Martingale

Just had a week at Martingale with my two sons.

The cottage is well equipped and in a lovely peaceful location overlooking Torquay. You even have a slight sea view from the front garden and both bedrooms. Lovely open plan living room and kitchen and two good sized bedrooms. We had a great time and would definitely stay again. Thanks

On arrival I struggled to enter the small driveway due to a car parked across the drive opposite.

Overall impression was the property is extremely tired. On opening the fridge to put food in we found it had food residue in it, furniture grubby, peeling paint from dampness in bedroom and shower room, insufficient cutlery and utensils, five windows are blown, one whole section of the wardrobe was unusable due to the large door stuck solid!, the coffee left for us was 4 months out of date, yapping dog next door was an added issue also which spoilt out peace. The property is in a nice place and was a base to walk from with many areas to explore, we felt safe and secure and once to car was in the driveway was ok. Such a shame as this would be a great property if it were as described

We had a great week at Martingale.

The property had everything we needed for our stay and was very comfortable and very clean and well maintained. Only a short walk to shopping area and the harbour, although you need to be reasonably fit for the climb back. Parking on the drive was very convenient and there is a nice area to sit out front. Would happily stay again if we return to Torquay at some point in the future.

Lovely place to stay.

House was clean and tidy upon arrival. Nice little touch with the welcome pack (teabags, coffee etc). No complaints at all really. Had an issue with boiler but owner was very helpful and sorted it out the next day. Only issue and it’s not really an issue, but the driveway is a little tight if you’ve got a wide car. All in all lovely stay, would definitely recommend to anyone

Excellent property and we were very happy with its cleanliness and facilities.

We found the location a bit tricky to navigate and the rental satnav was essential for us. Parking was tight for our car (Polestar) but we did get in and out without scraping anything. Walking was a no-go for us (pensioners) because of the hills and it's a bit of a hike to downtown Torquay. All in all, we would definitely recommend the cottage even with the caveats about location and parking.

Really enjoyed our stay here.

The cottage was excellent, clean and in a great location. Highly recommend. Owners were excellent, thanks again

Lovely accommodation, even better than the pictures.

On arrival, the property was very clean and tidy, and to our expectations.

All the facilities we required were present. The bed mattress was very comfortable, and ensured we had a great nights sleep. We did however find a few things we feel the owners could address to make other peoples stay more comfortable. One or two of the kitchen cupboard handles were loose and came off when opening. The Bin lid doesn't shut. The bedroom sliding doors were very sticky, and feels like they have come off their runners. The staircase area could do with a lick of paint. Just small areas of maintenance that would enhance the overall feel of the property. We also did find the blinds in the bedroom would maybe better if they were blackout blinds. Just for when the sun shines through on a morning. We did adjust them but felt more light was coming in on a morning than we had hoped. However, none of the above spoilt our stay.

This little cottage was a delight - pictures do not do it justice!

Very clean, comfortable and had everything stocked up for us including tea / coffee / Handwash / toilet rolls. Lovely decor and very homely. Only thing to note is the very steep hill, best to go places by car but is walkable if you don’t mind climbing back up! The wardrobe door in the bedroom could do with a repair and a couple of kitchen handles come off but apart from that everything was perfect. Would recommend and certainly book again for a stay in Devon!

Fantastic two weeks in Torquay We travel to Torquay a lot for holidays but usually stay in a b and b.

We found this property on Sykes. The property was very inviting and the cleanliness was outstanding. We did however have a problem with the shower and tried to contact the caretaker as advised but nothing. We contacted the owner who said the part had been ordered but still we didn’t have this fixed throughout our stay. The garden seems unloved which is a shame as it was beautiful to sit out in the extremely hot weather we had. The bed for me was too soft but that’s just my opinion. Little things like a plastic shower mat would have been useful, though we did bring our own, also a fan, again we brought our own. The microwave needs replacing as rusty. However these are just minor things and we loved our stay there and will definitely return. The neighbours on both sides were very friendly. We went out every day but to return to this property was beautiful. We were going to do a bbq one night but that definitely needs replacing too. The walk to town was steep but there were steps, which google maps pointed out which made it more manageable. Lovely property and a fantastic holiday in Torquay

Martingale is a beautiful cottage.

Fully equipped, comfortable and furnished to a high standard. Great outside space and parking. Would definitely stay again in the future.

We had a fantastic stay at Martingale; it’s a perfect place for chilling out after a day exploring the Torbay area!

