Manor Cottage

38 Customer Reviews

• "Manor Cottage has 3 generous size bedrooms but despite the size of the house it retains a cosy feel about it."

  The garden of the property is among the best we’ve ever stayed at, taking the dogs for a walk in the morning, coffee in hand & no need for leads was an absolute pleasure. Would definitely recommend & we are planning on coming back next year.

  Reviewed by Nicola5.0★Oct 2024

• "Fabulous cottage with incredible gardens."

  Great facilities, very comfy beds , so clean with lots of extra touches. We love Manor cottage: this was our 6th visit and will return soon.

  Reviewed by Fiona5.0★Sep 2024

• "Great cottage with an amazing garden."

  Nicely decorated inside with everything you need, including surprisingly good internet speed. Aside from the noise from the railway line this is a peaceful and private place and very relaxing. If you have kids or a dog they will love the garden - it's almost like a small park. Our two chocolate labradors had a great time with lots of space to run around and lots of trees to sniff! There was a problem with the heating system, but the owners rang and advised us about this a few days before and arranged for convector heaters to be available, in addition to the woodburner, which was lovely and cosy in the evenings. With just a short drive into Northallerton this feels remote without being too far away from civilisation. The gift basket on arrival was a lovely and unexpected bonus.

  Reviewed by Alison4.4★Sep 2024

• "Manor Cottage is a brilliant place to stay and well up to expectations."

  The property was clean, comfortable and provided everything needed for a relaxing holiday. All of us, being three generations and two small dogs, thoroughly enjoyed our week. We all spent many happy hours in the substantial grounds, especially the teenagers, playing various games. The dogs enjoyed the freedom, roaming round and tiring themselves out, with no need for their usual daily walks. The area is rural and provides a base to visit the North Yorkshire countryside and towns. We were sad to leave and are looking forward to being able to return in the future.

  Dear Graham, many thanks for such lovely feedback. Delighted that you and your family had such a relaxing time at Manor Cottage. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Graham5.0★Aug 2024

• "Manor Cottage is an incredible place to stay."

  The house is spotlessly clean and extremely comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped with everything that you need for stay. As well as the house being wonderful so is the garden ( all two acres of it). The dog loved running around it almost as much as the children enjoyed playing rounders. The cottage's location is ideal for both the North York Moors ,Yorkshire Dales and the lesser known and far quieter ( and easier to park) Nidderdale with lots of great walks. Northallerton has everything you could need it terms of supermarkets and many independent shops. A great area to visit and a very comfortable base.

  Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your holiday at Manor Cottage so much. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Aug 2024

• "Manor Cottage is a fantastic place to stay."

  The grounds (it’s definitely more than a garden!) take 10 mins to stroll around the perimeter- absolutely our favourite part of the stay! The views from the bedrooms are amazing and the beds and sofas were very comfortable. We are looking forward to returning next year!

  Reviewed by Gemma5.0★Jul 2024

• "Four adults and two dogs, staying for two weeks."

  An excellent house with plenty of space for us, The house was very clean and in good condition with clean carpets/surfaces and bathrooms were spotless. The cooker and fridge are new and there are additional freezers and fridge in the utility room, if you need more space. Lots of plates, cutlery etc. The gardener is very polite and respectful. The garden is a lovely area for dogs to run around, and has a nice outdoor bench, seating area and BBQ set. My only criticisms are that one of the curtain poles wasn't properly attached to the wall mount and needs screwing in and some of the cushions for the outdoor furniture have old mould/stains on them and need replacing. Pretty minor complaints in context, and the only things about the entire house that I could fault. All-in-all this house is a wonderful, relaxing property. We used it as a central base and travelled around the Dales for long walks, bike rides and visited Whitby, Thirsk and Fountains Abbey (which we would definitely recommend!).

  Reviewed by Craig4.7★Jul 2024

• "The property needs a good clean throughout."

  Don’t feel like it is paid enough attention by whoever cleans it. Bathroom and kitchen just wiped over and we had to clean before using. Carpets and rugs are grubby. Would be helpful if items left were clean to use. Hoover was full to bursting and mop was black. No hand towels or bath mats were there we found some in the utility so washed them through and used them but this should be out as standard. Plus side beds were comfy and house spacious and gardens were lovely. We were told gardener came on a Tues or weds but he came on Thurs and Friday. This was ok but we were just so worried about our dogs as the main gate is not lockable and felt nervous they could get out if someone opened the gate. My mom fell off a broken chair and we then noticed this had been reported previously. Could be such a lovely place if there was more attention to detail

  Reviewed by Lesley2.8★Jun 2024

• "3 Star property at best!"

  First impressions as we arrived at the gate were good. The house looked good as did the huge garden. Unfortunately things went down hill as we went up hill to the parking area. There is a rusty, old bbq propped up in the corner of parking area (as mentioned in a review from 2022). It has now been joined by a broken lock box, a piece of discarded rope, an old door mat and a dead fir tree in a pot. There are lots of weeds. The shower room sink hadn’t been cleaned. Someone else’s globs of toothpaste spittle in the sink. To be on the safe side I cleaned both bathrooms before use but couldn’t do anything about the black mold in the shower or around the bath. The main bathroom light cord has been repeatedly broken and then shortened. It now hangs about a foot from the ceiling and cant be reached by children or short adults. Kitchen - the cooker needs condemning. 4 of the control knobs came off in my hand and were covered in grease. The grill door doesn’t stay open so you need to juggle holding the door while trying to retrieve hot food with the other hand (without an oven glove as one isn’t supplied). The grill rack is also missing from the grill pan. The fridge is missing the salad crisper box. The kettle was covered in grease that had splashed back from the cooking area. The on/ off switch flew off each time the kettle was boiled. The frying pan cupboard was filthy. While there are plenty of good quality clean crockery & glasses the saucepans have seen much better days. The tv is supposed to be a smart tv. It will pick up Netflix & Prime but won’t link to any other streaming service such as iplayer. The signal drops out repeatedly. Even the supplied dog bed was dirty. Basket filled with hair and dirt. Is it too much for the cleaners to shake it outside prior to incoming guests? It says it all when the cottage visitor book/ maintenance log fell apart. It should be noted that my above comments have been previously reported in the visitor book. We did have dialogue with the owners during our stay and they compensated us to a degree for the above faults and our additional costs. They also assured us that they would be taking steps to rectify the problems. That will be up to future guests to assess if this happens. Old houses have their quirks that can be charming. However this is no excuse for tired, dated decor and poor cleaning. Manor cottage is in desperate need of TLC. Sykes Cottages must take their share of the blame for their disingenuous description and misleading grading of 5 stars. This is a three star property at best and only because of the large garden.

  This feedback is difficult to comprehend. To provide some context, prior to these guests arriving, we (the owners) had already been in contact with the guests to introduce ourselves and provide our contact details if required. Thus, it was a surprise to be notified by Sykes that the guests were concerned about the cleanliness in the property. We as owners called the guests instantly and offered for our cleaning team to come to the property at a convenient time. The guests declined this offer, which was unfortunate. The issue with the cooker was resolved straightaway with the installation of a new cooker. The guests were also recompensed for their inconvenience immediately. We were very disappointed to receive this negative feedback as over the past few years, Manor Cottage has received some incredibly positive and very consistently positive feedback. Moving forwards, we will continue to strive to maintain our high standards. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Rachel1.9★May 2024

• "Very special place with very special owners."

  This is our 6th visit and hope to return soon .

  Thank you Fiona for your lovely feedback. We will look forward to hopefully seeing you soon. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Fiona4.1★Apr 2024

• "Another great stay at Manor Cottage."

  Loved the welcome pack for us and our dog. Tiny issue with hangers and hand towels but resolved in no time. Would highly recommend this property. Spacious and comfortable. Great place if you like to be away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The garden is amazing if you’ve got dogs. Our wee Roma loved to explore it.

  Thank you Gillian for your lovely feedback and comments. We’re delighted you enjoyed your latest stay at Manor Cottage. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gillian5.0★Apr 2024

• "Lovely large cottage with beautiful gardens."

  Very spacious, clean and comfortable inside and beds very comfortable. The Easter welcome pack was much appreciated thank you! Weather was not ideal but we still managed to get out and about and one teatime spent time sat outside enjoying the wonderful views. Loved watching the trains going by too and will look out for the cottage when we next whizz by on the train! Only minor criticism is that oven needs fixing as knobs loose but still managed to use it, and bathrooms need a little TLC, but again this did not detract from our stay. Thank you once again.

  Reviewed by Paul4.7★Mar 2024

• "Lovely space with plenty of supplies & utensils."

  Beautiful grounds & comfortable beds. No complaints.

  Delighted to hear you enjoyed your time at Manor Cottage Ruth. Thank you so much for your kind words. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Mar 2024

• "I have photos to everything I have said."

  Driving up the beautiful drive to a lovely looking house, first I noticed the slip trip hazard at the front door, paving by drain all broken up. Got inside the house it looked lovely till we started to live in it then; the oven was filthy, burnt black great big lumps of carbon someone else’s food from weeks ago not last weeks (called owner who got cleaner to come out and clean it on Sunday but this should of been cleaned before we got here “eagled eyed cleaners”) dirty grill, dirty cutlery/crockery and utensil (which we had to wash before use, only four tea spoons and dessert spoons and missed match crockery, dirty plastic jug only fit for the bin, baking trays are nothing but fit for the bin. Dishwasher is a small slim one not fit for a cottage that sleeps 6/7, can get a normal size on in gap. Bins so small not got again for a family of 6/7. Freezers needs an urgent defrost had to break the ice to get drawers open. Dirty broken dinning chairs. blue sofas clapped out, up the dirty stairs (needs a good hoover) the hand rails are wobbly, into the bathrooms black mould in both shower and bath with shower over. Tiles above the window in the bathroom room are missing, only one towel each how do ladies dry their hair? But the beds are all amazing ( best bit of the cottage), until I stripped them as we were told to leave mattress and pillows protectors on but there were none on pillows but the mattress protector was filthy not been changed for a long time all brown sweat stained as was the duvet, main light in twin room light does not work changed bulb but still not working. This is not 5 star property but maybe a 3. The thing that lets this property down is the cleaners, maintenance and communication. We only use Sykes and have done for many years because we can rely on the standards of the holiday home. We will have to think twice now.

  This feedback is certainly disappointing to receive and contains subjective opinions which we wholly disagree with. Regarding cleanliness, a call was received from the guests at approximately 19-30 on the Saturday evening, the first day of the guests' stay. The guests were informed that the issue would be dealt with by the cleaning team first thing on Sunday morning. The cleaning team resolved this issue on Sunday morning. Apologies were given to the guests, who were also told to please get in touch again if there is anything else which needs attention. We did not receive any further communication and thus were very disappointed to have received this negative feedback. Manor Cottage has operated as a popular holiday let for several years and as the VAST majority of reviews attest to, our guests are overwhelmingly extremely happy. We have never had comments for example regarding the 'width' of the dishwasher nor comments stating that things are 'only fit for the bin'. We find these comments far from constructive. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Clive1.9★Sep 2023

• "Omg this place was absolutely magical, thank you for giving us an amazing base for our holiday."

  I'm not entirely sure about the "accuracy" of the listing as we weren't really aware that we'd booked a stay in such an amazing, magical property. When we pulled up as we "you have arrived at your destination" we almost backed up to try and find it as we were shocked that we were staying in such a substantial, beautiful place. Luckily the house name was on a plaque on the gate otherwise I think we would have gone searching for it further. The garden at the property..... the "garden" was more like a massive country park filled with fruit bearing trees and there was a chestnut tree. A wildflower bed. We took our Rough Collie and thought it was funny there was even a well in the garden (securely capped off), but no...... Timmy hadn't fallen down the well. The dogs absolutely loved the garden we ended up supervising them nearly all of the time even if it was from the balcony as although the garden was completely fenced and secured, the garden was so massive it felt a little disconcerting that you couldn't see them. It was nice during the day to see the dragonflies buzzing around and the birds in the trees and there was an owl at night. The house was amazing. Very spacious, well equipped in general and the kitchen was well equipped, we even cooked a roast dinner whilst we were there. There were 5 of us. Mum & Dad, two kids plus their Nan (grandmother) and the bedrooms perfectly accommodated that and the house would have comfortably slept 8. Loved the lighting around the fireplace. I also found it funny that the "utility room" was bigger than some bed sits & 1 bed flats out there. There was one massive drawback......... we had to come home. Thanks again for letting us share this amazing property with us.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Aug 2023

• "We had a fabulous holiday at Manor Cottage."

  The cottage had everything that we needed and the welcome basket was a lovely surprise on arrival. The beds were super comfy and rooms spacious. The garden was absolutely beautiful and our dogs and son loved running around in it. A lovely secluded location but within easy access of supermarkets, shops etc. Northallerton is a lovely village with many lovely shops. We will most definitely be back again! Thank you for a lovely holiday. X

  Dear Zoe, thank you for this lovely feedback, which is much appreciated. We very much look forward welcoming you and your family back to Manor Cottage in the future. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Zoe5.0★Jul 2023

• "We have been to Manor Cottage five times now ; we love it ."

  The garden is incredible. I agree with previous reviews that some comfy garden furniture would enhance the experience. Hope to be back soon .

  Reviewed by Fiona4.7★Jul 2023

• "Had a lovely time, kitchen compact but had all you needed."

  Gardens are huge and amazing totally secure, Charlie our rough collie could roam in peace. We suggest some comfortable outdoor furniture to relax in, hence 4 stars ( we bought couple of chairs which were cheap, that made things better). There is a bridleway 10 mins to left of cottage but it was too hot to walk Charlie but he had plenty of exercise in the garden. We only left cottage to go to Northallerton for supplies and just relaxed and enjoyed the sun. Would definitely return.

  Reviewed by Marie4.4★Jun 2023

• "A spacious and comfortable cottage in beautiful grounds where our dogs could run ..."

  A spacious and comfortable cottage in beautiful grounds where our dogs could run freely and securely The Yorkshire countryside was stunning and provided lots of lovely walks Only 2 very small improvements Coat hooks in the entrance lobby to hang out wet coats and a bedside lamp for nighttime reading Will certainly return Gill

  Reviewed by Gill5.0★Mar 2023

• "The only problems were a corkscrew that did not work (near disaster !"

  ) and the TV in the dining room that could only get channel 4. Otherwise, our third stay here was as good as the first two

  Delighted your return stay to Manor Cottage was good again. Dining room TV fully working and corkscrew / bottle opener replaced! Thank you for letting know. Hope to see you again. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Oct 2022

• "What a special place!"

  We were 5 adults and 2 dogs. The bedrooms and bathrooms were very spacious and clean. The garden is massive and the dogs really enjoyed exploring every inch of it. We had everything we needed in the kitchen, and the area off the kitchen was perfect for boardgames, puzzle-building and meals. It was lovely waking up to the sound of birds in the huge trees surrounding the property and also hearing the owls at night. There's a lovely area for a good BBQ. Hosts were very responsive and we loved the little welcoming touches. Thank you!!!

  Thank you for your positive feedback and helpful comments. Very pleased that Manor Cottage provided all that you required for an enjoyable stay. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Angelique5.0★Sep 2022

• "We’ve had a brilliant family holiday."

  Four adults and two dogs who thoroughly enjoyed the huge garden. Huge is no exaggeration! We had noted the comments regarding the regular trains. Yes you could hear and see them but it did not affect our enjoyment of our surroundings. We unfortunately could not really find anywhere within walking distance of the property to take the dogs first thing in the morning. The cottage felt much larger upstairs than downstairs. I feel that it would be a little cramped downstairs with 6 adults. The upstairs was very comfortable. We really enjoyed our stay.

  Delighted you enjoyed your holiday at Manor Cottage. Thank you for your comments. There are 2 footpaths from Birkby across farmland ideal for walking dogs on leads. We will make a note to provide dog walking information in the Welcome folder. Property Owner

  Reviewed by R4.4★Aug 2022

• "We’ve had a brilliant family holiday Four adults, two children and two dogs ..."

  We’ve had a brilliant family holiday Four adults, two children and two dogs who covered every inch of the wonderful garden and relaxed within the property

  Delighted you and the family enjoyed your holiday at Manor Cottage. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★Aug 2022

• "Fabulous house and garden."

  Let down by Kitchen and utility room needing a sort out. Random dishes in all cupboards. No bin bags anywhere. No microwavable containers. No mattress covers on mattress and quilts and pillows yellow stained on some. I personally cleaned the shower room as dust everywhere. I think given a blank canvas when empty the house could be alot cleaner. Outside under door mats needed a good sweep for first impression. Patio area also untidy. Barbaque was a bonus even though I think previous guests may have left it. We did have a good family holiday and the setting is great as very central for North Yorkshire attractions. But would have been better if these things were put right. I think overall if the owner took stock of the place they would notice that there a few things needs to be done to improve the property Considering it was alot of money for some to pay for a family holiday. .

  Thank you for your comments which are being addressed. Pleased you enjoyed your family holiday. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Joy3.1★Jul 2022

• "Without doubt the main attraction of this property is the large attractive gardens which every Review praises."

  The cottage itself lacks a downstairs toilet and the kitchen is far too small at 7ft x 7ft. The pots and pans are well past their sell by date (we bought a wok and frying pan from Tesco’s in Northallerton) The upstairs is delightful with two bathrooms and very spacious bedrooms The gravel patio is a sun trap but has never been tidied up. Upon arrival, the first thing you notice is an old barbeque and grills left strewn about in the corner. This gave the impression of neglect. However, once you have arrived on holiday, you must make the best of it! Birkby is well placed to enjoy North Yorkshire and we Visited Leyburn, Hawes, Durham, Yarm, and Harrogate easily. We used Manor cottage as a base from which we travelled every day, so we did not spend the days in the cottage or gardens. It should be noted that the East Coast Mainline Railway tracks are close enough to hear the trains going by on their way to and from the North to the South. The Station guard at Northallerton told us that there are approximately twenty-two trains per hour! This was not mentioned on the website. To be fair this did not spoil our stay. The Pub at East Cowton “ The Beeswing” is good for food and drink. The cottage is picturesque but rests on its Laurels. It is very tired. I would not choose to stay there again.

  Thank you for some interesting comments. The kitchen is an integral part of the large family dining room in what is a cottage. Sets of china, cutlery, utensils/pans etc, (plus majority of furniture/equipment) were new when Manor Cottage was set up for holiday guests for 2020. Our website does not indicate a downstairs toilet but there are two good sized bathrooms upstairs. TO CLARIFY, there are NOT 22 trains/hr travelling past the cottage on the ECML. Train Timetables reveal 9.4 trains/hr between 6am-11pm (max 13) and 11 trains overnight. (previous guest noted 12 trains/hr) Also, Northallerton is a rail junction with lines both to Darlington/The North and to Teesside/NE Coast. The majority are now electric and quiet. Manor Cottage does not provide BBQ equipment; it has left been by previous guests. A note will be added to guests' Welcome information. The area in regularly inspected. Pleased you enjoyed exploring the surrounding area - there is much to see. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gerald2.8★Jun 2022

• "Manor Cottage is a wonderful place to visit, especially with children and a dog."

  The garden is vast! The house is very comfortable, with two separate living areas - perfect for allowing a group to do multiple activities without being on top of each other. Location is great for accessing the Moors or Dales, and surrounding attractions. Good pubs close by, although not in easy walking distance, alas! We would love to return one day.

  Thank you! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Mary5.0★Apr 2022

• "Good Property, excelllent size garden for two springers to run around in, and fully enclosed."

  Main LNER railway at rear of property with up to 12 trains per hour, but not too obtrusive. Not many walks from the door, but if you travel in a 13 ish mile radius there is plenty to see and do. A visit to Richmond is a must, and a good along the River Swale. But overall the main reason for going here was the garden, as on a sunny day it is perfect for chilling out.

