Downlea

4.4★

5 Guests
3 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Seaside
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

28 Customer Review(s)

Ian
May 2025

“We’ve just returned from a lovely weeks stay at Downlea very comfortable everything that you need great for the dogs as the woods and downs are just up a short path from the cottage the parking bay was big enough for our Landrover Discovery and could still get the boot open.”

Yes it is a bit of a climb but there are a couple of easier routes that aren’t so steep and if you’ve had a night out and don’t fancy the walk up you can always get a taxi. Will definitely return to Downlea.

Yes it is a bit of a climb but there are a couple of easier routes that aren’t so steep and if you’ve had a night out and don’t fancy the walk up you can always get a taxi. Will definitely return to Downlea.

- Ian, May 2025

We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay and some of the lovely local walks. Property Owner
Sarah October 2024

“We loved the seaside themed house.”

There is a lack of level outside space for our dog but we discovered the downs a short walk away which are great for exercising the dog with sea views. The walk into the town and harbour is not difficult with several routes to choose depends on your agility. Looe has lots offer , we discovered the farm shop and fish mongers near the quay and plenty of small shops to explore. Eating out was easy the Salutation Inn in the town serves great quality food and has a good vibe. Great value evening meals at Sails near the beach. We visited Polperro and Fowey lovely places to wander around and enjoy the views.

- Sarah, October 2024

Many thanks for your feedback. Looe and the surrounding area have lots to offer all year round. Very glad you enjoyed your holiday! Property Owner
Charles Barry September 2024

“The location of the house was very good in that we could walk into Looe town (no parking necessary).”

It was not good however because of the steep hill we had to climb to get back to the house. Even worse were the steps leading up to the front door and up the back garden. Made of stone, they were extremely steep, very slippy, and the handrail buried in the bushes. This made getting heavy luggage both in and out very dodgy indeed as a fall would have been possibly serious. It was dangerous for everybody let alone people with limited mobility. In addition parking in the allotted space was often very difficult because of the narrowness of the lane and the fact that cars were nearly always parked directly opposite. The house itself was very spacious and comfortable and well equipped although some fittings needed to be improved. It was also unfortunately surrounded by some very shabby property in dire need of renovation.

- Charles Barry, September 2024

Many thanks for your feedback. We love our home but recognise that its location certainly won’t suit everybody. Unfortunately it is not suitable for people with mobility issues due to steps throughout the property. Downlea is a terraced cottage elevated above the road. This means that it is quiet, has pleasant views and the advantage of a convenient parking space (unusual in Looe). I have checked the descriptor and thank you for drawing attention to the photos and descriptors about the steps to access. Property Owner
Sandra September 2024

“The steps at the front were made difficult to use, owing to the shrubs being overgrown”

- Sandra, September 2024

Many thanks for this feedback. We will make sure the Boston Ivy is cut back to improve access. Property Owner
Cole August 2024

“Downlea is a great place to stay, not far from the town and the beach, it is a lovely house built into the hillside with great views from the master-bedroom and with lots of room for all the family.”

It has a good sized parking space at the front for a small to medium sized car (we have a medium sized SUV which fitted fine), Wi-Fi and a good kitchen and bathroom with everything you are likely to need. There are three downsides. First the access via a narrow and steep stair case will make it difficult for some, but this would be significantly improved if the folliage were cut back and the steps jet sprayed making them less slippy when wet; the front of the house has masses of ivy stealing most the light from the main lounge making the room dark and hard to read in; and finally, three light bulbs were blown that needed replacing. All maintenance issues that if corrected would make this holiday property perfect!

- Cole, August 2024

Many thanks for this really helpful feedback Property Owner
Lorna July 2024

“Downlea is a beautiful, well equipped and very clean cottage.”

However the absence of recycling bags/bins and basics such as dishwasher tablets and washing up liquid made the stay feel less like a holiday. Packing the car with a week's worth of recycling to bring home shouldn't be necessary, as Cornwall provides household recycling pick ups and all the neighbours put theirs out. Looe is a lovely place to stay, with great walks along the coast and along the West Looe River. There is an abundance of places to choose from to eat and drink. We enjoyed quiz night at the Jolly Sailors, and discovering the Garden Bar behind the Golden Guinea, a must visit on a sunny evening :) The food at both Ocean & Earth (Thai) and Chennai (Indian) is very good.

- Lorna, July 2024

We are pleased that you enjoyed the cottage and the many wonderful amenities that Looe offers. We regret that the recycling centre, which was at millpool was closed but this is outside of our control. Unlike our neighbours, small businesses are not permitted to use the domestic waste collection services. We are therefore required to arrange private collection. Many apologies. Property Owner
Jenny September 2023

“The location of this property was higher up the west side of Looe than described on the description details.”

