Villas In Derbyshire

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Sean - Verified booking

  We enjoyed staying in Youlgreave, and the cottage is in a peaceful location on the edge of a river valley at one end of the village and a short walk from pubs and shops.

  Unfortunately there were problems with the cottage which have also been raised in previous reviews; we didn't let them spoil our stay and we had a relaxing week, but we probably wouldn't return. The cottage is about a hundred yards down a path from the main road, behind another house and far away enough from the road that you don't hear any traffic noise. The website map is a bit misleading; the cottage is closer to the village than the map shows. We didn't have any problem parking on the road above the house, but a couple of houses on the road were empty; at busier times it might be difficult, though there is a free public car park further up the road. The stone path down to the cottage isn't slippery, even in the rain, but it is fairly steep and uneven and might be difficult for anyone with mobility problems, and the house itself isn't particularly accessible. The house is an old stone two up two down with a more recent block extension, on the edge of a steep sided wooded valley. There is a patio to one side with garden furniture, and an open area to the front, not part of the property, which was full of wild flowers when we were there in early June. A footpath across the front of the house, shown in the main photo, leads down to the river but is quite steep, muddy in wet weather and overgrown. There are views across and down the valley. The living room, kitchen and scullery are on the ground floor with main bedroom at one end of the first floor and a small single bedroom and bathroom at the other end. We found the house quite cold and draughty in a fairly cold week in early June, but the heating was effective. The scullery / utility room is draughty and not very secure but has a door direct to the yard which might be useful for those with muddy boots or dogs. We didn't use the small bedroom, but the main bedroom was a good size and comfortable. Bathroom and kitchen are usable but fairly basic with some odd quirks. The owner had left a welcome pack with some biscuits, muffins and milk. We had a good stay in Youlgreave, but for us the cottage was disappointing with quite a few niggles which made it not quite the cosy retreat we were looking for, and at the price we expected a much better standard. There is a visitor book with a page or two of information, but we couldn't find instructions for appliances or much information about the house. The listing photos show the cottage to its best advantage, but make it look much brighter inside and tidier outside. The back and one side of the old part of the house are against the hill; when we were there the house smelled of a mix of mustiness and strong room freshener. We found the cottage less well decorated and maintained than it looks in the photos and quite shabby in places, particularly kitchen and bathroom. The shower head is low, would not stay in place and has a very short hose, making it quite difficult to have a decent shower. There is a stop on the bathroom door which prevents it opening more than 2/3rds; we nearly walked into the edge of the door a couple of times. The kitchen was adequately but not well equipped, a bit tatty and poorly lit from a central fitting. The oven is behind the kitchen door and is blocked when the door is open. Broken bulbs had not been replaced. Outside, the overall impression was saved by the wooded valley location and the wild foxgloves and other flowers outside the garden, but the patio is very uneven and there seemed to be little effort to maintain the area, with borders, boxes and paving becoming over-run with weeds. Garden furniture was quite rickety to the point of being unsafe; seats on the picnic bench were loose with screws rusted through, and one leg of the curved bench was broken off and the bench propped up on a loose block of rotting wood. These issues will matter to some and not others. What's worrying is that they would be simple to fix and have been raised by previous visitors, going back over a year, but have not been addressed; we couldn't speak to the owner at the time and raised them again through Sykes, but the owner has not responded. The cottage is in such a good location and could be a wonderful cosy place to stay with a little effort, but from our experience we'd suggest reading the reviews carefully and looking at the photos critically before booking.

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• Natalie - Verified booking

  The new cottage stay was a refreshing and peaceful experience.

  After reading previous reviews. I put my good old walking boots on before arriving to the cottage going the steep path to the cottage, which the path was clear and easy to walk down. Even my 71 year old mum made it down and up the path fine ( no mobility issues). The views were really special and breathtaking. I needed a much relaxed rest after the 2023 year and this cottage and area fulfilled my expectations. The cottage has everything a person would need From excellent high quality bedding ( habitat) a make i love anyway and also high quality eco friendly toiletries. ( beautiful smells). The tv was a bonus . I loved waking up on the comfry bed every morning and watching the sunset rise and set and the wildlife with so many birds around. Down at the bottom is the river. Where you can here it in the background as so quiet. The property may not be for everyones taste but for me , my mum and my dog it was a perfect little gem of a find.I bet it us beautiful in the spring/ summer .0ver 3 weeks stay and thank you for mel , mike and yourselves for a well needed rested break. Spending christmas and new year in new cottage has created a long lasting beautiful memory. My dog settled so well too and thankyou for going that extra mile mel and mike for the bottle of wine , fresh milk and butter. New cottage has set my new year 2024 of on a high and i am well rested. Hope this feedback helps and i look forward to going back in the summer or when my work schedule is not to busy Kind regards natalie , my mum and my dog

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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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• Richard - Verified booking

  New Cottage is a fine cottage to use as a base for exploring the Peak District.

  The house was clean and tidy with plenty of room for us and our two dogs. There is a large kitchen diner with adequate facilities, (although not many saucepans), and room for meals or planning trips, and a small but comfortable lounge for the evenings. The layout of the kitchen is somewhat odd with the fridge being located in the utility room at the rear which was awkward and meant a trip to the unheated utility area each time something was required, and the oven beside the doorway, behind the opened door. (Also, there is only a bolt lock on the rear entrance, providing little security for the building). The garden area is all patio laid with a good picnic table for eating al fresco, and seats to relax in the sun, but could do with a good tidy up as many of the flower pots and ornaments were becoming tatty, and a good spring clean is needed. The garden gate is rotten, broken and required full replacement, not repair.

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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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