Okehampton Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Kaylee - Verified booking

  Here are some tips for locating this charming cottage: When you consult the map on Sykes Cottages, which mistakenly estimates it to be before the right-hand bend.

  Be sure not to stop at the first thatched cottage you see and the property you need is actually located at the very end of the road (about 1.5miles in), which, like many lanes in Devon, may appear unclassified. The property’s What3words address is: ///shipyards.nurture.wisdom. As you turn in and drive down the gravel driveway, you’ll find the cottage with a large gate in front of you, surrounded by a few other properties on the land, one of which belongs to the owners. We were warmly welcomed by Malcolm, who we saw each morning as he let the ducks out to protect them from foxes. Malcolm is friendly and a treasure trove of local knowledge. After a while, we were also welcomed by Zoe who popped her head over the fence to greet us. Adjacent to the property is a large field that leads to the Tarka Trail. Most mornings, our dog loved playing in the field until the sheep arrived. Even then, Malcolm generously offered us access to the field that separates our property from theirs, which was incredibly kind, especially on days when our dog needed extra exercise. A note for dog owners: dogs are not allowed upstairs (if your furry friend typically sleeps with you). We also noticed the house rules about not leaving dogs unattended, as there were some noticeable scratches on the doorway, its likely this is to prevent damage from pets that struggle in unfamiliar places or have separation anxiety. The information book provides some options for nearby eateries. We particularly enjoyed The Kings Arms in Winkleigh—just a heads up, though: most local restaurants don’t serve food until 5:30 p.m., and reservations are often necessary. We didn’t explore too many local dining options, as the cottage is conveniently located for trips to North and South Devon and even Cornwall. One unsuspecting highlight was the Puffing Billy Cafe in Torrington, about 30 minutes away, where we indulged in a delightful cream tea too! For the extremely light sleepers in our group, the sound of the buzzing cesspit and the creaky stairs did disrupt their rest, so if you're a light sleeper too you may opt for ear buds. We recommend discussing your return times with the owners too, particularly as the winter months approach, if you'd prefer a hot shower or bath on your return to adjust the times for a warm one. Fortunately, Malcolm was quick to accommodate the changes for us. The cottage is well-equipped with everything you could need for a comfortable stay. Based on previous reviews, we opted to bring a few of our own items, as it noted that some essentials weren't provided. However, there is a Coop in nearby Hatherleigh. The surroundings are stunning, and the night sky is absolutely breathtaking! All in all, thank you for a lovely stay in such a beautiful place—it’s incredibly spacious and perfect for dogs!

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• Nadia - Verified booking

  Gorgeous homely cottage.

  Super nice owners that are on hand if needed. The surrounding grounds, cottage and barns also beautiful. Just be aware of track/lane down to cottage in wet weather is slippery and muddy. Also Google with Post code took me to half way down lane. Ignore that just keep going right to the end and new drive being done. I found hot spotting my Internet from ee provider worked very well with my amazon fire stick. I did a little work on laptop too. The fur kids loved running through the field, stream and woods. Watched the world go by with the friendly ducks.(owners put away and let out each day, which my girls took while to except it was OK so no need to Bark!silly monkeys) You are fully enclosed in once gate is shut so very settling as a dog owner. Wood floors so easy with dogs. Lovely bath and powerful shower. I forgot to take salt and pepper and hand soap, but easily pick up down in village shops or Okehampton. Good spot to go to dartmoor and surrounding area. Or pop across the coast. Then come back for hot chocky in front of the lush log burner. Definitely a lovely cottage to stay and relax in :)

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• Sally Ann - Verified booking

  Just an outstanding property.

  Langdale barn is beautifully furnished and in a gorgeous village with a lovely enclosed garden, ideal for our dog. The footpath leading from the garden to the beautiful lakeside walk was a huge bonus. We loved the comfy sofas, the supremely comfortable bed, the fantastic shower and everything else in between. All the little extras provided by the wonderful hosts, Mike and Julie, were very much appreciated. From the delicious cream tea on arrival, to the bath robes and toiletries. We had a wonderful walking holiday, so much beautiful countryside to explore in the area. We ate at the fantastic New Inn, a few minutes walk, 6 nights out of the 7. A massive plus to have this gorgeous pub on the doorstep! Mike very kindly refilled the number of bird feeders in the garden part way through the week, the variety of garden birds we saw was amazing. We could have sat for hours just watching them! Also loved the wildlife cameras - another lovely touch. We loved it so much we booked for next year before leaving and can’t wait to go back.

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• Joe - Verified booking

  Really lovely stay - warmly welcomed by the host who went above and beyond to share the wildlife with us and responded quickly when we couldn’t find something in the house.

  Absolutely fabulous natural light with those gorgeous windows, loved sitting and feeling part of it all! The shower was the best of my LIFE; the kitchen was well-equipped for preparing food (including Tupperware for picnics!); and we loved the big table for craft activities, pile of blankets for snuggling, decent speaker for music, massive telly for film nights, comfy beds, matching robes, a fire to warm ourselves by with a good supply of wood and the well-stocked birdfeeders which brought in a wonderful show of birds! (Listening to owls in bed at night was a treat and then seeing footage of one in the bird box the next morning was a highlight!) Well-located for trips to nearby places and reachable by good roads (only got narrow as we entered the village, which was not busy at all in November) and a dedicated parking space was much appreciated. As a mother and daughter going for a week away together it was perfection. Huge thanks to our wonderful hosts!

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• Sally-ann - Verified booking

  Perfect location for our dogs!

  Once the gate was closed they were able to run round as much as they wanted to. Make sure you keep driving on the lane because it is a dead end where the cottage is so don't think you've missed it! Agree with other comments in that you have to take all the basics with you as the only thing there was toilet paper & hand-wash. There were a lot of flies in the cottage as it was so warm & the windows were open but I'd taken a citronella candle with me which really helped. Also, lots of cobwebs & spiders but it's in the middle of the country so it's to be expected Only disappointment was that there wasn't a welcome pack there which I've always had at previous cottage bookings. Even something as simple as a couple of teabags & a pint of milk would've been gratefully received. However, it was in a perfect location for Devon.& Cornwall & loads of National Trust properties within an hour's drive & I would definitely stay there again.

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