Whinstone (Bamburgh)

43 Customer Reviews

• "Nice little cottage, very comfortable (beds and sofa)."

  Pretty well equipped. Fantastic location, lovely and quiet.

  We are so glad you enjoyed your time at Whinstone Cottage as we try and make it as comfortable as possible and a ‘home from home’! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Rebecca5.0★Dec 2024

• "Lovely well equipped cottage in great location - big bonus to have dedicated parking."

  Unfortunately, the weather was very cold -5 at times - so why on earth was heating set by the owner at only 18 degrees? Using supplementary heating didn't help as it meant radiators just switched off. In addition, bedding was summer weight - so lack of customer care and well being as very cold in bed. As elderly people felt this was dangerous for our health.

  I am so sorry to hear that you found the cottage cold as we always try really hard to give our guests the best possible experience. We recently went through a refurbishment which included new windows and doors which we had intended would help maintain a comfortable temperature in the cottage but this obviously did not work during your visit. As there is no gas in Bamburgh we use electric radiators and these are controlled by us remotely to achieve 18 degrees in the bedrooms and hall and 19 degrees in the lounge and kitchen, but we are always happy to boost them if there are any issues, as I mention in the visitors handbook. We will therefore review the temperatures again to try and improve the situation. We don’t use summer duvets as Bamburgh can sometimes be cool even in the summer so we keep the same ones on and supplement them with throws in the cooler months. I’m really disappointed that this didn’t work for you on this occasion. Please accept my apologies for what was not the best possible experience for you we had hoped for.’ Property Owner

  Reviewed by Carol4.4★Nov 2024

• "This is a gem of a cottage."

  Another 2 week stay in our home from home. Already booked for next year.

  So pleased you enjoyed your stay! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Nov 2024

• "A beautifully maintained and stocked cottage."

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Nov 2024

• "As I was on my own it did the job for me but very glad I didn’t come with anyone else."

  I’ve read some other comments regarding the heating being less than ideal and would concur, very intermittent. I certainly wouldn’t describe it as cosy. Felt a bit unloved and managed from afar with lots of instructions of don’t do this and that - eg keep the bathroom window open, but heated towel rail not working - not very welcoming. The kitchen utensils look like they’ve been thrown into the drawers. And be prepared for power cuts. On a positive note, the location was great and having parking was a definite plus.

  I am really sorry to hear your holiday at Whinstone cottage disappointed you as we try extremely hard to maintain a welcoming retreat. We control the heating remotely and during your stay it was set to come on in the hall, kitchen and lounge at 7am until 10 pm maintaining a minimum temperature of 18 degrees - this follows feedback from earlier guests saying that the cottage was too warm - but following your comments we will increase the temperature. We were not advised that the towel rail was not working and will look to having it changed asap. I’m sorry you found the H&S instructions too much but following the recent change in regulations we are bound to maintain certain safety standards within self catering accommodation and this includes having an alternative escape route out of the property should the main exit route be unavailable. This is why we ask you to leave the bathroom window unlocked - but not open - to aide quick evacuation if necessary. This, and also our insurance requirements, is why we also ask guests not to smoke or use candles in the property. We endeavour to create a high standard, comfortable environment for our guests and many of them comment on the level of comfort within the cottage. We have undergone many refurbishments within the last two years to accomplish this. These include; a new kitchen and white goods, new carpets and curtains throughout, a new bed, new windows, new shower and the cottage has been decorated thought out and I hope you agree this shows it is far from unloved. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jane3.1★Oct 2024

• "We had a lovely week at Whinstone Cottage."

  It was a great location with excellent access to local amenities, beach, pubs, hotels and restaurants as well as the coastal path. The cottage was really comfortable and very well equipped. We would definitely visit again as would Louis our Lurcher!

  Reviewed by Alison Mary5.0★Sep 2024

• "While the cottage was very nice we could not get the heating on."

  This is controlled by the owners in their own home. We were also informed that the lounge radiator would not work and the electric fire heater was broken which they new about. We spent every evening in jumpers and gilets and on Wednesday night after contacting the owners several times about the heating we felt that this was a holiday spoilt and so came home Tuesday morning, We have sent an email and whatsApp conversations to dpo@sykescottages.co.uk as well as phone calls Thursday and Friday. We did not pay all this money for the cottage to be continuously told that the heating was pre set. Will not be recommending this cottage!!

  We are sorry that Whinstone did not meet your expectations with regard to heating and you felt the need to leave early on the Thursday which unfortunately was a chilly day with coastal fog! We have always managed to keep Whinstone as a cosy place to stay but unfortunately on this occasion there was an issue with one radiator, out of five in the house, and the electric fire, neither of which we were aware of previously. We control the house temperature remotely and this indicated a temperature of 19 degrees, which was put up to 22 degrees after you contacted us. The radiators switch off when the target temperature is reached so it can look like they are not working. When you contacted us on the Tuesday we did what we reasonably could but if a radiator control is faulty then there was little we could do at short notice. As it happened it looked as if the radiator had started to work again but then failed once more so it was all a bit confusing as to what had happened. We have since replaced the faulty radiator and the electric fire. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gillian2.8★Aug 2024

• "A comfy cottage ideally situated in Bamburgh."

