Sunny Cottage

36 Customer Reviews

• "Sykes must inform people that this property is unsuitable for disabled."

  I have a slight walking disability and found uneven pathways, stairs in main cottage particularly top one very difficult, back doorstep too high needs a slab in front, would be totally inaccessible for wheelchair users. I stayed in annex but still difficult walking to main cottage for meals. Bath toppled is completely unsafe. Looking back water leakage from bathroom to kitchen has been ongoing from Ann’s review June 2023. Lorna’s review, September 2024, just before our stay also mentions her poor mother in law had to stay in annex because the bedrooms were not clearly defined in description. She also mentions water coming through kitchen ceiling. The cast iron bath needs removing as it’s not fit for purpose. The weight of the bath , water and adult on wooden supports is too much for it and it needs replacing with something lighter at floor level which would be easy to get into. What is needed is a smooth path from annex across front garden to front door and an extra slab at back door. Having said that wheelchair users would not be able to get in main cottage or into sitting areas in wheelchairs. Sykes needs to clarify description so visitors are given a choice as to whether book or not. We do not want to go home with broken bones because of trip hazards. The annex is totally suitable for wheelchair users but they would have to get to main house for meals as there are no cooking facilities. We liked the cottage but would only ever return or recommend if foregoing issues were sorted. By helen

  Thank you for staying at Sunny Cottage and for your fulsome feedback. While my elderly parents have coped fine at the cottage, we are sorry that owing to your own mobility issues you weren’t able to enjoy the cottage as much as the vast majority of guests. Sadly, the Victorian gamekeepers cottage was not designed well for wheelchair users although we did knock through recently to make the open plan kitchen/diner with the new orangery to create more space. Since your experience and following your suggestion we have amended the description to say that it ‘may not be suitable for people with mobility issues’ and I would advise anybody with mobility issues or special needs to check with Sykes in advance of their stay at any property to avoid disappointment. We are sorry to hear that the roll top bath toppled as your son was getting in. In the four years we have had the holiday cottage and after hundreds of guests we have never had this happen before and since your letter, we have checked the cast iron bath and it is stable. We are glad that despite this you thought the cottage was nice and that you appreciated the view of the woodland beyond. We will consider your suggestions for adding evergreen shrubs or cyclamen to the cottage garden. Best wishes Property Owner

  Reviewed by Helen2.5★Sep 2024

• "The listing is misleading it reads like there are two bedrooms downstairs in the main house however this was in a separate lodge."

  My mother in law had to stay in this on her own which spilt our holiday. This is not a holiday for disabled or elderly as the path is uneven and slippy. We also had to ring the property agent as water was coming through the ceiling and she was so rude not helpful. The cottage is beautiful but really disappointed about the listing and the property manager

  Thank you for staying at Sunny Cottage and for taking the time to give us your feedback, which we value and have noted. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lorna4.1★Sep 2024

• "Sunny Cottage is wonderful, a magical cottage hidden in the woods."

  We loved our stay and will definitely come back.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Aug 2024

• "Lovely high spec cottage."

  would recommend .Lovely touches in rooms and the aga was okay to use and worked it out in the end. We would book again.

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Aug 2024

• "A magical property set in woodland, with a seperate 2 bed annexe."

  It was absolutely ideal for us (6 adults and ancient dog!) and we WILL return! Excellent instructions to reach/access and we very mcuh appreciated the excellent Portuguese wine on our arrival:) The cottage is beautifully kept, and immaculately clean. The Aga style cooker did require forward thinking (perhaps the microwave could be a bit bigger to assist those who are not so Aga proficient?) but absolutely adds to the charm of this beautiful cottage. We noted from the visitors book that many were repeat visitors which speaks for itself. We also plan to return!

  Reviewed by Georgina5.0★Aug 2024

• "Lovely property."

  Garden a little overgrown, but added to charm.

  Reviewed by Steve4.1★Jul 2024

• "We had another fantastic break at Sunny Cottage (our fourth)."

  Over the past 12 months there had been quite a few changes which have made the kitchen area more spacious and upgraded the garden furniture. Making a great place to stay even better. We hope to go back next year.

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★May 2024

• "This is our second time booking - and will be booking again."

  We love this space

  Reviewed by Nathaniel5.0★Apr 2024

• "The only comment i would make is the seating in the room with the TV was'nt very comfortable."

  There was another area to sit and talk and read apart from that everything else was fine and we had a good holiday. Thank you for letting us stay in your lovely house.

  Reviewed by Helen3.8★Mar 2024

• "The cottage is beautiful but had a ladybug infestation."

