Christmas Cottages in Devon

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Nadine - Verified booking

  Please find below the issues we had at the property during our stay:- First of all, this is not a peaceful location in the countryside as the description of the property would leave you to believe.

  Whilst the front of the property benefits from a gorgeous view, the property is situated right on a major through road which is in constant use both day and night. The road takes heavy traffic which can be heard even inside the property and totally negates the lovely view. We took 2 small dogs with us and whilst the property is advertised as dog friendly, I would not say that it is suitable for dogs. The garden is not secure and there is very easy access to the busy main road if they are explorers. Also no walks from the cottage either, everywhere is a drive. 2) On arrival at the property, the outdoor garden furniture all needed to be scrubbed down with soap and hot water before it could be used. The deck was filthy and the gardens whilst benefitting from lovely mature plants and trees looks really neglected and in need of tlc. The washing line was also completely broken. Empty bird feeders and lots of areas that need a general tidy up that are storing old/broken furniture. There are two small ponds which are so dirty with stagnant water I'm amazed that the fish are not dead. Again really needs tlc and they could be a lovely feature. The garden chairs need to be replaced or at least have new cushions, they were all dirty and some broken. No cushions provided for the loungers. Also only one parasol which is in the picnic table, no shade/parasol for the large seating area at the other end of the garden. This is much needed as the garden is south facing and gets very hot. The bar would be a nice feature again with some tlc, the lighting needs to be addressed and electricity supply restored for it to be utilised. No point in having it as it is. 3) The hot tub was not clean, it had loads of grit and flies inside when we arrived. This should have been clean water freshly changed for us. The net was broken so could not clear them out. Also unable to change the temperature of the hot tub, it was a very hot weekend and we would have liked to enjoy a cool tub. 4) The property inside was also dirty, clearly it is not being cleaned as it should be with thick dust evident in a lot of places. The carpets are stained and in need of replacing. A lot of the furniture is very dated and in need of replacing, it needs decorating and updating also. 5) The bath in the main bathroom was dirty on arrival and the toilet seat really loose. Empty hand wash bottles and empty Reed diffusers are not very welcoming! Artifical flowers covered in dust not great either... the handheld shower could not be used due to a big hole in the cable, the water poured out everywhere. Very poor design with no shower screen or curtain. Fixed rain shower head which is too close to the wall and very difficult to get under as it is in the bath. 6) The annexe bedroom did not have a lightshade, just a bare bulb and the toilet and shower are completely unfit for purpose. On arrival the door to the shower was broken (we fixed it so it would shut). The stairs leading to this room are also more like a ladder than a staircase, extremely steep! 7) several of the fans were not working despite a recent PAT test and the toaster only worked on one side. The dishwasher did not wash properly ( needs rinse aid and salt we think) all these things the cleaners should be checking on. 8) The downstairs ensuite facilities are again not fit for purpose. Damp, mouldy and stained ceiling, dirty grout and a shower that's ancient and in desperate need of replacing. 9) We travelled as a family with teenagers in tow, the WiFi was really intermittent and not accessible at all in some of the rooms (annexe bedroom included). This was very problematic for us! although appreciate in an old building with thick walls getting a good service is difficult. This could be a fantastic property if you don't mind the constant traffic noise, however it needs a thorough deep clean, major modernisation and decoration first. It also needs to be maintained by cleaners who have an interest in the property and an eye for detail. During our stay a lot of these issues were fed back to sykes and the owner who was very pleasant and accepted my feedback constructively. A token offer of £122 refund has been provided. On reflection, and with the extent of the issues that we had I actually don't feel that that amount is appropriate. The photos and description of the property are very misleading, it was a special occasion stay that was very expensive and very disappointing. Please can you take this forward for further compensation please or perhaps a credit amount against a future sykes property. Kind regards, Nadine Wills

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• Sharon - Verified booking

  The Thatched Cottage near Crediton is a lovely character Cottage with amazing views, but unfortunately there are a few things that let it down during our stay.

