“Pretty appalling.”
This cottage is only suitable if you are under 5ft 5in. Nowhere on the Sykes website does it mention restricted headroom. In my case, at 6ft 6in, it made for an extremely uncomfortable and painful stay (my multiple head bumps testify).
The upstairs is barely usable due to the doorways being so low. The bathroom upstairs also has restricted, sloping headroom, so the only place to sleep was downstairs in a damp bedroom with a dehumidifier running 24/7, removing about a litre a day (I know, as I emptied it four times).
The place is also completely cluttered, as if it is used as a home rather than a holiday let, so there aren’t many places for your belongings. In addition, the WiFi went off twice, and I was working while away.
Altogether, one of the worst places we have stayed.
Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that the cottage was not suitable for your stay and that you found it uncomfortable.
The property description was fully rewritten a few months ago, and unfortunately the details regarding the restricted head height and low doorways were somehow missed by both the agents and ourselves. We completely appreciate that, at 6ft 6in, this would have made your stay particularly difficult, and we sincerely apologise for that oversight.
Regarding the WiFi interruptions, this was due to a BT service issue in the area and was resolved as quickly as possible once reported.
As for the damp and dehumidifier, the cottage is over 400 years old and built from traditional cob, which naturally requires ongoing ventilation and moisture management, particularly during wetter periods. During your stay we did offer to send staff to carry out a deep clean and inspection, which you kindly declined at the time. Since then, guests who have stayed at the cottage have not reported any issues with damp.
We also appreciate your comments regarding storage and the cottage feeling more like a lived-in home. Many guests enjoy its character and traditional feel, though we understand this style is not for everyone.
Following your feedback, all future guests are now being clearly informed about the low ceilings and restricted headroom before booking, so they can decide whether the cottage is suitable for them.
We are genuinely sorry the cottage did not meet your expectations and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
Property Owner