Bumble Bee

Idyllic cottage with everything you need.

Needs a deep clean.

Oven awful state. Toilets very stained. Shutters, several walls and switches splattered with drink. Cushions and footstool stained. Long human hairs on bedroom carpet. Hoover hardly any suction to clean it ourselves. Some crockery was chipped and crazed. Odd amounts. Dining chairs all very worn. Not up to date pictures on Sykes website.

Absolutely disgusting state of cleanliness.

We had to hoover as soon as we entered the property to get rid of woodlice, silverfish, ants, moths and spiders that had obviously been in residence for some time. The window frame in the kitchen was so rotten that the ants used it to enter the property and the toaster which sat on that window ledge! Not impressed by this property at all. Will be emailing Sykes with more detailed complaints about this property including photos.

Very cosy little cottage, great setting, well furnished and had everything you need.

Its perhaps a bit tight for 4 people but overall a very nice house.

The cottage was lovely and quiet but somewhat dated.

The kitchen could do with a refresh and the sink in the bedroom needs the piping looking at, as the water doesn’t drain away very quickly. It could also do with a new television, as the colour is almost gone and we couldn’t change the settings to accommodate this.

Beautiful thatched cottage in a lovely rural location.

Very well equipped and comfortable and a great base for exploring and walking the local areas. Bedding and the towels smelt wonderfully clean. Great under floor heating downstairs and the property was lovely and warm with a wonderful secure garden with fabulous views, lots of sheep with their lambs. The property has so much potential, but sadly could do with a bit of TLC and a deep clean. Little things like replacing bulbs and batteries when needed. Dripping tap in kitchen and blocked sink in bedroom, where the water wasn’t draining properly the actual drain part was quite dirty. There are residents in the thatched roof too. Unfortunately on two nights of our stay we had interrupted sleep with lots of scratching. We still had a great break, but attention to details and no scratching at night would have made it perfect.

Cosy cottage.

Small and bijou be careful if you are tall! The surrounding area is lovely and all on your doorstep for good walks.

We really enjoyed our stay.

It was the warmest cottage we have ever stayed in during the winter months. We were unlucky not to have any sheep for neighbours but bits of wool in the field showed they had been there. The shop in Barrowden was convenient for basics. Good for birdwatching and walking if the weather is right.

Beautiful location and charming cottage, although on the smaller side in places, mind your head on the low beams.

Warm and cosy once settled in. However, the cleanliness really let our stay down. We arrived just before 6pm when it was already dark, and it was difficult to find lighting on entry, the light switches were behind the curtains (presumably to prevent drafts), so we relied on a plug-in lamp in the living room to start with. Inside, the cottage had not been cleaned properly before our arrival. There were cobwebs throughout (including in the oven), pet hair on the sofa, unwashed dishes and cutlery in the cupboards, and urine on the toilet rim and seat. Bathroom bins were full, and we did not feel it was hygienic for us to empty them. The outside bin was also full, which we put out for collection despite not having used it. The sofa bed could not be opened without rearranging the entire room, so opted to not open it. We booked Friday night for a Saturday check-in (after 3pm) and informed the contact person on Monday morning about the cleanliness after managing over the weekend. She apologised and said the cleaners would be sent, but the explanation that this was due to our “last-minute booking” this didn’t feel appropriate given there was time before we arrived to prepare the property. The apology and communication wasn’t very warm. We’d already cleaned the toilet and utensils ourselves so refused the cleaners. Going forward, it would help if the owner carried out their own pre-arrival checks rather than assuming a thorough clean has been done by the cleaner. The Wi-Fi was very slow, likely due to the rural setup (worth noting if you need reliable internet). A small freezer would also be a helpful addition, as we stayed for a week and often had to drive to Oundle or Corby for food shopping, particularly for fresh meat. The cottage has a lot of potential due to its lovely setting, and once warmed up it is very comfortable, but much better cleanliness, pre-arrival checks, and attention to detail are needed to ensure guests can relax and enjoy their stay from the moment they arrive.

Bumble Bee cottage in Wakerley is a gem.

Everything we need is in this cottage. All the usual things as well as a dishwasher, a washer/dryer combo, an immense bathtub. The cottage is beautiful. The view across the valley is lovely. Take your breakfast out to the table outside and gaze across the fields as you drink your coffee. Maybe you’ll have sheep for company. Historic Stamford is close by. Don’t miss Burghley House. Everybody should stay in a little thatched cottage at least once. We recommend this property.

