Swinhope View

I would say that this accommodation is geared more towards people who walk with dogs which I understood from description.

Did not expect luxury as long as basic requirements were there which they were. Comfortable sofa, comfortable bed excellent shower, adequate, equipped kitchen. Fantastic site with amazing views and easy driving to Hexham, Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria & Durham. Lots of history re Lead Mining. Very interesting. The only thing that let's this cottage down (Big Time) are the steps to kitchen and shower as they are a hazard for people of all ages! Totally unnecessary as plenty of space to make 5 steps instead of 3 thereby making them shallower and easier for all. Some cleaning needs attention on Velux kitchen window and kitchen lights both of which are greasy with cobwebs but overall the property met our expectations. The only thing that would stop us from returning are the steep steps to kitchen and terrible quality of chopped up pallets for burning.

Unique cottage in the most beautiful, peaceful setting.

Would certainly hook again. Points to note We used what three words and found the cottage easily. We arrived at night time but lamps were lit and bottle of Prosecco to welcome us on the table. Water drinkable but we didn’t like the taste so recommend you take bottled water in case you don’t like it either. No internet/wifi but good phone signal. (We are on EE) Tv very small basic and signal with aerial hit and miss but views from window width watching more than any tv. Garden gate does need a good push to open it but nothing major. Bed super comfy. Shower great. No issues at all with hot water or heating. The cottage was lovely and warm. Underfloor heating in kitchen was great. Bedroom has large wall mirror above fireplace but could do with a small vanity mirror near to bed or plugs for when drying hair/doing make up but this just a suggestion not essential. Coop and butchers in Allendake stocked everything we needed. Cottage spacious. Yes you need to watch your head in some of the doorways but you soon adapt. We had some lovely lazy days and the week flew by. It was just what we needed to recharge our batteries. Thank you for a lovely stay.

We had such a wonderful time at the cottage, which was comfortable, warm and well-furnished.

The location was perfect - both remote and within an hour's walk to a pub - as were the views over the valleys and the stars at night! The only things which could be improved would be leaving a few condiments - salt, pepper, and maybe cooking oil, a bit more information about the property (where bins go, location of firewood, etc), and oiling the front gate which was rather stiff. These were very small things in an overall lovely experience. We'll definitely plan on coming back to explore Allendale.

Lovely cottage.

So quiet and relaxing place to stay. Everything provided In the cottage Great hosts

#four days without hot running water and having to purchase bottled water from Allendale (6 miles away) this all do to the spring water supply being replaced by bowser tank supply which was chemically treated (undrinkable) No hand rail at the steep steps between the lounge and the kitchen.

also a lack of light over the dining table A very noisy pump that runs every time water is used On the plus side the cottages position and its surrounded countryside is wonderful and is worth a visit.

We had a 3 night stay in Swinhope View.

The listing on Sykes website was accurate. The steps up to the cottage from the road were ok for us as it was dry throughout our stay, but can imagine it might be tricky if wet as last “step” to road was just grass. This would become muddy in the rain making it difficult. Inside the cottage, the steps to kitchen are deep, as described, and need care. Maybe a hand rail on one side might help? Having got the “negatives” out of the way, we had a fantastic stay. The cottage is set in a most idyllic spot with amazing views from the front. Inside is comfortable and you will find the basics you need. Both beds were very comfortable and the shower was good too. We drove to Alston one day and then onto Middleton on Teesdale. The scenery was beautiful, a lovely route. The following day was spent at the cottage, relaxing, watching the rabbits playing on the field opposite. We were also visited by a hare (we think, as he was much bigger), who came and sat outside the kitchen window for ages. We really had to drag ourselves away from this cottage, and its environs, and would love to go back again for a longer stay. Thank you.

It started when we arrived at the cottage, the front gate was locked &n we had to climb over the garden wall to get to the front door (we're both in our 70's).

When we tried to light the log burner there was no fuel or means to light it as we don't smoke. We tried for 1 hour to start the central heating but failed so we spent the night with our overcoates on. When we tried to use the kettle we found the inside was filthy so had to boil the water in the microwave. We booked & paid for 3 nights but left after 1.

We had a lovely stay at Swinhope.

Although there were a few teething troubles with heating on the first couple of days, they were resolved by the neighbour. We would definitely recommend this property to others. Thank you John for a lovely stay.

Another fabulous relaxing week at this cosy cottage .

Views never fail to disappoint irrespective of the time of year or weather .Amazing night skies . Cottage as comfortable as ever . We’ve already booked another return . Thank you .

Another fantastic stay at this lovely cosy cottage with a warm welcome by the locals .

