Poacher's Rest

Upon arrival we were greeted by the owners who seem lovely.

Parking was no issue. Pack of biscuits and bottle of wine were a nice touch, as were the fresh flowers on the table. The bedroom is lovely and bright, bed very comfortable and clean and a nice rooftop terrace where we enjoyed dinner a couple of evenings. Kitchen is well equipped and everything seemed clean. We had a really lovely week exploring the beautiful Peak District and this cottage was well positioned for the places we wanted to go. However, there are some negatives……. On entering the property there was a strong smell of damp and dog wee, the carpets are covered in stains and we had dog hair on our socks from walking about the property, we love dogs but didn’t appreciate this. There’s a piece of wood screwed to the ceiling where they’ve obviously dealt with a leak (reading previous reviews this was a few months ago), there is a dehumidifier on constantly in the lounge which we emptied every day, it is also very dark and smells damp and is choc a block with furniture, not like the advertised picture. The kitchen windows don’t open/are broken and have mould around them. The downstairs toilet has no sink and a dodgy flush that gets stuck down. The handrails going up the stairs are wobbly and the towel rails in the bathroom aren’t properly fixed to the wall. There is also a very obvious urine stain (dog?) on the bathroom and bedroom carpet. The velux windows also need some attention as the seals get stuck and paint is peeling off where I assume they let in a bit of water. The front window again doesn’t open and the door out on to the terrace has a glass section that lets in a lot of light making it hard to sleep, we ended up sticking black bags over it to darken it. The property overall is very generous in size and like I say, the owners seem lovely, it just needs a revamp, a bit of maintenance, a rug doctor hire and maybe some furniture removing.

Excellent property with everything we needed.

owners were very welcoming and friendly. would definitely recommend to friends and family.

A lovely, spacious, well equipped property and a warm welcome from the host.

Ideally located for exploring the Peak District. I would well recommend Poacher's Rest and will be booking it again.

Spent a long weekend at this lovely cottage.

Great location for exploring the area. Stunning views from the decking area leading onto a spacious en suite bedroom. Well equipped kitchen although a little cluttered and with a table which was too large for the size of the room. The living area, again quite cluttered with too much furniture although comfortable enough for a few hours watching tv on an evening. Plenty of choices for food.. fish and chip shop, a pub not too far away and a lovely Indian restaurant just down the road.. all of them great service and lovely food. The owner was very friendly and welcoming and the bottle of wine and biscuits were a nice touch. All in all we had a really lovely stay and would definitely go back.

This is a quirky cottage set on 3 levels, good parking and in ideal area for touring around.

We did it on the bus with bus stops close by. This is definitely not the property for anyone with mobility issues as there are many steps. It has everything you need but they have an ongoing leak in the kitchen they are trying to put right. Owner very friendly

Poachers Rest is an ideal location for exploring the Peak District.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The cottage was very roomy, well equipped and warm and cosy-although in our case we were blessed with lovely weather-not what we expected at this time of year so a welcome bonus. Nice touch was the bottle of wine and cookies awaiting our arrival. Would thoroughly recommend this cottage.

Can recommend this cottage for a relaxing getaway loverly walks front and rear of property, a few minutes drive to Bakewell, Matlock, Chesterfield, Hatton hall and Chatsworth.

host gave me a tour of property plus wine,flowers,coffee, tea and biscuits.large bedroom, bathroom upstairs cosy kitchen dinner and large lounge downstairs all very comfortable and warm off the bedroom is a large patio which in warmer weather would be a fantastic place to sit and enjoy the day,also a large paddock for dogs,this cottage is well worth a visit we had a most enjoyable week.

Lovely little cottage for two people.

Lots of room of relaxation in a nice location. Excellent facilities for cooking, cleaning and washing. A lovely stay. Only wish the weather had been a bit better. Thanks for the welcome gifts.

Wonderful stay and the owner and her son were so friendly & helpful.

