Latest news with #SykesCottages
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
‘Idyllic' Whitby apartment with ‘stunning views' perfect for exploring coastline
If you're looking for a staycation idea, we've found a charming two-bedroom apartment near Whitby in North Yorkshire with loads of five star reviews and availability in summer British breaks are always a popular type of holiday, and if you're considering visiting the Yorkshire coast on your UK staycation this summer, we've found a beautiful two-person holiday apartment available to rent that comes highly recommended by previous guests. Brambles Apartment, available to book via Sykes Cottages, is a cosy and comfy first-floor holiday rental in Sneatonthorpe near Ruswarp in the North York Moors National Park, around 10 minutes from the popular seaside town of Whitby. With light and airy 'country chic' decor, it features an open-plan kitchen and living space, a smart TV and a small shared garden, with one previous guest calling it " a great base for exploring Whitby and the surrounding area". In fact, Brambles Apartment only has five star reviews on the Sykes website, with visitors praising the hosts, the high standard of the property, and the "excellent views": " First class apartment, clean, comfortable lovely views from the windows and in a peaceful location," one of the reviews is titled. "A very enjoyable week, would definitely recommend Brambles apartment," the writer adds. "Lovely stay in a great and comfortable apartment with beautiful views," another guest agrees. "So cosy, peaceful, clean and comfy, and a great base for exploring Whitby and the surrounding area," a third review reads. " One of the nicest we've stayed in, and we would not hesitate to book again next time we visit! A definite recommend!" The description on the Sykes website explains that Whitby Abbey, Whitby Harbour and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum are all within easy reach, as are Whitby Beach and Robin's Hood Bay Beach, as well as the picturesque North York Moors National Park. If you're tempted, you'll be happy to hear that Brambles Apartment still has lots of availability over the coming months, including during the school holidays. According to the Sykes website, a seven-night stay from 18-25 July costs from £677 (down from £981), while a long weekend in August, from 15-18, also costs from £677, down from £1,114). It's worth noting that Brambles Apartment doesn't accept pets, so if you're looking for somewhere to stay with a dog, you might want to check out other nearby Sykes Cottages properties such as Lythe Cottage or Jet Cottage. Holiday Cottages is another site to browse for inspiration, which features charming Whitby properties including Sandy Shores, Lavender House and Dean Cottage. And if you fancy something a little different, how about staying in Whitby Lighthouse? Guests can book one of two rental properties in the lighthouse – Galatea and Vanguard – through Rural Retreats. Alternatively if, like Coleen Rooney and her family, you enjoy a caravan holiday, Parkdean has resorts across the UK, including Carmarthen, Lincolnshire and Northumberland.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
‘Stunning' Anglesey holiday cottage with sea views and hot tub
If you're looking to book a UK self-catering getaway this year, we've found a charming holiday cottage in Anglesey, Wales, that has travellers coming back again and again With staycations on the rise – especially when the weather's as nice as it is at the moment – we've been searching out some of the best UK holiday rentals homes and cottages to inspire you're next British break – and we think we've found a gem with this charming Anglesey escape. This four-bedroom, eight-person Sykes Cottages holiday home in on the coast of Anglesey, Wales, stood out to us for its stunning sea views, outdoor hot tub and high quality decor, not to mention the perfect customer score of five out of five stars. Even better, there's still availability in June through to August, including during the school summer holidays. The single-story Yr Hen Feudy house is available to book via Sykes Cottages' website, and is located on the beautiful east coast of the Welsh Isle of Anglesey in the seaside village of Moelfre. Here you'll find a picturesque port, a shingle beach and stunning views, perhaps even spotting seals or dolphins out at sea. The house itself features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an outdoor hot tub and an electric vehicle charging port, making it the perfect base for groups of friends or family holidays. What especially impressed us were the glowing reviews from previous visitors, many who clearly have booked this place year after year. "We returned to this stunning cottage and it was as lovely as in previous visits," one five star review reads. "The cottage is spotlessly clean and is finished to a very high standard. The views are fantastic. Good food at the local pub too. The owners are wonderful. We will be back again." " The views were amazing and the house was so clean and comfortable, definitely a home from home!" another person wrote. "We loved our stay, and we look forward to going again!" A third person called it " such a gem", writing: "This was our second visit to this property" and added, "Great location with amazing views from the comfort of the sofa. Facilities are just as you would expect. The house is kept in immaculate condition too. Can't wait for our next visit." In fact, the only negative comment listed appears to be about some confusion about the number of guests staying – however the commentor does say that "the place is beautiful and well-maintained, and we had a very pleasant stay." At the time of writing, Yr Hen Feudy cottage still had availability on dates including 2-5 June, 25-28 July and 4-8 August, however is these dates don't work for you or get booked up, there are plenty of other lovely Anglesey options on Sykes Cottages, including Chapel House, Swyn Llyr and Sea La Vie. And if, like Coleen Rooney and her family, you enjoy a caravan holiday, Parkdean has resorts across the UK, including Carmarthen, Lincolnshire and Northumberland.
