Dove Cottage

4.6★

8 Guests
4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Pets No
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Features

Off road parking
Ground floor accommodation
Ground floor bedroom
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

24 Customer Review(s)

Peter
May 2024

“An amazing house in a stunning location, with fantastic views over the Dart.”

High quality fixtures, fittings and furniture throughout, lovely bathrooms and quality beds and bedding. Our group of three couples have been going away together for some time and this is the best house we have rented to date, we had a great week there. And, as golfers, there are some great golf courses nearby.

High quality fixtures, fittings and furniture throughout, lovely bathrooms and quality beds and bedding. Our group of three couples have been going away together for some time and this is the best house we have rented to date, we had a great week there. And, as golfers, there are some great golf courses nearby.

- Peter, May 2024
Robin May 2024

“We worked out that this was our 9th visit and we are booked in for our 10th in October - I think that’s all we need to say!”

- Robin, May 2024
M October 2023

“Having stayed at the property many times before, I was exceedingly disappointed with my stay this year.”

Mostly I was disappointed the response from Sykes - so much so that I will not book with them again for any property. Arrived to find no hot water, heating, nor a fully working AGA. The former I remedied easily enough but the AGA was below temperature all week so we couldn't cook (I have the same AGA at home so I know how to work them). Electrical problems all week, portable ovens fused all electrics in the cottage - resulting in no wifi, tv, radio, fridge, lights etc, so no hot food all week. Whilst the owner kindly offered to buy another portable oven there seemed little point since any attempt to use electrical sockets fused all else in the property. Sykes emailed after five days implying I had refused 'offers of help' and 'what would I be satisfied with' (the offer of help declined was another portable oven - see above it wouldn't solve anything and I was actually saving the owner money!). Utterly shocking response considering I had spent several evenings sorting fuse boxes, had lived off cold suppers for most of the week (FBI doesn't open Monday or Tuesdays) sat in dark most evenings and was general expected to sort out the electrics myself. By Thursday the ceiling/down lights in the kitchen had fused (and couldn't be resolved via the fuse box) but I didn't bother notifying Skyes (little point) and we just sat in the dark. If I used hair straighteners the lamps flickered. Came back most days to find electricity box fused and thus all appliances off (not a huge problem but food did go off). Whilst I accept an AGA person wasn't available for a week an electrician should have been sent round. The response from Sykes was shockingly rude - particularly given the cost of the property - absolutely zero help. I will happily upload the email from them if required. It is a lovely property, location etc but I would not recommend booking via Skyes. Very disappointing indeed.

- M, October 2023

Thank you for the feedback from your stay at Dove Cottage. I know from our conversation that you previously enjoyed a number of great holidays at Dove Cottage and I’m so sorry that hasn’t been the case on this occasion. On your arrival, you informed Sykes of two issues 1.The hot water and central heating weren’t working...and 2. the Aga oven temperature gauge indicated the oven was below optimal temperature. Sykes contacted me and I immediately phoned you to help get everything up and running. The first issue was easily rectified when I referred you to the instructions on how to turn the hot water and heating controller to On. The Aga proved to be more problematic and a technician was not available. I explained to you that the combined use of the Aga hot plates (which were working perfectly) with extended time in the oven (operating at 170C), would enable you to use the Aga for most cooking requirements. A combo microwave and 2 ‘back-up’ portable ovens were also available. As I recall you didn’t use the microwave and unfortunately the first portable oven you tried hadn’t been used for quite some time and turned out to have an electrical fault which caused the electrics to trip. I helped you to quickly reset the electrical supply and you then informed me that the other portable oven was also shorting the circuits. The electrics have subsequently been checked throughout the house and there’s no fault with either the general circuits or any of the other electrical appliances, including the other portable oven which is in full working condition. Throughout this, I tried to provide solutions to ensure you had an enjoyable holiday and I’m sorry that didn’t meet your expectations. Property Owner
Helena August 2022

“Beautiful home - tastefully decorated, with very comfortable furnishings.”

The kitchen was well equipped and I enjoyed cooking in there and making use of the Aga, as it was on permanently and gave me the excuse to slow cook dishes on our lazy day at the property. Having the Aga on did get a little warm on our hot week, but opening those beautiful patio doors helped with that. The generous welcome goodies were much appreciated. The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars is that we hadn’t appreciated just how difficult accessibility would be (our fault - there were some warnings in the literature and the reviews). We were prepared for the difficulty passing on narrow lanes leading to the property, but not for just how steep the hills are from the property - seemingly on every route you took from the house. We enjoyed the challenge running up and down them and had a great week, but I was glad my parents hadn’t come (they had to cancel last minute), as they would not have been able to leave the house on foot, because they wouldn’t have coped with the gradient. I don’t remember reading anything about that when we booked it. The drive was also a bit of a surprise … we wished we had brought our smaller car, to negotiate the tight turn on the steep hill. Definitely not fun in a large car. Having said that, I can’t leave the review on a negative… if you have a smallish car and are fit and able to cope with steep walks, this property is just idyllic. The views are sublime - some of the best anywhere we’ve stayed in the world and even better in life than on the photos. The house is beautiful, had everything we needed and was very comfortable. Thank you to the owners for a brilliant week.

