Rock Cottage

3.5★

Good

Sleeps 8
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities

10 Customer Reviews

"Lovely comfortable cottage."

People need to know before hiring that there is no mobile service there. Sink in one bathroom is coming away from wall, outside light needs replacing (bulb). It was my birthday whilst there and some cards were not received because of no letterbox, even asked by postman where was he to put mail? Details of working fireplace would be good also phone number for incoming calls only telephone needed before you arrive as you cannot use mobile to let people know. Excellent place for walkers. Directions to house are dreadful as from Barnstable, had to stop and ask locals in town. The garden details also misleading as you can only use lawn area. Saying all that, we had a lovely time in a warm and very comfortable large house. If any of my cards were eventually delivered could you please send them on.

Reviewed by JamesNov 2021
"I think it really important for this holiday cottage and it’s owners that I write a true ( for us) review, as it might just help someone else."

We nearly cancelled this trip due to the dreadful October reviews. I’m so very glad that I didn’t, as follows. If I was thinking about complaining, the only thing I felt negative about were the showers, which were feeble and inconsistent with temperature. However, there were two absolutely reasonable baths underneath them and no one in the family suffered from a hygiene point of view. Now for the positives, and there are many: This is a 200 year old quirky cottage. It was as clean as I would think is possible for a property of this age. Certainly I didn’t feel that cleanliness was compromised. It has an amazingly responsive heating and water system. We were never cold and at times, if anything, a bit hot. This was easily resolved. The garden is a magical mystery wonderland which we all enjoyed. I accept that if elderly or infirm, you might not reach the top of it, however, there is a lovely lawned area at the top of a few steps before you start the ascent up higher. Weather wasn’t super though so we didn’t make masses of use of it but on another occasion, I have no doubt that we would. The sofas were comfortable and we truly relaxed with the wood burning stove. Beds were equally comfy and I really liked the pillows and the duvet sets. Linen was clean and welcoming. Everything was decorated to good taste, and again I say, this is a 200 year old cottage and everything fitted brilliantly. We didn’t cook at home, instead had fun travelling out for food. It’s quite off the beaten track and unfortunately the local pub wasn’t often open whilst we were there, but we found alternative places to eat and enjoy ourselves. A big thank you to Sykes and the owner, who reassured us pre visit. I am so pleased that you did, I really wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on this gem of a place. Thank you.

Reviewed by RuthOct 2021
"On arrival at Rock cottage after 3pm an Estate Agent was showing a prospective buyer around the property both internally and gardens."

Nobody was wearing a face mask this was witnessed by ourselves and our parents. We were made to wait before we could access the property. We had concerns of people in the property without face coverings in light of the COVID situation. We reported this to Sykes and was disappointed that they did not respond. We did receive a call from the property owner, and equally disappointed with their response refuting all the facts given with no apology. We also reported to Sykes Cottages that there was no heating or hot water for the last 4 days of our weeks holiday at Rock cottage. We were again disappointed that Sykes cottages did not respond to our request for help in particular as 3 of our party were over 75 and did feel the cold in the evenings. We had to resort to buying large amounts of logs for the log burner at our own expense to generate some heat in the living room. We have used Sykes cottages for many previous holidays with positive experiences leaving good reviews and feel sad that on this occasion we felt let down by Sykes customer services team despite sending daily messages being allocated unique reference numbers but no action taken by Sykes when asking for help

Reviewed by DeanOct 2021
"Kitchen is quite small and not equipped for 8 people."

Dining room much the same, 6 people OK tight for 8. Garden description is a bit misleading as it's all on the side of a hill and the flat strip that is usable is a bit small. The rest of the place is great. Good size bedrooms, bathrooms and lounges. We have rebooked it for next year so would still recommend it but there is only 3 of us and a dog so the size was great. The heating does work at both ends of the property but has 2 separate thermostats. And yes the couches are a bit iffy if you all had to share. Good location to access local attractions.

Reviewed by RickSep 2021
"Rock Cottage had positives e."

G. spacious bedrooms, small and adequate kitchen, however the accommodation is not at all suitable for children, pets or the elderly. The Cottage front doors open straight onto the road where cars speed up/down on it all the time. Only 1 lounge had heating the other where the TV is situated had no central heating and a note said the Woodburner wasn't working, it was damp and cold. The garden is okay if you were a mountain goat, it was small and steep, only able to sit at the bottom of it. The showers were not adequate, power was limited. All these things could not be rectified in the 1 week we were there, therefore this is why we did not contact Sykes however it needs to be correctly advertised.

Thank you for your comments. The property has central heating in all of the house, the radiators are new and very warm. However, the heating is run from two thermostats. I feel upset that you were cold and that it was avoidable. We have two dogs and have had no problem with them in the cottage. We have not received any complaints about its unsuitability from pet owners. I will ensure that the description is updated again. Property Owner

Reviewed by CatherineSep 2021
"We had a Lovely week at Rock Cottage."

