Gowanlea

62 Customer Reviews

• "Very nice cottage, a shame about the street lights which rather ruined it being listed in a dark sky area."

  We did have a problem with the heating and hot water but the owner very helpfully came out on Sunday morning and fixed it. The heating doesn't come on with a timer so you have to get up in the morning and put it on. It does seem to cut out after a short while so you have to keep resetting the thermostat. Not a big issue as it wasn't very cold while we were there but not sure I would want to have to do this in December and January. The kitchen was very well equipped and the lounge comfortable.

  Reviewed by Lynne3.8★Oct 2024

• "This was our second visit to Gowanlea, a lovely property in a quiet village with walks to Kielder from the doorstep."

  Excellent village tearoom. Our only issue was that we had to pick up several piles of dog poo before allowing our dog to wander round the garden and as the garden is quite small this should have been easy to find and clean up prior to our arrival

  Reviewed by Maria3.4★Sep 2024

• "Gowanlea is a lovely little cottage in a beautiful village."

  There are numerous walks from the front door which was brilliant for our two dogs. Especially the short walk along the river which was great for an early morning/evening walk. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend a visit here. It would have been nice if the lawn had been mowed. At first we put it down to wet weather, but then we realised everywhere was very dry. Otherwise, absolutely no complaints.

  Reviewed by Sue4.4★Aug 2024

• "The property is set in a lovely quiet village, a great location for walks and close to Kielder Water and Forest."

  The property is furnished adequately and met our needs. We had an issue with the drain in the garden, which Sykes Customer Services were keen to resolve, making contact with the owners. Suggestions/improvements; the shower head fixing is still not resolved. I would echo a previous request for more than one tea towel. An additional bin liner bag needs to be provided and I would have liked the bathroom towels to both have been a larger size.

  Your feedback has been appreciated. The drain blockage is resolved. We will leave a good supply of bin bags and tea towels for future guests and fix the shower attachment on our next visit in a week’s time Thank you once again Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nicola3.4★Jul 2024

• "Fantastic cottage everything you would need on a holiday lovely scenery peace and quiet and some wonderful drives."

  We would recommend it to anyone

  Reviewed by Stephen4.7★Jul 2024

• "Lovely cottage, great location."

  Some sort of coffee maker- a cafetière or similar would be much appreciated!

  Reviewed by Kirsty5.0★Jun 2024

• "We liked gowanlea very much , the cottage was lovely and clean with lots of good equipment."

  The bed was the most comfortable we have slept in in Sykes cottages so far. The lack of phone signal however is an issue as previously stated, but wasn’t too difficult to overcome. The only issue however for us was the sofa which was quite uncomfortable we felt we were slipping off it all the time. Just another small observation 2 tea towels not 1 and being a little remote a bottle of milk and more tea and coffee would make your welcome nicer if you arrive late in the day the nearest co op is 9 miles away.

  Reviewed by Nigel3.1★Jun 2024

• "Lack of mobile phone signal not mentioned in advert, this meant a ninety mile round trip to be seen by emergency care at Hexham and left us feeling so unsafe we had to cut our holiday short."

  street light outside bedrooms on all night so not quite the dark skies we expected.

  Reviewed by Graham3.8★May 2024

• "Our second stay at this beautiful cottage and already booked for next year."

  Cottage has everything you could possibly need and in a great location for exploring Northumberland.

  Reviewed by Janice5.0★May 2024

• "We enjoyed our stay at Gowanlea."

  The cottage was comfortable,clean and well equipped.Ideal location for visiting Kielder Water and loads of walks from the door. Very handy having a pub around the corner that has good food and beer ! Though not open Mondays and Tuesdays as we found with most pubs in the area but we guess it is 'out of season' The bed was extremely comfortable though we did find the pillows not so comfortable and it may be an idea to take your own. But that is the only issue that we had and we would definitely recommend Gowenlea.

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Mar 2024

• "The cottage was immaculate and very well fitted out with quality items."

  Take plenty of provisions with you as the nearest shop out of season is Bellingham. Would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.

  Reviewed by James5.0★Feb 2024

• "The shower in the en-suite is still not working properly."

  The shower head droops and makes showering a bit of a challenge! Otherwise, a lovely place to stay.

  Reviewed by Chris3.8★Feb 2024

• "A lovely property in a great location."

  Nice and quite and the property had everything that we needed.

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Dec 2023

• "A beautifully presented cottage in a wonderful location."

  It has to be up there with the best we have stayed in if you want home from home.

  Reviewed by Simon5.0★Sep 2023

• "The cottage was in quiet location, and lots of lovely walks direct from the doorstep and a short drive away ."

  It was very homely and we really relaxed here , however the mobile signal is non existant at the cottage and most of the surrounding area ,its a long drive for food so bring plenty of supplies although the local tea rooms have milk and eggs some canned food and occasionally bread . There was no bidet as in the photos and description and no spare key which could be an issue as the front door self locks and the patio doors would not unlock at all .Overall the cottage was clean apart from the kitchen surfaces and some utensils which were were very greasy

  Reviewed by Suzanne3.8★Sep 2023

• "We stayed hear for the week 2/9/23 to 9/9/23 on arrival i was thrilled, the property was better than the advert, the location was so nice with a fabulous garden accessible from different areas."

  there were loads of butterflies and a really tame robin when in the garden. the neighbours are very quiet (church yard) with mature trees to offer shade at one side of the garden. the bed was super comfortable, superking size and really suportive, i slept better hear than i do at home. the kitchen has most things you would need the living room is spacious, i was sad we didn't get to use the log burner but we had freakish good weather. the area is amazing, for day time activities, and on a night for stare gazing. i was really sad to leave this property and would definitly book it again

  Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Sep 2023

• "The holiday home was ideal close to Keilder Water with lots of walks close by."

  Very friendly Robin visits. The pub very near the house which was excellent however you must book before you go. We found this also at the Phesant pub which is also close by but driving distance.

  Reviewed by Claire4.7★Aug 2023

• "Great accommodation."

  Only suggestion is to have say salt and pepper and some condiments and maybe a pint of milk and tea bags as a welcome pack.

  Reviewed by Neil4.1★Jul 2023

• "We enjoyed the property."

  We were comfortable. The outside was secure for dogs as stated. Very nicely set up with just about everything you would need, just a few little extra things would have helped … which I reported. A little welcome pack would have been lovely, as the nearest shop open at the time of arrival would have been the garage at Kielder or Coop at Bellingham. We found it difficult to park as the front of the property is becoming very overgrown and we just had one large car, so not sure how two cars would have fitted (which is the description). Outside needs a little TLC, even the bike racks were inaccessible because of plants. There were some faults which we reported to Sykes. Eating out… The Blackcock Inn, just 30 seconds away was great for food and drink. Super friendly and super dog friendly. Really considerate people. We also found the Holly Bush at Greenhaugh great! Food fantastic. Again dog friendly, friendly and considerate. Vets…. We had an issue with one of our dogs and needed emergency vet assistance. Keep vet details in your phones because the whole area is poor for phone signal and if you need to internet search to find a vet, it’s not always easy, signal non existent or erratic. There is a vets at Bellingham, info in the welcome pack, they are the closest are only open 3 days a week, otherwise you have to go to their sister practice in Hexham, which we had to.

  Reviewed by Jackie3.8★Jun 2023

• "As holiday cottages go, this one is exceptional."

  We usually take 3 cottages a year and this is THE best. Ok, some may have better locations, on a cliff, by a beach, but this is a real home from home and it's internal fixtures and touches and quality are excellent

  Reviewed by Phil5.0★Jun 2023

• "Beautiful cottage, clean and in a lovely location, everything well looked after ..."

  Beautiful cottage, clean and in a lovely location, everything well looked after and working the pictures I feel don't do the cottage justice we would stay again and recommend

  Reviewed by Nicola5.0★Jun 2023

• "Gowanlea was a beautiful cottage in a lovely village."

  My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay and felt very comfortable. It was great to have a bathroom each. It was convenient for church and the local Pub, however if you want to eat in the Pub it is advisable to book in advance for any day to enjoy the excellent food. We found it a little unusual to find there was no welcome pack ie milk, tea and coffee as there were no shops for 9 miles but this did not detract from our enjoyment.

  Reviewed by Barbara4.7★May 2023

• "We expected the floors to be carpeted as per Sykes website photos and unfortunately the flooring in the hall and lounge has been replaced with laminate flooring which was extremely slippery for our elderly dog."

  There is also no mention on the website about the lack of mobile phone service although the broadband was very good. We did have a good holiday - location and facilities were excellent and will probably book the cottage again

  Reviewed by Maria3.4★May 2023

• "Paul"

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★May 2023

• "A lovely cottage with high standard fittings and extremely comfortable beds in a really quiet location."

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Apr 2023

• "Gowanlea was an excellent place to stay, we knew we’d chosen well as soon as we entered."

