Yew Tree Cottage

Customer rating

4.1★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
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Features

Open fire
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Seaside
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

28 Customer Review(s)

Kathryn
October 2025

“Lovely quirky cottage.”

Well appointed kitchen wise. Bed was comfortable and the setting was lovely. Good base for touring around and the walks were appreciated certainly by the family dog. Blackpool sands are gorgeous. Beautiful clear sea.

Well appointed kitchen wise. Bed was comfortable and the setting was lovely. Good base for touring around and the walks were appreciated certainly by the family dog. Blackpool sands are gorgeous. Beautiful clear sea.

- Kathryn, October 2025

Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review. We are delighted that you had great holiday and we look forward to seeing you again! Property Owner
Trevor June 2025

“When we arrived the entrance to the property looked like a building site, with a small skip with black rubbish bags around it.”

On entering the property there was a smell of damp and the furniture was damp. We arrived at 19:30 and tried to contact Sykes cottages to tell the I was not satisfied with the accommodation and wished to be relocated, there where other accommodations available in the price range. There was no one available till the next day. I contacted Sykes the following morning to advise them of the state of the cottage and request relocation. They flatly refused to do so, stating that they had to give the owners of the cottage a chance to correct the problems. How they where going to get rid of damp and the skip in a couple of days is anyone's guess. It was our 40th wedding anniversary and we were extremely disappointed. Sykes priority seems to be with the owners of the cottages and not the people who PAY to rent them. The skip issue was not the fault of the cottage owner, but the unfortunate death of the occupier of the adjoining cottage. Saying that, in my opinion Sykes should have been more sympathetic to my requirements and relocated us. Further issues also became apparent. If you are slightly infirm or of a larger build this cottage, in my opinion, is not for you If you are infirm then the stairs to the bedroom are steep and the passageway to get into the dinning area is very narrow. If you are of a larger build then the size of the kitchen and the narrow passageway to the dinning area would be an issue. I will not use Sykes again

- Trevor, June 2025

Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry that you encountered some issues during your stay. Access to Yew Tree can be gained either via the courtyard at the rear of the property or the front door. You chose to use the back door and unfortunately unbeknown to us our neighbour's daughter had ordered a small skip which was placed by the barn wall adjacent to the entrance to the courtyard, to clear out her late father's belongings from an adjoining cottage. Regrettably she had been unavoidably prevented from completing the job which resulted in there being a few black bags and associated pieces of furniture located around the skip when you arrived. This has never happened before, and we are sorry for this. We were made aware of the situation the morning after you arrived and immediately contacted our neighbour's daughter. She was very apologetic and went straight round to the cottage to resolve the issue. By 1.00pm everything had been cleared up and the skip left neatly against the barn wall leaving completely clear unhindered access to the courtyard. She then met you at the cottage with a card and flowers to apologise for any inconvenience. We arranged for our housekeeper to visit you to see if there was anything she could do to help with any other concerns - you declined her offer. We are sorry that the skip issue was upsetting for you, but we did everything possible to resolve the issue for you. Property Owner
Bine June 2025

“Lovely & cozy & charrming place!”

- Bine, June 2025

Thank you very much for your review, we’re so glad you enjoyed your stay. We hope to see you again! Property Owner
Jennifer September 2024

“The cottage was perfect for us.”

It was clean, cosy and pleasantly warm. We particularly liked the snug upstairs living room as it was lovely and light, great for reading a book after you had been out all day. It was easy to find on road parking just behind the house. The house was well stocked with appropriate equipment. Blackpool Sands beach was an easy 10-15 minute walk down the lane between the cottage and church. We did this a few times especially in the evening and ate our tea down there on the beach twice. Would definitely stay again if we were visiting this area and would recommend it to others

- Jennifer, September 2024

Thank you for your feedback. It is really lovely to hear from guests who completely 'get' the cottage and appreciate all the wonderful things it and the South Hams has to offer. Thank you for your review and we hope you will come to stay again! Property Owner
Mei July 2024

“The location of the property is good.”

