Dove Tail Barn

52 Customer Reviews

• "We really enjoyed our stay and would highly recommended to anyone!"

  The location was perfect, very chilled setting and the hot tub was a perfect addition after a long day walking! Lots of local walks with glorious views and pubs with amazing food! We will definitely be back.

  Reviewed by Kiera5.0★Oct 2024

• "Had the most perfect stay here."

  The location is serene and peaceful , the cottage is beautifully decorated, cosy and quaint. Lovely pub nearby, what more could you want. We’ll definitely be returning!

  Thank you for your feedback. We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay in Dovetail barn and hope that you return soon. It is peaceful and quaint and the perfect place to chill out with a hot tub to relax in and a pub to walk to. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Penny5.0★Oct 2024

• "Lovely stay in a well equipped holiday home."

  Owners very friendly and left us to it, made a great base for our stay. Visited some lovely places , Ullswater, Derwent Water and Wasdale and will definitely visit again. No hesitation in recommending. We didn't use the hot tub as the weather was a bit hit & miss but everything else was as described. Great setting.

  Reviewed by Samantha5.0★Aug 2024

• "Great cottage in a great location."

  Due to a diversion I think we had to use narrower roads/country lanes which was a bit of a culture shock, but once we got used to it, it wasn’t a problem. The only negative is the long driveway to the property - numerous holes present which could do with being filled as our suspension was definately tested! Cottage facilities are great. It’s great to have a washing machine - could do with an iron (unless there is one hidden away we didn’t notice). Bed is so comfy - a great nights sleep. We didn’t use the hot tub but it is a great addition. Didn’t really meet the owners unfortunately - just didn’t get the opportunity, no-ones fault. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in a cosy, well thought out cottage, with great views. Thank you.

  Reviewed by Joanne4.7★Aug 2024

• "It would have been good to note in the listing that the property is really close to the owner's house so there can be some noise in the garden."

  This absolutely didn't spoil our stay in any way but if future guests were looking for complete peace and tranquility this might be worth knowing in advance.

  Thank you for your reply. Dovetail barn is separate and private but there is another property next door but not attached in any way. There was a child’s birthday when you were staying at Dovetail which led to a small amount of noise on 1 day. We are glad it did not spoil your stay in any way. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sheena5.0★Jul 2024

• "Very nice rural location."

  The cottage could really do with a vacuum cleaner particularly when dealing with dog hairs. Overall we really enjoyed our stay and would definitely go back.

  Thank you for your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your stay. There is a vacuum cleaner, mop and bucket in the lean to shed attached to the cottage. Sorry you were unable to see it. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Peter3.4★Jul 2024

• "Had a lovely relaxing time."

  Fantastic to hear thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Janet4.7★Jul 2024

• "Fantastic stay at Dove Tail Barn, all mod cons and comforts were in place (particularly the great hot tub) with the owners on hand to help whenever needed."

  We were slightly apprehensive around the Dog Rules mentioned in many of the reviews however on arrival it transpired that they were all very normal day to day ones like - no dogs on sofa, upstairs or to be left in the property alone. There's even a great fenced garden area around the side of the property which was great for the pup. Brilliant location for exploring the lakes with great access routes and even two pubs in crawling distance should the weather be incremental. Loved it and will be back

  Thank you for your review and glad you understand that the doggie rules are to help and are normal requests for a holiday let. The fenced area is to help keep your dog in and give you complete privacy. The location as you say is amazing to dive in and out of the tourist hotspots but have views and walks on your doorstep. Look forward to you coming back soon. You were a great guests. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Freddie5.0★Jun 2024

• "We both enjoyed our stay at Dove Tail Barn, and would recommend."

  Great scenery and walks, only 5/10 minutes from Scout Scar, a good walk and great views.

  We are glad you had a good time and look forward to you visiting again. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Antony4.4★Jun 2024

• "Beautifil setting and very peaceful."

  Cottage has everythig you need. Hot tub was lovely. If there had to be a niggle it would be the dog rules.However we did speak.to the owners and we understand why the rules are in place. Nice people. Would return

  It was lovely to meet you. Glad you had a nice stay. You were sad to leave and wanted to stay longer. The Hottub is a bit of luxury with the breathtaking views and we are so glad you enjoyed it. See you again. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Maxine4.1★May 2024

• "The barn is in a lovely area overlooking the countryside!"

