Dorset Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Maureen - Verified booking

  Firstly we loved Lyme Regis.

  However finding the property and key safe situation was a different story. We were not told until we had paid the full price of the holiday about the keysafe situation. We have used Sykes Cottages before and after payment we have been given instructions and the owners number which gives us as seniors peace of mind incase of any problems or difficulties. Your previous properties have been perfect no problems at all and even a welcome pack to greet you not here sadly. The garden isn’t inviting as it looks in the photographs. We were looking forward to using the deckchairs but they were in a poor state tucked up the side of the building.In fact all the garden furniture was in a poor state and it was a lot of money to us what we paid to be disappointed like this. It’s supposed to have a washing machine but it hasn’t that shouldn’t be stated. Yes it states the steps to the bathroom are step but that is a bit of an understatement for health and safety reasons there should be a rail put there.The extraction fan was making terrible noises so we were nervous to use it so refrained and that wasn’t ideal as there is no window in the said bathroom. We didn’t stay the whole term of the holiday we had to return home the bed was so uncomfortable we were suffering with terrible backache. Luckily it was very warm so didn’t require to use the duvet so layed that on the mattress to try and make it a bit more comfortable.

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• Anon - Verified booking

  I stayed for a week in April with family and a dog. I know the area well and found the location of the cottage excellent as near the lovely village of Stoke Abbott, the small town of Beaminster with all it offers and with the coast is in easy reach. The walking from the cottage in the surrounding hills is fantastic and the village and pub are in easy reach through the wood, which was filled with bluebells during our stay. The cottage has been renovated to a high standard and while it looks rustic ,the living area has a fabulous stone floor with underfloor heating and a woodburner for cooler evenings. The kitchen and bathrooms are of a similarly high quality . There is plentiful heating and hot water. The bedrooms are pleasingly spacious. The furnishings, though slightly quirky, are good and the beds and bedding of good quality. Fabulous art work especially in the living area. The kitchen is very well equipped but we did find the woodburning Esse stove rather difficult. There is a small separate electric cooker but this is not really adequate for cooking for a family. I suggest a replacement electric range cooker would be ideal. The outside area is very extensive and wild. This is lovely but it would be nice to have better outdoor furniture at the front of the house capable of seating the whole party for cups of tea and outdoor lunches. I would definitely stay here again and hopefully will do.

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• Nick - Verified booking

  Wonderful Cottage The cottage is very quiet and private with the nearest building being about a mile away.

  The cottage had a large open plan kitchen/living/dining room, but very homely with the furniture, pictures, vases of flowers, etc. Upstairs there is a landing/mezzanine area with seating over looking the garden/fields, which was great to sit and have a coffee. There is a family bathroom and two large bedrooms. Personally, we did not find the double bed comfortable and could feel the springs in the mattress when lying on the bed. The cottage had pretty much everything you would need. There was no dishwasher, but that was not an issue, there was clean bedding, lots of towels, an iron, an ironing board, a hoover, etc! If I were to moan about anything then it would be attention to detail on the cleaning, given the cost I would of expected it to be spotless, however, there were LOTS of cobwebs and spiders suggesting it had been shut up for a while or not cleaned thoroughly, the cottage it in the middle of farm fields so you expect things like spiders, but would not of expected so many on arrival to greet us! The floor downstairs is in desperate need of a good mop, I cleaned up some water I spilt and the cloth was black! Would be good if there had been to trivets to put hot pans, we managed as you do, but worried if someone put a hot pan on the worktop it would damage it. All in all a lovely stay and would stay again and recommend to others. Thank you!

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• Wayne - Verified booking

  The reason I chose this cottage even after reading negative reviews: Location of this little cottage is 10/10.

  Short walk to crabbing on the pier, fossil hunting on Monmouth beach and a small walk into the main town/pubs/restaurants. Kids loved the location as did I. The only negative to the location being lack of parking space (Try to use the house just at the bottom of the garden, lovely owners with a small amount of parking spaces for £13 a day in high season). Lovely old cottage that has potential to be much nicer and would benefit from some TLC specifically on the outside. Some negatives: The garden and specifically around the side is a mess. As mentioned in a previous review, sinks, ladders etc just piled outside the kitchen window. My two kids called me outside when they were playing as they had seen a couple of rats hanging around. Wifi would definitely be a bonus here as I had little phone signal too. Tv reception is basic yes but not worthy of a negative review in my opinion as I do not book stays in a beach cottage to watch tv! The beds are not the most comfortable. Would I stay here again? Yes I would. Could it be better Yes ..the cottage has a lot of potential. At the moment in high season ( my visit was late Aug bank holiday ) it was expensive and probably could find nicer for the money.

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• Susan - Verified booking

  The Barn is just lovely!

  We found it easily and loved that it was in such a rural spot and yet so close to the village and everything we wanted in the surrounding area. It is well equipped - we especially liked the comfy sofas! Thoughtfully furnished and decorated - we loved the seating area on the balcony overlooking the beautiful countryside. The Barn is within very easy reach of all the Jurassic coastline has to offer and we enjoyed visits to West beach, Eype, Bridport, the Isle of Portland and ventured a bit further out to the Purbeck area to visit Corfe Castle and Lulworth Cove. A couple of suggestions which the owners may like to consider: some comfortable outdoor chairs would be a real bonus; if there is a way to boost the water pressure upstairs it would be helpful as the shower has very little power (there were only two of us so we just used the downstairs one which was fine); over time your stock of teaspoons has been depleted (leaving only three!); perhaps a suggestions book so that visitors can leave tips for future guests. All in all we had a wonderful stay and will definitely consider returning to sample more of what Dorset has to offer.

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