Garden a bit untidy, had to clean garden furniture.

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At llast another box on the wish list ticked - staying in a thatched cottage box which was indeed as I imagined and as cute as a button!

All our needs were catered for, both for us humans and our welcomed fur babies. The garden was carefully secured and safe for them too. The location is perfect for exploring the wonderful county of Rutland.

We had a lovely time, everyone we met was very friendly.

Lovely walks and friendly pub and shop in Barrowden. If you are tall just remember to duck!!

Amazing place and will be back for sure.

Could do with tv being updated

This was our 2nd stay because the last time we came we loved it but this time not so good.

The remote control did not work so it was up and down all the time we had to pull the tv around and behind it was filthy I dropped a £1 coin and had to pull the sofa out again filthy underneath loads of black dog hair dust the lot the bed was so uncomfortable needs a new mattress ants everywhere in the cupboards worktops Such a shame as we would have certainly come again so peaceful lovely walks all around but I am afraid we will have to find somewhere else

We LOVE Bumblebee!

Our fourth stay and we are still in love with this cottage and it's absolutely stunning surroundings. The simplicity of the cottage and it's small, cosy chocolate box feel and look makes it the perfect getaway! You can walk for miles and miles and will bump into hardly anyone! The village is so quiet and the sheep make perfect neighbours... the view from the window seat in the lounge is my most favourite thing. Take binoculars to watch the Red Kites and we also spotted a Little Owl sat on the field at dusk! We will be back very soon! Our only disappointment is that we don't live here! Regards Naomi Gary and Bailey

In general bumblebee cottage is a lovely little place set in idyllic countryside, however it really is a tight fit for three adults and a Labrador.

The pullout sofa bed downstairs was awkward and uncomfortable. I would also be concerned with the condensation in the downstairs loo as it’s creating mould around the tiny window in there. That is my only two criticisms really because the cottage was well stocked with essentials for the kitchen and bathroom. Dishwasher was a nice little extra I didn’t expect and that underfloor heating was devine. The oven is probably overdue a clean but worked very well. Great little pub just a mile or so down the road with friendly staff and locals, found it hard to get a takeout though as nobody from the leaflets provided would deliver that far so maybe something to add to your literature for future bookings.

A delightful, cosy cottage with everything you could want provided.

The underfloor heating was perfect for February. WiFi not very good but had 4G network anyway. A pleasant 1 mile walk across the fields to a great local pub in Barrowden. Would definitely recommend staying at the Bumble Bee.

We stayed here over Christmas and it was such a lovely break away from the hustle and bustle.

The cottage is in a beautiful village with countryside views out the back windows. There's the sheep as your neighbours so you can watch them whilst enjoying a cup of tea at the window seat in the lounge. The cottage itself is quaint a typical chocolate box cottage. Has most of the amenities you need apart from a freezer. Beware of the low beams my 6ft 2 husband cracked his head a few times on the first couple of days. There was a lovely Christmas tree decorated for us on arrival. Which was a lovely touch and made it really festive and homely. There's board games and puzzles to enjoy. There are loads of little countryside walks from the cottage that we and our little dog enjoyed. We took our 10yr old son with us but after reading the reviews about the sofa bed not having a lot of room to pull out we decided to take our camp bed which fit perfectly next to the bed upstairs. There was 3 of us and a small dog and the size was perfect but probably wouldn't be big enough for 4 adults. In other reviews people moan about the tv being small and outdated and yes it's not a big smart tv but it had plenty of channels for us to watch at night. There's so much on offer surrounding this cottage that you don't need a fancy big tv. We had an amazing Christmas break and will definately look at booking this beautiful cottage again.

We had a lovely stay at BB cottage.

It was clean, small and quaint with everything we needed. A lovely rural and quiet location. There are some less than flattering comments online that are really not justified. I agree that the TV is small but it is not really life changing to do without is it? A really relaxing break, thank you

A stunning property in a beautiful area.

Overall the property was very clean and well presented. Being a house with such character, it was very cosy throughout, but more than enough space for a couple. The kitchen was well equipped for cooking and it was a fantastic big bath upstairs. The bed was very comfortable and the area very peaceful for a good restful time away. It was good that you could park off the road next to the property, albeit on the wide tarmacked footpath. The only negative was that the central heating system didn't seem to work. Although there were electric fan heaters both upstairs and downstairs as backup in the cold weather. Admittedly it was hard to get them to the right temperature without getting too cold or hot in the night. Overall I'd recommend this wonderful property.