  ! You get the most amazing sunsets overlooking the beautiful view!! The hot tub was an added bonus, looked like the tub needed to be cleaned a bit! However we used it a few times and did enjoy it!! The barn is lovely and very comfy bed which was much bigger than a double. You definitely had enough space, the sheets were really nice and clean!! I think there is a few too many rules about dogs but other than that, we really enjoyed our stay. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you need!! There is a load of dvds, games to choose from which was a nice touch. You aren’t far from everything we visited!! Lovely country walks to walk the dog close by, even a few high spots we found on a public footpath was lovely to have on your doorstep. Not far from Kendal which is a lovely little town to go shopping! Amberside was 30 mins away which was a lovely place to visit!! Rydal Cave is a good place to visit also, amazing views and only about a 40 minute drive there too!! Overall we loved our stay!! Thank you for having us!!

  We are glad you loved your stay. Just to answer your comments the Hottub is natural cedar wood which means the water colour gets natural tanning from the wood. The Hottub is cleaned to a very high standard b our maintenance team. It is never dirty. Doggy rules are there to let guests know about keeping dogs off furniture and on a lead as there is livestock in the fields. A lot of guests are allergic to dog hair so it important the dogs are not in the bed or on the sofa out of respect for the property and other guests. A lot of properties do not allow dogs so we don’t think it is unreasonable to put a few doggy rules. after guests leave and the water put in on the day of arrival. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sophie4.7★Apr 2024

• "Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Dove Tail Barn."

  What a gorgeous location nestled away from any hustle and bustle and very little traffic on the country roads near by. Made for lovely evening walks without needing to drive out somewhere. The owners were super friendly and helpful (we never needed anything as everything was there for us and explained on arrival) but any time they were out working and saw us there was always a friendly good morning and a little chat about where is good to go etc. The bed at Dove Tail Barn is absolutely amazing, we both said it's the best nights sleep we've had in a long time. Very comfortable (though my partner did comment he was a little shocked at first it being low down to the floor). The sound of the rain pitter pattering off the roof as you doze off is just the best. The bed linen itself was lovely and fresh smelling, very cosy and plenty of pillows if we'd needed more. One of my favourite things was watching the farmer in the fields opposite herding his sheep up with the quad bike, very clever! Overall we've had a super time and left feeling relaxed after a few days in the countryside! Highly recommend and we'll definitely be back.

  We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay thank you for your review and some lovely comments. You were fabulous guests and Hope that you will return. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Rachael5.0★Mar 2024

• "We have enjoyed a lovely festive break at magical Dove Tail."

  What a fabulous place! The views are amazing and the barn is very well equipped and cosy. Bowness is great for shopping, food and drinks. Thank you for the welcome gift!

  Jane & ShaneDec 2023

• "Holiday cottage was absolutely lovely but marred by a couple of things: 1."

  When we got ready for bed on the first night, the bedding had a damp / musty smell that was unacceptable to sleep in. We had to go into Kendal the next morning to buy washing powder and Frebeeze. All bedding had to be washed on a hot wash and dried before we could sleep in the bed, which somewhat curtailed our day by having to be on hand to do the laundry. The towels had the same damp smell and fortunately we bought our own towels so did not use the towels provided by the cottage. 2. Due to the snow, we got stranded on Saturday and could not make it back to the cottage - which is nobodies fault. Fortunately we found refuge in a holiday park about 12 miles away. We contacted Sykes to advise them we could not make it back to the cottage in case the cottage owners wondered where we were due to the snow conditions. When we did eventually manage to arrive back to the cottage (by foot due to roads being impassable for the car) on Sunday morning, the owners greeted us by saying "we turned off the heating as you hadn't come back" - bearing in mind the cold temperatures and not getting back to the cottage on the Saturday night, it seemed very miserly for the owners to turn off the heating when we would have welcomed a warm cosy cottage to return too. We asked the owners if we could stay an extra night due to the road conditions (Police advised motorists not to travel due to the snowy and icy roads conditions), the owners said we could stay - thank you. Only for about 2 hours later to receive a text from the owners saying it would be and extra £100 to stay for an additional night. As the weather conditions dictated our options, we agreed to pay the additional £100 but there seemed little goodwill due to the exceptional conditions and whilst the cottage itself was lovely, it left a feeling of the owners penny pinching on energy costs and trying to benefit from cashing in on the weather situation. A few minor points: electric plug socket in the kitchen is loose and could be dangerous. Shower leaks a little and wets the toilet roll. Light in the lounge flickers on and off.