Lovely bottle of wine waiting for us thank you and a freshly decorated Xmas tree and festive decs made our stay lovely. Will definitely return.

we have made several visits.

Always comfortableand a great welcome. Close to many of the Peak district attractions and walks from the door

Lovely stay for my German friend while attending Chatsworth Country Fair.

Bedroom huge and loved a morning spent outside on the rooftop taking in the views. Spent most of time in the well equipped kitchen round table , but did watch a movie on sky tv in the lounge. Watch out for the step between stairs and kitchen , it caught me out a few times . Perfect location if you want to be near Chatsworth, Rowsley, Beeley or Darley Dale

A lovely spacious, comfortable cottage, ideal location for visiting local towns.

Great location, close to Chatsworth, Bakewell and some really nice walks.

The property has everything you need and is very comfortable. However, it could definitely do with some TLC. The downstairs toilet is a bit dodgy, there is a leak in the kitchen and it is all just a bit tired. Other guests have mentioned it too but the outside door in the bedroom is definitely an issue as we had to put a blanket over it to stop daylight coming in. Also, not being able to open the window was annoying. These were livable things and we still enjoyed our stay but the feedback really needs looking at and issues fixing.

Poacher's Rest is a comfortable cottage with a quirky lay-out that takes a bit of getting used to.

There is everything you need to enjoy a weeks stay, or even longer. It is ideally placed to explore this part of the peak district being only 10 minutes drive from Bakewell and Matlock as well as places of interest such as Gullivers Kingdom, the Heights of Abraham,Haddon Hall and Chatsworth. I would also recommend a visit to the Peak Village shopping in Rowsley and the Matlock Farm Park.

Well appointment property, comfortable and everything was there for your stay.

Property owner’s welcoming made it a pleasant stay. We would like to return at some future time.

The cottage was set in a beautiful part of the Peak District the views were amazing .

All the rooms were lovely especially the bedroom you stepped out on to a big balcony with uninterrupted views of sheep in the fields .The kitchen had everything we needed for our stay,the bottle of wine was much appreciated .

A well appointed place to stay with lovely walks in all directions right from the door.

Bus routes 5 minutes down the road so no need to take the car out. Lots of little extras left in the property too. Only 'negative' is perhaps a curtain across the door to the balcony would be good as it it very light in the morning as you try and sleep. Apart from that very very good.

We found Poachers Rest to be very welcoming & comfortable.

Even for the few days we were there it was our home from home as we visited Derbyshire. Will be booking Poachers Rest again when we return to Derbyshire.

I’ve waited a while to publish this review to give me time to reflect.

From reading others in the intervening time I suspect that we were the guests before ‘Craig’. 6pm the night before we arrived we received an email saying that there would be works on the roof of the property on our arrival day and the day after. By that time it was too late to rearrange anything and we had to accept it, but discussed a 9am start for the works so we could have a chilled morning. The works were loud, but the shouting from the workers nosier, that said, it was all friendly. However, the works continued all week - meaning all week we had to be up and dressed before 9am, we didn’t feel we had free roam of the kitchen (window with workers outside and no blind/curtain etc). Unfortunately this put a dampner on our whole week as it wasn’t the ‘quiet’ space that we were craving. Notwithstansing that we found the cottage to be unique but suited us well, there were some issues with the cleanliness of some of the crockery! But we’ve had similar in other places. The location was spot on what we wanted and to be able to do a loop on footpaths ‘up the hill’ directly from the cottage with the dogs was perfect for us - some lovely sunsets from the top! Would we return, at the current price definitely, as long as there was a guarantee that no works were planned!

Helen was a lovely host.

The cottage is a credit to her on the cleanliness side. Roof terrace was lovely and with the weather so good, after a long day's walk amazing to sit there and take in the countryside.Theres nothing negative about Poachers den only positives.Appreciated the flowers, wine and biscuits. Shame more people don't take a leaf out of Helen's book!!

We have visited the property on several occasions and have always received a warm welcome.

It is ideal for many of the attractions of the Peak District

The property was well maintained and very comfortable with everything we needed for our stay.

