The Old Stable

Really disappointed and don't understand the high reviews.

As soon as we arrived we was disappointed with cleanliness . There was dirt over carpets,the cushions were like pancakes and had holes and dirt over,opened fridge and dirty seal with crumbs,the doors on showers were really stiff and really dirty along bottom of seals.There was an old rusty shower gel holder in shower,lampshades were stained,as were blinds.The saucepans had loose handles and non stick all peeled away.A couple of knives in knives block were rusty,cobwebs over beams.The bathrooms are really tiny,and layout upstairs quite compact,more a place for 2 than 4.A lovely quiet location,but unfortunately let down by maintenance and cleanliness of property

It was so good to be back at the stable.

We missed a year having stayed there 7 times before. It is so tranquil and relaxing. The accommodation is wonderful with everything you need. The views are enchanting. The birdsong wonderful. Lots of fabulous surrounding places to visit. There are plenty of information leaflets in situ to inspire you. Very dog friendly,and the majority of cafes around are too. There is a little woodland just of the entrance track that is a favorite walk with our dog ,and the track itself is a sniffing exploration itself . This is one of the best holiday destinations.

We had an awesome week.

This was our 9th visit to this property, so we obviously like it! So peaceful, comfortable and well equipped. Such a lovely place to stay that I never want to go home. Preparing to book again for next year.

The cottage was lovely and well equipped.

The owners were helpful when we called prior to arrival. The fresh flowers, milk and cookies was a nice touch. The cottage is smaller than the professional photos suggest but it was fine for our family of 4 and doggo and is no bearing on the owners or the cottage itself. It was nice to have a freezer, washing machine and dishwasher which are not always in holiday accommodation. The cottage is surrounded by countryside and nature and was relaxing. It is super dark at night and the stars are amazing on a clear night. We saw deer and pheasants and cows which were moved into a field close to the cottage which were nice to watch. There were bridleways and walks on the doorstep and it was 15 minutes from the closest beach. We enjoyed Sunday Carvery in the Hare & Hounds which lots of other visitors had recommended and they were super accommodating for our childrens food issues and the dog was also welcomed. We visited Seaton, Otterly St Mary, Lyme Regis and Sidmouth. Watch out for the weird closing times of the shops and cafes. Our biggest highlight was spotting a seal swimming close to the shore at Seaton! Great place to stay and visit and the cottage has lots of return visitors who have written in the visitors book.

Very comfortable cottage with good equipment.

Warm and plenty of hot water. Two en suite bathrooms are very handy. The location is stunning- very quiet except for superb birdsong. Easy to reach the whole coast from Exmouth to Charmouth. Take care on the approach track but worth it. Great walking straight from the cottage.

Very nice spot if u like it quiet afew cattle to look at & wild life all around u .

This property could be called the tardis from the outside it looks really small but once inside it reveals itself to be a really fantastic holiday let.

immaculate in all ways .we have used Sykes cottages several times and this was the best. Thank you

Very clean and comfortable.

The bathrooms were very small, perfect for one adult, but maybe difficult for two adults using the same bathroom. Otherwise very well appointed, and well presented

Lovely cottage in a perfect spot.

Clean and well equipped. Glorious weather so we were very lucky.

We spent a lovely fortnight at the Old Stables.

It is a cleverly converted barn, clean, well equipped and very comfortable. Comfortable beds and good water pressure in the showers! The ensuite bathrooms are very compact, so a bit tricky if you are over six foot, but not a real issue. The location is great, very quiet and yet only 15 mins from the seafront at Sidmouth. Good for safe dog walking from your front door, with lots of footpaths in the area. Just be aware of the livestock as it is part of a dairy farm. We've already rebooked for next year

We are in our 90s and my wife has Parkinson's disease.

One of our daughters came with us with her dog. It was our 1st holiday since the lockdown. We really enjoyed the cottage and its remoteness. Our daughter was frustrated when the broadband stopped working on the Tuesday! We have friends in the area who are e ven older than us and it was great to be able to see them. It was a lovely holiday.

All good, no complaints at all.

Lovely, peaceful location for exploring all the local places of interest.

Well equipped cottage in a lovely area and very quiet.

We had a lovely week.

