Guests say
Downalong is a well-loved property in a superb location, offering a range of amenities and spacious accommodation ideal for family holidays. Guests have enjoyed the proximity to beaches and coastal paths, as well as on-site activities like tennis and table tennis. While there are some concerns about maintenance and cleanliness, the property's charm and the responsive service team contribute to a positive overall experience.
Guests that stayed at this property said
Guests have reported issues with cleanliness, including dog muck on the lawns and untidiness in outdoor areas. Some also mentioned ants on kitchen surfaces and a general need for better upkeep. However, these instances seem to be addressed promptly when reported.
The property's location is highly praised, with its close proximity to Daymer Bay, Rock, and Polzeath beaches, and access to coastal paths. It is considered ideal for beachgoers and those seeking a scenic and convenient setting.
The property is described as spacious and suitable for families, with various positive comments about the comfort provided. However, some guests noted a lack of basic furniture like bedside tables and issues with heating regulation.
Downalong offers a range of facilities including a tennis court, table tennis, and a pool table. However, guests have reported maintenance issues with kitchen appliances, outdoor equipment, and complex systems like heating, which slightly detract from the overall experience.
While the reviews reflect a responsive service team and a property equipped with various amenities, there is no mention of gifts or special touches that would indicate thoughtfulness. Therefore, this category cannot be scored.
About this property
Downalong is a contemporary, hidden gem, designed by an award-winning architect, seamlessly merged with the surrounding landscape in Daymer Bay, North Cornwall. This appealing, coastal house is set in a fantastic private position, yet just a short walk to the peaceful, family-friendly beaches of Daymer Bay and Greenaway, making it a wonderful base for large families or groups up to twelve. Downalong offers a well-considered space that flows effortlessly from room to room. The impressive open-plan living room is the hub of the house where guests can gather as a group to rest and unwind. A versatile space, slide back the bi-fold doors to extend it on to the paved terrace; relax by the fire pit and lounge outdoors on balmy evenings, recounting the day's adventures. A snug /TV room provides extra space for children or teenagers to chill out after an energetic family day out on the beach. Downalong offers six stylish bedrooms, three of which are situated on the ground floor, making this an ideal property for guests with limited mobility or two families sharing. This attractive self-catering holiday home is the perfect seaside base for all seasons and only a short drive from the exhilarating surf beach at Polzeath and the pretty fishing harbour at Port Isaac. For homebodies, Downalong provides as much in-house entertainment as outside, with a games room complete with snooker and ping pong tables, as well as a stunning private tennis court set in the generous landscaped garden that surrounds the holiday home. A stroll away is the St. Moritz Hotel with its restaurants, gym, pool, and indulgent Cowshed spa. Head to nearby Trebetherick Stores for your groceries, or pop over to Rock village for the local butcher, fishmonger, bakery, and delicatessen. Adventure seekers will be spoiled for choice; learn to surf and bodyboard at Polzeath beach; try windsurfing, snorkelling, and swimming over at Daymer Bay, or head to Rock for sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and exhilarating pleasure boat trips to spot puffins, seals and dolphins off this stunning coastline. All of this can be enjoyed from Downalong.
Daymer Bay and the village of Trebetherick were both loved by Sir John Betjeman and are unquestionably special. With a huge appeal to both the young and not so young, Daymer Bay has recently been voted one of the best beaches in the world! St. Enodoc Church, once buried in the sand, is within comfortable walking distance of Daymer Bay and is the resting place of Sir John Betjeman. Daymer Bay holds great appeal for wind surfers with the waves rolling up the estuary. There is enormous fun too for small children with buckets and spades and fishing in the rock pools. Up from the coast path as it runs from Daymer Bay is Highcliffe, nestling between Polzeath and Trebetherick, both of which boast a number of pubs, restaurants and village stores all offering a wide variety of fresh quality produce. The properties at Highcliffe have the advantage of being within easy reach of Daymer, Polzeath and Greenaway - Greenaway being the name given to the clifftop area, beach and small cove with rock pools overlooking the Atlantic beyond that lies between Daymer and Polzeath.
