“I already have extremely high "expectations" of Sykes, having booked several lovely cottages through them in the past, so it would take something spectacular to warrant "exceeded expectations"!”
They "met" my expectations, as always.
Weir Cottage was in a very convenient location, right in the middle of the village, close to pubs, restaurants, chip shops(2!), a well stocked general store, and a huge bookshop, whilst feeling quiet (except for the constant noise of the weir!) and secluded. There are regular buses from just around the corner from the cottage to places further afield as well as a train station, about half a mile away. Masson Mill shopping village is a short walk away and there is a lovely walk along the canal basin. We found plenty to do in and around the village despite the disappointing weather. In fact, we only used the car once, in a week, to visit nearby Carsington Water.
The cottage was clean, comfortable and welll equipped. I appreciated the thoughtful provision of fleecy blankets in the living room, as it did get a bit chilly, on the sofa furthest from the radiator, in the evenings. (They would have been useful if the weather had been decent enough to sit outside, on the provided patio chairs, too!) The owner was friendly and helpful but unobtrusive, arriving very quickly to fix a problem with the boiler.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this cottage to families or couples (but see previous review about lack of hanging space in the second bedroom - just 2 coat hangers on the back of the door - not a problem for me, but some may find that inadequate). Young children would need to be closely supervised though, due to the proximity of the unfenced mill pond.