The uneven stairs were something I had not picked up on in the listing and took a bit of getting used to and the fact that the garden was not enclosed meant the dog had to be on a lead constantly. However this is a delightful property with lovely surrounding countryside and good bus routes,

A lovely cottage in a beautiful location.

It has everything you need. I would highly recommend. Thank you.

We note that previous reviews mention issues such as the overpowering damp smell in the property and uneven stairs, and they are quite correct.

However, our main issue with the holiday isn't even about that. But we have written about that following our main issue. We booked this holiday for our tenth anniversary and to just relax and do nothing. Whilst we appreciate that most people like to go out sightseeing, we prefer to just have quiet time at our holiday property together in peace. Something that we never get to do back home. Upon our arrival, there was hardly any space to park as there was a workmen's van on the driveway, consequently, we were unable to park our camper van in a suitable position to be able to unload our luggage and had to wait until they had gone. We were told by the owner that the work should be concluded that day (Friday), however it was not. We were informed that the workmen were returning to what we thought was finish off the work on Saturday and would that be a problem? My partner was very diplomatic and said no that would be fine. They rocked up half-way through the day, the same on Monday and at 9am on Tuesday waking us up. So for four days of our seven day break, we had to contend with workmen on the roof terrace shouting to each other, hammering, banging and drilling as well as them being on ladders outside our kitchen window and around the property as we were using it. There were building materials left on the rooftop terrace, so we did not have private access to it as we didn't know when the builders would show up. There were also two dogs which accompanied the builders which were wandering around the property loose, which meant we didn't feel comfortable taking our dogs out on leads and it also concerned me as an animal lover with it being open to the main road. Hence our dogs were kept on leads at all times. We were offered a complimentary meal at the pub down the road as compensation, which for spoiling four days of our holiday is not acceptable. We wouldn't have minded so much, but no one had the common decency to inform us that building work was even taking place. We reported our problem to Sykes who told us that it was between us and the owner and that they would pass our complaint onto the owner. We had no further communication from the owner following this. So it was never resolved. Relating to the accuracy of the listing, the downstairs living room no longer looks as it does in the photograph on here, there is a large dining table with chairs in there and it is now very cluttered and unnecessary in a property for two people. There is a dehumidifier running in there and the lighting could be better, it appears, looking at the ceiling, like some lights have been taken out. For those unsteady on their feet, please take care on the uneven steps down into the living room. Regarding the cleanliness, we had to wash cutlery before we used it, there were bits of dried on food and what we assumed was dried on cheese in the grater. There were damp cracks in the kitchen ceiling and we could actually see and hear the drip-drops of water from that particular area over in the corner on the left-hand side of the sink. The damp smell emanated from the kitchen cupboards as well. We could have even put all this aside to some extent, had it not been for the disruption we experienced which ruined our break. The bedroom was the nicest space in the property, but as stated above, there were builders' materials on the roof terrace, which is where they were working whilst they were around the property, which the bedroom opens out onto. We have rented some beautiful properties through Sykes that we will return to time and again, but on the basis of the above, unfortunately we are sorry to say, we would not return there, nor would or could we recommend it to anyone else.

Property was on 3 levels the pics dont really show this Too much furniture in livingroom no need for seating and table there.

The property was very clean and the hosts really helpful whenever we needed anything.

It was also one of the more affordable places to stay in the area and we only need a few nights so it was good for our needs. However, I would caution choosing this one for any person (or pets!) with accessibility issues as the steps inside are quite steep and uneven. The pictures on the website were also slightly misleading as the paddock mentioned in the text is not the big field that you see in the picture. The paddock is actually only about a quarter of the size and is not secured, as well as being next to a main road with heavy traffic, so it wasn't as good for our dogs as we thought it would be.

Great cottage.