- Helena, August 2022
Terry July 2022

“A lovely property with exceptional views.”

The garden was a real extra bonus and it was wonderful to have as an outside space. Dove Cottage was clean, the beds were very comfortable and the kitchen was fully equipped - we even enjoyed the cutlery drawer hunt ! We will be booking again. Thank you

- Terry, July 2022
Ann May 2022

“Beautiful cottage.”

Plenty of room for family. Lovely deck from which you can really enjoy the view over the river. Garden very steep,but this was explained in description of property. Last 2 1/2 miles to cottage very narrow lane with passing places, but not too busy. Overall very enjoyable stay with housekeeper very helpful when contacted.

- Ann, May 2022
Louise April 2022

“Lovely house, very beautiful terrace with stunning view, clean and well maintained.”

Love Dittisham, good location & pub in village. Aga is tricky if you’re not used to it but we managed most things - don’t attempt stir fry! Would have liked some logs & matches for log burner just to get us started. Management company helpful & responsive.

- Louise, April 2022
Kevin February 2022

“Unfortunately the bedrooms in our opinion had not been cleaned just the bedding and towels changed it was very grubby the hoover was not working because it was overflowing full ,the roasting trays have seen better days and so has the breadboards ,the patio doors are very hard to lock ,the top slab as you come from the car park is loose and dangerous,on the plus side it is a beautiful house ,furnished very well and beautiful maintained gardens and stunning views .”

It’s a shame a few simple things let it down .I did send a email with a pic of hoover because I’ve never seen anything as bad before

- Kevin, February 2022

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear you reported such issues. The owner is going down to the property to discuss these matters with the property management company. - The Helpful Holidays Team. Property Owner
Garry December 2021

“The house is beautiful and was the perfect retreat for us.”

We were a little disappointed at first as despite the pictures of the property all outside furniture had been stored for winter. This was resolved by a wonderful and delightful Morgan after a simple call. Will definitely stay again.

- Garry, December 2021
Caroline July 2021

“The property itself was exactly how it was advertised by you.”

It suited our family break having 3 double bedrooms with ensuite, plus another room with twin beds. I did not expect to go into the kitchen and have to wipe all the cabinets doors, as they were sticky and dirty. The freezer compartment had bits of food particles in it. There was also a cup of used cooking oil on the side! Some of the glassware also needed rewashing. Dead flies/insect between windows and shutters. Smeary mirrors and glass bannisters. Muddy shelving in utility. Bits and dust under cabinets.

- Caroline, July 2021

Thank you for your feedback. We have notified and discussed your comments with the owner and the cleanliness issues you mention have been rectified. We hope this did not impact upon your stay too much. Property Owner
Steven May 2021

“Amazing views and really well equipped.”

The one warning I would give is that the roads in the village are very narrow and not for the faint hearted.

- Steven, May 2021
Clare October 2020

“Dove Cottage is a stylish and very comfortable house with a fantastic view, in a lovely setting.”

It was well supplied with everything we needed; the beds were exceedingly comfortable with high quality linen and towels. We really enjoyed our stay and would certainly return there. It's worth noting that the electric Aga is the traditional kind, with fixed temperature hotplates (delightful as a source of warmth).

- Clare, October 2020
Mick August 2020

“We were really impressed with the cleanliness of the house, particularly in these difficult times.”

We had thought we would have to provide everything ourselves this year, but there were tea towels, toilet rolls, toiletries, dishwasher tablets, detergent tablets, salt and pepper, tea and coffee and sugar. The house was lovely, modern and comfortable, especially the beds. The best thing, though, was the view over the River Dart. It was beautiful. We all took many photos especially of sunrise! Beware - to walk anyway, you must negotiate very steep roads. To return from the jetty was especially difficult, though we did find a longer but slightly less steep route on a dirt track. The Anchorstone Café was lovely. Delicious fish dishes cooked beautifully and washed down with wine made the walk back up the to the house slightly less daunting. You must book a table in advance. Other fun activities included Stand Up Paddle Boarding from Dittisham jetty, visiting Greenway across the river, swimming at Blackpool Sands, a day at Sharpham Vineyard and Cheese tasting wine and cheese, exploring the estate and eating the best meal we had all week, and 2 of us walked to Dartmouth and back: 11 miles in the fog! It was a great week and a very welcome holiday in this strange year.

- Mick, August 2020
Carol August 2020

“The only issue we had was the bins.”