Some of the basics that you would expect such as spare bin liner and toilet rolls for the duration of the stay weren’t provided. No recycling facility was in place. The living room has a musty smell. The room and sofas could do with a deep cleaning. The beds are comfortable nonetheless.

- Mei, July 2024

Thank you very much for providing your feedback, we are delighted you feel that Yew Tree Cottage is perfectly located for exploring the beautiful South Hams, we couldn't agree with you more! We were however, disappointed to read of the issues you raise, which are in stark contrast to the many other positive reviews we've received for this property. As a self catering property we provide basic provisions (which include loo roll & bin liners) to get you started, as well as a bottle of Prosecco and Biscuits. As you will see the cottage is extremely popular and to meet this demand the carpets and furnishings are 'deep cleaned' before the beginning of each season. There are clear and detailed instructions on the kitchen wall regarding recycling, we are sorry if you missed these. The owners take their letting of Yew Tree Cottage very seriously and aim to give their guests the very best holiday experience, this is reflected in the feedback we have received and we have every confidence this will continue to be the case moving forward in this beautiful character filled property. Property Owner
Mark July 2024

“A wonderful cottage in a wonderful location.”

Green dragon pub on your doorstep which was fabulous. Small walk to the beach, short drive to coves and other beaches. I can honestly say we had a wonderful week. Beds are very very comfy. I’m 6 ft 4 so sometimes I banged my head but this is a small, old gorgeous cottage. Set in idyllic location. I will use again.

- Mark, July 2024

Thank you very much for your review of Yew Tree Cottage. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again soon. Property Owner
Lucy October 2023

“We had a lovely few days at yew cottage.”

Lovely location, short walk to the beach. The cottage was cosy and comfortable and kept really clean. Our daughter loved the snug and dining room. Just beware that the courtyard is small and not enclosed so if you have a dog you need to pop out with them - not a problem for us. We had a really enjoyable stay.

- Lucy, October 2023
Philip October 2023

“Yew Tree cottage is a cosy and quirky holiday home with everything we needed for our staycation.”

The bed was very comfortable and we particularly liked the snug on the first floor of the property where we could sit and read, It looked out to a field with a lovely herd of cattle. The owner of the cottage very kindly left treats for our dog and ourselves which was a nice touch. would definitely stay here again.

- Philip, October 2023
Belinda September 2023

“A lovely characterful cottage- loved seeing the sheep in the field through the sitting room window and the sea from the upstairs snug.”

Great position opposite the Green Dragon pub - friendly and good pizzas, 1 minute from the village shop with fresh croissants and coffee and 10 minutes walk from the lovely beach at Blackpool Sands and excellent cafe. The cottage was warm and cozy and exactly as described by Helpful Holidays. A very good base for walks along the coastal path. Thoroughly recommend.

- Belinda, September 2023

Thank you very much for your review of Yew Tree Cottage. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again soon. Property Owner
Billy September 2023

“Great place and location we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”

The cottage was lovely and cosy. Unfortunately it was a bit dusty and the bathroom was dirty when we arrived, and there was nothing left for us to clean it with which was a little disappointing. The social distancing notices are no longer required and should be removed. Other than that though it was great and would deffo recommend others to stay.

- Billy, September 2023

Thank you very much for your review with helpful comments. We're delighted that you had a great time at Yew Tree Cottage and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Property Owner
Julie March 2023

“We had a lovely stay in Stoke Fleming.”

The only downside to the cottage was the heating at night time. The central heating came on at 5.30pm and went off at 7pm which was not long enough to heat the cottage. This was a problem for us as we had my 80 year old mum with us and we were conscious of her getting cold. Other than that everything else was great.

- Julie, March 2023

We are delighted to hear that you had a lovely stay at Yew Tree Cottage. The heating in the property is set on a timer to go off at 11pm. There is also the option to light the log burner in the sitting room which will soon increase the temperate throughout the property. The thermostat and the boiler will switch itself off until the temperature drops below 21 C when it will fire up automatically and heat the radiators. If in doubt, Helpful Holidays are always at the end of the phone to answer any questions. We hope to see you again at the cottage. Property Owner
Nicola October 2022

“Lovely clean cozy cottage with view out to sea from upstairs snug, and wonderful log burner in the sitting room.”

