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The Hide

(Ref. 949249)

Newtownards, County Down Show on map

4.9

Sykes rating

  • 8 Guests

  • 4 Bedrooms

  • 2 Bathrooms

  • Pets No

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Games Room
  • Seaside

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • great (13)
  • views (12)
  • house (12)
  • our (11)
  • well (11)
  • location (11)

34 Customer Reviews

  • "The Hide is a very spacious, comfortable and well equipped house with lovely views of Strangford Lough."

    Everything was spotlessly clean. The rooms were filled with sunshine for our visit and the light was beautiful. The Hide is ideally located for exploring this beautiful and interesting region and we particularly enjoyed Mount Stewart, Ulster Folk Museum, Bangor Castle Walled Garden and drives along the shore - it was wonderful to see the bird life there. Ruby, the owner, was extremely helpful and accommodating. We really enjoyed our stay here and would recommend this lovely holiday home.

    Thank you for taking the time to write your lovely review. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Ian5.0Sep 2024

  • "Recommended."

    Reviewed by Jason5.0Aug 2024

  • "Our holiday was originally booked for September 2023 but due to unforseen circumstances we had to push the holiday back to June 2024."

    I will say Sykes weren't very helpful but the owner was fantastic in helping with the rebooking for the new dates and very understanding. The house is beautiful, the entrance hall alone was amazing. The kitchen is lovely and big and the perfect communal area, even when preparing meals the rest of the family could sit around the table and chat and no one was getting in the way. Having the two sitting rooms was perfect because if anyone wanted to have some quiet time they could, my partner enjoyed listening to a couple records in there. The view is stunning and I loved just sitting by the window with a cuppa. There is a tesco less than 10 minutes away which was perfect as we done a large shop but still had to pop in most days for bits and bobs. We met the owners on the last day and they were very friendly. We will definitely be back again in a couple of years (would be sooner if we hadn't already booked somewhere for 2025).

    Reviewed by Tammy-jane5.0Jun 2024

  • "Location of property and space were perfect to enable us and some of our extended family to be together for a few days to attend a family wedding."

    The large kitchen area is ideal for meal times, and games; of which there is a great selection. A few large serving spoons would be helpful and two of the saucepans had seen better days. The shower room door leaked. The sitting rooms/relaxing spaces were restful with beautiful views over Strangford Lough. The entrance hall with its book cases and easy chairs is a lovely welcoming and relaxing space to read or chat.

    Reviewed by Helen4.7May 2024

  • "You do have to pay attention when arriving it's very easy to pass the turning to the property."

    Owner, is very helpful. Easy access to Newtownards and beyond there is bus stop very close by. About 2 hours to Giant's Causeway. There are alot of things to see and do nearby. If you want to swim in the Lough from the picnic area a couple hundred meters passed the turn off for the property take water shoes as the bottom is very rocky. The property itself is very homey, the views of the lough are amazing. lots of books, dvds and games for the quite evenings and rainy days. All in all we had a wonderful holiday and I hope to return to The Hide in the next couple of years and I can't give a better review than that.

    Reviewed by Stephen4.7May 2024

  • "A beautiful warm, clean home with lots of space and wonderful views and we had a great holiday there."

    There was a small leak in the downstairs shower between the sink and corner of the shower.

    Reviewed by Valerie5.0May 2024

  • "Wow, what a fantastic cottage!"

    The hall as you enter is stunning. My 6 year old son said it looks like 1st class in the Titanic. The cottage is very spacious and feels bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. The kitchen is huge and very well equipt with everything you'll need for cooking. Having two bathrooms was very handy especially since two of the bedroom's are downstairs. All of the beds were comfy except the double upstairs which is quite hard. My children absolutely loved playing in the garden and we even had an Easter egg hunt out there. One bonus which we haven't had in other places we've stayed is the record player, we spent lots of time looking through the records and listening to some old favourites. The selection of games dvds and jigsaws was great and the children really enjoyed them The location of the cottage is fantastic. We visited Titanic, Mount Stewart, Castle ward the transport museum and Newtownards for shopping and coffee. I would definitely recommend this cottage tp friends and family, Many thanks

    Reviewed by Caroline5.0Mar 2024

  • "The Hide was extremely comfortable and well equipped."

    The host was very welcoming and helpful. We hope to return some day soon.

    Reviewed by Brian5.0Mar 2024

  • "It was very cold during our stay which isn’t anyone's fault, of course, but downstairs was cold, especially overnight, despite the heating due to the large windows not being double glazed."

    There is only one shower (downstairs) which isn’t enough for 8 people and it leaks badly which has been flagged before but not fixed. The house was really well equipped, including the kitchen, although the provided towels weren’t great so would be better to suggest people provide their own as well. The other big omission was WiFi which should be made clearer on the listing. Rightly or not, people expect it these days. Communication from the owner was great and she was very helpful when we needed access with a spare key.