  The rooms are furnished well, are all comfortable with everything you need for a great holiday. The kitchen is well equipped with plenty of storage. The secure back garden was great for letting our dog out, he enjoyed exploring it! We didn’t need to light the wood burner as the central heating did a good job keeping the place cosy. The information about Kielder Water was very interesting and helpful as was the information folder. The village is lovely with super walks in virtually every direction. Sadly I didn’t get time to walk to the dam, I’ll just have to stay again so I can do that! I enjoyed meeting the friendly locals on our walks, everyone was happy to stop and chat. The Black Cock is very handy just round the corner, we went for the Pie & Mash night on Thursday but were lucky to get in as they were fully booked, so pre book if you plan on going. It’s just a shame it isn’t open for lunches. The most striking thing about this holiday was the peace and quiet, it was wonderful, just the birdsong as we enjoyed our walks. Thank you for a wonderful stay, we hope to return in the future.

  Reviewed by Jane5.0★Apr 2023

• "The property was very nice and we enjoyed our stay, the main thing that let it down was the beds they were very uncomfortable and the couch this was also uncomfortable, otherwise we enjoyed the stay."

  Reviewed by Christopher3.8★Apr 2023

• "2nd stay at Gowenlea!"

  Wonderful location to explore the many walks around the area! Comfortable warm property! Ideal get away from it all break. Everything you need for home away from home holidays!

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Mar 2023

• "Loved the cottage and the peaceful location."

  So pleased that the log burner was working again. The rug in the lounge did have a mind of its own and could do to have a better piece of non slip underneath it.

  Reviewed by Rachel4.4★Feb 2023

• "Excellent cottage, great position."

  Warm, comfortable and well equipped.

  Reviewed by Chris5.0★Feb 2023

• "Excellent cottage"

  Reviewed by Ann5.0★Jan 2023

• "Great location , lovely property."

  Would stay there again.

  Reviewed by Jennefer5.0★Jan 2023

• "This was perfect for the two of us."

  Whoever owns the property has made a big effort.

  Reviewed by Maya5.0★Dec 2022

• "Fabulous cottage, very comfortable and spotlessly clean."

  Not much open around the place but we will definitely come back in the summer. Good walks from the doorstep and the garden was brilliant for the dogs with safe, enclosed areas. Amazing position for the dark skies and stargazing.

  Reviewed by Michael4.7★Nov 2022

• "Lovely, comfortable and warm property as described."

  Reviewed by Susan3.8★Oct 2022

• "Really enjoyed our break at Gowanlea Cottage."

  A super local village pub is just a few minutes away. Some great walking in the area and Keilder Water can be reached in about 20 minutes. While a very comfortable cottage, there were a few small negatives. Patio door lock needs attention - difficult to open/lock. Very basic stock of glasses in the kitchen. 1 red and 1 white wine glass only with a small supply of hi-ball glasses. Nothing else! A light bulb needs changed in the kitchen. A toast rack would have been an added bonus, but that’s just me! We did have a great break despite the poor weather and have booked again for next year.

  Glassware must have been broken, will replace. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Mark4.7★Oct 2022

• "Really enjoyed our holiday in Falstone cottage was like home from home great walks ."

  Bike rides were brilliant. Our dog bella loved it walking and playing with other dogs very nice place to visit. Local pub was also nice lovely food and nice pint .

  Reviewed by Frank5.0★Sep 2022

• "Lovely, cosy & comfortable in a picturesque village off the beaten track."

  The cottage is well laid out and has a pretty garden, secure enough for our escapologist dog! It’s close to the village pub and a cafe and you can walk to Kielder dam in around 20 minutes. There is a bright street light outside which might interfere if you are hoping to star gaze.

  Reviewed by Alison5.0★Sep 2022

• "Cottage was in a quiet village and had good privacy."

  Interior was of a high standard, lots of space and good facilities. Clean interior and comfy. Exterior was shabby and needed some tidying up, wood chips everywhere and some loose planks lying around. Could do with an exterior spruce up.

  Reviewed by Tim5.0★Aug 2022

• "Lovely cottage in quiet village, Had everything we needed."

  Liked the fact you could walk to Kielder Water (about a mile) from the cottage. Would consider staying again.

  Reviewed by Gill5.0★Jun 2022

• "Absolutely stunning cottage in perfect location."

  Quiet and peaceful, but with a local pub restaurent nearby if you want it. The cottage has everything you could ever need and a lovely walled garden which is safe and great if you have a dog with you. There are some lovely walks locally and you can easily walk to Kielder dam. Just the most perfect holiday home.

  Reviewed by Claire5.0★Jun 2022

• "Lovely cottage set in a pretty small village."

  Comfortable with everything you need. Gorgeous cottage style garden. Bring some bir d seed for the feeders . We recommend the village tea rooms for cake and hot choc. They sell a few day items too like milk and fairy liquid. and the walks around the village to the river. Close to keilder. The Scottish borders and cumbria. We had days over at gretna, Hadrians wall and the east coast , seahouses. / Amble etc. A little further than we thought approx 1 hour and 20 mins. But beautiful scenery while driving. Was a lovely week.my two daughters and I loved it. Go past keilder and turn left . Lovely village with shops and friendly people and loads of parking called Newcastleton. loved it. Watch for red squirrels deer and grouse up those single track roads and walks.

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★May 2022

• "When we first arrived at Gowanlea there was a very strong dog smell in the lounge & kitchen."

  There were paw prints too, so the floors had not been mopped during the cleaning changeover. The cottage was very comfy and served our needs. There is no welcome pack, the nearest shop is in Bellingham, the cottage is in Falstone. So make sure you take essentials with you (tea/coffee/milk etc).

  Dear Mrs G Thank you for your feedback. I apologise for the poor cleanliness on your arrival to our cottage. We employ a cleaning company and will pass on your comments to them. We have considered providing a welcome pack and note your comment about this. Regards Dianne Carnell Property Owner

  Reviewed by Patricia3.1★Apr 2022

• "Really enjoyed our stay at the cottage, ideal location for walks etc."

  But will definitely not be using Sykes anymore.

  Reviewed by Derrick5.0★Mar 2022

• "This property exceeded our expectations and was very clean and better equipped than advertised and we would definitely return."

  The only issues were that the refuse bin had not been emptied outside and there was nowhere for us to put our refuse on departure. A query sent to Sykes was disappointingly not answered. As outdoor enthusiasts, it was challenging removing wet and muddy clothes and then drying these. The vestibule is useful but very limited and there are no drying facilities. Our bikes had to be stored in the car which was also challenging. The local area is outstanding. We weren’t able to enjoy Kielder due to closure forced by storm Arwen. Also, as cyclists, the closure of the lane above the house limited our routes significantly. However, the cottage was a relaxing haven in an area of outstanding beauty and we would like to return when the area is more accessible. The owners were happy to allow us to reschedule our stay because of storm Arwen, but Sykes couldn’t do it due to changing from 7 nights to 6 nights. This seems like poor business sense as we would have booked an additional accommodation for this week- hence Sykes lost another booking!

  Reviewed by Angela4.7★Dec 2021

• "As I have not received a reply from my e mails I will repeat that due to storm ..."

  As I have not received a reply from my e mails I will repeat that due to storm all power was lost so we had to come home 1st day of second week

  Reviewed by Alan3.8★Nov 2021

• "Beautiful little cottage in a stunning part of the country."

  We really enjoyed staying at Gowanlea and would certainly recommend it.

  Reviewed by Rachel5.0★Oct 2021

• "General cleanliness was good however I would like to point out the following: Shower curtain in the bathroom needs washing or replacing - the bottom of it is red with bacteria."

  Grabrails inside the bath need a deep clean and the base of both bath taps. Extractor fans in the ensuite and bathroom are not working. The oven needs a deep clean. The french doors do not open, there is a note saying it is stiff but they do not open. The lounge would benefit from better lighting. We were surprised to find there was no starter pack for the log burner. The gardens to the front and rear need attention, I.e. weeds growing through the gravel.

  Reviewed by Margaret3.4★Sep 2021

• "Beautiful cottage with everything you need."

  I would advise you take enough food etc to begin with as the nearest shop is 9 miles away although I did see some supermarket delivery vans out and about. Local pub serves good food and the staff so friendly. Tea room open at the weekend serving cakes etc. Lots of great walks in the area and around Kilder lake. If you want peace and quiet this is the cottage for you.

  Reviewed by Bernie5.0★Aug 2021

• "Wonderful place to stay in a wonderful location."

  Reviewed by Ivan5.0★Aug 2021

• "This cottage is a wonderful place just to chill out, the village is lovely and not far from scenic walks."

  Would recommend this property to anyone who wants a relaxing break.

  Reviewed by Diane5.0★May 2021

• "Lovely clean comfortable cottage in a lovely setting"

  Reviewed by Carole5.0★Apr 2021

• "The cottage was beautiful, welcoming warm and cosy."

