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"Very clean, comfortable stay, great garden for the dog, wonderful walks looking to stay again I the summer to enjoy the area some more."
Many great pubs serving locally sourced produce.
Reviewed by KarenFeb 2022
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"We have just returned from our first break since 2019."
Having used Helpful Holidays previously we were confident that we were in safe hands. The pre and during holiday reminders of what to take and what to do before leaving were very much appreciated. Thank you
Reviewed by DianaOct 2021
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"A lovely place to stay."
The barn and outbuilding are very well equipped and everywhere was clean and tidy upon arrival. Only a couple of observations;
The comfort of the beds was not to our taste
The single track road is not for the feint hearted in bad weather
Thank you for your feedback. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Abbey Cross Barn. We appreciate your comments on the cleanliness aspect of our property. In reference to the beds, we can confirm that all three of the beds are orthopedic, designed for comfort and we have added a mattress topper to the double bed for further comfort. There are many single track roads in Devon, so we would suggest care
and caution is always the best way forward. We hope to see you again. Property Owner
Reviewed by JohnSep 2021
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"Lovely well equipped cottage in very rural part and quiet part of Devon."
Little country roads to get to property but they were very quiet most of the time. Saw deer most days in the field opposite which was lovely. Carole the caretaker was very welcoming.
Reviewed by LisaJul 2021
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"Overall the accommodation was good, except for the height restriction in the upper level."
This needs to be highlighted as even though my wife and I are not particularly tall, around 5' 8" to 5' 10" we both found moving around upstairs challenging. We also had problems with the signal for the TV. This would randomly glitch out making the programme we were viewing unwatchable and then some time later it would settle down. There was a message that came up about retuning the TV but as we didn't want to do any harm and not knowing the system in use we left well alone. We did just after arrival report the issue and while we were offered the use of the TV in the Owners/Cleaners home we declined. Luckily the issue abated that evening but ocurred again each evening following. When we reported the issue I was told nothing could be done as the person I was talking to didn't know how it worked. Otherwise we enjoyed our stay and found the facilities good and in good order.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We are sorry to
hear that you experienced issues with the TV, this has not been
reported previously. We understand that the glitch occurred with only
one of the channels. Our caretaker has now reported that the TV is
working properly and has checked with the current guests who do not seem
to have the same problem. With regard to the upstairs headroom, the
measurements are mentioned clearly in the property description so that
guests are aware of this before they make a booking. We're pleased to
hear that you enjoyed your stay at Abbey Cross Barn.
Property Owner
Reviewed by DavidJul 2021
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"Lovely little cottage tucked away off the beaten track in a small hamlet."
Good local walks, and well placed to explore east Devon and Dorset. Would recommend if you want to get away from it all.
Reviewed by OwenOct 2020
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"Very relaxing, perfect for a peaceful getaway break"
Reviewed by LindaSep 2020
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"Great location; great for dogs; all facilities excellent."
Would thoroughly recommend. On a personal note, the water from the well wasn’t to our taste but that’s a very minor point and probably particular to us.
Reviewed by NicolaAug 2020
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"We booked this cottage for a week just after the lockdown had relaxed and had a great time."
Just what we needed. The cottage itself feels really comfortable and we felt at home from the minute we arrived. The garden is lovely, very natural and great for eating outside. There are 2 sunbeds for you to use and a bbq. We saw a woodpecker and had a deer come really close while sitting outside quite a few times. The downstairs is so spacious and light with large french doors and a lot of windows Kitchen has everything you need. Upstairs is nice and cosy with another toilet. Parking is great- behind the gate. There are sea sides (40 min) and towns (20 mins) to visit nearby. Our favourite beach was Jacob's Ladder at Sidmouth.
We would recommend this beautiful cottage for a peaceful, relaxing , romantic holiday.
Reviewed by GavinJul 2020
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"We arrived on July 4th the first day you could travel after lockdown and Abbey Cross Barn was the perfect holiday getaway destination !"
We felt safe and secure away from other people and the barn had everything we needed for a 2 week staycation, even sun beds ! Our dog loved the garden and we all loved the space. If you need to recharge after this awful time, book Abbey Cross Barn and you will have a quiet and restful time
Reviewed by AmyJul 2020
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"The Barn is lovely,it is very well equipped and has everything you need for your stay."
