Dog Friendly Cottages in East Midlands

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Joanne - Verified booking

  We only really booked Canal Cottages as we needed a base close to Milton Keynes to work from whilst our son attended a hockey camp but what a find!

  I’ll start with the negatives and whilst there are a few they genuinely are just niggly ‘finer detail’ points. The kitchen and bathroom, whilst ok on the surface could both do with a deep clean. The dryer doesn’t work at all. Despite full drawers simple things like scissors, baking trays and a pizza cutter are not available and the bathroom sink struggles to drain. I’m a sucker for a welcome pack of which there wasn’t one and although tea, coffee and sugar were available they were already opened leaving one unsure whose spoon has been dipping in there before. I appreciate this is personal choice but I would prefer sachets or unopened packs. The stairs, whilst not a problem for us should definitely be mentioned in the description of the cottage. They’re tough going and we all had burning thighs by the end of the week. The directions are terrible and whilst most people probably arrive in the light, we didn’t and an additional ‘turn left straight after the bridge into the India restaurant car park’ would have saved us 50 minutes of wandering round at almost midnight wondering if we should just find a travel lodge. HOWEVER, as I said, minor niggles because the location of Canal Cottages is out of this world. There is everything you could possible need around you in less than 100yards. It’s probably one of the most relaxing places we’ve stayed and you can literally feel life’s stresses leaving your body as you watch the barges manage the locks and the holidays makers stroll by from the small terrace out front. The house itself is charming and cosy with history seeping through the walls. The master bed is probably the comfiest I’ve ever slept on, the addition of a fan is an excellent call and the views from all the windows are stunning. Despite Canal Cottages falling short of a 10/10 we would return in a heartbeat.

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• Emma - Verified booking

  Lovely property, great host and a lovely welcome.

  Kitchen had everything I needed to cook and clean up with fab views across the fen. Comfy sofas and cosy cottage vibes with lots of space for us 2. Good size fridge freezer and dish washer. Clear welcome information. The neighbours are close but very quiet. Very much appreciated the welcome pack (especially as I hadn't packed any tassimo pods). There were a couple of issues Ian flagged on arrival but they didn't cause us any problem and Ian was very efficient fixing what he could. If you are bothered by light when you sleep you might want to bring an eyemask or use one of the baby blackout blinds on the bedroom windows as the sun will shine in as Lincolnshire lives up to its reputation of big skies. Location wise it is on a main road but not a lot of road noise. Good size driveway. Not far from Louth which is good for shopping with excellent butchers, bakers and green grocers with local produce. It is not far to the sea. Sutton on Sea is lovely and we picked up every thing needed for a picnic at the near by Sandilands, with good access to the promenade and beach (recently come under national trust and had 2 hours free parking for all- members can get a ticket for free until March 2025 from the snack van- great toilets and accessible facilities if you have a blue badge. Lincoln is just under an hour across the Wolds. Hope to visit again when next in the area.

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• Mrs Gierat - Verified booking

  We had a lovely week at Ivy Dene. The house was 2 houses at one point and has been joined together but keeps the unused second front door, so is bigger than you'd expect. Lovely for family life with teens to have the extra sitting room and also 2 places to eat. Very comfortable, with everything you need (probably the most well equipped kitchen we've ever found in a holiday cottages, including plastic cutlery and plates, and good, sharp kitchen knives - makes such a difference!). Crich rec is opposite the cottage with a play park and space to kick a ball, and we did some walks from Crich. Also recommend the Greyhound pub and Crawford Mill (the pub in Crich doesn't currently do evening meals). Nottingham Castle is great, lots of interactive displays and a play park (for under 12s). Fave walk, Lathkill Dale near Bakewell, absolutely stunning. A really comfortable and enjoyable week away, made by having such a pleasant base to return to. Loved sitting out in the pretty garden too.

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• Emma-louise - Verified booking

  Excellent Cottage and the stairs were perfect for exercising my newly repaired knee.

  Great location and would be even better in the summer. The owner needs just a few adjustments to make it perfect. There were lots of wine glasses but no corkscrew. The bathroom sink is partly blocked and very slow to drain - previously commented on in the visitors book but obviously not addressed. Cold on arrival as no heaters on and the sitting room has a storage heater that heats up overnight and was not switched on. 1 single log provided for the open fire - there was some coal but a bit mean.. The most important thing was a manual to explain the running of the house, and local Emergency contacts, nearest shops and garages. We had to go straight out on arrival to find logs and a list of local services would have made it much easier, especially as the kind neighbour warned us not to go out the following day due to road closures. These are all simple fixes that would make it perfect.

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• Dr Varga - Verified booking

  The four of us, plus dog, enjoyed a lovely Christmas week at Ivy Dene. The house was cosy and warm upon going through the door, and very tastefully decorated with a beautiful tree aside the bay view window of the sitting room. There was lots of space, the house if a characterful solid construction and despite being in the heart of Crich, it was perfectly peaceful. Loved the kitchen which was well provided for in terms of pans, crockery and equipment such that nothing was lacking and the quality of everything was good too. Lots of walking to be had from the doorstep, even if it is wet and muddy, there are lots of quiet lanes for miles. The local pub, Indian restaurant and fish bar were all super and reached by foot within a minute, as was a pleasant artisanal bakery. We loved our stay and hope to return to try the experience during a summer next.

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