The cleanliness of the property looked as if it had been rushed, mirrors not cleaned with a film of dirt and lots of spider webs that had been there for some time. The fire extinguisher and blanket were tucked away in a drawer when they should have been mounted on the kitchen wall and the Gas certificate was a year and half out of date. I feel this property was not worth the money and the house itself did not have a homely feel. The only house we have rented with the minimal welcome pack I have ever come across. Very disappointed.

- Jenny, September 2023
Dave August 2023

“Lovely cottage .”

Beautiful setting .

- Dave, August 2023
Robert July 2023

“Downlea certainly lived up to our expectations, it had everything you'd need to have a wonderful stay.”

And the car park space was an absolute bonus. I would certainly recommend it.

- Robert, July 2023
Vivienne May 2023

“This a beautiful cottage and is siting within walking distance of the shops, pubs restaurants etc in Looe.”

The entrance and garden are extremely steep as described in the details. My only negative comment is re the late check in time (4pm) and the early check out (9am). This means you definitely only get 6 days for your 7 nights Combined with being asked to strip the beds on leaving is a bit cheek !!!

- Vivienne, May 2023

Many thanks for your feedback, always appreciated and we are glad that you liked the cottage. I have spoken to the property manager we are able to bring check in forward to 3pm, it's not possible to guarantee that the property would be ready before that time. Regarding stripping the beds - this is not a requirement. Many Thanks Anne Property Owner
Michael March 2023

“Downlea cottage is well equipped, comfortable, well maintained and the new kitchen and bathroom are very good.”

The gardens are fully enclosed which is good for the dog but they are so steep especially to the rear they are of very little use especially when the weather is poor. The cottage is well located for a stroll into town and the parking space is a real bonus as parking would be difficult especially in the summer. The green area up a level to the rear is excellent for dog walking. Overall we enjoyed our stay especially bearing in mind the poor weather in the second half of our stay

- Michael, March 2023
Keith September 2022

“Exterior steps and garden need to be kept under greater control and cleaned.”

House well equipped and comfortable but memory foam mattress topper and 10.5 tog duvet resulted in nights that were too hot even with the windows open and no central heating.

- Keith, September 2022
Elizabeth August 2022

“Cottage was really spacious and comfortable.”

Had everything we needed and more. Great location and there was lots to do in Looe. Already booked to come again to Downlea!

- Elizabeth, August 2022

Thank you for your feedback. We look forward to welcoming you again next year. Property Owner
Rob August 2022

“Really poor A formal complaint is in progress.”

- Rob, August 2022

I am sorry you didn’t enjoy your stay at Downlea. Or accept our attempts to remedy your issues when you made us aware. We always do our best to provide a comfortable base to holiday in Looe. Thankfully your feedback is not representative of the many happy guests who have stayed with us over the years. Property Owner
Jayne July 2022

“We had a great time in Looe, the cottage was perfect for us!”

Spacious with lovely decor and a beautiful garden! Everything we needed was there. The walk to the shops, harbour and beach was just right for us too! Very hilly but totally expected in Cornwall. We would definitely return and feel very lucky to have found Downlea! Thank you.

- Jayne, July 2022

Thankyou for your feedback. We are very glad you enjoyed your holiday. Property Owner
Janice Edna May 2022

“This is a lovely newly renovated cottage, pristinely clean, comfy beds, wonderful new bathroom and shower and new kitchen and in short with everything you could need!”

We could not fault the cottage! However be aware (and this is no criticism of the cottage, just a warning) that anyone - or dog for that matter - with a mobility problem from bad knees upwards will find this a difficult cottage to get to, and garden to get up to as there are lots of steep uneven steps. The garden is well worth the climb, it is full of lovely plants, scents and bees but be aware it is by no means secure for dogs and we needed to keep them on a lead. We really loved the cottage and appreciated the care and attention the owner has put into making it so comfortable - thank you

- Janice Edna, May 2022
Chris May 2022

“Superb property really handy for town everything we needed was there 2 slight ...”

Superb property really handy for town everything we needed was there 2 slight issues just because we had dogs they coukd open the kitchen door with there noses as it didn’t have a mortise latch just a ball catch and a stair gate would be really handy to stop them going upstairs lovely cottage though

- Chris, May 2022
Sebastian April 2022

“Very pretty and spacious property, in a great location.”

Well-maintained and clean, with helpful local info.

- Sebastian, April 2022
Holly September 2021

“Lovely cottage.”

Well equipped, all three beds were really comfy. The shower was really powerful especially for a holiday rental. We did struggle with the spiders a bit but we did go in September.