Reviewed by OwenOct 2019
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"Lovely cottage in beautiful location."
Cottage is very well appointed with all the items you could need. Could do with a deep clean in places and some of the furniture could do with updating but overall very happy.
Reviewed by TimothyOct 2019
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"We have just returned from a wonderful week at this delightfully welcoming and cosy cottage."
It has been thoughtfully furnished with just about everything you could possibly need. Plenty of cutlery, cooking utensils and a cooker you are not afraid to use. By that I mean a regular cooker, not a new combined oven/grill/microwave with complicated settings. It is secluded and tranquil, without being overlooked, but not isolated. It is within easy reach of local villages and the seaside resort of Sidmouth and other local beaches. The garden invites sunbathing (sun is that side all day) and we saw lizards and enjoyed the sound of owls at night. Internet and wifi connections were excellent. We were concerned, having read about the headroom upstairs being 5'6", but that is only related to a sloping part of the wall, not all the head room. We had no problems with water, heating or anything else. Being a converted barn, it kept heat in really well. There were a few harvest flies, (lazy flies) but not more than if you leave your doors open at home, after all, this cottage is slap bang in the middle of the countryside and in no way detracted from our stay or reflected on the cleanliness of the cottage. There is fly spray, if they bother you. Based on our week, we would definitely recommend this cottage. It was very clean and very well presented. We were welcomed with flowers and biscuits and fresh milk in the fridge. The flowers had the most delightful scent. It is definitely a property that invites you to relax, the second you arrive. Carol, the caretaker, was wonderful too. She checked that we arrived safely and welcomed us and checked to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed. She invited us to contact her immediately, if we experienced any problems, which we didn't and she contacted us prior to departure, to check that everything had been okay for us. The privacy at this cottage is excellent. The beds and sofas are very comfy. It is set at the junction of lanes, but we only saw one or two cars a day. It really is not a busy place!
R and J
Reviewed by JohnSep 2019
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"We really loved our time in this beautiful barn conversion."
Our only problem was the WiFi. It's really important to our family that we have access to the internet, especially because I run a small online business and it's essential I have access to it. We found that we couldn't use it all week and had to rely on the data on our phones which proved costly. If I had known there would have been this problem I wouldn't have booked this accommodation.
We are glad that overall your holiday was wonderful. We are very sorry that you had a problem with the WIFI on this occasion. We have spoken with the owner who has now installed a new BT Hub 4 to ensure that there are no further issues in this regard. We hope to see you again soon. Property Owner
Reviewed by MitchAug 2019
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"Its a lovely home attached to a barn in beautiful and peaceful location."
All the amenities were on hand.
We enjoyed our stay
Reviewed by RichardJul 2019
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"Had a great time and the barn had everything we needed."
We even had a few visits from some Deer.
Reviewed by PaulJun 2019
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"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the cottage."
The barn conversion had been carried out to very high standard. The place was packed with every conceivable amenity that you could require as a visitor. The wild life was great with one or two Muncjacs appearing every day. There were all sorts of birds from crows, Jay's, woodpeckers, blackbirds, goldfinch, etc. If you are looking for a quiet break this is a cottage chose. Would highly recommend Abbey Cross Barn.
.
Reviewed by EdwardJun 2019
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"The barn was adequately represented in the online listing and had everything we required."
Although the headroom for upstairs was included in the listing, this could be further emphasised, as it was quite tricky navigating some parts of the rooms...we aren’t particularly tall and bumped our heads a number of times on the sloping ceilings!
It was a lovely, peaceful location and ideal if you want a rural escape. The caretaker was really good at contacting us and made sure we had everything we needed, including offering travel cots and high chairs for our small children. This makes all the difference as a young family who often have to bring everything but the kitchen sink when going away!
All in all, we had a nice stay and enjoyed our time in Devon.
Reviewed by KayMay 2019
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"Week Break in Fantastic Accommodation 2nd February - 11th February
We stayed in this beautiful converted barn in order to visit with family and celebrate an important 85th birthday."
Our two adult daughters stayed with us and the barn provided a great space to be altogether.