We enjoyed exploring the local beaches and coastal paths with our dog. In the mornings we popped down to village shop for croissants, and in the evenings walked across the road to the Green Dragon Pub, and also went to Radius 7 restaurant, both very good! Great value for money – we look forward to a return visit, hopefully very soon!

- Nicola, October 2022
Clsire September 2022

“Lovely cottage in a good location .”

Comfort bed, plenty of hot water and fluffy towels . Only negative the cold tap in the kitchen broke which didn’t get repaired during our stay .

- Clsire, September 2022
Andrew May 2022

“Stoke Fleming is a great base and we had a wonderful time in Devon.”

Some amazing beaches all within 20-30 drive and loved having the coastal path to Blackpool Sands literally at the front door, and a brilliant walk to Dartmouth the opposite way. The cottage is very cosy and had everything we needed. Reading in the snug area was lovely. The reason for only 3 stars - and is an important one, is the church is next door, which chimes every 15 minutes 24 hours per day. So for the first 2 days none of our family slept and was very tired. By day 3 we'd had some ear plugs delivered from Amazon and slept much better!

- Andrew, May 2022
Nicola October 2021

“The cottage was lovely and cosy and the welcoming gifts were such a lovely touch.”

I’m not really sure I’d say it’s pet friendly as there is no outdoor space, and when you need to pop out with the pooch through the shared courtyard where the neighbour is most unfriendly to the point of aggressive, it’s not very relaxing sadly.

- Nicola, October 2021

Thank you for your feedback, we are sorry to hear you were unhappy with the courtyard at the property, we do advise in the description 'Dogs must be supervised in the courtyard at all times. Courtyard is for access only.' We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay. Property Owner
Suzy September 2021

“A beautiful, comfortable cottage absolutely ideally situated in a stunning, friendly village which is perfectly placed to visit surrounding areas.”

- Suzy, September 2021
Nicola August 2021

“It was a beautiful property in a lovely village.”

After a long drive we arrived to a cream tea and dog treats for the dog. The children were also very excited about the sweets that had been left for them. We had a lovely time and will definitely be returning!

- Nicola, August 2021
Natalie August 2021

“Cottage was damp on arrival so heating needs to be on when nobody is there.”

The damp aggravated my son's asthma and also my mother's chest. Also it should be mentioned that the church clock opposite chimes every quarter hour kind of annoying if you aren't used to it when trying to sleep.

- Natalie, August 2021

Thank you for your feedback. The cottage has been fully occupied from the beginning of the season. The heating is set at 21 degrees and programmed to come on at 3.00 pm before guests arrive. The cottage should never be cold or damp and as mentioned in an earlier reply to a review, additional heating and hot water is available at the flick of a switch if necessary. The cottage is close to St Peters church and, as with most churches, the clock strikes on a regular basis. Property Owner
Elaine July 2021

“The cottage is a delightful, quirky building and perfectly in keeping with the Devon countryside; however, it would be good if the description mentioned the low ceilings and doorways.”

My 6 foot 6 husband had a permanent lump on his head and, had we known in advance, we may have looked elsewhere. It didn't ruin the holiday, but would have been good to know in advance.

- Elaine, July 2021

Thank you for your invaluable feedback. We have checked with the owner who confirms that the ceilings and doorways (apart from one) are of standard size and not low to the point where this needs to be flagged in the listing. We have adjusted the description slightly to flag the 1 door leading from the lounge to the dining area as this could potentially be lower and narrower than a standard doorway. Property Owner
Georgia July 2021

“Stayed here for a lovely get away with my teenage son and dog!”

Beautiful location! Stones throw away from the local very friendly pub! And a short walk to a beautiful beach- that we couldn’t access due to having our dog and was during the peak time of no dogs allowed which was unfortunate. Leads to a Costal path is on the front door step! Only downside was one day the master bedroom became ultra infested with flying ants!! Think this could of been an issue before as found a lot of fly and ant spray in the cupboards- maybe this needs to be looked into for future bookers! Another minor downside was there was no cupboard space for storing food, there is a huge selection of plates and glasses- maybe way too much? Having to store our food heaped onto the kitchen sides made it feel incredibly cluttered which was a shame, maybe a cupboard or 2 being empty would of been nice just to have things put away. But these to me were minor- I would stay again as the property was just wonderful overall.

