Guests say
The Cabin in Lybster offers stunning sea views and a peaceful location. Guests have appreciated the friendly owners and the property's exterior seating area. While some found the cabin cosy and the amenities satisfactory, others reported issues with dampness, heating, and maintenance.
Several reviews mention poor cleanliness, with reports of damp bedding, mould, and leftover food from previous guests. However, one review describes the property as 'basically clean,' indicating some inconsistency in cleanliness standards.
The location is consistently praised for its beautiful sea views and tranquil setting, which guests found to be a highlight of their stay.
Comfort has mixed reviews; some guests found the seating comfortable and the shower hot, while others had issues with a damp bed, a faulty boiler, and inadequate heating.
Facilities and maintenance are a major concern, with multiple reports of non-functioning heating, a broken TV, and safety issues with the property's steps and door locks.
There is no mention of gifts or extra touches that would indicate thoughtfulness from the property owners towards the guests, so it is not possible to provide a score in this category.
About this property
Lybster 1.7 miles. Situated in Occumster, near the coastal village of Lybster in Highland, is this single-storey, two-bedroom lodge, The Cabin. Boasting stunning sea views, ground-floor living arrangements, a rural setting with countryside scenery, and off-road parking, this family-friendly lodge is the perfect retreat for a family of four looking to enjoy the outdoors and nature-filled activities. A well-equipped kitchen, dining room, and sitting room will greet you, featuring a Smart TV, electric fire, plush sofas, and all expected appliances to enjoy your self-catering break. You'll also find two well-presented bedrooms, both with ample storage, one of which has a convenient en-suite cloakroom, along with a shower room, and a side-decked area, to take in your tranquil surroundings. Travelling into the nearby village, enjoy an afternoon coffee and a slice of cake at Village Cafe, dine out at Dylan Harris Restaurant, or stock up on your 'nice to haves' at the local Premier convenience store. For a coastal viewpoint, head to Freswick Bay, for the perfect walking route, follow Yarrows Archaeological Trail, and for a family-friendly day out, discover Ulbster Alpaca Trekking, inclusive of farm visits. By car, enjoy a tour of The Wick Heritage Museum, reach Cairn of Get, a 5,000-year-old tomb, or perhaps climb Whaligoe Steps, alongside a 250 feet cliff. Bird watching is one of the most popular activities in the local area, possible at Berriedale Braes Birds Watch, whilst visits to Dunbeath offers the chance to stroll around its resident Heritage Museum, or simply enjoy a picnic among Dunbeath Castle Gardens, offering something for everyone. Make the most of your trip to Highland with a stay at The Cabin.
The Caithness settlement of Lybster sits on a broad harbour with views across the North Sea and down to the Moray Coast and is steeped in clan history. Hotels, shops, and a golf course are just a few of the attractions available in Lybster. The combination of old history and breath-taking surroundings, as well as a story of steady progress and the ability to change with the times, will entice you to Lybster. An exhibition on the area's history and natural resources demonstrates how the community has persevered over time. The Grey Cairns of Campster, five miles inland on the Watten Road, provide tourists the opportunity to journey back in time by crawling inside the 5,000-year-old cairn or exploring the Achavanich Standing Stones, which stand sentry beside Stempster Hill.
Accommodation
Single-storey.
Two bedrooms: 1 x double with en-suite basin and WC, 1 x twin.
Shower room with walk-in shower, basin, and WC.
Open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with electric fire
Electric central heating with electric fire.
Gas oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer.
Smart TV, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Highchair, travel cot, and stairgate available on request.
Off-road parking for 2 cars.
Side decked area with furniture.
Sorry no smoking.
Shop 1.9 miles, pub 1.4 miles.
Note: One small well behaved dog is welcome.
Note: The property is accessed down a long, single-track lane.
Note: There are steps to the exterior
Reviews (6)
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Steven
No heating or shower as its worked of gas, did not get fixed untill the wednesday we went days with no shower or hot water we had a stupid wee fire to keep us warm as it was cold up ther. Owner was anti social was sick of asking her to get heating fixed. I want compenstated for the stress me and my partner had on that holiday. Tv did not work all she said to me is play about with it, i have paid alot of money for this holiday they did not give a damm about our stress, never be back there. I think me and partner well deserve compensated for this joke of a holiday. If we dont i will never book through yous again. Look forward to your reply.
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Joyce
The door to the property does not lock, owners are aware of this. The double bed mattress needs replacing, it dips to the middle. The two bottom steps on the decking need repairing, my partner fell, I'm disabled and stuggled using the steps... other than that the place was ideally situated, and very peaceful.
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Alexander
Central heating was not working & we were fobbed off with a single electric fan heater. 2 of the radiators were rusty & holed, with visible rust staining from previous leaks. Bathroom door handle was hanging off & not working properly, which meant we couldn't close the door for fear of being locked in. Cleanliness was very poor & food had been left from previous users. There was a strong smell of damp throughout the property, with mold visible on the underside of the bathroom sink and cistern. Property was generally tired & in need of upgrade or replacement, which came as a shock considering the 'top dollar' fee payed. The property was not as advertised on Sykes website, certainly regarding the operational central heating system, & we took the decision not to stay for the 2nd & 3rd nights mainly over health & safety concerns due to the damp. Have raised a complaint with Sykes, which is currently being dealt with. We have plenty of photos of the state of the property, which obviously won't get across the damp smell, but they paint a picture of a property not fit for purpose. I post this as a warning to anyone thinking of staying at this property. Unless a lot of work is carried out ASAP to address the identified issues, issues which have been previously identified by othet users if you look at previous reviews, then I would recommend not using this property if you value your health. To be fair to Sykes, they are trying to resolve the issue, but the property owner does not appear to want to accept responsibility for the issues identified. This experience ruined a weekend away for me & my wife, who were visiting my 87 year old mother in the area for the weekend. We spent the 2nd day looking for somewhere else to stay, which the property owner insists does not entitle me to request or receive a refund as we never checked out at the designated checkout time. I would suggest some property owners in the area are now charging top dollar due to being on the NC500 route, & relying on single night trade, therefore not having to present their property in a good state. Just my opinion, not fact. Anyway, I will be posting these observations & opinions on as many social media sites related to NC500 & Sykes in the hope that no one else is subjected to what we have been subjected to. Quite shocking in this day & age to be fair & begs the question if Sykes carry out sufficient due diligence on properties they advertise on their website. My 1st experience with booking via Sykes would suggest not.