The Old Stable

64 Customer Reviews

• "We really enjoyed our stay."

  The accommodation is beautifully appointed, very clean and comfortable and there is everything you need for a great stay. The Old Stables is in a very peaceful setting with lovely views over the countryside. The owners were very helpful and the welcome pack and fresh flowers were much appreciated. The track leading to the accommodation would be challenging if you had a car with low ground clearance but as we have an SUV it gave us no problems and was all part of having a peaceful country holiday surrounded by fields and trees. The upside down design of the property is cleaver and the open plan living space upstairs works really well. We really appreciated have a good television and efficient Wi-Fi (so often lacking in holiday accommodation) which made for very relaxing evenings. Sidbury is a nice village, very close, with shop etc and we could easily get to the coast and there is plenty to do and see, even in chilly February. Also a number of places to eat within a reasonable distance (be aware that many close early in winter so we ate out at lunchtime). The only improvement would be to sort out the rather soggy sofa. As there were only 2 of us we could get very comfortable but if there had been 4 of us staying that would not work so well. We had a lovely break at The Old Stables and hope to return. Thank you

  Reviewed by Sue5.0★Feb 2025

• "Lovely location."

  Off the beaten track. Very quiet.

  Reviewed by Leslie4.4★Dec 2024

• "The old stable is like a Tardis!"

  It has been so well designed and fitted, that despite looking tiny on approach, it is spacious inside. The cottage is so peaceful with walks from the door and lovely countryside and seaside within 10 minutes drive. The 2 en-suites were the final touch of luxury . We would love to come back.

  Reviewed by Jane5.0★Sep 2024

• "A delightful cottage which is clean, comfortable and very well equipped."

  In beautiful but quite remote surroundings. Take a torch if you are going to need to take the dog out at night (the garden isn’t secure) as it is VERY dark and beware of grounding the car on the final right turn on the farm track. If you stay in the “ruts” you will get stuck, you need to drive on the grass at this point.

  Reviewed by Alex4.7★Sep 2024

• "This is our 7th or 8th stay at The old Stable."

  We love the surroundings. Peace and quiet. Our dogs enjoy the walks and the garden. The bird song is amazing and watching the bird of prey just chilling on the garden fence was awesome. Some may find the track to the house a bit daunting due to being bumpy and sometimes rather muddy because of the cows. Just drive steadily and all is fine. The owners are helpful but defiantly not intrusive. Flowers, biscuits and milk always to be found on arrival, although our flowers were overlooked and we were left with the old ones, which I’m sure was an oversight. We left fresh ones ,given to us by friends. The bed and bedding is first class. Always so cosy and soft. Soft towels too that actually dry you! A small en-suite but serviceable . The kitchen is equipped with everything you need with a new oven which was great. The house is an upside down house making use of the wonderful views from the upstairs French windows to the Juliette balcony . We never tire of looking out. My wife finds the stairs very difficult with her arthritis, and also getting out of the shower in a small area, but she is determined to return, hopefully next year when fingers crossed ,there will be a new lounge furniture. Our biggest dislike which hasn’t changed is the sofa. We have mentioned it before. It is so uncomfortable with hard lumps and bumps which spoils our evenings. We even thought of bringing in a garden chair. ! It unfortunately gives us terrible back aches, and on many occasion prompted an early night , when we would have preferred not to. Overall we love staying at the stable. So many places to visit nearby. Unfortunately due to our 16.5 yr old golden cocker who had doggie dementia, we were unable to go anywhere as she suffers great anxiety in the car. {We had to sedate her for the journey to and from } however she appeared to recognise where she was and enjoyed ,along with our younger dog all the outside had to offer which is fabulous. We recommend The old Stable . Lovely walks up the track or in the little woods. Sit in the garden area watching nature ,Alfresco dining.Visit the dairy farm ,and all the local coastal towns which The old Stable is wonderfully situated for.

  Reviewed by Robert4.7★Sep 2024

• "Outstanding accommodation."

  Lovely rural setting. House had everything needed, spacious and clean.

