful, we really enjoyed meeting them. The cottage was also immaculately clean. However, the condition of the access route, particularly for the last quarter of a mile renders it not for the fainthearted. The lack of phone signal, and the lack of safe drinking water should all be mentioned when booking. There was a large plastic drum of water, but we could not be confident of drinking it as we did not know how long it was there. Having texted both numbers to arrange key collection, between Thursday evening and Friday morning, without reply, I then phoned on Friday lunchtime to be advised of the arrangements. We arrived about 7. No fuel starter pack, there were two logs, but no means of starting a fire. Outside light was not working. It was a windy evening, we used the bath mat to block the large gap under the front door through which a fairly cold draught was coming. Other issues were less major: sweeping brush handle kept falling off, toilet seat was not properly fixed, the bathroom mirror was over the toilet, with the shaving light being over the sink on the opposite wall, the handle was missing on bathroom cupboard, chips on cup and glass; the washing machine was not available to us, it appeared to be in a locked shed behind the other cottage; the front steps are very uneven and quite slippy. I did text and WhatsApp these issues to the landlord at the end of our stay in the hope the they would be addressed for future holiday makers, but disappointingly we did not receive a reply to either message.

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• Sheila - Verified booking

  There were only two good things about this cottage.

  The view and the heating. The rest was unacceptably bad.We booked this cottage after confirming by phone with Sykes from the owner that there was a gate on the property . No gate until we complained and was fitted Friday, did not fit so was adjusted Friday evening, too late for our holiday. They admitted trouble with contract cleaners and when we arrived late, dishwasher still full of previous week’s crockery, house very dirty. Cooker should be condemned. Pots and oven trays and toaster replaced Monday night, dispute over rest of cottage which I had spent time on cleaning so we could even sleep and eat there. I was unsure if sheets and pillowcases had been changed as smelt sweaty. Curtains off poles. Shabby furnishings. Shower drain no cover. Pans rusty and kettle so full of limescale that we stopped using it by end of week. Chopping board a health hazard. I am sure that they have done some very necessary work on this place in view of my many complaints but booker beware. This was the worst cottage we have ever stayed in over the years and I found Sykes to be slow with action taken, which wasn’t much. What isn’t mentioned in the information is that you are advised to use bottled water due to the high magnesium levels. However they did supply some bottles. Have not submitted a review until now as my husband taken I’ll on return from holiday.

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• Stephen - Verified booking

  The lane up to the cottage is long, very rough and difficult to negotiate.

  The cottage is so small that comfort is compromised. The main television is so high on the wall and in such a small roo it strains your neck. Wifi/internet was only working for a day and a half out of seven. The bathroom: shaving light is on a wall with no mirror, the mirror being on the facing wall and around the corner of the shower cubicle making shaving very difficult. The wash hand basin is a corner one but there is insufficient space to stand face on to it. The surface around the basin is too wide making it a an over stretch when cleaning your teeth. The 2 steps to the front door are crumbling and the mats placed over them create a slip hazard. Being advertised as a dog friendly cottage it should also contain a warning about the sheep and other livestock in the surrounding fields. On a positive note the bedroom is a good size with a large comfortable bed and the views from the cottage are beautiful.

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• Margaret - Verified booking

  We had a lovely stay at Mary Larkin's Cottage.

  We had beautiful weather which is always a bonus in Ireland. We breakfasted outside our cottage every morning taking in the wonderful sights and sounds around us. The cottage had everything we needed for the two of us. The kitchen and living area was ideal for our needs. The bedroom with extra large bed and ensuite was perfect. We explored the mountains behind our cottage every evening. The drive up to the cottage with its quirky twists and turns just added to the sense of adventure. Mary Larkin's cottage is close to all amenities. We visited Warren's Point, Rostrevor and Cranfield beach a few kilometres away. The ferry from Greencastle to Carlingford is close by. We visited Newcastle and the Ring of Gullion. One week wasn't long enough to see all this area has to offer. I would highly recommend Mary Larkin's Cottage for a break from all the stress of life.

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• Karen - Verified booking

  Loved the Shepherd’s Retreat.

  Everything we needed was provided including the welcome scones, bottled water & generous logs for fire. Thoroughly enjoyed switching off from world and enjoying peace. Recommend using road from Draperstown to head into cottage as we tried all the various routes and it was by far the best road (watch out for sheep/lambs on roads). Only slightly negative feedback was from my friend who slept in double bed who said mattress could do with replacing as it’s sagging and too uncomfortable for good night sleep. Single beds were super comfortable though. Only addition I’d recommend would be putting in a phone for emergencies (locked against outgoing calls all but emergency ones) as if our families needed us they’d have had to wait for us to leave the valley to get in touch.

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