St Margaret's Steps

Rating
Sleeps 8
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Pets Yes
View on map

Features

Ground floor bedroom
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities

* Based on a combined average customer score over the last 3 months

7 Customer Review(s)

“Beautiful apartment which felt very much home from home and suited our needs perfectly.”

We weren’t sure what to expect with the strict COVID-19 policies in place as we’d been made aware some high touch items at properties might have been removed. We were pleasantly surprised to find cushions and ornaments still in place. The apartment is very well equipped and very light with the double aspect windows. There were only 2 of us so plenty of room. Steep slight spiral stairs to the upper bedrooms need care and the property has steep stairs up to the apartment so not suitable ...

We weren’t sure what to expect with the strict COVID-19 policies in place as we’d been made aware some high touch items at properties might have been removed. We were pleasantly surprised to find cushions and ornaments still in place. The apartment is very well equipped and very light with the double aspect windows. There were only 2 of us so plenty of room. Steep slight spiral stairs to the upper bedrooms need care and the property has steep stairs up to the apartment so not suitable for the less mobile. The apartment had mainly been cleaned to a good standard although cooker hood was dusty and a tennis ball/fluff was hiding under the sofa in the kitchen when we moved it to make space to do our online yoga class. This is an old property with lots of nooks and crannies and I suspect pulling everything out to dust/hoover is a challenge. All the work surfaces, sinks, showers, toilets were spotless. The Smart tv in the lounge didn’t have an aerial cable so you can only watch the iPlayer not terrestrial. To get any other channels you needed to sign into your own account ie ITV hub, all 4 etc. Not a problem for us but could be for older people without email accounts. You need to remember to sign yourself out again before leaving particularly if you have Netflix or other pay accounts. We did find the tv buffered quite a bit so watching programmes became annoying. A couple of maintenance things we thought could do with checking are slow draining sinks in the upstairs bathroom, grouting missing along tiled shower seat which could lead to water seepage into the ceiling below and one of the inner shower door handles comes off. We found the bins full on arrival but reported this to the cleaning company and they arranged an immediate collection the following day. It’s good to have outdoor space and although we didn’t use it, there is a small garden patio area with table and chairs. We’d definitely stay at St Margaret’s Steps again, location is very good and at the time we arrived and departed, parking to load and download wasn’t a problem. We had thought we were making our booking with HomeAway as we found it on their site having stayed in a few of their properties before. It was therefore confusing to then receive a confirmation from HomeAway and then payment details from Sykes Cottages.

- Mrs Francks, September 2020
“We enjoyed our week but found the fridge too small for 6.”

A few hooks on 3 of the bedrooms would be useful just to hang up a dress etc. Under normal situations the house was clean enough but during COVID I think more could have been done particularly as there was extra cleaning time allowed, our dog found a drinks bottle under the kitchen sofa along with some rubbish, dirty kitchen window and ledges in the bathroom were dusty

- Mrs Bowcott, August 2020

We are glad that you enjoyed your week but sorry that your experience wasn’t perfect. The fridge in the kitchen is standard size but there is also an extra one just outside the kitchen, under the boiler. Thank you for your suggestion re hooks on the back of bedroom doors: I have asked our housekeeper to look into putting some up. I am very sorry about the state of cleanliness: we pay a high housekeeping cost and so expect it to be perfect for our guests. I have also addressed this with our housekeeper and hope the problem will not reoccur (please note that I did not see your review prior to the next guests’ arrival). Owner relations
“None of the booking information I gave on booking.”

Com was passed onto the property. Ridiculous check in and check out times when we are expected to strip our own beds into bin bags and be out the property by 9am?! Not very clean, lots of hairs on the floor, very dusty bathrooms and there were breadcrumbs all over the work surfaces when we arrived. Also empty sweet wrappers down the sides of sofa. Bins were full or full of water so we couldn’t take out rubbish. One of our party had a terrible reaction to whatever was used to clean the bedding and came out in full body rash! One of the single beds upstairs was wet on the day we arrived so one of our party spent the first night sleeping on the sofa. There were dirty sheets being stored under the bed in the master bedroom. Just a general feeling of poor thought towards staying guests in this property, for example every single room diffuser was empty, no hanging space in 2 of the bedrooms. We were really disappointed.

