Ryehill Farm Cottage

41 Customer Reviews

• "Lovely little cottage in a beautiful quiet location."

  Reviewed by Patricia5.0★Sep 2023

• "All issues were logged to Sykes via email and phone, when we raised a complaint."

  The property is not fit for renting and tainted an important trip we that travelled over 300 miles for, to retrace my roots after the death of my mother. With the help of Sykes we got some money back, but not the amount we asked for and felt was fitting considering how unsuitable the property is to be rented out as a holiday home. We are shocked that Sykes not only listed it but gave it 4 stars. I do not have the time to list all the issues again, but I would encourage anyone viewing this property to read the reviews and do not go on the pictures and trust that Sykes will list clean and comfortable cottages as this was not the case. Having read the reviews once we were already at the property, it shows that the owner does nothing with the feedback and blames nameless cleaners. Not only an easy way to get out of any responsibility but an easy way not to do anything about the people who are staying there in the dirty, smelly, bare, mouldy and musty cottage. Ive learned my lesson to always read reviews and we agree with every negative comment of which there are many, already posted by other people who have stayed there. AVOID!

  Reviewed by Helen1.3★Sep 2023

• "A really great weekend in a very old traditional cottage."

  Remote and beautiful location, with garden at back, backing onto a field with a public footpath to the pub in Thropton (3/4 mile). Great for walking and cycling. We used it as a base for visiting Cragside, Bamburgh and the coast down to Craster, visiting haunts from our youth. Facilities were excellent. Very comfortable. No internal WiFi but a BT hotspot available (but who wants internet at a relaxing place like this. The only downside would be for the very elderly. As with many very old cottages like this the staircase is steeper than the norm. Use the stairs carefully, making use of the bannister, but we managed ok and we are both in our early 80's.

  Reviewed by David4.7★Jun 2023

• "Such a poor attitude by the owner."

  The toilet blocked one evening and we were all told to use a bucket overnight. One of our party FELL DOWN THE STAIRS due to the unsafe stair carpet. Garden uneven with dangerous steps. Floor filthy. Mattresses lumpy. Lots of previous guests have left negative feedback and none seems to have been addressed. The countryside was beautiful though and we will be back to the area again.

  Thank you for your feedback. I am sorry our cottage did not meet your expectations. With regard to you blocking the toilet which occurred at 12mn I do recall that you arranged an emergency plumber to come and sort the problem which cost £175 which we paid at your request. Unfortunately the plumber did not come and in fact requested a further £600 to proceed with the work. At this point at 2am my husband came to the cottage , which is an hour drive from our home and unblocked the toilet. Apologies again for any inconvenience this has caused you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Pam2.2★May 2023

• "We really enjoyed our stay but was let down by cleanliness."

  A lot of cobwebs, some furniture needs updating. WiFi would be good to get as you cannot get a mobile phone signal. Felt a bit cut off. The beds were comfortable. Had everything you need. If the cleanliness was sorted out it would be perfect. This wouldn't put us off staying again though.

  Reviewed by Katherine2.2★Apr 2023

• "Another lovely holiday at this cottage."

  Washing machine developed a fault just before we were due and was speedily replaced with a new one. Lots to do without having to drive great distances. Jura enjoyed his walks into Rothbury at Cragside and Wallington where the crocus were in full bloom, stunning. Thanks

  Reviewed by Adrian4.4★Mar 2023

• "An absolutely lovely cottage and wonderful place to stay."

  Just some small but important things that let it down. Firstly the cleanliness, it appeared as though a thorough clean had not been done between us and the previous guests as crockery was dirty in the cupboard, there was a dirty spoon on the floor and the floor was very sticky. Secondly, the beds were extremely uncomfortable, hard and felt of poor quality. It caused us to have aching backs for the morning and to not sleep well which did impact our stay. Lastly facilities, although not expected it would have been really nice to have had a pint of milk so we could have made a cuppa after a long journey before heading into the village. Also to leave a quarter of a toilet roll for two adults for three nights felt somewhat conservative and meant we had to buy some (not something you plan on doing when on a break away). After hearing such nice stories of welcome packs being made for guests we were left quite disappointed.

  Reviewed by Jonathan3.1★Jun 2022

• "Was a great stay!"

  Thanks for the wine. Loved it

  Reviewed by Amy5.0★Apr 2022

• "In a lovely area Rothbury is a lovely village ."