They already had waste in them when we arrived as collection day is a Wednesday, but they were not collected on the Wednesday which left them full to overflowing by the time we left on Saturday. This may well have caused an issue for the next visitors, although it did not impact us too negatively. I rang your office to let them know on Thursday that the bins had not been collected. We were also disappointed that there was not a BBQ even though the cleaning checklist said that the BBQ handles had been cleaned. To be fair, the property was not advertised as having a BBQ, but the owners should consider making one available as the price for the week is considerable. The gardens at this property are simply stunning and I don’t feel you give them enough emphasis in your description. They have been so cleverly landscaped on a steep slope and the winding path down is just beautiful. This despite it being the end of August. Hats off to the gardeners.

- Carol, August 2020
Chris July 2020

“We had a lovely stay at Dove Cottage.”

The view from the terrace is amazing. The cottage is in a good central location for lots of lovely villages and beaches (by car or ferry). Everything we needed was provided in the cottage. We would stay again and recommend to others.

- Chris, July 2020
Anne September 2019

“The quality of the house and the fixtures and fittings.”

The outside deck area and the view of the River Dart. The proximity to The Ferry Boat Inn and the passenger ferry over to Greenway plus other options for river trips.

- Anne, September 2019
Carolyn August 2019

“Dove cottage is set in an ideal location, with superb views over the estuary.”

Ideally located for exploring the area. Large, well equipped property with plenty of room for 2 families. My only negatives would be: pillows in bedrooms felt lumpy and would benefit from replacement. A welcome pack would be a nice touch in a property of this price bracket - we have always received them in other properties.

- Carolyn, August 2019
Roy June 2019

“We reluctantly left Dove Cottage and Dittisham and environs last Saturday after enjoying a very enjoyable stay in the "cottage" with all its amenities and comfort The panorama of that part of the Dart valley, from the deck is one of the most satisfying backdrops for outdoor dining that we have ever experienced (including foreign holidays).”

Dittisham, though small, has the delightful Anchorstone Café and other temptations and Dartmouth is still quite unspoilt. Two small management comments: A ceiling light failed just above the exits to the deck and we could not re-set the distribution box. We did not find out that one of the doors to the deck was unlockable until the end of the week and we apologise that we did not realise that 'bin day was Wednesday.

- Roy, June 2019
Christine May 2019

“Lovely cottage with fantastic views.”

Really comfortable, and had wonderful weather for eating and drinking out on the decking area. However, one small complaint - could more toilet rolls and dishwasher tablets be provided please? There were inadequate supplies of these for 6 people for one week, and we had to our purchase more ourselves.

- Christine, May 2019
Louise April 2019

“Wonderfully equipped comfortable cottage with stunning views, great location for enjoying local walks and exploring further afield.”

Be aware! I hadn’t quite registered that 3 upstairs bedrooms have en-suite facilities but the downstairs twin room only had access to cloakroom which could cause issues for some visitors.

- Louise, April 2019
Judith September 2018

“Lovely well equipped and beautifully furnished house in a gorgeous setting ...”

Lovely well equipped and beautifully furnished house in a gorgeous setting Great place for a family or group of friends

- Judith, September 2018
Mary June 2018

“This was our second annual consecutive stay at Dove Cottage.”

It is well designed and appointed with car parking for up to 3 cars, which is necessary. The cottage would benefit from: serving spoons other than plastic salad servers. more than one hairdryer replacing rotted wood on terrace and oiling all of terrace. the external wood furniture on terrace is showing its age and two chairs need replacing maybe worth considering removing three seater chair on terrace and replacing with a sun lounger The peace and tranquility is great, this year we also had super weather

- Mary, June 2018
Barbara May 2018

“We had a fantastic holiday and enjoyed exploring the area from this gorgeous location.”

The views from the veranda were spectacular and we loved waking up to them!

- Barbara, May 2018
Simon May 2018

“We had a very good holiday in a lovely property.”

However when we arrived at the property the keys had been left in a key safe. Unfortunately the code appears to have been changed and the number you provided for the key safe was incorrect. It was lucky that we arrived at the property at a time when we were able to contact Pure Management who provided us with the correct code.

- Simon, May 2018

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Summary

Four bedrooms
On the ground floor: 1 x twin
WC with basin
On the first floor: 1 x king size double with en suite shower room with shower, WC and basin, 1 x king size double with en suite bathroom with bath, shower over, WC and basin, 1 x super king double with en suite shower room with shower, WC and basin and balcony
Ground floor sitting room with wood burning stove and door to patio
Dining area
Kitchen with door to garden
Central heating with wood burning stove
Electric Aga, microwave, fridge-freezer, freezer, tumble dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, TV with DVD, WiFi, Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Off road parking for three cars
Enclosed garden
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Pub less than 1 mile from property
Note: This property does not accept children under 7, except babes in arms, due to ponds and steepness of the garden

The property

A beautiful contemporary house in an enviable position, high on the edge of Dittisham with outstanding panoramic views of the Dart estuary.

