Coastguard Cottage

Appreciated that owners allowed us to bring our house cat, he enjoyed the conservatory.

Liked flowers in garden and even saw a hummingbird hawk moth in rear garden. Also liked the fresh coffee, tea and cake which was provided, many thanks!

Fantastic property with lovely view from bedroom window and great walks along the river.

House had everything you’d need and really nice to get homemade cake and milk.

Loved the accommodation, especially the rather quirky decor!

Added to the location of the cottage. Perfect for two adults and probably kids. Might be a bit cramped for 4 adults. Good facilities and well equipped kitchen. Shower was a bit tame! We were there in an exceptionally hot week and we were so pleased that it keep very cool inside by keeping doors and windows closed during the day, then letting the air through in the evening. Perfect location for Rye Nature Reserve.

The cottage is too far out of Rye town to walk, so car is necessary.

The road was slightly off putting driving through an industrial estate to arrive at pretty Rye harbour (thought we had taken a wrong turn!). Stayed a week 20-27 June when it was extremely hot - take your own fans as there are none in the cottage, lounge was quite cool. Accommodation was clean (apart from conservatory needs a cobweb removal and around the outside). Fairly quiet even though it is a mid terrace, so it was relaxing at times to sit at the bottom of the garden. Not sure what the open shed is for in the corner of the garden as nothing in it but cobwebs!! The accommodation was adequate for 2 with 2 small dogs - lovely river/estuary grass bank to walk outside back gate as no lawn in garden which has lovely wild flowers. Lovely views from bedroom across the estuary and so lovely to see oystercatchers, herons, lots of waterfowl - even saw a seal one evening in the estuary which was a wonderful sight! The nearby Nature Reserve has no shade but lovely to walk around, so we drove to two woods to walk dogs: Guestling Wood, and Flatropers Wood. Niggles were: top drawer of dishwasher collapses so take care when loading/unloading, no dishwasher tablets which are usually provided (luckily took some), handwash nearly non-existent only about 1cm in bottle so had to buy some, more loo rolls (again I took a couple), only very large glasses -could do with some smaller ones. As mentioned in previous reviews, kitchen cupboards need updating as very difficult to open without the skirting board falling off, so it was annoying having to put this back every time. Recommend eating at Webbes Fish Cafe - stunning food.

We loved our stay at Coastguard Cottage.

It was just as described and really comfortable. Helen was very responsive and helpful.

Second time at coastguard, love the cottage, garden and location

The cottage was in the perfect spot for exploring and relaxing.

Very cosy, we had a lovely time. The only thing I would say, and this is my personal opinion, the kitchen cupboards/handles needed to be treated with care as they were a bit loose.. X

This Cottage is absolutely beautiful.

It has a wonderful character because of the amazing decor. It is such a charming little property. It was lovely to be greeted with a lovely lemon cake and there was milk in the fridge. It is in a wonderful location. The beds are very comfortable. We really did not want to leave. We will definitely be going there again. Also, our dog absolutely loved it too, and the walks are amazing.

Another delightful week at this fabulous cottage…very cold out on the reserve but we made the most of it…did lots of bird watching…many thanks again

A great little property in a great location

Lovely quirky cottage and great location especially if you have a dog.

Very warm and comfortable and well equipped. I loved the garden and access to river and views. Had a little difficulty with key safe as I am only 5 ft and I arrived in the dark. I was very glad that I had a torch! It would have been a nice touch to have a container for dog poo bags in the garden. The oven could do with a deep clean. Overall I was very happy and would book it again.

We loved our week here…it’s a really lovely cottage in a fabulous location backing onto the river Rother…the gardens are gorgeous but the photos currently on the website don’t do them justice…we spent a lot of time birdwatching out on the reserve…we also visited the church and learned a lot about the fascinating history of Rye harbour…the only downside was that some areas were not as clean as they could have been (dust,cobwebs) but that did not really detract from the overall enjoyment of the place.

.we had a wonderful holiday and would definitely stay again…thank you ☺️

The owners had tried hard to make this accomodation quirky and memorable, there were some lovely touches - the front garden water feature was our favourite - but our general overriding impression was that the property was tired and in need of a makeover.