- Georgia, July 2021
Christine June 2021

“This is a comfy cottage and the cream tea that greeted us was a lovely thought and a great way to kick off the holiday .”

The location was good and we found parking close by. Although we didn't use the fire I can imagine it's amazing when light and would make the room lovely and cosy on a chilly evening. We did however use the little snug room upstairs every day . It has pleasant views and is light and airy. The only downside we found was having absolutely no where to sit outside and in warm weather it really is needed. Even just a good up chair would be good . This would not impact on the elderly gentleman given the distance between the properties. Overall an enjoyable stay and would be happy to recommend.

- Christine, June 2021
Sarah April 2021

“We had a wonderful week in this gorgeous little cottage.”

Well appointed & comfortable. Lovely touch of cream tea & prosecco waiting for us. Beautiful big log burner to curl up in front of. Blissfully comfortable bed & bedding. A*

- Sarah, April 2021
Georgie December 2020

“Lovely, well-maintained, warm and cosy cottage in a delightful part of the country.”

Just 10 minutes from the beach & 50 yards from a great pub.The village shop served coffee and croissants and everything you need. We had such a wonderful time, thank you so much.

- Georgie, December 2020
Jo September 2020

“The cottage was smaller than expected but comfortable & clean.”

Quirky rooms at added to its character. Everything was available as needed dishwasher, washing machine etc. It felt slightly damp but managed to get the central heating to work, just once which made it cosy. We would have used the log burner but there were no logs available. Ideally situated for walking, sight seeing & touring the area.

- Jo, September 2020

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. The thermostat is set at 21 degrees and the cottage should never feel cold or damp. If required, additional heating and hot water is available at the flick of a switch. Logs can be purchased from either from the village shop 100 meters from the cottage or from the garage at the top of Dartmouth, by Lidl. We're glad that you enjoyed your holiday and hope to welcome you back next year. Property Owner
Lyn September 2020

“Whilst the cottage was very comfortable and we found the rooms very clean there were a couple of points that we would like to make you aware of: 1 You stated there was a courtyard, but we were not aware how small and unusable it was, also on arrival, there was a note asking us not to use it, but to enter and leave through the front of the cottage.”

So this mean't that we had nowhere to sit outside at any time. 2. We were eating in, due to present restrictions; both floors of the ovens were greasy and it was obvious they had not been cleaned for sometime. 3. We had a problem initially with making the TV work. On reading the Guests manual were followed the instructions and contacted named caretaker and left a few messages for a call back. This never happened, I did eventually get through, and was told that they had not managed Yew Tree Cottage for 2 years? I then tried to contact Sykes, was holding on for 2 periods of 10 minutes, so decided to give up. There were no indoor bin liners and no green bag which was to be provided to facilitate collection of waste. We did enjoy our stay, just felt that these were important points that need some attention.

- Lyn, September 2020

We’re delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Yew Tree Cottage. We have discussed the points raised with the property owner. As stated on the website, the courtyard is for access only and due to the current situation with COVID they are encouraging all guests to use the front entrance to avoid unnecessary contact with neighbours, one of whom is ‘shielding’. They have spoken with their housekeeper in relation to your comments regarding the oven and lack of bin bags, which they are confident was an over sight on this occasion. It is their intention to replace the TV with a smart TV and were sorry to hear you had problems operating the current tele. Old literature has now been removed from the welcome folder. We apologise you were unable to get through to our customer support line, we are currently experiencing very high volumes of calls. Despite the points raised we hope to welcome you back to The West Country in the future. Property Owner
Richard August 2020

“Whilst the cottage was extremely well located and well equipped the overall cleanliness and decoration was disappointing.”

