“⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5) – Lovely location, but property needs better upkeep.
We stayed at Swan View in Southrop in April 2026, booked via Sykes Holiday Cottages and it appears to be managed by Manor Cottages. The cottage is in a peaceful and attractive location, with good space inside and a nice enclosed garden, so it definitely has potential.
However, our stay was let down by a number of cleanliness and maintenance issues. On arrival, the property did not feel as clean as expected (greasy cooker hood, some unclean crockery, rubbish under furniture, and dog mess left in the garden).
There were also several maintenance points that need attention, including a loose kitchen tap, missing light bulb, bathroom fittings not working properly (with broken cupboard, broken bathroom sink plug, and a damaged shaver plug socket). There was a noisy boiler in the smaller bedroom, with heating inconsistencies (boiling hot one moment and then no heating at all the next). The conservatory, while a nice addition, had a damp smell and signs of a leak.
Some safety aspects could also be improved, such as the steep staircase with worn carpet at the top, with no railing post at the top which is needed to steady yourself. There is also a step down between the dining area and the living room, which isn’t clearly marked and caused me to lose my footing.
To be fair, the management team were responsive when we contacted them about the heating, and they told us how to override the system which we appreciated. Though, it may have been better if somebody had come to fix it for us though. Unfortunately there was also dog muck on the garden lawn which did not get cleared up once reported, until the day before we left.
Positives:
- Spacious layout with good living areas
- Comfortable main bedroom with blackout curtains.
- Excellent shower.
- Large enclosed garden
- Good WiFi and useful driveway for parking
- Quiet village setting with lovely walks nearby
Overall:
This is a nice cottage in a great location, but it would benefit from more consistent cleaning, maintenance, and attention to detail. Addressing these areas would make a big difference to the overall guest experienc”
“Great cottage ideally located in quiet area but close to major links . Owners live next door and very approachable for any need you have . Highly recommended.”
“stayed at The Waves Amble, lovely location with great views from the upper lounge window. House was well equipped . shame there was no seating/benches on the front lawn for looking out at the view . Caddys on the shower walls for holding shampoo bottles etc would have been very useful .”
“Communication was diabolical! Customer service dreadful! Left on phone for 40 mins with no one picking up. Left message which was ignored for over a week. Ended up having to take a high chair as no one from Sykes got back to confirm.
Strangely when we rang the number to become a new property, Sykes answered immediately. Very clear where your priorities lie, not with good customer service! Won't be using Sykes again!”
“We have booked cottges through sykes on a few occasions and each time it has been a straightforward process. All information is clear ands easy to follow and you are kept updated without being bombarded with emails.
We will definately being using Sykes again and would highly recommend them.”
“Second visit to Cleve Prior and every bit as enjoyable. Accommodation was warm and welcoming and the big enclosed garden was perfect for the two dogs.”
“Fantastic little chalet. Has everything you need. Quiet, peaceful, sitting on the balcony all you can hear are the birds.
Only 1 thing required an anti slip mat for the bath/shower.”
“This was our 5th stay. Our 2nd with the grandchildren age 5 & 10 who love the house so much they didn't want to leave. It's the perfect spot for all the activities we wanted to do and spending every day in the rock pools opposite the house was so much fun more so knowing we didn't have long to walk back.
We did notice some deterioration in the house such as the wallpaper in the main bedroom still coming away from the wall this has been like this for a few years and a horrible sour smell from under the fridge that we noticed the previous time we stayed last year. We also found beads and an empty soda can under the little bedroom bed with dust. We felt the cleaning could be improved but overall it's still our favourite holiday home.”
“A perfect countryside escape, so peaceful, so beautiful, and full of wildlife. We loved every minute. Thank you.
We’ve had the most peaceful and restorative stay at Bryn Nante. Waking up to fields of sheep and cows, watching the rabbits dart about, and listening to the jackdaws has been pure magic. Thank you for creating such a beautiful place to switch off and breathe. We’ll be back.”
“Beautiful location. Just a short stroll to Budle Bay. Great for dog walks. Next to coastal national path only 100 yards away.The cottage is no frills but the location makes up for much of it. Hot water was a problem. Only had it for two days as there was an issue with the hot water tank. Showers were not a problem as it had own heating element.”