The property itself is in a row of terraced houses, noise from neighbours was a problem and discussed with the owners at the time, it was impossible to sit and enjoy the beautiful garden. Counter complaints were received regarding noise and for that reason we personally wouldn't recommend this property for families with children or teenagers! The house is in need of a deep clean, due to the cobwebs, dusty woodwork and dirty windows. The carpet at the top of the stairs has worn away. The large lamp in the conservatory was unstable. A number of lights in the wall feature no longer work, and the bathroom door doesn't shut without pressure. The summerhouse was unusable, as the door had dropped and couldn't be opened properly, in addition the table football had been relocated there, that wasn't functional either. The chairs in the conservatory we personally found incredibly uncomfortable. The living area was better set up but dark and without natural light. The table and chairs were too big for the patio, movement is restricted due to the conservatory and planters. Due to the addition of plants in the garden there isn't space for children to play or for a dog to go about their business without causing damage. Rye harbour is a beautiful place to stay, we enjoy being outside, the adjacent nature reserve was our draw to booking this property. With a few tweaks, a rewrite of the description and new photos of the property that reflect the changes would help to manage visitors expectations. We do appreciate that the owners do not have any control over the immediate area surrounding the property, or the actions of the neighbours.

The cottage was really lovely, couldn't fault anything at all.

With quirky decor and a few comfortable areas to relax it was just what we were looking for. The lemon cake was a very tasty and welcome touch. Having brought our dog, the short walk out of the beautiful back garden to the nature reserve was ideal. So quiet too. Plus we got great weather which was an added bonus!

Comfortable, well-equipped, very pleasant surroundings and location right by the River Brede.

Excellently situated for visiting local beaches and attractions. Rye is always a beautiful town to visit - although avoid the crowds if possible.

The cottage was spotlessly clean and had everything you needed.

Was in an ideal situation. The lemon drizzle cake was delicious! Thank you very much. We will definitely be rebooking! Brian and Zoe

This is a lovely comfortable cottage with a pretty garden and fantastic view of the river.

The nature reserve is very nearby and interesting. We saw lots of wildlife. We enjoyed a short boat ride and a visit to Rye town as well as going to Bodiam Castle and Batemans house and gardens.

We recently stayed at this property as a family of 4 with 2 children under 12.

There are many things to like (and love) about the property, but we were disappointed in some aspects of the cleaning and maintenance. Positives: - The location is wonderful. Having the ability to walk out the back door and onto the path by the river, and wander 2 minutes to the local pub, 20 minutes into the nature reserve, 30 minutes to a pebble beach next to the ocean -- fantastic. We had several longer walks further afield, including into Rye, and I know we barely scratched the surface. Very good siting for visiting Camber Sands and Hastings as well. - The house has clearly been decorated lovingly and is full of character. We appreciated staying in a space which isn't sterile and boring. - There was plenty for the kids to do during down times and rainy days. They had a blast with the foosball table (sometimes sneaking out still in their pyjamas in the morning to play on it!), and the games cupboard was very well stocked. - The kitchen is pretty decently stocked. We often cook all our evening meals when we go away, and the cupboards had a good selection of pantry essentials, along with plenty of crockery and cutlery. That said, leading into our negatives... Negatives - Some of the cookware in the kitchen is in a dire state, and really ought to be replaced; it's not nice trying to cook on a pan with its nonstick surface flaking off. - The cleanliness of the house was patchy when we arrived. It's clearly a very dog-friendly house, but we found dog hair on many surfaces (including on the oven gloves, inside the oven, and on the sheets in the twin bedroom, suggesting the bedding hadn't been changed since a previous guest). There was a fair amount of dust and cobwebs in corners as well. The gasket in the washing machine needs a very deep clean. - There is no ability to enjoy natural light in any room without exposing yourself to passers-by - the property would really benefit from some net curtains or voiles. This wouldn't be as much of an issue if the lights in the house were fitted with brighter bulbs, but they are very dim. - Whilst both front and back gardens are planted beautifully (I really enjoyed watching the bees buzzing around the salvia and nigella), the paths are overgrown, particularly the path leading from the back garden up to the pathway along the river. After one of our walks through the nature reserve around the corner, we found a tick on one of us; as they're active in the area, paths should be cut back. Overall, we really did enjoy our time at Coastguard Cottage, especially as it gave us the opportunity to explore some really wonderful areas near the coast. Hopefully the cleanliness and maintenance issues will be rectified for future guests.

Our second stay in this lovely cottage.

Good value for money. Excellent location. Highly recommended.