    Reviewed by Ian4.1Jan 2024

  • "We had such a lovely family Christmas at The Hide!"

    The kitchen was perfect for our large family to have such a wonderful Christmas feast. The views from the lounge/sitting room were just beautiful (when the sun was out) and Ruth was so very helpful whenever I had any questions about the property both before and during our stay. Our only issue was with the shower as there was only 1 shower which all 7 of us staying had to share as the one day we used the bath there was no hot water left for anyone else to shower. Also, I would look at maybe fixing the shower as it does leak out the door. Oh, and thank you for adding some festive cheer by decorating a little Christmas tree and putting up some decorations for us. The kids loved it!!

    Reviewed by Loryn4.4Dec 2023

  • "Would have been great if there was internet"

    Reviewed by Adam4.7Nov 2023

  • "Great location, warm comfortable house even in very wintry weather, the house was well presented."

    Reviewed by Jo-ann5.0Dec 2022

  • "Excellent host."

    Brilliant location. Good property. We are very pleased with the property, and the only minor issue was that the upstairs bathroom would benefit from the shower, particularly if there were more people. However, regardless, I will be happy to rent this property again.

    Reviewed by Ajay4.7Jul 2022

  • "We all loved The Hide."

    Comfortable, well-equipped, and gorgeous views of Strangford Lough. The owners also very helpful and accommodating!

    Reviewed by Claire5.0Jul 2022

  • "Great place for our group of 8."

    Loved the kitchen and gathered there often playing games and for meals.

    Reviewed by Deborah5.0Apr 2022

  • "The house was was well equipped and located in a great location, everything you needed for a comfortable stay."

    We would have stayed longer but due to work commitments one week was all we could manage .

    Reviewed by Anghony5.0Jan 2022

  • "Best equipped kitchen we've ever had in a holiday let."

    Seating not very comfortable for us 80year olds.

    Reviewed by John4.7Nov 2021

  • "We had a lovely time, unfortunately we didn’t spend many evenings there as it ..."

    We had a lovely time, unfortunately we didn’t spend many evenings there as it was my daughter’s wedding and lots going on The owners were on the ball and at the end of the phone, when needed Thank you

    Reviewed by Russell5.0Oct 2021

  • "This was a special place to stay for my mum's 80th Birthday, as she was born in the house in 1941."

    The house had been built by her Grandparents in 1939, who moved there from Court Square in Newtownards (they owned a wholesalers and soap factory in the town called Christie & Sons Limited). My mum can remember holidays spent here enjoying the garden, playing by the shore and visiting the neighbouring farms. The house was sold by the family after her grandfather died in 1946. Entering the house again offered my mum some familiar sights. The views for a start, but also the original panelling and fireplace as typical features of the period. The conversion of the original garage to a large kitchen/ dining room is a welcome modern addition though, with up to date bathroom and shower room. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would recommend The Hide as a perfect base to explore from.

    Reviewed by Clare5.0Sep 2021

  • "Lovely big house with plenty of space for everyone."

    Good location for getting out and about and great views over the Lough.

    Reviewed by Adrian5.0Aug 2019

  • "Lovely property , main complaint was no garden furniture as we had good weather but no where to sit outside despite the large grounds."

    Also washing line was useless, why it was there I dont know, it spoilt the look of the place. Too many children's toys and dolls and other peoples food left on fridge and cupboards . No plug in upstairs bathroom and one that did not work in the shower room. My partner had to put a glass in the sink to have a shave. !!! Those are the negative points. If the points were rectified I would have rated it 100%

    Reviewed by Kim4.1Jul 2019

  • "A great place to stay, it had everything we could wish for."

    A great location ,we will definitely be going back.

    Reviewed by Lilian5.0May 2019

  • "Fantastic house had a great time"

    Reviewed by John5.0Apr 2019

  • "Excellent accommodation for families."

    Good size and lots of kids toys to keep a toddler occupied. Beautiful views and ideal for a quiet retreat. Log fire was a welcome bonus and a reasonable stock of logs were provided. Good communication from the host.

    Reviewed by Judith5.0Mar 2019

  • "The location of The Hide was second to none, as it was very convenient to Ards Town Center."

    The view...amazing! We had a bit of good luck, as it was sunny for the majority of the time. The house was perfect for our family of (4) and the additional sitting room for the kids was great so we could have adult time in the other sitting room. Very friendly owner (Ruby) and the house was extremely tidy upon our arrival. Would definitely rent this house again on our next trip!

    Reviewed by William5.0Dec 2018

  • "Excellent hosts, were very friendly and engaging."

    Would definitely choose this property again.

    Reviewed by George5.0Nov 2018

  • "The house was wonderful, loads of space and views over Strangford Loch to die for."

    Wonderful meals and ambience at the pub in Greyabbey although on a wet night a bit of a hairy drive. Worked out well to return hire car to Belfast City airport and start journey home to Australia. Would definitely come again.

