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Shunting Cottage

(Ref. 990011)

Acklington near Warkworth, Northumberland Show on map

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If you find your booking of this property cheaper elsewhere online, we will pay you the difference.

Terms Apply

4.5

Sykes rating

  • 3 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 2 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Washing machine

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance

46 Customer Reviews

  • "Told the ‘property owner’ is no longer such."

    State of property poor - cobwebs, dust, bathroom mould on joints, windows, showers etc. Cleaning materials were filthy (hoover & mops). Rodent traps in every room and outside - if we had been advised about this we would not have booked. Sorry - this property is far from up to a holiday or general living standard.

    Reviewed by Valerie1.6Oct 2023

  • "Shunting Cottage was a lovely clean, warm and very well equipped cottage."

    Ideal location for exploring Northumberland. Highly recommend this cottage.

    Reviewed by James5.0Sep 2023

  • "This holiday cottage is fine."

    .. if you like rats. Northumberland is lovely, but you couldn't pay me to stay here again. I stayed for 3 nights instead of 4 as I left early because I couldn't face another night there. Initial impressions were that it was so-so, but in dire need of maintenance. There's no capacity for me to add photos, but the toilet seat is missing from the spare bedroom, the sealing around the oven is hanging off, the bin fell apart (which I managed to fix), and a lamp in the master bedroom was missing a bulb. There is mould in the master bathroom and the toilet is clearly leaking with damp and black mould on the wall. There were cobwebs behind doors and dust on top of the TV stand. I clocked the two rat traps in the poorly maintained and overgrown with weeds back courtyard. Initially I wasn't too concerned as the property is next to a railway so there are likely to be rats in the area. I have photos of all of these things. On day 2, one of my dogs indicated that there was a problem behind the wardrobe in the master bedroom. She began barking and pointing. Upon looking, lo and behold, was a rat trap. Adjacent to the wardrobe was an electronic rat deterrent plug in. I have a look about and find another rat trap hidden behind the bookcase in the living room. I contact the mobile number given by Sykes as a point of contact, initially by text to which there isn't an answer and then I phone. The lady who answered was very pleasant but told me she is the cleaner who manages the place, and the owners live next door but "they don't take to do with the property". Red flags ++. I inform her of the indoor rats traps. She says she's never seen them - this may explain why the cleaning isn't great. She says she will contact her husband and the owner and someone will come round. A few minutes later, there's a knock at the door. The lady next door has appeared and tells me it isn't her property anymore but there are 4 rat traps inside the property as "preventative" measures for the winter time and says there's never been rats in the cottage but there are rats in the garage next door. For reference, the other rats traps are behind the kickboard in the kitchen and the spare bedroom under the bed. I was also not to worry as the traps only contained poison so if the dogs got into them the antidote was Vitamin K and a vet was nearby. She checked the rat trap under the wardrobe and it contained bait only. I was so horrified I was largely speechless, thanked her for her time and immediately googled alternative accommodation options, of which there weren't any that accommodated dogs. For reference, I work in healthcare and Vitamin K is the antidote to warfarin, an anticoagulant that causes animals to bleed to death. My dogs thankfully could not reach either trap visible in the bedroom / living room, but a smaller dog certainly could. I smelt a metaphorical rat - no one has preventative indoor rat traps if they haven't previously or do not currently have an infestation of rats. I decided to leave on night 3 when my second dog joined the first dog at the vigil at the wardrobe and I found chew marks in the kitchen skirting which are consistent with rat chew marks (a photo is available).

    Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry that you have experienced this issue which is extremely rare. The property is situate in a rural location and next to a rail track so inevitably there are likely to be rodents in the vicinity. It is for this reason that a close eye is kept of any rodent activity to ensure there are no issues at the property. The traps are there as a precautionary measure only. It is regrettable that this has been your experience on this occasion, for which we can only apologise. Your comments regarding the upkeep of the property are noted and remedial action taken. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Gemma1.6Sep 2023

  • "Cottage in a great location for access to the beautiful coast and surrounding area."

    Well equipped cottage, but in need of some repairs and TLC. The toilet in the smaller bedroom ensuite broke and this was reported to the owner, who advised Sykes be contacted.I emailed and also went on their "help line" and had a live chat stating issues, location and booking reference and a contact number.No help provided, we managed to make repairs ourselves.