It is possible to walk down into the town, however I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with mobility problems or wheelchair users (like myself) as it is very steep with uneven paths. There are so many interesting places to visit so Martingale is a great base. As well as Torbay, we visited Cockington Court, Buckfast Abbey & Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, all of which have beautiful grounds and free entry - we took picnics and had fabulous days at all of them. The cottage really is a home from home with extremely comfortable living room, in which there are plenty of leaflets provided for tourist information, a well stocked kitchen and comfortable bedrooms as well as an area to sit outside in the front garden. We were so lucky to have a beautiful, hot, sunny week and the only thing we really could have done with which wasn’t provided was a parasol for the garden table; some evenings were just too hot to sit out without one which a very nice problem to have! It was also really useful being able to have on-site parking on the driveway - just be aware that it is a narrower drive than the photos suggest with a gate that can not open fully due to the many plants/weeds growing along the sides. With the cottage also being on a very narrow lane with hardly any room to turn, reversing in can be difficult with a lot of manoeuvring even in a medium size car!! Overall we enjoyed our stay at Martingale - we felt very at home & comfortable there which really added to a relaxed, chilled out holiday.

This is a gorgeous and comfortable property, Well located for Torquay town centre.

Thank you for the opportunity to stay in your lovely home.

A beautiful property, great location and all the comforts of home!

Lovely courtyard/garden to relax in and enjoy a glass of wine. Only slight niggle was the window blinds did allow a lot of light in for sleeping (a portable blackout blind remedied this) and on occasions tv viewing. However, this did not detract from this lovely home and the thoughtful additions made by the owners to ensure a wonderful stay. We will certainly recommend this property to family and friends and would most certainly like to return!

Beautiful cottage, had everything we needed for a weeks stay.

We managed with 2 cars on drive, 1 a sportage. Very hilly area which might be a challenge for some but we were fine...

Such a lovely and modern cottage which makes you feel like it's a home from home.

Couldn't fault anything, absolutely great cottage and will definitely be returning again! Thank you for such a wonderful holiday.

We had a fantastic week's holiday at Martingale, the property was all we could have wished for, for once we thought we could live in this house and it would make a lovely home.

Martingale is a lovely house in a very quiet residential road.

The off street parking is suitable. The interior of the property has been fitted and furnished to a high level and was both clean and very comfortable. All the amenities one could want for a holiday were there. Nothing to do with the property but a word of warning for the older generation ( of which I am a part) the residential area leading down to the sea front is extremely hilly. Thank you owners for a lovely week.

Had a lovely weekend in Martingale, decor is beautiful, very pretty cottage, clean & comfortable with everything we needed.

Off road parking was a bonus. Short walk into Town ( a friendly local showed us a cut through with steps, which made the walk more doable. We were here visiting family & shall definitely return

My wife and I visited for a week in November having never visited the area before.

The cottage was spotlessly clean, very comfortable for up to four people with plenty of space and seating. It was well-equipped with large smart TV and a well set out kitchen area. Outside is ample, if slightly tight width wise, off road parking, off a very quiet residential road. With the exception of a couple of very minor maintenance issues, which the owners wouldn't have been aware of and which have been quickly rectified, I would find it hard to find any fault with the cottage which was warm and cosy and more than lived up to our expectations. One thing to bear in mind about Torquay is that it is very hilly, that applies to wherever you stay in the town. The previous reviews mention the climb from the harbour area, which though it isn't far in distance, is extremely steep in places, we are both reasonably fit but still found it fairly taxing so worth bearing in mind if mobility is an issue. The advantage of the climb are the lovely views across the bay whilst catching your breath! A fantastic area to explore with stunning coastal walks on the doorstep, a lovely holiday.

Loved our stay away at Martingale.

The property size was perfect for our family. Parking is a massive benefit. It can fit a Skoda Superb on the driveway for reference The location is on a hill side so be prepared to walk up some steep slopes and steps.

We had a lovely comfortable stay at Martingale.

The house is very nicely decorated, comfortable sitting area, clean and fresh. Beds were super comfy & there was an amazing large shower! The blinds in the bedrooms weren't very thick so light came through but didn't really bother us. Nice enclosed front garden with table and chairs, and a lovely peaceful neighborhood. The driveway was a bit narrow & the planters made it difficult to open the car doors, but nice to not have to park on the side of the road. It was good to be able to walk down into Torquay & not have to pay to park, although the walk back up the hill was challenging! Only did it twice! We had a really fantastic holiday, enjoyed our stay very much and if we go back to Torquay, we will definitely be staying at Martingale again! Thank you to Darryl & Lisa