This is the worst cottage we have ever stayed in.

A rodent problem caused us two sleepless nights meaning that we were so exhausted that we had to forgo the remainder of our seven-night booking. On arrival we found a ball of wire wool on the bathroom windowsill and saw that some wire wool had been placed in one of the holes around the bathroom pipes. We also noticed rodent bait boxes had been placed under the bath and behind the chest of drawers in the bedroom. On the first evening we heard scrabbling noises from the living room ceiling but by the second night the scratching and gnawing noises from bedroom ceiling in the middle of the night was so loud that sleep was impossible. Having now seen that a previous review from September mentioned that the rodent issue was reported to Sykes, we are disappointed that we were not told about this before making the journey to the cottage as this unpleasant situation was foisted upon us. Surely pest controllers should have been called to eliminate the mice before guests were allowed to stay there again. Leaving early was our only option as the mice could obviously not have been eradicated in the timeframe of us staying there. We have reported the rodent issue to Sykes as well as the other concerns we had i.e. the fan oven thermostat was faulty so all foods cooked in it was massively overdone due to the extremely high temperatures it was reaching. This made self-catering impossible for us as the food we took with us had to be oven cooked. We were also concerned about the potential fire risk from a spotlight in the entrance hallway that was hanging down by its holder especially as it had a cable tie attached to it which had been scorched by the heat of the bulb. This had resulted in burnt pieces of cable tie to drop on the floor.

The cottage is perfect, a real escape to the country.

It is lovely and welcoming when you open the door and was so clean. The view is just magical and the surrounding area just beautiful. Cooking together in the kitchen whilst the sheep graze by the window is just the best. To be honest the only downside is that I have to leave each time and instantly want to return. There are a few criticisms of the TV in other reviews but to be honest the cottage is so stunning in its surroundings that the TV really doesn’t seem important at all! I just love our little hideaway in Wakerley and hope to return again and again! Our beagle Bailey watches the sheep through the window and is always so calm and happy at the cottage and loves his walks to Duddington each day across the gorgeous fields! Take your binoculars, the nature is fantastic and the landscape is glorious. Please never change the cottage, it’s simplicity and cosy feel is everything! Thank you for yet another stay to remember.

Thank you for letting us stay at your cottage.

It is a very sweet cottage with lovely back view. We have contacted Sykes about the electrical switch problem and noise of scratching in the loft area. The cottage was very clean and comfortable. We didn't have any spare black dustbin sacks, antiseptic cleaner or bath cleaner. The cottage could benefit from having a coffee maker and a torch is always handy. There should be a night light at the bottom of the stairs as the bathroom light isn't strong enough and I did trip down two bottom stairs. Wi-fi needs a booster as it has a very week signal. I don't know if you are in contact with the sheep farmer but I saw 2 sheep limping around the field and one had a very bad cough and was sneezing a lot. Perhaps you could pass this on to him/her.

Lovely cottage in a quiet area with everything you need and private garden to the side,,very small probably not good if having a disability.

oh and only 1 winge, the TV came off Noah's Ark

Very relaxing week, great base to explore part of England we had never been to before.

Bumble Bee Cottage was very comfortable loved the under floor heating as it was chilly first and last thing.

The TV is very small, and we found the mattress very bouncy.

Otherwise, we enjoyed our stay, and were very entertained by the new lambs gambolling outside the window.

There is no denying the cottage is attractive externally .

The problem is inside , it is not untidy by any means ,the problem is it is very small . Potentially it supposedly can sleep 4 people , and accommodate two pets . Never in a million years is this house suitable for that number , it's only suitable for two people maximum and even two pets is pushing it. The sofa bed we were informed in the living room was broken , good job really as god knows where the space is to open it , so a single Z bed was brought in to replace it - fair enough - but then you were stuck with that in the way . The other double bed is up a very steep staircase , and you have to walk through the bathroom to get to it , this is interesting if you had two couples staying , nice roll top bath but no privacy . Bedroom has one tall boy set of drawers , and bedside drawers but no wardrobes - just two tiny rails in an alcove ??? Where would four people put there clothes for a week ?? Also the loo is in the bathroom but the hand basin is in the bedroom - interesting. There was no freezer department in the fridge and I feel that is a necessity . Don't even get me started on the tv and DVD player - everyone is yellow and the screen is about the size of a lap top . We were only staying Monday - Saturday , and in that time we were asked if a gas engineer could come service the hob , potentially a Gardner was coming Friday or Saturday . Then one evening the power in all the sockets went out , so no tv , kettle , microwave , fridge , heating , no Wi-Fi !!!!! People did try to get us an emergency electrician but with no luck - so we were going to be stuck the whole night with nothing - my wife was very upset and disappointed . I took matters into my own hands eventually , took some photos and sent it all to my electrician brother - who called me and talked me through how to reset the electrics . And just like that after three hours the power came back on - do YOU know an electrician you can call ??? I use Sykes all the times and have never had any cause to complain about their listings , but I feel this one needs a clearer online description. It may look like the perfect chocolate box cottage outside , but just be aware of what you will find when you open the tin.

