Tamar Barn

20 Customer Reviews

• "It’s a quirky place, nice and private with everything you need."

  There were a few minor niggles that show a little lack of TLC but nothing major. I would advise taking spare batteries for remotes and your own lighter for the fire as the lack of these did affect our first night. Cleanliness has been commented on previously but it’s ok as long as you don’t look too hard. It’s evident nothing is moved to clean under/behind but the kitchen/fridge/cooker/pots and pans were spotless. The issue that would prevent my return is the drive. It is so steep and blind that it didn’t feel safe. It was covered in fallen leaves and the car slipped a couple of times- it would be even more terrifying in icy weather.

  Reviewed by Judith3.1★Oct 2023

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and felt very at home with the dogs."

  The road outside is very busy, the main gates at the front are not secure for dogs, so we kept ours on their leads until safely in the back garden. Unfortunately the garden is only accessible from the front of the property and up very steep steps at the side of the barn, but once your up there the garden is reasonably secure. The overall appearance is accurate in the photos, overall condition is fair, but could do with a little refreshing in the living room and upstairs shower room (which could benefit from better lighting). Having said that, it didn't detract from our enjoyment, it was just a little niggle. (If it was my home, I would be nagging to get it re-decorated) The cottage is set amongst trees, so there isn't a great deal of natural daylight especially in the living room unfortunately the large windows didn't open, so there was no airflow whatsoever. The weather when we visited was very hot, the shade kept it cool but the lack of air made it very stale/stuffy. The kitchen was lovely, it had the benefit of sky lights, which opened letting in lots of air and light . We found the kitchen to be extremely well equipped, and a pleasure to be in. The bed was very comfy !! and we both slept very well. I know a few mentioned the traffic noise outside, there were odd times when it was busy, but didn't cause us any issue. Also, the steepness of the drive makes entry to the barn very tricky .. but taking our time we did manage to leave with our front valance in tack.

  Reviewed by Donna3.8★Sep 2023

• "Tamar Barn was just as advertised."

  A lovely, charming property which had everything you could possibly need for your stay, including a really comfortable bed. The secluded garden was safe for our dog and the hot tub was wonderful. An ideal location for us, as the nearby Tamar Trails and Dartmoor were perfect for jogging and walking. The host, David, quickly responded to any queries, making our stay just perfect.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Aug 2023

• "The barn is on a corner with a steep awkward entrance off the main road."

  We could of done with a radio and some instructions for the central heating as it was cold and damp despite being August. Care needs to be taken crossing the road and bridge. Wonderful walks off the doorstep. Could of done with a bit more firewood for the log burner as had to buy logs in the coop at £12 a go. Overall we loved the area and hot tub and the nearby Rising Sun pub.

  Thank you for the feedback the walks are fantastic. There is now a new Bluetooth DAB stereo and I will add some more information about how to work the combi boiler and underfloor heating. Unfortunately like everything the cost of logs is high but we do supply a full basket. The drive is a bit awkward approaching from Cornwall but it is easy to access coming down the hill from Tavistock so if you find it tricky you can turn around nearby and approach the property from the easier direction. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paul3.4★Aug 2023

• "Great stay with the family (2 kids & a dog) at Tamar Barn."

  The barn is rustic and exactly what I would expect from the superb location. Very clean and tidy. Towels soft and clean. Hot tub that seats 4 and is very well maintained. Kitchen well stocked with all required utensils. We felt it very private which is important to me. David (the host) obviously takes care of the place and actions feedback looking at some previous reviews. Will 100% return.

  Reviewed by Stewart5.0★Aug 2023

• "A 'rustic' lovely little find."