- Ms Whitehouse, August 2020

I am so dreadfully sorry about all of this. Our housekeeper normally prides herself on the spotlessness of the property (most of our other reviews in fact comment on this). I’m afraid I did not see the previous guest’s review until now (was on holiday), otherwise I would have addressed this with her before and, I hope, this would not have occurred. We use a private rubbish collection service and have had some problems with it recently. Our housekeeper is buying additional bins to resolve this issue. The bed stripping request is, I’m afraid, a Covid precaution for the cleaners and is part of the Sykes/Helpful Holiday Covid-safe guidelines to all properties. Also part of additional Covid precautions implemented by our housekeeper, the mattresses are all sprayed with (use-appropriate) disinfectant between guests. I am very sorry if this caused one of your party to have problems and will be keeping a close eye on this going forward. The washing powder used is non-biological, with an eye to sensitive skin. The later check in and earlier check out times are unfortunately a necessity during Covid times, to ensure sufficient time is left between guests to clean properly (you will perhaps find this ironic, given the state you found the property in, but that is the reason) Owner relations
“A clean, tidy and well equipped property which felt more like "home" than a holiday let.”

Garden needed some maintenance - had to cut back the prickly bush going up the steps into the property - that aside, a lovely position in the heart of everything.

- Mrs Dean, July 2020
“This is a fabulous house.”

It is beautifully decorated and presented and it was spotlessly clean. The huge open plan kitchen was perfect for us. It was warm, and all the kitchen equipment you could need was there. The bedrooms and bathrooms were lovely too. We would highly recommend this property. The only negative was we tried contacting the two numbers on the booking confirmation the preceding week and Sykes themselves repeatedly but no one answered and messages left on the two booking confirmation numbers were never responded to. But don't let that put you off, it is a great property with lots of character and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there.

- Mrs Behrens, February 2020

Thank you for taking the time to complete your feedback following your recent stay at St Margaret's Steps. The contact details for the property were updated after you made your initial booking and the new details were sent out 1 week before your arrival, we are so sorry for the mix up but delighted to hear you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to seeing you again. Owner relations
“Great accommodation, beautiful wow kitchen which had everything and more that you could need, beautiful bathroom with fabulous shower.”

The only downside was the very steep staircase up to the property plus the staircase to the master bedroom - again extremely steep. The TV in the lounge was unable to access live TV terrestrial channels as the WIFI signal was poor. Unfortunately and through nobodies fault there were roadworks in the high st and so access to load and unload luggage was problematic, this would not be as much of an issue when work is finished

- Mrs Wood, January 2020

Dear Mrs Wood, we are delighted you enjoyed your stay at St Margaret's Steps and thank you for your feedback. On receipt of your feedback the caretaker has purchased another WiFi booster, which should improve internet speed. The property has the fastest internet possible for the area but unfortunately old wide walls reduce the signal. The TV is a smart one and it does connect to live TV terrestrial channels but there is a specific procedure to follow to access them. The caretaker has printed out instructions and will leave them in the property for future reference. Regarding the external stairs, they are quite steep but without them the property would not benefit simultaneously from the lovely courtyard garden and the views from the apartment. It is now specified in the description that there are 16 steps to the front door. The master bedroom can be accessed via a second set of internal stairs that are less steep than the ones with immediate access. We are sorry about the roadworks but fortunately they have almost finished now and the pavement should be greatly improved. Owner relations
“We stayed in December and the lounge was a little too cold.”

The kitchen dinning living room was really warm and would have been good if we could have watched tv in that room. The steps to the apartment are very steep and would have benefited from mains pir lighting as it is very dark .

- Mr Kearns, December 2019

Thank you very much for taking the time to give us your feedback, we were very pleased at the high scores you gave your experience and we’re glad that overall you had an enjoyable holiday. We mus apologise for the issues you have mentioned: we had problems with our property manager, who was supposed to be dealing with this after the first guest raised the issues. We've since changed managers. The plumber has today fixed a sticking valve on the radiator and re-balanced the system (apparently most heat was going to the bathroom). We sincerely hope that resolves the issue and will be keeping a close eye on it. Our electrician is hoping to install more outside stair lighting tomorrow. Owner relations
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The property

Close to the shops, pubs and restaurants of Topsham, rests a superbly renovated, duplex apartment (which sits on top of a residential flat and a divine natural foods shop), set just a stone's throw from the river and the 10th century church.

