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"The property is very lovely and cosy."
It is set in beautiful surroundings over looking Loch Awe and gardens. The house has everything you need, well equipped with the exception of no tea towels! but luckily we took the advice of Sykes Cottages and we brought our own. The shower upstairs took some time getting used to, it would go really hot then cold. The bedrooms were all comfortable with plenty of extra duffets/pillows if necessary. The temperature of the whole house was fine with plenty of radiators and the added bonus of the big log burner for extra cosiness. There is a thermostat which you can easily control. We were told not to drink the water if it was discoloured and we received a nice welcome gift of chocolates and Prosecco!
Reviewed by Rachel4.1★Apr 2025
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"It was a return to "the Steading" at Portsonachan, the house was great, loch and scenery was amazing."
. hopefully will return in 2025.
Reviewed by Garry5.0★Nov 2024
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"The property is lovely and spacious, however it badly needs a but of a deep clean and TLC, there were a lot of cobwebs all over the property and the grout in both bathrooms is very yellow (HG mould spray would get it back to white without re-grouting)."
My partner is badly allergic to dust and on day 3 started heavily sneezing and struggling to breathe, the property isn't dusty but I think possibly the central heating being on caused it and the radiators maybe need a deep clean.
Although self catering, the lack of dish soap to wash dishes was a big disappointment, there was 1 bottle of kitchen spray and 1 bottle of bathroom spray but no cloths, and only 1 replacement kitchen sponge, one big bag supplied at the property etc, for somewhere so rural I think this is a let down as there aren't local shops to pop out and get these things, and it would be a big advantage to the stay to be able to properly clean up.
There was also a lot of pots, cups and plates, plenty casserole dishes bit no oven trays to cook anything on which left us having to use the muffin baking trays to cook chips etc
The kindling wouldn't burn well at all, not sure why as we got the fire going then the wood just charred and went out, possibly good to have slightly more small bits of wood as the livingroom and fire is lovely.
The games room is great and as there was a storm during our stay let us keep busy, plenty games too and good TV options/signal.
The water pressure is really really bad, to the point you almost can't run a tap upstairs, the bath water ran filthy and full of bits, and as others have said down stairs shower was far superior. The upstairs toilet barely flushes, would be concerning if there was a party of 6 adults for sure.
The livingroom and dining area are both very cosy and well furnished, the main sofa cushions are definitely suffering a bit from usage and possibly would benefit from being swapped with the one against the wall, but plenty seating and a lovely cosy feel.
We both enjoyed our stay, we actually didn't find the 3rd upstairs bedroom until our last day! Thought it was a cupboard door! It's a nice property but certainly needs a little bit of time and love to clean up the grout, cobwebs etc but it was still a lovely stay with a lovely bottle and sweets left for us, beautiful setting too by the water, bit of a shame it is private for the lodges however and you can't get near the water but still beautiful.
I don't think it would take much to get the property looking a bit better/cleaner and maybe add more cleaning products to help out. Property was lovely and warm and heating easy to use and very effective, good number of lights/lamps for different areas and to get cosy, maybe could supply a warm blanket in the livingroom for couples to cosy up in at night.
Overall loved the stay, just a few little things that could improve it.
Thank you for your review and we are glad you enjoyed your stay and Welcome Gifts in The Steading.
Apologies for the cobwebs, our cleaner does try to keep on top of them however at this time of the year they do seem to appear overnight.
The dust in the property hasn’t been an issue before, however with exposed brick walls and character beams there may be a little more than in an average property. The heating is regularly on with no other comments from other guests.
Apologies for the lack of dish soap etc, this was a mistake by the cleaner and is normally provided. If contacted, we could have provided you with them immediately.
Baking sheets for the oven are all kept in the storage drawer in the oven, again you just needed to contact us.
A large basket of average sized logs is provided, too small and they would burn away too quickly, and it is suggested in the welcome book where more can be purchased.
Water supply upstairs – this is due to a private water supply from the hills and the pressure is sadly out of our control time to time.
We will plump the sofa cushions up after each stay. There are blankets on all the beds if anyone wishes to “snuggle up” on the sofa.