  Had everything we needed and very comfortable, perfect for a few days of downtime. Cute little garden out the back, with decking and hot tub, via some stone external steps, (also via a small door/window in the bedroom - very novel) we kept our dogs on the lead until in the garden, but that was our choice. Just thought I would comment on the some of the previous feedback: The property is on the main road, but you can't hear it not even at rush hour. If you wanted to walk into the local town, there isn't pavement on the road outside of the property. (not the owners fault just thought it was worth a mention). The driveway in and out of the property is steep but taken with care should be ok. (due to it's location this can't be helped). We were in a Mercedes and came away with the valance still fully in tact. Owners were very helpful when we needed to contact them. (Nothing serious just a query regarding the hot water - turned out to be operator error!) This property was just what the doctor ordered. Thank you :)

  Thank you for your review we really do want people to come down and enjoy the lovely Tamar Valley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jo4.7★Jul 2023

• "We read previous reviews and read that someone had commented about the busy road."

  We did not find it noisy but did feel that a warning should be included that turning into and exiting the drive can be hazardous. The steep drive would have proved difficult if we had a car with a low valance, e.g. my daughters BMW estate would have managed the drive without it taking the valance off.

  Thanks for your comments about the road which is mostly quiet and only busy at commuting times. Like any road drivers need to exercise caution on exit and entry. The drive is a similar in gradient to a multistorey carpark our BMW 1 series is quite low and the clearance is good. Unless you drive a very low sports car it works well. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Linda3.4★Jun 2023

• "The barn is situated in a naturalistic garden."

  The drive is a little narrow and steep. There is plenty of room to turn a car around besides the property. The barn was lovely and cool inside in the recent hot weather. The kitchen is well equipped. Could do with a few more small glass tumblers as only one available. Large leather sofas are comfortable. Standard lamp needs a new bulb possibly as light worked intermittently. Plenty of information leaflets in desk drawer. Tv reception was a little variable at times. The tv is set at a bit of a jaunty angle which can be distracting, perhaps this needs a little adjustment . Downstairs shower was excellent, however the plughole needs regular cleaning as hair and soap residue left from previous guests. I didn’t use upstairs shower. Comfortable double bed though the pillows could do with replacing as they soon went flat when your head was on them. Would have been a little bit more inviting if the bedding had been ironed but this is just my preference. A small chair or stool in bedroom would be useful to put clothes on. We took the desk stool upstairs for this purpose. The wardrobe painted black inside which makes it difficult to see clothing. Lovely to wake up to birdsong each morning. The doorway into the garden from the bedroom is a bit low. Comfortable garden chairs. The rotary washing line, which the owner kindly came back to put up for me, was attached to the fence, which made at least half unusable due to the fence and bramble abyss! The traffic noise, mainly at peak times, was not really a problem for us. As others had found, the wifi could be variable. The spiders in the old property were very efficient at producing cobwebs so a long handled feather duster would be useful. Towels were a little uncomfortable to use, a bit hard and scratchy, but perfectly clean. Information regarding leaving the property would be useful in the guest handbook, such as where to leave the door key. This is a most beautiful area to explore and we had a thoroughly delightful time at the barn despite small niggles.

  https://www.tamartrails.co.uk/ Thank you for your feedback and we will act on the points that you have raised. Also thank you for leaving the place so clean and tidy. I have included a link to the miles of traffic free world heritage trails that can be accessed from across the road and for tree surfers if you would like a climb in the woods https://treesurfers.co.uk/ Property Owner

  Reviewed by Alison4.4★Jun 2023

• "Perfect place for a getaway."

  Spacious, very clean and tidy, everything at hand needed. Ideally located for longer stays for day trips etc, and perfect suntrap garden. Well enclosed if taking dogs. The adjacent road can be a bit noisy but is hardly worth making an issue of, just worth a mention for noting. Overall, really nice place, we really enjoyed the stay....

  Thank you for your feed back. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paul4.7★Jun 2023

• "First impressions as we drove up the over grown driveway wasn’t good, gutting hanging down, rotten gate posts, dead leaves all over the place, Old junk thrown in the bin shelter, filthy windows and weeds and stinging nettles dominated the plant pots this place looked badly in need on some serious TLC."

