Villas In Dumfries And Galloway

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Kerry - Verified booking

  Ample sized two bed cottage in a charming rural setting undisturbed by neighbouring properties or light pollution.

  Access moderately ok off an unmade farm track type lane off a single track 'main road'. This matches the online description. Improvements needed to the online listing to include detail to clarify:- Cows in field directly beside one side of the cottage, separated by 3ft high chicken wire fence. Sheep in field directly beside garden at rear of cottage, also only separated by 4ft chicken wire fence behind some shrubs. Cottage garden higher than field, so the fence line appears shorter than it is. Cow field not secure, cows can get into the access lane to the cottage (we arrived home in the dark on the first night after going out for food to a cow in the headlights and trying to find its way back into its field). Previous guests have recorded in the visitor book about letting their dog run on the lane - DON'T! This isn't acceptable in this location and can worry the cattle and risks injury to them, your dog and you. Just don't do it! There's ample space at the cottage for them to run free. The top gate is best closed to keep cows out if you're travelling with children, pets or guests that are scared by large farm animals as the surrounding fields aren't properly fenced. Sykes, when providing check in details, make it clearer who the telephone number you've given actually belongs to and any 'best times to contact' so guests know they're contacting an owner and can do so at certain times without imposing on them. Well appointed cottage and more importantly overall it was very clean bar a few dog hairs under beds and on the kitchen floor that had settled from previous guests and the finishing on the wooden floors. The online listing could clarify that there's a washer / dryer and not just washing machine because having that is a bonus! A clothes airer in the property and a washing line outside in the ample garden would also be an appropriate addition. The garden furniture needs waterproof covers or direction (and access) to guests to store in the attached locked shed after use or in chances of rain. The garden is in a poor state and in places was very dangerous for some of the guests that are accepted at this property - kids and pets especially! Access to the external boiler was via overgrown grounds with established brambles which I did get various cuts and scratches from. Many broken fences, gates, plastic pots, roofs etc causing loose, partially buried or fully exposed debris around. Wire and rusty metal fixings protruding from arches, old flower / veggie beds and on steps and access paths. I had to move many due to having the dog with us. Broken glass panes and old double glazing units were also left in easy to access areas which I needed to move prior to allowing my dog access into the garden off lead. An external risk assessment should be carried out between guests during change over. All areas need seasonal maintenance tasks also undertaking to bring the plants and flowers back to life and really return this to what must once have been such a charming and beautiful 'cottage garden'. I'd love to have seen photos of what it once looked like as it was clearly someone's pride and joy. The dilapidated and dangerous wooden sheds at the entrance to the cottage need to be emptied and demolished asap. This really lets this property down and worried us immensely on our approach to our home for the week. It isn't actually an accurate reflection of the cottage itself either, which has been refurbished to an acceptable level for holiday letting. Where the big green shed with the bed and old contents from the cottage currently is would be a perfect place to install an ample sized wood store. This would be a fabulous addition to the property at minimal cost. There is plenty of wood locally that could be added to the store for future guests to make use of once dried. Badgers are active in the garden, with parts used as their latrines. This needs to be taken on board if travelling with adventurous children or dogs and should also be noted in the online listings. We had to make two makeshift gates at the garden borders during our stay, to enable the dog to enjoy parts of the superb sized garden without fear of escape into the neighbouring fields or the top derelict greenhouse and side areas as they were just too dangerous to risk access to. I travel with a fence 'kit bag', and did have to use this at the bottom of the garden to put a 6ft screen up, to ensure my dog didn't jump into the sheep field (for the birds or a run around, not for the sheep). Luckily we arrived with a few hours of daylight remaining and was able to spend the couple of hours securing the garden using the various broken gates, fences and wires found around the garden. The shower, being electric and new was totally fine for us during our stay. The bath is very American hotel in its sizing so the listing needs to be updated as it's not really suited to a 'relaxing soak'. Unfortunate heating issues with pressure and air in the system did intrude on the first few days of our stay but in no way was this issue not attended to buy Sykes and Jo, the owner. Some form of welcome pack and fire wood and kindling would have been a nice touch with the cottage being a drive away from the nearest shops. Improved outside lighting would make access safer from the parking area. Blinds in the conservatory entrance and the glazed kitchen door would also make nighttime indoors feel safer in the isolated area when you can't hear anyone approaching in the dark. I'd replace the blinds in the bedrooms and living room with lined curtains as the current blinds don't fit. The two sofas are very small and very uncomfortable and not in keeping with the lovely room. I'd replace those and the glass TV stand. Only one bedroom was made up for our stay and we needed both so had to try and find bedding to make one of the beds. All beds need new mattresses as you can feel the springs and new frames as they're all very creaky. To help save energy and therefore money, I'd reduce the number of lights in the property and also give guests details of what the heating timer and heating and water temperature is set to. Instructions on how to use the heating, check the external boiler properly and other things in the cottage would also be a good addition, as well as details of local places to visit, eat and so on. For the price range, other than the safety aspects of the garden, this is spot on. For the time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and a week of solitude and star gazing, this spot is absolutely perfect! For anyone needing a base in this area I'd highly recommend staying.

