Debbie F
January 2022
Had the misfortune to stay here with family for New Year.
First of all yes it's a very old house and it is in the middle of the countryside.
We booked this through Skye's Cottages and we have received back 10% although begrudgingly from the owners but this was only thanks to Skye's Cottages.
There are a couple of good points for the house.
It's old, it as character and it's big.
We was told we could check in from 3.30 but house still wasn't finished cleaning. Don't know how bad it was because it still wasn't clean when we got in at 4.00pm.
Two cleaners for a seven bedroom house during Covid is not enough. Cooker was still filthy, trays inside greasy, dirty and all the non stick coming off. Managers helpful reply when complaining was well there's nothing to stop you putting everything in the dishwasher!!
One cupboard stank really stank. There was stale opened food left in there. The sink and washing up bowl was filthy, plughole had a brown stain that wouldn't come off. The cupboards was messy and not checked everything was sticky and untidy.
We was going to cook a Christmas meal but the oven and cooking utensils was so filthy we didn't bother. Wasting money on food. We ended up having to try to get takeaways or eating out.
There was cobwebs and dust everywhere.
Someone wiped the big dining table the cloth was black. Coasters and placemats disgusting with caked on food.
Cupboards in the so called games room smelt damp.
There supposed to have been a pool table but all the green surface was all ripped in several places, the balls was not even a set, different sizes and the cues was half cues. This supposed to have been the previous guests, who had also left the house in a mess.
The main room had a sofa that was broke in places so you ended up sinking down into it. The floor was dangerous floorboards kept coming out, nails was sticking out and there was holes in the floor. You had to constantly look where you was walking and we kept thinking the floor was going to give way.
Next the firewood. We know that most holiday let's state that they will provide you with the first basket of logs and then you have to buy your own but it stated and still states on the details that heat and fuel is included in the cost. It is not. Even when messaging unhelpful manager to ask where we could buy more logs she sent an abrupt text back stating that it wasn't up to them and details was in the book. The guest book was out of date and a lot of places to eat out and get takeaways from had now closed so it wasn't very reliable.
The bedding felt damp and wasn't clean, we all had two towels each that was threadbare and not very good quality. Our bedroom smelt horrible like a uncared for care home. Had to leave windows open at all times.
According to unhelpful manager oh it's probably a dead mouse stuck under the floorboards we can't get to it. It is an old house and it's the country. Lamp wasn't working, shower attachment on bath just went round and was loose.
The details for the house states you go down a set of steps, what it doesn't state is they are at least 15 steps that are very steep, slippy and not suitable for anybody with difficulty walking or balance issues. Was told by unhelpful manager was because of the rain but it only rained on the first day we was there. Know it's an old house but it should state how steep. It states on the details that the downstairs bedroom is great for anyone with mobility issues I doubt anyone with mobility issues could get down or up them. Carrying luggage down them is a nightmare. The little garden by the front door smelt of dog poo and was disgusting. We had two dogs with us and picked up after them.
The washing machine didn't work so nobody could wash their towels but according to unhelpful manager they wasn't allowed to give us anymore because Skye's Cottages wouldn't allow them too. She also said she was waiting for laundry delivery but when we insisted we needed some clean towels she came to the house and a family member saw her go into a cupboard and get them out. She somehow she informed me managed to get hold of some. Whilst there we tried to discuss all the problems we was going through. She said she felt over whelmed so I did say sorry and I tried to discuss all the issues with her. She wouldn't look at the oven, dirty unusable cooking trays or acknowledge anything.
She texted me the next day to tell me that she had spoken to the owners and they was getting in touch with Skye's to sort out some compensation for us. Skye's or owners knew nothing about this.
To top all this off the downstairs toilet kept blocking up and although a man was sent around loudly informing everyone it was a bank holiday he did pour some water down but couldn't fix it.
A second hand washing/tumble dryer was delivered and plumbed in but it only washed the dryer didn't work. This was the day before we came home
There was also lots and lots of blue bottles flying around in the house. Bit unusual in December. In the downstairs bedroom we discovered 30 of them hovering over by the window just staying there. Don't know where they came from but didn't feel right. Plus as well with the blocked toilet which by now stank we could not wait to get home.
Please if considering staying here reconsider for the sake of your health and we'll being.
The place needs closing down for a through deep clean.
If it was a takeaway environmental health would close it down.
Avoid the place like the plague.