The location is beautiful and our children loved seeing all the wildlife in the garden and surrounding woods and fields. Well equipped kitchen which suited us as didn't do much dining out in the evening. There are plenty of beaches nearby and some fantastic family attractions. Beds were clean and comfortable and plenty of space to relax.

We had a super week at The Old Stable and would certainly love to return.

It's like a Tardis, much bigger on the inside! The setting is very quiet and peaceful but with plenty to do in the surrounding area. It was ideal being able to walk with our dog straight from the cottage. The upside-down layout means there are lovely views from the first floor French windows. Although the shower rooms & toilet areas are very small, it's very convenient that they are ensuite. Previous reviewers have commented on the lane to the cottage. We found it to be fine and what we might expect; the Old Stable is on a farm! All in all, a very enjoyable and relaxing week. Thank you.

We really enjoyed our stay.

The accommodation is beautifully appointed, very clean and comfortable and there is everything you need for a great stay. The Old Stables is in a very peaceful setting with lovely views over the countryside. The owners were very helpful and the welcome pack and fresh flowers were much appreciated. The track leading to the accommodation would be challenging if you had a car with low ground clearance but as we have an SUV it gave us no problems and was all part of having a peaceful country holiday surrounded by fields and trees. The upside down design of the property is cleaver and the open plan living space upstairs works really well. We really appreciated have a good television and efficient Wi-Fi (so often lacking in holiday accommodation) which made for very relaxing evenings. Sidbury is a nice village, very close, with shop etc and we could easily get to the coast and there is plenty to do and see, even in chilly February. Also a number of places to eat within a reasonable distance (be aware that many close early in winter so we ate out at lunchtime). The only improvement would be to sort out the rather soggy sofa. As there were only 2 of us we could get very comfortable but if there had been 4 of us staying that would not work so well. We had a lovely break at The Old Stables and hope to return. Thank you

Lovely location.

Off the beaten track. Very quiet.

The old stable is like a Tardis!

It has been so well designed and fitted, that despite looking tiny on approach, it is spacious inside. The cottage is so peaceful with walks from the door and lovely countryside and seaside within 10 minutes drive. The 2 en-suites were the final touch of luxury . We would love to come back.

A delightful cottage which is clean, comfortable and very well equipped.

In beautiful but quite remote surroundings. Take a torch if you are going to need to take the dog out at night (the garden isn’t secure) as it is VERY dark and beware of grounding the car on the final right turn on the farm track. If you stay in the “ruts” you will get stuck, you need to drive on the grass at this point.

This is our 7th or 8th stay at The old Stable.

We love the surroundings. Peace and quiet. Our dogs enjoy the walks and the garden. The bird song is amazing and watching the bird of prey just chilling on the garden fence was awesome. Some may find the track to the house a bit daunting due to being bumpy and sometimes rather muddy because of the cows. Just drive steadily and all is fine. The owners are helpful but defiantly not intrusive. Flowers, biscuits and milk always to be found on arrival, although our flowers were overlooked and we were left with the old ones, which I’m sure was an oversight. We left fresh ones ,given to us by friends. The bed and bedding is first class. Always so cosy and soft. Soft towels too that actually dry you! A small en-suite but serviceable . The kitchen is equipped with everything you need with a new oven which was great. The house is an upside down house making use of the wonderful views from the upstairs French windows to the Juliette balcony . We never tire of looking out. My wife finds the stairs very difficult with her arthritis, and also getting out of the shower in a small area, but she is determined to return, hopefully next year when fingers crossed ,there will be a new lounge furniture. Our biggest dislike which hasn’t changed is the sofa. We have mentioned it before. It is so uncomfortable with hard lumps and bumps which spoils our evenings. We even thought of bringing in a garden chair. ! It unfortunately gives us terrible back aches, and on many occasion prompted an early night , when we would have preferred not to. Overall we love staying at the stable. So many places to visit nearby. Unfortunately due to our 16.5 yr old golden cocker who had doggie dementia, we were unable to go anywhere as she suffers great anxiety in the car. {We had to sedate her for the journey to and from } however she appeared to recognise where she was and enjoyed ,along with our younger dog all the outside had to offer which is fabulous. We recommend The old Stable . Lovely walks up the track or in the little woods. Sit in the garden area watching nature ,Alfresco dining.Visit the dairy farm ,and all the local coastal towns which The old Stable is wonderfully situated for.