We stayed at Martingale for 7 days, while the cottage was lovely and did feel like a home away from home there were a few things that weren't the best, first thing is the furniture in the living room, me and my partner aren't the smallest people so when sitting on the sofas/chairs they sounded like there were cracking, every time we sat down I felt like they were going to break as they were only on small wooden legs, they were comfy though, the next thing is the bathroom, again it was nice but needed a deep clean, there was mould in the shower and on the walls and the shower pressure really wasn't good and when the floor of the shower was wet it was so slippery, we both nearly fell multiple times, the blinds in the bedrooms weren't the best either, didn't really keep the light out in the morning and if we wanted the window open during the night we had to put the small towels provided up against the walls/window to stop the blinds from banging against them, other than those it was a lovely little cottage and although yes it was a short 10-15 minute walk TO town, walking back was a no go hah, we tried to walk back on the first night and what should have been 15-20 minutes was about 45 because again we're not exactly thin people and had to keep stopping so we were exhausted by the time we got back, got a taxi every day since then hah, the view from the bedroom windows was amazing though, could see the sea and as you walk out the front gate you can see the sea and that was amazing and I do miss it, I think we would stay there again because we did enjoy it despite the things I've mentioned.

We did miss out super king size bed though, 2 fairy big people trying to fit on a double bed wasn't the most comfy and was very warm.

Lisa & Darryl, You have a really beautiful house, very nicely decorated and so peaceful and quiet.

We loved our stay in Torquay and wished we had more time there. Yes the property is central for getting around and once you’ve walked down and back again, it does get easier. Very good exercise, did great on my Fitbit watch. We also visited the Tourist Information ladies, they are great and gave us lots of ideas. We found the bus stops for the number 64 bus, to take us back up the hill. But never actually caught the bus, never seemed to be in the right place. Found it so easy to leave the car at the house and travel on the local buses, we travelled all over the place. Just head to the harbour and you’ll see all the bus stops. Did the Round Robin Trip, a great day out. Also Babbacombe is a lovely place and you can visit Bygones and a Model Village. Both attractions are worth a visit. A very minor criticism for the property, is the driveway. We have a Kia Sportage and If the lovely planters could move a fraction towards the bins, it would make it easier for bigger cars. We would certainly stay at this gorgeous property again.

We had a lovely stay at Martingale, very comfortable home from home feel.

Everything we want and more. Many thanks to Lisa and Darryl.

I had a really relaxing week at Martingale.

A great cottage in a lovely area, so peaceful, but so central for everything. As has been mentioned in other reviews, the walk down to the town is steep, but not excessively so and the No. 64 bus comes quite close to the property to avoid the uphill climb. The Tourist Information office are brilliant with advice about bus routes and timetables. I would echo other people's request for more precise recycling information so as to get it right on the correct day. Torquay itself is very lively and there are so many good places to go - Brixham by No 12 bus or ferry, National Trust Coleton Fishacre and Greenway, Cockington etc. I would love to return in the future.

Advert should warn people about the location being at the top of a steep hill as it is unsuitable for people who have difficulty in walking, it is not a few minutes walk on return from town they will need to stop and rest also.

The property and garden are in need of some TLC. We suffered from ants all over the kitchen area, needs repairs to freezer outer freezer door, double glazed units and wardroe sliding doors unable to use. Need local contact for any issues as this detail had been deleted from given information. Its not on a bus route which is relevant if people are walking.

We really enjoyed our stay as a family over the Easter holidays.

The cottage has a great location within walking distance of several good restaurants in Torquay (Ephesus restaurant was excellent) and the town centre and promenade. We also found the cottage to be very clean and well equipped, with the large Smart tv most appreciated and plentiful seating in the lounge. Off road parking space also really handy. Just a couple of points which I hope is regarded constructively, the master bedroom mattress is really sagging per previous guest comments and needs replacing. The planters in the front garden/courtyard also do make parking difficult and obstructs opening doors for larger vehicles (we had a Kia Sportage). The shower pressure in the bathroom is not great. These are minor points however and wouldn’t put us off returning to this lovely good value property. Our boys aged 7 and 5 had a fabulous week here.

The overall position and comfort of the cottage was good.

The mattress on the double bed is too soft and sags in the middle which made it difficult for a good nights sleep.

Lovely cottage, kitchen floor could do with a clean and wardrobe doors need fixing , they were just propped up.

An amazing little find!

Everything you need in the cottage. You can do self catering or All the shops are so close by you can eat out. The cottage was very clean and facilities were to a high standard. Also, the little welcome hamper was a blessing!!

We stayed at the martingale for four nights, thoroughly enjoyed our stay, very comfortable, very clean, nicely laid out, loved the finishing touches it made it feel very homely.