Lovely cottage perfect location for a getting away from all the stress in the world.

It was ideal for our silver wedding celebration

Beautiful little cottage with everything you need.

.We will definitely be back ❤️

This was our second stay at the cottage and it was perfection.

Beautifully clean when we arrived, the Christmas decorations were truly magical to see when we opened the cottage door. The cottage was warm and cosy and it was the perfect place to eat and relax after a long day exploring rutland with our beagle Bailey, who loved his stay too ! The village is wonderful, very quiet and you really feel like you are away from everything. The homeowners in the village and in Barrowden were all so friendly. The walks and views are breathtaking, from the woods to the fields beyond. We ventured to the Royal Oak in Duddington across the fields and stopped at the old church at Tixsover for a stop along the way. When we returned to the cottage we sat in the cosy lounge, cooked our Christmas Dinner and played party games at the table by the Christmas tree. The weather was blowing a gale outside but you wouldn't know when you were inside the cottage, you could hardly hear the wind. We loved it so much we are hoping we might be in with a chance to spend Christmas and New year in the cottage in 2024. Thank you for making Christmas super special.

We enjoyed a great week at Bumble Bee cottage which is so warm and cosy, wonderful watching the sheep neighbours so close at hand, its a lovely little cottage which had plenty of room for two and our dog who was very happy with the doggy treats - thank you.

Steep stairs and some low beams plus no freezer but all ok with us as we were aware and prepared for this. Also no issue with parking on the wide pavement which is only a few yards away. Wakerley is very quiet and peaceful and an ideal location for visiting Rutland Water and the many picturesque villages which were all within short driving distance. If like ourselves you enjoy visiting Cotswold villages then you will certainly appreciate the beauty of those in Rutland, in fact I think this area is even better with wonderful countryside walks and attractive towns too see. We’d thoroughly recommend this beautiful cottage and look forward to a return visit. Jan, Steve and Toby dog

Really enjoy it.

Other thing I was disappointed about was even though it says fridge but usually they have a small freezer part at top. We lost some of our shopping due to this

Lovely little cottage ideally situated for visiting the area with good dog walking on the doorstep.

The cottage is cozy for two people and two dogs but quite comfortable and the garden is ideal for the dogs. It is well equipped but could do with a little more cutlery other than that it is excellent.

A beautiful cottage, very well equipped and welcoming.

Our four legged friends also enjoyed their stay exploring the woods at Fineshade. Plenty of history and architecture to explore in surrounding towns and villages. Highly recommend Bumble Bee Cottage.

The Cottage is lovely, very quaint and very peaceful.

Although generally clean, there is definitely a very doggy smell emitting from the upstairs mingled with carpet cleaner and air freshener. The furnishings downstairs are modern, cheap, well used and not very comfortable. The Bed was comfortable. A note should be made about the stairs being very steep and the ceiling above the stairs very low. The basin in the bedroom is just a small hand-wash basin and could be a little bigger! The cottage was Ok for just the two of us but is not suitable for four people.

Beautiful cottage.

Needs a freezer which you should be told about on the description. If you're staying for a week it's a basic necessity. Maybe a modern television to be put in the cottage as well.

Lovely cottage and area.

Couldn’t get the main oven and the drying part of the washer to work but apart from that all good. Nice cottage and plenty of kitchen implements and pots etc.

A beautiful cottage in a fabulous area.

If you’re looking for a relaxing break to get away from it all and recharge your batteries, this ticks all the boxes. Beautiful walks on your doorstep and a friendly pub doing fabulous food within walking distance. A lovely garden to relax in, completely safe for dogs, from which you can watch the red kites and also rabbits playing in the field behind the cottage. Very comfortable, with everything you need - it really did feel like home and we didn’t want to leave. Simply perfect. We’ll be back!!

