Whistlewood

This was our second visit to Whistlewood, and the recent updates have made it even more comfortable, we love the house as it is homely, with interesting books with relaxing sofas to chill.

The location, just over 5 min walk to the beach, and centre of Bamburgh is perfect for an early morning beach swim and ballgame with the dogs. The enclosed garden is great for dogs, just to let them out quickly. The house is spacious, we were 2 people and 2 dogs, with washing machine and tumble dryer a massive bonus to go home with clean clothes and dog towels. We'd definitely stay again if we were coming to Bamburgh.

We had a fantastic weekend in Bamburgh staying at whistlewood.

The cottage is gorgeous & extremely spacious & comfortable. All rooms were clean & tidy & the welcome pack was appreciated. The only addition we would have liked was handwash/ soap in the bathrooms but this was easily overcome as we used our shower gel. We would definitely rebook & ideally for longer next time.

Great location and bamburgh is lovely 1 minute walk to restaurant and pubs and village centre and 10 minute walk to the beach.

Accommodation is as described, and the garden is enclosed if you have dogs. There is work going on at the house next door which didn’t affect us as we were out most of the day. The accommodation is spacious, could do with updating in parts curtains in bedrooms, carpets etc. I would stay again

We had a wonderful time and loved the large open-plan kitchen area.

The kitchen however needs some improvements with some of the equipment for example: the pan, which did not actually sit flat to work on the induction hob, the fridge had a broken shelf and a lot of the utensils were old or broken. The kitchen table was also quite small for 6 of us. The outdoor area looked lovely but there was a lot of bird poo everywhere so we could not use it. We would come back but upstairs needs some TLC and decoration especially the small bedroom as this has a few issues. There was also a TV that was not tuned in. Many thanks and we did like it there especially the location and kitchen.

The cottage is great and it would be wonderful in the summer as the back garden is made for celebrations with friends and family.

Would recommend replacing the floor in the kitchen - it is broken tiles and makes sounds when you walk on it. It really lets the rest of the cottage down.

Lovely house, in a lovely location.

The accomodation was reflective of the photographs, the property was full of character, spacious and in a wonderful position -close to the beach, cafes and pubs.

The decor reflected the character of the property. The stone kitchen floor was great for coming in with wet, sandy and muddy feet.

We booked Feb 2nd for 5 nights at a cost of £650.

00, unfortunately the cottage did not live up to our expectations & doesn't warrant the price tag (or 4 ticks). The positives regarding the cottage: It's in a great location & the cottage itself is a nice layout, nice open plan kitchen & new looking utility/boot room. Not one but 5 TV's to keep everyone entertained & an attractive, contained garden for the dryer months. The not so good bits: Our biggest issue was the building work being carried in the attached cottage, it's a full renovation. There is no mention of this when you book & part with your hard earned cash or reflection, in the cost. The building work started in October & will carry on for a good few months yet. I now know that the owner & Sykes are fully aware, the owner opposed planning, for obvious reasons. I realise the level of noise will vary throughout the renovation but unfortunately, during our stay, it was very noticeable & greatly impacted our holiday. We were also disappointed by the general cleanliness & condition of the cottage, it was poor. The cobwebs in the downstairs windows were huge, how anyone could miss them is beyond me. A lot of our issues are highlighted in previous reviews, so in my opinion, the issues are not being dealt with: Lack of TLC/carpets/shower/damp patch front room/external bins/curtains/no starter kit for the log burner. With regards to the bins perhaps a framed notice near the back door would work better. As regular visitors to the area, we generally don't read files. I put the recycling bin out & noticed the black bin was rammed full & very heavy. The next guests would have to deal with it, despite no room for any waste of their own. The curtains downstairs are tired, they are also full length so hang directly over the only 2 radiators downstairs. We had to sit the curtains on the window ledge so they didn't block the heat. I contacted Sykes, whilst we were there to let them know our thoughts, we backed this up with photos & a video as requested. We were offered compensation, from the owner & Northumbrian Coast & Country (who actually manage the property) which we accepted 'but' our stay was ruined. We left after 3 nights, with hindsight, the compensation only really covered this loss. I certainly don't want to effect the owners business as he has no control over the building work but I think it's only fair that I leave this honest, factual review.

Good value, lovely cottage in a great location, cosy living space and large kitchen/diner with plenty of cooking equipment.