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Beautiful' Cornish cottage with cinema room and sauna has 'stunning' sunset views
The 'stunning' luxury property boasts a sauna, hot tub, and cinema room, along with sea views from the garden Holidaymakers seeking sunshine and sandy beaches in Cornwall have fallen in love with a luxury cottage near Britain's most westerly town. The nearest town to Land's End, St Just boasts miles of stunning coastline and epic views, perfect for adventurers taking on the South West Coast Path. Meanwhile, The Riblows, found between Cape Cornwall and St Just, offers a "beautiful and well-equipped" place to rest and recharge. Shortlisted for the 2024 Sykes Gems Awards, the luxury property is equipped with a sauna, hot tub, and cinema room, along with all-important sea views from the garden. The Sykes Cottages listing for the holiday home explains: "The Riblows is a stunning, three-bedroom farmhouse, offering elegance and luxury. A wood fired hot tub and timber barrel sauna make for the ultimate getaway experience. "Enjoying sea views from the pet-friendly garden, whilst thoughtfully-furnished throughout with state-of-the-art appliances, plush soft furnishings, complimentary toiletries, and renowned, local artwork, The Riblows offers a magnificent dwelling for a family of six, looking to explore the delights of Cornwall." The property has a ground-floor king-size bedroom, with an en-suite shower room, plus a twin bedroom and a super-king-size bedroom, complete with a free-standing copper bath. Along with a private driveway and wrap-around garden with a barbecue, there's the aforementioned sauna and hot tub. The dog-friendly property also offers four bikes for guest use, and visitors can expect a complimentary luxury welcome hamper, with toiletries and bathrobes provided. There's plenty to do in the local area. The listing explains:"If you can tear yourself away, your nearest hub of amenities lies in St Just, a short walk or drive away, where you'll locate a selection of bakeries, art galleries, convenience stores, cafes, and pubs, or join the South West Coast Path, ready to discover an abundance of secret coves and breath-taking bays across the Cornish coastline. "Within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Site, with rare breed cattle grazing the surrounding farmland, the landscape really doesn't disappoint. Direct access to the South West Coast Path means the abundance of secret coves and breathtaking bays are only a short walk away, including Cape Cornwall, England's only Cape." The Riblows is popular with guests, earning lots of positive reviews. One reviewer said: "We had a lovely relaxing week at the Riblows. The property was as advertised and very spacious, clean and comfortable with lots of extra touches It more than met our expectations. "The property is in a beautiful location, minutes away from the coastal path with fantastic views. We watched stunning sunsets without leaving the garden. Would highly recommend the Riblows." A second replied: "This is the loveliest cottage we have ever stayed at for a holiday. The accommodation is beautiful, of a very high standard, warm and cosy. It is located in a wonderful part of Cornwall with fabulous beaches only a short distance away. The owners live near by and provided a very warm welcome and extremely helpful." Another shared: "The property is very comfortable, spacious and just as it appears on the website. I particularly enjoyed being able to warm up in the sauna after a day out on the coastal path. If you like walking, it's about 5 mins walk out of the farm to get onto the south west coastal path and seriously good views. We spotted seals throughout the week so don't forget your binoculars." However, a different reviewer with mixed feedback wrote: "We had the pleasure to meet our hosts and their lovely family who were really welcoming and couldn't do enough to help us enjoy our stay. The welcome gifts were delightful and appreciated. "The hot tub and sauna were easy to use and worked like a dream. The property had everything we needed. The only downside were the uncomfortable beds and sofas." Someone else commented: "Love the property and the area, hope to revisit again soon. Slight problem with the outside lights but the hosts were really helpful." Alternatively, next year, you could book May 1 to May 8 for £1,971 or June 19 to June 26 for £2,636. Other properties near St Just include Dyji, found on which sleeps two; Cot Valley Cottage, found on Cornish Cottage Holidays, which sleeps two; and The Barn, found on which sleeps two.
