Villas In Portinscale

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Wayne - Verified booking

  We had a very disappointing experience at Beck edge.

  It does look exactly like the pictures on the website but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Parking is a problem. The roads around the property are very tight and very busy, not only with vehicles squeezing around the corner but also cyclists and pedestrians passing by right in front of the house, making it difficult to park and unload the car. The road noise woke us up in the morning due to a manhole cover which clank’s every time it’s driven over. The allotted parking space to the side of the house is really tight and you have to park close to the house wall to not block the neighbours drive. The key safe is located on the opposite side of the property through the rickety gate next to the side door and a scruffy rotting log store (not a great first impression). The key safe itself was difficult to operate and the front fell off once it had unlocked. Before we arrived we did received a message informing us the dishwasher had broken, which is annoying but these things happen. (There was a hand written note in the kitchen confirming this). The general feel of the place is dated and maintenance and investment in the property over the years is clearly lacking. Some of the issues we encountered were mentioned in a previous review and had apparently been resolved. The front door lock sticks and is really difficult to lock and unlock from the inside. (It’s identified in the safety paperwork as a fire exit which obviously is a big safety concern). Cupboard fronts, doors and plinths in the kitchen are poorly fitted and tired. I’m not sure the filters in the extractor fan have ever been cleaned? They are yellow with grease and the ceiling above is stained. The fridge doesn’t seem to be working efficiently, the lights doesn’t work, the bottom shelf is broken and the door is being held together with some sort of foam/adhesive. The manual in the kitchen is partly handwritten and difficult to read especially the oven instructions which have been crossed out and sketched in biro! There’s a sealed unit in the rear kitchen window which has broken down and is full of condensation along with a spotlight and bulb that have blown. This room just smelt very stale so we had to open all the window to freshen the place up. The blinds throughout the property are dirty and offer no privacy from the surrounding properties or roads. As previously mentioned the array of towels supplied are very small and really old, I’m not sure why they haven’t been replaced years ago. The main bathroom was functional and the water was hot but the rainbow shower curtain wasn’t very clean and had mildew around the bottom of it. The beds were fairly uncomfortable but the bedding old and worn, the single bed didn’t smell great and my son refused to sleep In it. We had a 2 night stay booked but decided to cut it short and travelled home a day early as we felt really uncomfortable at Beck edge. Although this property might be acceptable to some we felt it is in desperate need of a refurbishment and freshening up, there has clearly been no investment in the property over the last 20 years and it shows. And for such an outstanding area of the country where you have to pay a premium to stay, the standard of this property is simply not good enough. It’s very disappointing as we’ve used Sykes on several occasions and properties are usually of a very good standard, but unfortunately not this one.

  Read more less >

• Alyssa - Verified booking

  100% would stay here again and 100% would recommend staying here to others.

  We enjoyed our October stay in Howe Keld 1. It is a lovely home away from home. We loved the location being so close to the lake and the town centre too. The flat is comfortable, well-decorated and well-appointed. We’ve stayed in many self-catering flats/ holiday homes and this was one of the very best. Some of the nice little details and touches we appreciated: We arrived late in the evening and the keyless entry made it very easy to get in without bothering anyone to meet us with a key. Angela, the on-site manager was welcoming and helpful. We could WhatsApp her if we needed anything. We had a parking space in the back- and it is nice that there is an entrance to the building in the back and front of the building. The communal drying room was perfect for our wet gear after long hikes. The laundry room was convenient and the flat has a clothes drying rack. The entryway into the flat has a bench and three hooks for coats plus a nook to store shoes. We appreciated that there was a lovely electric fireplace to enjoy. We had all the user manuals to hand to help us work out the fireplace, oven, etc. The flat included some games such as Scrabble, Monopoly and two decks of cards too. Lots of guidebooks in the flat plus a lending library downstairs. We had some milk, plum bread and jam in the flat on arrival- perfect for the next morning before we had a chance to get to the store or go to the Keswick Saturday market. There was toilet paper for the start of the stay, and hand soaps too. The kitchen had everything we needed in terms of dishes and cutlery- including aluminium foil, tea towels, a hot pad for the oven, knives, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, hand soap, bread box, butter holder, etc. and the flat includes an iron and iron board The bathroom has a large tub- perfect for soaking in after a long day of hiking. The shower pressure was excellent. A hairdryer is provided as well. Hangers in the closet were also appreciated. The super kingsize bed was comfortable. We appreciate that linens and towels are provided. All in all- it is a lovely flat and an excellent home away from home for a perfect holiday in the Lakes.

  Read more less >

• Tracy - Verified booking

  What a great spot!

  Location is brilliant. Well situated for walking & public transport around the area. The property is right on the roadside. Unloading was tricky. The roads are narrow and fairly busy. It was noisy during the day, but we were out most of the time. Parking wasn't too much of an issue. Although it's a small parking bay. We managed to get one car in it and the other, we parked further down in the village. The property is very spacious and well laid out. We were two couples. Great to have 2 bathrooms. Well equipped, with everything you need. Beds were comfortable. Towels weren't great, old and on the small side. We were only given 2 small bath towels and a small hand towel, per couple. Although clean, being an old property there were a few spider's webs up in high places. The heating & hot water were difficult to navigate. The boiler wasn't set at the correct time. Fortunately we were able to reset this after a lot of fiddling about. The central heating wasn't great. The gas fire was very useful, once we had worked out how to light it! There were no logs for the fire, (It was July), but we needed some heat! Typical British weather. We contacted the office and spoke to them about a few issues, as we didn't want to be charged. Front door lock sticking, no logs, broken blind, kitchen cupboard fronts, loose. All minor but we were assured this would be sorted that day. True to their word it was. We also had logs delivered. Great service from Sykes. Overall, a very enjoyable stay.

  Read more less >

• Valerie - Verified booking

  We have just returned home from a lovely week in Keswick at Howe Keld Apartment One.

  What a wonderful asset you have in the resident manager - Angela. She is warm, friendly and so helpful without being intrusive. Thankyou Angela. The location of the apartment is great, an easy walk to the town centre and to the Lake through Hope gardens. The apartment itself is so stylish, with lovely art work on all the walls. It is really well equipped. The bed is huge and super comfortable. We are an elderly couple and I have some mobility issues and would have appreciated a grab rail in the shower! The living area was so cosy with the lovely fireplace and we watched some good films on Netflix. There were so many Cafes and Pubs to chose from in Keswick and so handy to have Booths within walking distance of the apartment. Unfortunately the only problem was the tight parking space which is really only suitable for a small car. Thank goodness we didn't need to use the car as our needs were fulfilled with the apartment being in such a great location. We really hope that we will be able to make a return visit. A great find. Thankyou.

  Read more less >

• Hilary - Verified booking

  Hello, we have just spent a lovely week in Howe Keld apartment 1.

  This is a very comfortable apartment. Everything we needed when we arrived was waiting for us: milk in the fridge, teas and coffees, plumbread, all to refresh the weary travellers! All other necessary items like soap for the kitchen, tea towels and toilet rolls, everything we needed was provided, we had no need to shop as soon as we arrived. This is a very modern beautifully appointed apartment. As a disabled person I missed my bathroom stool also the grab-rail in my shower, but I managed ok! Being in the centre of the town was so useful, we enjoyed the shops and the cafes where gluten free food was freely available and appreciated! Angela the house manager was very friendly and helpful and was available for any queries or problems. [Note to owner: we spoke to Angela who explained the lack of knowledge regarding the owner of the adjacent land. Have you approached the Land Registry at your local Land Registry Office. They can search for you as all land is owned by someone! There will be a fee, but it might answer your problem.]

  Read more less >