We had a lot of extreme weather to cope with such as snow storms and ice followed by torrential rain. Throughout it all , the barn was very warm and comfortable. There was sufficient heating and the beds were very comfortable. The kitchen is extremely well equipped and the whole space enabled us to host the birthday celebration with ease. The bathroom facilities worked well and although water needed to be bottled to drink and cook, we were provided with a sufficient amount for our week. Communication was good and we feel we have found a beautiful quiet space which we will book again when visiting family.
Reviewed by DavidFeb 2019
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"The cottage wasn't particularly clean, lots of cobwebs and flies, windows smeared with dog paw marks, not from our cocker spaniel."
The downstairs bathroom smells of damp, insufficient heating in winter. The water due to heavy rain ran coffee coloured which isn't pleasant for brushing teeth and washing in/washing up we certainly wouldn't have had a bath in it. The oven programmer went wring frequently and we couldn't work out how to use the grille, despite the leaflet saying turn to the right. Bedrooms very spartan with no wardrobes. On a positive note the cottage is well equipped but night storage heating wasn't adequate on the first few days when it was cold.
**Owners Response**
I am sorry that you felt let down by your experience at the cottage. Work has been completed on the water supply and the water is now now running clear. I will also make sure that in future our winter visitors are warm by putting the heating on two days prior to their arrival
Property Owner
Reviewed by DuncanNov 2018
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"Lovely cottage and peaceful location with everything you need."
The caretaker was very good and helpful. Really good garden and the orchard behind had visits from deer and foxes. Would recommend for a holiday.
Reviewed by BarbaraOct 2018
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"We thought the barn was lovely, the location was amazing."
The only down side would be the shower not been very powerful, other than that it was lovely and we have already started telling people about it.
Reviewed by AlisonSep 2018
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"I paid a cleaning fee!"
For what? This cottage needs a deep clean! will probably not use Sykes Cottages again, even though I have been reasonably happy in the past, it has put me off!
Crumbs and crisps on the floor on arrival
lipstick on mugs and sink upstairs old dried egg left on both wooden spoons from previous use
cobwebs and spiders every where shower so small, doors really tricky to close tumble dryer broken, had to take home wet washing very disappointed ***Owner Response*** I am so very sorry that there was a lapse in the cleanliness at the time of your visit, and that the drier was not working correctly. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Both these matters have now been attended to. I do hope that, despite these issues, you still enjoyed your break in East Devon.
Reviewed by KarenSep 2018
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"Lovely cottage,
maybe we'll come again!"
Reviewed by NkiJul 2018
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"Abbey Cross Barn is a very comfortable little cottage, perfect for a couple."
We had a very relaxing week here, sitting out on the patio and watching the wildlife. There are lots of birds to see and after a while they actually get used to you and hop about on the lawn. The little dear resident in the owners orchard makes the odd appearance every day which is loveley. Watch out for a green woodpecker and the greater spotted woodpecker, we even saw a jay sat on the fence.
Its in a great position to go exploring devon, somerset and dorset. Honiton is a very nice little town and probably the closest place for petrol.
Reviewed by PaulJul 2018
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"Great part of the Country to relax or visit other places."
The property is in a small friendly hamlet, so very quiet except the wildlife which obviously wasn’t a problem, Wellington or Honiton two small towns are not too far and easy to reach if you need to stock up, the nearest village at Dunkeswell does have a small store to stock up as does Hemyock. Lots to do without having to travel too far makes this property near perfect, you just need the weather which we did. One small thing you do need to know if you are above average height watch your head, the property does have some lower ceilings upstairs.
The property also has a lovely large garden to the rear, lots of space for your dog but be aware they might enjoy it so much they probably wouldn’t want to come in on an evening like our dog didn’t.
This is our second visit and we will certainly be back.
Oh I forgot if your lucky enough and quiet enough you will be surprised at how often the local deer visit the orchard behind the property.
Reviewed by AndrewJun 2018
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"Very well equipped and spacious barn conversion."
Very rural and off the beaten track, best way in via Dunkeswell, rather than sat nav instructions.
Good day at Seaton including tram ride. Hot day fossil hunting on Charmouth beach. Very interesting cathedral and it's Lego miniature in Exeter along with a wide variety of shops and a small farmers market.
Great place to relax and unwind, dog and cat (yes she comes as well) enjoyed the garden and local area.
Reviewed by DeborahMay 2018
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"Lovely well equipped cottage except no stairgate for the bottom of stairs to keep dogs and children from going up."
Reviewed by AnnApr 2018