Nice outdoor space for good weather/ summertime. Had an issue with the combi boiler which was rectified within 30 minutes of reporting it. Think this property could increase its star rating with a little TLC such as freshening paintwork, new soft furnishings, addressing some minor snags, bit of tidying up in the garden and a deep clean. Also there was no hand soap or general basics such as salt and pepper although there was a small cleaning pack plus small pack of tea coffee and biscuits. We would definitely return though.

Lovely stay, we really enjoyed our time at this well designed and comfortable cottage, perfectly located within the village.

The dog proof garden was a bonus as we have a canine escape artist. Property could do with a little refurbishment as some of the electrical goods are past thier prime from heavy use, and the drainage from the shower soon backflowed. Needs a better system for enptying the bins as collection is mid week, we had no idea if it was for balck bin or reccyling waste, and both the house and wheelie bins wer already full on arrival!

The property is very tired and in need of a refurb.

I accept it was half term pricing but not worth anywhere near £1400. There is damp and flaking paint in the living room, a hole in the bedroom floor covered by carpet, no soap or towel in the downstairs toilet, the slow cooker is broken, no fuel left for the fire, overall very disappointing. We have stayed in many properties in the area and it is very unusual to find one as poor as this.

Whistledown is in a very convenient location in Bamburgh village .

It’s a warm , comfortable property but it is tired and in need of refurbishing to reflect the rental prices , particularly regarding heavy stains on the bedroom carpets and very tired curtains / blinds . The shelf in the door of the fridge was broken and we were amazed that there were no cleaning products whatsoever , including washing up liquid or bathroom soap left for guests . There wasn’t a hand towel in the downstairs toilet . We have stayed in many holiday houses in Bamburgh and they have always provided the above which is not a great ask . The vacuum cleaner there was very inefficient too . It would have been a lot easier if more mugs / cups and crockery were available .

Beautiful cottage in an ideal location for the castle, pubs, restaurants & shops.

Very well maintained inside & out. Had everything we needed for our stay. Very quiet & peaceful in the garden. Would definitely stay here again if we're in the area.

The cottage was lovely and was our second visit, however a bit disappointing to have no soap or towel in the downstairs cloakroom….

The lack of basic cleaning products ( just one j cloth and one scourer ) is not acceptable…. The cooker also needs a good deep clean….. the en suite bathroom needs attention…. To use the shower it’s unavoidable to get water everywhere, a shower curtain or screen is definitely needed…. However cottage is do well situated and the outdoor space was lovely ( only stayed in winter before)

We stay in cottages a couple of times a year and in general it was lovely.

The location was perfect. Comfy beds and sofas are important to us and the sofas were very disappointing - in desperate need of replacement. The beds were comfy but I was suggest new pillows in the master bedroom as they were quite flat - appreciate this is personal preference. In the kitchen there were plenty of pans and oven dishes but I would be inclined to provide fewer better quality pans and baking trays. The washing machine is very loud, it likely needs a good clean.

Lovely cosy comfortable cottage.

Well equipped. Perfect location. There seems to be a leak from the shower with water dripping through the ceiling just above the kitchen/utility room door - the plaster looks water damaged so likely begin leaking for a while. Didn’t affect our stay but probably something that needs sorted!

Very spacious with good linen and towels.

Very well equipped kitchen but some bowls etc dusty. Grest location. However house wss very cold and no wood was left for the fire. Back gsrden is unusable and dangerous. Shower ran hot snd cold and chairs in lounge grubby. Could be amazing if above points addressed.

This was our second visit to Whistlewood.

The cottage is ideally situated in the heart of Bamburgh and is perfect for our family. Unfortunately, we were a little disappointed with our stay this time as there were a couple of issues which, in our opinion, were unacceptable given the amount we paid. Firstly, the shower leaks pretty badly and leaves a large puddle in the kitchen. Water damage is visible in the kitchen so I don’t think this is a new issue and I would recommend the owners address it urgently. Secondly, we were given no information about when the rubbish would be collected during the holidays (our stay was over New Year). We assumed the owners would take care of it at the end of our stay, however, when we took our waste out towards the end of our holiday, we were shocked to find the dustbins overflowing with rubbish from previous guests and bags piled up beside them. We had no option but to just add to the piles of waste. It was pretty unhygienic and I hope the owners sort it before anymore guests arrive.