  The down stairs bedroom toilet was broken along with the toilet seat , the shower head was full of mould & dirt , the shower need a good deep clean as all the grout & silicone is covered in mould spots . The wardrobe was very damp unable to hang clothes in . I was going to stay in this room as I have a balance issues and was not intending to use the stairs but unfortunately couldn’t stay in the downstairs bedroom with these issues. Luckily we booked for 4 people and not full capacity so we could move to other bedrooms, if not we would have been even more disappointed. We was going to ring and report the problems on the emergence landline which in the information pack at the cottage should be found under the stairs , as there is little or no signal on the mobiles at the cottage, but their was no emergence phone underneath the stairs . Also the password for the internet wrong , it’s a Capital A on the second password, not lowercase. ( I can see now that this was also reported in a previous review) The first hour of our Hoilday was spent cleaning as cups , glasses & grill pans were all sticky . The cutlery draw was disgusting with dirty stains , (we removed the cutlery and left the dirt in this draw for the cleaners to see along with a note highlighting other issues so they will hopefully be addressed before the next booking arrives. ) Also the draining rack needs replacement as rust/dirt in between the draining slots . The Garden furniture all needs maintenance , cleaning or replacement, the stepping stones down to the Jacuzzi are lose and move under foot , causing a trip hazard, the jacuzzi lid needs replacing as falling apart when folded back as the zips are broken, & looks very unsightly while sat in the Jacuzzi and the garden is over grown in parts and needs attention in the ponds and the dead trees need cutting down , we had windy weather on some days and branches were very precarious. On booking the cottage we looked for particular filters / listing requirements , one of which was open fires , but you are not allowed to light the fire , so this needs to be removed from that filter. ( totally understand reasons why with it being thatched but needs addressing on the filters as clearly you cannot have an open fire . ) For the cost of this holiday I would have expected a welcome pack , or at lest some dishwasher tablets , some kind of thoughtfulness, like milk , Devon fudge , dishwasher tablets , or bottle of wine , these do not have to be perishables that are thrown away , they could be for the next occupant if not used , in every cottage over the years we have ever booked at different price levels there has always been a welcome pack , just a kindness that means a lot , this was lacking . On positive notes the views were amazing, the cottage has a charm and coziness , the upstairs bedrooms were lovely and you can enjoy the views from there too . The upstairs bathroom has a lovely shower and all was clean in this bathroom. Very peaceful and relaxing location, even though close to the main road , as the cottage faces the other way overlooking beautiful rolling fields, great sun raises and watching the weather changes as such a vast view . I think for the price of this holiday I was expecting high standards , so was very disappointed that cleanliness & maintenance let down this beautiful cottage, and definitely had an effect on our hoilday enjoyment . I do not expect to go away on holiday to be cleaning , and removing rubbish bins at the end of it , I expect the cleaning to be in the price , first cottage where we had to remove bedding , and make sure dishwasher all done and put away before leaving , maybe relying on the last people to clean things is why the cottage now needs a deep clean . We would always leave things tidy , but this was not clean when we arrived, definitely loads of things need to be addressed , maybe an adjustment in price is needed until these things are addressed .

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• Bethany - Verified booking

  Words cannot express how fantastic this property is!

  Any issues mentioned by previous reviews with regards to the facilities and cleanliness have certainly been fixed - we were really impressed with the presentation and condition of the property especially considering its age. There were 8 of us staying in the property in total, plus one dog, and we all adored the place. It's a true character property - when you first arrive, it's like a maze - full of quirky corners and features. I felt like an excited kid running around looking in every room. With a lot of holiday properties you get minimal decor, but this cottage is packed full of personality. The bedrooms were all lovely, really comfy beds and soft bedding - insane views from the one I stayed in especially (with the blue headboard). The bathroom next to that bedroom was also really modern and clean with a ceiling-mounted shower. Plenty of places to sit and cosy up in the living room as well as a TV with Sky. The heating does a really good job of getting the whole house nice and cosy, a great feat considering it was November! The outside of the property is unbelievable. Full of gorgeous plants and greenery which the dog loved exploring. The hot tub is set back from the property so you get uninterrupted views across the fields. The view was so incredible a bunch of us got up before sunrise on our last day so we could enjoy it in the hot tub! The hot tub was fab quality, really clean and plenty big. To top it all off, the owners are fantastic - it was lovely to arrive to see milk in the fridge along with some cookies and apple juice. The whole place smelled divine with loads of reed diffusers placed throughout. And when I accidentally left behind my parents 30 year old edition (!!!) of Scrabble, they sent it straight back to me no problem and even called Sykes to check I'd received it (which I now have - THANK YOU!) Thank you so much for an incredible stay at the Thatched Cottage - we will be back!!

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• Hayley - Verified booking

  We had an absolutely delightful stay at Marsh Cottage with our two dogs!

  We were impressed by the warm and inviting atmosphere of the place. The bathroom was lovely with comfortable tub that allowed relaxation after a day of exploring, with second loo downstairs. The bed was incredibly soft and provided a restful night’s sleep. The huge fenced-in garden was a dream for our furry companions, offering them a safe and exciting space to roam and play freely. The garden was beautifully maintained, with delightful flowers, butterflies, birds and bees. And the added bonus of friendly horses just on the other side of the fence brought an extra touch of charm to the whole experience. The location of the cottage couldn't have been better for our Devon coast and Exmoor walks. Make sure you take the picturesque stroll into North Molton, starting right from the cottage, as it was a true gem, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the beauty of the local surroundings with spectacular views of the village. We appreciated the privacy of the cottage, allowing us to truly unwind and disconnect from the busy world. The well-equipped kitchen was a pleasure to use, making it easy to prepare our meals and dine comfortably. Sheltered carport a huge bonus with unexpected showers. We can't wait to return to Marsh Cottage! It truly exceeded our expectations and provided the perfect escape for us and our pups!

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• Kev - Verified booking

  We had a very relaxed stay at The Thatched Cottage.

  8 of us, but there was plenty of room. It is just off a main road, but we didn't really notice any noise from this. It is a lovely old building; there is a little damp spot in the dining room, but this didn't bother us and should be expected given the age of the building. All the beds were very comfy and there was plenty of storage. The big disappointment is the outside. The gardens were very overgrown which spoilt the view when sitting outside. The outdoor furniture was also not the best - the two loungers were broken so you can't raise the back, the wooden furniture is a poor condition and very rickety and the outdoor bar on the decking has seen better days! We also couldn't get the majority of the outside lighting to work, just one lamp from the living room (instructions where all the switches are would be good).Not all the solar lights work on the steps to the hot tub, but there are torches in the house. Inside, we had to fix the flush on the toilet in the downstairs ensuite as it was extremely noisy - a simple adjustment and it was fixed. The shower in the upstairs annex bedroom leaked through to the kitchen - this was reported so hopefully is now fixed. Despite the issues above, we did have a great week. If holidaying in that area again I would certainly look to book the cottage again.

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