- Holly, September 2021
Tracy July 2021

“The cottage was very clean and comfortable and close to all amenities.”

Anne left us a luxury welcome basket with a bottle of bubbly, which was very much appreciated. The view from the bedroom is delightful too! The only negative thing was that the garden is very overgrown, which meant we couldn’t enjoy the outside space as much as we’d have liked to without fighting our way through spider webs and foliage. A little pruning would make the garden a much more pleasant space to use. Would highly recommend otherwise and the price was very reasonable.

- Tracy, July 2021
Richard July 2021

“We found Looe to be a lovely place.”

However, the property really let our stay down. It is in need of some investment/TLC and a really deep clean. We didn't enjoy being in the cottage because everything felt so dirty- the sofas, (under the sofas was disgusting), the kitchen floor, sides, I could go on. The cottage had a very fusty smell as well. Other notes- no bins upstairs, front garden needs cutting back- walking up the steep steps was difficult because of the overgrown bushes), oven needed trays- the one that was attached to the door wasn't big enough and was fixed too low, recycling- the guide said recycling could be taken to milpool car park- there isn't recycling facilities there, so we had to bring our recycling home (!!!!). The cottage could be beautiful and enjoyable if the above was taken note of. For the price we paid wholly disappointing.

- Richard, July 2021

This is my family home so I take all feedback very seriously. I am very surprised at your comments given that past 12 months cleanliness rating has been consistently high - 90%. And so sorry that you did not contact me or the local property manager during your stay so that we could address any concerns. I live away but have visited since your review and confirmed that the house was/smelt fresh and clean and the garden has been cut back. We are more than happy to help our customers at any time and want them to have an enjoyable stay at the property. The steps are steep - Looe is a hilly destination. The local Council has removed the recycling centre from Looe Millpool - I will amend the guest information. Waste is collected from the house but I understand that many people like to recycle and can only apologise for this. Kind regards Property Owner
Caroline July 2020

“The cottage was lovely, very clean and well equipped.”

We did find the front double bed far too.soft but other than that everything was great. Great location and views. Great to be within walking distance of two different types of beaches. We really enjoyed Hannefore Beach which was nice a quiet.

- Caroline, July 2020
Ruth March 2020

“Fantastic holiday loved the cottage will definitely book it again thank you to ...”

Fantastic holiday loved the cottage will definitely book it again thank you to the owner's for making are holiday brilliant

- Ruth, March 2020
Michelle September 2019

“Waste bins in the bedroom/ bathroom would be useful.”

Cream rug not practically with a dog friendly property. Listing should make it more clear that property is not suitable for the less abled or indeed older dogs or dogs with health issue.

- Michelle, September 2019
Ray August 2019

“The cottage was cold and could not put heating on , beds where to soft and ...”

The cottage was cold and could not put heating on , beds where to soft and lacked support , drain leaking , steps to front and back very slipy when wet

- Ray, August 2019
Sheila July 2019

“We've just had a perfect week's holiday at Downlea.”

The house itself was very homely, spacious and the beds were just so comfy. Made full use of the garden and the garden furniture and would definitely return. Also like to mention not a bad walk into Looe itself which was beautiful. Had a good week of weather too so all in all it was a great holiday. Also great response from Sykes when we reported a slight problem. Malcolm and Sheila, Manchester.

- Sheila, July 2019
Susan May 2019

“This is a beautiful cosy cottage and we fully appreciated the amount of steps and the inclines of the paths and roads around Looe.”

Hard floors and the open fire were useful . The garden is amazing and the back exit gate was used a lot. All round a super place

- Susan, May 2019
Charlotte February 2019

“Super location, a short walk into Looe - would definitely return.”

Well equipped and homely with good kitchen facilities, note the garden is not enclosed for dogs, we loved the log fire - could be more generous with logs provided as there were not quite enough for the first evening, loved welcome card and local produce, tea/coffee/milk also on arrival a nice touch, very comfy beds, needs a deep clean!

- Charlotte, February 2019

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for your feedback which is incredibly useful. All negative comments have been addressed. Property Owner
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Summary

Over two floors
Three bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x 4’ double and 1 x single
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin
Separate WC
Kitchen
Open plan living/dining area with open fire.
Gas central heating
Gas oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher
TV, WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Selection of books, games and DVD’s
One well behaved pet welcome, Off road parking for 1 car
Paved garden at front and rear terrace with garden seating
Two well-behaved pets welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Beach, shops and pub 5 mins walk
Note: There are 12 external steps to the front door and similar number of external steps to the rear elevated garden
This property is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility
Note: Please supervise children.

The property

Downlea is a traditionally styled characterful cottage in a pretty, elevated spot in Looe resort, a 5 minute stroll from the buzzing harbour in coastal Looe resort.