    Reviewed by Carole3.4Aug 2023

  • "Had a great time on our visit to Northumberland and enjoyed staying at the cottage."

    The cottages was very comfortable and well equipped. Close to lots of pretty villages stunning beaches and wonderful castles. More than enough to keep us busy. Only disappointment was that Wifi is available but with an extra charge. Thanks for the welcome gifts.

    Reviewed by Jacqueline5.0Jul 2023

  • "We were happy with the accommodation, but were disappointed with the outdoor seating area."

    It was probably suitable for giving dogs an outside space, but as we had no dog we felt it was lacking in care & attention & not conducive to spending time on very old garden furniture. The front lawn area was very inviting but unfortunately out of bounds. Overall it was a good location and surprisingly quiet despite being in close proximity to the railway.

    Reviewed by Elizabeth3.8Jun 2023

  • "Lovely cottage noise from trains not a problem."

    only a couple of miner things if I'm being picky. Step from living room to kitchen isn't mention in description. No were to hang up clothes in the single bedroom. Would be handy to have had electric shaver socket in bathrooms. Name plate for cottage was hidden in bushes only spotted it on last night of stay. Name plate for owners was visible.

    Reviewed by Robert4.4Jun 2023

  • "This was a very clean and comfortable cottage and fully equipped."

    In a peaceful location and close to all the attractions of the area. You can hear trains now and then but we did not find this a problem. Steph very helpful and on hand if needed. Would go back again

    Reviewed by Andrew5.0May 2023

  • "We had a lovely time and the cottage was warm and clean and had everything you needed for our stay ."

    The cottage is nice and rural with plenty of places to take the dog for a walk and close to the coast too . We would definitely recommend shunting cottage for a nice peaceful break

    Thank you for staying with us and your lovely feedback Property Owner

    Reviewed by Lynn4.7Apr 2023

  • "Would like a dishwasher instead of a washing machine"

    Thank you I will take this into consideration thank you for staying with us Property Owner

    Reviewed by Malcolm4.7Mar 2023

  • "On the whole the cottage was a good size and had the potential for excellent facilities."

    We were disappointed by the shoddy finishes to the rooms . The worst thing for me though was the grey coloured bedding which was unironed and not particularly well made. It felt like I was getting into a bed someone else had just got out of. A shame really because it could be really promising if more careers taken re: presentation.

    Hi I am sorry you felt this way due to the fact that I live next door you could have said something to me and I would have replaced your bedding my iron had broken and I gave got a new one so this won't be a problem in future thanks for staying with us Property Owner

    Reviewed by Ann2.8Feb 2023

  • "The cottage was great - nice and warm with the oil-fired central heating - especially important in view of the freezing temperatures on the last 3 days of our stay."

    It was also very comfortable and quiet - even with its close proximity to the East Coast main railway line. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it had WiFi, as the information on the Sykes website said that it did not (we did not give top mark on accuracy of the listing because of this).

    Thank you for staying with us Property Owner

    Reviewed by Graeme4.7Dec 2022

  • "Despite the weather, this cottage is perfect as a base to see Northumbria."

    Close to wonderful beeches & historic castles & towns. The cottage was comfortable, clean, well laid out, both for humans & our dog. Enclosed garden was great for our dog, unfortunately the weather was wet, but it would be ideal in good weather to sit outside. Cottage was only 3 minutes walk to a friendly Pub (The Railway Inn) which serves good beer (as well as wine, thank you Anne) friendly staff & a good choice of food on the menu. Definitely a place to revisit. The owner, who lives next door, very friendly & helpful. Anne & Robert Lindsay

    Thank you for your lovely feedback it was a pleasure to have you stay with us Property Owner

    Reviewed by Robert5.0Nov 2022

  • "We had a lovely stay here!"

    The cottage is comfortable, clean and is an excellent location for visiting the wonderful beaches and castles that this area has to offer. Steph was really welcoming and friendly - and offered lots of advice about the area. We would definitely recommend this as a great place to stay!

    Thank you for you lovely feedback we hope to see you again Property Owner

    Reviewed by Lesley5.0Oct 2022

  • "Cosy, warm, cottage, friendly owners next door."

    Welcome pack. A couple of tweaks would improve it even more. E.g. no egg cups for boiled eggs. No towel holder next to bathrooms hand basins. Main bathroom shower doors extremely difficult to open ,once inside the shower, the knob is tiny and difficult to grasp when wet,and the doors would not pull back. I was trapped in, until my husband heard me shouting.As a disabled person I found this very upsetting,

    Reviewed by Barbara4.7Oct 2022

  • "A cosy cottage."