  Reviewed by Richard5.0★Jun 2024

• "This is a lovely cottage very clean comfortable and well equipped."

  It provides a good base for exploration of the surrounding beautiful countryside. We would love to return in the future

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★May 2024

• "We had a wonderful holiday at The Old Stable."

  We had everything we needed and were very comfortable. The location was very quiet and rural, just as we hoped, yet we were close to the local amenities and the coast. We visited Beer, Seaton (trams), Lyme Regis, Charmouth (fossils), Budleigh Salterton, Haldon Forest Park and the West Somerset Heritage Railway, all within easy reach. Can recommend The Blue Ball Pub/Restaurant.

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★May 2024

• "The perfect get away situated within 15 minutes drive of the coast and most places we wanted to visit."

  The old stable was so peaceful and ideal for what we needed, as my wife's elderly parents came with us. We have already booked for next year and are very much looking forward to it.

  Reviewed by Warren5.0★May 2024

• "A wonderful cottage in a beautiful location in the heart of the Devon countryside,yet only a short drive to the coast and tourist attractions."

  The cottage had everything we needed for a comfortable stay and was spotlessly clean,we were a party of 2 but there was ample seating for four people,and plenty of outdoor space for parking which isnt always the case with holiday cottages,wouldnt hesitate to book again.

  Reviewed by John5.0★May 2024

• "We spent a lovely week in the old stable."

  It was spotlessly clean, well equipped with every home comfort you could wish for and we appreciated the welcome gifts of flowers, milk and biscuits. We had read previous reviews that mentioned that the access road might present problems for cars that were low, but as we had an ordinary car we didn’t think that it would be an issue for us. We expected all the potholes once we drove onto the rough track from the road, but there is one particular section just as the track divides (you go left for access to the old stable and another residence) that really could do with being filled in to make it easier to negotiate the turn - I dreaded the ‘clunk/scrape’ to the bottom of my car every time I drove in or out of this particular section. The old stable is in a beautiful peaceful setting, and within easy reach of all the areas that this area of the country is famous for. We absolutely loved the donkey sanctuary, which is just a few miles away.

  Reviewed by Pat5.0★Apr 2024

• "This was my 8th stay at this cottage and as always it was wonderful."

  Comfy accommodation, wonderful surroundings. My happy place. Thanks again for a lovely stay.

  Reviewed by Helen5.0★Apr 2024

• "On arrival we found dog hairs on the table and on carpets ."

  Dirty roasting pans full of fat also when using the Hover it smelt disgusting of dogs

  Reviewed by Geoffrey3.8★Apr 2024

• "Nice quiet location."

  Appreciated milk and mince pies. Very well equipped cottage. Beds extremely comfy. Although the bathrooms and bedrooms were clean, the kitchen and lounge were not. Crumbs left on worktop and sofa. Hob very greasy. Splashes on lounge radiator (coffee? Sauce?) Because of covid I ran some wipes over stair handrail and the wipe-clean tablecloth and both came away dirty.

  Reviewed by Wendy3.1★Dec 2023

• "We really enjoyed our stay, we were very comfortable and the property was well equipped and warm ."

  The views were great being in the countryside!

  Reviewed by Alan5.0★Dec 2023

• "Fabulous place, quiet location and well equipped property."

  Would happily recommend to others.

  Reviewed by Jeff5.0★Sep 2023

• "We had a great stay with our two dogs at the Old Stable."

  It‘s a lovely cottage with lots of opportunities for trips and activities in the area. The cottage is located in the beautiful Devon countryside. The owners are very helpful and generous. If you are looking for a relaxing break in the country with your furry friends, the Old Stable will be a perfect choice. We’d love to come back!

  Reviewed by Mirko5.0★Jul 2023

• "We had a lovely lovely stay!"

  The Old Stable is a perfect getaway..peaceful..lovely. Alpaca farm was our highlight. Donkey Sanctuary was also nearby. Sidmouth beach and shopping very close also. The weather was GLORIOUS all week! The shower was fab (important for me) The beds were excellent, so comfy. dishes/cutlery/cooker/microwave/toaster all clean. Flowers on arrival and biscuits too! For a perfect cup of tea! Lidl & petrol station nearby. We would definately return in future, that says it all. Thank you Mr & Mrs Norris xx

  Reviewed by Stella5.0★May 2023

• "We had a wonderful week in The Old Stable."