Bed was so comfortable so plenty of sleep. Was well equipped with everything you needed for a great stay. Even had utility room with washer and dryer if you was there for a week or two. Was in a lovely location with fields all around. Hellen the host was lovely and welcoming and was around if needed her. Definitely be going back

Lovely cottage with everything you need.

Situated in a perfect place, and not far to travel to other places like Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Matlock etc. Would definately recommend.

Really enjoyed our time time there,nice warm and comfy,it had everything that we needed, plenty of outside space for the dogs to run around,we will definitely put it on our list for the next time we want to come that way,

Comfortable cosy cottage, well positioned for getting out and about, friendly host.

Good paddock for dog exercise on hand. All in all a pleasant stay.

We have visited Poachers Rest on several occasions and always found it to be comfortable well equipped and in an ideal place to enjoy the many attractions of the Peak District

Good location, spacious with nice bedroom and bathroom.

However the main living area was very dark and musty which had a negative impact on the evenings during our stay. We left a day early.

Could do with a bit of work doing it up as a little run down

Poachers rest is nicely situated giving easy access to any walks sites or town you wish to visit.

The cottage has all the amenities that you would need it is clean and well kept full central heated which made it very cosy we would stay here again

Lovely accommodation - more than likely to return!

Very comfortable cottage in a great location for visiting Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall.

Having never had this type of break before, we wondered what we would be getting.

What a wonderful surprise. The cottage was everything advertised and more. It was warm and comfortable; had every appliance you could wish for; spotlessly clean; a short drive from Chatsworth and Haddon Hall and 3 miles into Bakewell. There was even a paddock at the top of the driveway where our dog could have a good run. We would definitely recommend this cottage and our thanks go to our hosts who kindly left us a nice bottle of red wine as well.

A really lovely cottage, with all the amenities required for a comfortable stay.

Close to so many wonderful places & only a short walk from the Peakcock Inn. The cottage was well equipped, cozy and jam packed with books, games and DVD’s for the evenings. There is a wonderful walk just behind the cottage and plenty of parking. A great cottage, we’d definitely stay again!

A lovely, spacious property, well situated for relaxation, scenic walks, historic houses and towns.

There is nothing not to like. Proximity to the main road does not detract, there is no traffic noise in the property. The owner is friendly and helpful. I'd definitely stay again.

Lovely cottage.

Spotless property & comfortable. Helen made me very welcome, sorted out the heating problem immediately for me, thank you. Sorry I had to cut short my break due to unforseen circumstances.

Perfect retreat , lovely and homely.

Host was friendly . Cottage Was perfect for some well earned r and r .

Everything there that you would need.

Very comfortable and a lovely place to come back to after a day out

Poachers Rest is a lovely cottage with every appliance you would ever need.

The bedroom was spacious & comfortable and the bathroom was spotless. The only downside is that the lounge is extremely dark so that you need lights on during the day. We even thought it may have been better with the bedroom downstairs & the lounge up on the airy & light first floor as it has access to the lovely terrace & garden ( just our opinion). Situated in a lovely area with lots of fabulous walks.

Great place to stay.

Will definitely recommend return

Loved the property and location.

Easy road, bus and walking links. Huge space, quirky and cosy with everything you need in it. Helen and Alun were great, really helpful and knowledgeable about the local and not so local area. Little hairy guest also loved her stay. WIll certainly look to come back sometime.

I had a lovely stay at Poaches Rest, the cottage is beautiful and very well equipped and extremely spacious for two people.

I would 100% come back!

Very pleasant , thanks for the biscuits

AVOID AVOID AVOID this cottage, it’s damp and smelly, if you have any sort of chest problems ie asthma then it’s not for you as in the living you can taste the damp and will affect your chest (breathing) and make you cough.

There are steep steps that you are not warned about and trip hazards. Far too much old furniture. Two six person dining tables in a two person cottage! Tiny fridge, hazardous plug in electric hob next to sink and on top of microwave. This cottage is the worst we have stayed in. Dirty carpets downstairs. It was so bad we had to leave early as it affected asthma. Don’t waste you money on this awful place.