  What a shame to read this when you were so positive whilst at the cottage. There was no mention of anything to Sykes or the owners whilst staying at Dovetail Barn, the opposite as you were happy and said everything was great when you were asked. Any issues could have been rectified immediately, if they had been reported. The cottage is very clean and of a high standard, with plenty of repeat guests. The bedding and linen is freshly changed. There was no communication from yourselves to the owners , or Sykes to let anyone know if you were coming back or not ( 3 hours after departure time you arrived back) the property was booked to be cleaned that morning . The weather the next day following the snow was safe to drive as you brought your car back to the cottage at lunchtime. You said ‘ we will have an additional day and night so I can blame the weather and get out of going into to work tomorrow’ The roads were clear and drivable. There was an option to stay ( at your request) an additional night at a discounted rate as a good will gesture by the owners which you gladly accepted at the time. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andrew2.8★Nov 2023

• "A lovely barn very cosy with modern kitchen was lead to believe by the ..."

  A lovely barn very cosy with modern kitchen was lead to believe by the description that it was on its own and not part of a few holiday let'stogether so a little disappointed by that also there was quite a few light bulbs that were not working which made the rooms quite dark

  We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Dovetail barn is on its own and not attached and has its own secure fence, parking Etc.There are only 2 other cottages within proximity. Guests are asked to tell Sykes or the owners immediately about any problems eg lightbulbs out and this would have been rectified during your stay. Thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andy4.4★Nov 2023

• "An excellent discovery."

  Married nearby in Kendal in July 1997 so always good to revisit the area. The lovely barn conversion has high quality fittings and every mod-con, resulting in a very comfortable experience. I'm sure we'll visit again in the near future! Our nervous collie was relaxed here - so tranquil.

  Nov 2023

• "We had an amazing short stay here for our anniversary and will be coming back here again next year."

  This is a place we both loved, the views are amazing and the location is perfect. Thank you for a lovely stay.

  Sam & MaxineNov 2023

• "Our second stay in this lovely cottage."

  Visiting family, lots of walking and delicious meals. Thank you.

  Sarah & GavinOct 2023

• "We found the bed quite difficult to get out of, having said that we thought the cottage and surroundings absolutely fantastic and would want to stay again."

  We had an issue with the shower on the first morning, notified the owner and this was dealt with by the time we arrived back that day, Superb. Could highly recommend the Wheatsheaf in Brigsteer.

  Reviewed by Antony4.7★Sep 2023

• "Lovely stay in such a remote yet accessible cottage!"

  The perfect week of pubs, dog walks and relaxing. Thank you!

  Fran & JoeSep 2023

• "A beautiful cottage although a little disappointed that the fence isn't finished as my dog had to be on his lead every time he went out."

  Found a lovely little walk for us though. Wouldn't be put off staying again though.

  Julie & KevinSep 2023

• "A lovely place to call home for a weeks get away."

  With stunning views and excellent places to take the dogs. Everything you need for an escape in the beautiful country. Hope the next party enjoy as much as we have.

  Paul & Becky ForsiterSep 2023

• "Beautiful remote location So remote we couldn’t find it !"

  Even the neighbours didn’t know where it was . Finally found it after passing it several times .Dirt track to it very narrow one way traffic ! Very clean & comfortable .Few too many dog rules Luckily our dog is very well behaved . We thoroughly cleaned the place before leaving

  Hope you enjoyed your stay. Doggie rules politely ask our guests to keep dogs from on the furniture and upstairs. The furnishings in this property are of a high standard and we welcome and love dogs, we just ask that guests respect this and then it remains to the high standard for people to enjoy with or without dogs. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Susanne Patricia4.1★Jul 2023

• "Lovely property, well equipped, clean."

  The little garden and patio were great but the lakes weather did not allow us to sit outside in an evening! Short drive to kendal for shopping/food etc. The area is lovely however the roads surrounding this property are very narrow and not many passing places, thankfully these roads were very quiet during our stay.

  Glad you had a nice stay. The roads are totally unspoiled county lanes which add to the natural beauty of this peaceful area. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Amy4.7★Jun 2023

• "I recently had a lovely stay at Dove Tail Barn with my four legged best friend!"

  The cottage was as described, if not better. The recent fencing installation is a brilliant idea, gave me peace of mind that I could sit out in the garden and let the dog roam in an enclosed space. Thank you for a lovely stay, I especially enjoyed the coronation decorations!

  Thank you for your kind feedback. Glad our new fencing area made your stay better and you could sit out easily with your dog and enjoyed the coronation decorations. Hope to see you again. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Chloe4.7★May 2023

• "Tranquil, peaceful, little piece of heaven."

  Everything we needed for a weeks stay!

  Really glad you had a nice stay at Dovetail barn thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Hannah4.7★Apr 2023

• "Lovely stay thank you."

  Highly recommend. Beautiful place

  Thank you for your kind feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Natalie5.0★Jan 2023

• "My only comment would be , as it is described as Dog Friendly, a secure garden would be a real asset."

