“We were a bit daunted by the cottage when we first arrived as the cleanliness didn't seem very good in parts.”
Some of the rooms were excellent, like the roll top bathroom and the shower room downstairs but the kitchen left a lot to be desired even though it contained a state of the art stove (not Aga but very similar). We went to the shops and bought our own frying pan because the pans in the kitchen looked like they hadn't seen soap and water for a long time. The cottage is quirky with lots of interesting features. A bit creepy in parts, like the staircase roped off from the bedrooms to the kitchen and the bolted and barred door off the storeroom. All in all, it grew on us over the course of the week. It was cosy in the living room with the log fire lit in the evenings. The beds were comfortable and the linen of good quality. Our dog loved the garden and we loved watching the many different birds that visited.
Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know about the problems with the pans. I'm so sorry about - it is not how it should be at all. We have complained to Lakelovers, whose job it is to keep the place spick and span, and hopefully it won't happen again. We are in the cottage this week and have been scrubbing or replacing pans and trays as appropriate.
Yes, the cottage is very old. In the 17th century it was two separate cottages, which is why there are two sets of staircases. The one up from the kitchen has not been modernised and therefore every step is at a different angle. Given that it is polished wood, and could be slippery in socks, we have taken the decision to rope it off. The main staircase, which has been modernised, is better to use. The bolted door and barred door off the storeroom is just the back door. It just leads to some mossy steps and the garden of Dovecot (our other rental property). Even when we are staying in both cottages we don't use it as it's still easier to walk round the outside of the cottage.
I'm glad the cottage grew on you and that you found the beds comfortable - they are all new. I do hope you'll come again. If you want to come with a larger party, you could rent Dovecot at the same time.
Property Owner