Extremely comfortable lodge with lots of space .

well equipped kitchen stunning views and easy reach for walks, close to amenities would definitely stay again

Another return visit to Poachers Rest and it did not disapoint.

A warm welcome and comfortable stay.with the Peak District on the doorstep

It's an incredibly well stocked cottage and there was wine and cookies on arrival.

The location is perfect for dog owners with walks straight from the door. The layout of the cottage is quirky which we really liked. Only the lounge is a little dark - there are patio doors that can be opened but we didn't like to use them because of our dogs. I would certainly go there again.

Helen the owner, was lovely and the property was nice and spacious.

It was good having a field next to the property to walk our dogs. Would definitely go back there.

Gorgeous place to rent for a holiday in the Peak District.

Great location to get to anywhere interesting. Plus very near a decent size town called Matlock and walkable to a village with useful shops. The home is FULLY stocked. Welcome wine and biscuits. Huge bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room. Sky TV, games, books, every kitchen implement possible. Simply everything you would need if you lived there 24/7. Lovely patio and views from house. Owner is very welcoming and professional. Big parking area. Great value all round.

We really enjoyed our stay at Poachers Rest and the location was perfect.

Our only negative was that it needs a little updating carpets in the kitchen and bathroom areas really need changing for easier maintenance flooring. The master bedroom was so roomy and comfortable and the door out in to the outside space is amazing especially as the sun goes down. The property was very quirky and we loved that! Easy fixes can change our negatives but wanted to stress it didn’t ruin our stay as so many other positive things to note.

Had a very enjoyable stay.

Comfy, cosy cottage, but for us, a bit over-furnished. In a two person cottage there really is no need for a six seater dining table in the lounge, as well as a large dining table in the dining room. The kitchen area was very cramped, with hardly any room to prepare food, cook, was up etc. Lovely large bedroom which would be greatly improved with a king sized bed. Helen and her husband were very friendly and approachable, and the dog was very friendly also. The complimentary wine and biscuits was a nice touch. Overall, a very good week away, in lovely surroundings.

A good base for exploring the area.

Short walk to the bus stop and a number of walks from the property. The bedroom was lovely and bright with a particularly comfortable chair for sitting reading; a little side table would have been useful, perhaps another similar chair for couples. The weather wasn’t quite warm enough to utilise the the patio but it looked good. I did very little cooking but the kitchen appeared to have everything you would need, although the fridge is quite small. The property has everything one might expect for a comfortable stay and the owners were unobtrusive but helpful. Being able to control the heating was useful as I found I was too warm. The sitting room had an extensive range of books and DVDs so something for bad weather if required. The bottle of wine was appreciated. The information mentions road noise which I did not find to be a problem at all. A smaller table with fewer chairs in the kitchen would be an advantage but that’s not a criticism just a preference.

Lovely stay at Poachers Rest.

Very clean, everything to hand, loads of books & DVDs to chill out with in the evening. Very close to Bakewell & Matlock - went to local attractions & enjoyed thoroughly. Would stay again. Hellen on hand if needed any help. Thank you.

Home from home highly rated

Great property and in a great location for the peak district.

Home from home.

Spacious and modern accommodation in an ideal location for walking from the door.

Very well equipped with a huge stock of books, including local walking guides. The adjacent paddock was handy for taking the dog out, and big enough to throw balls for him when we were rained off. It was all decorated for Christmas while we stayed, which was a nice touch.

Amazing place, great local area.

Clean and roomy Fantastic weekend away will definitely be back

The questionare covered everything.

Excellent cottage, very well equipped in an excellent location for lots of walks and close to Rowsley with pubs restaurants and shopping centre.

The hosts were extremely helpful with local knowledge. Would recommend and will certainly go back.

We had a fabulous weeks holiday at Poachers rest.