  ..the cottage was not that clean ...found dog hairs , the sink was dirty we had to clean it on arrival , also the bread board had left over food stuck to it ..we scrubbed it but still didn't use it, the wooden door in the living room had three over long screws sticking through which cut my finger !!! Overall enjoyed the stay ..the double bed was very uncomfortable but I slept in the single bed which was very comfortable ....lovely location though ...

  Reviewed by Christopher3.1★Apr 2022

• "House is very remote which means you do need a car."

  The log burner is fabulous, and much needed in the winter. Welcome pack was a lovely thought. Area is beautiful for walks, and Rothbury is just a short drive away. House has everything you need but make sure you pack warm pjs in winter as it gets very cold upstairs at night.

  Reviewed by Sarah3.8★Mar 2022

• "Overall nice cottage."

  It does need a good clean as others have mentioned, and a touch of paint too to refresh it, but the biggest issue was no heating or hot water. The boiler looked to be working, but we couldn't work it out. Fortunately the wood burner was superb, for the downstairs at least. Also struggled to get key code to enter the cottage from owner as he didn't answer his phone or reply to texts. After ringing Sykes, they managed to contact him on the same numbers we'd been given to get the code.

  Reviewed by Nigel3.1★Nov 2021

• "A lovely cottage in a fantastic location for walkers and dog owners."

  It was sad to see that so many previous guests at the cottage had focused their feedback on a handful of minor faults like a few dog hairs hear and there. We found it perfectly adequate in terms of cleanliness and enjoyed the many little extras the owners had provided. We will certainly book again, if your thinking of booking I would urge you to look beyond the negative feedback of a few hard to please guests the cottage is lovely.

  Reviewed by Jonathan4.4★Nov 2021

• "On arrival the key was placed in a key safe next to the front door, so we invited ourselves in and started to unwind straight away, we had two well behaved dogs with us and our only immediate concern was the stairs very steep not elderly or dog friendly, the cottage was tired and could do with redecorating however this said due to it’s current state and we having our dogs this was perfect for us not having to worry about what our dog’s where up to, the location and views from the garden where amazing and the garden was safe for our dogs having the garden fenced and rabbit wiring at the bottom for added security, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and we felt we picked the best base to explore from, and would not hesitate to rebook if we where to revisit the area again."

  Paul & Sandie.

  Reviewed by Paul3.4★Oct 2021

• "We will be sending you an email with photos and further details."

  Reviewed by Stuart1.3★Sep 2021

• "This cottage could be fantastic, its in a great location, is a good size, has great views and is close by all the things you would want for a countryside holiday in the Coquet valley."

  It does however need a thorough and deep clean. It had been vacuumed prior to our arrival but that was about it. There was black mould in the kitchen sink, dirty crockery and cutlery and cooking utensils in the cupboards - they all had to be washed before use, there were pet hairs on all the blankets in the lounge. The freezer had half consumed food in it and needs to be defrosted and cleaned out completely. Comments about this freezer are in the visitor book going back to 2018/9. We had a good holiday at the cottage in this lovely area but I don't go away on holiday to clean up other peoples mess so we won't be going back to this one I am afraid. There are similar previous comments so its not a new issue. I guess the owners don't care as they get enough new business to keep going. You may want to do a visit to assess this one as its not up to the usual standards of the accommodation you offer through your system. Shame really - could be a winner.

  Reviewed by Simon3.1★Sep 2021

• "Comfortable cottage in gorgeous location."

  Enclosed garden so ideal with a dog and great views. Would recommend but steep stairs and some steep steps in garden so in our view not suitable for people with mobility problems or young children. Very cosy with a big woodburner. Parking right outside the door and very quiet location.

  Reviewed by Angela4.7★Aug 2021

• "Perfect location, in this respect the cottage exceeded our expectations."

  The size and layout of cottage was good for our family of four and the garden was a big bonus. In many respects, this is a very nice cottage indeed and has potential to be 4 or even 5 star. On our arrival, there were some issues that needed immediate attention. The hosts were very responsive and did their best to address these straight away.

  Reviewed by Nicola3.1★Aug 2021

• "Lumpy beds Freezer iced up couldn’t open doors easily No Wi-fi Garden ..."

  Lumpy beds Freezer iced up couldn’t open doors easily No Wi-fi Garden furniture unsafe falling apart No oven gloves Bed linen tired Patio door difficult to open or shut Lovely location but not worth £1200 for a week Needs some TLC lots of minor issues

  Reviewed by Paul2.2★Jun 2021

• "Lumpy beds Freezer needs defrosting and probably replacing Patio door needs ..."