A huge width-of-house patio makes the most of views over the river to the heights beyond: a great spot for alfresco dining, stargazing and sundowners.

From the patio (table/chairs), a steep path with occasional steps winds down through beautifully landscaped garden with garden room (tables/chairs, small kitchenette) and two lily ponds (unfenced).

At the bottom of the garden, a pedestrian gate leads directly to the centre of the village.

Steps (13) down to main entrance from parking area (space for three cars).

Inside, modern comforts and fuss-free lines create an elegant and relaxing house.

The focus of the living area is the floor-to-ceiling windows across the width of the house, allowing ever-changing light through the house and opening to the decked patio.

Contemporary, elegant living room (woodburner, TV/DVD) links to dining area, beyond which is a sleek curving kitchen (dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer, electric Aga - no other cooker) with door to boot room and back door to garden.

From the kitchen, step up to twin bedroom (TV) with door to terrace.

Utility room (washing machine, tumble drier, freezer, sink).

Loo.

Upstairs, three further bedrooms, all with sensational estuary views - a double (5' bed) with en suite shower-room (suite), another double (5' bed) with en suite bathroom (suite, shower over bath), and, up a step, a large double (6' bed, TV) with en suite shower-room (suite) and doors to private balcony and possibly the best view of all.

No children under 7, except pre-crawling babies, due to ponds and steepness of the garden.

Damages Deposit £500.

A beautiful house with a truly spectacular, time-wasting view all year round: a wonderful place for mature families holidaying together. Dittisham: idyllically situated, end-of-lane little village (PO/stores, two pubs, church) beside the beautiful lake-like River Dart.

Jetty (crabbing), pedestrian ferry to Greenway (National Trust, once Agatha Christies), boats for hire, dinghy moorings, sailing school.

Dartmouth (town), 2 miles (ferry); Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, 3¼ miles.

Coarse sand beach (river), 1 mile; beach (sea) at Blackpool Sands (The Venus Café, Restaurant, Takeaway and Watersports), 6.

Floorplans

1st FloorGround Floor

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £500.

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About the location

DITTISHAM

Dartmouth 3.5 miles; Totnes 7 miles.

Dittisham is a picturesque village surrounded by rolling countryside, located on the banks of the River Dart in the South Hams. Wander along the quiet streets lined with quaint, stone cottages and lush gardens, until you reach the waterfront. Dittisham’s quayside is often regarded as the hub of village activity. Stop at the Anchorstone Café for a spot of lunch while taking in the fantastic river views. Try your hand at some crabbing with the kids on the dinghy pontoon. Visit the iconic pink Ferry Boat Inn (or FBI as it is known locally). Ring the bell for the ferry and head across the Dart to Greenway, the once holiday home of the renowned Agatha
Christie. For outdoor activities, there are sailing schools and boat hire also paddle board and canoe hire, as well as plenty of
scenic walks. The harbour town of Dartmouth is just a short drive away or ferry away, and offers an array of shops, a cinema, plenty of restaurants and even a castle. Further afield, you will find plenty of fantastic beaches such as Blackpool and Slapton Sands, as well as key destinations such as Salcombe, Totnes, and Brixham to explore.

Note: This property does not accept children under 7, except babes in arms, due to ponds and steepness of the garden.

Note: The charging of electric vehicles from the house electricity supply is prohibited at this property.

Dove Cottage

Dittisham, Devon (Ref. 976216)

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Reviews & Ratings

“An amazing house in a stunning location, with fantastic views over the Dart.”

“We worked out that this was our 9th visit and we are booked in for our 10th in October - I think that’s all we need to say!”

“Having stayed at the property many times before, I was exceedingly disappointed with my stay this year.”

“Beautiful home - tastefully decorated, with very comfortable furnishings.”

“A lovely property with exceptional views.”

“Beautiful cottage.”

“Lovely house, very beautiful terrace with stunning view, clean and well maintained.”

“The house is beautiful and was the perfect retreat for us.”

“The property itself was exactly how it was advertised by you.”

“Amazing views and really well equipped.”

“Dove Cottage is a stylish and very comfortable house with a fantastic view, in a lovely setting.”

“We were really impressed with the cleanliness of the house, particularly in these difficult times.”

“The only issue we had was the bins.”

“We had a lovely stay at Dove Cottage.”

“The quality of the house and the fixtures and fittings.”

“Dove cottage is set in an ideal location, with superb views over the estuary.”

“Lovely cottage with fantastic views.”

“Wonderfully equipped comfortable cottage with stunning views, great location for enjoying local walks and exploring further afield.”

“Lovely well equipped and beautifully furnished house in a gorgeous setting ...”

“This was our second annual consecutive stay at Dove Cottage.”