1 River Cottage

52 Customer Reviews

• "As advertised."

  Lovely property in a beautiful location. Very friendly locals. Great location for exploring Cornwall and Devon. Would happily return if in the future.

  Ah, that is wonderful! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such positive feedback - we would love to host you again in the future! Very best wishes, Becky Property Owner

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2024

• "The cottage was lovely; great location, comfy beds and very homely."

  The only issue we had was with the grill that only worked on one side meaning we had to fry breakfast stuff. This was particularly challenging as there wasn't any veg oil or similar so we had to use the butter we bought. Add to that, there wasn't any washing up liquid only dishwasher tablets. Also, aside from hand wash there was no shower gel/shampoo/conditioner; I would normally expect some miniature toiletries and if this is not provided it would've been helpful to know as such so we could have planned accordingly.

  Hello and thank you for your positive feedback and helpful comments. I'm sorry that the grill didn't work as it should - I will get that looked at. Other than teabags, coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, herbs and spices, we don't tend to supply other food items such as vegetable oil I'm afraid - sometimes previous guests leave their unused oil and condiments etc which we leave in the cottage for future guests to use, so I'm sorry this wasn't the case for your stay. However, we always aim to leave washing up liquid (sometimes it is on the side, other times, in the cupboard under the sink), so I'm really sorry you could not find any during your stay. I will make a note to the housekeepers to check the supplies. Also, we do not supply minature shampoo/conditioner etc. as you would find in a hotel for example. We do supply liquid soaps in all the bathrooms/downstairs toilet (which can be used as shower gel), but we have found guests to bring their own shampoo and conditioners. We'd love to host you again, so I hope this helps for any potential future bookings. Very best wishes, Becky Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jane4.4★Sep 2024

• "We had a lovely holiday at 1 River Cottage."

  The house was ideally situated right in the centre of the friendly village. It was very clean and comfortable with everything we needed for our stay. Thank you!

  Dear Ellie, Thank you for leaving lovely feedback! We're so pleased you enjoyed your stay and would love to welcome you back again in the future, Best wishes, Becky Property Owner

  Reviewed by Ellie5.0★Aug 2024

• "Everything you could need in a beautiful location."

  Yes the pub can be noisy and the fan annoying when on, but the house is opposite the pub, so that’s part of the charm/deal. Many thanks for a wonderful holiday!

  Dear Charlotte, Thank you so much for being a valued guest at River Cottage and for leaving a lovely review :-) We hope we can welcome you back again in the future, Kind Regards, Becky Property Owner

  Reviewed by Charlotte5.0★Aug 2024

• "Cottage was extremely noisy as between an outside pub area and another pub people standing outside and talking loudly until well after midnight on all nights of our stay."

  The fan from kitchen of pub opposite the cottage also extremely noisy when it was running. I feel the cottage was not accurately described in the information and I had assumed it was on the riverbank in a quiet location not in the main square where two very busy public houses are next door. The holiday was spoilt by poor night's sleep each night. I feel the information on booking site misrepresented the cottages location. The cottage was nice but very noisy at all times when the pub open I am afraid I shall not be using Sykes holiday company again after this experience

  We are so sorry to hear about the noise at the pub, we do hope you had the opportunity to try some of the really nice food that they serve there. The nearby social club is also very lively, but friendly, all adding to the genuine village life. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Susan4.1★Jun 2024

• "Cottage conveniently located for nice river walks and Pub opposite."

  However very badly let down by - No washing up sponges / scourer pads in kitchen , No broom to sweep kitchen floor , No oven trays for pizza etc , Heating almost useless - house was cold and damp and NOT cozy , Very damp musty smell in lounge which badly affected asthma sufferer with bad chest and sinus issues. Needs a bit of TLC - the rear gutters are blocked up which is probably what's causing the damp musty smell in the lounge.