  Thank you for your feedback. We have now made the garden secure and dog friendly. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nicky5.0★Dec 2022

• "Superb holiday home, had everything we needed & was very comfy & welcoming"

  Reviewed by Karen4.7★Sep 2022

• "Proper little hidden gem of a place if your after piece and quiet with nice veiws."

  Kendle is a short drive there you will find countless shops and pubs. Will definitely be returning soon.

  Reviewed by Scott4.7★Aug 2022

• "Dove Tail Barn is situated in one of England's most beautiful locations, it's quiet and very peaceful, a perfect place to unwind."

  Tom, Diane and their children Kit and Ava are a lovely family and perfect host. We were made to feel very comfortable and at home. Our second time back and by no means our last. Jackie, Alex and Milo (our Cavapoo)

  Jackie And AlexAug 2022

• "Amazing property and location"

  Hope to see you again soon, thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Daniel5.0★Jul 2022

• "No complaints at all regarding the property however I do think that if someone had mobility issues then the bed being so low down would be a struggle for them."

  Reviewed by John4.7★Jul 2022

• "Lovely Enjoyable stay with lots and lots of walks in the area."

  Very clean, quiet and peaceful for a retreat. Good facilities in the cottage 2 blips; “doggy rules” I fully understand these need to be in place to respect the cottage but the way it was constructed on a sign tainted the mood a little on arrival despite our dog being well trained, almost seemed dog friendly but not. The “dove tail barn” pack although a great info idea, was filthy and tatted inside which is slightly off putting.

  Thank you for your feedback. We ask guests to be respectful with dogs whilst in the property in order to maintain high standards that are in the property. The welcome pack has now been updated since your visit. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gina4.1★Jun 2022

• "Dovecote barn was such a beautiful place to stay , it’s tucked away in the most beautiful Cumbrian countryside , the barn itself is very tastefully furnished and extremely comfortable and impeccably clean ."

  It’s adjacent to the the owner’s property so therefore they were always at hand to make us feel welcome , Dovetail barn has a very comfortable and homely feel mostly due to the lovely owners and their two very well behaved, polite children who were a pure delight …all in all we ( plus our dog Milo ) had a wonderful week and we thoroughly would recommend “Dovetail barn “ to anyone. Thank you D&T and you beautiful children for such a wonderful holiday..

  Thank you Jackie for your lovely feedback. You are delightful guests and have visited twice now. Looking forward to you staying again soon. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jacqueline5.0★May 2022

• "Amazing little cottage, had a great weeks stay, had everything we needed and was just perfect"

  Thank you, we hope to see you again soon. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Scott4.7★May 2022

• "Fabulous. We will definitely be back."

  Reviewed by Sonia5.0★Apr 2022

• "The barn is a great place to explore the Lake District."

  It is comfortable and has everything you need on arrival. The roads are quite tricky to navigate so don't try to attempt with anything larger than an SUV! Some of the previous feedback has been incorporated - rope off area for dogs, logs for fire on arrival. The Black Labrador and Wheatsheaf are two great pubs close by. Friendly welcome and great food. Both very dog friendly as was pretty much everywhere we went in the Lakes.

  Reviewed by Richard4.7★Mar 2022

• "The property is very well serviced clean and warm the heating works extremely well - the outside was good and some comfy chairs although we didn’t get much chance to enjoy the outside given the time of year."

  Cooking facilities were good a well stocked kitchen of equipment and utensils and a good oven - heated up very quickly. And as to all balanced reviews the main problem we encountered bring late in years and large in stature was the bed - it took quite a bit of getting out ok - a handle on the ceiling would have been advantageous to pull myself up the shower although very nice with more than enough hot water leaks from the bottom of the glass panel this will need a large bead of clear silicone right the way across but apart from those two setbacks I’d definitely stay there again

  Reviewed by Jonathan4.7★Feb 2022

• "Dove tail barn was a perfect holiday, everything you needed was there."

  It was very cosy infact we had to turn the heating down a bit.Tom the owner was a bit concerned about a small amount of building work nearby but it didn't impede on our stay at all. The place was impeccably clean and quite spacious for a small cosy nook. The wood was right on your doorstep so perfect for our dog and well situated for Windermere/Kendal and good hikes nearby. In a word fantastic.

  Reviewed by Richard5.0★Feb 2022

• "The photos show a log store stacked with logs but on arrival it’s a cupboard with no logs or anything for the stove!"