The upstairs bedroom, it’s a shame you didn’t open the doors sooner on this lovely room.
There is access to the loch side for our guests. A laminated map of the gardens is on the hallway table explaining where you can go. It shows the children’s play area, seating area with fire pit and a Summer house on the Loch side where Kayaks and paddleboards can be launched from.
We are available 24 hours a day and would have happily resolved any issues you had whilst staying in The Steading.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Kelsie3.4★Oct 2024
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"Although house was lovely and we enjoyed the pool table and darts and comfy sofas we sadly won’t be back."
Had no hot water in kitchen, upstairs bathroom we couldn’t use shower as water pressure meant no hot water etc. 6 people using the en-suite shower downstairs was ridiculous and took ages to get going in morning because of it. Had to boil kettle to wash dishes.
The curtain rail in upstairs bedroom fell down middle of night and by holes in wall this looks like not the first time this has happened. A lot of cobwebs in house. Washing machine and freezer in outside shed but washing machine didn’t work. The conservatory door wouldn’t open and again you need to go outside house to enter it.
However well equipped house. Peaceful location. Didn’t report faults as seen in loads of various posts previous with same issue and nothing done about it. Please also note that this is a shared driveway and house opposite looks into The Steading. Photos don’t show you have houses all round you. Also the table and chairs in photos are nothing to do with this house.
Reviewed by Esther2.2★Oct 2024
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"The Steadings we found to be comfortable ,easy to heat with plenty of room."
The kitchen operated as you would expect , beds comfortable and all in all a nice place to stay . Now the not so good bits!!! . The conservatory being of wood construction was rotten and of single pane glass and damp!, the main bathroom shower although new would run cold due to lack of water pressure ?the owner said he would look at it but it never sprayed warm or hot water while we were there which is NOT good with adults needing showeres!. The water from the taps comes out BROWN!, I spoke with the owner and he assures me that it was safe to drink........no proof to us of this fact so we bought water in daily for drinking. These items are not acceptable and I will be in contact with Sykes in due course.
Reviewed by Perry3.1★Sep 2024
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"House is lovely and as described - very comfortable."
Quiet and gorgeous location with the ability to walk down to the Loch. Owners really responsive if you have any questions.
Reviewed by Sally3.8★Aug 2024
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"The area leafing to the loch is lovely and so are the grounds."
The house itself is in real need of maintenance and updating.
- oven door doesn’t shut
- extractor in kitchen doesn’t work
- showers only possible downstairs, not ideal for 6 people as it’s the size of a cupboard(and looks like one)very low water pressure,
- mattress in bedroom downstairs was very lumpy and uncomfortable.
- birds nesting over front door so bird poop all over the floor at the front of the house.
Reviewed by Sophia1.6★Jul 2024
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"Lovey place, beautiful setting, would love to visit again when the sun comes out"
Reviewed by Lynda5.0★Jun 2024
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"What a lovely place."
Well equipped and stocked with everything to get you started. Lovely welcome basket. Everything about the place was great. Only 1 problem. I only stayed a week.
Reviewed by Brian5.0★Jun 2024
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"Shower was not powerful enough,where you could go and where you could loch wise was not sign posted very well"
Reviewed by Jordan4.4★Jun 2024
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"Lovely place to stay peaceful."
The only downfall would be the oven door doesn’t shut so takes longer for things to cook and in the bedroom upstairs there is a leak which is being caught by a bowl.
Apart from that it was a lovely holiday that involved a lot of driving as very remote from villages.
Reviewed by Zoe4.4★Apr 2024
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"An absolutely amazing house in a beautiful setting."
Would definitely recommend, the house had everything needed and more.
Reviewed by Fleur5.0★Mar 2024
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"All 6 of us were very pleased with the house and the hosts, who were extremely helpful during the blackout due to the heavy storm."