  They were everywhere. Also could use better outside lighting at night, and the kitchen floors were very dirty. I did ask for an itemized receipt for business purposes and am still waiting for that to arrive.

  Reviewed by Sheilena3.4★Nov 2023

• "Booked this on behalf of work colleagues, all of which said they enjoyed staying there and for site, it was a good location."

  Thank you

  Reviewed by Alison5.0★Nov 2023

• "The place is located in such a beautiful spot."

  I would happily stay here again.

  Reviewed by Neil5.0★Nov 2023

• "We had an absolutely amazing time in Sunny Cottage."

  It was such a homely place with lovely gardens to explore (although kept dog on lead because wasn’t sure it was completely dog proof). Everyone loved it… the kids especially loved the little areas where fairies could be found such as the outdoor Wendy house. Loved how there was a separate dining area and also the comfort and books and games and jigsaws! Would definitely come back. May be a good idea to have wi fi in annexe but the kids absolutely adored the cinema wall and gave us a much needed rest every day after exploring the local area. We will definitely be back! Thank you! An absolute gem.

  Reviewed by Rachael4.4★Aug 2023

• "This cottage was one of the worst we have stayed in."

  The toilets were disgusting -appreciate you can’t use bleach with a septic tank but there are other ways of keeping toilets clean. There were cobwebs everywhere and the kitchen floor looked like it had never been cleaned - get a steam cleaner on it if you don’t want to use detergents. The shower cradle broke on the 2nd day so had to hold it while trying to shower. One of the blinds in the lodge didn’t work. We also had a leak from the bathroom through the light fitting in the kitchen ceiling. I reported this as it was dangerous and it was dealt with promptly. The cottage is in a lovely peaceful spot with nice gardens and is a good base, we found plenty of places to visit and had some very nice meals out but the whole place is in need of freshening up and needs a deep clean

  Reviewed by Ann2.2★Jun 2023

• "It was a lovely space, and great for the dogs."

  The place is secure for them, it's pretty quiet most of the time, its nicely decorated and provisioned but the listing was a bit misleading in places. The house is indeed surrounded by woods, and there is indeed a gate that leads directly to them. But it's locked and the woods, we were told by the house wonders when we called to ask for the key, are private property, so no access. And we made the booking based on that so we could walk an old dog without her having to go very far. And the house is indeed secluded and nestled in green and all the things the description says; but there is a house next door, about 40 feet away, and we could hear cars coming and going.

  Hi David, Many thanks for taking the time for feedback and we’re so glad you enjoyed your stay at Sunny Cottage. We don’t advertise in the listing that there is access to the private estate that surrounds us. The cottage was originally the game keepers cottage and we are lucky enough to overlook the Syston estate woodland, with our own half acre of woodland and herb and wild flower gardens, which we hope you enjoyed. The woods are frequented by wildlife and wild deer paths so we wouldn’t encourage dog walkers on this unspoilt land in any case. Coming straight out of the property our track leads you around a delightful bridle path, with beautiful views, that borders the estate - this is excellent for dog walking and on our door step. Hopefully you can make good use of it if you choose to return to the cottage another time. Very best wishes, Beth & Jonny Property Owner

  Reviewed by David4.4★Jun 2023

• "This is an amazing location with an old cottage, modern lodge and amazing garden set adjacent to woodlands."

  A great place to relax. This was our third visit and we continue to have a great time whenever we go.

  Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for your comments. We are very happy indeed that you clearly enjoy the special ambience at the cottage just as much as we do and were able to relax there. We look forward to welcoming you both back. Very best wishes, Jonny & Beth Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★May 2023

• "Great relaxing location and the annex was brilliant for your extra guest who want some quiet time."

  The screen in the bedroom was also an added bonus. Lovely warm cosy cottage. Lots of wildlife. Saw deer everyday pass by and a whole variety of birds. A real haven and perfect for dogs. The Cottage was very warm which was unexpected. Lovely underfloor heating in the bathroom. Beds very comfy. A very nice welcome pack of wine and nibbles was a nice touch. The cooker was new to me but we got the hang of it in no time. It really cooked very well. The herb garden was also well used when cooking. I will be certainly recommend this property and location to anyone who wants to be close the nature but still not too far from facilities. The Stag pub do gorgeous meals with generous proportions. I look forward to return.

  Reviewed by Teresa4.4★May 2023

• "Sunny Cottage is an absolute gem."