    Reviewed by Barbara5.0Oct 2018

  • "We loved our stay in the Hide."

    The cottage was lovely and cosy and in a great location. Everything was very clean and comfortable and all of us slept better than we ever had before! The only gripe I can make is that there was no WiFi at the cottage, which resulted in us using lots of phone data when trying to plan each day. Apart from that it was a great trip with everything you could ever need.

    Reviewed by Emma4.4Sep 2018

  • "We were very happy in The Hide."

    It is a warm, comfortable home with beautiful views of Strangford Loch. It is ideally situated to visit some wonderful locations and within an easy drive to Newtonards for all your shopping needs. We would definitely recommend The Hide and would love to return soon.

    Reviewed by Peter5.0Aug 2018

  • "The cottage was all that had been shown online and more, well equipped and positioned overlooking Strangford Lough."

    The host Ruby and Norman welcomed us on our arrival to guide us around the cottage and tell us places we may want to visit or restaurants we could visit. We highly recommend this cottage and look forward to visiting again in the future.

    Reviewed by Alan5.0May 2018

  • "The Hide cottage in Newtonards, was well above our expectations."

    It was a beautiful cottage in a lovely location, well equipped with everything from books, games, music and lots of different information for sightseeing. Would definitely recommend it.

    Reviewed by Margaret5.0May 2018

  • "A fabulous home from home, well equipped with lots of games and toys for kids to play with."

    Enough space for 3 generations to live under the same roof for a week. Stunning views over the lough. Loved it.

    Reviewed by Sharon5.0Apr 2018

  • "Beautiful location, beautiful house."

    Reviewed by Thomas5.0Dec 2017

  • "The house was perfect ."

    . spacious and very well equipped. Big garden for kids. Lovely host on greet/leave. Very happy

    Reviewed by Philip5.0Aug 2017

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Summary

  • Four bedrooms: 2 x ground floor double, 1 x double, 1 x twin
  • Bathroom with bath, basin and WC
  • Ground floor shower room with shower, basin and WC
  • Kitchen with dining area
  • Utility
  • Sitting room
  • Snug with open fire.
  • Oil central heating with open fire
  • Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, TV with Freeview, DVD, selection of books, games and DVDs
  • Wifi
  • Record player and selection of records
  • Fuel, power and starter pack for open fire inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Highchair and Travel Cot available on request
  • Off road parking for 8 cars
  • Sorry, no pets and no smoking
  • Shop and pub 4 miles.

The property

Newtownards 4 miles.

Set within the countryside on the edge of Strangford Lough is this detached cottage.

With views out across the water, this spacious property is a convenient base for families or friends looking to stay near Belfast.

The large kitchen has a dining area where the whole group can gather together and there is the added benefit of an adjoining utility which provides extra space for preparing meals.

There are two receptions rooms, a larger sitting room where you can watch TV and watch the water on the shore and a cosy snug with an open fire which is a lovely spot to curl up with a good book.

Both rooms have large windows which make these spaces very light and airy and the snug has a door out to the patio area.

The bedrooms are set across the ground and first floor and are made up of three doubles and one twin room.

One of the ground floor doubles is set in the corner of the house and looks out over the sea which is a lovely view to wake up to.

Outside there is a small seating area where you could enjoy a morning cup of tea before heading out for the day.

The nearby town of Newtownards has everything you will need during your stay including many shops, pubs and restaurants while Belfast is a hive of activity with something for everybody.

Nearby is the National Trust property of Mount Stewart with its beautiful house and world class gardens and for nature lovers Strangford Lough is noted for its migrating birds especially the Brent Geese that arrive in their hundreds for feeding in the autumn.

The Ards Peninsula has lovely beaches and a number of golf courses and there are delightful villages dotted along the coast for you to explore.

A short ferry ride will take you from Portaferry to Strangford Village and the National Trust, Castle Ward where Game of Thrones was filmed, then return to Newtownards via Downpatrick, visiting the St Patrick centre to learn about the Irish saint.

This lovely cottage is a fantastic base with easy access to a number of attractions and places of interest.

About the location

NEWTOWNARDS

Belfast 12 miles; Antrim 30 miles.

The town of Newtownards lies alongside Strangford Lough on the Ards Peninsula, just 13 miles from Belfast. Just on the outskirts of the town are the Scrabo Golf Course and the Kiltonga Nature Reserve is a great place to spot birdlife and enjoy a walk around the lake. Nearby Belfast is jam-packed with culture, history, events and great food so you won’t be stuck for things to do. The city is home to many fantastic attractions such as the Titanic experience and Crumlin Road Gaol and also has great shopping on offer in the Victoria Square shopping centre. Venture out of the city and drive along the stunning Antrim coast home to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway and when in the area why not see if you’re brave enough to cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge? A great location for exploring all that Northern Ireland has to offer.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute