Dog Friendly County Durham Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Judith - Verified booking

  Firstly the good points.

  The accommodation is well positioned within the town with everything on the doorstep. It was generally clean and tidy when we arrived (but see below). The large garden was great for our grandchildren who joined us during our stay. The bad points: outside – steep steps down to the house would benefit from some proper lighting. The barbecue was rusty and not very clean, we didn’t feel inclined to use it. The log burner was rusty, full of ashes and burned through at the base – again it wasn’t really usable. We tried for several days to get the hot tub to heat up (instructions in the house were basically a brochure for a range of different tubs so not specific to the one installed at Knights Corner and not very clear). Finally contacted the owner who replied to say “press the heat button”. We’d already done this without success (it’s actually labelled “warm”). Two very helpful maintenance guys from the castle turned up the following day and tried several times to get it to work They came back three times during the day and said they thought there was a problem with it before it finally started to heat up and tried twice to contact the owner without success. We were finally able to use it once the evening before we left. Inside – house and wardrobes smelt musty when we arrived; we had to buy a plug in air freshener. TV remotes needed cleaning; the oven wasn’t cleaned properly and there was a burnt fat smell when we first turned it on. The extractor hood for the cooker wasn’t working – in an open plan property this is a must – and from other reviews we’ve seen this has been a problem since last year. Only half of the toaster worked and the kitchen itself wasn’t particularly well equipped (for example, there was one shallow serving dish for a property accommodating six people). The bathroom toilet leaked and the plug in the bathroom sink didn’t work. Five days after we returned home, having heard nothing regarding return of our damage deposit, I contacted the owner who immediately sent back photos of damage we had allegedly caused. I wasn’t aware of any damage and would have expected to be contacted much sooner if there was any issue, not much later in response to my request for the deposit to be returned. In short, for a property costing as much as this one to rent, there are too many negatives and I would not recommend it. For anyone considering a Stanhope Castle breaks please look at the more recent reviews which are available on many different websites.

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• Roy - Verified booking

  This property has been renovated to the highest possible standards.

  It’s simply fantastic. We’ve just returned home from 10. Superb nights. We always look for minimum four star, preferably five. This is by far the best property we’ve stayed in in the UK. Katey and her family live two minutes away, and are super helpful. Nothing being too much trouble. There is off-road parking for a minimum of 4/5 cars The lawned garden wraps around the property with a table and a seating area and a barbecue area. The views from the garden are fantastic, uninterrupted panoramic views of all the open countryside. The best view is to the west where you see the forest and the hills, and it’s relaxing, watching the sunset On entering the property through the front porch to the left of the hallway is the large kitchen diner and lounge To the right of the hallway is the downstairs double bedroom which is of a good size next to. That is a brilliant utility room with plenty of space for storage and a spare fridge. Next to that is the downstairs wet room which is six star. absolutely fantastic with the rain shower with attachment, wash basin and WC Upstairs there are two double bedrooms both are good size one being twin beds there’s a shower room with rain shower and attachment basin and WC. The main bedroom is an excellent size with an ensuite consisting of bath, rainshower attachments above wash basin and WC. All fitted to the highest possible standard. The beds are extremely comfortable. The property is a great position to explore County Durham with all the wonderful history and scenery. We will definitely return Wishing everyone happy holidays. Cheers.

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• Cat - Verified booking

  Our group was 5 adults, a 3 year old and 2 dogs.

  The property was absolutely perfect for us in terms of size and layout, allowing for the dog owners to take the downstairs double bedroom to be near them overnight. The enclosed garden was a great bonus for dogs and kid, but our chosen weekend was on the cold side so I'm sure we'd use it more in the summer months. We had a great welcome to the property and found everything we needed once inside for cooking etc. The owners left a great pack with local info and tailored recommendations for our child, as she had called us to check who was coming and how old they were. She had also left lots of toys and some children's bowls/cutlery etc which meant less to pack in the car. The contact with our host was great and she was always on hand to answer questions. The place is nicely decorated and very clean. The beds were very comfortable too. In terms of local area, we visited the vast Hamsterly forest numerous times for dog walks, never seeing the same part twice. The riverside walk from the visitor centre was perfect for our 3 year old and included lots of playgrounds and a Gruffalo activity. Fish and chips from Miners Munchies was nice (cash only) and we visited a couple of localish pubs. Despite the cold we had the most amazing skies with expanded views over the hills. I'm sure we'll be back in the future, maybe in the summer months next time!

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• Alison - Verified booking

  Another fabulous week at Knights Corner!

  The apartment is spacious with comfortable seating and a great dining table. The beds are super comfy with plenty of wardrobe and drawer storage space. Good showers in both bathrooms. Towels and robes provided. The kitchen is well equipped. Huge fridge and freezer. The grounds are fantastic and the hot tub a real treat. The fire pit worked well. The local co-op sells firewood but bring long skewers if you want to toast marshmallows. We used the barbecue as a stand for a disposable one but you can't buy these locally because of the risk of causing a fire when not used safely. The woodland walk in the grounds is beautiful but use the path from the patio area or risk the nettles. Shops and pubs are a short walk away. The pubs no longer serve food but the takeaways are good and the baker's is amazing. The Dales Centre has a lovely cafe and gift shops. The river is also just a short walk away and lovely for a paddle if the weather's good. The village is pretty, the people are friendly, the air is fresh and the accommodation amazing. What more could you want?

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• Laura - Verified booking

  Pepper Cottage is incredible.

  Abby has done a beautiful job making the house comfortable, homely, fun and practical with so many fantastic touches that make it a real pleasure to stay there. The house is designed and styled tastefully and artistically and she really has thought about what people want from a family holiday. The kitchen is brand new and airy while reception rooms are warm and cosy, stocked with everything you need including great games. The bedrooms are restful and comfortable. There is even a room for the dog and the garden is particularly beautiful. The egg chairs are fantastic! We were made extremely welcome with lovely, generous food/wine/coffee welcome pack. Wolsingham itself is great with so many walks, a fantastic pub with a Monday live music evening (Bay Horse), nice cafe, and Durham just up the road. I didn’t want to leave and I hope to be back at some point soon. Thank you for one of the best holidays we’ve had.

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