Comfortable cottage for family of four and dog in a brilliant location for the village and castle of Bamburgh and the beach for the dog.

The cottage is warm comfortable and facilities are good for the price. We loved the open plan kitchen dining and the space was bigger than expected. The small garden was perfect for the dog to have some space and in the summer it must be lovely. Only gripes are that the crockery is tired and chipped and should be replaced and more mugs and cutlery ( esp knives) would be helpful for families staying. But a lovely break thank you

We loved our stay.

Wonderful homely cottage with good facilities and a great location. Only a 10 mins walk to the beach and a pub, restaurant and 2 hotel bars just a few minutes up the road. Lovely outdoor space for the dogs too.

Great place and great location - would def recommend and would like to re visit

The house is in excellent location but is looking very tired.

The boiler needs servicing as the house smelt of the oil from boiler. The freezer is constantly buzzing and as it is in kitchen/dining area it is quite intrusive. The Sky box subscription needs updating. And I was very concerned about location of microwave. Bring only 5ft tall the microwave was almost above head height and very dangerous when removing hot foot. Finally maybe invest in front door mat.

Chest of draws need attention as they were difficult to open and close.

More cleaning items and dishwasher tablets, we had to buy some. A few more mugs/cups would be useful. Apart from this it is a lovely cottage and we would stay again.

My dispute is not being managed on a personal level I am unable to talk to a person at Sykes all I get is emails and in the chat I have been ignored

Whistlewood is an utterly charming property in a superb location in the heart of Bamburgh.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to return in the future. (I've only taken a point off the Facilities and Maintenance section because the shower was leaking, which caused a puddle to form on the kitchen floor!)

The property was very spacious with a very well equipped kitchen.

It was great having 2 bathrooms and downstairs WC. I loved having a larder and 2 fridges meant we had a food fridge and drinks fridge, very convenient. Quirky little lounge area upstairs is good to have quiet time from downstairs lounge. There is a bbq covered area but it would be useful in the property description if it added that you need to bring your own portable bbq set as we brought coals, firefighters and bbq food only to find there wasn’t a working bbq. The mugs need replacing as a few were cracked and leaked but that is not a complaint, just feedback to the owners. Fabulous location, straight off the high street. I would return to this property.

When w been emptied for weeks e arrived the bin in the en suite had not been emptied.

As there were no plastic bags in the bins this was unpleasant. The recycling bin in the kitchen had not been emptied. The general was bin in the garden seemed not to have been emptied in weeks, it had also had grass cuttings in it. It was so heavy I had great difficulty moving it to get the recycling bin out. The general waste bin is now full to overflowing and, had I been staying this week, I would not have been able to move it. There were no spare toilet rolls. The oven had been cleaned but the cleaning medium had not been cleaned off; Doubtful it was safe to use.

Whistlewood is a very comfortable, pet friendly cottage.

The large kitchen is well equipped and was a great space to enjoy with the whole family. The cottage was warm and clean and on our arrival and remained comfortably warm throughout our stay. The enclosed back garden was great for the dogs and was quiet and peaceful. The cottage is in a great position as it is tucked away from the Main Street but is within walking distance of the beach and castle. The parking spaces were a real bonus in this busy little village!

Lovely spacious house, well fitted out and wonderful location.

On arrival we were met by overwhelming oil fumes.

We feel we should have been informed of this before arrival and offered the chance to cancel, be relocated, or proceed with our stay at discounted rates. We were informed that there had been and oil leak and the fumes should go. However there remained a strong smell throughout our stay and we informed you and we left a day early. We would appreciate some compensation for this unpleasantness.

What a lovely cottage - everything we needed and more.

Website and company are great to deal with. We will definitely be returning. Thank you

We have stayed in many holiday cottages in Bamburgh and agreed that Whistlewood was our favourite by far.

It’s like a home from home and is very well equipped, we had everything we needed and enjoyed cooking in the amazing farmhouse style kitchen and then relaxing in front of the perfect wood burning stove. The bedrooms are comfortable with lots of storage. Location is great for dog walks on the beach followed by a nice meal or drink in the village and two parking spaces was an added bonus. The only areas for improvement (and there aren’t many) would be a family size toaster (4 slices) as this would speed up breakfast and the curtains in the main bedroom could also do with replacing as they kept falling off their hooks. We will be back!

