-
"Beautiful cottage , working farm , all facilities as described , comfy beds ."
Great area for walking, visiting jurassic coast, travelled to lyme regis ,beer beaches and Weymouth. Crewkerne has a great swimming pool closeby . First time booked last minute Sykes holiday all faultless ,thank you
Reviewed by RebeccaJul 2022
-
"We found Downside to be the perfect place for a family holiday."
Our 3 year old daughter loved seeing the cows each day! The cottage is very well equipped and comfortable, particularly the sofas! There are some creaky floor boards on the landing but to be honest that just adds to the charm. The owners are very friendly.
Reviewed by AndrewJul 2022
-
"Lovely location, great views, bull can be quite vocal at times, but you get used to it."
Property clean throughout. Coservatory very nice and sunny, lounge has comfy sofas, kitchen has seen better days and some of the limited crockery needs replacing. Beds comfortable, but shower difficult to use if you are tall due to slope of the ceiling. The landing and bathroom floorboards make a lot of noise! Would not want to put people off but remember this is a working farm.
Reviewed by SteveJun 2022
-
"The hosts were very friendly, and the cottage was in a good location, really peaceful with good walks."
It was nice to hear and see the cows right outside your window and we even got to watch them being milked.
Paul and Michaela
Reviewed by PaulJun 2022
-
"Only able to stay 4 nights, wish it could have been longer, so cosy and comfortable, had a great stay xx"
Reviewed by BeverleyMay 2022
-
"Lovely cottage and friendly owners."
Gorgeous views. Lots of home comforts in the cottage. Will definitely book this cottage again later in the year. Ideal location for trips to the beach just a short drive away.
Reviewed by SandraApr 2022
-
"It was last minute decision but we go ahead with the Sykes Cottages as the reviews are good and we did not disappoint with the Downside Cottage."
It was perfect. We stayed 30th December-6th January and when we arrived our Christmas tree were set up and we had our presents in the morning by the door outside as surprise
Reviewed by SibelDec 2021
-
"Clean and cosy."
Great location and would stay again! Thank you
Reviewed by FrancesNov 2021
-
"Lovely relaxing and spacious cottage, has had a refurb pictures on website need updating, will definitely return again"
Reviewed by JoyOct 2021
-
"Very peaceful and quiet."
...you can only hear birds singing and cows mooing. Love the feel of waking up to beautiful sun and going to sleep looking at the moon & stars. Love watching cows go past every morning and evening, felt like we were in our own village. Very friendly owners, don't need to travel too far to reach historic attractions and wonderful beaches. We would definitely recommend Downside Cottage to our friends and family.
Reviewed by AmaraAug 2021
-
"The cottage is clean and looks recently refurbished- e."
G new carpet, settees, flat screen tv, etc. Feels comfortable and clean. The location is quiet in the middle of lovely countryside.
Reviewed by DominicAug 2021
-
"A really comfortable and spacious place to stay in, surrounded by beautiful countryside."
Emma and Andrew were very welcoming, and it was great to be on a working farm.
Reviewed by TimJun 2021
-
"It is in a very remote position"
Reviewed by ElizabethJun 2021
-
"The cottage exceeded expectations and photos didn’t do it justice."
The owners are friendly, helpful and easy going. All in all a great place to stay. Word of caution to pet owners: the conservatory is south facing and gets very hot when the sun’s out!
Reviewed by and MrsMay 2021
-
"What a great stay!"
We loved it! Definitely the pictures should be updated, it is much nicer than in the photos.
The annex was very clean and had everything we needed.
The owner is super nice.
It would be great to have WiFi, but we only stayed for a couple of days, so we didn’t mind.
Reviewed by AngelaApr 2021
-
"Very homely."
Reviewed by JeanOct 2020
-
"Great cottage, warm and comfortable with great views and friendly owners."
Can’t recommend enough. Dog friendly and in a great area to visit Dorset, Somerset and Devon easily.
Reviewed by JanetSep 2020
-
"The photos do not do justice to the cottage, the furnishing has been completely upgraded."
Emma and Andrew are such lovely people, very welcoming. Love the peace and tranquility of the setting. Watching the cows come in for milking and the calves playing in the fields is wonderful. Chickens coming around in the mornings, we would definitely recommend this place x
Reviewed by CarolSep 2020
-
"We found the experience of staying at the cottage very relaxing and comfortable."
We particularly liked the conservatory and it's furnishings. Mr. and Mrs. House were friendly and there when needed. We had the most wonderful sunsets and views from the cottage. The facilities provided were appropriate, though a few more teaspoons would have been useful! We are certainly looking forward to staying there again despite the narrow access lane with few passing places. The area of North Dorset is beautiful and local villages and towns very interesting.
Reviewed by TimSep 2020
-
"We really loved our week staying at Downside."