  We want all our guests to have a wonderful stay, and fortunately that is the experience of the vast majority but I am so sorry that on this occasion you felt let down by the cottage. I have passed the comments on to our housekeeping team who apologise if they forgot to put out the washup sponges as we do offer those. Our regular housekeeper had been quite poorly with flu just before Christmas, requiring other people to help and so this may have been reflected in some of the issues. There is normally a broom and dustpan and brush in the small utility area where the tumble drier is, but perhaps the housekeepers had put this away as there is always access to a modern Dyson vacuum cleaner (found in the same area) which can be used to clear up any crumbs on the kitchen floor. We provide several baking trays, I am not sure why you were unable to find these. The heating is normally very good. We had family coming in to stay after your visit and I have asked them if they had any problems with the heating and/or a musty smell, which they didn't. I can only think that perhaps you could not find the instructions for the heating system (found in the information folder) to set it to your liking and also we had not had guests for a few weeks prior to your stay so next time we will put the heating on a few days in advance to warm up the stone walls in the lounge. As for the gutters thank you, that is something we have definitely not addressed this winter and I will get those cleared out. Once again I apologise that you did not have the best experience you could have had and thank you for drawing our attention to your issues. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Dave3.8★Dec 2023

• "The cottage is lovely, comfortable and well equipped and is perfectly placed for visiting attractions in Cornwall and neighbouring Devon."

  I would only comment that on arrival I was desperate for the toilet and there wasn't any toilet roll in the downstairs WC. My husband had to check the other bathrooms to locate some. We ended up purchasing some to put in there. I am an early to bed, early to rise person but the cottage was very noisy in the evenings into the early hours with revelry in the community centre next door. It is for this reason only that we are unlikely to stay again. If you are into that lifestyle then this is the perfect place to stay.

  Reviewed by Lynne4.1★Sep 2023

• "Had a great stay at the cottage the pub and the club were a little bit noisier ..."

  Had a great stay at the cottage the pub and the club were a little bit noisier than we had anticipated till 2 o’clock in the morning but this was just the Saturday and Friday after the weekend All was quiet in the evening we had expected some noise as we were so close to both of these venues so not really a problem great location with park for the children just across the road and so much ice cream well placed for Plymouth Torquay and the Eden project which we visited during our say

  Reviewed by John4.1★Apr 2023

• "This was my fourth stay at River Cottage and as always the village of Calstock and River Cottage never fails to impress."

  Thanks to Paula and Emma for always keeping a clean and tidy cottage. Since my last visit, pre-Covid I did notice some changes in the Village, all for the good, with the Social Club & Village Hall seeming that much more busy & well used and people in general waterfront. Though the noise from the music & customer drinking outside the Social Club could be heard from inside the cottage, on the Friday & Saturday evenings, this did not go beyond 11.00pm, so unless you go to bed before this time should not be an issue. It was also fascinating to see the Flood defences which have been constructed along the River towards the Okel Tor Mine. One comment (niggle) is that whilst on previous visit we had noticed noise from the neighbours property which backs onto & is above the lounge, this year it was louder than had been previously. Most evenings, even with the TV on in River Cottage, you could still hear the TV from the neighbours and other loud sounds which started from early afternoon into the evening. Also whilst a personal choice would suggest if you normally sleep with a soft or medium pillow you may wish to take your own as the pillows in all the rooms are particularly firm. In addition a word of warning, we arranged for a food delivery from Tesco on the evening of our arrival and ten minutes before it was due to be delivered, without any prior warning, rec’d a text message to advise that due to a “system problem” there would be no delivery. So you might be best to do a supermarket shop in Tavistock before you arrive in Calstock.

  Reviewed by Carol4.7★Oct 2022

• "Lovely property, beautiful location."

  Wonderful week.

  Reviewed by Sarah-jane5.0★Aug 2022

• "The cottage was lovely and clean , the balcony was a lovely place to sit and chill, the kitchen was very well equipped."

  ..the only criticism about the place was there wasnt enough wardrobe space in the 2 double bedrooms.

  Reviewed by Amanda4.7★Jul 2022

• "Beautiful cottage, had everything in it you could think of!"

  Had a lively week here, it was an ideal base for exploring Cornwall. Amazing views and lovely pub across the road. Can't wait to stay again in the future!