An absolutely 'home from home' property where we had an incredibly comfortable stay.

Everything was just as listed (or better). Thank you for thinking of all the little things that make a holiday away from home work so well. We only used a fraction of the TV sets at Whistlewood, but the books (especially the recipe books) were very appreciated reading. We had a lovely, peaceful holiday.

We booked Whistlewood early last year for a stay over Xmas.

After seeing recent reviews we were dubious about the cleanliness, comfort and heating with the cottage however, we absolutely loved our stay! Yes the sofas could do with an upgrade but all in all it was perfect. Plenty of space, the facilities were superb! 2 fridges and a washing machine and tumble dryer made our stay even easier! Beautiful location just minutes walk from the beach. We would definitely recommend!

We have just returned from a lovely week in Whistlewood.

Weather a bit iffy but one doesn’t go to Northumberland for the weather. We have stayed in this cottage many times and we love it. It is immaculately clean and well presented. Yes there are some issue but what home doesn’t have those. What I can never understand however is that when the cost of energy is so high why there is a huge sofa blocking the heat from the radiator in the sitting room and same with the church pew and old chair in the kitchen diner, removing those would give more heat, more space especially getting round the kitchen table. The armchairs in the sitting room are terribly comfortable but sad to say the sofas are too big for this room snd are past their best by date, We did have two problems both of which were resolved promptly snd with kindness and patience. The agency lady who helped me, Jaquie, is an absolute star. Kind, helpful and patient particularly when I seemed to be stupid enough to lock myself out because I didn’t have the strength in my hands to turn the key properly in the back door. We have already booked for next year Thank you to the NCCC staff for letting us stay in Whistlewood. Sarah

The cottage was comfortable enough on the whole, well equipped with most things, but there were a few issues.

Firstly, there is now only one log burner, this needs updating on your website. There was no starter pack for the fire and only 3 logs supplied, so we had go directly to the shops on arriving in order that we could have a fire on the first night to buy kindling and matches, there was nowhere in the village that had firelighters, so we purchased those the next day with more logs. There was no ash bucket (unless we were supposed to use the little 'coal skuttle' next to the fire, but this wasn't fit for purpose as it was too narrow for the size of the ash collecting pan from the log burner) and there were no heat resistant gloves to prevent being burnt when wanting to add extra logs. Unfortunately we ran out of hot water when we wanted a bath and there seemed no way of boosting the hot water - all on a timer. The curtain rail in the lounge also collapses when you draw it. We also found the beds a little saggy

Lovely property and we had a really good stay.

The kitchen was well equipped and the laundry area was a real bonus. It could do with a general update however and a good clean, pillows were too flat and the main bedroom could do with a larger bed and also a shower in the en-suite (not a hand held shower). The double bed in the second room was very rickety, felt like the bed was going to fall apart at every move. The living room furniture could do with being updated, the chairs looked a bit grimy and the sofas were uncomfortable. When you are charging over £1000 a week (nearly £1500 for our week) I don’t think the updates needed are too costly. Having said that we probably would visit again as the location is so good.

It’s a lovely cottage, the kitchen is very well equipped and the dining area a nice social space, we cooked there several times.

The “ boot room” was useful too with the washing machine and tumble dryer( good for cossies after a swim in the sea!) It’s spacious and the garden is lovely and would be a real bonus in the summer months. A few things let it down unfortunately; the double bed in the smaller room was very uncomfortable and rackety. The sofas in the front room and the chair in the kitchen are quite old and worn as are some of the curtains. I think maybe it’s in need of a general update, it’s a bit worn out in places. If these were addressed I would recommend it as overall it’s a lovely cottage and we had a really great stay with our friends. It’s ideally placed in the beautiful town and the 2 parking spaces are a real bonus.

This is a pleasant, cosy and warm cottage that is well furnished and our needs were well provided for.

However it was badly let down by very poor cleaning with dead insects and dust on most window ledges. The garden is cosy and quite well laid out but the garden furniture had to be cleaned of dirt and bird droppings before it could be used; perhaps it should be covered up rather than guests having to clean it before it can be used. The specifications for the cottage do not mention the front access, which is some 20 yards away from the parking area along a narrow pathway (trip hazard where cracked) which has bushes either side along its length. These bushes need cutting back as some caught on clothing. Also, this path is used as a thoroughfare, with people walking directly past the front windows, causing dogs to bark. In the bedrooms, the pillows wer too flat, the mattress was not comfortable and a larger than double size would have been appreciated. The shower cubicle is small and tired and the ensuite to the main bedroom has a bath only. For a cottage that cost £1200 for a week it should have been better. We enjoyed our stay, the cottage is perfectly adequate, Bamburgh and the area are lovely and we would go again but not to this same cottage.