The cottage is need of redecoration and attention paid to cleanliness in areas such as skirting boards, side of cooker and other areas not regularly cleaned. The windows were extremely dirty especially from the outside and do not appear to have been cleaned in an age. There was also a strong odour of not sure what on entering the property but opening the windows helped a little. The rental charge does not certainly reflect the condition of the cottage and until the above has been addressed I would not rent this property again or recommend it to anyone.

- Richard, August 2020

Thank you for your comments. Following a very busy season at Yew Tree Cottage with back to back bookings since reopening in July some wear and tear in relation to the decoration within the property is naturally expected. Due to the close proximity to the sea and the high level of salt in the air the windows do suffer, however they are cleaned regularly inside and out. Due to the current cleaning regime put in place to ensure the safety of our guests this property is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each guest's departure; therefore, some products do have a strong odour which dissipates very quickly after use. We are sorry to hear you would not recommend Yew Tree Cottage, however the volume of bookings shows how popular this quaint little cottage is. Property Owner
Victoria August 2020

“Really lovely location, lovely comfortable cottage.”

- Victoria, August 2020
Pat July 2020

“We arrived to a foisty smelling cottage.”

The previous occupants must have spilt red wine on a rug made of matting. Someone had tried to clean it and there was a big wet patch which really smelt foisty. There was no note of apology from the caretaker. The house is quirky but needs some TLC. and a good deep clean including windows. We didn't think that the property was worth the amount which we paid. Don't think we will use Syke cottages again.

- Pat, July 2020

Thank you for your taking the time to complete your feedback following your recent stay at Yew Tree Cottage. We have spoken with the owner of the property who has informed us that the red wine stain on the carpet was indeed caused by the previous guests. The owners were completely unaware of the fact until their cleaner/caretaker arrived on the Friday morning to clean and prepare the cottage. Given the short turnaround time between guests, the only option was to try to remove the stain using a variety of cleaning products which possibly left the unusual smell and the carpet a little damp. Despite the lockdown period the cottage received a thorough professional deep clean before the start of the season including carpets upholstery and windows (inside and out). In addition to this the necessary COVID disinfection was also carried out. We are sorry to hear that on this occasion our service did not meet your expectations, had you notified us during your stay we would have done our upmost to try and rectify the issues you mentioned. Property Owner

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Summary

Two bedrooms: 1 x double and 1 x bunk beds
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
Kitchen
Dining room
Sitting room
First-floor snug
Oil fired central heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, TV and WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Roadside parking available approx 50 metres away
One small well behaved dog welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 0.2 miles, pub 0.1 miles
Note: Courtyard is for access only (dogs must be supervised)
Note: An additional put up bed is available on request for a 5th person or for alternative sleeping arrangements.

The property

Yew Tree Cottage is the ultimate abode for those seeking to be surrounded by the natural beauty of the South Hams district of Devon.

Sitting in the coastal village of Stoke Fleming, this 200 year old stone-front cottage with historic features is ideal for a couple's retreat or a fun-filled family holiday.

Step inside and discover the sitting room with its inviting wood burner and comfy sofas with large rug offering a quirky and inviting aura for you to spend relaxing evenings.

Also on the ground floor is the kitchen, a modest space with a good range of appliances including an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washing machine, wonderfully equipped for all of your self-catering requirements.

Once you've made a tasty treat, head through into the dining room (low narrow door) where you can sit together and toast to a wonderful holiday over an evening of laughter and everlasting memories.

At the end of an action-packed day, head up stairs to the first floor (steep stairs, with hand rail and fitted stairgate at the top (see pictures)) to a double, bunk bed room and bathroom providing a wonderful layout for a small family of four or a couple on a romantic retreat.

Also on the first floor (accessed via the double bedroom) you can find a cosy snug area with sofa, comfy chair and beanbags.Here you can relax and on a clear day admire the views out to Startpoint.

While the picturesque local village offers a local store and two pubs (good food and pet friendly), further afield you can find even more adventure; Blackpool Sands just a 10 minute walk via the coast path away (a little longer on the way home!) provides an award-winning beach with golden sands, cafe and plenty of family-fun, whilst Dartmouth offers a historic day out with plenty of landmarks to explore including an active theatre.