No negatives but only a suggestion as noted on other reviews; mattress in main bedroom, although comfortable you can feel the coils and slightly sank to the middle (not at all a negative as did sleep well) only one more suggestion; the parking is a bonus but the sleeper planters are very restrictive with a large vehicle to open doors, maybe if they were moved to the main wall side would give more clearance! Would love to stay again as we visit Torquay a couple times a year and best place we've stayed! Darren and Karen ☺️ no we don't have a capri

Clean, very comfortable cottage.

A couple of niggles - it could have done with a few more tumblers in the kitchen cupboard and the parking space, though adequate, was on the narrow side. Also the general cleanliness was spoilt by the small rug in the kitchen which needs a thorough clean or replacing. Having read the reviews we were prepared for the steep hills. If you're out in the dark you may find a torch handy to negotiate some of the steps up/down to town as sections of the route have no street lighting. Also we agree with a previous reviewer that it wasn't obvious which recycling went in which box.

Absolutely lovely holiday, your property felt so warm and cosy.

The decor and little touches made it feel welcoming. Really enjoyed staying and would recommend to anyone looking to stay. The only suggestion would be to list what recycling goes in which bin/bag as we weren't sure. Definately would stay again Thank you

Very comfortable and well equipped cottage.

Highly recommended but be aware of just how high up it is for walking from the town.

Excellent property for a family of four.

Comfortable & fully equipped. Would suggest a clear note is added to the listing to acknowledge the severe hills and incline on those hills when walking to & from the property...altitude training wouldn't go a miss!

Hi we have just got back off are holiday we loved are stay it was really nice and cosy the only thing was the mattress in the main bedroom we would end up in a heap in the middle when we woke up other than that amazing

Absolutely loved our stay!

Had our 2 year old with us for the week and couldn't have been more suitable, would defiantly return and have already been looking at booking up for next year. The only one thing that we would change is the mattress in the main bedroom, other than that it was perfect and would have extended our stay had it have been available!

Second time we've stayed here.

Very nice cottage in a nice location. Have no qualms about booking here again in the future.

Really well-appointed accommodation, with all the things you need for a pleasant stay in Torquay, whatever the weather.

The welcome pack and info booklet are nice and contain a wealth of useful information about the property and the locality. The property genuinely felt like home, and I settled in very easily. The location is great, some might struggle with the hills and steps around Torquay, but that isn't exclusive to this property. It is very centrally located for lots of the local attractions and shops. Only a 20-minute walk to Babbacombe Downs, less than 10 minutes down to the shops at Torquay and the harbour area. The property has one double bedroom and one twin bedroom, so perfect for a family of four, or for a couple, there is also enough seating in the lounge area for the above too. Would definitely stay again.

Great location for exploring Torquay and the surrounding area.

Had no issues finding the place or getting in (key number was fine). Nice to have an off road parking space, enough room for a 4x4. Plenty of space in the house. Nice to have a kitchen with empty cupboards to put things in and a good sized fridge. Also nice to have decent size mugs for a proper cup of tea. Lovely house to to stay in, if I was to suggest one change it would be the double mattress.

The address is in correct the entance to the property is in grafton road not upper braddons hill.

In correct code for the key safe after finally entering the property only to find bathroom tap not attached leaking and water shut off then a 3 hour wait for a plumber to come to fix a new tap on day two had difficulty getting into the property due to poorly maintained stable-door which which was really hard to open and close also toilet seat does not fit properly very dissapointed with you and owner response to these problems when we communitated wiyh you

The house was beautiful and clean, the only minor criticism is that the quilts on single beds not suitable for adults only reach 1/2 way up The house is in a good position with all the mod cons you need Thank you for letting us share your lovely home

Amazing place to stay will book again thought of everything only thing missing is a little map didnt realise everything was so close perfect stay

The cottage is beautiful, well equipped and comfortable.

We were given one towel each, we could have done with more. The cottage is 10+ minutes walk to the nearest shop, the description does not state that this is quite steep, therefore this would be unsuitable for less able people.

Martingale was absolutely beautiful.

Situated in an extremely quiet street, we never heard a thing outside day or night, yet within easy walking distance of Torquay, albeit with a steep hill involved. The house was immaculate inside and had everything we needed for our stay. Everything was furnished to a very high standard and we absolutely loved staying there.

The cottage is in a quiet location, hardly any traffic.

The cottage was very clean and has a welcoming feel as you walked in. All the fittings were way above my expectations, pleasantly surprised. I would recommend this cottage wholeheartedly.