Holiday Cottages In Monmouth

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Tracy - Verified booking

  Where do I start?

  My husband and i were late in arriving, I was able to update the owners as they were meeting us. They told us it was no trouble and to have a safe journey. When we arrived, the cottage is set in a most tranquil area of the Forest of Dean, we were surrounded by beautiful woodland. As we arrived at dusk we didn't get the full idea of how close to nature we were until we pulled back the curtains the following morning...wow! A deer in the orchard and a lovely little Robin on the gatepost to wish us a good day. My husband and I enjoy cycling and on arriving had asked with regards to the best cycle areas of which the owners said they would look into. The following morning, the owner came over and had done research into the best cycle paths in the Forest of Dean. Cannop cycle hire is not too far a drive and we had the most enjoyable day, all off road cycling through the forest with paths set out for various abilities, we took the family cycle trail which at a leisurely pace took around 3 hours, is on a loop, with a half hour break to take in the scenery, finished off with a wrap and a latte from the carpark cafe. A day trip to Ross on Wye is definitely worthwhile, picturesque and a beautiful pub set on the River Wye plus a lovely town with lots of varying shops. We were only away for 3 nights and I'm certain there is more to see and do. The owners have a manual in the cottage which provides the very interesting history of the cottage and its former uses and also places of interest so there is something for everybody. Lastly, I cannot fault the cottage accommodation. My husband and I just wanted to get away, we love the rural areas of the country and the Forest of Dean is somewhere we haven't been. We were not disappointed. The external area of the property allowed us a seating area to take in the views for our morning coffee and our evening meal. Due to the surrounding woodland we felt very sheltered from winds and the air was warm. We were able to rest and read awhile on the sunloungers which were extremely comfortable. Upon entering the modern and clean cottage, the comfortable sofa affords you a view through patio doors to the forest and we were able to enjoy breakfast at the table for two taking in the view. The kitchen area allowed us to cook an evening meal for two with ease, lots of saucepans and crockery so everything was at hand. The cooker was amazing and the electric hob worked a treat. The bedroom is very sumptuous, the bed extremely comfortable, allowing for a good nights rest, the bedding and pillows were extremely luxurious. The bedroom window allowed for a lovely breeze to flow through so as it wasnt too warm to sleep. The ensuite, accessed via the bedroom had the most amazing power shower. We called into the local fish and chip shop only a short drive from the cottage, the fish was beautiful and the owner of the chip shop very pleasant, giving us lots of ideas for places to visit...Ross on Wye, Speech House if we wanted to see wild boar and deer. The local grocery shop is just next door to the chip shop so amenities are close by. For a tranquil get away I would definitely recommend Woods Edge Cottage. A beautiful setting with friendly approachable owners who live nearby for any queries etc but do not encroach on your time away. I would definitely encourage anyone to stay here and we will definitely be returning. In the current climate of Covid-19 it was noticeable just how clean the cottage was and how the owners had gone the extra mile in maintaining safety and cleanliness. I felt by the end of the three days that the owners were definitely friends and my husband and I can't thank them enough for their kindness and hospitality. An amazing holiday making amazing memories. Thankyou.

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• Kelly - Verified booking

  When we arrived at the accommodation, it had not been cleaned from the previous guests.