    Nice welcome pack. The directions were not good. It took us a while to find it. The directions said you will see a road on the left and Shunting Cottage is on the right - yes it was, but life would have been much simpler if we had been told to turn into the Station and it was on the left, coupled with which the sign on the gate was overgrown.

    Reviewed by Margaret3.8Sep 2022

  • "We have just returned from a 5 night stay at this lovely, cosy and quaint cottage."

    It was very well presented; clean and welcoming and a lovely cake, bottle of wine and doggy treats for us and pooch to enjoy. It is very well positioned within easy access to a large number of tourist attractions and only 3 miles away from the beautiful village of Warkworth. If you want somewhere to eat which is dog friendly with extremely helpful staff and gorgeous food then go no further than The Masons Arms in Warkworth. Steph and Robson were fabulous hosts; nothing was too much trouble and were on hand if we needed anything but they weren’t invasive at all. We will definitely be returning to this cottage and the area. Be aware the cottage is within earshot to a live railway line (hence the name - Shunting Cottage!)but the rumble of the trains was not a problem at all. In fact it adds to the charm! Thank you so much Steph and Robson x

    Thank you for your lovely feedback we look forward to seeing you again Property Owner

    Reviewed by Lynda5.0Aug 2022

  • "Excellent property with everything you could need."

    A cake and bottle of wine where a welcome gift that was so nice. The cottage is in a good spot for visiting around Northumberland and lots of interesting places and beaches in easy distance. Great for dogs as the whole area is very dog friendly.

    Reviewed by Debbie5.0Mar 2022

  • "Very comfortable little cottage just right for 3 people, dog friendly and close too all the walks we wanted to do."

    Dark skies as well if you like star gazing. What more could you ask for, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

    Thank you for staying with us and your lovely feedback Property Owner

    Reviewed by Roger4.4Feb 2022

  • "I honestly can't speak highly enough of the cottage and it's owner."

    I booked in for 2 nights after I had been without power due to Storm Arwen for 4 days. The owner allowed me to come in early so that I could get a hot shower and charge up my phone and laptop. When I arrived, she made me a cup of coffee and introduced me to her lovely family. After my 2 nights were up, the power was still off at home, and was dreading going back to my cold, dark house. Amazingly, I was offered to stay at Shunting for as long as I wanted, completely free of charge. I gladly took up the offer! Even without this amazing act of kindness, I'd recommend staying here to anyone. The cottage is cosy and I slept like a dream. I'll always be grateful for the level of care and decency which was shown. Thank you!

    Thank you will you where a pleasure to have with us it was so nice to meet you and your family your welcome here anytime Property Owner

    Reviewed by Will5.0Nov 2021

  • "Excellent cottage, Steph the owner who lives in the adjoining house is very nice and helpful, the cottage is very dog friendly with wood floors and a heated entrance hall where a large dog (or two) can sleep comfortably at night."

    Good off road parking and a woodland dog walk over the road, close to good beaches and other attractions.

    Reviewed by Paul4.7Oct 2021

  • "Steph and Robson made us really welcome and could not do enough for us whether it was giving us information on the area, where we could shop, where we could eat even finding a veterinary surgery for us."

    Nothing was too much for them. It was the first time we had holidayed on the East coast what a surprise There was so much to do and see, Castles, Hadrian Wall, Ports and so much beautiful coastline to walk along also the fishing and boat trips are great. As for eating out, you are spoilt for choice especially the Pubs which have a restaurant in and an area where you can take your dog in with you and also provide them with treats and water. we are hoping to book again at shunting Cottage for 2 weeks as one week was not enough.

    Reviewed by Ann5.0Sep 2021

  • "A beautiful cottage ideally located for exploring the area."

    Steph is a a great host and the little treats left for our arrival were a lovely gesture. The property was clean and comfortable. I’d read the previous comments about the lounge being uncomfortably warm due to the patio doors not opening but I can honestly say it really wasn’t a problem. It had clearly stated in the property description that the doors didn’t open so we were quite accepting of this. Despite the weather being warm and sunny the lounge remained comfortable and there was plenty of ventilation from the open windows in the other rooms. The patio doors made the room lovely and bright and it was a joy to be able to watch the rabbits running around in the garden - even if they did tease our dogs who were desperate to chase them! I would definitely recommend this property to my family and friends.

