“We loved this property, it is beautifully presented, well equipped, very comfortable, beautifully clean and ideally situated, we really enjoyed our stay.”
We would have liked to give this property a 5 star rating but there are a couple of things that have prevented that. The main one is the stairs. The listing does give a warning about the stairs and I would fully support that but I question whether it goes far enough. The stairs are indeed very steep and I would have thought a hand rail should have been provided, the absence of such meant that descending the stairs was a scary experience and one we only got used to by the time we were leaving. I find it hard to believe this past any safety inspection, if the handrail was sorted we would have no problem giving this property a 5 star and recommending it. The other issues were minor and didnt really bother us and didnt impact our star rating. The most note worthy of other issues was that the public parking in the town square while free is chaotic and you could at times find yourself parking some distance from the property, this was the last week in September I dread to think what it is like in high season, probably to be expected in a busy town centre.
Dear John, Thank you for taking the time to review our cottage in detail. We are delighted that you found our cottage beautiful, comfortable, and spotlessly clean. Thank you for also reiterating its ideal location.
The cottage is historic in nature (300+ years old listed building) and while the exterior including doors and windows, is maintained to its original standard, the interior was completely renovated to the latest regulations not too long ago. When carrying out these renovations, we tried to retain most of the delightful original features but had the difficult task of deciding how far to go without losing the character of the cottage. Most guests enjoy these original features including the character staircase but we do understand that some guests may find the staircase challenging. Therefore, we are looking for a handrail that fits the character of the house.
Regarding parking, on rare occasions (such as an event or during peak hours for pubs and restaurants) the town can get busy, but parking is quite easily available within 2-5 minutes’ walk even during such times. This remains the same in the summer and winter months, so please do not let worry about parking deter you from returning to enjoy Alston in the summer.
Thank you once again for choosing Cross View Cottage and we do hope to host you again in the not-too-distant future.
Property Owner
