Mrs Manning
October 2018
After reading the many reviews of this cottage I got the impression we had found the perfect cottage, but have to be honest and say we were a bit disappointed with our weeks holiday spent at holly cottage.. The first thing that met our attention was the steep stairs, as steep was not an accurate description to describe the stairs at the cottage. Having spent ten years holidaying in many olde worlde cottages over the years with our dog, have met more then many properties with steep stairs. But this was far from steep, as the stairs are so narrow and so high it felt when descending up to the bedrooms it was like climbing a small mountain as we all had to hold onto the rope attached on right ad pull ourselves up. And coming down was very tricky as the stairs are so narrow not enough room for your feet coming down so despite how daft it sounds, it felt like absailing down as had to hold again onto rope coming down backwards as this was by far the safest way, as coming down normally was so tricky and left us all feeling very nervous. The last step is very high be warned when coming down. The kitchen is small but olde worlde cottage but due to self catering it is normal to take food with you whilst on holiday, but not alot of room and two cupboards were locked so really not ideal to take food as not much room to put it. We had a party of four adults and two dogs so the kitchen did not really offer much room for our supplies. Take kitchen roll with you as none was supplied, and a scour. For some reason we could not get a fire going in the wood burner as logs were damp from the rain at the beginning of the holiday, and the bedroom roof in our room and the next had a small leak when it rained. I hate to think what the outcome would be if really heavy rain. We tried several times with drier logs and some kindle but without success but the central heating really made the cottage warm. It does say in advertisement busy village road, but have to say it was a bit daunting trying to cross to take dogs for a walk, as too many haulage lorries in their dozen zipping past every second. I would say be prepared for the rapid on going traffic of this road as it was like taking our lives into our hands trying to cross at several intervals, and its not great when you have dogs also to think about. Not trying to leave a bad review but I would have appreciated it if a review had left us prepared for this as it was a bit of a shock. I have stayed in many cottages with roads busy but this was a tad scary sometimes trying to get across without coming into contact with one of many lorries or cars which seemed to be always driving this road at break neck speed.
As for the garden, like many dog lovers who take their dogs on holiday, it is vital at times to have a garden so your dog can do its business but the cottage does not have a garden with any lawn. Its a very once again rocky very high stones to one level of a pebbled small patio area, and another high big stone stairs to another patio with table and chairs. No grass whatsoever so we finally found a small piece of grass opposite where stream was. Across the road further down past the tyre place there is a steep hill which provides grassy bits and pooh bin for your doggy needs.
Places to take your dog is the rugey park just down road from cromford, turn right at traffic lights, and left again and then about two hundred yards on the right its called the meadows, great place to walk and exercise your dogs. Toilets there, and cromford canal tow path was also a great place within this area to walk your dogs. Poo bin was by car park area by gate where toilets were situated. Blacks rocks tissingurst trail was also great place to walk dogs. Cafe there too for refreshments. Sainsburys at matlock was handy, retail park about 17 miles away, morrisons, pets at home, b and m, and mcdonalds too. Derby town centre very good for lots of shopping. Decent town centre. Matlock also a nice place to shop too with a lovely big park too to walk your dogs. Matlock a place where we found a good laundrette if the need arises.