Set over two floors, the accommodation is well presented and comfortable, with an open-plan sitting room with comfy sofas and snuggly open fire for those cooler months, with a dining area perfect for foody get-togethers.

The kitchen has all the appliances and leads to the terraced garden, with steps up to the paved patio (please supervise children) with garden furniture for sundowner drinks or sunshine morning latte.

The first floor has three bedrooms, the double and single boast scenic country views with a teasing Looe River glimpse.

At the rear, the cosier double bedroom and bathroom, with separate WC, complete this charismatic cottage.

Colourful Looe harbour and the long stretch of sandy beach makes this a popular coastal destination, with inns, restaurants, cafes and galleries lining the waterside.

Enjoy a fishing or pleasure boat trip – the excursion to Looe Island’s bird and wildlife sanctuary is stunning.

The two beaches have rock pools and caves to explore or discover the woodlands on a ramble or hired cycle.

Fabulous Fowey is a ferry ride away, with the Eden Project and beautiful Heligan Gardens within easy reach.

Downlea makea a super retreat for family, friends and couples seeking coastal and country adventures, whatever time of year.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.

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About the location

LOOE

Polperro 5 miles.

Looe is Cornwall’s second largest fishing port and hence there is always a lively maritime bustle around the quay area of East Looe, which is connected to the quieter West Looe by a seven arched 19th century bridge over the River Looe. You can also catch the river taxi between East and West Looe. East Looe has narrow cobbled streets, twisting alleyways and plenty of tourist shops, whilst West Looe has a lovely outlook across the harbour. Looe’s viewpoint, Banjo Pier, can be reached from the quay and is a great spot to watch the returning fishing trawlers and look across the bay to Looe Island, which can be walked to occasionally at very low tides. The sandy Looe beach adjoins the pier and is very popular with families because of its safe shallow swimming and vast expanse of sand. There is also a great rock pool area at Hannafore that children will love. West Looe has a Heritage Centre that recently opened in the Old Sardine Factory with a climbing wall and a cafe and the delightful Kilminorth Woods have way marked walks through the majestic oak wood, rich in plant, insect and bird life. Apart from beach activities in this part of south east Cornwall, there are many mining remains on Bodmin Moor and in the Tamar Valley and much of the mining landscape has World Heritage status. This area of Cornwall has inspired writers, such as Daphne du Maurier and much of Bodmin Moor has inspired legends linked with King Arthur. There is much to explore in this beautiful part of Cornwall.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“We’ve just returned from a lovely weeks stay at Downlea very comfortable everything that you need great for the dogs as the woods and downs are just up a short path from the cottage the parking bay was big enough for our Landrover Discovery and could still get the boot open.”

“We loved the seaside themed house.”

“The location of the house was very good in that we could walk into Looe town (no parking necessary).”

“The steps at the front were made difficult to use, owing to the shrubs being overgrown”

“Downlea is a great place to stay, not far from the town and the beach, it is a lovely house built into the hillside with great views from the master-bedroom and with lots of room for all the family.”

“Downlea is a beautiful, well equipped and very clean cottage.”

“The location of this property was higher up the west side of Looe than described on the description details.”

“Lovely cottage .”

“Downlea certainly lived up to our expectations, it had everything you'd need to have a wonderful stay.”

“This a beautiful cottage and is siting within walking distance of the shops, pubs restaurants etc in Looe.”

“Downlea cottage is well equipped, comfortable, well maintained and the new kitchen and bathroom are very good.”

“Exterior steps and garden need to be kept under greater control and cleaned.”

“Cottage was really spacious and comfortable.”

“Really poor A formal complaint is in progress.”

“We had a great time in Looe, the cottage was perfect for us!”

“This is a lovely newly renovated cottage, pristinely clean, comfy beds, wonderful new bathroom and shower and new kitchen and in short with everything you could need!”

“Superb property really handy for town everything we needed was there 2 slight ...”

“Very pretty and spacious property, in a great location.”

“Lovely cottage.”

“The cottage was very clean and comfortable and close to all amenities.”

“We found Looe to be a lovely place.”

“The cottage was lovely, very clean and well equipped.”

“Fantastic holiday loved the cottage will definitely book it again thank you to ...”

“Waste bins in the bedroom/ bathroom would be useful.”

“The cottage was cold and could not put heating on , beds where to soft and ...”

“We've just had a perfect week's holiday at Downlea.”

“This is a beautiful cosy cottage and we fully appreciated the amount of steps and the inclines of the paths and roads around Looe.”

“Super location, a short walk into Looe - would definitely return.”

Summary

The property

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About the location

LOOE