  All facilities first class. It made a great base for visiting Holy Island, Chillingham and Alnwick Castles as well as all the coastal villages along the way. In short Whinstone is a gem set in beautiful Northumberland.

  Reviewed by Martin5.0★Aug 2024

• "Could have stated that did not provide towels."

  Or if I missed that, make it more prominent New key. Is a bit sticky. I suppose in time this will wear in

  Thank you for your positive overview for Whinstone Cottage. I have been in touch with the agent about making NO towels provided more prominent. It does state it in the summary of the house. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nicole5.0★Jul 2024

• "Excellent cottage which is well equipped to meet holiday needs."

  Provision of bath towels would be appreciated. We will definitely return

  Reviewed by Louise5.0★Jul 2024

• "This was our second stay at Whinstone and we love this little cottage."

  The location is great for exploring Bamburgh (and the parking space is a great bonus!) We enjoyed many a sunny evening in the pretty courtyard and the kitchen is really well equipped with everything you need to self cater well. Our only area for improvement would be the shower, you do get used to it but it isnt very powerful!

  Reviewed by Kelly4.1★Jun 2024

• "A perfect holiday home."

  Extremely well-maintained and comfortable with it's own private parking space. An ideal location.

  Reviewed by Pat5.0★Jun 2024

• "Our fourth visit to this lovely cottage ,we'll be back next year ."

  Thank you x

  Thank you for your kind words. So pleased you enjoyed your week again. We’ll look forward to your next year’s booking! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jane5.0★May 2024

• "We had a wonderful time in this lovely little cottage which is perfectly situated."

  However, the shower does need attention, as the pressure is so low and the shower head so small. This would make it a 10/10, and it seems a relatively small thing to really improve the overall experience!

  Reviewed by Alun4.1★Apr 2024

• "We had a lovely stay in Whinstone Cottage."

  Although the weather was very mixed, the cottage was cosy and comfortable to return to after a wet walk! The cottage was very clean and well equipped. A great location and in the Summer the little garden area would be lovely to spend time in. Thank you for a lovely, relaxing stay.

  Reviewed by Karen5.0★Mar 2024

• "A lovely cottage so well positioned & we really enjoyed our stay."

  Sadly the shower is a real niggle & one supported by many other guests. Whilst totally understanding the need for an electric shower, investment in a better one would help. Also as the heating is governed by the owner there isn't the ability to alter this. We ended up with soaking wet clothes & being unable to dry them (coats) before needing them again later in the day.

  So sorry to hear the shower disappointed you, it is a relatively new one and one of the most powerful we could find at the time. I will look into replacing it. As there is no gas at all in Bamburgh we have to use electricity to heat the cottage and decided on the owner control option after a couple of incidents when the heaters were left on by accident. We have a spare plug in heater in the main bedroom for the guests to use if necessary. I hope this doesn’t deter you from returning. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Susanne3.4★Mar 2024

• "Lovely place and would highly recommend"

  Reviewed by Adam5.0★Feb 2024

• "A beautiful cottage in just the perfect location for a quiet stay in Bamburgh."

  Easy walks to the beach and a multitude of places for eating locally. We loved the cottage so much. I’m sure it will be become one of our favourites from now on. Perfect size for a couple and their dog (he loved it also!!). There were no downsides to this property. It’s small and cozy. Heating solution even in winter made for a comfortable stay. TV and games for the evenings, decent WiFi and great off street parking. Thank you … we didn’t want to leave … and we can’t wait to return. Guess that is the best review you can ask for ..

  Reviewed by Chris4.7★Feb 2024

• "Lovely cottage, and great facilities."

  We really enjoyed our visit and it was great to return to the comfort of Whinstone after our trips out exploring the area.

  Reviewed by Timothy5.0★Nov 2023

• "Lovely cottage In a great position 10 minutes walk from a fabulous beach."

  Main problem was it was quite cold in bedrooms ,heated by electric heaters controlled by owner. Had to buy 2 Hot water bottles as beds although lovely were very cold. Disappointed that there was No Welcome pack not even Milk or Tea bags after a 7 hour drive.

  Reviewed by Jean3.8★Nov 2023

• "The property was cosy and comfortable and was in a perfect location in the centre of Bamburgh."

  It was lovely to be able to walk down to the beach and local park. The cottage was well equipped, we had a lovely stay, and would definitely like to revisit at some point!

  Reviewed by Clare4.7★Oct 2023

• "Whinstone is in a lovely location and we love the village."