  Reviewed by Patricia5.0★Jul 2022

• "We had a fabulous week at 1 River Cottage."

  The cottage is in a great location overlooking the river and in the centre of the village. Great communication with Paula and the cottage was well presented. Two great pubs in the village, one across the road and the other a few mins walk up the hill.

  Reviewed by Liz5.0★Jul 2022

• "Very nice cottage, would have been better if we had summer weight quilts on the beds, the quilts were too hot and heavy making sleeping very uncomfortable."

  Very noisy Friday and Saturday nights from the social club but not the cottages fault. Lounge is very comfortable and the kitchen had everything we needed. The area is beautiful.

  Reviewed by Joy4.7★Jun 2022

• "I want to live here."

  In this cottage. Absolutely best stay in the UK! A bathroom on every floor, outlets where you need them, great kitchen, awesome location, parking, a patio, 3 lovely rooms, sparklingly clean. Loved it.

  Reviewed by Kathleen5.0★May 2022

• "Had a lovely stay in what is a lovely cottage."

  Great location and we were made to feel very welcome by friendly locals! All our needs were met within the cottage which was comfortable roomy and ideally located. We were not short of information for things to do and areas to visit, all made available at the cottage. I would highly recommend, we couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you

  Reviewed by Leon5.0★Apr 2022

• "This cottage was ideal for our holiday and absolutely love the balcony on the top floor."

  The best part of the holiday for me was waking up and opening the balcony doors and looking out over the river and the woodland, absolutely beautiful. Loved the fact that we could ditch the car and walk our way to Cotehele for the day, and the pub opposite does a very good roast lunch too.

  Reviewed by Helen5.0★Apr 2022

• "Bedroom at top of the house could do with a blackout blind."

  Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Mar 2022

• "Clean, organised accommodation with beautiful views and friendly locals."

  We loved our short stay and hope to return soon. The mince pies and milk left for us on our arrival was a lovely touch and very much appreciated.

  Reviewed by Jaymie5.0★Dec 2021

• "Have been to calstock three times, twice to river cottage."

  On this occasion it was our 50th wedding anniversary. As usual the cottage was clean well equipped and had everything that we required. Went on local walks, visited Cotehele and Tavistock. Food in the Tamar inn across the road was second to none great fish and chips and burgers with extras on the specials board. ( don't forget to book though as it gets busy ). All in all had a fabulous time. Have always booked with Helpful holidays and never been let down.

  Reviewed by Geoffrey5.0★Oct 2021

• "This is a well appointed cottage, well equipped, clean and well thought out."

  The kitchen had all we needed and I was impressed that there were two fridges as I generally find that holiday cottages do not have enough fridge space. Just add a towel rail for the tea towel and hand towel please. We had plenty of hot water , the broadband was reliable, the beds and sofas were comfortable. Contrary to others we had perfect mobile signal; we use Vodafone. There was some late night noise from the Social Club, particularly on Saturday. The Tamar Inn keeps its real ale in superb condition & the ice cream shop has excellent ice cream. The cottage is well situated for trips to Dartmoor the coast and Plymouth. The train service and local buses provide good links to Plymouth, Tavistock & the surrounding area.

  Reviewed by Janice5.0★Sep 2021

• "The cottage was in a great location, old school Cornish village."

  Nice pub literally next door. The only thing to be aware of was a fair bit of noise from the social club, they had a lot of outdoor seating (due to pandemic) and the noise level was very high over the weekend. Not a huge issue, however due to the location you will hear any late night noise from pub and social club.

  Reviewed by clive3.8★Aug 2021

• "The property was exactly as described, very clean and well looked after and we loved the location."

  The kitchen was great and it was helpful to have the washing and drying facilities in the utility rooms. The only minor negative comments were that the bed in the 2nd floor en-suite room was very small and so was the shower cubicle in the en-suite. We should really have swapped with my daughter who had the larger bed on the 1st floor, but we wanted the en-suite facilities. Also, and not that it was overly important to us being on holiday, but the TV in the lounge was very small for family watching and not really suitable for watching a film in the evening.