  The silicon seals in the shower desperately need replaced and the shower door leaks. The mattress whilst comfy enough is all Mis-shapen and really needs replaced, as do the pillows. Apart from that we really enjoyed our stay, despite the best efforts of the weather to spoil things!

  Reviewed by Steven4.1★Sep 2021

• "Absolutely brilliant place to stay, enjoyed Dove Tail Barn and will definitely return."

  It has everything that you need, more than what I expected. The accommodation was very clean and cozy. Fridge door was a bit temperamental, had to lift the shelf to close properly. Beautiful setting although the description does not indicate the close proximity of the neighbouring property. Also, please be mindful of the doggie rules as they’re clear when booking, the garden is not secure and there is a grape tree planted out back which is toxic to our little fur babies.

  Reviewed by Jessica4.7★Aug 2021

• "We have already submitted a complaint via your complaint process and are awaiting to hear from you."

  Property description on your website is not accurate and fails to indicate the very close proximity of neighbouring properties. Barn is certainly not secluded and tranquil. Non stop noise and disruption caused by the owners who live next door. Property is not particularly dog friendly either.

  Reviewed by Jason2.5★Aug 2021

• "Excellent location and brilliant accommodation- the only thing we would suggest is that the doggy rules are made plain at the time of booking as these could be restrictive for some people staying."

  Reviewed by Daniel4.7★Jul 2021

• "It was just perfect."

  Had everything we needed. The views, sunsets, walks right on the doorstep and the peace and quiet were just what we needed. Bella our border terrier loved it too!

  Reviewed by Mark5.0★Jul 2021

• "We had an amazing week at Dove Tail Barn."

  The only downfall, is that it allows dogs but can't be off the lead outside in the garden area. It would be great if there was a more secure garden that allowed a bit more freedom for the dogs.

  Reviewed by Sharon4.4★Jun 2021

• "Despite being advertised as dog friendly there was no secure garden !"

  ! This made it very difficult and stressful for us and the dogs as there were sheep and cows in the next field. A small roped area does not suffice because of this we will not be re-visiting. Perhaps you should have made this clear when advertised. Thank you.

  Reviewed by Carol3.8★Jun 2021

• "Had a lovely week in the Lakes & will definitely return but probably not to Dove Cottage, the views were stunning and the privacy perfect but, the furnishings had changed and looked more dated than pictured, the bathroom was tiny and the towels were far from luxury, the bed while comfortable would not suit everyone being practically on the floor, the fridge door didn’t close unless you lifted the door shelf each time."

  Just some extra touches could really elevate it, it just felt a little unloved. The correspondence from Lake Lovers was perfect, there was a maintenance issue that was reported prior to our arrival and someone came to fix that and was very helpful and cleared the shower drain while there as it wasn’t draining properly. A very enjoyable holiday thank you.

  Reviewed by Leanda3.8★Jun 2021

• "The cottage was ideally situated for excellent walking from the door."

  It was nice to be able to relax in the garden after a long walk and admire the extensive views whilst listening to the birds.

  Reviewed by Marlene5.0★May 2021

• "Dove Tail Barn is in a perfect location, with amazing views that were made even more special by the sunsets we were lucky enough to see on most evenings, due to the mainly dry, if slightly chilly, weather."

  Being chilly was a bonus though, as it meant we had an excuse to light a fire in the log burner after a full day of exploring the many beautiful locations and stunning scenery of the Lake District, whether by car, boat or on foot. The accommodation itself was clean, cosy and has everything you need, including the benefit of having an area to sit outside to eat dinner or just to relax and watch the sunset. The Super King bed was an added bonus. Im 6ft 2in and it can be a bit hit and miss when it comes to beds when travelling, but glad to say this bed was almost perfect. It would have been perfect, apart from the pillows, 3 of which were a bit flat and one was like a brick to sleep on...but some people may prefer that and you can’t expect to cater to everyone’s needs. It certainly didn’t detract from the overall positive experience we had staying at Dove Tail Barn. I would definitely recommend it as a great place to base yourself when visiting the Lake District!

  Reviewed by John4.7★Apr 2021

• "A brilliant location on the edge of the NP, close to Kendal for shopping and easy reach to Windermere and beyond."

  The patio is perfect for looking out over the hills especially if lucky with the weather for sunsets. Take care when arriving, the sign is not obvious as hidden by the cottage at the driveway entrance (note to owner - it would be really helpfully to move it to the other side of the drive). Well equipped kitchen, but for some reason, you need to bring your own wine glasses

  Reviewed by Gavin4.4★Apr 2021

• "The barn was in a lovely location which felt secluded but was only a few minutes away from Kendal."

  Mrs FranklinJun 2019

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