  The photos really do not do justice to the home. It really feels far more like a home than a holiday let. As an avid cook it was such a joy to have a kitchen fully stocked with high quality pots pans etc. such a difference from the usual cheap ikea knives and the dreaded glass chopping board. It did take me a few days to get used to the Aga style cooker, having never used one before. The bedrooms are fitted with first class linen, real pillows and super comfortable mattresses. The house and gardens are packed full of glorious spaces. We were lucky enough to be there when the spectacular white magnolia was in full bloom. The garden was full of small bird visitors, and we saw the obligatory deer walking through the woods behind the garden walls. Special thanks to the lovely housekeepers from Peachy Clean who were super responsive to our calls for help for some minor teething trouble with the showers and hot water (mostly our own fault!) We’ll definitely be coming back to sample this magical space in some other seasons.

  Dear Nathaniel, Many thanks for your positive feedback - we are thrilled that you appreciated what the cottage has to offer as much as we do. It does have a unique atmosphere and is fascinating and relaxing in every season. We look forward to welcoming you back there another time. Kind regards, Jonny & Beth Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nathaniel5.0★Apr 2023

• "We loved the cottage and had a comfortable stay."

  It is surely one of the most interesting holiday cottages I have ever stayed in, with its antique furniture, a fabulous collection of books, TV and film memorabilia and a magical garden. Our dog enjoyed being out in the proper countryside - and it was very handy that there is a short hose available out the back to wash him down. We were surrounded by wildlife: roe deer, muntjacs, woodpeckers, owls, butterflies, moorhens and ducks on the nearby pond. The only downside really was that the gravel on the drive was so deep my little car had trouble getting in and out (aim left), and the garden path - while authentic and picturesque - was a bit of a potential tripping hazard for my elderly parents. Generally, though, it's a splendid place. There can't be many holiday destinations where you can watch deer playing in the woods whilst you wash up or eat lunch.

  Reviewed by Sally Louise4.7★Mar 2023

• "Once upon a time there was a beautiful cottage in a secret garden, Surrounded by woodland."

  The name of Sunny Cottage. What an absolutely delightful, quirky cottage, which could very easily be dripping in magical fairytales. This cottage evokes the imagination so perfectly that I could write a book about it. The array of books inside the beautiful rooms, each room with its own individual ambience and atmosphere. Books ranging from the Celtic ku are zodiac by Helena Paterson, River Cottage by Hugh Fernley Whittingstall, Great Tales from English History by Robert Lacey and The massive vintage classic of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy to name but a few. A complete diversity of different titles in every room. The AGA in the kitchen is delightful to cook on and just the very action of doing this transports you to another time long ago. I believe there could be fairies in the garden and little elves hiding behind the bushes and in the log store. The little stone pathway leading to the front door of the cottage make it look like it was torn from the pages of a magical fairy tale. Take a moment to step outside and watch the winter sun filter between the trees. Alone in the woods at sunset and the deep golden light is filtering through the branches of the trees giving it a truly magical atmosphere and at night a rich black sky full of stars looking down on the wonderful nocturnal creatures wandering through the woods, hiding under the beautiful starry sky. Sunny cottage has opened my eyes and my imagination, this cottage has come straight out of a book of fairytales capturing endless stories just waiting to be told. A week in Sunny Cottage will let you’re imagination roam free, a truly exquisite holiday, that I will hold with me forever. Simply Beautiful.

  Reviewed by Angie4.7★Jan 2023

• "What an amazing place,we had the greatest family new year for a long time."

  the place was immaculate, nothing missing so meets your every requirements(snow would have capped it off) the cottage was amazing plenty of space but very cosy at the same time. 100% we will stop here again thankyou very much.

  That’s great to hear - Thank you for posting your positive feedback! We are so glad you enjoyed spending New Year at Sunny Cottage - it is a cosy and relaxing place to be in wintertime. Look forward to welcoming you and your family back in the future. Best wishes. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Dec 2022

• "This was one of the best holiday houses we have ever stayed in."

  The garden was absolutely gorgeous, a fairy-tale hideaway that we never wanted to leave. The house is not enormous (the 6'1" member of the party took a few cranial hits) but it is so thoughtfully laid out and furnished, it couldn't have been more comfortable and welcoming, and had our party been any larger, the annexe would have been perfect to allow other members a little privacy away from the general carnage of family life. The house is so hidden away you would never find it if you didn't know it was there and utterly private, while being only a couple of miles from town amenities, and very close to the marvellous Belton House. We never return to self catering properties but we are giving serious consideration to coming back here because we enjoyed it so thoroughly. A gem.

  Reviewed by Jeanette5.0★Oct 2022

• "An amazing property with so much character, wonderful private location, great facilities and so much to do without even leaving the cottage and lodge."

  We love this cottage and cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for a quiet escape from the pressures of everyday life.

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Oct 2022

• "We had a lovely family weekend at this cottage."

  It is in a peaceful setting in the woods with beautiful surroundings and within walking distance of the village. The cottage was comfortable, well equipped and full of character. We would love to return one day.

  Reviewed by Charles5.0★Aug 2022

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Sunny Cottage."

  So cosy, comfortable, peaceful and extremely well equipped. Would happily recommend to all and hope to stay again. Highly recommend the local pub The Stag - excellent food.

  Reviewed by Claire4.7★Aug 2022

• "Oh my goodness!"

  This cottage has left a significant impact on all of the different personalities that stayed for the week. We didn’t want to leave and were quite emotional when we did. This might seem over dramatic, but due to our professions we find it very difficult to relax. The ambience in different areas of the cottage, and especially the secluded nooks and crannies in the garden, provided perfect peace. Imagination exists both inside and out and we found it unnecessary to visit the sights. So quiet with herds of deer feeding close by. I would rather live here than my own home! Planning our return already and only arrived home yesterday. Highly recommend this cottage.

  Thank you! We are so happy that you enjoyed the magic of Sunny Cottage and really appreciate your heartfelt words. We look forward to welcoming you back. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Tracy5.0★Aug 2022

• "A Beautiful & very well maintained property,fab gardens which we were able to ..."

  A Beautiful & very well maintained property,fab gardens which we were able to enjoy with fortunate good weather, we would definitely recommend if visiting this area

  Thank you for taking the time to post a review and recommending on. We are so glad Sunny Cottage lived up to its name for you and that you enjoyed the gardens. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jeffrfey4.7★Jun 2022

• "Wow, what a fantastic cottage and location!"

  We had an amazing break at Sunny Cottage where the authentic period feel, magnificent private garden and excellent facilities combined to make a marvelous holiday. The wonderful selection of books and entertainment meant that there was always something to do without leaving the cottage. The conservatory makes for lovely sun-trap in which to relax with so much character. Definitely going back again.

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Apr 2022

• "The instructions for finding the cottage weren't great."

  They assumed that you were coming from the North and relied on the user being able to identify roads by name. It would have been better if they'd been along the lines of turn off the A153 at Barkston by the Stag Pub etc. It would also have been helpful if there had been a sign at the end of the drive to say that it was the driveway for Sunny Cottage. The Annex is a short distance from the cottage. I had thought that it was attached or that there was just a very short walkway. I probably just didn't read the listing thoroughly enough. At any rate this wasn't a problem. Otherwise the cottage and its situation were delightful. I'd love to know what happened to the garden's creator, Herbert Exton. Did he live out his days at the cottage?

  Reviewed by Linda4.7★Mar 2022

• "Sunny cottage is a lovely cottage."

  Well equipped kitchen and nice and clean. A few Christmas trimmings had been put around the cottage and some fairy lights in the garden (but we couldn't get these to work). The cottage itself is warm and cosy with plenty of books. We were disappointed to discover that the surrounding woodlands are private, as its one of the things that attracted us to the cottage. The gardens are nice, probably better in the spring and summer. The annex is nice, tea and coffee making facilities and plenty of dvds for the projector. The king-size bed in the annex is a very firm mattress, not the most comfortable! Unless you like a firm bed.

  Dear Kathryn, Firstly, thank you for coming to stay at Sunny Cottage with your family over Christmas and for your feedback, which we greatly appreciate. We wish you had had snow this year for the full “The Holiday” experience, but glad you found the cottage clean, cosy and warm. The cottage was once upon a time the gamekeeper’s cottage of the surrounding Syston Park estate, but we don’t (unfortunately!) own the these acres of mature woodland - we just get to enjoy looking at them. The cottage sits in circa half an acre of its own gardens on the edge of this estate and the brick garden wall runs along the perimeter. While the woods we look out into are private to protect the wildlife and the saplings, the cottage itself consequently enjoys greater peace and quiet and privacy since we in turn are not overlooked by the public as well as having this privileged setting to observe the wild deer /pheasants etc without disturbing them. We are frustrated you couldn’t get the outdoor fairy lights to work and it would have been no bother for us if you had contacted the management company during your stay to say that this was an issue. It’s disappointing for us since we bought new lights especially for your stay with you being the first guests staying over Christmas since it became a holiday cottage. They are battery-operated so should have worked in similar way to the indoor ones, but we shall investigate of course. It’s difficult to find a mattress to suit all tastes and there are a variety across the various bedrooms to try and cater for this. Sorry the kingsize memory mattress in the cinema room was too firm for you, but glad you enjoyed the use of the films/projector. We are pleased you thought the cottage gardens were nice even in winter. You are right, though, the gardens are particularly stunning in the Spring and most idyllic to spend time in throughout the Summer months so we do hope you might return to enjoy these seasons another time. Wishing you and your family all the very best for this New Year. Jonny & Beth Property Owner

