Mr Chapman, May 2019
May 2019
Externally, the cottage is very pretty and the gardens are lovely - very well-tended and full of greedy birds.. Inside, the cottage is basically in very good order: the kitchen is excellent and well equipped, the bedroom is airy and has a nice feel to it and the bathroom is OK (but see below). Furnishing is generic but comfortable enough, although the living room feels a little drab and unloved.
Some things to note:
● WiFi/broadband is hopeless. We wished the cottage listing had been more upfront about this. Normally it wouldn’t bother us in the slightest, but on this occasion and for various reasons we specifically made our booking choice based on the availability of internet access, and finding that access at the cottage pretty much unusable caused us a good deal of grief.
● The TV works, but the aerial doesn’t, so if you are hoping to catch up with the Chelsea Flower Show, you are out of luck! (You won't be able to use iPlayer - see above).
● The shower works, but the temperature control dial is iffy, and if you are not very careful it is easy to scold yourself with very hot water. Be careful if you have a child with you. The shower/bath water does not drain away properly. This is (probably) due to the fact that the plug hole is blocked up with previous guests hair.
● The whole do they/don’t they supply towels thing its a bit weird. The listing says that towels are NOT supplied, the conformation email states that towels ARE provided, and finally there is a last minute phone call 48 hours before the booking to confirm that towels are NOT provided. This is a new one on us, and it all seems a bit unnecessary.
Location of the cottage is excellent. Great access to the moors and loads of great walking, the coast, the pretty market towns of Pickering, Malton, Kirbymoorside, etc. are all near at hand. The New Inn next is door is very good, and we also liked the Blacksmiths Arms at Lastingham. Great spot.