Outstanding accommodation.

Lovely rural setting. House had everything needed, spacious and clean.

This is a lovely cottage very clean comfortable and well equipped.

It provides a good base for exploration of the surrounding beautiful countryside. We would love to return in the future

A wonderful cottage in a beautiful location in the heart of the Devon countryside,yet only a short drive to the coast and tourist attractions.

The cottage had everything we needed for a comfortable stay and was spotlessly clean,we were a party of 2 but there was ample seating for four people,and plenty of outdoor space for parking which isnt always the case with holiday cottages,wouldnt hesitate to book again.

We had a wonderful holiday at The Old Stable.

We had everything we needed and were very comfortable. The location was very quiet and rural, just as we hoped, yet we were close to the local amenities and the coast. We visited Beer, Seaton (trams), Lyme Regis, Charmouth (fossils), Budleigh Salterton, Haldon Forest Park and the West Somerset Heritage Railway, all within easy reach. Can recommend The Blue Ball Pub/Restaurant.

The perfect get away situated within 15 minutes drive of the coast and most places we wanted to visit.

The old stable was so peaceful and ideal for what we needed, as my wife's elderly parents came with us. We have already booked for next year and are very much looking forward to it.

We spent a lovely week in the old stable.

It was spotlessly clean, well equipped with every home comfort you could wish for and we appreciated the welcome gifts of flowers, milk and biscuits. We had read previous reviews that mentioned that the access road might present problems for cars that were low, but as we had an ordinary car we didn’t think that it would be an issue for us. We expected all the potholes once we drove onto the rough track from the road, but there is one particular section just as the track divides (you go left for access to the old stable and another residence) that really could do with being filled in to make it easier to negotiate the turn - I dreaded the ‘clunk/scrape’ to the bottom of my car every time I drove in or out of this particular section. The old stable is in a beautiful peaceful setting, and within easy reach of all the areas that this area of the country is famous for. We absolutely loved the donkey sanctuary, which is just a few miles away.

This was my 8th stay at this cottage and as always it was wonderful.

Comfy accommodation, wonderful surroundings. My happy place. Thanks again for a lovely stay.

On arrival we found dog hairs on the table and on carpets .

Dirty roasting pans full of fat also when using the Hover it smelt disgusting of dogs

Nice quiet location.

Appreciated milk and mince pies. Very well equipped cottage. Beds extremely comfy. Although the bathrooms and bedrooms were clean, the kitchen and lounge were not. Crumbs left on worktop and sofa. Hob very greasy. Splashes on lounge radiator (coffee? Sauce?) Because of covid I ran some wipes over stair handrail and the wipe-clean tablecloth and both came away dirty.

We really enjoyed our stay, we were very comfortable and the property was well equipped and warm .

The views were great being in the countryside!

Fabulous place, quiet location and well equipped property.

Would happily recommend to others.

We had a great stay with our two dogs at the Old Stable.

It‘s a lovely cottage with lots of opportunities for trips and activities in the area. The cottage is located in the beautiful Devon countryside. The owners are very helpful and generous. If you are looking for a relaxing break in the country with your furry friends, the Old Stable will be a perfect choice. We’d love to come back!

We had a lovely lovely stay!

The Old Stable is a perfect getaway..peaceful..lovely. Alpaca farm was our highlight. Donkey Sanctuary was also nearby. Sidmouth beach and shopping very close also. The weather was GLORIOUS all week! The shower was fab (important for me) The beds were excellent, so comfy. dishes/cutlery/cooker/microwave/toaster all clean. Flowers on arrival and biscuits too! For a perfect cup of tea! Lidl & petrol station nearby. We would definately return in future, that says it all. Thank you Mr & Mrs Norris xx

We had a wonderful week in The Old Stable.

Great facilities and a stunning location. The only issue we had was the lack of interest connection, even when we tried re-connecting it didn’t work.

Lovely property in an idyllic setting.

A lovely remote location that was secure for the dog Clean and well maintained facilities

The cottage had everything we needed and more it was a delightful warm little cottage in a great location with easy access to great walks in beautiful countryside.

The only thing that would improve it would be if the fence around garden was totally dog proof this wasn’t an issue for us but might be for some dogs? Thank you great place

Loved everything about the old stables!

