Big Cottages & Group Accommodation in Kendal

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Allan - Verified booking

  Kentmere Fell Views holiday cottage is set at the end of a quite valley, lovely views.

  The cottage is reached down a 4 mile single track road that is not for the faint hearted, very few of the locals are inclined to back up so allow plenty of time for the trip. The tractors go very fast. On arrival the porch was dirty and dusty. We found several unserviceable items including one of the 2 hobs in the main kitchen (owner aware but not fixed) there are another 2 in the “small kitchen”. Having to use the 3 available hobs over 2 kitchens to cook the same thing in 2 pans did not make meals a family dining experience. It is also a safety risk moving between kitchens with hot pans. Noting it is a 6 person property induction pans big enough to cook for 6 would be useful addition. Be aware the “fan Oven” icon on the dial was the defrost setting. There is nowhere to store groceries in the main kitchen. The oven in the small kitchen made a terrible noise, also note the “fan Oven” icon on the dial was the defrost setting (no instruction book available). The downstairs shower/toilet door does not close from the outside, a hygiene issue at it is the only door between the 2 kitchens and you have to walk past it when using the other hobs. With the induction hob in the main kitchen needing induction pans. The pans were mixed up between the 2 kitchens. Very small kitchen can use conventional pans. The general level of cleanliness was poor, dust and debris in main rooms particularly around the bottom of the fridge/freezer and cookers. The “rustic” table had mouldy food in the cracks (hygiene issue). We could not use the main oven because it was filthy and had the most awful smell. The Information pack was in poor condition, loose and dirty pages. It would be a good idea to print out new sheets and laminate. Especially after Covid. In the information age it could be made available along with all manuals online, e.g. a Dropbox folder, you could then view before arrival. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jw2b3r3mwujyrdzcfjui7/ADPGqTeLKUHk8NJOexZnqD8?rlkey=ldmwb566rul780bgqbnvn0sa6&st=7g6fmt37&dl=0 We arrived on the Sunday, informed Lakelovers the owner of the problems, cleaners came on Tuesday to clean the oven. Tradesmen came on the Wednesday to look at the oven in the small kitchen. My Granddaughters are 12 and 7. It was not a pleasant experience to witness cleaners and tradesmen coming in twice. Indeed, seeing the state of the oven and the smell. We did take photos of all the issues. We went out to eat. We would not recommend; the owner was more interested in what we paid than the issues. Lakelovers informed us the owner was aware of the hotplate not working. Lakelovers and the owner have been informed and hopefully will address all the issues for future guests.

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• Julie - Verified booking

  Lovely property in an ideal location, majority of it was excellent, everything you need in the kitchen comfortable beds and nice bathrooms, which is most important.

  Nice cottage lounge, which i never used as out all day, and evenings we went to bed after cooking evening meals as we were shattered after long walking days. Cottage always felt warm and cosy. We did have a couple of niggles but this would not stop us from staying again, as issues which can be easily put right. These included a hoover that did not work, my husband had to clear the blocked tube, clean filter, empty full canister of dirt and unravel hair and dirt wrapped around brushes, however it still did not pickup and we resorted to a sweeping brush. Some cooking utensils and pan in oven we had to wash before use as thick with grease and food residue, downstairs loo under seat was stained and not clean, unit tops under chopping boards full of crumbs, so I completely wiped unit tops down. Corners in rooms had small webs so i did sweep a few corners. Just general cleanling routine of cleaners needs addressing, nothing detrimental to the accommodation and we would return. The front door lock needs some attention as very difficult to unlock from inside, i think the door has just swollen in wet weather. There is a washer-dryer that takes a small load 4kg, but takes an age to dry, there is however an airer which we used and placed in front porch and washing dried while we were out. Did not like the table top ironing board, would have preferred a stand alone type. There was a dishwasher which we never used. There are several high steps or a steep slope to access the cottage but if you have no struggle walking, again this would not be a problem, but worth considering if you struggle. No problem for young families. Parking is in a layby on a quiet back road, front road is busy and fast, this was not a problem for us, we supervised 2 dogs when let out for a wee but garden not suitable for young children. I would definitely recommend as a nice place to stay, just sort the cleaners please, who appear only to be doing a ‘what they see’ clean. I would have given 5 star if cleaning had been better.