Accommodation
Downalong has gone under a wide range of refurbishments and refreshments ready for the 2023 summer season! These include a fully refurbed and serviced boiler, a brand new hob/oven & painting throughout.
Six bedrooms: 1 x ground floor king-size double with en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC, 1 x ground floor king-size double with en-suite bath, separate shower, basin and WC, 1 x ground floor double with en-suite bath, separate shower, basin and WC, 1 x super king-size double with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 1 x king-size double, 1 x twin.
Bathroom with bath, basin and WC.
Cloakroom with WC and basin.
Open plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting room.
Utility.
Cinema room.
Games room with pool table and table tennis.
Tennis court.
Trampoline.
Under floor heating, multi fuel stove.
integrated oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher.
TV with Sky basic, DVD player, WiFi, pool table, table tennis.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Ample off road parking.
Large lawned garden with paved terrace, Garden furniture, BBQ, Firepit, tennis courts, sunken trampoline.
Cafe 0.3 mile.
Beach 0.6 mile.
Pub 0.7 mile.
Shop 1 mile.
Nearby points of interest
- Tintagel Castle
- Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay
Reviews (14)
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Peter
The high quality accommodation , the great location and excellent sports facilities were very much enjoyed by all my family and partners and it was nicely finished off with some decent British weather !!
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Lois
The owner has provided everything you need to enjoy the property (plenty cookware and utensils, ping-pong bats and lots of balls, cushions for the outside seating, barbecue, very nicely done bathrooms, a brilliant drying room, plenty towels, sonos speaker system etc). And it is a lovely property for good weather (the terrace area gets sun from pretty much sunrise until about half an hour before sunset) and there's plenty of space inside for rainy day hanging out too. A couple of things that might want looking at before they break: Quite a few missing bolts on the stools around the kitchen island - if they get fixed they'll last much longer A few missing / loose bolts on the outside chairs need attention - again so that they don't break unnecessarily The catch on the bin in the kitchen is a bit temperemental. It does work but it will go eventually and Brabantia do supply spares for a few pounds as opposed to buying a whole new bin - you might want to get one at some point. There are no wire racks for the top oven (that we could find). It needs one or two or it's hard to use it. There are couple of fixings in some of the rooms that need to be fixed. But great place, happy feel to it and would strongly recommend.
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Paul
TVâs all stopped working mid stay and were still being looked at when we left. No information in the property folder about the hot water and heating systems. We had no hot water in downstairs bathrooms for a couple of days until Sykes staff turned it and heating to continuously on. Two downstairs bedrooms then became unbearably hot despite thermostats being set to 18 degrees. A further visit by someone who looked at TV and heating claimed to have fixed this but did not, so heating had to be turned back to Auto timings and bedroom windows opened for a few hours before bedtime to try and cool the rooms. 25 degrees is too hot and to someone who has underfloor heating at their own home suggests either failed actuators or stuck zone valves. A top oven/microwave with no shelves, a chair with stains and springs protruding under the seat and a kitchen drawer with a vast mixture of odd utensils probably collected over the years, some that clearly need discarding, all give a poor impression. Someone should replace several downlight bulbs that donât work and a few labels on the many light switches would help. The light switch for the downlights in the boot room needs checking as it causes the lights to flicker off and on unless held down, so best left off and use the switch outside the room. How do you turn the outside lights on; would be useful when unloading the car. The John Bray emergency phone number in the folder was not answered. Thankfully Sykes phones are staffed at weekends, but it seems to me that appropriately knowledgeable staff werenât sent soon enough, or at all. Itâs not reasonable to expect general maintenance staff to know how to fix complex underfloor heating systems and tv distribution systems that vary from one property to another. After the first visit specialists needing sending immediately to get the issues properly diagnosed and fixed rather than allowing the issues to remain and drag on until after our holiday was over and those paying even more for Xmas week turn up.