Last Minute Cottages in Hartland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Betty - Verified booking

  The renovation of this property is stunning with many attractive features but it is sadly let down by the absence of expected up-to-date facilities and hygiene which severely and adversely affected our enjoyment.

  This lovely home is downgraded with the many and various annoying niggles that become preeminent in your feelings of enjoyment, safety, comfort and relaxation. Nothing could have been resolved by a phone call to the owners or Sykes. We took the view that our stay should not be interrupted as we were also visiting a terminally ill relative each day. In the kitchen there is one mismatched chipped mug and one large chipped plate. Some old crazed plates and bowls distract from the food placed in them. The induction hob does well with the bumpy, dirty bottoms of most of the provided old frying pans. Weak plastic utensils and blunt knives add to the frustration of cooking for 8 with several inadequate, small pans. We shopped for satisfactory implements and fly spray (see later). The microwave oven had someone else’s leftovers stuck to the plate. The fridge had a huge clump of ice with something stuck in it; it needs defrosting and cleaning. The fan oven never reaches the required temperature: meals had to be cooked using the ordinary oven. Several of the kitchen cabinet handles are pitted and uncomfortable in the hand and are ready for replacement. The door to the utility room toilet area was difficult to open at the beginning of the week as it caught on the floor and injured a guest’s chest as she anticipated it opening. The table mats in the dining area were sticky to touch so these and the table were cleaned. In the lounge unsecured rugs presented a trip hazard for several of the party. After one of the party had to be saved from a dangerous fall against the fireplace we put the rugs in the corner of the room for the rest of the stay. All the beds in the bedrooms were basic but the pillows were thin and unwelcoming. In the en-suite in the main bedroom the lock is still suspect despite notes in the log (August 2019, July 2022). The toilet seat doesn’t fit and is twisted. The extractor fan doesn’t work so towels were always damp and this was the same in the other bedroom on the first floor. The ‘balcony’ has no seating area and there are no seats in the bedroom. The floor area above the garages is uneven. On Tuesday night four of us were woken by the gate from the balcony down to the kitchen area banging. It had to be secured by a chair from outside the kitchen being placed against the gate as the lock was completely ineffective: the latch was misaligned, rusty and cannot be fastened. The outside security light constantly illuminates the bedroom window and needs attention. In the second bedroom on the first floor the hanging rail is so close to the shelf that you endanger fingers when hanging a garment up. The extent of the grounds is clearly advertised but its suitability for walking on is not indicated. Where was the boundary? Could we reach the coast? What features were worth noting? The proximity and access to prominent places of interest is exaggerated, for example, access to nearby towns as mentioned by others in the log. Outside the kitchen there are 3 rickety chairs with a small damaged and dangerous table which we cleaned as all were covered with bird faeces: the remains of the plasterer’s work is still on the wooden planking in front of you. Four chairs and an equally inadequate table rests alongside a pond. We returned each evening for a relaxing drink but we couldn’t all sit down and certainly not in the same place. We searched by the wood store where, it was promised in the folder, other outdoor furniture could be found which we were free to use: another exaggeration as this consisted of one broken chair and an unusable barbecue. When we arrived, part of the wooden porch above us lay on the entrance tiles. We were greeted by an infestation of flies and the cobwebs around the doorway, inside and out, had had little impact on the numbers. We covered all our food and fought to eat faster than the flies. It was no wonder that we ate out far more frequently than planned in adjacent hostelries which, although in the country, had no flies attacking us. We live in a listed stone building in the country with cattle and sheep as neighbours but we have never been subjected to such an onslaught with nothing to combat our unwanted and unwelcome pests. We regularly visit cottages up and down the country and at all times of the year, but we have never ever felt so let down, frustrated, disappointed and exploited as we have with this one. This was not a home from home: it was far less from than that. It was a long way from value for money and our expectations of cleanliness, safety and well-being. During the week we had killed several flies in the master bedroom shower area. Before we left, I investigated the flies’ attraction to the shower drain. I intended to clear away any hairs from our shampooing that may be there: the mess was horrific. The drain was near blocked with grey clingy matter; I felt sick that we had been using this shower all week and had paddled in this gunge. Photographs are available.

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• Amanda - Verified booking

  We had a great girls week at Chapel Cottage.