    Reviewed by Donna4.7Aug 2021

  • "We had a very enjoyable week and the weather was good and in fact very hot for the last 4 days."

    On our return each day we found the lounge hot and uncomfortable with no ventilation and there was no key to unlock the door. We approached the owner who brought the key to us. We then discovered that the lock was actually faulty and unusable. We appreciate that the owner doesn`t want guests dogs to go into their garden, but we would expect a key and useable door lock to escape in case of fire in the kitchen - surely a health and safety issue? Sitting on the patio was also uncomfortable and in fact dangerous as fumes from the boiler vent were overpowering especially when the hot taps or shower were running. These also entered the cottage through the bathroom and kitchen window . We discussed these problems with the owner and she assured us that she will be looking into them. We hope these issues will be resolved very soon for the comfort of further guests.

    Reviewed by Sally2.5Jul 2021

  • "Comfortable cottage with the bonus of both bedrooms having en suite."

    As expected train line/station close by but this didn’t really disturb us.

    Reviewed by Rose Ary5.0Jul 2021

  • "Second visit to Shunting cottage, lovely stay."

    Had everything we needed.

    Reviewed by Bernadette5.0Jun 2021

  • "The hosts were wonderful the little gifts when you arrive were lovely"

    Reviewed by Gill5.0May 2021

  • "The hosts are very welcoming and made us feel very comfortable."

    Reviewed by Fiona5.0Apr 2021

  • "We did wonder what we would arrive at given the absence of any reply to emails from yourselves."

    However the cottage was clean and comfortable and our host was very helpful.

    Reviewed by Susan3.8Oct 2020

  • "The owner is lovely."

    Little extra touches and very helpful, especially prior to our arrival. We had a great stay and would certainly return. The cottage is wonderful for accessing the local towns and beaches. With fantastic walks nearby.

    Reviewed by Juliet5.0Sep 2020

  • "Shunting Cottage was lovely and the owner Steph is very friendly welcoming and helpful."

    The cottage is located in a beautiful area and the nearby beaches are stunning. Would definitely recommend the area and Shunting Cottage

    Reviewed by Deb5.0Aug 2020

  • "A warm welcome from the owners and a superb cottage well located for our planned visits."

    No complaints and very likely to visit again in the future.

    Reviewed by Cliff5.0Oct 2019

  • "A lovely cottage however, we booked believing there was a pub within walking distance only to find it is closed down."

    Your listing still states the proximity to the pub as a feature so is misleading

    Reviewed by Sue4.7Sep 2019

  • "Everything owe the smoothly from booking to departing, excellent service from owners, recommended to base yourself from a cottage to explore the region."

    Reviewed by Eamonn5.0Sep 2019

  • "The cottage was really nice, well equipped and very comfortable."

    It’s location was good and woods just across the road to walk the dog Local places to visit excellent.

    Reviewed by Susan5.0Aug 2019

  • "Lovely cottage."

    Very handy for sightseeing.

    Reviewed by Nancy5.0Jul 2019

  • "The cottage was superb and contained everything you could possible need and ..."

    The cottage was superb and contained everything you could possible need and the owner made us most welcome and was very helpful

    Reviewed by Jack5.0Jul 2019

  • "This is a very comfortable holiday cottage in a good location for exploring the lovely countryside."

    Steph, the owner made us very welcome.there was a bottle of wine chilling nicely in the fridge as well as some lovely chocolates - very tasty!!! The doggy treats were enjoyed by our Frankie too - thank you Steph. There are lots of interesting places to visit nearby and lots of " dog friendly " pub/restaurants and coffee shops around especially in Amble, Felton, Rothbury, Warkworth Castle and Warkworth Village too. We enjoyed our stay in Shuntings cottage and would be happy to visit again, if the weather isn't so good it's always nice to return to the cottage and just relax for a while. Steph lives next door and is very helpful and friendly but not intrusive!!! Thank you Steph for making our visit to your cottage very relaxing and comfortable. All the best to you.

    Reviewed by Betty5.0Jul 2019

  • "This cottage was ideally located to tour the area Steph the owner was very helpful"

    Reviewed by Glynis4.4Jun 2019

  • "An ideal location for that part of Northumberland."

    Owner was very friendly and helpful. Fresh eggs, wine and biscuits were a bonus too!