From a very few cons, I might mention there was a leak in the top bedroom during heavy rains, but nothing major - I'm sure the owners will fix the issue once the weather gets better. We wish there was a dishwasher which a party of 6 would greatly benefit from, but since it wasn't listed we knew we would have to invest in manual labour. Another slightly negative aspect we experienced was the oven which didn't close properly so we mostly had to cook in an air fryer which we brought with us. Having said that, the pros outweigh the cons and shouldn't discourage anyone from enjoying this marvelous house. It's great for get-togethers as the house invites you to spend most of the time in the main living room whether you are dining together, dancing, playing board games, or watching movies near the fireplace. We also enjoyed the fact there was a pool room with darts. It was nice to change the atmosphere and activities while other people cooked or had a chill moment upstairs. The house was perfectly decorated for Xmas and was very clean and tidy. We highly recommend the house and hope to come back one day!
Reviewed by Pavels5.0★Dec 2023
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"A lovely property in a beautiful and quiet location."
Clean and comfortable and a really nice gesture of a welcome gift. We would recommendation as a great place to explore the surrounding area
Reviewed by Rachel4.4★Aug 2023
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"We really enjoyed our stay at the Steadings."
We really enjoyed the old fashiond charming character of the property, the spaciousness, atmosphere and peace of the place. A wonderful setting with lovely views and we loved the garden and woodland walks. We particularly loved the games room and had pool tournaments every night. The welcome pack was very generous and there is plenty to see around the area. My family consists of a teenage boy and adult son and the rest of us adults. It was perfect for us, very well equipped and cosy.
Reviewed by Sally5.0★Aug 2023
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"Great place to stay with direct access to the loch."
The games room was brilliant for rainy days. The pictures show table and chairs at the edge of the loch but this is not accessible as it is private for the lodges.
Reviewed by Keith3.8★Jul 2023
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"Fantastic location, wonderful house for our stay at loch Awe and we shall be returning to this house!"
! thanks again from Garry & Mirella
Reviewed by Garry5.0★Apr 2023
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"Well stocked kitchen with a fantastic range cooker."
Lovely big dining table which was ideal for our family of four adults. The open plan living room had plenty of comfortable seating and the wood burning stove gave it a cosy feel. The balcony had great views of the mountains and the settee situated in front of the patio doors was lovely to sit with a coffee looking at the views. The games took was well used in the evenings. The welcome pack was much appreciated.
Reviewed by Norman5.0★Apr 2023
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"Lovely accommodation in a fantastic location."
We really enjoyed our stay, the welcome and facilities were excellent and would highly recommend this property.
Reviewed by John4.7★Aug 2022
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"Looking for a relaxing quiet holiday this was it."
There wasn`t much to do near the house itself but, if you take the car there is a few places to go visit. Oban and Inveraray being the two most popular. The house itself was amazing but lacked a little bit of TLC and repairs to the wooden floor at the balcony doors. It was clean, comfortable and had everything we needed for our stay. Given a choice of pillows on the beds would have been good, as my husband has allergies to feathers and, I`m sure being given the option of different firm pillows would be a bonus to anyone suffering allergies. All in all we had a great time spent with family...Thanks!
Mary & Jim.
Reviewed by Mary3.8★Aug 2022
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"Listing undersells it."
Really nice cottage.
Lovely area.
Very remote and quite.
Could do with some TLC to the jetty but could still go for a swim with less than a min walk to the home.
Outdoor furniture could do with a clean.
Reviewed by Ryan5.0★Jul 2022
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"A lovely home in a beautiful location."
We had everything we needed to make us feel at home and particularly enjoyed evenings playing pool in the wee pub. We had a lovely relaxing week and the property was the perfect base for us to enjoy day trips to Inverary and Oban. We would definitely head back again!
Reviewed by Calum5.0★Jul 2022
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"The property needs a deep clean each time guests leave as when me and my family got there it was filthy!"
There was dried on vomit in the bathroom toilet upstairs, previous occupants urine stains on toilet downstairs, showers blocked up with hair and the travel cot that I requested for my little one was covered in mould. I understand there is a limited window for cleaning a property between one guest leaving and another arriving, but at best the basics need to cleaned.
Items within the household need updating as the microwave was rusty (which is a fire hazard), the oven door did not shut completely so it was difficult to cook anything, certain baking trays did not even fit in the oven.