  Once inside we was hit with an unpleasant smell of drains. The inside was certainly not how we expected, kitchen units with handles falling off poorly fitted flooring, dirty utensils from a previous rental, the taps in the bathroom were extremely loose, the tv in the lounge had a mind of its own and would turn on and off itself and the picture would break up frequently. The bbq was too dangerous and unhygienic to use with a rusty griddle and broken handles, we ended up buying disposable ones to use which was frustrating as we asked before leaving home if there was one we could use. We asked for a wok, mixing bowl and rolling pin which the owner kindly provided along with a replacement bbq. The upstairs bathroom was terrible with the toilet making a loud burping and spluttering noise with each flush, again very smelly. The windows were filthy in the twin bedroom with a green algae covering them. The sun lounges were very rusty and looked fit for the tip. We was often visited by the neighbours dog he would do his business in the front garden and run back next door, our dog didn’t take kindly to another dog wandering around. The towels supplied where stained and had holes and rips, we would have rather brought our own than use something in this condition. On a good note we thought the beds were comfortable with clean sheets and plenty of storage for your clothes. The lounge furniture was also nice and comfortable and we all enjoyed the hot tub. Overall we felt this property was in badly in need of some basic maintenance and tlc to warrant the amount that is charged for the rental. Sorry to say this is one property that we won’t return to

  We always act promptly to resolve any issues as our priority is that you have a relaxing holiday. We have set the place up so that families and those with pets do not need to worry about minor breakages or having to be over careful, this means that you can relax with us. When asked for a Wok we supplied a brand new one, when asked for a rolling pin and mixing bowl we brought new ones for you. I received no comments about towels and had we known that you were not happy we would have replaced them for new ones. You are well aware that the gate post on the drive has been replaced for new and a new BBQ was supplied during your stay. Many of the other comments are not accurate e.g. loose handles in the kitchen turn out to be one loose handle that will be repaired, likewise the upstairs toilet has a macerator that works normally. I do not recognise some of your other comments . Our barn is clean, comfortable and set on the edge of extensive woods. The windows have been cleaned and the neighbors dog has been dealt with. I would encourage all guests to talk to us if there are any issues as we want you to have a relaxing holiday with us. Our photographs show the drive at the front and the enclosed garden to the rear these photographs are accurate. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sally2.5★May 2023

• "It was not explained where the location of the property was - on a main road -A390."

  Therefore from 5.am through to midnight there was constant road noise. The gates to the property did not close due to rotted posts. It was also not explained the neighbour would frequent the grounds - which resulted in gates not being closed - a danger for children and dogs. The exterior of the property was scruffy with rusty chairs, broken barbecue, tarty fencing and weeds. On a positive note the interior had everything you could want and more and was exceptionally clean, apart from the windows which were very dirty. Hot Tub was a bonus.

  Thank you for your feedback and we have already acted to replace the barbeque for a new one and gate post. Our grounds are kept to be sympathetic to wildlife and are intensionally not manicured. I have made it clear to the the neighbour that they must not enter the property they should not have been on the property at all. Traffic is infrequent outside of commuting times so I don't recognise your description of our rural road. I'll also inspect the windows and rectify where necessary as you say we do like to keep it clean. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Valerie3.1★May 2023

• "Lovely location to explore Devon and Cornwall."

  Everything provided from a home from home holiday. Hot tub was a bonus the only downside was the internet strength which was intermittent especially during the evenings but seemed to work fine during the day.

  Reviewed by Rachel4.4★Apr 2023

• "Lovely barn but needed a clean the day we got there, as very dusty cobwebs over lights and some windows, kitchen sides and table dusty, floor filthy swept and mopped all side's and ie desk window ledges bathrooms dusty we were disappointed on entry but once I had cleaned every where which only took 40 mins!"

  ! so not a hard task we were happy. Not much too do at barn ie no games cards or dvds which is a shame as there is a TV with dvd player. The barn itself is lovely for a quiet chilled out time HOT TUB WAS AMAZING!!! Completely secluded Everything you need to cook nice and spacious for 2 adults and dogs ( although not quite a private garden as there is a garden attached with a see through fence not good if you got has little dog syndrome) I would happily return but I would insist this time it was cleaned I left it spotless that's how I expect to find it on arrival so personally I did feel it was a little overpriced for the time of year and could do with a few nik naks dotted around to make it feel a little more homely some games / dvds and a little tlc

  Thank you for your comments and we think that the barn is lovely too. I will take on board your comments and we will add some playing cards and a few board games. I will also add a chromecast so that guests can mirror their phones to the TV. Our cleaners take 3 to 4 hours to clean the barn so I am surprised by your comments about dirty floors and dusty sides especially since the kitchen floor is brand new and was fitted in January. Spider webs are difficult to eliminate as our barn is in the countryside and it has exposed stone walls. That said I will check that the cleaning is up to scratch. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Melissa2.8★Feb 2023

• "The barn was a lovely conversion."