  Reviewed by Simon4.7★Jul 2021

• "We have just spent a week in River Cottage and it was lovely, it had everything you could need during your stay and was very clean and well kept."

  Perfect location near the Tamar river and The Tamar inn which serve great food but if you want Sunday lunch book in early as we were left disappointed at our booking as they ran out of roast dinners. Overall we had a great week.

  Reviewed by Katy5.0★Jul 2021

• "We have had a fabulous time in Calstock, the cottage is perfectly situated for a relaxing holiday."

  Clean and well equipped it enabled us to eat comfortably. I would stay there again for sure!

  Reviewed by Jo5.0★Jun 2021

• "This was our second visit to the property."

  Lovely location in the centre of the village with a view of the river. We were pleased to see all the efforts made to make the property COVID secure and pristine. Good location for visiting Dartmoor and nearby National Trust properties. No shop in village but nearby Co Op in Drakewalls. The only downside is that we found the front room furniture uncomfortable. We’ll doubtless stay again as we love the location and surrounding area.

  Reviewed by Melanie4.4★May 2021

• "The cottage was really clean and well looked after."

  It's in a lovely location and we did not find the pub or social club to be at all noisy although neither had music events on when we were there. The nearest shop is a short drive away in Gunnislake(you could walk it if a bit fitter than us) The tea tray and biscuits was a lovely touch. Would love to stay here again. A very welcoming village.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Sep 2020

• "Had a fabulous week stay."

  Lovely property to sit out on the balcony area overlooking the Tamar river. Property well equipped for all your needs. Only comment I would point out regarding the listing is there is not realistically two car parking spaces. However there is a large free car available should you have a second vehicle. Recommend both pubs, The Tamar and The Boot situated nearby. Property well located for walks along the Tamar and National Trust property and Calstock Train station is only few minutes walk away if you fancy a trip into a Plymouth over the impressive viaduct

  Reviewed by Karen5.0★Aug 2020

• "We had a fantastic time, location of the cottage is really good, however, we’d like to suggest that a car is essential as there is no shop in the village!"

  The community shop simply not enough. Cottage it’s self is absolutely wonderful, clean and equipped like a home.

  Reviewed by Jana4.4★Aug 2020

• "The cottage was probably one of the best equipped I have stayed in."

  The owner had thought of everything you may need. However there were no wardrobes at all so you couldn’t hang your clothes anywhere. One issue that I feel needs addressing is the social club right outside the property. The noise levels at two in the morning, with people swearing, vomiting and shouting right outside does not constitute to a peaceful holiday. I know that this is no fault to the owner but people going with young children should be made aware of the situation. The pub next door was fantastic and noise wise was no problem at all.

  Thank you for your feedback. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay at the cottage. Due to limited space (which is mentioned in the website text), a wall mounted hanging rail is provided in each of the double bedrooms. In the single bedroom there is a large wardrobe. The owner has confirmed that the social club has been in situ ever since the property has been a holiday let and there have been no previous complaints of noise or disturbance. She is sorry that you experienced this during your stay but can only think that this was a one-off. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lynne3.8★Jul 2020

• "Beautiful location, comfy clean house with two balconies to enjoy the views."

  Two pubs with good food and a couple of cafes. Riverside location, quaint old cottages in narrow little streets nestled on a hillside with fantastic views of the viaduct.

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Oct 2019

• "Hidden diamond of a location and would recommend this property."

  Reviewed by Gary3.8★Sep 2019

• "Great location and plan to go back"

  Reviewed by Barbara5.0★Sep 2019

• "Really lovely house overlooking the river, beautiful spot."

  House was very comfortable, tastefully decorates, plenty of space and kitchen was filled with all sorts of equipment and extras. The August wet weather was not in our side but still found plenty to do, Eden Project 1 hr away, Plymouth 40 mins, Tamar Trails 15 mins, and Popham Alpacas 30 mins. Two local pubs within the village both selling very tasty food, children’s play park opposite and plenty of dog walks from the house. Would definitely recommend!