The cottage was beautiful and very comfortable.

The access to the river at the back was wonderful and enjoyed by both ourselves and our dog!

This was a very nice property in an ideal location.

We had a very enjoyable break and would definitely recommend this property.

Lovely stay again!

This was our third visit to this property, this time taking the parents instead of the kids. Everyone loved their stay for all the usual reasons. Nice house, clean and comfortable with extra touches that make it feel like a home. Perfect for accessing the nature reserve, especially if you have limited mobility. Great weather too, we were lucky enough to get some sunshine so we could enjoy the outdoor space too. Will definitely come back again.

The cottage is cosy and comfortable with everything you need for a holiday stay.

The location is wonderful , being very close to the nature reserve and a very good pub!! The owners Robert and Helen are helpful and kind. The lemon drizzle cake awaiting us on arrival was a wonderful surprise. We had the added bonus of being there during a very sunny week - quite unexpected at the beginning of March and we had a great week.

We really enjoyed our stay.

The close proximity to the nature reserve meant that we could go out at sunrise to see the incredible array of birds which was fantastic.The cottage was really comfortable and cosy-I thought the decor was fab even though the living room was rather dark.It was a very quiet area which we really appreciated and there were so many places to visit within a few miles. Thank you

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this very comfortable and well placed house with accessible walks from the door round the nature reserve and to the beach.

The lemon drizzle cake and teabags and milk awaiting our arrival was a welcoming bonus on our arrival

Thank you we had great stay for our honeymoon and it went too fast!

Comfy cottage with everything you need and amenities right on your doorstep. Dog safe gardens back and front. Love to come back in the summer.

Lovely comfortable cottage in a peaceful location.

We loved watching butterflies in the garden, and even saw a rare Hummingbird Hawk-Moth! The cottage is nicely located for the nature reserve and only a five minute drive from Rye.

Coastguard cottage is a well-maintained and spacious property, perfect for a family with two kids.

It's five minutes walk from the wonderful Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, and a short bus ride (or 45 min walk) from the town of Rye. The house is well stocked (although an extra toilet roll and bin bag wouldn't go amiss). Overall, I recommend it highly and would gladly visit again.

The house was very comfortable with all the equipment you could need for a short break.

The first impression of the house when you arrive is disappointing due to the condition of some of the neighboring properties which of course is out of your control we recognize. The image of the property on the Sykes site needs updating as clearly this was taken before the work completed in the front garden. The garden at the rear was good although garden needs some attention in terms of the bench over looking the estuary wasn't useable due to the over growth along with the steps becoming over grown. Overall an enjoyable stay, beds comfortable and property clean. Eating out locally the William the Conqueror excellent although they had some staffing issues and some equipment challenges during our stay. The lemon drizzle cake upon arrival a lovely touch thank you.

This is a lovely cottage in a great area.

The garden is fabulous. This cottage is well equipped. The bath and hand towels are absolutely lovely. Only negative is that there are some things that need tidying/sorting - missing knobs on chest of drawers in main bedroom, the shower could possibly do with being updated and maybe a lick of paint in some areas. Generally the decor is amazing and quirky. The bed does say kingsize on syke website but it is only a double size.

We loved our short stay at Coastguard Cottages.

The cottage is in a great location and it was lovely to be able to do walks straight from the door. The cottage is in a peaceful area with the Nature Reserve, pub and shop all within walking distance. Hired bikes for one day - lovely cycle to and from Winchelsea Beach.

We had a great fortnight at Coastguard Cottage.

When we arrived, the cottage was easy to find, and we were able to park right outside. The keys were located where we'd been told. The cottage was clean and tidy, and all promised features were present and correct. The cake left for us was an unexpected treat. The cottage was a great base for the Rye Harbour nature reserve, just round the corner, and for the many nearby places of interest such as Rye, the narrow-gauge RH&DR railway, and several houses and gardens open to visitors. Finding dog-friendly places was reasonably easy. The local Rye Harbour general store was convenient and useful, and of course we made use of the William the Conqueror pub. Wireless internet was available at the cottage (although not always as fast as we would have liked), and there was a good TV to watch (although not all the channels in the guide were actually available). The kitchen equipment was generally good to very good, although we did add some extra mugs, and the oven would have benefitted from a specialised cleaning product. Some minor points: - The front and back gardens have become a bit overgrown. The front gate was hard to latch because a bush was in the way, and weeds are springing up in the gravel. - Some of the room doors in the cottage were hard to shut / lock. - When a booking is for two weeks instead of one, it would be helpful to have more of some supplies. We don't expect two cakes, but some extra bin liners and an additional loo roll would be useful.