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• Eric - Verified booking

  It gives me no pleasure to give such a review, but I feel obligated to warn potential future guests that this property is not what it appears when looking at the photographs provided.

  What no photograph can convey, is the terrible and overpowering smell of damp that hits you the moment you enter this property. Like a musty cave or old damp cellar, the air is thick with damp. Quite frankly, it is a health hazard. I booked for three nights with my family, and everyone was shocked by the state of the place. Apart from the smell, the bedsheets were unchanged, damp to the touch and even had pubic hairs on the base sheet. My room was worst affected by the damp. ( Left of the entrance ) and it was impossible to sleep there. I was forced to sleep upstairs on the couch but that brought it’s own problems as it was full of dog hairs, this being a ‘pet friendly’ establishment. My eldest son, daughter and son in law were forced to leave early as the damp in their rooms were causing them breathing problems. Cobwebs and spiders were everywhere, and the whole place was in desperate need of a deep clean. All surfaces were sticky to the touch and the shower drainage was blocked causing the base to fill with foul water when showering. Nobody should be sleeping there until these problems are fixed. It is a sad state of affairs, because the potential this converted barn has, is clear from the photos they provide. The upstairs is spacious and appealing to the eye, but it is totally spoiled by uncleanliness, neglect and above all, a very serious damp issue. These concerns were raised in private with Sykes cottages who promised to speak to the owner and get back to us but unfortunately after chasing them for a week there has been only silence in return.

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• Eric - Verified booking

  It gives me no pleasure to give such a review, but I feel obligated to warn potential future guests that this property is not what it appears when looking at the photographs provided.

  What no photograph can convey, is the terrible and overpowering smell of damp that hits you the moment you enter this property. Like a musty cave or old damp cellar, the air is thick with damp. Quite frankly, it is a health hazard. I booked for three nights with my family, and everyone was shocked by the state of the place. Apart from the smell, the bedsheets were unchanged, damp to the touch and even had pubic hairs on the base sheet. My room was worst affected by the damp. ( Left of the entrance ) and it was impossible to sleep there. I was forced to sleep upstairs on the couch but that brought it’s own problems as it was full of dog hairs, this being a ‘pet friendly’ establishment. My eldest son, daughter and son in law were forced to leave early as the damp in their rooms were causing them breathing problems. Cobwebs and spiders were everywhere, and the whole place was in desperate need of a deep clean. All surfaces were sticky to the touch and the shower drainage was blocked causing the base to fill with foul water when showering. Nobody should be sleeping there until these problems are fixed. It is a sad state of affairs, because the potential this converted barn has, is clear from the photos they provide. The upstairs is spacious and appealing to the eye, but it is totally spoiled by uncleanliness, neglect and above all, a very serious damp issue. These concerns were raised in private with Sykes cottages who promised to speak to the owner and get back to us but unfortunately after chasing them for a week there has been only silence in return.

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• Stephen - Verified booking

  We were very unhappy with the fact that on our first night, the lock on the only door jammed, and we were unable to get out of the property.

  The 24/7 Emergency number was not answered and it was the following day that we were able to get through to anyone and a maintenance man arrived in the afternoon. The only access was through a narrow window and even the thin maintenance guy had trouble getting in to fix the lock. He removed this, and then left us with only a Yale, rather than a 5 lever Chubb for the remainder of our stay. We were told someone would come to replace the lock but no-one did.We effectively lost a full day of our holiday, being unable to get out of the property. The ground floor was damp, with black mould in a number of places. We have contacted Sykes a number of times, but they are hiding behind a blanket, standard response that says they can do nothing, and neither they nor the owner would pay any compensation, as this is a Health and Safety issue!! We would like the owner, who we are unable to contact, to confirm that this problem, both the door and the lack of proper escape windows has been sorted, so we can feel comfortable that any other renters are safe in the property. There would appear to be no route to report this issue to Health and Safety Executive, only to Sykes and Lake Lovers. We feel there is no way we can give any positive recommendation for the property without confirmation that the issues are resolved. We are also very unhappy that Sykes have at no time made any direct contact to apologise for the problems we have had,

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