  Reviewed by Sally5.0★Aug 2019

• "This is the 5/6 time we have been to this property and we always enjoy the time spent there talking in the Calstock Bike Show and staying on the rest of the week."

  Reviewed by Clive5.0★Aug 2019

• "The house was lovely and the owners had provided everything we needed for a relaxing holiday."

  The noise from the Tamar Inn late on Friday and Saturday nights was the only negative. Perhaps you could provide 2 bin bags instead of 1, a few more toilet rolls and a couple of washing machine liquid tablets/pods.

  Reviewed by Diane5.0★Jul 2019

• "It was a good walk into Cotehele where we enjoyed a boat trip up the Tamar River."

  The Mill was very interesting and the Restaurant excellent. We visited the dig of a Roman site opposite Calstock Church. The bus was very convenient into Tavistock.

  Reviewed by Amy3.8★Jun 2019

• "A lovely cottage which was ideal for myself and my husband, my sister and her husband and our 91 year old father."

  The facilities were excellent, with the cottage and particularly the kitchen being very comprehensively stocked with the comforts of home. The area was lovely, and the website details were accurate and informative.

  Reviewed by Jayne4.4★May 2019

• "Always kept us up to date with helpful information by email."

  Very helpful caretaker when phoned. Cottage beautifully situated lovely balconies with views over the river. Very comfortable and clean. Everything there you needed. We did have a blocked drain towards the end of the holiday which affected the downstairs toilet which hopefully will be sorted quickly. Overall a lovely holiday cottage.

  Reviewed by Mike5.0★May 2019

• "1 River Cottage is well appointed, very comfortable, and beautifully situated on the Quay in the sweet, friendly village of Calstock, with stunning views across the Tamar River to the Devon hills on the other side and quick access to the amenities of the village and the bus-stop and train station for trips to Tavistock and Plymouth and points beyond."

  There were endless gorgeous walks right out the door through the village and into the surrounding countryside. The flat itself was kept scrupulously clean by the housekeeper, Paula Barnes, and she is also very hospitable and kind. This was the second year that I stayed in 1 River Cottage, and I hope to return again next year.

  Reviewed by Mary R5.0★May 2019

• "This holiday was a present for our friends 90th."

  birthday.I am pleased to say that it was the best choice my wife and i could have picked as he spent all week enthusing about the cottage and of course the village. Due to some idiots driving ( Destroying the bridge over the Tamar at Gunnislake ) some difficulty was encountered using the local bus service but in all honesty this added to the holiday experience. We all had a wonderful time and will not hesitate to recommend it to our friends. Please would you pass on our thanks to the owners and more importantly to Paula Barnes for preparing it so immaculately.

  Reviewed by P5.0★Mar 2019

• "The cottage was excellent."

  It was easy to access with the key safe; was incredibly well kept and clean. We really couldn’t find anything we didn’t like about it. Calstock itself has a friendly vibe and there are great walks from the cottage. We would highly recommend. It’s lovely to wake up and see the mist over the river and we had some gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. We’d also recommend dinner at the Boot which is a very short walk from the doorstep.

  Reviewed by Trudi5.0★Jan 2019

• "Lovely chilled break, beautiful well equipped cottage."

  Very comfortable and warm,villagers are very welcoming friendly pubs with lovely food. Great links via bus and train. Plenty to do round and about,walks and places to go. Would definitely recommend.

  Reviewed by Lucinda5.0★Jan 2019

• "My third stay @ River Cottage -so that says something and as usual like walking into a lovely hug of a home."

  Beautiful surroundings and ideal for walking and nice to have local bus service on door step and train into Plymouth. Just a shame that the village no longer has anywhere to buy any food. As usual a must is the Boot Inn for their infamous Sunday roast (booking recommended). Anticipate will be back

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Oct 2018

• "We could have abandoned the car for a week as the local bus service was on the doorstep and quite regular."

  We caught the train to Plymouth from the local station just a 5 minute walk away and were amazed at how reasonable the fare was £6 return,The journey was so picturesque well worth the trip.We did a lot of walking such beautiful walks only a stones throw from the cottage.All in all a wonderful holiday with the x factor a real relax and chill holiday.

