Willow Wood

Upon first entering the cottage and taking the luggage upstairs, we were very impressed as to how it had been tastefully renovated and decorated throughout.

Further looking around revealed that it was very well equipped especially the kitchen. The lounge was a good size and very comfy. A lovely sized shower room and toilet. Both bedrooms were also a good size. The front bedroom had two single beds which were pushed together and had a mattress topper. I found that set up very uncomfortable and sleep difficult. The pillows in both bed rooms were very very soft and did not give much support at all. It was like lying in a blancmange, head sinking to the bottom and being engulfed. Maybe a real double bed and firmer pillows would be better. There was a lot of road noise, especially at around 6am with heavy trucks and cars speeding past the cottage. It was this, and the lack of sleep, which eventually led us to leave the cottage a day earlier than planned The towels that were provided were a bit on the small side and would not wrap round a rotund body! Bath sheets might be an answer. There was a very musty smell in the base cupboard under the microwave where plates were stored. In the lounge, seat arm coverings could prevent further staining. There were some really thoughtful touches like the illuminated address sign next to the front door, head torches and binoculars, sewing kit and a lovely Cozy Corner in the lounge with an assortment of books, colouring felt tips and guides to local walks. Settle is a wonderful little town with lots of cafes (The Naked Man is my favourite) for food and drinks) and other places to eat in the evenings. An excellent Indian restaurant in the market square. Unfortunately, the Italian restaurant was closed. Several outdoor gear shops and an amazing bike shop. Booth’s supermarket is worth a visit.

Willow Wood is a very comfortable cottage in a peaceful location, surrounded by beautiful views and excellent opportunities for walks from the doorstep.

Settle is very close, with its cafes, shops and a really helpful Tourist Information centre. We enjoyed visiting the Wensleydale Creamery, Skipton with its impressive castle, the Ingleton Waterfall trail - all surrounded by stunning scenery. A memorable holiday base.

Willow Wood is really a lovely place to stay.

It is clean, beautifully decorated, and well positioned. It must be very cosy in the winter months with the lovely fire place. There are a couple of things that could be worked on. The water pressure in the shower is very weak and this is especially the case after flushing the toilet. Although pets are encouraged and we saw evidence of this in terms of dog blankets, toys and towels which was most thoughtful. However, we found it difficult to take the dogs outside as we were reprimanded for taking them in a small piece of grass to the left of the houses. This was the only place to walk the dogs early in the morning or late at night. The other alternative was to walk up the road and then down a public footpath that ran along the river which was some distance from the lodge. It would help if more information was provided in terms of what would be expected in terms of taking our dogs outside. I must say our overall impression of Willow Wood was very positive.