  Great facilities and a stunning location. The only issue we had was the lack of interest connection, even when we tried re-connecting it didn’t work.

  Reviewed by Kathryn5.0★May 2023

• "Lovely property in an idyllic setting."

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★Mar 2023

• "A lovely remote location that was secure for the dog Clean and well maintained facilities"

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Mar 2023

• "The cottage had everything we needed and more it was a delightful warm little cottage in a great location with easy access to great walks in beautiful countryside."

  The only thing that would improve it would be if the fence around garden was totally dog proof this wasn’t an issue for us but might be for some dogs? Thank you great place

  Reviewed by Paula5.0★Feb 2023

• "Loved everything about the old stables!"

  . It was clean,warm and very comfortable. Lovely views from the cottage ,we had deer visiting every morning and badgers in the lane in the evening. Great walks nearby for the dog ( and child!)and the compendium of games was a hit in the evenings. We appreciated the milk and cookies on arrival as it was late and the flowers were a nice touch.Would definitely recommend if you enjoy peace and quiet.

  Reviewed by Jean5.0★Feb 2023

• "We all enjoyed a very warm and cosy Xmas week, accommodation had everything to make stay enjoyable."

  Reviewed by William5.0★Dec 2022

• "As this was our fifth visit to this property there is no doubt that we rate this property and its beautiful situation very highly."

  A very cosy November holiday.

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Nov 2022

• "A very lovely upside down barn conversion, views of the deer, cows and local wildlife."

  We went in November, the property was warm and cosy. All the kitchen utensils you could think of plus more. Our weather was not good, but we still had a nice time, in the summer it would be ideal. Our only criticism is the farm track to the barn, it is pot-holed an rutted, if not careful the underside of our car rubbed the central mound. However, all in all, we had a good time. We did notice that this comment also appeared in the visitors book. Thank you.

  Reviewed by C3.8★Nov 2022

• "Completed the visitors book, with positive comments."

  Was very peaceful, and had everything we needed. Added enjoyment was the Netflix etc on the TV, especially as rubbish Freeview is the usual offering. Comfy bed. Nice and warm. The two greyhounds had plenty of room. Just a bit concerning in winter, that as stairs carpeted , and straight up from front door, muddy paws might be a problem. Some lovely walks on site. Lovely holiday.

  Reviewed by Trevor5.0★Sep 2022

• "This was our 5th stay."

  We love the tranquility, and peaceful location. Great for dog walks. So many wonderful places to visit nearby. Sidmouth , Budleigh Sauterton , Lyme Rygis and one of my favourites Charmouth. The old stable is like home from home and has a lovely welcoming atmosphere. All you need is provided. Milk , biscuits, tea and coffee on arrival. Always a vase of flowers to welcome you. The bed and bedding is so comfortable. My only negative is the sofa which I have always found uncomfortable . I highly recommend this holiday stay with everything it has to offer. It’s rugged rural location I love, and we look forward to many more stays in the future.

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Sep 2022

• "We enjoyed our stay at The Old Stable."

  It was clean and homely with a good kitchen. But visitors should be aware that it is a little off the beaten track. Very narrow roads and not many passing places. Also, if you have dogs, the paddock is not dog safe so, unless you have very lazy dogs that don’t like chasing pheasant or deer, keep them on the lead.

  Reviewed by Donna3.8★Sep 2022

• "A very peaceful location with excellent walks from the door in every direction."

  The cottage is a modern "upside-down" conversion which meant that there was a good view over the fields and woods from the living room french window. Our dog loved sitting at the window watching the cows and pheasants, and even a deer on one occasion.The sitting/ dining/ kitchen area was ample for four people although the bedrooms and especially the en suite bathrooms were rather compact. The drive to the cottage was pretty level with a few shallow potholes. It was very easy to navigate compared to some cottages we have stayed at. The owners live 10 miles away but were quick to respond when we had one minor issue.