Arrival at cottage went smoothly including key code and entry into cottage.

As it's an old cottage we were surprised at how clean everywhere was. Information booklet was helpful. Had a relaxing stay.

Bumblebee is a lovely thatched cottage in a beautiful location.

Rutland Water is a great place for walking and cycling and bird watching.

Bumble Bee cottage was a very sweet little cottage, it was very clean and cosy and had everything you need for a great stay.

It's an ideal base to visit all the lovely places around the area.

Fantastic views.

Quaint cottage.

The owner is honest and kind in advertising that : 'Pets Welcome'.

We took our cat, and for that I am very grateful. This 5* review is dedicated to the owner and their wonderful holiday cottage. We all loved it! Thank you so very much.

Beautiful little cottage in the countryside.

Secure garden so our Dachshunds were safe. Cosy & comfortable, great bath. Lovely kitchen where everything was provided. Pub 1 mile walk but make sure you have a decent torch for the walk at night as it gets very dark, lovely hearing the owls hooting away. Parking the car was fine for us, 30 meters down the road on the wide path. We had a lovey stay & would definitely consider booking again.

Bumble Bee Cottage is a delight.

It’s pretty, quaint and set in a delightful location. Despite being old it has a modern, attractive interior and was not, according to some of it’s previous references, dirty. It was spotless. The kitchen is small but cleverly designed. The upstairs is a bit quirky but comfortable. The stairs are steep and unsuitable of anyone with mobility issues and if you are tall upstairs is low ceilinged. The crowning delight is the view directly onto a field of sheep and with unspoiled country views. We were able to do beautiful walks from the front door. A lovely little house living up to it’s billing and fulfilling expectations. When there were some small issues the owner was quick to respond.

Lovely little cottage, private and quiet.

Facilities were very good, the kitchen was especially well equipped. A shame we couldn’t enjoy the garden more because of the weather, but our Dog loved it. The only issue was the central heating, couldn’t get it working. Not sure if I wasn’t doing it properly? But we weren’t freezing to death.

Enjoyed our break

Booked the holiday cottage for my daughter and son in law as the start of their honeymoon They were both over the moon with the cottage, it’s location and the beautiful surprise that Mel (owner) did for them.

You could tell by how thoughtful and caring Mel is, and that between her and Fiona the lady who cleans bumblebee cottage it is a well looked after, very high standards. The cottage is clearly loved and cherished. I am hoping myself & my husband get to book and stay here at some point Thank you Mel and Fiona

Had a brilliant time at Bumblebee Cottage, there were 3 of us, myself, my sister and my small dog, the photos gave the impression that it was alot bigger than it was.

It was very cozy with the 3 of us but wouldn't recommend a bigger party or a large dog Very clean and well maintained, The information folder was a great help to give ideas of what area's we would like to explore. Would definitely be going back

If like me you read reviews then please ignore any negative ones for Bumble Bee, it’s a little gem, parking is obvious with wide pavement to part park on, cottage is very clean and well presented, it’s obvious any guests past issues have been attended to by the excellent property manager Mel and the owner.

Dog owners you have a safe well fenced garden area. So if your a singleton with dogs it’s perfect also big enough for a couple. I would use again when visiting the lovely Rutland, Stamford and Burghley Lindsay

A lovely peaceful property, comfortable and well equipped.

Great location for local walks, Rutland Water and Oakham. Safe Parking was the only issue but fine once we sussed out a good place. Look forward to returning

This is an ideal property for 2 people and would be more comfortable with a 2 seater settee rather than a sofa bed.

A true chocolate box cottage in a quiet location, well equipped and a perfect location for Rutland Water and surrounding areas.

Unfortunately our stay here was not a great experience.

The property is in need of updating and a thorough deep clean. Repairs are required to loose wall plug sockets, broken bedroom widow held together with old blue tack that doesn't work, dirty crockery, loose pan handles, unkept garden. Some windows are painted shut and others have a 2mm gap when closed letting cold air in. Instructions for heating, cooker etc are hidden around the property rather than being in the information pack so difficult and timely to find. The bedroom sink was dirty and the hand wash on the sink was filthy. The bedroom chest of drawers need throwing out, the vinyl is peeling off and therefore the drawers open together nearly pulling it over. The floor in the main living area had not been cleaned and there was dust and dirt everywhere. All in all a very disappointing holiday, waste of money, left a couple of days early due to the above issues and would not return. Still the owners have had their money and wont be bothered. Would have given 0 stars if that had been an option.

On arrival there was dog mess in the garden that had not been cleaned.

Having to move the heavy electric fire out the way to pull out the sofa bed was not ideal, which was very dirty and full of dog hairs! No bottom sheet for that either. The cottage could be really lovely if they put a-bit of thought into it, lovely walks and a really nice pub only a mile away.

one of the worst places we have ever stayed at, the owner did not want to know, she should not be allowed to let property

We loved the cottage and the kitchen was very well equipped.

The tray of snacks in the kitchen was a nice touch. The sofa was awkward to turn around to use as a bed, but once we turned it we left it that way round for the rest of the holiday so it wasn't too bad. We were disappointed though that there was no sheet for the sofa bed. We also couldn't find a broom or dustpan and brush for the floor. Our only major concern was the chest of drawers and bedside tables upstairs not being secured. With such uneven floor, one of the bedside tables nearly tipped over on top of our toddler, but luckily we managed to grab it in time. Others have mentioned issues with the parking, but we found it fine to park just a little down the road where the pavement was very wide so that we could park slightly off the road.

We had a lovely stay at the bumble bee cottage with our 2 dogs.

The cottage is beautiful, it is very cosy and warm with a beautiful view. I have re-newed my love for a good puzzle so thank you for that. I loved sitting on the table in the evenings after a nice long walk with the doggies completing a puzzle. We took enough food and drink for our stay so a trip to the shop wasn't needed which was nice and easy for us. The treats for our dogs was a lovely touch and the biscuits and sweets for us. They disappeared quick. Thank you for those :) It was also nice to not be bothered (I don't mean to sound rude) we were left to it with a number to call if we needed anything. Rutland water was 15 minute drive and Wakerley woods was a short walk which is beautiful(no parking fee). We would definitely recommended going to those to places. Overall it was a beautiful stay. Thank you.

Lovely little cottage, not warm enough in winter months , the stairs are very steep (maybe suitable for younger people) the area is beautiful.

Beautiful cottage, very well designed for maximising space.

Very clean and comfy. Plenty hot water for lovely roll top bath. Enclosed garden safe for dogs. Only couple of negative things, would have liked instructions to use oven, I couldn't get it to heat up and parking was a bit of an issue when the lorrys went passed, a few near misses due to being on a bend !! But on the whole really enjoyed my stay even though I had to leave early due to a bereavement in the family. Would definitely recommend.

Exactly what we needed in terms of location, and all the amenities we needed was provided.

Clear instructions as to where to find the key, and nothing else was really needed. We personally didn’t have an issue parking on the road at all, but it may be worthwhile letting future guests know about that situation.

We had a fantastic stay at your lovely Cottage.

Thank you. It was well equipped, clean, lovely and cosy and the little treats that you left us in the kitchen were amazing.Happy Christmas

We had a lovely stay.

The cottage was lovely, location was great. We was a bit worried about the road as we had read a previous review about it being a main road, but it’s really not, it was a very quiet country round, we had hardly any traffic going passed. The only issue we had was the sofa bed, we couldn’t fold it out as the room isn’t big enough! So we had one child on the sofa and one child in the double bed with us! But other than that it is a great little cottage, we really loved it.

Wow, what a lovely peaceful, tranquil cottage in a beautiful village.

I want to go again- soon!

There were several light fixtures not working, the bulbs needed replacing.

There was a plethora of dust behind furniture and fittings. The settee has seen better days, as the back cushions kept sliding off after a short time of sitting, to expose the bed fixture below, and a lot of dust and fluff. The shower was impossible to use without drenching the surrounding area. I appreciate the difficulty with the property being of the age it is. This came to light as my elderly husband found it impossible to use the bath. The chest of draws were very unstable, they toppled over twice on opening one of the top two drawers. We did not use them after this.The owners are obviousley aware of this problem, as a plank of wood is placed stategically underneath, but fails to support sufficiently. The first time it happened a bracelet was slipped off and is now broken due to the drawers falling on top of it. The property details did HINT re parking, but the only way to load the car on a Monday morning was to make several trips to and fro, as the lorries from the quarry were passing every few minutes, and with the property being on a blind bend it made it impossible to load our car directly outside. I feel it should be pointed out in the property details, that this very cute cottage is not suitable for disabled people.My husband is disabled, and did find the bathing facilities difficult. Other than that, the cottage is very quaint and the area is very lovely.

