Gamekeepers Cottage

42 Customer Reviews

• "Lovely cottage and location"

  Reviewed by Lisa5.0★Sep 2024

• "Nice cottage in a very quiet village."

  Don't expect any shops or eateries nearby. Everything is a few miles away. A few more essentials wouldn't go a miss , salt ,pepper ,sugar milk etc. Dining room area very sparse a few more books , games etc in the bookcases would be good, and perhaps some pictures on the walls. Mostly clean apart from cobwebs. Need some mirrors about the place, the one on the top of the stairs is dangerous, if you step back, you're gonna! Garden area very small and no views from windows which is a shame as area is scenic. Met by a ken , who showed us in and jokingly said now I don't want to see you again until next Saturday. The wood burner in the lounge has a problem, it burns wood like an inferno and can't seem to slow it down, and we know how to work them as we have them at home. I wouldn't stay in chillingham again as it's too remote for us , nowhere to walk from cottage and have to travel a long distance to find anything to do. Cragside is excellent to visit. Bamburgh is a gem. Wooler is probably the nearest shop and has some nice pubs and antique shops etc.

  Reviewed by Sarah3.4★Aug 2024

• "Lovely cottage in great location."

  Cottage had everything we needed and had lots of room for 4 people. Highly recommend a visit to Chillingham Castle and also the Percy Arms!

  Reviewed by Morag5.0★Jul 2024

• "It said there was a washer/dryer."

  Was just a washing machine. The drawer of the washing machine needs a good clean. Otherwise the cottage was lovely. Very comfortable. Margaret and Ken were very friendly and helpful. We’ll be returning sometime soon.

  Reviewed by Ann4.4★Jun 2024

• "The property was like the tardis, small on the outside but bigger than you imagine on the inside."

  all the amenties worked and the wifi was great. we took our two border collies with us and there are plenty of great walks around chillingham, the Hepburn woods trail was a particular favorite. its a really good base to visit the lovely villages and attractions that northumberland has to offer.

  Reviewed by Steven5.0★May 2024

• "Really enjoyed our stay , Margaret and Ken hosted us delightful warm welcome and nothing too much trouble ."

  Appreciated the welcome pack too . Lots to see in the area off the doorstep and short drives away . We will return .

  Reviewed by Janice3.8★Mar 2024

• "What a delightful stay over Christmas."

  Set I a perfect area of Northumberland we visited Bamburgh beach ( The Potted Lobster is divine),Alnwick,Cragside Country Park which is stunning and enjoyed the cosy cottage. The log burners were perfect with plenty of logs to keep us warm, thanks to Caretaker Ken for helping us get fire started!. Lovely new bathroom too. Was lovely so see the house decorated for Christmas too. We would definitely love to return to this hidden gem.

  Reviewed by Carl5.0★Dec 2023

• "A lovely cottage in a beautiful peaceful location."

  Ken and Margaret next door are warm and welcoming and took excellent care of us during our stay. This is a traditional rural cottage with wooden window panes and doors which warp slightly with the weather allowing spiders to enter - it’s part of country living so if you can live with that then this is definitely the place for you! Lots to do on the doorstep with Chillingham Castle and the wild cattle park and excellently situated for exploring Northumberland - only 15 minutes away from the beautiful town and beach of Bamburgh

  Thanks for the feedback. We will mention the facets of country living (deer walking down the street, owls hooting, friendly spiders etc.) that I personally love when staying there in the description. It will make the description more accurate Property Owner

  Reviewed by Danni4.4★Sep 2023

• "Nice cottage, clean tidy and everything as described, very quiet location."

  Reviewed by John3.8★Aug 2023

• "Lovely location, beautiful, comfortable cottage - all the facilities you could ever need."

  Ken and Margaret are very welcoming and helpful. Well recommended.

  Reviewed by Dee5.0★Jun 2023

• "This is our 2nd time at the cottage and again we had a lovely stay."

  It's the perfect location to get to everywhere in Northumberland by car. We had a visit in the cottage by a little bat known as Bruce also which we nursed back to health and set free. The only tip I would give for the owners is to make sure the cleaners have a feather duster but saying that this didn't ruin our stay.

  Reviewed by Lauren4.7★Apr 2023

• "An absolutely stunning cottage in an quality stunning location."

