Castle Mill

Lovely property in a beautiful area.

Well equipped and comfortable with amenities close by and beautiful views.

We had a lovely stay.

A few things could improve it. Information on how to work the heating and other appliances (we have none ourselves!) Do you actually recycle? We separated everything but there was no separate bin outside. What about compost? No red bin for dog poo should it be needed. The freezer was unusable due to being frozen solid, needs a defrost. It would be lovely to have more info on the history and conversion of the mill as it has been done so well.

The property was warm and comfortable and very well situated, but there were some issues which prevent me from giving a higher rating: 1.

The heated towel rail in the ensuite bathroom wasn't working. A maintenance man came on the Monday and fixed it on the Tuesday, but the room remained very cold and dank and was very unpleasant to use. Unsurprisingly, there was evidence of mould. 2. The freezer was so iced up we had to defrost it before it was usable. 3. No handsoap was provided in kitchen or bathrooms and only 2 rolls of loopaper. There were 4 dishwasher tablets, but virtually no washing up liquid. 4. The kitchen wasn't very well stocked (in particular, there weren't enough mugs and tumblers). 5. The dehumidifiers possibly need bleaching, as two of us suffered from allergic rhinitis during our stay. I understand this can be caused by a buildup of mould inside the reservoirs which can emit spores into the air while the dehumidifiers are running.

Castle Mill Cottage has many positives, perfect location,well equiped, lots of hot water, plenty of parking, warm and cosy.

Cleanliness could be improved and some maintenance of facilities needs to be checked. Beds are comfortable, but the pillows could be softer ( we fou d them either too thick and hard or overwashedand lumpy). However, It it is lovely and offers value for money, and we would definitely revisit. When guests are staying for the full week It would be useful to have extra towels and cleaning products, including extra bin bags available so that we can keep the cottage clean. (We purchased these). Instructions for equipment within the property would also be useful. There is, however, lots of really well put together information on the area. Thoughtfully including emergency contact numbers, places to visit, places to eat, and a list of dog friendly beaches plus maps for walking.

Enjoyed our stay at Castle Mill.

Lovely sea views. Despite the rainy week we had, the property was warm & we had no issues with dampness. Kitchen well equipped. Worth noting that the secure back garden is small (we had a dog) & the front garden is completely open. Also a hanging rail in the main bedroom would’ve been appreciated esp. as there is room for one. Apart from that, would recommend.

The cottage and location were perfect, however the overall rating has been let down by the following; 1.

The property wasn't as clean as it could have been. It seemed that it had had a 'surface' clean, but it certainly hadn't been thoroughly cleaned prior to our arrival 2. Disappointing lack of any kind of welcome pack., not even a bin liner in any of the bins. A small gesture of a pint of milk, some sugar etc would have gone a long way. 3. The property was listed as having a BBQ. Unfortunately the BBQ was filthy, rusty and three of the four legs dropped off, so was unusable. 4. Every room had a dehumidifier but there was no information on these at all. They needed to be emptied twice a day to keep them running. 5. There was no hot water on our first morning. We found the boiler and were able to turn the water on, but again, there was no information on this. All of the above are quick fixes! It's a shame as otherwise the property would have been perfect.

Good location.

Good facilities and clean and comfy. Quite a few cobwebs and spiders but I guess to be expected. Birds in loft of main bedroom not great as woke us early with chirping. A few maintenance issues - broken window handle in kitchen, twin bedroom doors don't lock properly. Unable to shower ar same time as ran out of hot water. Instructions on cooker would be helpful. Bigger bath towels would be better. Check freezer as someone left ice cream in there. Provisions left very nice touch.

We had a lovely relaxing stay at Castle Mill, everything was provided for.

This is a beautiful property, spacious and peaceful, perfectly located in the town with all amenities available locally.

Castle Mill is a sensitively converted ex working mill building about three minutes walk from the centre of Newport.

The decor is a stylish eclectic mix of antiques and modern furniture which works beautifully within the context of the building. Everything seems to have been thought about, there is a large bench by the door to sit on and take your boots off after a long walk and plenty of places to hang coats. The kitchen is well stocked and has everything you need. There are dehumidifier's in every room which need to be emptied every day but this takes moments and wasn't a problem for us. Location wise it is great as parking seems to be at a premium in the town but you can park outside the cottage and access everything, the beach, long walks, pubs etc, without having to move the car. All in all a great stay.

Lovely spacious cottage, in a beautiful setting.

The cottage was well equipped and not far to walk to pubs, restaurants and shops.

A wonderful location, so close to the centre of Newport (yet with its own parking), and with all the lovely walks straight from the property.