A super cottage in a great location with parking.

Nice feel and size (it’s actually a double Cottage) with a perfect enclosed quiet garden for two dogs. Kitchen is lovely, airy, and well equipped and a cosy environment to sit in. Sitting room has comfy sofas, warm lamps and there is another snug area upstairs so we can separate as a family with teens. Great boot room for storage and Laundry facilities. Two fridges, separate dryer. Improvements? For the top rental cost, it could do with an overhaul; appliances like the dishwasher hard to work the buttons, general wear and tear like aging furniture and cushions, paintwork etc. Pillows far too flat (wish we had brought our own). Downstairs loo could do with liquid soap and a hand towel. Garden looking scruffy. None of this mattered for us. And we would highly recommend. Note the village doesn’t have a general store at all - can buy loo roll / basic vegetables in the bakery and there is an excellent butcher as well as some fantastic restaurants! Seahouse ten mins away drive for shops. We used Tesco for an online delivery and I saw an Asda van as well - Waitrose doesn’t deliver here.

Excellent accommodation for family/ friends break.

Contained garden is great for kids and dogs. Lamp bulbs in lounge not working but hot and light so didn’t need them! Note bbq ‘ area’ does not include equipment so need to take own. Otherwise fully equipped and highly recommend this property!

Just some hand soap to start you off in the bathrooms would be helpful a few little touches would make this 5 star.

Beautifully clean and comfy though

Ideal cottage for large family (and dog) with three good size bedrooms, two bathrooms, very cosy lounge and kitchen/dining area.

It has everything in terms of facilities and great outdoor space for all including dog. It is ideally located in the centre of Bamburgh with its own parking space an added bonus. Perfect location to explore Bamburgh itself and the beautiful Northumberland coast. Would highly recommend.

You have a lovely cottage, so peaceful, well equipped and comfortable.

We did have issues with lack of heating and hot water. A maintenance man did come out but we still had problems which was a shame as we couldn’t have a hot shower/ bath. The garden is lovely but could do with a good tidy up. The allocated parking had a big skip in it (apparently for number 1) luckily for us not all the holiday cottages were occupied so we managed to park.

Property was perfect for us although it is probably in need of a bit of money spent on it now as it felt a bit ‘tired’.

Wouldn’t stop us rebooking though.

We loved our stay at Whistlewood.

Really lovely comfy cottage, with a great kitchen, and so close to the restaurants. A shame the weather didn’t let us utilise the garden as much as we’d hoped. Maybe next time.

Could be a lovely property with a little bit of maintenance.

Currently no locks on bathroom doors; no shower curtain in en-suite; several curtain rails falling off; Missing handles from cupboards; a lot of lightbulbs broken; etc.

No heating and no hot water on Sunday morning.

This was rectified shortly after lunch by one of your staff. The boiler had lost pressure. Didn't get her name but she did a great job helping us out. No logs left out and the log store was locked.

The cottage is in a fabulous location.

Beds and towels pristine. The rest of the cottage just needs a little but TLC. Little things like chipped mugs and plates and I wiped down all the kitchen surfaces as I always do on arrival at any cottage , unfortunately they were grubby.

A superb cottage.

Very well equipped and with lovely furnishing and fittings. Garden very safe, secure and dog friendly. Warm and cosy at all times. Very convenient for Bamburgh shops.

The property is beautiful, very well stocked with a fabulous kitchen.

......

Wonderful.

.......a house I would love to own!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Whistle Wood.

An outstanding holiday property!

Great location of the property being so close to the beach and the amenities in Bamburgh which we loved!

The garden was big and was a lovey place to sit out in the evening. It was well enclosed for the dog as well

Charming property in the heart of Bamburgh.

Well equipped and a lovely garden. Would definitely book it again

Cosy terraced property tucked away behind the main street in Bamburgh.

Well equipped and comfortable, excellent shower! Beautifully quiet at night. Excellent location.