    Reviewed by Karen5.0Jun 2019

  • "A lovely part of the country beautiful beaches."

    Reviewed by Jane3.8May 2019

  • "Shunting Cottage was everything anyone could need."

    It was warm and we'll equipped with everything you could wish for and situated in a lovely quiet spot. We were blessed with glorious weather which made our holiday even better.

    Reviewed by Linda5.0May 2019

  • "Really cosy cottage, well appointed and location excellent for Northumberland coast."

    Had no idea Northumberland was so lovely. So much to see and do. Dogs loved beaches, wonderful scenery. Owners very helpful. Trains did not bother us at all, hardly any stopped, small station about 50 yards away. Alnwick gardens, castles, Farne islands, Lindesfarne, Bamburgh, Warkworth, Barter Books in Alnwick, all well worth a visit.

    Reviewed by Gwen4.1Apr 2019

  • "Ideal location for visiting the best that Northumberland has to offer."

    Lots of dog friendly pubs and cafes. Highlights of the holiday were the fabulous beaches , Cragside the NT house designed by Norman Shaw , Housesteads the NT Roman fort near Hadrians Wall ,Alnwick and the second hand bookshop where you can get coffee and cakes and sit in front of open fires,Bamburgh Castle,Holy Island and Durham Cathedral. Capability Brown born nearby at Kirkharle.

    Reviewed by Peter5.0Mar 2019

  • "Shunting Cottage is the perfect location to explore all of Nortumbria and the Durham area, the owners are very friendly and made us feel extremely welcome including our dog."

    The recently upgraded accomodation is snug and cosy with a well fitted kitchen, if we're holidaying in the area again we would definately make this cottage our first choice.

    Reviewed by Roger5.0Mar 2019

  • "We had a wonderful stay at Shuntings cottage."

    We had a lovely warm and friendly welcome. The cottage was comfortable, clean, tidy and lovely and warm. The cottage had recently changed hands and still contained all that we required. I Would recommend this cottage for definate..plus we will be back...Carmel

    Reviewed by Carmel5.0Oct 2018

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Summary

  • All ground floor
  • Two bedrooms: 1 x double with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x single with en-suite shower, basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Sitting room with dining area
  • Note: The bedrooms are at opposite ends of the property.
  • Oil central heating
  • Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, washing machine, TV with Freeview, DVD, stereo/CD, radio, selection of books and games
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Off road parking for 1 car
  • Private, enclosed gravelled garden area with furniture and BBQ
  • Two well-behaved pets welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 2.5 miles, pub 5 mins walk
  • Note: No children under 7, including infants
  • Note: The patio doors do not open as they open onto a private garden.

The property

Acklington 1 mile.

An interesting and imaginative ground floor conversion of a stone-built former station house, just a mile from the village of Acklington and four miles from Warkworth.

Comfortably furnished, with a lovely sitting room with large picture window and dining area, a first-class kitchen and two delightful bedrooms both with en-suite facilities, this cottage is ideal for couples or small families seeking to explore the abundance of attractions the area has to offer.

The sandy beaches and picturesque villages of the Heritage Coast are within an easy drive, as is the impressive scenery of the National Park, while the proximity of the cottage to the amenities and attractions of Alnwick means Shunting Cottage is an ideal base at any time of the year.

View on map

About the location

ACKLINGTON

Alnmouth 9 miles; Alnwick 11 miles.

Acklington is a small rural village located just a few miles from the coast and its near neighbour Warkworth. The village has a pub with bar and restaurant and, with the many activities and groups held locally, offers a real sense of community spirit. The River Coquet meanders past the village, with a picturesque view from Guyzance Bridge. There is a limited bus and train service to Alnwick, Newcastle and Alnmouth, and the whole of the coast is within easy driving distance. Warkworth, 4 miles away, is a pretty village, dominated by the dramatic ruins of its 12th Century castle. The main street is lined with Georgian and early Victorian houses and there is an exceptional range of galleries and antique shops, a village shop-cum-post office, pubs, restaurants and gift shops to suit all tastes. Warkworth has its own stretch of sandy beach and a 9-hole 'pay and play' golf course. Also within easy touring distance are Hadrian's Wall, Bamburgh Castle, Holy Island, the Farne Islands, several wonderful beaches and Alnwick Garden with its remarkable water cascade.

View more holiday cottages in Acklington

Note: No children under 7, including infants.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas