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Stoneleigh

(Ref. 996141)

Bideford, Devon Show on map

4.5

Sykes rating

  • 17 Guests

  • 9 Bedrooms

  • 6 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Four poster bed
  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Games Room
  • Sky TV
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • house (9)
  • family (9)
  • our (8)
  • large (7)
  • stay (6)
  • property (6)

18 Customer Reviews

  • "We had a fantastic stay at Stoneleigh for the New Year week - the pictures do not do it justice!"

    The property is spacious, clean and well equipped. There are clear instructions for everything, including the Aga. The location is great too.

    Reviewed by Mandy13.3Dec 2023

  • "Perfect property for a large family group."

    Great mix of doubles and twins. Pool table kept us entertained in the evenings alongside cooking meals for our large family group. We had an amazing stay here and would thoroughly recommend.

    Reviewed by Tina13.3Oct 2023

  • "We were very pleasantly surprised by this property."

    Reading the reviews we took so much we didn't need as it was supplied by you. It's big enough to spend together as a family but also there's plenty of rooms for time out. The only small complaint is the toilet in the ensuite bathroom does not flush very well. It's a bit of a give away with a plunger next to it. Overall, we had a fantastic holiday making many happy memories with the family. I would definitely recommend this property.

    Thank you for your note regarding the toilet. The toilet in question has now been fixed. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Denise10.0Dec 2022

  • "On the whole we had a wonderful family (17!"

    ) holiday last week and everyone explored the area pretty thoroughly! The house itself was so big there was space for everyone to ‘do their own thing’. I especially enjoyed our meals around the big square table where we could all see each other and converse easily. Our bed in the Coach House was extremely comfortable too. We had a few niggles too, some of which I was able to discuss with the team of cleaners we met as we were leaving at 10.00 am. These are: No BBQ. No oven gloves (mentioned at last twice in the visitors ‘ book). Not enough clothes pegs. And a second washing line in the courtyard would be useful when there are a lot of guests. (The one at the bottom of the garden is apparently broken.) Not enough black rubbish sacks Not enough toilet rolls. Not enough dishwasher tablets. No liquid surface cleaner in the kitchen. These last 4 had to be replenished and purchased by us. And the kitchen definitely needs a bigger freezer, if not a second fridge. Shopping for 17 takes up a lot of space! These may seem comparatively minor points but they did impact us all in different ways. Please take note of them all - thank you.

    Thank you for your feedback, we are pleased that overall you enjoyed your stay at Stoneleigh. The BBQ is in the greenhouse . Oven gloves are provided and we are sorry if on this occasion they had gone missing. Supplies such as loo roll and dishwasher tablets are provided for the first 2/3 days in line with self catering properties. We will buy a second fridge and replace the washing line in time for the 2023 season. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Anne12.5May 2022

  • "Wonderful large house which suited our needs."

    Comfortable beds with good quality bedding and towels. Pool room was good fun. Large dining area with good supply of crockery and cutlery but no colander? But a few more niggles: welcome folder took some finding - leave it in a obvious place; constant need to boost general heating as thermostat situated in the warmest room, the kitchen; no heating in shower room in twin bedroom so freezing cold when exiting the shower; some logs and kindling would have been a nice touch considering a wood burner is advertised; likewise with x-box that needed own account; no internet on first floor; wrong internet password displayed; incorrect info on Aga top plates; no oven gloves for Aga; no measuring jug; no instructions for dishwasher; inadequate vacuum cleaner with worn out brushes; no stair gate so difficult to prevent dogs going upstairs; hand towels needed in communal rooms; a supply of only 3 black bags for rubbish seemed mean; access to Cider rooms from the main house requires safer lighting in the dark; toilet seat in 2nd double bedroom needs replacing as it’s a health hazard; poor flush in 4 poster bathroom. It was sad to see some of the exterior fabric of this grand house falling into disrepair, yet the garden was well tended and the poo bin for dogs was a fine touch. The service team was friendly and helpful but being based over an hour away would make any quick physical assistance impossible. Most seating was comfortable except for salmon coloured settee in the smaller reception room. Lots of small niggles took the shine off this stay which was a shame as the place has so much potential.

    Thank you for your feedback. The thermostat has to be in the kitchen as all the internal walls in the house are made of stone so the signal does not travel any further. A basket of logs, kindling and bin bags for the first day are always provided so that guests do not need to shop until day 2. The Xbox is provided so that guests can enter their own password and play their own games on their own account. The booster on the first floor has a different password to the ground floor. This is explained in the handbook. The stairway is unfortunately too wide for a standard dog gate. Towels are provided for every bathroom. There is a small section of soffit board that was damaged by a falling tree in the recent storm. It will need scaffolding to complete the repair which we cannot erect when guests are using the house The job has been booked for November. If there is an emergency a local contractor will attend but genuine emergencies are few and far between. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Adrien10.8Mar 2022

  • "Had a wonderful stay at Stoneleigh, we are a large group ranging from the youngest being 9 and the eldest being 82 including teenagers."

    Stoneleigh catered for us all, separate sitting rooms for those who wanted to relax and peace and quiet. The snooker room was a big hit, as was the games room where my grandson and nephews could play their xbox and playstation in front of a huge tv. Everywhere was clean and tidy and the beds were very comfortable. We also had use of the 2 bed coach house and the studio, cider cottage. I would wholly recommend for groups of friends or large families wanting a break away! Location was good too with lovely walks from the doorstep for those with 4 legged friends! The only reason I did not give 5 star was because some of the bathroom fittings were tired and worn, although it did not affect our enjoyment.

    Thank you for your feedback and we are pleased that you enjoyed your stay Stoneleigh is a lovely house for a big group. We think that the period bathroom fittings are part of the charm. They are spotlessly clean and relacing them with fittings of the same quality would cost tens of tousands of pounds Property Owner

    Reviewed by Michael6.7Oct 2021

  • "After paying £4,000 plus to stay the week we expected to have a property in a better condition, there was a constant foul spell from the septic tank that made staying in the garden short lived this smell also came into the house."

    When we finally found the travel cot this was broken another was delivered the next day! Arriving at 5pm we thought was too late in the day, the electrics in The Coach House was faulty going off when the oven was switched on and no cooking utensils available all on the day of arrival. A new cooker was installed the next day all these problems at time of arrival we could have done without. the next day the boiler also broke down. A radiator cover that was not attached to the wall fell on our youngest (16mts old). You are made aware of the extremely hot water, but the pipes were dangerously hot thank the Lord none of the children touched them. There was a lack of garden furniture and very untidy paved areas Stoneleigh was once a fine grand house but now its a neglected grand house. After all this we were blessed with good weather and many happy family memories.

    Thank you for your feedback which we have discussed with the owner. Unfortunately as the smell was not reported at the time of your holiday the owner was unaware of the problem. A contractor for the septic tank is on call 24 hours a day and the issue would have been resolved immediately had we been made aware. We are sorry the travel cot was damaged, we can only assume this was damaged by a previous guest, as the cot had not been requested for your stay it was not checked for your arrival, however we understand a new one was sourced for you immediately. A 5pm arrival time is a necessity for a house of this size to ensure the changeover is carried out to the highest of standards for incoming guests. The oven was replaced within 24 hours. Again, had we been notified of an issue with the boiler during your stay we would of had this seen to, as it seems the boiler has been working perfectly well since. The radiator covers are attached to the wall by a hook and eye mechanism which is designed for this purpose, it would be impossible for the cover to become dislodged by a small child. If we were to turn the hot water down, there would be complaints that the bath water is not adequately hot enough, the pipes are the same temperature as the aga and neither are hot enough to cause a burn. There are 3 table and chairs available, each of which seat 6 people, these are less than 12 months old. A gardener visit Stoneleigh every Monday to ensure the gardens etc are in good order. Despite the points raised we are pleased you enjoyed your visit. Property Owner

    Reviewed by G3.8Aug 2021

  • "We had a very enjoyable holiday, 14 family members, 4 adults, 10 teenagers plus 2 dogs getting together."

    We hired the main house and the two cottages so there was plenty of room. We would highly recommend anyone to stay there.

    Thank you for your positive feedback and we are pleased that you enjoyed your stay Property Owner

    Reviewed by Yvonne5.8Jul 2021

  • "We had a lovely time staying in this house, and with the coronavirus restrictions we could still abide by the rules."

    It would have been better for maybe some children’s outside activities ie slide, swing etc. We did find on. Couple of times people would arrive, a van at the coach house and a silver Audi when we were packing up our cars to leave, And another car Shone their lights round the drive whilst we were watching the tv. The pool table was a nice addition, as this was used every night. The bins were pretty full as well we we needed to bin our bin bags, there was a lot of cardboard left by the bins. A tumble dryer would have been handy for the wet weather we had whilst there. The Hotel down the road The Durrant which served very nice food, and the local beach Instow was very good for our dogs.

    We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay. Unfortunately we are no longer allowed to provide childrens play equipment for insurence reasons . We used to have a trampoline but the insurence company made us take it away. The aga has a drying rack and is much quicker than a tumble dryer . Property Owner

    Reviewed by Christina13.0Sep 2020

  • "Stoneleigh is a beautiful house and grounds, centrally placed, in a lovely area to explore, with Bideford, Appledore and Westward Ho all close by."

    We made good use of the two annexes, which were also well appointed. We were a celebrating a 40th birthday, as a family, and the luxury and character of the house made it very memorable. We would highly recommend it to others.

    Thank you for your lovely feedback and we are pleased you enjoyed your stay Property Owner

    Reviewed by Robert16.0Sep 2020

  • "A huge superb property great for the 10 of us and our dogs to explore"

    Reviewed by Carl16.0Aug 2020

  • "Could have done with a hoover or carpet sweeper and door mats but we had wind and rain may not have noticed in sunny weather."

    This is not meant as a complaint we had a great holiday.

    Reviewed by Russell14.0Aug 2020

  • "We loved the communal spaces."

    Two large lounges meant our group could spread out, the extra large dining table meant we could all come together for mealtimes

    Reviewed by Martin16.0Mar 2020

  • "The size of the property suited the 17 family members as there was plenty of room to spread out."

    Lots of parking space too. The two cottages provided independence and privacy for some of the party.

    Reviewed by Hazel15.0Feb 2020

  • "Great wkend ,felt the smaller lounge could have had more heating for this time of the year , coach house was beautiful ,comfortable, although the WC shower was too small for the larger person."

    The cider cottage needs a shower or bath facility,apart from a few minor details, the house and gardens are beautiful , loved using a Argar for the first time, fabulous dining area to seat my family of 14, would use it again Fab thankyou x

    Reviewed by Debbie14.0Jan 2020

  • "Well presented on arrival."

    Reviewed by Mike16.0Nov 2019

  • "Negative - One of the upstairs toilets didn't flush properly and all of the showers are extremely noisy."

    Positive - The house itself was very clean with lots of new soft furnishing and kitchen equipment. We had a fabulous time as a large family group.

    Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry that one of the 9 toilets was slow to flush. It was repaired as soon as it was reported. We are sorry that one of the 5 showers was noisy this was also repired as soon as it was reported Property Owner

    Reviewed by Lisa13.0Nov 2019

  • "Stoneleigh is a wonderful old building - really comfortable beds - good sized social spaces so great for a large group."

    Well-located for accessing walks. Kitchen could be better stocked (dearth of things like serving spoons) - and we nearly ran out of loo roll!

    We are pleased that you liked Stoneleigh . The kitchen has everything needed to cook for 17 people but there are a lot of cupbords and drawers so it can sometimes take a while to find things Property Owner

    Reviewed by Jayne15.0Nov 2019

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Summary

  • Central heating with woodburning stove
  • Microwave, 2 x fridge, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, 4 x Smart TV, Xbox One games console, WiFi, Gas and Electric inc. in rent
  • Nine bedrooms in total:
  • Stoneleigh -
  • 1 x superking-size double with four poster bed and en suite bathroom, 1 x super king size double with en suite bathroom, 1 x twin with en-suite shower room, 2 x twin plus 1 x single room
  • Family bathroom with bath, separate cubicle, WC and basin
  • Sitting room with an ornate ceiling, wood burner and a TV with Sky TV
  • Drawing room with TV
  • Dining room with door to decking
  • Kitchen with 5-door Aga and pantry
  • Games room, gaming room
  • Ground floor washroom with WC and basin
  • The Coach House -
  • 1 x kingsize double with shower, 1 x twin with basin
  • Sitting room with woodburning stove, kitchen with breakfast table
  • Bathroom with shower, WC and basin
  • Ground floor WC
  • Cider Cottage -
  • 1 x super king-size double with small kitchenette, WC and basin.
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Cot and highchair available on request
  • Ample off road parking
  • 4 Well-behaved dogs welcome (£20 per pet) More by individual arrangement
  • Sorry no smoking
  • Note: Check in time 5pm
  • Note: There is a pond in the garden, children should be supervised

The property

Situated in Northam, one of North Devon’s most popular small towns is Stoneleigh, an impressive and unique period house dating back to 1881 and home to Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templar, head of the British army in the second world war during the 1940s and 50s.

Comfortable and well loved, this striking house designed by the prominent Victorian architect William Bryden, sits at the end of its own private, gated, sweeping driveway and features ornate brickwork, original sash windows and a well-manicured wrap around garden.

Enter through a sunny glazed porch to a grand front hall with restored tessellate floor tiles.

From here make your way to the formal sitting room or to the peaceful drawing room, ideal for curling up with a good book.

Overlooking the rear garden is the striking former library, now a smart dining area - perfect for dinner parties or that special occasion.

The sitting room has an ornate ceiling a sky TV and a wood burner.

The kitchen is well equipped - there's everything you'll need here to cater for your group, including a 5-door Aga and pantry, and for something a bit special professional catering can be arranged.

After dinner why not retire to either the traditional games room for a round of pool or for something a little more current, to the gaming room where you’ll find an X Box games console with two controllers and a comfy sofa.

A sweeping staircase leads to the first floor and six bedrooms all with big sash windows and views over the gardens; the master with handsome four poster bed and en-suite bathroom, a double room with en-suite and a twin with an en-suite shower room, two further twin room and a single room all sharing a large family bathroom.

In the rear courtyard a stone’s throw from the main house is Cider Cottage, a self-contained suite with a super king size bed and its own small kitchenette with fridge, cloakroom with WC and door to little sitting out area.

Finally, a two-bedroom coach house in the grounds offers the opportunity to be a part of the group whilst retaining a little privacy and comprises a sitting area with wood burning stove, a basic kitchen/diner, two bedrooms, one with twin beds, one with a king size double bed and a family bathroom.

Outside is a large garden with a lawn, pond and decking with table and chairs.

Ideal for exploring the area, nearby is the sandy beach of Westward Ho with 3 miles of golden sand, or the historic port and market town of Bideford which sits on the banks of the River Torridge offers a host of amenities including shops, cafes and restaurants.

Further afield, the rugged North Devon coastline and south west coastal path, is a must for the walkers in the group.

A unique and remarkable home from home, Stoneleigh is ideal for large gatherings of friends or family.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £500.

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About the location

BIDEFORD

Westward Ho! 3.3 miles; Appledore 3.7 miles; Instow 4.1 miles; Clovelly 11.4 miles; Saunton Sands 16.8 miles; Bude 25.3 miles.

Bideford is an historic maritime town on the River Torridge in North Devon. There has been a settlement at Bideford for over a thousand years and it has been an important port throughout its history. Today, Bideford is a thriving town with a fine selection of shops (including individual shops), cafes and restaurants, a park and the Atlantic Village Outlet Shopping Centre located on the outskirts of the town. Bideford is in a fantastic location to explore the surrounding area. It is just a few miles from Westward Ho!, which is dominated by two miles of spectacular coastline and proudly retains the prestigious Blue Flag award year upon year. Its sandy beach, backed by a unique pebble ridge, attracts visitors from all over the country and offers fantastic bathing and watersport activities. Just beyond the pebble ridge is Northam Burrows Country Park, which lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has 253 hectares of grassy coastal plain with salt marsh, sand dunes and grasslands. The country park is also home to England's oldest golf course. The South West Coastal Path and the famous traffic-free Tarka Trail are close by, providing magnificent walking and cycling opportunities. The award-winning Big Sheep all weather family attraction and the Ultimate Adventure Centre are approximately a mile down the road, with the Atlantic Village Outlet Shopping Centre and Supermarket a couple of miles away. The delightful quayside village of Appledore and the pretty beach at Instow are both just over three miles away, whilst the traditional market town of Barnstaple is just ten miles away, and the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly, with its quaint cobbled streets, is eleven miles away. The North Devon coast also boasts numerous outstanding beaches, many within easy reach, including those found at Instow, Saunton Sands, Croyde, Woolacombe and Bude. This is an area of breathtaking beauty, with plenty to see and do for all ages.

View more holiday cottages in Bideford

Note: Professional catering available.
Note: Arrival after 5pm.