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• Julie - Verified booking

  Unfortunately we didn't receive a very warm welcome.

  We booked the cottage in Jan and it was listed as dog friendly so we booked and paid for our small dog to come too. When I called to get key info the day before our arrival the owner said it would be ready for 4 and they would be in the door. (listing said ready for 3, but hey ho). She said she was busy and would come to see us on Mon morning. We arrived just after 4 and had just un packed the car when the owner turned up. On seeing our dog who was just sniffing around getting her bearings, the owner proceeded to tell us dogs not allowed in the bedrooms, hadn't we read their policy, had we brought blankets to cover the furniture at which point I said she doesn't go on the furniture. She then proceeded to tell us how much damage people and their dogs had caused and that was why she was no longer a dog friendly accommodation. All this time she stood with the patio door open, I asked twice if she wouldn't mind closing it so that our dog couldn't get out as the large gate onto the road was open. This was ignored and so I had to take my dog into the kitchen. We didn't receive any instructions on how to operate equipment at the property or how to find the badger cam that we'd read about. No friendly recommendations of nice places to go. The only info shared was negativity about our dog and how we must shower before using the hot tub. Just as well it is no longer dog friendly as the fields surrounding the cottage were beautiful and full of animals, but unfortunately no pavements on the road and no paths explained or found where we could walk the dog. On another subject we found it odd that there was a full sized dishwasher but only 4 cups, 4 plates 4 bowls 4 side plates. Very nice that the crockery was Denby, but again a negative note in the cupboard warning that any chips or cracks would be chargeable. Even worse that the kitchen sink was pot. Simple white crockery in abundance would have been preferable and more conducive to a relaxing break. We felt she had her priorities wrong and would have appreciated settees with more comfortable and supportive cushions. One of the seats in the jacuzzi was brown and the plastic coating was peeling off so we couldn't use it. It would have been helpful if there had been a folder with information about how to take the cover off the jacuzzi, how to turn it on and off, information about the area, the WiFi code, how to control the heating, restaurants to go to, the badger cam etc. Instead we were insulted and made to feel uncomfortable, tarred with a brush meant for others who had previously caused damage.

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• Susan - Verified booking

  Wow , what a beautiful bungalow, bright airy and in a wonderful location, with lovely outdoor space .

  Bed was very comfortable and good quality linen. Only downside on arrival no housekeeping has been done , no beds changed and dirty towels left in shower , a quick message and phone call to Richard and hour later 3 lovely ladies arrived to clean , on leaving one of the ladies said she would drop off some vouchers for the inconvenience needless to say they never arrived, poor customer service. Reading a review from May someone said the shower in both bathrooms were leaking , I had hoped this would have been sorted....it hadn't every time the shower was used the floor was like a swimming pool, such a shame as the flooring is gorgeous.Lovely pub in the village and the beach there is fabulous our springer spaniel loved it such a shame weather wasn't on our side . Please remember this lovely property is surrounded by fields with cows and sheep in them when it's sunny and doors are open you need fly spray and lots of it as you are bombarded with them . The hot tub was great to use only problem again was the wet weather and I think a couple of the jets have stopped working.

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• Pagan - Verified booking

  Had a wonderful stay at Shaw Cottage.

  We used it as a base whilst we were viewing properties in the area. Shame this place isn't for sale, we loved it! It has everything you need for a comfortable stay. We booked for two people but only one bed was made up when we arrived, so worth messaging beforehand if you need both rooms. Plenty of parking. The track to the house is a uneven but no issues if you go slow and steady (a very low car may have issues, as the description says, but I have a DS3 and it managed fine). Wonderful views from the garden. There are some area to the front that are blocked off as over grown but the lawn and parking grass areas were mowed nicely and the areas around the paths and patios were trimmed back. Lovely and peaceful place to sit out. The property does neighbour fields with livestock and there is plenty of wildlife around, we spotted many rabbits in the garden. I would recommend a long lead for dogs, so other animals are not worried and the don't enter the blocked off areas. Overal, we had a lovely time and hope to return.

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• Helen Godbold-Eade - Verified booking

  We went to Screel View for a bit of recuperation, after a very trying few months, and we absolutely achieved that aim. Relaxation, with a gentle hike down to Kippford for a cup of tea, was what we got, in the most beautifully furnished lodge! The photos of the cabin/lodge, and the area, really don't do it justice. When looking at the photos, you can't hear the silence, or smell the fresh air, or feel the soft carpet in the living room :-) The quality of the furniture and all the fittings is excellent, and every little detail has been considered to make a short stay perfect. The kitchen's beautifully equipped, and the hob and oven are a joy to use (not often I can say that about a holiday let!!). The beds....the mattresses are incredibly comfortable, not too hard or too soft, and the bed linen and pillows are top notch. I could go on and on ....probably best you just check it out for yourselves ;-)

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