We all enjoyed the cottage.Nice to be somewhere that was Quite .Our Grandcholldren Loved the Garden as did Ollie our family Dog...kitchen was small. Understandable in keeping with the cottage though. Only down side was the settes ,as to Low and cushions were hard to keep tidy..I couldnt get up of settes due to how Low they were had to sit on hard chair .I understand due to Hoiday let worrying about better settes.being new and wear and tear. Overal a Lovely week away.Thankyou L Merritt

Reviewed by LindseyAug 2021
"I would suggest adding on your information that there is a washer and dryer and iron as this is important."

Reviewed by TanyaJul 2021
"The cottage was very quaint with more than enough space for 8 people to spend together or apart if needed; however it could do with an upgrade."

The kitchen cabinets were falling off their hinges; the sofas were well and truly worn making it very difficult for the elderly members of our group to join in the family activities and be able to get up afterwards; and considering the cottage was for 8 people, there were only 6 forks and a handful of drinking glasses. We ended up purchasing some picnic cutlery to see us through the week. The description of the garden was, we felt misleading, it was advertised as a big garden for our fur baby to enjoy, but it failed to mention that three quarters of it was up a very steep bank which rose higher than the cottage and wasn’t easily acceptable due to garden overgrowth. It was not what we would classically expect of a garden and more of a wild and unkempt waste land. At the time we holidayed at the cottage, what little grass there was, was very overgrown and there was a bundle of 12 very long pieces of wood slap bang in the middle of the grass. Gardeners did arrive, unannounced- a day before we left and did a decent job to tidying it up, but we would not benefit from this. There is an outside fire pit, cut in to the steep bank - which is a lovely touch to enjoy chilly evenings - but during our visit, this was completely covered over with nail filled wood - not great when you have an inquisitive dog. This was cleaned up a few days into our visit but did not make for a good impression. The cleanliness of the cottage was by far the biggest disappointment. Basic cleaning was not done. We found discarded food under one of the beds and under the sofas. The rug in the larger living room smelt dirty and dusty, to the point it set off allergies in some of our group which was only alleviated when the offending rug was rolled up and removed and the vacuum was put around … not what I want to do on holiday. Also there was what looked like tea dripped onto the cupboard doors (basic cleaning) which we wiped off; and if you wore white socks without slippers to walk around, your socks were soon black in colour. If the owner employs cleaners to look after the property on their behalf, the owners seriously need to reconsider the cleaners contract. Having said all that, the cottage was situated in a very tranquil and quiet location within 30 minutes easy access to all typical tourist locations. I am sorry to have to write such negative feedback. To clarify, my expectations when hiring a cottage are not that high, but basic cleanliness (especially during the current climate) is a requirement of mine. Unfortunately this fell well below my expectations and was the biggest disappointment to my group and I. If this could be rectified and a few inexpensive fixes could be made I would have no hesitation in recommending this property to others.

We were disappointed to read the review from this guest. Unfortunately, we were not informed of any of these issues during the stay as we would have endeavoured to resolve it as soon as possible. We are committed to providing a high-quality cottage for rentals and have taken this complaint seriously. The property has just completed a major refurbishment to a very high standard. It looks and feels great inside and outside. With the feedback we have made the following changes: The cleaning company have instigated a checking system to ensure all work is done to the expected level. Any other issues have been resolved. The garden on the upper tiers is a woodland garden and we have increased the frequency of the gardeners in the summer to ensure paths are kept well-trimmed. The gardeners and cleaners have taken responsibility to ensure the lawn area and fire pit are cleaned during the changeover. The rug was new and so it is unclear what caused the problems for this guest but is being hoovered thoroughly at each changeover. It is a shame that the guest did not notify us of any concerns during the stay. We feel confident that future guests will enjoy the cottage as much as we do. Property Owner

Reviewed by ClaireJun 2021
"Ideally situated to explore North Devon, and isolated enough for a very relaxing holiday."

Facilities and decor are excellent

Reviewed by IanJun 2021
"The garden was overgrown the builders were at the property for 4 days of our stay they left the fence down 1 day so we couldn't use the garden there was no sky TV as advertised and there was only 1 t."

V when 2 was advertised the lounge where the TV was in could only sit 4 yet the lounge with no t.v would sit 8 poor holiday not relaxing and will not be using Sykes again will go back to using Holidaycottages

Reviewed by GavinMay 2021

Summary

Four bedrooms: 3 x king-size double, 1 x twin
2 x bathroom with shower over bath, basin, heated towel rail and WC
Kitchen
Dining room
Sitting room with woodburning stove
Sitting room
Oil central heating with woodburning stove
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, washing machine, dryer dishwasher, 1 x TV with Freeview, DVD Player and WiFi
Iron and Ironing board
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot and highchair available
Off-road parking for 2 cars
There is a patio area directly to the left of the house which leads up to an English garden walled lawn area, fire pit with patio, paths lead from the lawn up into the woodland area, these paths are steep, can be slippery and are used at your own risk
One well-behaved pet welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 3 miles, pub 0.3 miles
Note: Children will need to be supervised in the garden area
Note: Parking is quite tight
Note: The woodburning stove in the second sitting room is not in use

The property

Rock Cottage is an idyllic, detached cottage in a tranquil location, on the edge of the National Trust's Arlington Court in Barnstaple, North Devon.