  Central for everything you would want to experience in Northumberland. Looked after very well and nothing was too much trouble . It’s safe to say I fell in love with Northumberland

  That's good to hear. Northumberland is very special Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Feb 2023

• "Lovely well appointed cottage in a quite rural location."

  Deceptively roomy inside with plenty of room for 4 adults. Well equipped kitchen at the rear with Bathroom attached. Leads to good sized dining room with log burner. Lounge also with log burner also well sized with 2 sofas. WiFi works well but correct with no phone signal

  Good to hear you enjoyed your stay Hope to welcome you back again Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Nov 2022

• "Gamekeeper's Cottage was a GEM in the heart of fantastic peaceful and scenic countryside."

  We were pleasantly surprised that the cottage was much more spacious than we expected with a lovely large dining / day room and a cosy separate lounge - both with log burners and an ample supply of wood. The kitchen was a very useable size and equipped with everything we needed. Both bedrooms were a good size and we found everything in the cottage very comfortable and spotlessly clean. The caretakers Margaret and Ken were extremely friendly and helpful, all in all, this felt like "home from home" We will use this property again when we return to area. Also had ample parking for large car and our mountain bikes.

  Many thanks for taking the time to give feedback. Delighted that you enjoyed your stay Property Owner

  Reviewed by Julie5.0★Sep 2022

• "Our stay at the beautiful cottage was unforgettable."

  The cottage and all the facilities were of an excellent standard. The added bonus was the care and kindness that Margaret and Ken, the caretakers, gave to us. They made our stay even more memorable. Nothing was too much trouble.

  Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review. It makes all the difference to know our efforts are appreciated Property Owner

  Reviewed by Louise5.0★Aug 2022

• "Northumberland is a lovely place to holiday, with lots of golden beaches and interesting places to visit."

  However, Gamekeepers Cottage was a huge disappointment, resembling a filthy, dusty shed, which hasn't seen a duster or vaccum cleaner in years. Underneath beds, bed frames and behind cupboards and wardrobes were caked in layers of dust, dirt and spiders webs. No deep clean appears to have ever taken place. The facillities were also poor, the dishwasher was dirty, didn't wash properly and wasn't secured so rocked when opened and closed. The oven surround was caked in grease and dust. The fridge had to be cleaned of black mould before it could be used, and an inch of water bailed out of the salad tray each week. A small freezer is plugged into a cupboard without any ventilation and there are no extractors in the kitchen or bathroom. There is also a defunct electric shower unit over the bath. How this is ranked as a 3 star property is anyone's guess and certainly not worth the weekly rates charged.. A sadly spoiled holiday.

  Thanks for your feedback. We are sorry that, in contrast with other feedback, Gamekeepers cottage did not meet your expectations and that the extra extensive clean we immediately offered and (upon the advice of Sykes cottages) you accepted, did not meet your partner’s evolving series of complaints. I can assure you from personal experience (I visit the cottage several times a year to make sure all is well) that, as well as benefiting from a series of recent upgrades we have undertaken since purchase, your assertion that the cottage “hasn't seen a duster or vacuum cleaner in years” is incorrect and between tenants the cottage benefits from continuous hoovering and dusting using the new high quality vacuum cleaner we bought this spring. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Alison1.9★Aug 2022

• "A comfortable cottage, nice and relaxing."

  As we know the area well, it was a great base.

  Reviewed by Alison4.4★Feb 2022

• "Very nice cottage in a quiet location."

  Lovely welcome from Margaret.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Oct 2021

• "Gamekeepers cottage is situated in a very quiet and peaceful location, and is well maintained and to a high standard."

  It is ideal for our 4 legged friends with a small garden at the back which is enclosed. If there is a negative, we would have liked a vacuum cleaner left for our use.

  There is a vacuum cleaner in the cupboard in the dining room. We will try to make it more obvious in the future Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paul3.8★Sep 2021

• "Very peaceful location within easy access of spectacular countryside."

  Everything that is needed in a holiday cottage was provided.

  Reviewed by Alan4.4★Sep 2021

• "Gamekeeper’s Cottage is gorgeous."

  It’s as described, a quaint and cosy cottage, with lots of welcoming touches to give you everything you need - from a really well equipped kitchen, to games, books, OS maps of the area, and clear instructions for things like hot water, heaters etc. Whilst Chillingham itself is a tiny hamlet, this means it is peaceful and a lovely retreat, whilst being within a 30 min drive of most of the famous Northumberland sights and beaches. We’d very happily go back!

  Reviewed by Anna5.0★Aug 2021

• "I read previous reviews and therefore knew that the cottage would be old and rustic so I was not at all disappointed BUT I didn’t expect to be wowed at the surrounding countryside as much as we were."

  There was no traffic noise and we never closed our windows, it was so peaceful. The cottage has timed radiators and two Woodburner’s which was more than adequate a cooler evening in June. There is a Tv with Netflix and another one in the bedroom (although we never used this). The WiFi was fine, there was no telephone signal but we walked up the and sat on the bench where there was a signal. The bedrooms are of a very good size and the downstairs bathroom had a shower and bath. Due to Covid-19 we did take lots of antibacterial cleaning products and sprays and literally cleaned all surfaces when we arrived (a bit over the top but it gave us a piece of mind). We were pleased that we took our own bath towels and sofa throws (prior to our stay we bought vacuum storage bags on Amazon and it’s amazing how much space they save). We visited lots of pubs for evening meals and can definitely recommend The Percy Arms in Chatton for a beautiful meal. The staff we so helpful, friendly and welcoming and the food was a very competitive price. We drove into Wooler (5 miles away) for supplies, there’s a co-op, butcher, baker (that does amazing filled sandwiches) and the deli was just like going back in time! There is a local shop in Chatton but we did not visit it. There is a 12th century church at the bottom of the lane and the entrance to the wild cattle grounds. Opposite the property is the walled grounds of Chillingham castle. There are lots of busy golf clubs in the area, at Seahouses Golf Club you can pop in for fish n chips on the decking. During our stay we visited Bamburgh, where Harrison Ford was filming Indiana Jones, it has several restaurants, we visited the Potted Lobster which was ok but a little pricey and the sirloin steak at £24 was really poor. Alnwick (about 12 miles away) was a larger quaint town with a very impressive castle, apparently Hugh Grant was filming there but alas I didn’t bump into him

  Reviewed by Lorraine5.0★Jun 2021

• "Lovely, peaceful and comfortable cottage."

  Great location for exploring Northumberland. Will definitely come back.

  Reviewed by Judy5.0★Apr 2021

• "There are limited walks to take the dog around the cottage dispi"

  Reviewed by Kenneth4.1★Sep 2020

• "Lovely, warm, cosy cottage."

  Good quiet location near Chillingham castle and wild cattle with easy access to all northumbria beaches. Caretakers very helpful and friendly. Only couple of minor issues that arent any big deal really. 1. There is (or was) a wasps nest somewhere in roof of kitchen, we must have killed dozens and dozens of them, but there was some wasp spray left out for us and by wednesday they finally didnt keep reappearing. Couldnt figure out if they were coming in near skylight or not ? 2. Early hours of the morning we heard voices, thought it was people in cottage next door, then went back to sleep only to wake up later and still hear them, went down stairs and the TV had turned itself on in middle of night. So its either an electrical fault in tv/handset or some spirit that followed us back from the castle. We did also hear second bedroom door creaking at night, thats probably not an electrical fault :)

  Reviewed by Paul4.4★Oct 2019

• "Gamekeepers cottage is extremely well modernised, but retains the character too, it's spotlessly clean, warm and comfortable."

  On arrival a welcome box was waiting, it was much appreciated. The Internet signal was excellent, the kitchen well equipped with washer, dishwasher, fridge and freezer. The bed was very clean and comfortable. Lovely flat enclosed garden for our two dogs. We were a 5mins walk from chillingham Castle rear entrance and the wild cattle entrance too so they are right on the doorstep. We would definitely return and recommend this cottage to friends.

  Reviewed by Dawn4.7★Sep 2019

• "The cottage is very well tucked away, and lovely and peaceful."

  We don’t mind a good walk so we loved it!! A day at the cattle and castle is a must. A fantastic place. We even got the privilege of watching dear running up and down the lane. The Purcy Arms in Chatton is a great pub and restaurant, with a good selection of real ales. It welcomes dogs with open arms also.