  Reviewed by Andrew4.7★Apr 2022

• "Beautiful and peaceful location with good access to country walks on the doorstep and many lovely seaside resorts nearby."

  Very comfortable and well equipped. Milk, choccie biscuits and fresh flowers a nice welcoming touch. My father who is 90 and a little unsteady found the en suite shower room a bit difficult to use as it’s very small and narrow. I was totally ok with the shower room en suite to my bedroom which was same dimensions. Altogether very happy with the Old Stable.

  Reviewed by Debbie4.1★Apr 2022

• "Great place to stay, peaceful and great for wildlife spotting ."

  The garden could do with something to make it more secure for dogs. Overall would definitely use this cottage again.

  Reviewed by Janet4.7★Apr 2022

• "Weve been to several cottages now and can say this was genuinely very relaxing."

  Everyone including the dogs enjoyed their stay. The cottage was brill, the places to visit were all so close and and in many ways like taking a step back to the age of the victorians. would come again !

  Reviewed by Richard5.0★Mar 2022

• "Great location."

  Very clean and comfortable cottage. Everything that you need.

  Reviewed by Caroline5.0★Mar 2022

• "The cottage was ideal for us."

  Quite a drive down narrow lanes. Paddock for dogs great but post and rail fencing so your dog probably could get underneath. Unfortunately the people ahead of our stay had not picked up after their dogs.

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Jan 2022

• "We really loved the cottage and surroundings which were very peaceful."

  Facilities were good and we appreciated tea, coffee, milk and flowers being there. When we arrived we had difficulty finding the cottage but had no problem getting around afterwards. I would stay there again.

  Reviewed by Sheila5.0★Oct 2021

• "The only negative aspect was actually getting to it from a decent road."

  The cottage was really lovely and met all the standards we’ve come to expect from a Sykes Holiday Cottage.

  Reviewed by Kathleen5.0★Oct 2021

• "Excellent location for quiet evenings but close enough to all major beaches and amenities."

  Very accommodating hosts, leaving milk,tea, coffee and biscuits for us.Would definitely return!

  Reviewed by Barry5.0★Sep 2021

• "The barn is set in an incredible setting."

  It is peaceful. Birds singing,great walks with the dog or just relaxing in the garden. Cows are often at the top of the lane adding to the whole ambiance. Not far for exploring coastal destinations and other places around The barn has all the facilities needed. The most comfiest bed ever. My only niggle is the comfort of the sofa which has the odd dip and hard area. This was our 3rd visit and we will defiantly be making many more. I find stairs difficult having arthritic knees but I shall be crawling up them if I have to. The owners are always friendly and helpful certainly never intrusive. I highly recommend The old Stable and look forward to my next visit

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Sep 2021

• "Cottage was very pleasant."

  However, WiFi did not work which was a little bit of a let down but otherwise we had a lovely stay.

  Reviewed by Lisa3.4★Sep 2021

• "Lovely location, and nicely converted building."

  One bedroom is fairly small, and the shower/toilet very compact. Overall the accommodation was comfortable and we enjoyed our stay.

  Reviewed by Simon4.7★Sep 2021

• "Make you step outside at night time the amount of stars you see will take your breath away!"

  Reviewed by Sarah3.4★Aug 2021

• "The old stable has a beautiful location and lots of wildlife, would definitely recommend it"

  Reviewed by Ann5.0★Jun 2021

• "The access road was very poor, deep ruts , not suitable for saloon cars, I did a lot of damage to my car, and lost a days holiday repairing it in Holiton."

  Reviewed by Colin3.8★Apr 2021

• "Smaller upstairs than we thought but manageable very quiet lovely views"

  Reviewed by Susan4.1★Sep 2020

• "The cottage was just as expected."

  it was very comfortable, and although in the countryside it was not far from many pretty towns and villages. Lyme Regis is only fourteen miles away, and Sidmouth, Seaton and Beer even closer. I have no hesitation in recommending this cottage to someone wanting peace and quiet, but not far from tourist spots. overall a very good holiday.