The whole house just needs some serious tlc and updating. Pictures advertised were misleading as it looked like such a nice property but it was a let down.
However the views and the surrounding areas were beautiful and we had a fantastic holiday.
Hi thank you for your comments, I am finding this really hard to believe, we called you prior to your arrival and I think if I remember rightly you were running late. I then called you to see if everything was ok and not once did you mention anything at all about the items you talk about in your review. You did enjoy our welcome gifts of Prosecco and chocolate's and shortbread I assume. I can only assume you arrived in a bad mood and everything was wrong. Our cleaners are full time professionals and take their work extremely seriously with pride and are very good at what they do. They don’t rush and have plenty of time. No one has ever had a problem with cooking or the oven (it’s a double oven of two sizes hence two tray sizes) or the microwave, I think you may be better suited to a 5 star all-inclusive hotel with butler service. Our reviews have been fantastic, and I am unhappy that you see fit to leave a review of this nature. The accuracy of the listing is correct and if anyone reading it looks at the older reviews, they state that the pictures don’t do it justice. Comfort…. again you are so wrong but for the record we had already purchased two new Sofas and a wing back chair for the lounge even though they weren’t needed as we continue to renew and keep the place up to scratch which unfortunately you didn’t get the benefit.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Louise2.2★May 2022
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"Pictures don’t do the holiday home justice a lot nicer and bigger in real life."
Neighbours friendly loved meeting the dogs. fully equipped house will definitely be booking again. Owners contacted me enroute to ensure everything was ok welcome pack much appreciated only downside mattress too soft for our preference.
Reviewed by Holly4.4★Apr 2022
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"Wonderful place to say, right close to the loch."
Clean and cosy. Big living area upstairs with stunning views. Nicer than it looks in the pictures.
Reviewed by Chloe5.0★Apr 2022
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"Fantastic house and facilities, the owners even arranged for us to get the keys an hour early so we could watch the Scotland 6 Nations game."
I would highly recommend here to anyone wanting to get away from it all with friends in a tranquil setting.
Reviewed by John5.0★Feb 2022
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"Took elderly parents, Dad having dementia so wasn't sure how it would go."
I needn't have worried , it was like home from home. The views amazing, the welcome gifts a lovely touch. The biggy for us that brought so much joy was the bar area with the pool table. We played every night , so much fun and laughter. The short walk to the Loch was amazing. All in all a fab place to spend time and make new memories. Will definitely go back. Thank you for sharing your wonderful home.
Reviewed by Susan5.0★Oct 2021
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"The views from the cottage and the grounds were amazing."
We loved the peace and quiet and the access to the shore.
The cottage itself gave everyone their own space.
The games room was a great place to spend the evenings.
There is no doubt that the weather helped us to have one of our best ever holidays.
Reviewed by Rosemary5.0★Aug 2021
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"House and conservatory both tired and in need of update."
No dishwasher was disappointing. Bathroom shower was too low to get under and water flow was poor. Bar was a good facility but dart board needed a light. Property situation was lovely but no local walks so any outing was at least 5 miles of single track road. A good week but premium price should provide 5 star accommodation.
Reviewed by Paul3.4★Aug 2021
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"We loved our time in this cottage."
It is set in a beautiful location and was perfect for our family of four. Whether playing pool or x-box when inside or heading down to the loch when outside there was always something to do. It is also a great place to explore the highlands from too. Would definitely book here again.
Reviewed by Tony5.0★Jul 2021
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"Better directions to this property would be advisable, was very hard to find and the brief directions we were given didn’t give a starting point or an idea of distances."
Reviewed by Jacqueline5.0★Jun 2021
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"If you're looking for a peaceful holiday in beautiful surroundings and you want to stay in a spacious, tastefully decorated and furnished house with everything you could want to provide comfort et be cosy at the same time, look no further than The Steading."
We were absolutely delighted with everything this property had to offer and would have no hesitation at all in recommending this anyone looking for all of the above.
Reviewed by John5.0★May 2021
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