“A lovely house but no details as to how anything works!
More importantly the downstairs beds are not both kjngsize as described
Very disappointed
Colin Moran sister of Jennie”
“What a lovely little cottage. Fiona and Mark have done a fantastic job in making this a magical warm and cosy cottage. For me, the wonderful addition was access to the rear courtyard garden which was beautiful and relaxing. I didn't have access to this due to my own mobility issues, but Mark fitted a handrail on the steps leading to it that enabled me to enjoy it. I was truly grateful and enjoyed it immensely.
The location of the cottage was perfect, with easy access to a number of places, includinng the Dales and the Moors. I have already recommended the cottage to my friends, and plan a return trip myself.”
“We have always found this company easy to deal with. Descriptions are generally very accurate and facilities and prices are clear. Personal phone contact is good and agents are quick to respond to queries. We have, on occasions, used other booking agents but Sykes and its associated companies are reliable and our preferred booking choice.”
“Have found it more difficult recently to find suitable cottages. It feels like sykes had less on its books. If this is true, it's a shame as I have found the company excellent and trustworthy”
“Always easy to book with and I would definitely choose then first as they seem to be the only ones who actually still show you where the cottage is instead of expecting you to book, and pay for, something in a general area!”
“This accomodation was lovely. Everything we needed. Very comfortable and well presented. The owners were on hand and very attentive if we needed anything. Lovely hot private tub. Woul shall book again.. Highly recomended”
“Dissappointing! The garden now overgrown covering the wall on the driveway which made it difficult to back the car down. You have to get close to next doors hedge, meaning the passenger has to get out at the top of the drive. You need to back down right to the bottom of the drive to enable to driver to get out avoiding the wall when car door opens.
Also dissappointed with the smaill lounge area as it smelt musty.
Unforturnately will not be returning it was not what we thought it was going to be like from the pictures on the website”
“We had a lovely stay in Macduff at Jade Cottage. Everything we needed, for ourselves and the dogs, was supplied; including a doggy and human Welcome pack. There was a sunny, enclosed garden with furniture, where we could all eat outside. My particular favourite, though, was the upstairs study with Velux windows looking out over the sea and any passing dolphins”
“It is said that you get what you pay for and although Sykes cottages can be costly we have always found the standards good and they come equipped for a good holiday away from home.”
“Misrepresented and Poorly Maintained
We stayed at Machlud Haul for a family weekend (26 - 29 June) and were extremely disappointed. We’ve been doing these annual trips for over 10 years and have never had to complain, but this property was nowhere near the standard advertised.
While the view is fantastic and the main living space is comfortable, these positives were overshadowed by the overall condition of the property. Many of the listing photos are clearly very old and don’t reflect the current reality. The outdoor areas are particularly misrepresented. The BBQ/patio space is broken, dirty, overgrown and unusable. Benches are rotten, furniture is rusted and the general maintenance of the exterior is poor.
Inside, we found multiple cleanliness and safety issues on arrival. Windows were broken or wouldn’t stay open (we had to prop them with wood during a heatwave), floors were sticky, carpets stained, dining chairs marked and the dishwasher had been left full of dirty dishes. Several items of furniture were damaged, including an ottoman, cupboard door, barstool and bedroom door handle. The fridge was ineffective and failed to keep food cold. One bedroom was so small and had such a faulty window that it was unusable, meaning one member of our group had to sleep in the games room instead.
We reported all of this to Sykes within two hours of arrival, sent photos, and also contacted their WhatsApp support during the stay. We did not have the owners contact details, so we contacted Sykes exactly as instructed. Unfortunately, we received no meaningful response while we were there.
A month later, we received a formal reply. Although it included an apology, it missed the point entirely. The property is clearly misrepresented and in poor condition, yet the response focused on the fact that the owners were not contacted directly during our stay, something we were unable to do because their details were not provided. Despite extensive evidence, the owner declined to offer compensation and Sykes stated they could not take responsibility despite the property being misrepresented on their website.
This was followed by a generic ‘your situation is now resolved’ email with a link to a feedback survey.
No commitment was made to rectify any of the issues for future guests. No responsibility has been taken. No resolution has been offered. There is a general lack of care and ownership about the situation which is disappointing.
For a property costing £1,719 for three nights, this was hugely disappointing and far below the standard advertised. We have extensive photos and videos documenting everything - a few examples attached.
Sadly, we cannot recommend this property in its current condition.”