  It was clean, tidy and warm. The area was nice and quiet and I would definitely recommend this as somewhere to book.

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Dec 2022

• "We had a fabulous time, the Barn was well equipped with everything you needed, it was in such an excellent spot on the Devon/Cornwall Border, the hot tub was welcome after long hikes with the dog along the trails or the moors, loads of dog friendly pubs and shops in the area."

  Owners were lovely and very helpful, will certainly return.

  Reviewed by Claire4.7★Oct 2022

• "The general cleanliness of the barn was not up to the standard of cottages and barns we have rented before on many occasions."

  The bathroom has black mould along the bottom of the shower screen over the bath The floors in the bathroom and kitchen were filthy , when we left the property it was a lot cleaner than when we started our holiday,and we had two dogs with us !!! The windows could do with a clean inside and out The heating system was very complicated and therefore unusable An option to purchase more logs for the wood burner would have been a welcome one ,as it is on most other holiday rentals we have used . This is not a general moan for the sake of moaning ! This is a gentle criticism of actually how we found the property. The position and facilities of the barn were excellent and we will be returning to the area in the near future to explore more of the walks and attractions. However it will probably be with one of the other Holiday Cottage providers.

  We will implement an honestly box for bags of wood as you have suggested. I always welcome feedback as it helps us to improve. We have an excellent cleaner and we do regular deep cleans so I find it hard to believe that your comments are fair and had you contacted me when you arrived I would have inspected the property and put anything that needed to be put right immediately if necessary. I have inspected the barn today to ensure our cleaners have done the job correctly. Although the heating is simple as it is controlled thermostats in the rooms I will add a note to the welcome book so that this is made clearer. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paul2.8★Sep 2022

• "Bigger toaster would be nice coz half the slice wasn't cooked if you didn't remember to flip it over during cooking Some nice pots outside would cheer the place up coz it looks very tired and perhaps a recycling bin in the kitchen And u might want to consider adding a picture of the hot tub to the listing."

  I did ask sykes for pictures but got ignored

  Thanks for your feedback. We will add some pictures of the hot tub and outside enclosed garden. We will also look to replace the toaster for a larger one as you have suggested. The barn is on the edge of woodlands so we try to keep a natural look to the outside of the barn. In the past we have had hanging baskets but we felt this looked a bit twee perhaps we'll have rethink on this? Property Owner

  Reviewed by Kerrie4.4★Sep 2022

• "Nice barn, good location for dog walking and getting out and about the local towns."

  Staircase looks out of character, finishes need refreshing, garden tending but generally nice property, more of 3⭐️

  Thank you for your comments and we agree that it is a great location to walk or cycle locally (https://www.tamartrails.co.uk/) and to get out to the surrounding areas. We try to apply a light touch to the garden hedges as this give a more natural look and helps to maintain wildlife. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Richard3.4★Jul 2022

• "Lovely converted barn which had everything we needed for a relaxing week."

  A contained garden which meant our dog could stay in the garden without escaping! Helpful and friendly owners. Central for getting out and about in the area. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Would recommend and return.

  Reviewed by Julie4.7★Jun 2022

• "Very relaxing and comfortable stay."

  The hot tub was super! Enclosed upper garden was great for the dog and us too! Wood burner very efficient. Comfy sofas and great chairs in kitchen. A few plastic glasses for the hot tub and a couple of fruit/ salad bowls would have been useful. Shower upstairs perhaps needs a refresh, especially to prevent water damage to the wood door.

  Reviewed by Heather4.7★Apr 2022

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