  Reviewed by Kathryn3.1★Dec 2021

• "This is a lovely cottage, and was excellent for our family holiday with young children."

  It is a very charming property and set in a beautiful garden and surrounding location. Our only significant complaint was that cooking on an Aga-type stove was difficult for novices, and inconvenient whilst we were on holiday as we did not want to spend hours preparing and cooking our food. The digital projector in the anexe could not be made to work, we believe due to there being no connection between the projector and the DVD player.

  Hi Alan, Thank you for leaving feedback after your stay and glad you enjoyed the atmosphere at the cottage with your young family - we have spent many happy holidays there with our children too. We are obviously sorry you had difficulties cooking on a range cooker - there should be simple instructions in the cottage info pack, but we will check these are clear enough. I wish we would have known you had difficulty with it as I would gladly have guided you through it anytime and the management company is also always on hand to answer any queries you might have had on the phone or in person. Ordinarily the cooker should be on all day and ready to cook at a moment’s notice as well as keeping the kitchen cosy so I’m frustrated you felt inconvenienced as we haven't had this feedback before. We will certainly ensure that any future guests don’t have the same experience and can enjoy the benefits of cooking on the range whether they have used one before or not. Regarding the cinema projector, this hasn’t happened before and again had we known there was a problem we would gladly have tried to resolve this over the phone or arranged for someone to come out to fix it. It is altogether possible previous guests removed or dislodged an HDMI cable by accident - we will certainly look into this asap and apologies that you weren’t able to watch any films on the big screen this time. Thank you very much for taking the time to give this feedback - we value it greatly and do hope you will return to the cottage another day. Very best wishes Jonny & Beth Property Owner

  Reviewed by Alan4.4★Nov 2021

• "We had a wonderful time at Sunny cottage and would happily go back again."

  I learnt to use the Aga, very easy to use and had no problems. The gardens are amazing, saw a herd of dear over the wall neighbouring the cottage, spectacular. We used the local pub, very friendly staff. The property has the most extensive book and {DVD, in the annex} collection i have ever seen. Spent most evenings in the garden or conservatory/dining room.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★Sep 2021

• "Lovely stay - the cottage and gardens are beautiful and well thought out."

  We didn't have the same issues as the previous visitors who had trouble with the oven because we found that we could turn it off whenever we needed to - though it's worth saying that there are no other cooking facilities so if you want to cook then it does need to be on and it does make the house very cosy! The children's bedroom is also right above it so we had a little trouble getting our toddler to sleep one night, but we learnt our lesson and kept all doors and windows open when cooking from then on. The other thing I'd say is that we had mistakenly thought that the woodland the cottage is situated in was private to the cottage and that therefore we'd be able to go out into the woods and explore. We were a little disappointed to not be able to go and hunt for a gruffalo! But these are such minor issues for what was generally a lovely experience.

  Reviewed by L4.4★Jul 2021

• "Garden amazing Great peaceful location Annex lovely and modern (and much ..."

  Garden amazing Great peaceful location Annex lovely and modern (and much cooler than cottage, see below) Furnishings and decor in cottage not to our liking (but that is a personal taste thing) Aga far from ideal, particularly in a heatwave Hard to keep bedrooms cool (particularly those with small opening windows), again not helped by the heatwave

  Reviewed by Chris3.1★Jul 2021

• "Wonderful accommodation and beautiful gardens."

  Everything was so well thought out and cared for. The library and books throughout the house offered something for every reader and the house was equipped with everything you would need. This is a lovely cottage in a peaceful location. We had a lovely time. Thankyou.

  Reviewed by Sally5.0★Apr 2021

• "The wooded situation of this cottage was magical and the books, furnishings and Farrow and Ball paint contributed to its lovely ambience."

  The garden was of great interest with lovely trees, shrubs and plants as was the wild life It really is an exceptional place to stay and I didn't realise that the Lincolnshire Wolds were so picturesque. This is praise indeed as I live in the Cotswolds.

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Apr 2021

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