  Reviewed by Kathleen5.0★Sep 2018

• "Excellent holiday let !"

  Great location for walking and enjoying the local area !

  Reviewed by Paul4.4★Aug 2018

• "This is the 5-6 year running we have used Helpful Holidays its always a very positive and pleasurable experience."

  Many Thanks to all the team that make the above possible.

  Reviewed by Clive5.0★Aug 2018

• "Superb cottage in a lovely location."

  Everything was perfect and will definitely go back !

  Reviewed by Clive5.0★Jul 2018

• "A very well equipped holiday home facing the river."

  Stunning location. Looks like an olde world fishing village with lots of alleyways and narrow roads. Lots of local information books. A very comprehensive wall map in the kitchen with various activities listed. A detailed welcome book. Plenty of nearby woodland walks. Two nearby village pubs serving meals. The Tamar Inn faces the two bedrooms and the terrace on the first floor. The pubs extractor fan could be noisy until after 21.30. The top floor en suite bedroom faces the river. Some additional window blinds would be useful for the top bedroom as the harbour lights stay on for most of the night. There is an ice cream parlour (expensive) on the river front. In front of the house is a small square containing the local social club and village hall. Additional free car park a few yards away. A mile walk from the stunning Cotehele House. Local train journey to Plymouth about 25 minutes. Near to Tavistock and Launceston. The only downside was the next door neighbour who told us on arrival we couldn’t park there. Her criteria regarding parking didn’t match the owners detailed instruction manual. We didn’t appreciate an additional unpleasant note on our vehicle. In summary, great holiday home, great location, shame about the neighbour.

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Jun 2018

• "Fabulous little cottage in the beautiful Tamar Valley."

  It’s a great spot a day the cottage is decked out well with everything you need, including a welcome tray for a cuppa and a few extras like dishwasher tabs, fairy liquid, dishcloths, etc. Little thoughtful extras which give you a warm feeling. It was nice and clean well appointed and we thought Riverside Cottage was good value for money. If there is a niggle it’s that it’s RIGHT opposite a busy pub and a Social Club, so on a hot night with the windows open it’s really quite noisy until chucking out time. The other side of the coin; two nice pubs within easy striking distance serving decent pub grub. The double bed on the 2nd floor is on the small side if you’re used to a Kingsize!!! Overall, we only had two nights and would have loved to stay longer at Riverside Cottage.

  Reviewed by Pamela4.7★Jun 2018

• "There were a few issues with the cottage that we would like to mention: -The description does not mention the public car park, children's playground and especially the Social Club right next to the property, which made noise levels high throughout the day and especially in the evening."

  Noise from the social club ended at 1.15am the first night and then 2.30am the second night. This does need to be mentioned as these nights were not restful. -There was a strong, acrid smell of soot from the chimney in the lounge, which made us cough and made the quietest room in the house less than comfortable. One of the settees also needed replacing as the seat had given way. - The duvets were winter weight, which made the otherwise comfortable beds far too hot. -There were no liners in any bins except the kitchen bin, and no sign of all the various coloured bags for all the recycling mentioned on the kitchen notice board. -It was a shame that the long curtains in the cottage were too long as it made them difficult to close. A small detail that could easily be remedied.

  Reviewed by Wendy3.1★May 2018

• "It was a village that was full of life always plenty of people to see ."

  There was a big sailing barge that landed at the quay stayed 2 nights and set off early morning which we saw from the cottage. There were kayakers, and several gigs setting off from the quay. Lots of ducks , lots of picnic tables families came there cos of a playground with Shamrock 2 built for the children to climb on. There was a social club and a pub opposite . Very handy for Cotehele National Trust house you can walk at the side of the river to it . Lots of little villages around and easily reach all parts of Cornwall and Dartmoor and Devon we went to Polzeath on North Cornwall and Looe in Devon rode the train from Buckfastleigh to Totnes.

  Reviewed by Margery5.0★Apr 2018

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