Strathnaver

36 Customer Reviews

• "On arrival we have to say we didnt feel welcomed to the property at all."

  Firstly,there was wet towels still in the washing from previous guests which I had to hang up to dry ( tried the dryer 3 times on 60minutes but still soaking wet!). This was not a good start. We found half eaten food in the freezer (ice cream and chips). It was told to us in the instruction manual that we were given dishwasher tablets,tea,coffee etc to start us off,this was non existent. We also read in the manual about previous complaints,the owners clearly dont seem to take constructive criticism very well. The property could have been cleaner as we found food fragments on the kitchen cupboards and dishwasher,hair in the shower, marks and dust all over the tv. The quality of the beds were not good as they were very uncomfortable. In the master bedroom,it wasn't a double bed,it was two singles pushed together which caused an issue. We swapped with our daughters to suit us all better but was disappointed. General factilies were good (apart from the dryer) with the house being very well equipped. Garden was lovely and we really enjoyed the hot tub after having busy days out. Location was also gorgeous and it was perfect being so close to beaches,shops etc. Overall good but lots of room for improvement. Definitely needs a bit more cleaning and care taken and perhaps something to welcome guests on arrival.

  In order. 1. Guest booked 5 people, full photos and words for 1DB and 3 twin beds. 2. The good start with guests , read the House Guide who has much info. We are not a hotel. Our hard working housekeeper is happy to deal with them. She lives in Forres. No one physically meets a guest, as they might in a hotel. 3. The guest has said that in general they had a good time using the garden, hot tub and our house. The two previous guests reviewed for 100 and 94%. The present guest now is a mystery measure of 44%. There is nothing more for us and Louise to do anything more. 4. The dryer was used by the former guest on leaving. It was not left for Louise. This new guest did not phone Louise. She would have taken away the laundry. There was no call. 5. There was ample tea, coffee in the cupboard and fresh milk in the fridge. There was also some food such as salt, pepper, flour etc which are left in similar form, which guests can be used. Most is acceptable to all the guests this year. if desired. This also was ice cream in the freezer left behind. 6. The large range of guests are using the 7 beds. The present guests this year is the first this year, complain of the beds. We use our own same beds between January and March. They are enjoyed by our family and friends. The latter are often retired professionals. Like a hotel. They have no problem with the beds. 7. The house is hoovered by Louise, working hard through the last 9 years. She was unaware of " dust on the TV ". She was not unaware of. Dust can come from the the French doors into the lounge. 8. We are grateful however for tidying up well on their departure. In fact, Louise. only remark about that was to express her thank to the guest. Graeme Mackay Property Owner

  Reviewed by Louise2.2★Aug 2024

• "We had a wonderful time at this property and wish to thank the owners for sharing with us their beautiful home."

  We particularly enjoyed the art works all around the home and of course the hot tub! The property is in a great location for exploring the local area and we have had a super time.

  Dear Melissa Great to hear from you and that you enjoyed our quirky artsy bobs and many books which helped a bit of fun in the old summer atmosphere. Glad you also enjoyed our hot tub, which our housekeeper. Louise gets it in good ready for new guests. Look forward to see you all in the future. All the best wishes Graeme and Julie Property Owner

  Reviewed by Melissa5.0★Aug 2024

• "A great home from home experience, very well equipped with everything you would need on your holiday."

  We would definitely recommend.

  Dear Nikki Man thanks for your kind words. We really appreciate your great worth holiday.You will of course be most welcome when you come again. Graeme and Julie Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nikki4.7★Jun 2024

• "THE PROPERTY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WELL EQUIPPED."

  The only BIG downside was that we were very excited about using the hot tub. However, the chemicals were not properly measured, and the chlorine (or whatever it was) was so strong it burned the kids skin and they had to get out after 10 minutes. The 2nd day I left the cover off and jets on for 40 minutes to assist in off-gassing, then tried again. The first layer of skin peeled off of my hands and feet the next day, and our 10 year old daughters hands. We have sadly experienced this once before so we know it is from FAR to many chemicals. When they are not measured and tested properly. Just dumping a bunch in after guests leave is NOT good. Sadly, it really shaded our experience at an otherwise nice place. I hope the housekeeper will be more careful in the future when maintaining the hot tub/ spa. our poor kiddo is still experiencing chapped skin from the chemical burn.

  Owner response; This complaint was made about 2 -3 weeks after the guest left. It has no supporting evidence. If there was a problem as described then it would have been resolved one way or the other on the day. The guest did not contact us. The hot tub was prepared in the same way as in the last 8-9 years of letting. Drained, cleaned, filter washed and sanitized using slow release chlorine tablets, before each new booking.There is no way that our housekeeper would have added large quantities of chlorine , as has been suggested. Several guests have used it since with no problem. We are aware that Sykes Cottages have also since the comments were received, attempted to contact the guest directly, but they did not receive a response. We do not understand how this rash etc arose. We are satisfied that the cleaning regime in place is adequate and the hot tub is safe to use. Sykes Cottages have also since the comments were received attempted to contact the guest directly, but did not receive a response. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Cima4.1★Apr 2024

• "We had a wonderful week at Strathnaver, stunning house, so comfortable and warm and SO much space!"

  Kitchen was very well equiped, kids loved the table tennis and loads of space for games, adults loved the cosy mezzanine and what a great selection of books! Totally recommend as a perfect retreat in the country. Easy to get to Findhorn east beach, Forres, Elgin and Lossiemouth for an explore then back to the house for a quiet evening and relax in the hot tub. Was just the holiday we needed, kids already asking when we're going back!

  Thankyou Danielle. It gives us great satisfaction to know that we got it right. Glad the kids in particular, had a feast. Hope to see you again some sunny day. Graeme Property Owner

  Reviewed by Danielle4.4★Mar 2024

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Strathnaver from start to finish."

  Plenty of space and well equipped in all departments, the hot tub and huge gardens were also a big bonus. The house is a short drive from beautiful beaches and towns, Findhorn, Nairn and Forres. I would definitely recommend and return.

  Thankyou Karen, We are pleased that you had a good holiday and enjoyed the neighbourhood. Hope to see you again.. Graeme Mackay Property Owner

  Reviewed by Karen5.0★Jul 2023

• "Lovely house with a large garden."

  Plenty of room for our family to enjoy our holiday. The hot tub was lovely and we all enjoyed using it. House is comfortable and well equipped. It is in a beautiful area with lovely beaches and plenty to see and do. We had a few issues. Two of the mattresses were uncomfortable due to feeling the springs but the memory foam ones were all very comfortable.The whirlpool bath jets kept putting out black dirty water. One of the patio doors did not lock. The water and ice maker on fridge did not work. The wifi was slow and kept dipping in and out. Sorry to be negative but feel it is important to be honest when reviewing. The owner did contact us by phone and the door lock was fixed. He informed us that the fridge problem would be repaired and the plumber would look at the bath but that would be after our holiday ended. Overall these issues did not spoil our holiday, they just caused a bit of disappointment.

  Thank you for your review. I thought we had memory foam mattresses on all the beds. I shall get our housekeeper to review this at once. We have recently had a major leak in the bathroom repaired. The jacuzzi does not get used a lot and there was sediment dislodged in the system following repair. All that has been flushed through the system and the water is clear. The fridge was a long time awaiting. a part and has now been fixed. It was simply the ice maker that was affected. We move as fast as we can to keep things in good shape as can be seen with the patio doors. WE value your constructive comments. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Janice4.7★Jul 2023

• "The house is big and nice, located in a good area."

  The address takes you to a different street on sat nav so do not panic it’s further up the main road and you will see it. A lot of the amenities listed did not work, the WiFi was barely ever working or strong enough to use, the jets in the jacuzzi bath didn’t work and the front of the bath was hanging off. The ice and water machine didn’t work. The TV wouldn’t let you use any of the apps (probably because of the WiFi so not a big issue) and the remote was very temperamental. Beds were pretty uncomfortable in general. Overall however you do have a lovely home and the location is excellent. Before arriving I had emailed multiple times through VRBO and never received any replies. I contacted Sykes but never managed to get through to anyone on calls or emails. Thank you for letting out your house, I read in your welcome pack that you only wanted complaints that are constructive so I do hope this is helpful. Thank you again

  IV36 2UA is an area of 20 houses. The guest would have been told the accurate location of our house by Sykes. Also it is in the House Guide, which I normally send to guests before arrival. I was unable to contact this guest on his given email as his email was always " blocked due to local policy". I asked Sykes to help. I imagine they had the same problem. VRBO seems to refer to a different company from Sykes. I know little of it. HOT TUB: The jets work properly. Part of the skirting of the cover was torn by a previous guest. This cannot be replaced quickly and a new cover will arrive in about 5 weeks time. This does not impair its function. WIFI: This is a mystery to us, as we have had no complaints about that or the smart TV in the last 5 years. As a precaution I shall ask our housekeeper to replace the batteries in the remote. BEDS: Mattress comfort, especially in a new bed, is a very subjective thing. I can only point to the fact that we have had no complaints about this in recent years. ICE MACHINE: Was switched off, as it was leaking. The part has been sourced by our plumber and will be fitted on Fri. 14th July. I apologise for the inconvenience. In the context of this review I can point out our 8 year record of 95/100 in review " scores ", which speaks for itself. The house was left in good and clean condition fro which we are always grateful. The bond was refunded. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Alexander2.5★Jun 2023

• "Great location, great cottage nothing lacking."

  Plenty of room hot-tub a great hit.

  Thankyou Robert. We are pleased that you enjoyed your break and you and everything you needed. Hope see you again some day. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Jun 2023

• "Lovely location."

  Very helpful hosts with plenty of information beforehand. Thank you.

  We value the feedback which normally helps to correct any shortcomings. In her emails to us we were told they had a great weekend. W are glad to have enabled that. I note that there have been no complaints at any stage. Upon that, we have nothing to correct. The house was in good and clean condition on arrival and it was left neat and tidy. Peoples perceptions of value vary. But it is difficult to understand a rating of 81/100. Graeme Property Owner

  Reviewed by Karyn4.1★May 2023

• "An amazing property."

  Fantasticly furnished. So spacious. Beds are so comfortable, everything nice and clean. More things available than you would ever think about. Toys and games for everyone from 0 to 100. Hot tub is gorgeous and in such an awesome setting. Views make you speechless, especially at sunset. Really nice that all towels and linen are provided. We couldn't have asked for more or such a lovely week.

  Thankyou Fiona. We really want our guests to enjoy the space, not only in the house but also the wonderful countryside around. We are very pleased that we could help you to take part in this, and have a real holiday. Graeme. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Fiona5.0★Dec 2022

• "Strathnaver is a beautiful property, absolutely as described, set in a pretty village, nice and peaceful, a very well equipped home with everything you need, from bikes to games,, to home comforts and beautiful gardens, hot tub an added bonus after long walks during the day."

  Visit Woodside farmshop just down the road an easy walk does a nice breakfast and lovely cakes, shop is great too for local meats & veg. Favourite walks Findhorn beach lots of seals, and go to Hopeman Harbour for a coastal walk to the Cove absolutely stunning, Enjoy this beautiful home and area its stunning,

  Thankyou Karyn, WE are very pleased you enjoyed your stay and seem to have made the most of the many local attractions. Glad that everything in the house helped you to enjoy what seems a memorable visit. Graeme and Julie, Property Owner

  Reviewed by Karyn5.0★Sep 2022

• "We had such a good holiday at Strathnaver."

  The house is beautiful, clean and felt very comfortable. The large garden and open spaces in the house were perfect for the kids. Graeme and Julie were extremely helpful and kind. Would highly recommend

  Dear Pauline, Thankyou for your kind review of the house. We are so happy to have made your holiday a memorable one. Hope to see you again one day. Graeme and Julie. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Pauline5.0★Jul 2022

• "Loved our stay at the cottage, was relaxing and hot tub was a bonus."

  Lots of room for families and great area for visiting beaches and visitor attractions. Would definitely recommend the cottage and area and would not hesitate to go back.

  Thankyou Margaret. Glad we got it altogether for you. And a big thankyou from our housekeeper for leaving the house so nucely. Love to see you agaiin. Graeme and Julie. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★May 2022

• "Strathnaver is beautiful, we took our children and had everything we could have possibly needed there."

  Games, childrens toys, books, bikes, outdoor toys, buckets and spades etc. the house if very spacious with a large garden area. Easy to get to the shops. The owners were good with communicating if needed. We would definitely stay again if we’re ever in that area.

  Very pleased you enjoyed your stay. Especially happy the kids had a good time. Hopefully will have happy childhood memories. Love to have you back. Best wishes. Graeme and Julie. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Samantha4.7★May 2022

• "Beautiful house, very well presented and kitted out which provided the perfect base for our short break in Moray."

  The hot tub was amazing and a huge hit with the kids who spent most of their time during our excursions asking when we could get back to the house so they could jump in the tub! The log burner was also a nice touch as the nights were definitely getting colder and although not required as the underfloor heating system is so good, it created a lovely cosy atmosphere. We would definitely book again and would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a comfortable and spacious base for holidaying in the area

  Reviewed by John5.0★Oct 2020

• "Lovely location - so easy to get everywhere but feels remote."

  The house is beautiful and the hot tub was a welcome extra. Lovely library and study area, nice to have games to play etc Garden was perfect for quiet days in and summer evenings and the cherries from the cherry tree were delicious.

  Reviewed by Jean5.0★Jul 2020

• "We had a fantastic time at this property."

  Julie and Graeme's house was perfect. Very spacious and welcoming. The hot tub was great. We had a couple of teething issues but a quick phone call and an email from Graeme advising what had to be done and job done

  Reviewed by Aaron4.7★Dec 2019

• "We are return bookers of Strathnaver the last time being September three years ago."

  We found the house totally unchanged. The House is in real need of refurbishment. Examples such as Bedding and Duvets and glassware need replacement. Obvious fabric Maintenance is required of things like Doors, the Front Door jamming, Balcony doors stuck, also the En-suite Shower glass door jamming closed which is not safe. Vertical Blinds in the Large front bathroom even had blades missing with poor function so no privacy. We had low log supplies inside and nothing available outside on arrival so had to call housekeeper for delivery, it was minus 5C outside, house was cool, so we used electric heaters. Asked to wash towels on departure in the House Guide book and strip beds used but no wash tablets left. Lack of basic cleaning materials. High occupancy of up to 8 people is very obviously taking its toll of wear on the basic facilities of this house. Regardless of this we love Strathnaver it has a very unique homely feel and yes we would rebook in the future. An honest review from regular Home renters.

  Thank you for your comments. There should have been enough logs for your stay. The shower door has a catch that needs firm pressure. There should have been ample glassware and linen in good order. I will have this checked. We welcome your review and act upon this. Kind regards Property Owner

  Reviewed by William3.8★Nov 2019

• "A really stunning house in an equally stunning location."

  The house has everything you could need and more. Communication with Sykes and the owners was first class. If we are to come back to the area again we will definitely look to staying here again!

  Reviewed by Owen4.4★Oct 2019

• "This is a brilliant eclectic home, as soon as you walk inside you are at ease."

  Everything you need and more is at your fingers tips, thank you family had a great time finishing early sadly as we had to be in Sheffield.

  Reviewed by John5.0★Aug 2019

• "Great holiday home!"

  will be booking again

  Reviewed by Rebecca4.7★Aug 2019

• "Our Second visit to this fantastic house which says it all."

  Fantastic.

  Reviewed by Allan5.0★May 2019

• "We booked this cottage for all the family as my son was getting marred in Roseaile forest, just down the road."

  It was perfect, from the location, underfloor heating, library upstairs, lots of homely extras. Thank you Sykes.

  Reviewed by Anne4.7★Apr 2019

• "Strathnaver is beautiful, spacious, well equipped and comfortable cottage."

  It is very large and there is plenty of room for 8 adults. The log burner helped to keep the cottage warm and cosy and the hot tub was great to relax in the evening and star gaze! The area around Strathnaver is a great holiday destination, with golf almost on the door step, beautiful beaches within a few minutes drive, lovely villages, country walks and the Moray whisky trail. Highly recommended!

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★Nov 2018

• "A1 in all respects!"