Telegraph
23-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Britain is pricing itself out of the holiday market – here's how to get a better deal
Are holiday cottage owners in Britain pricing themselves out of the market, or has our interest in staycations stultified? Although airfares to the Med are currently terrifyingly expensive, my research suggests that advance bookings for holiday rentals in this country remain surprisingly weak – even for the peak school holidays. As I reported last month, the cost of flights during those key holiday dates has rocketed over the last two or three years. Anyone who hasn't already booked an overseas holiday and is looking for flights to the sunbelt on peak dates is – for some destinations – facing return fares of up to £5,000 for a family of four. That's obviously way above what most of us can afford, so it would seem logical that this would be the year when British holidaymakers would be tempted back to our own beaches and national parks. Why pay all that money to fly overseas when there are so many cheaper alternatives on your doorstep? Yet when I checked out the major holiday cottage sites to see how well bookings were going for those same school-holiday pinch points, that logic doesn't seem to apply. Traditionally travel companies are reticent about giving out meaningful figures. It is obviously better for business to imply that it is vital to book as soon as possible. But the great thing about the technology used on these booking websites is that it's very straightforward to see what proportion of the cottages are still available, and how many are being offered at a discount. My check on the website of the biggest supplier, Sykes Cottages, revealed that, at Easter and for the first peak week of the school holidays in July, only about 40 per cent of its cottages in England have been booked. Things are busier for the May half term, but still only at 50 per cent sold. It's a similar story at another of the major companies, where about a third of its properties are booked both for Easter and the school summer holidays, and a little less than half for the May half term. Many properties, even for the summer dates – which are still some five months away – are being offered at varying discounts of up to 20 per cent by both companies. Meanwhile, the upmarket Classic Cottages, which has 1,323 cottages on its books and concentrates mainly on the West Country (though it does have some other options in other parts of the UK), still had 884 available at Easter, 819 at half term and 694 for the first week of the school summer holidays – though it does say that the latter figure actually represents a better performance than this time last year. Even the National Trust, which has some of the most appealing and sought-after properties, still has 156 out of a total of some 500 available at Easter and 128 for the first week of the school holidays. Obviously there is more than one reason behind this contrast between sky-high airfares to Europe and a reluctance to book holidays in the UK. According to both and Classic Cottages, the tendency in recent years for people to commit only at the last minute masks the true strength of interest. says that it sees more and more customers booking only four to six weeks ahead, so the final booking figures will be much stronger. Classic Cottages moots the possibility that the trend towards later bookings for UK holidays might even be driven partly by the fact that airfares to the Med tend to rise nearer departure, whereas cottage prices don't. Indeed, they are more likely to be discounted. The psychological impact of the grim British weather last 'summer' is also surely a part of the story. If your main summer holiday was spent in a rainswept seaside resort, you may well have rethought your plans for 2025. But what these figures also suggest to me is that there seems to be both an oversupply of holiday cottages and – more significantly – that the cost of renting them is so high that it is putting people off. Try and find a good quality house for a family in a popular destination during the summer and you are unlikely to get much change out of £2,000. That may be cheaper than going abroad because you don't have to fly, but does it offer decent value? Perhaps not when you can easily find a sunny villa with a pool in Spain or Portugal for the same money. And especially when you consider the cost of entertainment and eating out in this country. Whichever way you look at it, the lesson seems to be that if you want to pay less for a holiday in the UK this year, don't book until nearer the departure date. There are bound to be plenty of discounted deals.