. It was clean,warm and very comfortable. Lovely views from the cottage ,we had deer visiting every morning and badgers in the lane in the evening. Great walks nearby for the dog ( and child!)and the compendium of games was a hit in the evenings. We appreciated the milk and cookies on arrival as it was late and the flowers were a nice touch.Would definitely recommend if you enjoy peace and quiet.

We all enjoyed a very warm and cosy Xmas week, accommodation had everything to make stay enjoyable.

As this was our fifth visit to this property there is no doubt that we rate this property and its beautiful situation very highly.

A very cosy November holiday.

A very lovely upside down barn conversion, views of the deer, cows and local wildlife.

We went in November, the property was warm and cosy. All the kitchen utensils you could think of plus more. Our weather was not good, but we still had a nice time, in the summer it would be ideal. Our only criticism is the farm track to the barn, it is pot-holed an rutted, if not careful the underside of our car rubbed the central mound. However, all in all, we had a good time. We did notice that this comment also appeared in the visitors book. Thank you.

Completed the visitors book, with positive comments.

Was very peaceful, and had everything we needed. Added enjoyment was the Netflix etc on the TV, especially as rubbish Freeview is the usual offering. Comfy bed. Nice and warm. The two greyhounds had plenty of room. Just a bit concerning in winter, that as stairs carpeted , and straight up from front door, muddy paws might be a problem. Some lovely walks on site. Lovely holiday.

This was our 5th stay.

We love the tranquility, and peaceful location. Great for dog walks. So many wonderful places to visit nearby. Sidmouth , Budleigh Sauterton , Lyme Rygis and one of my favourites Charmouth. The old stable is like home from home and has a lovely welcoming atmosphere. All you need is provided. Milk , biscuits, tea and coffee on arrival. Always a vase of flowers to welcome you. The bed and bedding is so comfortable. My only negative is the sofa which I have always found uncomfortable . I highly recommend this holiday stay with everything it has to offer. It’s rugged rural location I love, and we look forward to many more stays in the future.

We enjoyed our stay at The Old Stable.

It was clean and homely with a good kitchen. But visitors should be aware that it is a little off the beaten track. Very narrow roads and not many passing places. Also, if you have dogs, the paddock is not dog safe so, unless you have very lazy dogs that don’t like chasing pheasant or deer, keep them on the lead.

A very peaceful location with excellent walks from the door in every direction.

The cottage is a modern "upside-down" conversion which meant that there was a good view over the fields and woods from the living room french window. Our dog loved sitting at the window watching the cows and pheasants, and even a deer on one occasion.The sitting/ dining/ kitchen area was ample for four people although the bedrooms and especially the en suite bathrooms were rather compact. The drive to the cottage was pretty level with a few shallow potholes. It was very easy to navigate compared to some cottages we have stayed at. The owners live 10 miles away but were quick to respond when we had one minor issue.

Beautiful and peaceful location with good access to country walks on the doorstep and many lovely seaside resorts nearby.

Very comfortable and well equipped. Milk, choccie biscuits and fresh flowers a nice welcoming touch. My father who is 90 and a little unsteady found the en suite shower room a bit difficult to use as it’s very small and narrow. I was totally ok with the shower room en suite to my bedroom which was same dimensions. Altogether very happy with the Old Stable.

Great place to stay, peaceful and great for wildlife spotting .

The garden could do with something to make it more secure for dogs. Overall would definitely use this cottage again.

Weve been to several cottages now and can say this was genuinely very relaxing.

Everyone including the dogs enjoyed their stay. The cottage was brill, the places to visit were all so close and and in many ways like taking a step back to the age of the victorians. would come again !

Great location.

Very clean and comfortable cottage. Everything that you need.

The cottage was ideal for us.

Quite a drive down narrow lanes. Paddock for dogs great but post and rail fencing so your dog probably could get underneath. Unfortunately the people ahead of our stay had not picked up after their dogs.

We really loved the cottage and surroundings which were very peaceful.

Facilities were good and we appreciated tea, coffee, milk and flowers being there. When we arrived we had difficulty finding the cottage but had no problem getting around afterwards. I would stay there again.

The only negative aspect was actually getting to it from a decent road.