  Thanks for your feedback. The Cottage looks down over the long, extensive garden, across two fields and an access road towards the railway line, which is largely obscured by mature trees. Birkby does have a couple of public footpaths good for dog walking across open farmland. A note will be added to the information. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gareth4.1★Mar 2022

• "This was a fantastic getaway, the garden was perfect for our dogs very safe and inclosed and huge."

  The house was perfect for the six of us. The only fault was the gardener came twice and we had to keep dogs in house for that time.

  Reviewed by William4.7★Mar 2022

• "Lovely cottage & we really enjoyed our stay thank you"

  Thank you for your positive feedback. Very pleased you enjoyed your stay. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Tracey4.7★Dec 2021

• "Absolutely smashing "cottage" - our son said it's more like a mansion."

  The massive garden was a superb surprise and our children and dog especially loved it. Spacious and fabulously equipped inside with lovely views.

  Thank you very much for your comments! Delighted you enjoyed your stay and that children and dogs appreciated our large garden. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lisa5.0★Oct 2021

• "Poor quality wi fi connection seating uncomfortable very small kitchen"

  The wireless WiFi system installed at Manor Cottage provides up to 10Mbs WiFi connection and we have had no previous complaints regarding this. Comfortable seating is a matter of personal taste. The property is a cottage with the kitchen an integral part of the family room providing the facilities that one would expect in a Yorkshire rural location. Other guests have not highlighted these issues previously. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Steven3.1★Oct 2021

• "The cottage was lovely - and the garden much bigger and better than in the photos."

  We stayed in October and the sunsets from the patio were great. The location is very good - we went to Bettys Tea Rooms far too much! but there is a lot to see and do locally.

  So pleased you appreciated our cottage, garden and the local area. Bettys is always very tempting! Thank you so much for your great feedback. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Julie5.0★Oct 2021

• "We came with high expectations and left with flea bites."

  We are sorry you were disappointed with your visit to Manor Cottage. To respond, we were contacted by changeover cleaning staff who reported that our guests had mentioned as they were departing concerns about fleas in the property. Immediately, we organised for a pest control firm to visit Manor Cottage, investigate and treat as necessary. They arrived within hours and following successive visits, detected no evidence of fleas in Manor Cottage. It is important also to add that the cleaners prior to your visit had not found any evidence of fleas and nor did they find any evidence of fleas following your departure. Your visit to rural North Yorkshire in late summer is undoubtedly a time of year when there are more flies around. Indeed, it was reported to be a particular problem across the county the week of your visit as a result of specific climatic conditions.’ Kind regards, Property Owner

  Reviewed by Helen2.8★Aug 2021

• "A lovely and very comfortable cottage with a fantastic garden."

  The photos don’t show the true beauty of this wonderful home from home. We can’t wait to return.

  Very pleased you enjoyed your stay and will take some more photos. Thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sharon4.4★Aug 2021

• "Wonderful, comfortable and clean cottage."

  The gardens were stunning, our German Shepherd loved the space and it was very secure. We had an issue with the hot water failing but it was rectified almost as soon as we reported it. The east coast rail line is fairly close but it didn’t bother us at all. Everything lived up to expectation and I would highly recommend Manor Cottage.

  Reviewed by Briony5.0★May 2021

• "Lovely cottage with good facilities and beautiful grounds set in a beautiful part of the world."

  Mention of how close the railway line is would of been good b of not put us off booking again!

  Reviewed by Louise5.0★Apr 2021

• "Manor Cottage is a wonderful place to spend time and was an ideal location for us to self-isolate for 10 days ahead of spending Christmas with family."

  There are acres of gardens and the rural location is perfect for getting away from everything. The cottage is well furnished, with comfortable beds, a decent TV, and a great wood burning stove. Thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

  Reviewed by Joe5.0★Dec 2020

• "Manor Cottage had everything we needed and more for our 4 night stay."

  Very good facilities for those with bikes and dogs, very large drying room with large dogs crate and everything you need. Garden is stunning and photos don't give it credit. Would stay here again in a heartbeat.

  Reviewed by Lisa4.7★Jul 2020

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