  Reviewed by Eveline5.0★Oct 2020

• "Kitchen floor was sticky, kitchen cupboards were covered in fingerprints."

  In 2020 that lack of cleaning is not acceptable. Also, the scatter cushions have been removed from the Sofa making it very difficult to get comfortable on it. Also cobwebs and heavy dust around the place. Loved the location and the property could have been really nice if it was cleaned properly and had the scatter cushions back. If the cushions have been removed because of Covid19 then Dettol do a fabric spray that could be used on them and allow them to stay. If they've been removed due to wear and tear then they need replacing. The owners have got a really nice property here, let down in my opinion by Sykes "professional" cleaners.

  Reviewed by Neil3.4★Sep 2020

• "It is a really good location for you to visit the kielder observatory and to ..."

  It is a really good location for you to visit the kielder observatory and to really enjoy the whole dark skies experience

  Reviewed by Christine5.0★Jan 2020

• "We visited winter wonderland at Kielder Forest and the cottage was a great location for this as Kielder only a 10 minute drive away."

  The cottage exceeded our expectations and perfect for a family break. The cottage was clean and had all amenities you’d expect. I’d definitely recommend this cottage to others.

  Reviewed by Hillary5.0★Dec 2019

• "Gowanlea is beautiful."

  The village of Falstone is quite remote, there is no local shop but Falstone Tea Rooms sells milk and bread though it’s only open for a few hours a day. The Blackcock Inn is literally a few doors down from Gowanlea and the staff are very friendly and welcoming (dogs are welcome too). A Post Office is situated in the village hall where you can withdraw cash but it only opens 2 days a week. The local shop is in Bellingham or at Leaplish water side at Keilder Water and both are a long drive away so I would recommend that visitors to Gowanlea arrive prepared with groceries and with cash as there is no cash line machine locally either. The cottage itself is warm and homely and is very well equipped. The furnishings are of good quality and the bed in the main bedroom was comfortable. The TV has freebies and there is WiFi in the cottage although there is no mobile phone signal in the village itself which is heavenly for a quiet break away from it all. There are some lovely walks near to the cottage and we walked miles with our dog before returning to Gowanlea for our evening meal and then strolled to The Blackcock Inn to sample their ales and some of their magnificent gin collection.. We can’t wait to go back to Gowanlea.

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★Nov 2019

• "We really enjoyed our stay at this lovely cottage and beautiful area."

  Well equipped cottage, warm and roomy. Everything worked very well. Personally we felt the bed was too large for the main bedroom, very near to radiator . It would also benifit from a mirror to dry hair etc. The second bedroom could do with being a little more adult friendly, somekind of reading in bed lights and mirror. Bathrooms showers were excellently working. The garden was very safe and tidy. Minimal lighting surrounding the cottage, but don't forget 'dark sky' area. Pub minutes away, great welcome and food. Lovely walks to river and kielder dam. Shops in bellingham some miles away, but did see Tesco delivered locally. For us all ( four adults) including a dog this cottage was great. Yes, we want to return, well done to the owners who have done their very best to achieve comfort and cleanliness we appreciate.

  Reviewed by Elaine5.0★Nov 2019

• "The cottage was in a small village of friendly people."

  It was close to Keilder Water & Forest which is beautiful and is such a great place to walk and explore.

  Reviewed by Margaret Ruth5.0★Oct 2019

• "Gowanlea is I think the best equipped holiday cottage I have stayed in."

  The kitchen had everything you could need and more, two bathrooms and a huge and super comfy bed in the master bedroom. Lots of comfortable seating. We took a lovely walk up to the dam, which was easy from the cottage. Falstone is a quiet village with an excellent pub in the form of the Blackcock Inn. Perfectly placed for Kielder Water and Forest. The cycle hire and a trip around the Lakeside Way is recommended (although tough!). I also recommend a walk up to James Turrell's Skyspace. As other reviewers have mentioned, the bedrooms are not especially dark because of the streetlight outside, but this doesn't bother me too much. Really can't say enough good things about this cottage and Northumberland generally.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★Sep 2019

• "This cottage is very good and we would recommend anyone to stay."

  Very minor thing is that a small nest of tables would be very useful in the lounge so you can relax on the settee with a drink and have somewhere to put it.

  Reviewed by Dave5.0★Aug 2019

• "It was nice that no one felt pressured into providing a welcome pack."

  As a septuagenarian I still have the ability to shop. To other matters, the cottage is up their with the best. The location great, not even the best attempts of the midges could spoil the peace and tranquillity of the area.

  Reviewed by George5.0★Jul 2019

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