The cottage is in a perfect location for exploring the Peak District. There are plenty of walks from the cottage without having to drive anywhere. We walked to Chatsworth House and had a brilliant day there at the Chatsworth Show. We also walked into Matlock but cheated coming home as we caught the steam train back to Rowsley. The cottage has everything that you will need for your holiday even had the bonus of a dryer which we weren’t expecting. We would definitely stay there again.

a warm welcome to a comfortable and spacious property.

ideal to explore the Peak district.

Property is very clean and comfortable.

Quirky position of the fridge is the only reason for not giving top score for facilities. Plenty of attractions nearby and easy to access. Despite being on a main road traffic noise was not a problem. We would happily book this property again.

Very nice cottage , Everthing is at hand, A larger fridge would have being nice, I realise space is tight !

A little more ventilation in the kitchen era would benefit also. Overall, enjoyed the break, AGOOD location ,Nice cottage!

Property itself is set in a good location for exploring the local area.

There is a dog friendly pub a short walk away which is perfect for an evening meal or drinks. The property itself isn’t perfect for dog owners - fully carpeted which proved an issue with dogs after a walk and the lack of secure or private area isn’t ideal. As other reviewers have mentioned…The living room is musty and this is very overpowering upon arrival. The owners have tried to sort with a dehumidifier but this had little impact on the smell meaning that’s it’s not an enjoyable place to sit.

Lovely comfortable cottage.

Sitting room strangely large for two guests. A simple sheep wire fence would secure the paddock from the road for pet owners. Very well located property. Very friendly welcoming owners.

Helen & Dave were lovely hosts.

Nice welcoming personal touches in the cottage,which was spotless and very well equipped. Lovely location too. It would have been ideal to have an enclosed area at the rear so we could let the dog out off the lead but all in all, one of the nicest cottages we've stayed in. We would definitely recommend.

Really need a bigger fridge and freezer Too much furniture- don’t need 2 dining tables

Warm comfortable accommodation close to Rowsley and the White Peak area.

Good walks in and around the village including a three mile hike into Chatsworth estate.

Lovely cottage, as everything you could needfor your dog and humans.

Lovely location, nice safe walks both ways out of cottage with out climbing hills. Just two things that need doing. No outside light working and banister to bedroom keeps falling out. Would love to visit ago

Only downfall they need to put a curtain across the door in the bedroom that leads onto the lovely terrace, a lot of light comes through it.

A lovely cottage with a nice outdoor area and everything you need inside

It was a really good base to explore.

Facilities were excellent and everything was covered. Perfect location for a break.

Lots of steps /stairs We are fit but visitors should be made aware As dog friendly it needs to be stated that there are no secure outside areas and dogs could run straight onto Main A 6 road quite easily

Would book again.

Nice un expected welcome presents also.

Excellent location, great views.

Friendly hosts. A lovely place to stay.

Well situated for walking the cottage was fantastic would go back anytime

This is a lovely and a little unique villa in a fantastic position between Bakewell and Matlock.

Lovely views and a very warm welcome.

Lovely place to stay.

All I can say is that the people who have provided negative feedback or comments have completely exaggerated the smallest of details... The owners were very welcoming and very helpful. I contacted them several times in the lead up to our stay and they always got back to me promptly.

ideal location for exploring the derbyshire dales

Having read some of the negative reviews before going away, we were a bit apprehensive about the prroperty.

We should not have worried as the place was lovely. Very clean, spacious and warm. The owners were very friendly even going to the trouble of leaving us an Xmas gift from chatsworth house. The noise from the road wasn't an issue. The fact that we had a field in which to walk the dogs was excellent. The only recommendation I would say is to have a smart TV in the kitchen, as there is no WiFi in the lower room with the TV and so I was having to carry the TV upstairs in order for us to watch decent TV. This is a miniscule grie and I realise many people go away simply to get away from their everyday creature comforts. Other than that though, top marks

The house was ok but had obviously been empty for a while, as it was musty and most cupboards smelt bad when opened.

