Dog Friendly Cottages in Cumbria

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Felicity - Verified booking

  I am not a fan of publishing negative feedback when issues remain unresolved, however given the time frame passed since our stay and lack of meaningful update from Sykes I feel I have been left with no choice.

  We chose to stay over the Christmas period for a week. Indeed this was the first time that we have ever stayed away from home over Christmas. Positives: communication prior to stay, initial impressions of the cottage, amenities, lovely welcome pack and level of dog friendliness of the accommodation, which aside from some of the steps (mainly the uncovered ones from the dining area to the kitchen which one of my dogs had real difficulties with) really is unrivalled over anywhere else we have stayed. Negatives: upon arrival we noted a completely loose kitchen plinth laying on the floor, a leaking downstairs ensuite radiator and that Sky was not working on either Smart TV. I reported these issues on that first evening via the Sykes app. Non of these issues were an emergency so did not warrant a call to the emergency number provided, and I assumed Sykes would be in contact the next day. This however did not happen despite me contacting them on numerous occasions via the same message thread chasing an update and being mindful that given our stay included both Christmas day and Boxing day there was a good chance that staffing would be at a minimum. Cleanliness - whilst the cottage was generally clean, by the first morning my dad reported to me having to clean the upstairs shower tray due to it being blocked with hair and other detritus that would have caused it to overflow if left unattended. Oven - on Christmas day we were cooking a full meal and as such used both gas ovens. The oven to the right kept going out while we were trying to cook, leading to us having to swap items around to ensure everything was cooked properly and a delay in our meal. Outdoor area - there is a real lack of lighting on the courtyard particularly by the two steps leading down to the back gate. There are signs that the slabs become slippy when wet, however treatment of the green algae will assist significantly with minimising this. There are also signs for hot tub maintainence, however to our knowledge it was only attended to once during our stay. Sky TV - neither Sky Box worked for the duration of the stay. The box in the living room was constantly whirring, and simply did not work. Luckily the TV's are Smart and we could log into Netflix and Prime, however if you do not have these accounts then watching the TV is going to be difficult. It's a facility that simply shouldn't be advertised if they consistently don't work (noted issue on another review). It was Christmas week, and clearly we wanted to watch films/festive programmes during our stay. If some of these issues with the boxes are down to lack of system updates these should be checked as part of the cottage reset prior to new customers staying. Sykes response - I finally received a reply on the last full day of my holiday. No apology, basically blaming me for not making contact via phone, as apparently phone calls were being prioritised over the festive period. If this was true, then it should have been published on the website / auto reply. Since my return I have had to chase for updates; any person I have spoken to seems fairly uninterested in the issues raised, and no meaningful apology has been offered over the seemingly standard £50 refund and send some photos of the issues (of a non working oven, and a non working Sky box!). I have also been made aware of a recent BBC consumer affairs programme which highlighted similar bad customer experiences. So to summarise, with better maintaince the cottage would be amazing, however I would not choose to book any future holidays with Sykes.

  Read more less >

• Anna - Verified booking

  From the moment we arrived at the lodge, we were enveloped in peace and tranquility.

  With horses and pheasants as our nearest neighbours, it truly felt like a home away from home. The lodge itself was super clean and modern, striking the perfect balance between contemporary comforts and rustic charm. The beds were incredibly comfortable, ensuring a restful night’s sleep after a day of exploring the great outdoors. Speaking of which, the nature views were a highlight of our stay. The gentle flow of the river nearby provided a serene backdrop for our morning coffee. For those of us who appreciate a good cup of joe, the Nespresso coffee machine and French press were much appreciated touches that catered to our caffeine needs. The kitchen was well-equipped with all the necessary appliances, including a dishwasher, making meal prep a breeze. After our adventurous, albeit muddy walks, the washing machine with a dryer was a godsend. It made our stay that much easier, ensuring we always had clean, dry clothes ready for the next day’s activities. The hosts were nothing short of wonderful, providing great recommendations for local restaurants and breakfast spots. Their helpfulness added a personal touch to our stay, making us feel well-cared for. In summary, our stay at the lodge was nothing short of perfect. It’s a place we would recommend to anyone looking for a clean, modern, and comfortable retreat in nature. Thank you for making our getaway so memorable!

  Read more less >

• Isabel - Verified booking

  I stayed in one of the Lodges with 2 other adults and 2 dogs in late June 2024.

  We all agreed that the accommodation was superb and will probably book again next year There are 9 Lodges spaced well apart in an area of wild meadow with a river flowing through the land. Each Lodge has it's own private patio with our door eating area and barbecue. There is very little traffic noise and the atmosphere is very peaceful and relaxing. The accommodation is very spacious, modern and clean. The kitchen was well equipped and we were able to buy food from a nearby Booths supermarket and cook most of our meals on site. We had everything we needed in our Lodge to make our stay comfortable, such as washing machine, dish washer and flat screen TV. There was also a touch of luxury with an nespresso coffee machine complete with pods and some locally produced toiletries. We spent our holiday walking, going to the nearby coast and visiting a couple of nearby stately homes. We were very lucky to have warm sunny weather for most of our stay, but would have enjoyed the holiday regardless of the weather. Most of the outings we did required a short journey in the car, but we didn't have to travel for more than half an hour. There is a pub which serves good food and a station cafe within walking distance. I don't usually leave reviews but this accommodation was very good and I'd like others to know about it.

  Read more less >

• Gordon - Verified booking

  Title: The Lake Districts Bolthole Location: High Wreah Bolt Hole is perfectly located, and I found it to be an ideal base for exploring the area, with numerous picturesque spots just a short distance away.

  Amenities: The bolthole itself is well-equipped with all the modern conveniences you could need. The kitchen is fully stocked, making it easy to prepare meals, and the living area is cozy and comfortable, perfect for relaxing after a day of adventure. The bed was incredibly comfortable, ensuring a good night’s sleep. Experience: Absolutely nothing to complain about. My stay was nothing short of wonderful. The hosts were incredibly accommodating and at the start of the break, even provided a rescue service, after I had got lost when my Satnav sent me to the wrong address Highlights: One of the standout features of High Wreah, is its proximity to some of the Lake District’s most famous attractions. Buttermere, Wasdale and Keswick are only a 40 minute drive, with plenty of photographic opportunities along the way. Additionally, the peaceful and tranquil setting of the cabin made it a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Improvements: The tv signal was a bit spotty at times. However, this minor inconvenience did not detract from our overall experience. Overall, I highly recommend High Wreah Bolt Hoke to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable stay in the Lake District.

  Read more less >

• Shane - Verified booking

  Loverly little place nice and cozy can't fault the owners or cleanliness of the ...

  Loverly little place nice and cozy can't fault the owners or cleanliness of the place at all all it was very nice I think the listings photos were a little deceptive making it look like the building was on its own somewhere on a road its not its on farmland with a house right opposite the property and a holiday caravan and the owners home next to it There's no oven in the kitchen so if you want to cook a meal it's micro wave or bedsit style hot plate and the fire isn't an open one or woodburner despite the pokers and bucket of coal in the photos its electric To add You would be way too hot with a real fire the place had an electric radiator and was allways warm it was just something I was looking forward to in my stay and thought this had it Only real issues with the place is the bathroom is tiny if your a big person 6ft its very hard to use the shower the cubical is tiny As an idea of space you can use the bathroom sink and open shower cubicle sitting on the toilet And climbing a ladder to bed is not really as much fun as you remember as a teenager when your nearly 50 Wouldent stop me coming back though I enjoyed my stay overall

  Read more less >