St Margaret's Steps is a wonderful base for exploring this picturesque part of Devon.

Welcoming, comfortable and thoroughly stylish the apartment houses everything you and your loved ones could possibly need during your stay.

Unlike the other properties here which are accessed via Fore Street, this apartment is approached via the churchyard, which adds to the secluded feel.

Accessed via external stairs, St Margaret's Step offers lovely views over the churchyard to the estuary and countryside beyond.

To front of the property, you will find a neat, enclosed patio garden with furniture.

You enter into the hallway, off which a stylish living room rests, complete with a Smart TV and river views.

Beyond here, is the spacious and elegant kitchen/diner, where you will find a dishwasher, microwave, fridge, freezer, gas range, washing machine, tumble dryer, with adjoining seating area with a gas stove.

As the evening draws to a close, retire to one of the well-presented bedrooms, comprising of a super king-size with en-suite Jack-and-Jill bathroom, a twin bedroom also sharing the Jack and Jill bathroom, a large landing/study area with twin futon style beds and a ground-floor twin bedroom, designed to ensure a flexible sleeping arrangement.

Convenient for Topsham's shops and restaurants and good cycle paths St Margaret's Steps is ideal for those seeking a little luxury at the end of a busy day exploring this beautiful part of Devon.

Topsham is an old, interesting and attractive small town beside the River Exe estuary, once Exeter's Roman/medieval port.

Whilst here, you will find superb riverside walks, cycling, boat trips, good birdwatching (RSPB reserve), outdoor swimming pool (seasonal), ensuring that a group of all ages and tastes are catered to.

From here, you will find Exmouth within 7 miles, as well as the magnificent city of Exeter within 4 miles.

St Margaret's Steps is a refreshing retreat for a family holiday to this part of Devon.

Summary

Three bedrooms: 1 x super king-size with en-suite Jack-and-Jill bathroom, 1 x twin,1 x ground-floor twin (zip/link, can be king-size on request)
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
Ground-floor cloakroom with basin and WC
Open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting area
Sitting room
Large landing/study with two futon style beds
No Pets Upstairs please.
Gas central heating with gas stove
Gas range and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, Smart TV, Bluetooth speaker, WiFi
Travel cot and highchair
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Parking in public car park 300 yards
Patio with furniture
One well-behaved dog welcome, £35 per week
Sorry, no smoking
Shop and pub 1 minute walk
Note: This property is not suitable for anyone less mobile, has 16 steps
Note: This property has a good housekeeping bond of £150

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £150.

About the location

TOPSHAM

Exeter 4.5 miles; Exmouth 6.5 miles; Newton Abbot 17.2 miles.

The charming town of Topsham is set on the River Exe estuary and has been declared a conservation area due to the wealth of 17th and 18th century merchants' houses, many built in the Dutch style with carved gable ends. Within the town you will be delighted to find a selection of historic pubs and award-winning restaurants including The Galley Fish and Seafood Restaurant, which boasts panoramic views of the Exe Estuary. Foodie lovers will also enjoy the town’s food festival which happens every summer. The town also plays host to a magnitude of independent shops, galleries and the Topsham Museum is an interesting visit. From here, you can catch a train into the city of Exeter where you can explore the city walls which surround the centre and the Gothic Cathedral, or head in the opposite direction and soak up the sun at the seaside resort of Exmouth. Topsham promises a wonderful escape to Devon, where you can have the best of both worlds within a short drive.

Note: This property is not suitable for anyone less mobile.
Note: There are 16 steps from the garden up to the property
Note: This property has a good housekeeping bond of £150

Note: NO PETS ARE TO BE ALLOWED UPSTAIRS, PLEASE KEEP THEM DOWNSTAIRS.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Christmas

St Margaret's Steps

Topsham, Devon (Ref. 1011358)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Beautiful apartment which felt very much home from home and suited our needs perfectly.”

“We enjoyed our week but found the fridge too small for 6.”

“None of the booking information I gave on booking.”

“A clean, tidy and well equipped property which felt more like "home" than a holiday let.”

“This is a fabulous house.”

“Great accommodation, beautiful wow kitchen which had everything and more that you could need, beautiful bathroom with fabulous shower.”

“We stayed in December and the lounge was a little too cold.”

The property

Summary

About the location

TOPSHAM