TV remotes didn't work and TV was very old, to watch anything on DVD you needed to swap cables around. WiFi was awful and nothing in TV room, a simple power line would solve this but signal only worked upstairs and kitchen sometimes. Although dog tolerant it wasn't dog friendly. Not allowed upstairs, yet only place to clean dogs after a walk! and no way to let them out for their needs, without taking on lead, up slippery stone steps. Dog mess all over lawn yet required to pick up after ours. Suit a couple looking to chill but not for dogs. Wouldn't go back.

Very comfortable cottage,well equipped ,very spacious.

Excellent home from home

Very nice unexpected welcome bottle of wine a box of luxury biscuits.

Extremely well equipped cottage and nice and warm. Great location for visiting NT houses in the area.Everything the brochure said and more. Highly recommend.

great welcome .

ideal for many walks and attractions in the derwent valley

We were happy with the property in most aspects, however, had we been aware of the proximity of the property to the A6 we would not have chosen this property.

The traffic noise through the nights of Friday and Saturday was excessive and unfortunately, I am a light sleeper so this did not suit me at all. Apart from that, the location is very good for getting around the Peak District. I feel that the picture of the property in your brochure gives no clue to the close proximity of the A6

over all good spacious lovely bedroom and very comfy bed!

! very roomy ensunite(could have done with a proper shower over bath),Kitchen/diner good size but no space in cupboards for food items brought with us.and the fridge should have been in the kichen so as to make it more conveniant. Lounge very spacious but but damp cold and dark due to very little natural light and the fact that it is partly undergound ,which would explain why their was a dehumidifier in it .and finally the Wifi was very poor espcially in the lounge mabye a TP link could improve it. On the up side it was in a very good location

Well equipped, clean, comfortable cottage.

Friendly helpful owner next door. Good location for walking and many attractions. A fairly good pub a short walk away.

The weather was not very good so it was great to have such a cosy and comfortable cottage to go back to.

Due to the weather we probably spent more time in the cottage than normal and this cottage was equipped with plenty to keep us occupied.

There are several issues with this property that I would like to point out to you 1.

The property is advertised as having a King sized bed This is not the case The bed was a double bed I would not have booked if this had been the case 2. The property is advertised as having a toilet with sink This is not the case The separate toilet does not have a sink ! This means you have to either wash your hands at the kitchen sink ( not at all hygienic if someone is preparing food as the kitchen sink is next to the cooker / hob ) or climb the 2 small flights of stairs to the bathroom. This meant that we had to use the ensuite bathroom at all times An older person or couple with a young child would find this very inconvenient. 3 The lounge is down a small flight of stairs ( more than a few steps) which are uneven The first step is deeper and takes you unawares There is no warning of this. 4 In the lounge is a dehumidifier which was on. There is a notice on this saying to leave on at all times and for the customer to empty when full. There are several issues this raises a/ should a customer be asked to do this It is an electrical item and also to empty involves carrying up steps from lounge to kitchen sink . b/ It was noisy yet this is the room with the television is / room supposed to be for leisure / reading etc. Not conducive to relaxing on a holiday. c/ Is there an ongoing damp issue in the property ? More general observations. The lounge in general is dark with only a set of glass doors with frosted glass which let little light in so we did not want to use it expect in later evening We had a problem with the heating as it came on at night but not at the times as specified by the owner i.e evening and morning. We did need to go and ask the owner on the first night She put the heating on continuous but that meant the first night the bedroom was like a sauna. By the next morning it was off again. The second evening we didn't want to ask again so it was just colder in the lounge so we wore extra jumpers but then it came on at 10pm so again another hot night in the double ( not king sized ) bed. On the plus side the property is in a really nice location and having dogs the use of the paddock was a real bonus Although next to the road we didn't hear traffic once inside the property . The cottage is well furnished. Sadly overall though we would not visit again as the minus points out weighed the pluses.

A lovely spacious, centrally located cottage which was very warm and cosy.

Would have been even more perfect with a totally fenced off area (side or rear of cottage) for the dogs, as the property is on a very busy road.