The instructions on how to find it were spot on, on first impressions there was more social space than I realised. Our son really enjoyed his first stay on a farm seeing the cows, sheep, chickens but he loved the friendly cats the most. The weather wasn’t great for our week but we did manage one evening to bbq (store bought instant bbq) and sit outside on the picnic table. The bedrooms were lovely and waking up to the views over the farm brought a smile to our faces. Being rural flies were a part of life rather than an indication of cleanliness, mentioning to give realistic expectations. On rainy days we watched kids movies on their Netflix and chilled out on the comfy sofas. The kitchen was nice and had a good selection of ovenware and pans better than some places we have stayed in before. It was a great base to discover Dorset and only 25-30 minutes drive to lovely West Bay. I also found the owners very easy to communicate with. We visited during COVID-19 pandemic, having antiviral handwash and a small hand sanitiser and very clear instruction on how to prepare the property on check out. I was also impressed with the effort to encourage recycling. We would highly recommend Downside.
Reviewed by LucyAug 2020
-
"The cottage had all the 'requirements' but went no further."
Everything was functional and basic; all the cutlery and crockery in the kitchen was cheap mix and match, there was a minimum of bedding and one uncomfortable old mattress in the second room. We would love to have felt something of the gift of hospitality. Having said that, it was in a good location, perfectly comfortable, pleasant, and with no negative issues.
Reviewed by JenniferAug 2019
-
"Downside is located on a quiet, working farm and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay."
Our dogs got used to the proximity of the farm animals, even the chickens in the garden!
This is a perfect base for exploring Dorset and Somerset. As well as the local villages of Mosterton and Crewkerne, we managed to visit Bridport, West Bay, Glastonbury, Weymouth, Durdle Door, Dorchester and Cheddar. All in 1 week!
The facilities are as described and I am sure that if we had asked for anything extra, we would have been looked after. Thanks Downside and Sykes!
Reviewed by MarkAug 2019
-
"Lovely cottage great holiday"
Reviewed by AnnetteJun 2019
-
"The cottage is set on a farm in a very rural area but within reach of many places of interest and the coast."
A lovely peaceful setting with lots of walks on the Dorset/Somerset border of which we enjoyed and the cottage and its setting on the farm gave a us a great place to stay.
Reviewed by RussellMay 2019
-
"Really enjoyed our stay , very relaxing."
Loved seeing all the animals on the farm. Just remember to bring Wellington boots if you want to do for a walk around the farm.
Would stay again
Reviewed by AndyMay 2019
-
"Clean, comfortable and a relaxing time."
Just what we needed. Although a working dairy farm it is in a quiet area and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Hope we can return again sometime
Reviewed by ElizabethApr 2019
-
"It must be remembered this is a working dairy farm, run by a very hard working couple, with 3 children, 100 + cows and a bull, sheep, chickens, and ducks!"
A bit of a novelty for townies, superb views in all directions,from a superb vantage point.
Single file lanes in all directions
.
Can be quite noisy with the twice a day milking regime!
The cottage, which is part of the original farmhouse, could do with a little TLC .
Not exactly 'Homes & Gardens' standard, but very comfy.
The owners, the House family, are a superb crowd, even letting me be with them for Christmas dinner!!
Reviewed by MurrayDec 2018
-
"Whilst the cottage was in a fantastic location we were very disappointed by it's cleanliness and contents."
The water is very hard there and we found the kettle so full of scale and scum that we couldn't use it on arrival so had to boil water in a saucepan. The stainless steel sink in the kitchen was very dirty as were the taps and shower in the bathroom. The downstairs toilet wasn't clean. The first morning i went to a local shop and bought cleaning products so spent the first morning cleanig the cottage and descaling and cleaning the kettle . There were lots of cobwebs that I had to Hoover away. No welcome pack which was unusual because every other Sykes cottage we've been to supplied nibbles or bread and milk. Whilst it's not compulsory it is welcoming. In this cottage there was nothing - no washing up liquid, no spare toilet rolls, cupboards full of old food left by previous guests. The last morning I cleaned the cottage and left it as I would have liked to have found it. I left my cleaning supplies and spare toilet rolls for the next people in. It was very disappointing and you should contact the owner to encourage them to be a lot more considerate about cleanliness. Don't want to spend hours of my holiday cleaning. Never had to do it before and don't want to do it again.
Many thanks for voicing your grievances regarding this property, unfortunately, due to the size of Sykes’ portfolio of properties, we can't visit every property on a weekly basis. That said, your words have given us cause for concern with our standards at this property and we are now investigating the matters raised.
If you wish to discuss or elaborate more on the issues raised, please feel free to contact the Sykes office on the details below, quoting your booking reference number and any other information that may assist us in providing the best possible outcome and customer service.