Excellent cottage in prime position for riverside walks.

every comfort,slept well in cosy beds.would certainly keep in mind for return holiday.de Ighted with stay

Good location for nature reserve with tranquil views from back of property,

Beautiful will look forward to our next visit

We really enjoyed our stay at the cottage everything was perfect.

With all the cooking things needed to make a decent meal! The decor was devine and really funky. I think in the summer the back garden would be a wonderful space to enjoy too and the conservatory is a lovely addition. The location is perfect for enjoying the nature reserve and the lovely pub serving great food!! We would definitely stay again. Thank you

This was such a lovely cosy and comfortable house.

We had everything we needed, everything worked properly and there were lots of extra touches that helped us feel welcome and looked after. We only had a short stay so didn’t get chance to use the sweet conservatory area or sit in the different outdoor spaces but it was still fun to check them out. We definitely hope to stay here again in the future. And thank you for the cake!

Fab cottage great position by river.

Lovely walks from door and very helpful and understanding host.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week in this cottage where I found the bed comfortable, plenty of hot water and the kitchen provided enough kit for my needs.

I was on my own so did not use the dishwasher nor the washing machine. The garden was full of flowering Verbena Bonariesis which had a number of Humming bird Moths and butterflies. It was a very warm week in October which meant I could take many walks in the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and enjoy visits to Dungeness RSPB ( no cafe) Winchelsea and a walking tour of the town. A gem of a place perfectly placed to visit a number of places beyond but watching the tide come and go into the Rother River from the bedroom window was a treat. Especially as I saw the highest Spring tide of the year.

Great location, cottage didn't quite come up to our expectations

The cottage was lovely, and the garden teeming with wildlife, which was a joy.

Ideally placed for so many trips out too. Comfier pillows would have made the stay perfect as good sleep makes such a difference!

We have been holidaying in the UK for many years and this was undoubtably the best location we have ever stayed in.

The proximity to the river and access to the nature reserve was fantastic. The house is a good size for two people and is well equipped and Wi-Fi is reliable. The decor is quirky, and of its time, but it a really relaxing place to be. Prospective renters should be aware that it is a terraced house in a residential area, I really liked this, but it may put some people off. Also there is no privacy in the (beautiful) gardens, so if that is what you are looking for, then this is not the property for you. The only issue ( and this feels very pedantic) that would stop us for returning here time and time again is the bed. It is a standard sized double and we had real difficulty sleeping in it as a couple, being used to having a bit more space. However, we would highly recommend this house. It’s location is brilliant for exploring the local area and wider across East Sussex and Kent.

Excellent cottage, well placed to visit interesting places and handy also for Brighton, Eastbourne.

Been three times and will go again!

We felt it was quite expensive overall and was not quite as well 'stocked' with alternative crockery in the kitchen.

That said, it was adequate and given the smaller dishwasher, there was enough for each day. The towels were uber lovely, but we found the pillows lumpy and uncomfortable. Great position for walking, good local pub and nice walk (40 minutes) through countryside to get to Rye town where there were lots more pubs and eateries.

Lovely peaceful location backing onto the river.

Ideal spot for great walks and visiting nearby Rye, Winchelsea, Pett Level, etc. Cottage is very attractively kitted out - we had a great time.

Great location, particularly its nearness to a pub with great food and beer!

Coastal walking was excellent and the nearness of other places worthy of a visit eg Dungeness was great. There was a minor issue with the hot water but the landlord was willing to come around and sort it out. Highly recommended.

This is a hidden gem.

Beautifully situated in Rye Harbour & right next to the Nature reserve - but only a short bus ride from Rye itself. Lovely, helpful owners on hand if needs be.

Found everything exactly as described on line very pleased with our stay

First rate home, so much attention to details in the decor which is very nautical.

Definitely recommend this for anyone who has dogs, you simply go out back gate and follow river to the nature reserve and sea. We had a silly little problem which was seen to within 30 mins, so outstanding hosts! Thank you for letting us stay at your home, we felt so relaxed all the time we were there.

This truly felt like a home from home.

