Group Accommodation Cottages in the North East

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Eileen - Verified booking

  We have stayed at many Sykes properties.

  This is the first we have been disappointed in. We chose this property for the easy access and bedrooms all on one level due to a couple of people with limited mobility. The property was clean and tidy However, the fixtures and fittings, including the taps in the bathrooms were tired and loose. The showers are of poor quality and most likely will break in the future. It all needs a little maintenance. The shower heads were obviously of a lower quality and most likely will not stand the test of time. The lounge furniture was very uncomfortable and will not withstand a family if they were to use this property as a base. We were very careful, knowing that the furniture is fragile and if to break we would be liable to pay for any damage. Most of us return home with lower back pain. The dining room was lovely, beautiful dining table and chairs and flooring superb. However, the rest of the property had cushion floor which therefore made it very noisy when people were moving about. The garden was untidy compared to all the other bungalows in the area. The grass area at the rear of the property, had 6 inches of water where the washing line was, which was broken and we were unable to use. There was no visitors book to see others opinions or for us to leave comments. There was no instruction at the property where to leave laundry on leaving which we placed in the bathroom. The actual place of Amble is beautiful and a good place for visiting many attractions in the area we enjoyed a week in Northumberland however we would not choose this particular bungalow to return to in the future. I did take pictures when we first arrived of all the rooms and again on leaving, ensuring it was left the way we found the property with no damage. I feel this property if upgraded could be a very good rental and a good central place for visiting all the other attractions. There is a Sunday market at the harbour once a week which was lovely. However, we would not have known this as there is no information in the bungalow. We can recommend the Chinese takeaway which was very good large portions and delivered very quickly. The local cafés were also lovely and welcoming and served delicious food at reasonable prices . Our favourite castles to visit Were at Alnwick and Banburgh and if you love books, go to the bookshop in Alnwick, you can spend hours there. There are many lovely walks in the area for all types of walkers. We look forward to visiting Northumberland again in the future. However, it will not be at this property.

  Read more less >

• Rebecca - Verified booking

  We arrived to a lovely aroma of freshly baked bread, to our delight there was a freshly baked loaf in the bread machine waiting.

  Thank you so much for this and the fruit cake and biscuits. They were lovely after a long journey. We arranged a tesco delivery to be delivered on the day we arrived for ease. Highly recommend! Lovely home, very clean and the beds were very comfortable!! Kitchen well equipped for what you need. Hot tub was a bonus, Julie was in it every day! Have to praise on the house being dog friendly and not just dog tolerant. Was refreshing to visit a property and not have too many restrictions. It felt like they were more than welcome. Visited Barnard Castle a few times. Saturday was very busy and not much carparking, however they have the best fish and chip shop we've ever been too. Fish and chips @ 149. A must if you enjoy them. Lovely ice cream shops. They do have a morrisons and lidl if you need anything too. We did a few different walks, first one was to high force waterfall from the high force hotel car park. £3.50 per person and tickets can be bought online or at the waterfall. Beautiful scenery, perfect to let the dogs off to have a run through the woods. Second walk was from Bowlees visitors center to high force hotel. Lovely walk, dogs have to stay on a lead, however a good walk with a few waterfalls and Gibsons cave! Teesdale railway walk was If you are after a local dog walk, go straight out the back gate and straight down the lane. You'll come to an open field where the dogs can have a good run to the bridge. Didn't manage to explore over the bridge but there is a public footpath there. Highly recommend eating at the high force hotel. Food was reasonable price and delicious. Hot meat cibatta was amazing. Made a fuss of the dogs. Still lots to visit will definitely be returning. Thanks so much for a lovely holida

  Read more less >

• Stephen - Verified booking

  We absolutely loved our stay here.

  We were a little worried after seeing the previous review and although there may have been little niggles we were very impressed. Our friends had the main bedroom with ensuite as they have not been too well lately. We used the single beds which we found very firm but after a couple of nights we got a little more used to them! We also found the sofas uncomfortable but they were certainly not fragile. The kitchen is well equipped and bright - slow cooker would have been a nice touch but would welcome a different tin opener as the other was difficult to use. Once we spotted the missing top we managed eventually. Very impressed with the quality of the pans and will now be buying some of them myself. The main bathroom was lovely and spacious and very bright. The left tap was a little loose but otherwise okay and the door lock needs a screw putting in it as it fell off but did work okay. You could see it was a new shower. The garden was boggy but is expected at this time of year. Our friends managed to sit out one day and enjoyed it. Look forward to seeing the garden in the future. Regarding noise - it was very quiet and peaceful. The flooring was not an issue at all and was a welcome change from vacuuming carpets. We are looking at staying later in the year but this depends on hospital appointments. We will certainly be back at some time though. We were all so impressed with the place that we felt as though we could live there. Thank you.

  Read more less >

• Ellen - Verified booking

  The cottage is fantastic and perfect for our group of 6-8.

  All the rooms are spacious and comfortable and the location is perfect for Northumberland. The kitchen was our main area for gatherings with a huge table. The lounge was spacious but also had a cosy feel. The bedrooms were lovely and with additional storage on the landing which is a great use of space. Our constructive criticism would be that the showers in the en suites need attention. They are temperamental with both switching off at times, although we had been forewarned. As with previous comments, a must in the kitchen is a larger or additional toaster. 2 slices at a time is just not sufficient for the house size. An air fryer may also be an option as the aga style cooker is not for everyone due to the time taken to heat up. We would also recommend new pillows AND pillow protectors and possibly a new mattress on the single bed closest to the door. Also for information, each bin is collected fortnightly on Mondays. We put the black one out on Sunday night but it was full to the brim when we arrived as was the recycling one so maybe extra black bags to allow for this? However, and we stress this. These issues are minor compared to the benefits of this beautiful cottage and we would return to this property the next time we visit this area.

  Read more less >

• Mrs Frizzell - Verified booking

  Location great and owners superb. But, it’s a tight squeeze and we had four adults and two children - kitchen door won’t open if you’re in the fridge for something lol and once. Dishwasher and drains broke and blocked all week and the front door is dodgy to lock but they’ve been reported so hopefully be fixed soon (although we waited all week) - not the owners fault at all, they really tried to help Once you’re sat for dinner you’re in, unless everyone moves, it’s very tight - Photos must have been done with fish eye lens lol. Super clean and lovely welcome though. Great location. Expensive for what you get - and we do this area twice a year but it was Easter…maybe that’s why so expensive . Floors all laminate down and upstairs without lining so it’s an echo-y house. Every. Single. Step. Can be heard in every room no matter where you are. The owner really was lovely but I wouldnt star again. Have put a no to recommend but if there’s only 4 of you, it would be a yes to recommend.

  Read more less >