If you’re wanting an away from it all holiday where you can recharge your batteries in comfort and take in all the wonders of nature then this ticks the boxes . Fabulous walks from the door mean if you come well equipped you needn’t even drive anywhere , although we’d thoroughly recommend driving across the 5 county borders and amazing scenery that has to offer. The wildlife is amazing just sit and be patient. We have read some of the less positive reviews and can only say remember this is a cottage I’m rural Britain. Before booking folks should read the details of the cottage as it’s a true reflection of the place and what it has to offer . We will definitely be back. It would be worth the cottage details on the booking site noting that the off road parking is just down the road but you can park outside to load and unload carrying things up some natural steps to the front door . Therefore may not suit those with mobility impairments.

The cottage was warm and cosy The location was great, very remote and quite But.

... Blue bottles Insects Dust Very low ceilings Trip hazards on steps at kitchen Banister wobbly and unsure if one could use Decorated items very dated and just spoils a nice looking farm cottage Just a wee step up, to make this place so much better Allendale is a great village and shop, which was handy!

It was listed of road parking , but it was not of road parking !

! My partner was disabled so I had to Carry things from the van up to the cottage . The path way was not a good path for him as he’s unsteady on his feet . The path was not a prober path slates just laid down ., The floor in the lounge was uneven and see the damp proof showing ! We could not get a very good picture on the tv ! My partner nearly fell down the kitchen steps as they are to big and far apart . And he hurt his elbow . The place had not been cleaned properly., The water was brown when ran it ! We was not told about that ! I found lots of bottle of water under the sink ! The only thing that worked for us was the four poster bed ! This is a place we would not stay again as there was no shops or Pubs close by like we were told about saying there were pubs around and an Indian which we could not find !! It’s is quiet and Tranquil .

No obvious instructions about whether to strip bed linen.

heating controls sorted after finding in a drawer. I contacted you about 2 broken garden chairs. These were already broken when we arrived. Nothing should be deducted from my debit card that you are holding re good housekeeping bond. Cottage was left clean a d tidy.no freezer. Lovely views and very quiet. I would book again with Sykes

Beautiful view

This cottage is a hideaway with fabulous views , very comfortable and the locals so friendly .

It is exactly as described and therefore the expectations of previous people who reviewed were above and beyond what the listing offered . We are used to living off grid and so took our portable WiFi with us the reception was excellent . The garden is a gorgeous wild garden with various areas to sit out if the wind and enjoy the views , peace and quiet and bird life .

We had a lovely weekend at the cottage.

The only thing we struggled with was the heating, didn’t have it on at all. However, underfloor heating and wood burner were great

Wonderful cottage with stunning views and dog friendly.

Had an issue with the heating, which was sorted straight away with the help of Sykes and the owners. The instructions for the boiler and cooker, which i found later, are in the kitchen. Standing the tv ariel on a wooden log nearer the window also worked for a better tv reception as advised by a previous review. Great walk available next to the cottage, with fabulous views of the area. Visit the Golden Lion pub in Allendale, a lovely traditional pub, for a chat with the locals. I would recommend more current leaflets on things to do in the area. We would vist again.

Stayed at many Sykes cottages in the past, this one was booked at very short notice but was the first time we have been disappointed.

There was no WI-FI and the TV was not a smart TV , both advertised as included so our plan to catch up on our TV programmes on the dark nights fell apart, furthermore the tv aerial was an indoor one which on arrival was on the window sill and provided no signal until I stood it on a log closer to the window , limited TV channels. Be prepared to live out of a suitcase, the cottage sleeps 4 but there are only 2 bedside cabinets in the upstairs bedroom, no hanging space anywhere. No instructions for the central heating which appeared to be set on warm and the day and time on the programmer were incorrect, managed to get some heat with trial and error fortunately there were plenty logs supplied for the stove. Car parking is away from the cottage in a small quarry area which is not a huge area but it also serves as the bin bay for approximately 12 wheelie bins some of which had toppled over in the wind. I spent the first day picking up litter including open food tins that could injure our dog , then worried the rest of the week about our car being damaged by bins blown over by the strong winds . Our holiday end day was Saturday but we packed up and left on Friday morning as soon as we got up. The cottage has lovely features and huge potential but a little more thought is needed regarding facilities…..the parking/bin problem is not the sole responsibility of the owner to rectify but I wouldn’t stay there again

Absolutely fantastic cottage.

This was just what we wanted miles from anywhere with lots of country walks with the dog. Would have been perfect if it had a upstairs toilet. Very warm and cozy for our winter break..