  Reviewed by Roger4.7★Jul 2020

• "Ideal location pet dogs and rambling/walker owners."

  Very rural with plenty of footpaths and bridalways. The cottage was very comfortable with plenty of space.

  Reviewed by John4.4★Mar 2020

• "If you want a quite and tranquil break this is it in a beautiful setting."

  The cottage is only six miles away from the magnificent East Devon coast and there are many things to do such as the Seaton Tramway, Donkey Sanctuary and both cricket and theatre at Sidmouth.

  Reviewed by Richard5.0★Jul 2019

• "An excellent and well presented modern holiday stable, which includes a fully fitted kitchen, central and under floor heating, as well as one of the best internet connections I’ve found in the middle of the countryside."

  This stable is in a group of other buildings, some of which also look to be rented as holiday locations, these buildings are located off a private road which leads off a single track country lane. Having said all of that my wife’s heart sank when she realised the size of the location (on first sight), although nothing has been done to hide the fact that this is in my view an extremely compact location, its only when you see the place you realise how compact it is. Some examples are, closing the doors in the bedroom is hard as if the bed is moved or even if the duvet is hanging of the end of the bed. In both bathrooms the sink is so small and there is an awkwardly placed shelf above the sink making it extremely hard to brush your teeth. One item which was not on the pictures is the bin in the kitchen, which as all the upstairs rooms are merged it’s like having a kitchen bin in your kitchen, dining room and sitting room. I think this is due to the very compact nature of the stable. Personally, we found it hard for 3 people, and in my view if the upstairs and downstairs were swapped (like a traditional location) and there was only one bedroom for two, this would be a much better offering. Also, with the bedroom upstairs you would not get up and the first thing you see in the morning is another building (which I think was also rented). The natural views from this location are stunning and it’s a shame they can’t be fully appreciated. This would also reduce the chance of waking people up if someone is walking around upstairs. We knew there was no fan, so we bought our own, however we had difficulty finding somewhere to put it, again due to space issues. There are a few minor maintenance issues which I’m sure the owners will fix, for example if you flush the toilet sometimes it makes a strange noise which you can hear everywhere until its flushed again, and the only way to turn the tv on and off is via the main switch as the button on the remote does not appear to work. It’s a relatively short trip to the coast road where you can quickly get to all the local amenities. My personal view, I always headed for the main road first and tried not to cut through Sidbury, as this minimises the risk of having to reverse up single country lanes. Lastly the family who own the locations seem very friendly and helpful.

  Reviewed by Andrew3.1★May 2019

• "The Old Stable was perfect."

  It was very secluded despite being surrounded by three other properties. We were amazed by how dark it got at night! The accommadation was excellent, obviously a lot of thought had gone into the conversion. Although there was only the two of us because both double bedrooms had ensuites it would be easy to increase the party size. It really turned out to be a home from home.

  Reviewed by Martin4.7★Apr 2019

• "This was an amazing setting and gave us a great base to work from."

  The weather went from 6 degrees to 23 degrees and the cottage was comfortable with both ends of the spectrum. Dishwasher, washer, cooker, microwave, log burner, everything you will need for a home from home. Marlyn is friendly and cannot so enough for you. We would definitely recommend to anyone and we will definitely be coming back.

  Reviewed by John4.7★Apr 2019

• "It was our second visit to this lovely, restful holiday home."

  We would gladly go again.

  Reviewed by Robert4.4★Mar 2019

• "This was the holiday we were looking for beautiful cottage fantastic ..."

  This was the holiday we were looking for beautiful cottage fantastic surroundings lovely country walks a dog walkers paradise your a quarter of a mile down a farm road some potholes but a it’s not to bad lovely upside down cottage well design for your comfort with all amenities would highly recommend for those looking to get away from the rat race

  Reviewed by Paul4.7★Dec 2018

• "A lovely quiet cottage, would not hesitate to recommend to friends, but with a warning about the track to the cottage."

  No problem for those with an SUV type car or 4 wheel drive, but uncomfortable for a low slung saloon car. However did not spoil the holiday.