  The cottage is a longer walk from the beach than we had imagined, and the road down is very narrow, but a great location, next to the Old Smithy Inn, a few hundred yards away. We went for a meal there on our first night there, but unfortunately, we think they forgot our order, and we waited 1hr 15min for the food to come, but it was delicious when it came. We went back on the Thursday evening for their Folk Night, which was wonderful, and great end to our weeks holiday. Unfortunately, the rusty pub sign was right outside my bedroom window, and made the most incredible squeaking noise when the wind blew, so some nights I really struggled to get off to sleep. The cottage is very well equipped, with plenty of saucepans, cutlery & crockery etc. Dish washer tablets, dish clothes, oven gloves & 1 tea towel were provided, and there was nothing we needed that wasn't there. Beds were very comfortable, and lovely bedding, though apparently the front double bed was very creaky when you turned over! LOL Plenty of books, games, DVD's etc to borrow, with the front room being very cosy on a VERY cold June night!!! The only disappointment, was with the small garden, the grass was overgrow, and badly needed mowing, and the flower borders were very overgrown, all be it with lovely shrubs etc. The cast iron chairs & cushions have seen better days too. We visited Morwenstow, where is the most delightful Tea Rooms at The Old Rectory. Bude was another great find, and had amazing fish & chips at Life's a Beach, on Summerleaze Beach, and browsed the shops in the town. Widemouth Bay, Crackington Haven & Clovelly are also well worth a visit. We had 2 amazing meals at The New Inn in Kilkhampton, which is the closest village to the cottage, the Sunday lunch is to die for, and so reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend this cottage to anyone,& would be happy to make a return visit, but would hope that the garden had been sorted and the pub sign tied up to stop it being so annoying!

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• Amanda - Verified booking

  We had a great girls week at Chapel Cottage.

  The cottage is a longer walk from the beach than we had imagined, and the road down is very narrow, but a great location, next to the Old Smithy Inn, a few hundred yards away. We went for a meal there on our first night there, but unfortunately, we think they forgot our order, and we waited 1hr 15min for the food to come, but it was delicious when it came. We went back on the Thursday evening for their Folk Night, which was wonderful, and great end to our weeks holiday. Unfortunately, the rusty pub sign was right outside my bedroom window, and made the most incredible squeaking noise when the wind blew, so some nights I really struggled to get off to sleep. The cottage is very well equipped, with plenty of saucepans, cutlery & crockery etc. Dish washer tablets, dish clothes, oven gloves & 1 tea towel were provided, and there was nothing we needed that wasn't there. Beds were very comfortable, and lovely bedding, though apparently the front double bed was very creaky when you turned over! LOL Plenty of books, games, DVD's etc to borrow, with the front room being very cosy on a VERY cold June night!!! The only disappointment, was with the small garden, the grass was overgrow, and badly needed mowing, and the flower borders were very overgrown, all be it with lovely shrubs etc. The cast iron chairs & cushions have seen better days too. We visited Morwenstow, where is the most delightful Tea Rooms at The Old Rectory. Bude was another great find, and had amazing fish & chips at Life's a Beach, on Summerleaze Beach, and browsed the shops in the town. Widemouth Bay, Crackington Haven & Clovelly are also well worth a visit. We had 2 amazing meals at The New Inn in Kilkhampton, which is the closest village to the cottage, the Sunday lunch is to die for, and so reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend this cottage to anyone,& would be happy to make a return visit, but would hope that the garden had been sorted and the pub sign tied up to stop it being so annoying!

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• Rachel - Verified booking

  We had a great week and the cottage was lovely, we had a courtesy visit on arrival and a cream tea which was yummy.

  The Cottage was really well equipped and had all we needed, lots of useful info about the surrounding areas and things to do. The garden was a little disappointing. The toilet seat in one bathroom was broken and we had hoped a replacement was going to me made as the lady did mention having to source a new one but alas it never arrived, was a bit trickier with only one fully useable toilet between 6. We were surprised at the comings and goings from the pub which did make for some disturbed nights with traffic and footfall right beneath the bedroom window, we ended up having to close the windows which did make the bedroom quite warm and stuffy so perhaps access to some fans might with help with this issue..... just a thought. There was also an issue with maggots in one of the bins which my husband dealt with, we guessed maybe the previous tennants had failed to bag the refuse properly and put the bins out for collection, there was a massive amount of flies around generally. These issue are by no means complaints just constructive feedback, we had a lovely week in a lovely cottage. Unfortunately there was a couple of breakages, 2 glasses and 2 bowls, I sent a text to the contact person informing of this. Best wishes Rachel and Alan Done

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• Pam - Verified booking

  The Old Chapel was a delightful house with charming features and an unexpected cosiness.

  We loved the generous space within the house and wished that we could have used the grounds outdoors more but the weather was wet for most of our week. There was an unfortunate incident on the Tuesday evening when there was an attempted break-in at the property; this included two attempts to force the front door, also there were indications of two failed attempts at opening our 2 cars. The incident was reported to the police. The housekeeper, Marcel, was clearly very concerned and offered any support that we wanted. This was followed later by a similarly supportive text from the owners. We thank them heartily. You, at Sykes, did nothing. I was amazed not to receive any communication from you following my notification to your Helpdesk. I don't want discounts or vouchers but I DO want you to know that your lack of care was most certainly noted. Therefore, my likelihood to recommend you in this case is, as above, 3 out of 10. The house and its facilities and its owner/housekeepers' support, 10 out of 10. I am glad that you will be sharing this feedback with the owners.

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