The previous feedback on this website had clearly been noticed, as the property was very clean, and milk, bread, butter and Welsh cakes were there as a welcome, which was lovely. We took our own drain mesh trap to catch hairs in the main shower (thank you to a previous reviewer who had warned us!). A couple of minor pointers: Firstly, we would have appreciated some clarity around the recycling. We saved all our paper, plastic, and glass and carried it down to Long Street car park (as in the property instructions on the wall by the microwave) but there was only a bottle bank there, so we had to put all the recyclables in the black bin sacks in the cottage, which seemed a huge pity. Secondly, some guidance about how much to run the dehumidifiers (night/day, how often) would have been helpful. We worked out how to empty them using the instruction manual on the shelf above the television, but some more guidance in the white folder would be useful. All in all though we had a great week and would be happy to choose this property again.

The property was lovely in a beautiful location but it was let down by cleanliness and general maintenance.

When we first arrived we thought this is amazing until you looked a bit closer. There were cobwebs everywhere and they had been there for some time, especially on the velux windows which really stood out. The sink was stained brown, luckily there was some bleach cleaner which got it back to its original cream colour. The toilets were stained as well but we had no bleach left and felt we shouldn’t really be cleaning the place. Doing holiday cleans ourselves we realise that you may miss something when cleaning but these bits really stood out. We weren’t sure if we’d done the recycling and rubbish correctly as the bins outside weren’t marked for what was to go into them. Beds and pillows were comfortable, plenty of parking, the outside areas were lovely but again could do with a gardener to trim it back as it’s very overgrown, especially by the stream. The dehumidifiers we never found a problem with the noise but instructions on how to empty them would have made life easier for those that have never had to use them. Please don’t let the bits I’ve mentioned put you off booking as it was lovely but it would be better if the issues mention were sorted out.

Lovely cottage beautiful setting.

Dehumidifiers noisy and need emptying very often. Certain areas could do with a bit of TLC but none of this stopped us having a great time

When we arrived at 4pm the house hadn't been cleaned, the beds not changed and towels were dirty.

There were cobwebs everywhere and although cleaners may have prepared for guests, it's clear that the Mill hasn't had a thorough clean for months. The building itself has a damp gable-end wall (in the lounge), and dehumidifiers abound. There is an exhaust outlet for the boiler at head height on the outside wall - by the double doors which gives off noxious waste gases when in use, - making the rear patio unusable and the rear doors couldn't be opened onto the garden because of the gas outlet. The garden area around the rear patio was sodden and could be made dry by channeling the drainage from the hill into the old mill race. There were no welcome facilities and no washing-up liquid or dishwasher tablets. The emergency cleaners managed to get to the property soon after 4.30 and did a thorough job of rectifying the mistakes. They left us some basic items, but not the cleaning items mentioned above. The property would clearly benefit from a woodburner rather than a piano - Do not touch. Really disappointed, and although Sykes resolved the issues quickly, they have not been back in touch to talk through the impact that an unprepared, dirty property had on our holiday. The Mill could be a really special place to stay with just a few changes.

car parking gets very muddy when raining.

De-humidifiers have small reservoirs. Otherwise, great place, may well return.

We had a lovely stay.

The property is in a lovely located with beautiful views of the sea from the side of the property and kitchen window. The property was immaculately clean. The living room and kitchen were both functional and comfortable. The bedroom we're all clean, the beds were OK. I would not class them as comfy. There are mattress toppers on top to try and enhance the comfort, but the beds themselves could do with replacing. This is the only reason for a 4 star and not 5 star review. The drain in the shower get clogged and does not drain properly. This is clearly a long standing issue as the door frame in the bathroom has started to go rotten. If we could suggest one thing it would be the owner put some handsoap in the bathroom. I think we have been spoilt with every other property we have rented with sykes (10+) ad they usually have maybe a pint of milk and a few little started bits to help you on your way. At Castle Mill there was nothing and that is fine. We appreciate this is just an added bonus, but we would expect a bottle of handsoap. The first thing koat people do when travelling a long was is use the bathroom. This is literally rather only negative comments. The property is beautiful, the location is beautiful and there is everything you need on your doorstep, from cafes, a local butchers, spar shop and a lovely pub.

Great position.

Wonderful views. Peaceful. Cigarette roll up on front step on arrival. Uncomfortable beds due to cheap mattresses. Average quality bed linen. Two pillows on double bed with no pillow case. Towels not great. No hand towel in kitchen. Only one tea towel. Dirty dishwasher.

This is a wonderful property!

Tucked away but yet so close to town and the wonderful countryside and sea. The cottage is clean and well presented and we had a fabulous stay.

This is a lovely property which offers a wide range of activities nearby.

We took advantage of the shops, pubs, places to walk, and the local market on Monday. The accommodation is well equipped and comfortable. The town is pleasant without being spoilt by overdeveloped tourism. Further afield we enjoyed the Gwaun valley and coastal walks.

Truly loved staying in this "upside down" charming cottage.

Kitchen very well stocked and very comfy beds. Would like to suggest a "grab rail" in the bathroom as bath side is quite high. Plenty of eateries with delicious food. Definitely hope to return.