The cottage was really lovely and met all the standards we’ve come to expect from a Sykes Holiday Cottage.

Excellent location for quiet evenings but close enough to all major beaches and amenities.

Very accommodating hosts, leaving milk,tea, coffee and biscuits for us.Would definitely return!

The barn is set in an incredible setting.

It is peaceful. Birds singing,great walks with the dog or just relaxing in the garden. Cows are often at the top of the lane adding to the whole ambiance. Not far for exploring coastal destinations and other places around The barn has all the facilities needed. The most comfiest bed ever. My only niggle is the comfort of the sofa which has the odd dip and hard area. This was our 3rd visit and we will defiantly be making many more. I find stairs difficult having arthritic knees but I shall be crawling up them if I have to. The owners are always friendly and helpful certainly never intrusive. I highly recommend The old Stable and look forward to my next visit

Cottage was very pleasant.

However, WiFi did not work which was a little bit of a let down but otherwise we had a lovely stay.

Lovely location, and nicely converted building.

One bedroom is fairly small, and the shower/toilet very compact. Overall the accommodation was comfortable and we enjoyed our stay.

Make you step outside at night time the amount of stars you see will take your breath away!

The old stable has a beautiful location and lots of wildlife, would definitely recommend it

The access road was very poor, deep ruts , not suitable for saloon cars, I did a lot of damage to my car, and lost a days holiday repairing it in Holiton.

Smaller upstairs than we thought but manageable very quiet lovely views

The cottage was just as expected.

it was very comfortable, and although in the countryside it was not far from many pretty towns and villages. Lyme Regis is only fourteen miles away, and Sidmouth, Seaton and Beer even closer. I have no hesitation in recommending this cottage to someone wanting peace and quiet, but not far from tourist spots. overall a very good holiday.

Ideal location pet dogs and rambling/walker owners.

Very rural with plenty of footpaths and bridalways. The cottage was very comfortable with plenty of space.

If you want a quite and tranquil break this is it in a beautiful setting.

The cottage is only six miles away from the magnificent East Devon coast and there are many things to do such as the Seaton Tramway, Donkey Sanctuary and both cricket and theatre at Sidmouth.

An excellent and well presented modern holiday stable, which includes a fully fitted kitchen, central and under floor heating, as well as one of the best internet connections I’ve found in the middle of the countryside.

This stable is in a group of other buildings, some of which also look to be rented as holiday locations, these buildings are located off a private road which leads off a single track country lane. Having said all of that my wife’s heart sank when she realised the size of the location (on first sight), although nothing has been done to hide the fact that this is in my view an extremely compact location, its only when you see the place you realise how compact it is. Some examples are, closing the doors in the bedroom is hard as if the bed is moved or even if the duvet is hanging of the end of the bed. In both bathrooms the sink is so small and there is an awkwardly placed shelf above the sink making it extremely hard to brush your teeth. One item which was not on the pictures is the bin in the kitchen, which as all the upstairs rooms are merged it’s like having a kitchen bin in your kitchen, dining room and sitting room. I think this is due to the very compact nature of the stable. Personally, we found it hard for 3 people, and in my view if the upstairs and downstairs were swapped (like a traditional location) and there was only one bedroom for two, this would be a much better offering. Also, with the bedroom upstairs you would not get up and the first thing you see in the morning is another building (which I think was also rented). The natural views from this location are stunning and it’s a shame they can’t be fully appreciated. This would also reduce the chance of waking people up if someone is walking around upstairs. We knew there was no fan, so we bought our own, however we had difficulty finding somewhere to put it, again due to space issues. There are a few minor maintenance issues which I’m sure the owners will fix, for example if you flush the toilet sometimes it makes a strange noise which you can hear everywhere until its flushed again, and the only way to turn the tv on and off is via the main switch as the button on the remote does not appear to work. It’s a relatively short trip to the coast road where you can quickly get to all the local amenities. My personal view, I always headed for the main road first and tried not to cut through Sidbury, as this minimises the risk of having to reverse up single country lanes. Lastly the family who own the locations seem very friendly and helpful.

The Old Stable was perfect.

It was very secluded despite being surrounded by three other properties. We were amazed by how dark it got at night! The accommadation was excellent, obviously a lot of thought had gone into the conversion. Although there was only the two of us because both double bedrooms had ensuites it would be easy to increase the party size. It really turned out to be a home from home.