  This was a bright modern clean house with a well appointed kitchen and excellent facilities throughout, set in a very pleasant part of Scotland, offering both opportunities for coastal walks and hill-walking nearby. The hot tub and the wood burning stove were exceptionally popular with all of the guests. I would highly recommend staying here to anyone looking for accommodation nearby and would hope to come back again in the not too distant future.

  Reviewed by Patrick5.0★Oct 2018

• "The house is fantastic."

  Love it.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2018

• "Me, my husband and 2 children spent 2 weeks here in July."

  I have some family in Forres and have been coming to the area about every other year for the last 32 years. We have stayed in many properties and this was our personal favorite. The location is fantastic with beautiful beaches, forests, walks, and shopping needs all almost on the doorstep. There are also multiple golf courses around, all friendly and welcoming. The garden itself is lovely and relaxing with a hot tub which was a real bonus. We spent many hours in the garden playing badminton, reading and/or relaxing with coffee or a glass of wine. The house itself we loved. It is spacious, light, airy and extremely well appointed and equipped with everything. We cooked one or two meals there most days and our local family joined us for dinner and there was plenty of room to cook and sit down together. All in all, we had a wonderful and memorable time as a family and will definitely be returning.

  Reviewed by Rosemary5.0★Jul 2018

• "Very spacious and well equipped house in a great location"

  Reviewed by Brendan4.7★Jul 2018

• "Two families of 4."

  Enjoyed the location, comfort and space provided by this beautiful house and surroundings. We originally booked strathnaver as it was close to Forres, as we were all to attend the pipe championships. We couldn’t have picked a better week! The weather was fantastic! We found the house to be very clean and warm with plenty to keep the kids occupied. We had a great time with lots to do around the area. Including a visit or two to Findhorn beach, Dulsie bridge, Randolph’s leap and a bit of dolphin spotting to mention a few. Plenty of lovely places to eat out and found the people to be very friendly. A special thank you to our neighbors for the week, as they were kind enough to supply us with fresh eggs which were very much appreciated and we look forward to our next visit.

  Reviewed by Ronnie5.0★Jun 2018

• "We had a relaxing break, good weather, hot tub was bliss."

  The house is very spacious, risk setting, very quiet. Visited loch Ness, about an hour away, Brodie castle, duffus castle, spynie palace and Dallas Dhu distillery. Ate at mosset tavern and the abbey Inn, would recommend both.

  Reviewed by Laura5.0★Apr 2018

• "It's a lovely house, absolutely massive with lots of space for a large family to utilise."

  The gardens are large and although needing a little work we could still have lots of fun with the kids, there is a nice forest you can walk through just next to the property as well. The house is well situated and not far from large towns which have anything you could need. There is lots of things to see and do nearby, and we had plenty of things to keep us going for the week. On the one day it rained, we still had a great time at the house as there was a cupboard full of games, and also lots of books and DVDs. If we are coming back to this lovely area, we would stay here again.

  Reviewed by Darren4.8★Oct 2016

• "Lovely property with hot tub at rear well kept and comfortable ."

  There were four in our party and I would say that a maximum of six would be the limit although there are four comfortable bedrooms. Many beautiful spots within easy driving distance and walking is a pleasure in this area. whilst there is a wonderful kitchen there are many good eateries around the area.

  Reviewed by John5.0★Oct 2016

• "The house was perfect, and I found Sykes Cottages very helpful and speedy in their email responses."

  I've already re-booked this property and the owner has contacted me regarding returning the damage deposit, so very impressed overall.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2016

• "A fantastic holiday house that is very well equipped and extremely comfortable, with the added bonus of a hot tub!"

  The house provides spacious living accommodation in a lovely setting with wonderful views and easy access to the neighbouring towns. We have been holidaying as a family in this part of Scotland for over 20 years and Strathnaver is one of the very best properties we have stayed in. Add to this the help from the owners in locating and returning an item we left behind and you have one very happy family - thank you.

  Reviewed by Jason5.0★Aug 2016

• "Wonderful location for coastal walks, forest and exploring."

  Enjoyed using the bicycles in the nearby woodland. House is well appointed, cosy, spacious and a pleasure to stay in.

  Reviewed by Christine5.0★Jul 2016

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