Villas In County Durham

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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• Simon - Verified booking

  Just lovely.

  It's easy to romanticise over the bleakness of the location and the hardships it would have brought in days gone by but now, it is just perfect for those who want to be close enough for Hadrians Wall, Barnard Castle and High Force yet far enough away to just open the door, be on the moors within a minutes walk and not see a living soul for ages (plenty of sheep though). I believe the house is an old miners cottage with a fabulous fire place and log burner taking centre stage in the front room. Sadly we didn't need to light it as the weather was beautiful yet comfortable indoors as the house was cool due the thickness of the stonework throughout. There is a pub in Allenheads (20-30 min walk) very friendly but they don't do food. The pubs in Allendale do however the one landlady did not appear to be as friendly for some reason but their food was awesome. There are some nice walks around the village but it is definitely worth travelling out for the day as there is lots of National Trust related sites nearby. It is worth noting that the neighbours, Sam and Charlie had a wonderful knack of turning up when we needed advice but apart that you will not get disturbed apart from the occasional bleats and baa's from the other neighbours. As I sat by the brook that runs at the bottom of the garden I imagined that this is the kind of place you would have expected to find William Blake when he wrote the poem "And did those feet in ancient time" Note. Do not be offended; Dogs must be kept on a lead, especially tiny ones like mine that could have easily disappeared down one of the many rabbit holes given the opportunity.

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• Hayley - Verified booking

  We recently had the pleasure of staying at Englewood Cottage, and it truly exceeded our expectations in every way.

  Nestled just outside the quaint village of Allenheads, this charming stone-built cottage offered the perfect blend of historic character and modern comfort. The original features added to the cottage's cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The accommodation was spacious, well-furnished, and incredibly well-equipped. The kitchen had everything we needed and more, with all the utensils and equipment we could ask for. The four-poster double bed was a highlight, offering a comfortable night's sleep, and the multi-fuel stove made the sitting room a perfect place to unwind in the evenings. What really made our stay special, though, was the stunning surroundings. The garden, which runs down to a small stream, was a peaceful haven where we spent many hours enjoying the fresh air and beautiful views. The sound of the stream and the abundance of wildlife made it feel like we were in our own little slice of paradise. The surrounding moorland is simply breathtaking, offering endless opportunities for walks and exploration. The remote location was exactly what we were looking for – peaceful, tranquil, and away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Our dog was also made very welcome, he loved exploring the garden and surrounding area as much as we did. If you're looking for a cozy, character-filled retreat in a stunningly beautiful location, we can't recommend Englewood Cottage highly enough. We left feeling refreshed, relaxed, and already planning our next visit!

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• Suzanne - Verified booking

  When we arrived on a chilly evening Englewood Cottage was warm and cosy.

  It was beautifully decorated with some lovely period features and very well equipped, especially the kitchen. The rooms were light and airy and generously sized for a former miners Cottage, so there was plenty of room for 3 adults and a medium sized dog. Those neighbours we met were friendly and welcoming. Location wise, the Cottage is on a quiet road in a village with an interesting industrial history, and a pleasant pub. It overlooks open moorland, so is perfect for a peaceful holiday with gentle strolls along the river or more challenging hikes along footpaths over the moors from the door. There was plenty of choice for walking a short drive away with a National Trust site and a RSPB reserve in the area. Hadrian’s Wall was within easy reach and the nearest town, Hexham, had a good selection of shops and a couple of large supermarkets. We loved the Cottage and the neighbours we met were friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed some great walks during the week and therefore highly recommend it to anyone who wants a characterful base from which to explore the beautiful North Pennines with their dog.

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• Paul - Verified booking

  On arrival at the cottage, we discovered it hadn't been cleaned from the previous renter, several days earlier.

  It had dirty towels and bedding lying around with a rancid smell. We contact owner via mobile number provided, who firstly said Sykes hadn't sent him the booking, booked in March, followed by why don't we just go home and get a refund from Sykes. Ad we'd travelled with our dog, we thought it better to get this resolved, as travelling again so soon would up set the dog. Within about 40 minutes a lovely lady turned up to clean the cottage, but it was a bigger job than she first expected as the fridge was in a shocking, as was the bathroom and oven. As the cleaner said, she'd visited other cottages on site earlier that day to clean but had never cleaned this one. Nearly 2 hours later we were aeventually able to move our things in, and begin our little relaxing break. The garden is secure for dogs and the site itself is very relaxed and safe to walk around. The cottage needs a good revamp, the wet room needs sorted as black mould on silicon never looks good. Major concern was the smoke alarms didn't work, we know this as we burnt something and they never went off.

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