  Reviewed by Tina3.8★May 2019

• "A bit tedious Sykes calling me numerous times day after day requesting my email when they had it"

  Reviewed by Lorraine4.4★Apr 2019

• "The cottage is very well appointed and situated in lovely peaceful surroundings on a very quiet road."

  The only downside comments I have are that the shower is not terribly effective, and that the step down from the dining room to the kitchen is a really big drop, although there is a grab rail, but someone lacking in mobility may be adversely affected by this. The caretakers, Ken and Margaret, are very friendly and nothing is too much trouble.

  Thank you for providing feedback on your stay. We have now replaced the shower hose which now works fine. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Tanya4.7★Apr 2019

• "Lovely cottage in an ideal location for exploring."

  Could get quite cold but manageable with the heaters and two fires if you keep up to them. Only real issue was the shower as nothing but a trickle comes out! Meant we had to waste a bit of time getting baths instead. Ken and Margaret are lovely and do a great job overseeing the cottage.

  Thank you for your feedback. We have now replaced the shower hose the a brand new one which works perfectly. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Helen4.1★Apr 2019

• "The Gamekeepers cottage had been recently renovated, unfortunately this did not extend to the windows, front and back doors."

  The 2 doors were extremely draughty a large gap under the back door and a big hole in the bottom of the front door. Window frames were single glazed and very draughty so a cold cottage off season. The heating is manual apart from the bathroom radiator. Owner needs to replace the towels as the bathroom towels are very small and inadequate. We managed with the hot water if careful, but a family of 4 would probably run out. The house was very clean and tidy and in a very good location. However, the owner needs to install double glazing and new doors if they are to get repeat bookings. It was the first time I had rented through Sykes and was very pleased with their service.

  Many thanks for your comments. I too was concerned that the cottage might be cold and draughty in Winter and so lived there for the coldest part of last winter through both heavy snow and a storm (whose name I can not remember). I am pleased to report that I found it very warm and cosy indeed and noticed no draughts. Indeed I was so comfortable I have decided to return every winter when there are no bookings. Some days to test the capability of the new hot water system that heats up overnight I successfully treated myself to a full bath morning and evening. Nevertheless guests also have the option to switch on the immersion and boost at any time during the day should they need more than this quantity of water. I hope the notice posted by the control makes this clear but will re-check next weekend. As for the windows I am afraid as a listed building it would require that we match the small paned design of the existing windows which would it seems be impossible or prohibitively expensive with little benefit (the thick walls give good insulation and the surface area of the windows is small). Nevertheless during my stay this winter I satisfied myself that there were no perceptible draughts from the windows when fully closed. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sandra3.1★Mar 2019

• "A couple of issues."

  Guests should be aware in advance of booking there is no mobile phone reception at property. Trying to get internet access was unsuccessful. Also the shower in bathroom either needs attention or explanation on how to use as when we did only got cold water. There was no mention in visitors book guide about water booster switch in bedroom. We only found out after speaking to caretakers who were very helpful. This does not detract from the charming village setting and on the whole we think we had value for money.

  Thank you for staying at Gamekeepers Cottage and providing feedback on your stay. Instructions for managing the hot water is now in the visitor handbook. The defective shower hose has now been replaced. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sue4.7★Mar 2019

• "Great little cottage and very well situated for both coast and country."

  The property had just been refurbished when we stayed; it looked very smart and was comfortable, with all the bits and bats you're likely to need for self-catering. Also the bottle of wine and the mince pies were an unexpected treat!

  Reviewed by Michael4.1★Dec 2018

• "Unfortunately this cottage was very disappointing."

  The cottage slightly tainted our stay, the area was lovely and the cottage was ideally located for us to explore this area, BUT although the cottage was "clean" the decor was dull and the fabric of the house was tired and in poor condition, unloved and unmaintained. What work has been done was of a poor and shoddy standard and not of a standard one expects these days. Several lights are not working in the living and bedroom. The shower was not much more than a trickle as opposed to a shower! getting enough hot water is a big problem!! The description on the website was not what we found in reality and the furniture shown on your website was not what was actually in the property during our stay and seemed to have been replaced by poorer quality second hand items. There was a mismatch of kitchenware odd items cutlery, plates, dishes, glasses and mugs. There was no welcoming pack, other than a litre of bottled water. The vacuum cleaner was full and not properly working. The caretaker Ken is friendly and helpful. The property was certainly not worth the price we paid on this occasion.

  Thank you for your comments, Gamekeepers Cottage has now been refurbished and renovated. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Danny1.6★Sep 2018

• "I have been renting numerous cottages for several years and with an exception of one 7 years ago they have always met or were better than the description given on the website."

  Unfortunately this cottage was very disappointing. It takes me back to the 1970's when standards were much lower. The cottage slightly tainted our stay, the area was lovely and the cottage was ideally located for us to explore this area, BUT although the cottage was clean the decor was dull and the fabric of the house was tired and in poor condition, unloved and unmaintained. What work has been done was of a poor and shoddy standard and not of a standard one expects these days. There was badly worn carpets as you walk into the cottage and by the kitchen step and at the bottom of the stairs. a large hole in the bottom of the front door and the door bottom on the stairs entrance was haggard. There was mould in the bathroom on the walls, ceiling and grouting around the electric shower. the shower itself was not much more than a trickle as opposed to a shower! The description on the website was not what we found in reality and the furniture shown on your website was not what was actually in the property during our stay and seemed to have been replaced by poorer quality second hand items. There was a mismatch of kitchenware odd items cutlery, plates, dishes, glasses and mugs. There was no welcoming pack, other than a litre of bottled water, which I learnt on speaking to Margaret about the discoloured water was meant for drinking. We had drunk the tap water on arrival but only noticed the colour of the water when we ran a bath, firstly it was a dirty brown in colour and left a peat silt deposit in the bath when drained off. This brings me to the next problem with the water, we could only run about 2-3ins of hot water before it ran cold even if we put the booster on, again I spoke to Margaret who confirmed this had been reported to the owners but apparently had not been rectified. I have taken photos and I would be happy to send them to you if require them. The property was certainly not worth the price we paid on this occasion. We would be reluctant to book another property with you if this is the standard of other properties you have to rent. A very disappointed customer. R W Barber and S Hopps

  Reviewed by Robert2.2★Aug 2018

• "The caretakers Ken and Margret are amazing they can't do enough to help you this ..."

  The caretakers Ken and Margret are amazing they can't do enough to help you this was our first visit to Northumberland and won't be our last what a perfect place the cottage was perfect for us and our 2 dog's only a short drive to amazing beaches and walks on the doorstep will definitely be booking again

  Reviewed by Philip5.0★Jul 2018

• "Cottage could do with a good clean renew carpets redecorate hole in front door will not go back"

  Reviewed by Jeff1.9★May 2018

• "The cottage was as described in a great area to explore Northumberland."

  We had a wonderfully relaxing week with our two dogs staying at the Gmekeepers cottage.

  Reviewed by Catherine5.0★Mar 2018

• "The television wasn't working in the living room."

  Caretaker couldn't fix it. We found the fault an hour before we left on Sunday morning. We didn't go there to watch tv however it would have been nice to have the option.

  Reviewed by Patrick3.4★Mar 2018

• "Lovely cottage in the middle of some wonderful countryside and a great base for seeing Northumberland."

  Plenty of room and good facilities which made staying in for snowy days just as fun as going out.

  Reviewed by Claire4.4★Feb 2018

• "A lovely cosy cottage very comfortable and a lovely environment to welcome in the new year."

  A fantastic place to unwind and relax. Two of our friends stayed with us for a cople of days and they were alos impressed with the cottage. Our dog Maisie loved the country walks and enjoyed curling up next to the fire in the evening after a hard days walkies. We would book this accomodation again. Kind regards Anita and Trevor from Halifax.

  Reviewed by Anita5.0★Dec 2017

• "The property was very charming and cosy and generally clean although it did seem it hadn't been occupied for a while as there was some stoor and dust about."

  However, we enjoyed our break very much. The only negative things were the absence of any freezer or ice-making facility (particularly during the festive season for our Xmas drinks) and the mattress on the double bed had probably seen better days as was not very comfortable. But overall we all had a great, relaxing time away from it all.

  Reviewed by Marjorie3.3★Dec 2017

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