  Dirty bedding and towels, rubbish left, dirty dishes etc. Sykes arranged for a cleaner to attend but we had to find somewhere to go for four hours! The cleaning company paid for us to have dinner which was welcomed but we still had hours to wait to get into the accommodation. The accommodation needs a thorough deep clean. Behind the TV was lots of insects; underneath the sofas were really dirty; there was mould in the bathroom; the bottom of the bed was dirty; the outdoor wood burner was full of cigarette butts; some of the crockery in the cupboards was greasy and dirty; there was dirty underwear in one of one the drawers. Outside, the decking area (shown on the website pictures on the and booking details) had been removed and piled up in the garden; sharp metal fixings were left sticking out of the ground where it had been screwed down. This was dangerous for dogs and children. There were building materials in the garden and the garden gates are not secure for small dogs who can fit through the gaps - our dog escaped twice and we had to block the gate with bins and old bricks from the piles left in the garden.The front driveway is full of weeds and the plants are overgrown - one covers a front bedroom window. Many of these issues were mentioned in the purple breakage record, previous reviews and the guest book, but the problems remain. It seems to me that the owners don't really worry too much about the condition of the accommodation. I really did not want to stay and reported these problems, with photos, to Sykes on several occasions during the week; I received responses telling me that the problems had been passed to the property team or that the customer relations team would be in touch. No one contacted me. We vacuumed underneath the sofa and throughout the accommodation and cleaned all the crockery before we used them. This is not what we expected from Sykes.

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• Robert - Verified booking

  Our booking was made through the Sykes Cottages website three months in advance.

  Three weeks prior to our arrival date we received an email from the owners of the cottage effectively adding a personal touch to the booking. We received a phone call shortly before our departure date and Pam explained a few things and let us know what to expect. This personal touch was evident from start to finish. Our hosts seemed determined to welcome us as friends rather than paying guests. On the day of our arrival Pam contacted us again to let us know that the previous occupants of the cottage had left earlier than expected. We were advised that the 3pm check-in time could thus be brought forward to 1pm. We were greeted upon arrival and shown how to use the cooker and other electrical appliances. The fridge had been stocked with eggs and milk and we were provided with a welcome pack containing prosecco, tea, coffee, a carrot cake and a tube of Pringles. Throughout our stay Pam and Geoff were both thoughtful and attentive. On a number of occasions we were brought various treats ranging from ice cream to scones with cream and jam. The cottage was ideal for two people and located in a beautiful rural location close to all the attractions of the Forest of Dean. My wife and I have no hesitation in recommending this accommodation.

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• Fiona - Verified booking

  The cottage itself is beautiful and exactly as it looks in the photos.

  The garden, whilst on rather steep slope is great and properly secure for our dog. It was all furnished to a high standard & perfect for the 2 of us & our 4 legged friend. If I was being picky, replacing the bog standard dinky wine glasses with something decent would be nice and maybe a full length mirror but neither was a deal breaker. We loved being able to walk the 10 minutes to the Old Court House restaurant & in fact went twice as the food was fab. It was a bit of a pain not having WIFI but Craig did warn us he couldn't get it fixed until the following week, it just meant we lived a little more spontaneously (as we did many years ago) The only thing that let it down slightly was the damp, slightly mouldy aroma that pervaded the cottage & and it did make everywhere feel a bit chilly even on the warm summer day we arrived. It may just be a result of part of it being effectively below ground (the slope of the garden at the top is level with the kitchen ceiling) I think we acclimatised a little but after one rainy day, it felt so chilly & damp that we put the gas heater on for a couple of hours in the evening. Maybe a couple of dehumidifiers would help. All in all, however, we enjoyed our stay very much

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• Joanna - Verified booking

  What a tranquil spot!

  Woods Edge is a charming little cottage, chock full of history, and only a few minutes' walk from the forest itself (although the nearest paths into the woodland are very steep! We preferred the access near St Anthony's Well, about 1/2 mile walk down the country road). We were lucky with the weather, so the pretty patio garden and lawned area were both a real bonus. There was plenty of birdlife to listen to (but also times when we had complete silence - bliss) and a cheeky squirrel made us laugh. Dragonflies were plentiful, too. Pam and Geoff were welcoming and friendly, and couldn't have done more to help make our stay the best it could be - a perfect balance of non-intrusive helpfulness, with foody treats as well! We stayed fairly local - if you like lake-side walks we recommend Woorgreen Nature Reserve. There's very little mobile signal at Woods Edge (and its immediate environs) so you might want to download some maps before you leave home! (Also the fridge has no icebox, which some customers might find useful to know.) The cottage was also spotlessly clean. All in all we had a great week - and hope to return sometime!

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