Really nicely situated holiday home, on an easy access busy road (quiet at night), appears to of been a granny annexe or something once but owners really pleasant and you don't feel on top of each other as separate building.

Well stocked, homely feel to the cottage and a lot more space than we expected with beautiful rear views. Wifi a bit hit and miss and probably worth noting that theres no shower. Which was fine for us as did have a showerhead in the bath. Overall lovely stay and recommend a visit.

Very clean and comfortable and about a 10 minute stroll from the bus stops.

We had a lovely time at Poacher's Rest, everything was as expected (indeed the cottage was bigger than the photos suggest) and it was perfect for us all, including the doggies.

The Poachers Rest was a very comfortable and relaxing holiday.

The owners were their when we arrived and showed us around. It was so central to everything, Matlock, Bakewell, Chatsworth House. We have family close by and did some exploring with them. Such a beautiful part of the country away from the rat race of busy cities.

The accommodation is in a good situation ‘however one kitchen cupboard had a very strong smell of damp the lounge area had an overpowering odour which impacted on our holiday enjoyment .

A humidifier was operational at all times with a note for us to empty an extractor fan was covered the lounge door had to be closed as the odour would travel to the kitchen area at times we were unable to use the lounge and sat at the kitchen table all evening .We purchased a scented candle to try to reduce the odour this however made no difference .I could not use air fresher due to Asthama The bath had shower attachment but this was impractical to stand and shower due to the angle of the ceiling The day before the departure the owner asked how our week was I did explain we had issues with the odour and she confirmed it had not been mentioned previously but this was highlighted in a previous review May 2017 and prior to booking we thought actions would have been taken .This It what we expected prior to purchasing our holiday and we really did not look forward to returning to the cottage at the end of a day of walking and visit tourist attractions as you could not relax in the lounge area the alternative sitting in the kitchen or bedroom area to have internet access as this was not present in the Lounge.

Everything was just brilliant

Absolutely fantastic week.

Cottage was stunning. Lots to do in local area.

Everything written in your information was correct, however there were a few things that meant we did not get the best from our holiday: 1) We found the double bed far to soft which meant my wife had chronic back ache for most of the holiday 2) The lounge, with no windows (there are frosted french doors) was always dark and the settees were not that comfortable 3) As I have walking difficulties, the differing depths of steps on the stairs was difficult.

I accept that the our issues may not be a problem to others but I know you work to the highest standards, so I felt it best to report our views Trevor Walton

Great location cottage as roughly half way between Matlock and Bakewell.

On the main A6 on a fifty mile stretch so need to take care exiting the property.

Perfect cottage even tho it's on main A6 road.

Beautiful scenery & not far to travel to all surrounding towns/villages. Would recommend.

Beautiful cottage in a beautiful setting.

Central to lots of places to explore. Owners were very nice and helpful

Our stay was lovely, thanks very much!

We had a wonderful stay at this little cottage.

When we arrived Helen had gone the extra mile as she had put up a Christmas tree and decorated the cottage for Christmas. There were lovely flowers on the kitchen table. I hoped it would be special and it certainly was. We will certainly go back. Thank you again Helen and all at Sykes for making this time special.

Stunning cottage.

Spacious, clean and well equipped.Central location. Straight onto A6 so at peak times you hear the traffic but it certainly didn't spoil our holiday at all. Owners were friendly and welcoming. Would recommend it. We will be back!

The cottage was spacious and very nicely furnished.

The location, though on a main road is perfect for accessing excellent walks and tourist attractions.

Would be good to have handrails on the stairs.

...otherwise really nice comfortable cottage and the dog liked it.

The standard of the accommodation and cleanliness was very good.

The location was great for visiting the dales and peak District. The only drawback was the proximity to the A6 .

The cottage was much bigger than expected.

It was lovely and clean and warm. So pleased there was a washer and detergent as we ended up on some muddy walks... A big thank you to the owners for letting us bring our 2 dogs. We will certainly book again

We had a lovely break, the cottage and the location were perfect for us.

We would definitely recommend!