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4 Guests
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2 Bedrooms
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1 Bathroom
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Ground floor accommodation
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Seaside
- Broadband / WiFi
44 Customer Review(s)
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David 
“Disappointing stay.”
Although the property is a charming cottage, in a great location for coastal walks, the cottage itself was in a state of neglect and had not been cleaned to an acceptable standard. I booked this cottage several months ago and in my view paid a premium price. I had noticed the recent poor reviews and attempted to contact the owners via Sykes to establish whether previous feedback had been acted upon and identified problems addressed. I received a call from the housekeeper who assured me all ...
Although the property is a charming cottage, in a great location for coastal walks, the cottage itself was in a state of neglect and had not been cleaned to an acceptable standard. I booked this cottage several months ago and in my view paid a premium price. I had noticed the recent poor reviews and attempted to contact the owners via Sykes to establish whether previous feedback had been acted upon and identified problems addressed. I received a call from the housekeeper who assured me all the problems had been resolved. This turned out not to be the case. Our introduction to the cottage was to arrive to find several black rubbish bags from previous guests in the front garden. The smell suggested they had been there for several weeks and upon further investigation we discovered that the cottage's designated refuse bin was full to the brim of guest's rubbish that was clearly several weeks old and although the bin had a private rubbish contractors sticker on it , there appeared to have been no request for a collection made in a long time. There was further rubbish at the back of the property where the key safe was which consisted of old paint pots and builders merchant bags as well as a garden waste bin full of rubble. Upon entering the property we discovered that the porch smelt of the rubbish outside and although main areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and living room seating area has been cleaned, the windows in the entire front of the cottage were filthy, and covered with cobwebs and dead flies. One window had at least 50 dead flies on it. At this point, I sent a text to the housekeeper with pictures of this, who replied that they would clean the windows while we were staying there. They did not and appeared to turn of their phone so no further communication with them was possible. The rubbish was removed three days into our stay. The wheelie bin was not emptied. The windows were not cleaned of the cobwebs and dead flies. Downstairs had an overwhelming sickly sweet smell for the first 3 days. We discovered this to be a fabric spray. Later in the week it became obvious why this spray had been used because as the fabric spray smell dissipated the furniture began to smell musty, as did all our clothes if worn when sitting on the furniture. One positive thing was the size of the TV. However this seemed rather strange when you consider that the property lacked basic amenities you would expect to find in any holiday cottage such as a toaster, oven gloves and handle for the oven grill. Baking trays were rusty and unusable and it would appear that in reaction to previous feedback about the kitchen wall the fridge had been moved to cover the discoloured part of the wall which meant that the oven door could not be fully opened. Upstairs the bedroom floorboards sagged which was a bit disconcerting and although the bed mattresses were comfortable the frame itself was noisy if you moved sleeping position. There was also a constant bleeping that kept us awake that seemed to be coming from the loft, had been referred to in previous feedback, not addressed and was likely to be a smoke alarm or something similar with a battery needing replacement. It was also disappointing that none of the electrical items had not been PAT tested at all or since 2017. Although not mandatory it is best practice for yearly PAT tests and coupled with the tired and sad exterior paintwork clearly coved in algae stains demonstrates a lack of attention to detail and general neglect. Although the garden had been tidied since previous feedback one of the garden chairs was broken and had been left at the back of the property leaving 3 chairs for a cottage that is advertised as sleeping 4. In conclusion although the cottage has charm, it needs a complete refresh in the identified areas from this and previous feedback. On current standards it is significantly over priced and will eventually cause Sykes reputational damage if improvements are not made. I would not choose to stay at this cottage again.
Summary
- Two bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x twin
- Bathroom with free standing bath, shower, basin and WC
- Kitchen
- Utility
- Sitting room with woodburner and dining area.
- Electric heating with woodburner
- Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, TV with freeview, DVD, WiFi, selection of books, games and DVDs
- Fuel, power and starter pack for woodburner inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off-road parking for 1 car opposite
- Lawned garden with patio and furniture
- Two well-behaved pets welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop 4 miles, pub 1 mile
- Note: No BBQ's at this property please due to proximity to thatching
The property
Built in 1752, Bee Hive Cottage is a homely, thatched cottage situated in the lovely village of Morwenstow, north of both Cornwall and Devon.
Feeling at home the moment you enter, the cottage, full of character, hosts beamed ceilings and a cosy fireplace for a rustic vibe.
The sitting area makes for the perfect spot to unwind with comfy sofas and a traditional log burner will help you relax.
Adjoined to this homely layout, the kitchen offers everything you need in terms of cooking.
Hosting two bedrooms, this cottage can sleep up to four people.
The master consists of a lovely double bed that makes it easy for a peaceful night’s sleep.
The twin can also be found on the same level.
Discover the attractive family bathroom which offers a separate bath and shower on the downstairs floor.
Taking a step outside, the enclosed garden is ideal for letting the dog out and seating area makes a great spot for breakfast outside.
Surrounded by fields at the back, expect peace and quiet during your stay.
From the cottage, take a short walk to the well-respected local pub, the Bush Inn, that serves delicious food and local ales, boasting a garden with stretched sea views for warm days and a fire for those colder months.
Situated right on the National coastal path, take this opportunity to enjoy lovely walks along the clifftops and through woodlands before nesting back into the warmth of this cottage.
If adventure takes you further afield, the beach of Duckpool is only a five-minute drive and offers less crowded pleasant seaside conditions.
This characterful cottage in a spectacular location would make for a great holiday, all-year-round.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.
About the location
MORWENSTOW
Kilkhampton 6 miles; Bude 10 miles.
Morwenstow is a rural hamlet set within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, approximately ten miles north of the coastal resort of Bude, complete with a well-respected pub (the 13th C Bush Inn) and the fabulous Rectory Tea Rooms next to Morwenstow Church. This breathtaking stretch of rugged coastline features delightful National Trust walks along the clifftops and through the woodlands within Coombe Valley, as well as numerous coves including Duckpool, Stanbury and Marsland Mouth. There is plenty of history to discover around the parish church regarding the renowned Reverend Hawker, a notable figure from Cornwall's past. Six miles away, the self-contained village of Kilkhampton offers day-to-day shopping facilities, a café and a pub and supermarkets are only a little further afield at the bustling sea-side town of Bude.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Christmas