  Lumpy beds Freezer needs defrosting and probably replacing Patio door needs repair Garden furniture needs tightening up Needs wifi Needs dishwasher Bedding a bit tired

  Reviewed by Paul1.9★Jun 2021

• "Initially when we got there I was a bit disappointed as the cleanliness and the general condition was below what I was expecting based on the money paid for the rental."

  In my opinion, the cottage needs a handyman and a deep clean to get it up the four star rating it has on the Sykes website. That said, it’s a great base for activities in the area and it was very cosy once the heating was blasting. Location is great, very quiet and I really enjoyed having a cuppa and breakfast in the back garden in the mornings. The garden backs straight onto a sheep field full of lambs at this time of year. The mile walk over to Thropton for dinner was lovely on a sunny evening. 10 minute drive to Cragside. Overall a good stay once I got over the initial impressions.

  Reviewed by Dominic3.4★May 2021

• "Cleaners need retraining we had to clean floors and dog hairs all over pans was ..."

  Cleaners need retraining we had to clean floors and dog hairs all over pans was that cleaned dirt all round skirting boards tap would not stop dripping etc

  Reviewed by David3.1★May 2021

• "We loved staying in the cottage, we had the most relaxing quiet break ever, our 2 newfoundland dogs loved the enclosed garden and the river for swimming in was only a 5 min walk."

  Well definitely be booking this cottage again.

  Reviewed by Mary5.0★Oct 2020

• "Stayed at Ryehill before so knew what to expect."

  It's a lovely cottage in a super location. Only minor drawback is no wifi and no dishwasher. But theres no space for one so cannot change that. Price for cottage reflects that. We had a great holiday and I would come back again

  Reviewed by Elizabeth4.4★Sep 2020

• "The photos do not do this little cottage justice."

  The owners had thought of everything to ensure the comfort of their guests with lots of little thoughtful touches...we even got prosecco, chocolate and dog biscuits on arrival. The garden and setting was beautiful and the location is great for exploring the local area. Would highly recommend and will hopefully return!

  Reviewed by Chris4.7★Sep 2020

• "A lovely, cosy cottage in a perfect location for a family holiday - castles, beaches & Romans!"

  The cottage had everything we needed, the BT hotspot satisfied the children’s need for WIFI, and with gorgeous views. The enclosed garden is doggy friendly - our dog tried to escape but was unsuccessful (she is only little though - larger dogs could possibly jump the fence so would recommend they are kept on a lead). Nearby Cragside is stunning, Rothbury is a lovely little town, and from the cottage it is an easy walk across the fields to the local pub (the food at the Three Wheat Heads Inn was fantastic). A little further afield (but within an hour’s drive) we also visited Housesteads Roman Fort & Sycamore Gap, Alnwick, Alnmouth Beach, Dunstanburgh Castle, and Bamburgh Castle & beach. Our children (8 & 5) want to go back to explore more (as do we!). Overall, a perfect little base for exploring one of the most beautiful (and quiet) parts of England.

  Reviewed by Janet5.0★Jul 2020

• "Lovely, quaint cottage with garden offering panoramic views & set in a beautiful location."

  Really enjoyed the early evening walks through the fields, along the river into Thropton which has 2 pubs. The Three Wheat Heads offered good food & beautiful elevated views from restaurant & garden. Both pubs are dog friendly. Lots of forest walks nearby and Rothbury is a short drive. Will definitely return again in the future.

  Reviewed by Claire4.7★Jul 2020

• "This cottage is lovely, perfect location for some peace and quiet."

  The cottage is well equipped, comfy and in a great location, they even provide an umbrella and torch. There are plenty of walks close by, the local town of Thropton has with 2 good pubs, the three wheat sheafs serves very good good. Further down the road the town has a small supermarket, Indiana and chip shop. Definitely want to come back and experience the Autumn in the area from this cottage.

  Reviewed by Annka5.0★Jul 2020

• "It’s was such a lovely cosy cottage."

  Great location for long dog walks. Enclosed garden for our two dogs. Would definitely recommend this cottage to our family and friends.

  Reviewed by Gina4.1★Jan 2020

• "Lovely location ideal for exploring."

  Communication with the owner was good. my five year old loved the selection of games and the wood burner meant we were very cosy in the evening wine and biscuits on arrival very welcoming

  Reviewed by Janet3.8★Oct 2019

• "Lovely cottage, lovely surroundings."

  The previous occupier clearly didn't know how to wash up as we had to wash up quite a few things before we used them. But I guess that happens everywhere sometimes.