  However there are quite a few little niggles - the hot water is just a dribble, The frying pan is not fit for purpose - the non stick coating is peeling off and if used it comes off into the food

  Reviewed by Alison3.1★Oct 2023

• "Felt guilty having to report problem but was dealt with promptly."

  The property is absolutely gorgeous Hopefully we will be back x

  Reviewed by Jan5.0★Oct 2023

• "We stayed at Whinstone and were rested for the experience."

  We particularly enjoyed the peace and quiet of its location and its closeness to the centre of the village. The kitchen was well-equipped, the lounge comfortable and the beds lovely (the mattresses were firm) and we loved that! We were disappointed however to find one or two items (teapot, glasses) not clean when we arrived. There was only a trickle of hot water from the tap in the bathroom basin, the bulb flame effect in the fire was not working, and there was a dirty toilet brush. The main obstacle for us was the stairs. My wife has limited mobility so the stairs to the first floor were a major obstacle, particularly the twist to the right towards the top. To be fair, we did not consider this when booking this cottage but perhaps it may be useful to indicate to future guests the cottage is not suitable for those with limited mobility. Finally, and we acknowledge this is perhaps asking for icing on top of the cake, but a welcome pack of some description would have been pleasant. We have been fortunate to receive this in other accommodation.

  Reviewed by Mike2.8★Sep 2023

• "A little difficult to locate but a great place to stay"

  Reviewed by Janet4.7★Aug 2023

• "Excellently maintained cottage, exactly right for our needs."

  Location, again perfect, nice to have parking when its busy in bamburgh. Would definitely stay again but have noticed dog rule has changed so won't be able to sadly. Price was very good as well, especially for central location. Great holiday made better by great accommodation.

  Thank you for your very cheering feedback. So pleased you enjoyed the cottage and that you had a good week despite the mixed weather. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Chris5.0★Jul 2023

• "Love the new decor ,always a pleasure to stay at your beautiful cottage ."

  Our third visit and we will be back next year !

  So glad you like the changes! We try and keep it like a home-from-home! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jane5.0★Jun 2023

• "Lovely cottage, clean and well equipped."

  Obviously recently decorated and refurbished. In a great location and with private parking. Only negative is garden is insecure for dogs but that wasn't a problem for us. We would definitely rebook.

  Reviewed by William5.0★May 2023

• "The cottage has undergone a fabulous refurbishment."

  It was warm and cosy and well equipped. A fabulous stay and have already booked for next year.

  So glad you enjoyed the refurbishment! We try very hard to keep the cottage well maintained and a pleasant home from home, see you next year! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Carol4.7★Mar 2023

• "We had a wonderful stay at the cottage."

  The accommodation was comfortable, clean, warm with very good quality appliances. We were not aware that towels were not provided possibly that could be made clearer in the details. The cottage is in a wonderful location and we hope to come back possibly later this year.

  Reviewed by John4.4★Mar 2023

• "We had this property as the one we had booked was taken off the market due to the energy costs."

  We probably wouldn’t have booked it as we prefer to have an area to let the dog out in that is enclosed. But as it was short notice it was fine and we had a nice holiday.

  Reviewed by Alex4.4★Dec 2022

• "Delightful cottage with all necessary equipment - well positioned for the town, beach and castle."

  So much to see in the area, return visit essential.

  Jul 2021

• "Perfect location to explore bamburgh on foot and the entire coast line by car."

  Property is very well equipped and quite. A home from home and would highly recommend it. It was a bonus having off street parking and an outside seating area.

  Jul 2021

• "Whinstone is a delightful cottage right in the heart of Bamburgh village with spectacular views of the countryside and within easy walking distance of the Castle and Beach."

  Very clean and tide and would highly recommend it.

  Jul 2020

• "Lovely well appointed cottage, very comfortable and also very peaceful/tranquil."

  Thoroughly enjoyed staying there and would go back.

  Oct 2019

• "Over the years we've stayed in several properties in Bamburgh and this is the best and only property we've been back to, several times and hope to return to."

  The only negative is that, quite rightly, this is a very popular choice, so you have to book early to avoid disappointment!

  Jul 2019

• "Lovely homely cottage."

  Perfect for our family of four plus dog. Everything you need is in the house plus the location is excellent. Just around the corner from a dog friendly pub and just a walk away from the beach. We hope to return.

  Feb 2019

• "Comfortable and a nice base for Bamburgh and the coast."

  Feb 2019

• "A lovely cottage, which was delightful to stay in, thank you."

  Having off-road parking was a big plus too.

  Dec 2018

• "A lovely cosy cottage, with everything that you need."

  Dec 2018

• "A lovely cottage - very cosy and clean."

  My third visit so it must be doing something right.

  Sep 2018

• "A clean, comfortable and well equipped cottage in a convenient location."

  Sep 2018

• "The cottage was in a great location and felt welcoming on arrival."

  The facilities were generally good and it was a comfortable base at the end of the day.

  Sep 2018

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