This property is more than 200 years old and offers an acre of gardens and woodland to discover, beside the River Yeo in a peaceful setting, and provides wonderful accommodation for a large family or two separate families wanting to enjoy their own space, but also come together to explore North Devon's coastline and the nearby Exmoor National Park.

Parking is available off-road for two cars, and you can enter the property to discover two spacious sitting rooms, one of which has an original fireplace and woodburning stove, the other had a feature fireplace, TV and DVD Player, ideal for a movie night and a small dining table.

There is a separate dining room with charming wooden beams, where you can enjoy meals together as a group, lovingly prepared in the fully-equipped, galley-style kitchen.

The first floor is accessed via two separate staircases, and on each side you will find two bedrooms and a bathroom, making this space ideal for two families wanting to enjoy their own space.

The bedrooms consist of two king-size doubles on one side, and a king-size double and twin bedroom on the other, each side served by a family bathroom with shower over bath.

Outside, discover a magical garden, comprising an acre of stunning multi-level woodland, there is a lawn area, fire pit and patio with dining area adjacent to the cottage.

The rest of the half acre natural woodland garden is set into the hill with paths snaking up and beautiful views of the valley and Arlington Court.

Close by, the village of East Down offers a pub serving food, while the National Trust's Arlington Court & Carriage Museum, with a Victorian garden, the carriage museum and lakeside walks are within easy walking distance of the cottage.

Venture towards the North Devon AONB to discover magical coastline and picturesque beaches of Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton Sands and Westward Ho!, along with the magnificent seaside resort of Ilfracombe, with its idyllic harbour, castle, coastal golf club, museum and 11th century Chambercombe Manor, thought to be haunted and filled with paranormal activity.

From here, join the South West Coast Path and venture east towards the Exmoor National Park, where you will discover moorland, woodland, picturesque coastline and rivers, along with attractions which include the National Trust's Dunster Castle, the popular Valley of Rocks, the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, a water-powered funicular railway that joins Lynton and Lynmouth and offers spectacular views of the coast on its ascent and Exmoor Zoo.

The traditional coastal town of Barnstaple is within easy reach; in a fantastic location at the mouth of the Taw Estuary, it offers a pannier market, along with an excellent selection of shops, pubs, bars and restaurants, plus two fantastic, family-friendly, sandy beaches that are popular for surfing.

Explore the area from the comfort of a railway journey on the Tarka Valley Railway, which encompasses wooded river valleys, rugged moorland, a stretch of coastline and the picturesque coastal village of Clovelly.

Rock Cottage provides a wonderful base for exploring the magnificent coast and countryside of North Devon.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.

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About the location

BARNSTAPLE

Exeter 40 miles.

Barnstaple enjoys a superb location at the mouth of the Taw Estuary, on the spectacular North Devon coastline between Westward Ho! and Croyde and is a short drive from the Exmoor National Park. Barnstaple is a busy traditional Devon coastal town with a pannier market, shops, restaurants and bars, along with two fabulous sandy beaches, which are popular with surfers and families. The town is renowned for its floral displays having won a Britain in Bloom award and flowers are found around every corner of the town in the most unusual places. Barnstaple lies at the end of the magnificent Tarka line railway journey, which takes you through the spectacular North Devon countryside of wooded river valleys, rugged moorland and a stretch of coastline, plus close by is the picture postcard coastal village of Clovelly. A combination of numerous long sandy beaches and family attractions makes Barnstaple a desirable holiday destination.

Region Information

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Rock Cottage

Barnstaple, Devon (Ref. 1040822)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

"Lovely comfortable cottage."

"I think it really important for this holiday cottage and it’s owners that I write a true ( for us) review, as it might just help someone else."

"On arrival at Rock cottage after 3pm an Estate Agent was showing a prospective buyer around the property both internally and gardens."

"Kitchen is quite small and not equipped for 8 people."

"Rock Cottage had positives e."

"We had a Lovely week at Rock Cottage."

"I would suggest adding on your information that there is a washer and dryer and iron as this is important."

"The cottage was very quaint with more than enough space for 8 people to spend together or apart if needed; however it could do with an upgrade."

"Ideally situated to explore North Devon, and isolated enough for a very relaxing holiday."

"The garden was overgrown the builders were at the property for 4 days of our stay they left the fence down 1 day so we couldn't use the garden there was no sky TV as advertised and there was only 1 t."