Woodlands Adventure park makes a great day out for younger ones and the Dartmouth Golf and Country Club is open to non members.

Salcombe is the perfect place to visit for those seeking a traditional day out in Devon, whereas Paignton and Torquay prove to be popular tourist hubs with their wide selection of attractions from zoos to museums and more.

Yew Tree Cottage is a wonderful base for a holiday encompassed by the coast and countryside of Devon.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100.

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About the location

STOKE FLEMING

Dartmouth 2.9 miles, Paignton 10.2 miles, Kingsbridge 10.8 miles, Salcombe 17.8 miles; Torquay 21.5 miles

A village and civil parish sitting within the South Hams district of Devon, Stoke Fleming is a wonderful base for those seeking to explore both the coast and countryside of the South of England. Lying on the shores of Start Bay, this picturesque village offers a wonderful array of amenities, as well as being within easy reach of the many wonders of Devon. The village itself benefits from a Post Office with a village shop where you can gather all of your self-catered necessities, as well as two pubs to choose from whether you're seeking a rewarding beverage after a day of rambling or a tasty treat in the form of a traditional pub lunch. Positioned within the South Hams district, you can expect to find unspoilt coastline, rolling hills and plenty of adventure no matter where you're positioned. Spend a day on the award-winning sands of Blackpool Sands, or simply soak in your surroundings of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its abundance of river valleys, moorland and coast to explore by foot, bike or even boat. Close by is Dartmouth with its enticing history in the form of a 14th century castle and fortress offering views over the estuary and Bayard's Cove Fort, as well as an art gallery and museum providing culture and excitement for all ages. Further along the coast you can find both Paignton and Torquay, providing plenty of attractions all-year-round including zoos, even more history and culture and plenty of delicious eateries to choose from, or spend a day in Salcombe for a truly traditional day out in Devon with its maritime museum and quaint aura. Stoke Fleming is perfectly positioned for exploring all of the delights that Devon has to offer.

Note: An additional put up bed is available on request for a 5th person or for alternative sleeping arrangements.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Christmas

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Lovely quirky cottage.”

“When we arrived the entrance to the property looked like a building site, with a small skip with black rubbish bags around it.”

“Lovely & cozy & charrming place!”

“The cottage was perfect for us.”

“The location of the property is good.”

“A wonderful cottage in a wonderful location.”

“We had a lovely few days at yew cottage.”

“Yew Tree cottage is a cosy and quirky holiday home with everything we needed for our staycation.”

“A lovely characterful cottage- loved seeing the sheep in the field through the sitting room window and the sea from the upstairs snug.”

“Great place and location we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”

“We had a lovely stay in Stoke Fleming.”

“Lovely clean cozy cottage with view out to sea from upstairs snug, and wonderful log burner in the sitting room.”

“Lovely cottage in a good location .”

“Stoke Fleming is a great base and we had a wonderful time in Devon.”

“The cottage was lovely and cosy and the welcoming gifts were such a lovely touch.”

“A beautiful, comfortable cottage absolutely ideally situated in a stunning, friendly village which is perfectly placed to visit surrounding areas.”

“It was a beautiful property in a lovely village.”

“Cottage was damp on arrival so heating needs to be on when nobody is there.”

“The cottage is a delightful, quirky building and perfectly in keeping with the Devon countryside; however, it would be good if the description mentioned the low ceilings and doorways.”

“Stayed here for a lovely get away with my teenage son and dog!”

“This is a comfy cottage and the cream tea that greeted us was a lovely thought and a great way to kick off the holiday .”

“We had a wonderful week in this gorgeous little cottage.”

“Lovely, well-maintained, warm and cosy cottage in a delightful part of the country.”

“The cottage was smaller than expected but comfortable & clean.”

“Whilst the cottage was extremely well located and well equipped the overall cleanliness and decoration was disappointing.”

“Really lovely location, lovely comfortable cottage.”

“We arrived to a foisty smelling cottage.”

Summary

The property

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About the location

STOKE FLEMING