Beautifully decorated property with everything we could have possibly needed to make our stay comfortable. We tend to cook our evening meals back at our properties when we go away and I have become used to taking lots of kitchen stuff with me. This wasn't required at all here. Everything was there and all of a really lovely quality. Great location with so many walks and a fantastic pub and cafes around the corner. Would definitely go back and highly recommend to anyone.

The only downside was that local pubs/restaurants closed between 5pm - 6pm during the winter months which we hadn't realised.

We really enjoyed our stay in this cosy comfortable cottage.

It is very well placed with just a short walk from the bottom of the garden to a cafe, pub and the nature reserve. It provides a great base to explore further afield too. The owners responded very quickly when we had a query. We would thoroughly recommend this cottage.

This cottage lived up to expectations.

As recommended by the owner, on the first night we went for a meal in the William the Conqueror which was enjoyable - the staff were very friendly and the fish and chips were tasty. The owners' list of recommendations was very useful. We tried out another pub at the end of the week, the Globe Inn Marsh where we had delicious lamb and fish. The situation of the property meant that we were able to visit five National Trust properties in the week. There was a bit of confusion over the bins but a kind neighbour put us right.

A beautifully presented, well equipped, relaxing home, great location, quirky garden.

We will be back.

Coastguard Cottage was extremely comfortable and it was lovely to have a view of the river from our bedroom - watching redshank in the warm and dry was a huge plus point.

The kitchen was well equipped, the sofas and bed were comfortable, the cottage was warm and the cake that was kindly provided was delicious. Thank you

Wonderful place to stay .

Attention to detail was brilliant and nice touches for Christmas . Bottle of bubbly as well as a lovely lemon drizzle cake . The cottage was warm and cosy as well as well furnished . We thoroughly enjoyed our stay . Well done .

Loved the properties quirky decoration & especially the lit wall in the living room.

I’d seen a negative comment about the shower, but you’ve obviously sorted this out as showers were powerful enough for me. Garden being pebbled was great with dog as is meant it helped prevent muddy feet coming in (although I towelled paws before coming in). I marked cleanliness down slightly but this was due to cobwebs & a few spiders in back conservatory (I’m not a fan). I would’ve hoovered them but struggled to put attachment on Henry...Doh! The location in relation to the beaches & reserve was perfect for getting to dog walks. The dog loved his early morning walk across the back path & to the harbour but he would insist on checking the pub door to see if they were open as we passed.

Very quirky which was great.

Everything good except shower which could do with updating. Will definitely stay there again

Great location.

Lovely to sit outside and enjoy the garden. Access to the nature reserve was a real bonus - so beautiful and perfect for dog walks. Was expecting grass in the garden, rather than pebbles!

The cottage was amazing.

The attention to detail the owner provided was like being home from home. The position of the cottage was right on the harbour and nature reserve was a beautiful place to walk around. Would recommend this cottage for couples or families.

Lovely little cottage.

Facilities provided very good. Near to pub and cafe, both serving very nice food. Great area for walks, dog walks, sitting on the beach and bike riding. We were lucky with the weather, so managed to do all these things without needing a raincoat! The only negative thing was, the original photo from which the cottage was booked, showed a lawn to the back garden. When we got there, this had been replaced by stones, so the dog wouldn’t walk on them, therefore wouldn’t go out into the garden. There are dogs both sides of the property but were not problem for us. There were four adults in our party. This was fine for a weekend but we would have needed somewhere a little bigger if we were to stay longer.

The only thing we found lacking was a microwave oven in the kitchen and a few dishwasher tablets.

Other than that there's everything you need.

It was a fantastic time at this cottage.

Clean, cozy, lots of space indoor and outdoor and relaxing. Totally recommended!

This is really beautifully decorated cottage with some really quirky features.

It is well equipped and the owners had left milk and a cake which was a lovely touch. It is nicely situated for a peaceful holiday. There are some lovely walks nearby Sadly though, it could have been cleaner. Lots of surfaces looked like they had been wiped over with a greasy cloth. The dishwasher was disgusting and had to be cleaned thoroughly before use. And the living room smelt of dog. I know it’s a dog friendly cottage but we’ve never stayed anywhere that has smelt of dog before. We had a nice time and the cottage itself is beautiful but cleanliness needs to be improved.

my wife and i had a great stay in this wonderful and well equipped cottage.

friendly and helpful owners, great surroundings and an all around perfect holiday. would strongly recommend!