  Reviewed by Helen4.1★Oct 2019

• "The cottage address is Thropton but it is in fact a five mile drive away, down narrow roads or a walk across three fields, ok in the summer but not on a wet autumn day."

  The heating system cannot be put on a timer and the instructions explicitly state that it can be put on for an hour at a time by pressing a switch in the boiler room. So you have to keep getting up and pressing the switch to maintain any degree of warmth. No matter how many times you do this, the bedrooms and bathroom never got warm and it was not pleasant, in the morning, to have to get up and either put on the additional radiators or go downstairs to put on the heating. It was frosty overnight on two nights so the bedroom was positively Siberian those days! It is inconceivable, these days, that you are not allowed to have the heating on a timer. The cottage was relatively clean but did have a general air of not being cared for. There was old spilled milk in the fridge which had turned cheesy, and particularly horrible to find, hairs in the bath plughole. The equipment was just about adequate for a self catering holiday, although having said that I wouldn't want to try and cook a Christmas dinner! There wasn't a full set of glasses and the impression is that it is old unwanted stuff that has been used to equip the cottage. We have had four self catering holidays this year and this cottage falls far behind the others, at every level and is poor value for money. One positive was the welcome pack, but why no tea or coffee?! The overwhelming feeling is of cheerlessness and a place that is unloved and not cared for. I could not recommend a stay in this cottage and would, obviously, not return there.

  Reviewed by Elaine1.6★Sep 2019

• "Beautiful location Facilities inside and out great"

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Aug 2019

• "Great cottage in lovely area."

  We appreciated the quiet. One issue we had was a complete lack of any freezer or even freezer compartment at top of fridge. This needs to be addressed. Apart from that all was well. We would return.

  Thank you for your comments, we are pleased you enjoyed your stay but was unfortunate that you did not find the freezer in the cupboard next to the boiler. Kind regards Property Owner

  Reviewed by Helen4.1★Jun 2019

• "On arrival the property was dirty and had a pervading smell of grease and grime."

  The property has not been cleaned properly ( deep clean ) for many years, including the kitchen appliances, and most of the storage units in the bedrooms had hair and dirt from previous guests . In addition to this a number of the double glazed windows have failed and are misty, the metal garden furniture is rusted and should be thrown in a skip, and the outdoor wooden table and chairs haven't been treated in years . All in all we wouldn't recommend this property to anybody in it's current condition, the ground floor accommodation is also very cold , even on a sunny day. Such a pity when it is in a wonderful countryside location.

  Reviewed by Kenneth1.9★May 2019

• "Lovely cottage in a excellent location in a quiet small hamlet"

  Reviewed by Adrian5.0★Mar 2019

• "Excellent cottage fantastic quiet location,"

  Reviewed by Claire5.0★Aug 2018

• "On our arrival the cottage was absolutely Baltic."

  No heating on and the log burner was not lit. I think someone should have at least lit the fire. It took us 2 days to get the place anything like warm but the bathroom floor remained frozen. The climbing plant at the front of the house had come down and was overhanging the front door. The bed had hairs in it (not ours) and we had to keep the oil filled rads on all the time. The log burner has part of the door gasket missing so it burns logs so fast it cost us a small fortune in logs and we had to buy fire lighters as I had to re-light every morning and every night. We have stayed in many cottages throughout the UK and logs are usually supplied if there is a log burner, indeed without this the cottage would never have got warm. At the end of our stay there was no proper hoover to clean up. Nice cottage with lovely views spoiled by lack of attention to detail. A welcome of a bottle of wine was a nice touch though. We will be going back to Rotherby but I doubt it will be at a Sykes cottage and certainly not 1 Ryehill, unless it is in summer so it is warmer.

  Reviewed by Dave2.5★Mar 2018

• "A comfortable cottage which met all our requirements."

  Well situated for walking in the are. Good amenities and eating places in Rothbury just two miles away

  Reviewed by John4.4★May 2017

• "We had a lovely time the cottage was perfect for us and the dogs, everywhere we wanted to go was in easy reach, The Alwinton show was a great afternoon which we all enjoyed."

  The walks in the surrounding areas were very dog friendly as was the cottage. All in all a good time was had by all of us.

  Reviewed by Julie4.4★Oct 2016

• "This lovely cottage met our requirements perfectly, well appointed and well situated for good walks."

  We will seriously consider visiting again next year.

  Reviewed by John5.0★Sep 2016

• "Fabulous location."

  .. Very relaxing and comfortable cottage with amazing views. Will definitely be back

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Aug 2016

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