Lovely cosy cottage in great central location

The cottage is small and thatched, and cool in hot weather.

The village is pleasantly small. There is little traffic noise, and the principal view is over open ground. There is plenty of scope for good walks in the woods (stunning butterflies in July) and over open fields (very few cows). The community shop in Barrowden is a real help - it's one mile away by footpaths (different routes out and back, if desired). There is no need to use a car once you've arrived, and you could come by taxi from Stamford station. The small garden has a well sited table and chairs. More than two tea towels might be helpful for traditional washers up. The rubbish bin hadn't been emptied for a while, but matters improved on its being emptied.

lovely cottage, low ceilings, poor internet, nice area, enjoyed our stay

The cottage was quaint, we had to wash utensils and pans lack of brush& duster we had no Wi-Fi for a lot of the time.

I think we left it cleaner than on arrival I left dust and cobwebs that were there already. We took our own sanitiser's etc. Very disappointed would not use that cottage again!

Stunning cosy, chocolate box cottage, on the doorstep of Rutland water, perfect break from lifes stresses

Lovely cottage in a quiet area with lots of nice walks from the cottage.

The secure garden was a plus for us as we brought our dog with us. We would recommend for a quiet getaway in the countryside.

"Bumble Bee" is a beautiful thatched cottage from the outside with a pleasant private garden.

It was compact and very warm with lovely views over sheep in the neighbouring field. It is ideally situated for all the lovely villages and Rutland Water. It would have been nice to have some more history of the property. It is on a busy road where traffic travels fast; we suggest parking on the wider path to the west. Unfortunately it is in great need of TLC decoratively and has clear problems with damp / condensation as shown on the cob walls. It also needs much more attention given to cleaning, especially upstairs and particularly in the current situation. We were reluctant to touch certain areas, particularly around the bed and bath. With the many spiders and webs it is obvious that the pest repellents are not working. Furthermore as regular Sykes customers we find more and more properties where the owners are content to accept the cleaning of previous occupants withount checking this themselves.

We had a lovely stay at Bumble Bee, the cottage is quaint and charming.

It's location is ideal for the local towns and villages and to see my sister in Northampton. We visited Stamford and Market Harborough which were well worth it and Geoff Hamilton's garden (on my Mom's wish list) It has several peaceful walks on the door step which are by the river, great for our dogs. As is the enclosed garden which is a bit of a sun trap. The surrounding area and village of Barrowden are very picturesque.

It was not possible for me to take this holiday.

I have spend months trying to communicate with you to cancel the holiday, which you cancelled in March and forced me to lose the money or rebook. I have had no replies to emails, other than a standard we are busy and will get back to you asap. Which you never did. I managed to speak to a very pleasant lady about wanting to cancel the booking but she could not help me as she was reservations and I needed to talk to customer service, this is what she told me. I tried in vain continuously to get through to customer service but this was also unsuccessful. You took final payment from my visa without letting me know you wanted to and you did not, to this day, issue me with a receipt for the payment you took. So I have spoken to Visa and they are dealing with this. I feel your actions and inactions over this time have been inconsiderate and neglectful towards your clients. I would have no future interest in booking with you in the future.

Hard to do but a freezer would be a good idea, even a fridge with icebox section.

Only thing I can mention really. Lovely little cottage, ideal for two and dogs. Great village and pub short walkthrough sheep fields, close to all the historic towns. Recommend.

Lovely cottage, perfect for a couple.

cottage was perfect- really lovely and had everything we could need.

Really enjoyed break and cottage - only reason didn't rate top comfort was because I found bed to be a little soft for us - but that's a personal choice. Found information left for us at cottage really useful- and we visited recommended places and were really pleased with out days out.

The cottage was absolutely lovely and would've been perfect if not for a few hiccups.

The heating wasn't working on arrival , which once we raised the issue with the owner of was fixed for a time and only played up once or twice following. The electricity cut out as we were cooking and we soon learned that the main oven trips the mains when on with other appliances. Hate to be that person as well but the wi-fi was incredibly slow!! And as much as we tried both the bed and sofa were just incredibly uncomortable. We flipped the mattress on night 3 which helped a bit but we both left quite achey. Really hate to complain but it was such a shame as it was a beautiful cottage.