Dog Friendly East Midlands Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Angie - Verified booking

  Once upon a time there was a beautiful cottage in a secret garden, Surrounded by woodland.

  The name of Sunny Cottage. What an absolutely delightful, quirky cottage, which could very easily be dripping in magical fairytales. This cottage evokes the imagination so perfectly that I could write a book about it. The array of books inside the beautiful rooms, each room with its own individual ambience and atmosphere. Books ranging from the Celtic ku are zodiac by Helena Paterson, River Cottage by Hugh Fernley Whittingstall, Great Tales from English History by Robert Lacey and The massive vintage classic of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy to name but a few. A complete diversity of different titles in every room. The AGA in the kitchen is delightful to cook on and just the very action of doing this transports you to another time long ago. I believe there could be fairies in the garden and little elves hiding behind the bushes and in the log store. The little stone pathway leading to the front door of the cottage make it look like it was torn from the pages of a magical fairy tale. Take a moment to step outside and watch the winter sun filter between the trees. Alone in the woods at sunset and the deep golden light is filtering through the branches of the trees giving it a truly magical atmosphere and at night a rich black sky full of stars looking down on the wonderful nocturnal creatures wandering through the woods, hiding under the beautiful starry sky. Sunny cottage has opened my eyes and my imagination, this cottage has come straight out of a book of fairytales capturing endless stories just waiting to be told. A week in Sunny Cottage will let you’re imagination roam free, a truly exquisite holiday, that I will hold with me forever. Simply Beautiful.

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• Helen - Verified booking

  Sykes must inform people that this property is unsuitable for disabled.

  I have a slight walking disability and found uneven pathways, stairs in main cottage particularly top one very difficult, back doorstep too high needs a slab in front, would be totally inaccessible for wheelchair users. I stayed in annex but still difficult walking to main cottage for meals. Bath toppled is completely unsafe. Looking back water leakage from bathroom to kitchen has been ongoing from Ann’s review June 2023. Lorna’s review, September 2024, just before our stay also mentions her poor mother in law had to stay in annex because the bedrooms were not clearly defined in description. She also mentions water coming through kitchen ceiling. The cast iron bath needs removing as it’s not fit for purpose. The weight of the bath , water and adult on wooden supports is too much for it and it needs replacing with something lighter at floor level which would be easy to get into. What is needed is a smooth path from annex across front garden to front door and an extra slab at back door. Having said that wheelchair users would not be able to get in main cottage or into sitting areas in wheelchairs. Sykes needs to clarify description so visitors are given a choice as to whether book or not. We do not want to go home with broken bones because of trip hazards. The annex is totally suitable for wheelchair users but they would have to get to main house for meals as there are no cooking facilities. We liked the cottage but would only ever return or recommend if foregoing issues were sorted. By helen

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• Jayne - Verified booking

  It's not how you described, it's what you did not !

  On the pictures it was so decieving,as it showed a shingle driveway, which we thought was somewhere to walk our little dog ,also having to park opposite the house, in a dirt layby on a main road 60 miles an hour, was not practical as I and my partner have mobility issues!very dangerous ,we assumed when you said it had a gas hob it would have an oven ! Never have booked if it was mentioned,also microwave was not the same as pictures, so tiny! You also said road noise but did not mention the fast road right outside, also it is not dog friendly, unless you had a enclosed garden, or patio, we have not been out for 3 years,I have only been out of hospital for 3 weeks due to pneumonia! and it was going to be a quiet time away, but this cottage broke my heart on my birthday!!! We only stayed for less than 30 minutes, and spent all of our money, very much upset and disappointed, in the future describe as it is and do not deceive anyone else, would now call on you to do the right thing and refund us at least some of the cost, will never go with Sykes again ,worst experience ever,it's not what you said it is about what you did not say! about the place! Very upset, jayne

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• Nathaniel - Verified booking

  Sunny Cottage is an absolute gem.

  The photos really do not do justice to the home. It really feels far more like a home than a holiday let. As an avid cook it was such a joy to have a kitchen fully stocked with high quality pots pans etc. such a difference from the usual cheap ikea knives and the dreaded glass chopping board. It did take me a few days to get used to the Aga style cooker, having never used one before. The bedrooms are fitted with first class linen, real pillows and super comfortable mattresses. The house and gardens are packed full of glorious spaces. We were lucky enough to be there when the spectacular white magnolia was in full bloom. The garden was full of small bird visitors, and we saw the obligatory deer walking through the woods behind the garden walls. Special thanks to the lovely housekeepers from Peachy Clean who were super responsive to our calls for help for some minor teething trouble with the showers and hot water (mostly our own fault!) We’ll definitely be coming back to sample this magical space in some other seasons.

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• Alyson - Verified booking

  We were a family of five adults and two children aged 21/2 and 10 months.

  We had a wonderful week watching the deer stroll by each day and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Having two large bedrooms in the annexe, one having a piano and projector was great. The Jack and Jill bathroom was a good size. The annexe was set at a comfortable temperature which could be easily regulated. The orangery and kitchen was spacious and where everyone could sit and spend time together. The two reception rooms were cozy. The one just off the kitchen had a TV but no working fire and could sit four whilst the other without a TV had a wood burning stove and could sit five. Our grandchildren loved the rocking horse, rocking pig and dolls house. The cottage was well situated to visit Belvoir Castle, Belton House, Lincoln and Stamford. A special thank you to the team who look after the cottage as they had tastefully decorated the cottage for the Christmas period and responded promptly and professionally to queries we had before and during our stay. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our break.

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