  Reviewed by Patricia3.8★Oct 2018

• "The holiday accommodation was very good and the facilities excellent."

  The only drawback being the very rough farm track that led up to the cottage, however this was not a problem if you drove very slowly.

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★Oct 2018

• "This was a return visit to the old stable as it was a beautiful location ideally suited to visiting local beaches/towns."

  The cottage itself was lovely, had everything anyone should need and very nicely furnished. Sofa could be a little more comfy but everything else wonderful. The cottage is in a lovely location,great walks for the dog and views. Owner friendly and helpful, flowers and lovely biscuits on arrival with complimentary tea ,coffee and milk. A visit to the dairy farm was on offer.We will defiantly return and recommend. Maddy and Bob Norman with Maisey the golden cocker

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Sep 2018

• "Accomadation was satisfactory, but could have done with a good clean throughput."

  Some of the utensil etc needed replacing as quite marked/dirty. Sink in one en suite took all day to drain. So didn’t use it after 1st day. Owner also told us sometimes there would be a loud hiss/noise from the en suite!! Told us if this happens flush the toilet!! Helpful when you have to get up at 2am to flush the loo. Also garden not fully enclosed. Thankfully we had beautiful weather which meant we where out all day.

  Thank you for your feedback. We always try to act on customer’s comments as soon as they come up. The sink has been fixed and I know my wife came to speak to you about the private water supply. There are notices around the property explaining how the system works. On your departure we did check all the utensils and couldn’t find any problems with them. I’m delighted the weather was good and you had a good holiday. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gareth3.1★Sep 2018

• "We had a lovely relaxing time at the old stable, our only bug bear was we had no ..."

  We had a lovely relaxing time at the old stable, our only bug bear was we had no mobile aigbal unless we were in the garden and for the first few days it was great and we didn't bother about missing them, unless you needed to look something up

  Reviewed by Carol4.4★Aug 2018

• "Delightful peaceful setting, upside down dwelling, the facilities all worked well (there was an annoying noise emanating from the cistern eradicated by reflushing!"

  ) - overall very well thought out, the garden area could do with some attention from an aesthetic point of view Good value, would be happy to return

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Jul 2018

• "The old stable in Sidbury is a fantastic property and excellent base to explore the areas."

  We had a lovely week there with glorious weather and will be definitely returning again to this gem we have found.

  Reviewed by Ralph4.7★Jul 2018

• "We both had a most enjoyable and relaxing time at this peaceful cottage surrounded by the beautiful Devon countryside."

  Our dog enjoyed the local walks through the woodland and bridle ways. The cottage had everything you could need and the beds were so comfortable. The Wifi was good. A vase of flowers to welcome us along with milk, tea, coffee and biscuits! Sitting outside at night we heard owls calling to each other which was lovely. This cottage is an ideal base to go to Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Beer, Lyme Regis, Honiton and the nearest village Sidbury where the local pub was very friendly and served good food. Further on the Hare and Hounds did the best carvery, we ate their twice! We hope to return soon.

  Reviewed by Susan4.4★Jul 2018

• "Cottage was very comfortable and in a lovely position and we very much enjoyed our stay."

  Access drive was a cart track best suited to large, robust vehicles but not so good for a Smart car! Bathrooms were extremely compact with probably the smallest wash basins known to man and a glass shelf above making wet shaving a challenge!!!!

  Reviewed by David4.4★Jun 2018

• "Need for clearer instructions about recycling of packaging, paper, cardboard, etc."

  Suggest new pans for cooking. The non-stick surfaces were well worn, which means the aluminium exposed surfaces can be a potential problem.

  Reviewed by Raymond5.0★Jun 2018

• "The location of the cottage was peaceful and private."

  Great walks for the dog. The owner was very friendly helpful but unobtrusive. We were given a great welcome . Flowers left with cookies and tea , coffee, sugar and milk left for use on arrival. The cottage was very clean, well equipt and nice furnishings. Good quality and taste. Well placed for visiting local beaches , towns etc. Info left in cottage for the cottage and tourist leaflets.we found it hard to leave and will definitely be staying there again.

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Apr 2018

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