This was an amazing setting and gave us a great base to work from.

The weather went from 6 degrees to 23 degrees and the cottage was comfortable with both ends of the spectrum. Dishwasher, washer, cooker, microwave, log burner, everything you will need for a home from home. Marlyn is friendly and cannot so enough for you. We would definitely recommend to anyone and we will definitely be coming back.

It was our second visit to this lovely, restful holiday home.

We would gladly go again.

This was the holiday we were looking for beautiful cottage fantastic surroundings lovely country walks a dog walkers paradise your a quarter of a mile down a farm road some potholes but a it’s not to bad lovely upside down cottage well design for your comfort with all amenities would highly recommend for those looking to get away from the rat race

A lovely quiet cottage, would not hesitate to recommend to friends, but with a warning about the track to the cottage.

No problem for those with an SUV type car or 4 wheel drive, but uncomfortable for a low slung saloon car. However did not spoil the holiday.

The holiday accommodation was very good and the facilities excellent.

The only drawback being the very rough farm track that led up to the cottage, however this was not a problem if you drove very slowly.

This was a return visit to the old stable as it was a beautiful location ideally suited to visiting local beaches/towns.

The cottage itself was lovely, had everything anyone should need and very nicely furnished. Sofa could be a little more comfy but everything else wonderful. The cottage is in a lovely location,great walks for the dog and views. Owner friendly and helpful, flowers and lovely biscuits on arrival with complimentary tea ,coffee and milk. A visit to the dairy farm was on offer.We will defiantly return and recommend. Maddy and Bob Norman with Maisey the golden cocker

Accomadation was satisfactory, but could have done with a good clean throughput.

Some of the utensil etc needed replacing as quite marked/dirty. Sink in one en suite took all day to drain. So didn’t use it after 1st day. Owner also told us sometimes there would be a loud hiss/noise from the en suite!! Told us if this happens flush the toilet!! Helpful when you have to get up at 2am to flush the loo. Also garden not fully enclosed. Thankfully we had beautiful weather which meant we where out all day.

We had a lovely relaxing time at the old stable, our only bug bear was we had no mobile aigbal unless we were in the garden and for the first few days it was great and we didn't bother about missing them, unless you needed to look something up

Delightful peaceful setting, upside down dwelling, the facilities all worked well (there was an annoying noise emanating from the cistern eradicated by reflushing!

) - overall very well thought out, the garden area could do with some attention from an aesthetic point of view Good value, would be happy to return

The old stable in Sidbury is a fantastic property and excellent base to explore the areas.

We had a lovely week there with glorious weather and will be definitely returning again to this gem we have found.

We both had a most enjoyable and relaxing time at this peaceful cottage surrounded by the beautiful Devon countryside.

Our dog enjoyed the local walks through the woodland and bridle ways. The cottage had everything you could need and the beds were so comfortable. The Wifi was good. A vase of flowers to welcome us along with milk, tea, coffee and biscuits! Sitting outside at night we heard owls calling to each other which was lovely. This cottage is an ideal base to go to Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Beer, Lyme Regis, Honiton and the nearest village Sidbury where the local pub was very friendly and served good food. Further on the Hare and Hounds did the best carvery, we ate their twice! We hope to return soon.

Cottage was very comfortable and in a lovely position and we very much enjoyed our stay.

Access drive was a cart track best suited to large, robust vehicles but not so good for a Smart car! Bathrooms were extremely compact with probably the smallest wash basins known to man and a glass shelf above making wet shaving a challenge!!!!

Need for clearer instructions about recycling of packaging, paper, cardboard, etc.

Suggest new pans for cooking. The non-stick surfaces were well worn, which means the aluminium exposed surfaces can be a potential problem.

The location of the cottage was peaceful and private.

Great walks for the dog. The owner was very friendly helpful but unobtrusive. We were given a great welcome . Flowers left with cookies and tea , coffee, sugar and milk left for use on arrival. The cottage was very clean, well equipt and nice furnishings. Good quality and taste. Well placed for visiting local beaches , towns etc. Info left in cottage for the cottage and tourist leaflets.we found it hard to leave and will definitely be staying there again.