Our lines are open 7 days a week from 9am until 7pm. Property Owner
Reviewed by LesleySep 2018
-
"Downside was just the most lovely cottage on a wonderfully beautiful part of the world."
Although made to feel very much st home we only saw the hosts twice, when we collected and returned the keys.
The cottage is ideally located for lots of Dorset and Somerset attractions. Crewkerne is nearby with all the amenities (Waitrose and Lidl) and the village shop in Mosterton was well stocked.
The very quiet roads meant that driving at a sensible speed with due caution made it a pleasure.
So all in all, everything anyone could need within a reasonable distance and a fabulous cottage. We definitely would consider going back.
P.S. we were struck by what a dog-friendly area Dorset is. Albeit cottages that are 2-dog friendly were a bit thin on the ground. Thank you for trusting us with your cottage and our dogs. They loved it too.
Reviewed by PennieSep 2018
-
"EXCELLENT LOCATION EXCELLENT HOLIDAY."
Reviewed by TrevorAug 2018
-
"We had a lovely time and could not fault the setting, my husband even got to see the cows being milked."
Thank you to the Houses for a very comfortable and relaxing stay, would definitely recommend the cottage.
Reviewed by CandiceJun 2018
-
"Excellent holiday on a working farm."
Farmer & wife could not do more to help us and make our holiday unforgettable
Reviewed by SheilaMay 2018
-
"Think Farm--Think Wellies!"
Dairy Cattle driven four times daily past property on only available lane.Not noisy but road soiled for some distance. Although welcome to walk dogs on property , fields are quite steep. Not for oldies!! Domestic chickens,duck, lambs and cats all friendly and 18month old grandaughter delighted and entertained.
Comfortable double bed in larger bedroom and great power shower in bathroom. Kitchen perfectly adequate to prepare food for four at once. Conservatory provides airy relaxation/
dining area. Tiled floors easy to clean after food spillages and dog footprints.
Good menu at local pub and great cider country!
Add beautiful views, picturesque villages, and peace. Stir well and serve regularly for a memorable break.
Reviewed by MichaelMay 2018
-
"Our holiday stay at Downend exceeded expectations."
The proximity of the cottage to the farm was very close, in fact on your doorstep. I miss all the farm noises - especially the cockerel and cows. We got to feed the lambs and enjoy the dairy farm and its atmosphere. Incredibly friendly owners to the cottage. The accommodation was very comfortable, warm, cosy and very well equipped. The location of the cottage is ideal for visiting the surrounding area and close to the coast.
Reviewed by AmandaApr 2018
-
"We had a lovely stay at Downside despite the very inclement weather."
The accommodation was excellent and in particular we enjoyed the open fire during the evenings. Our grandson really enjoyed the greeting he got from the hens each time we left the house. Downside is ideally located for the Jurassic coast and we visited West Bay and Lyme Regis on day trips. We owed a big thank you to Andrew and Emma for letting us take our grandson to see the cows being milked, to meet the bulls and see the lambs that were being bottle fed. Then to top it off he got to sit in a One very happy family and one very happy grandson. Our thanks once again for the warm welcome and the way we were looked after during our stay.
Reviewed by PeterMar 2018
-
"This cottage is all about location if you want to reconnect with nature or your other half this place will do just that ."
it's by far not full of all the gadgets it's comfy its warm and open fire , you will struggle to beat the views when you open the curtains.
ducks sheep cows fox's badagers monk jacks there all on your door .
all ready booked to go again
Reviewed by JasonFeb 2018
-
"Very happy with our holiday break."
Was very happy with the cottage and made to feel very welcome. Beds extremely comfortable. Property very well presented and clean.
Reviewed by KNov 2017
-
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay."
The cottage was warm, comfortable and peaceful. We'd love to go back again. Would highly recommend it.
Reviewed by JackieFeb 2017
-
"Fantastic cottage in lovely area."
Delighted to stay here with our dogs.
Reviewed by JennyNov 2016
-
"Downside was about a mile up a single lane farm track, completely dark after sunset."
PAssing places were sparse and for any one who was nervous about reversing if another vehicle met tem it would be worrying..therwise it was delightful. SHeep in the garden one morning eating fallen apples. Soon moved on. Sky at night was so clear and free from pollution. Not a sound at night. COmfy beds and sitting room furniture.
Reviewed by ValerieOct 2016
-
"A hairdryer would be a useful addition."
Reviewed by LesleyOct 2016
-
"A very enjoyable the owners were extremely helpful ."
Very quite location and the local area was very nice
Reviewed by MarilynSep 2016
-
"Cottage owned by very friendly and welcoming family."
Beautiful, but quiet rural location on working farm. Comfortable, well equiped accommodation. Would recommend.
Reviewed by DavidSep 2016