Riven Oak

Not the cleanest and smelt stale.

Really needed updating, particularly bathrooms and bedrooms. Only 2 or 3 showers before hot water ran out. Kitchen equipment left a bit to be desired but at least there were some big pans that were useful. Beds were uncomfortable and pillows worse still. Some towels had foundation make up still on them. Sofas were comfy though! Upstairs space was good with enough room for the dogs and no noise despite neighbours close by. Lovely walks nearby into the nature reserve but beware of ticks. Our dogs are all protected but we still removed them after every walk. Shame as it could be beautiful if it had a bit of money spent on it.

Cleanliness was really bad, if it was cleaned before our arrival, it was just the basics.

There was dust everywhere, little coloured elastic bands on the lounge floor, hairs & dirt in the bath, etc.

Felt very let down with our Christmas stay, over priced for what was offered.

The house is poorly maintained and smelt of damp. Bathrooms both in need of ripping out. Bedrooms smell of damp. No sound proofing to the bedrooms from the upstairs living areas. No fire wood for the 1st night. No consumables in the kitchen. Could be a great place, but a near full overhaull required.......in my humble opinion.

location of the home not precise as per the map.

.... comfotable clean plenty of space... outside heater would be nice .... plenty of cutleries ... overall very good place ...enjoyed it...

We booked this holiday cottages for a family group, when we arrived (at 4pm which is check in time) the cleaners were still in the cottage, when I asked could we put our bags in and food in the fridge they very abruptly told me "no we are still cleaning" we explained we had 2 small children and a puppy in the car who needed to eat/toilet so we insisted we were allowed in.

They left approx 4.35pm with no apology just "we have had a busy day" the cottage upstairs is lovely. Downstairs is dated, dirty and smells. We wouldn't book again, also no baby gate on the stairs which is a big safety issue due to the upside down design. The location is beautiful! The neighbours were all wonderful, and the kitchen is really lovely aswell.

We made the most of our stay at Riven Oak and the open plan kitchen, dining and living area upstairs is what sold it to us.

It’s set in a wonderful, quiet location surrounded by green pastures and beautiful views of the countryside. The kitchen was well equipped and the games cupboard was a lovely touch. However, I wish we had paid more attention to the reviews, especially regarding cleanliness and the intense smell of old damp as soon as you entered the property. The mildew in both bathrooms was alarming; there were visible carpet stains in the main en-suite bedroom and dust and cobwebs scattered throughout the property. I would seriously question the quality and standards of the cleaning service. As others have already mentioned, a more prominent sign pointing to the property would also have been helpful. Riven Oak is a charming cottage but the sub-standard cleanliness let it down.

We were very unhappy with the fact that on our first night, the lock on the only door jammed, and we were unable to get out of the property.

The 24/7 Emergency number was not answered and it was the following day that we were able to get through to anyone and a maintenance man arrived in the afternoon. The only access was through a narrow window and even the thin maintenance guy had trouble getting in to fix the lock. He removed this, and then left us with only a Yale, rather than a 5 lever Chubb for the remainder of our stay. We were told someone would come to replace the lock but no-one did.We effectively lost a full day of our holiday, being unable to get out of the property. The ground floor was damp, with black mould in a number of places. We have contacted Sykes a number of times, but they are hiding behind a blanket, standard response that says they can do nothing, and neither they nor the owner would pay any compensation, as this is a Health and Safety issue!! We would like the owner, who we are unable to contact, to confirm that this problem, both the door and the lack of proper escape windows has been sorted, so we can feel comfortable that any other renters are safe in the property. There would appear to be no route to report this issue to Health and Safety Executive, only to Sykes and Lake Lovers. We feel there is no way we can give any positive recommendation for the property without confirmation that the issues are resolved. We are also very unhappy that Sykes have at no time made any direct contact to apologise for the problems we have had,

Lovely building, fabulous location though a bit tricky to find.

Had everything we needed. Shower pressure was amazing. Couldn't find a recycling bin. A few cobwebs but to be expected in the countryside. Would definitely come again.

Riven Oak could be a fabulous holiday let, sadly it is tired, smells od damp and is not suitable for dogs, especially elderly ones with the slippy wooden stairs up to the living area.

We go to cottages 3 times a year and have never been disappointed until now. There are too many items to list with what is uninviting about this property, one highlight was the wood burner, the rest I'm afraid made for a dismissal stay. We have just purchased a home not far from here, sadly not ready for this visit. The spec that we have gone for is lower in price but has everything at your fingertips... down to fabulous toiletries, something that was somewhat vacant at Riven Oak.

Lovely property, really enjoyed wonderful upside down & large open plan layout.

Would benefit from a small toilet upstairs, eg in the eaves store area Plentiful supply of hot water for showers for our 8 people Radiators provided cosy heating, and we enjoyed the log fire Was worried at some of the reviews last August, but owners have made all necessary changes, and could not fault cleanliness Lovely dog walks just a minute stroll along the lane All in all, would recommend this property

Myself and Family have just spent New year's eve in this wonderful lodge.

What a GEM. The place was spotless, warm and inviting. The owners even left a Christmas Tree in place which was a beautiful touch. My whole family loved the place. We are even looking at booking for Christmas and New year's 2024..

We had a wonderful stay at Riven Oak - we were concerned before our stay at some of the feedback from previous renters and so contacted the owner before the stay.

All of the concerns raised were addressed, for which we were very grateful. The property was clean, warm and welcoming. The situation is superb: with 2 dogs, it was a privilege to have an amazing walk to the hills on the doorstep. Thank you so much for making our stay in the lake district so memorable. 2 very very quick (and very small) points: - we could only find one chopping board and no bread board. Given the size of the property, it might be worth investing in another, (or else we missed something obvious) - the freezer might need a bit of a clean! Thank you once again

It gives me no pleasure to give such a review, but I feel obligated to warn potential future guests that this property is not what it appears when looking at the photographs provided.

What no photograph can convey, is the terrible and overpowering smell of damp that hits you the moment you enter this property. Like a musty cave or old damp cellar, the air is thick with damp. Quite frankly, it is a health hazard. I booked for three nights with my family, and everyone was shocked by the state of the place. Apart from the smell, the bedsheets were unchanged, damp to the touch and even had pubic hairs on the base sheet. My room was worst affected by the damp. ( Left of the entrance ) and it was impossible to sleep there. I was forced to sleep upstairs on the couch but that brought it’s own problems as it was full of dog hairs, this being a ‘pet friendly’ establishment. My eldest son, daughter and son in law were forced to leave early as the damp in their rooms were causing them breathing problems. Cobwebs and spiders were everywhere, and the whole place was in desperate need of a deep clean. All surfaces were sticky to the touch and the shower drainage was blocked causing the base to fill with foul water when showering. Nobody should be sleeping there until these problems are fixed. It is a sad state of affairs, because the potential this converted barn has, is clear from the photos they provide. The upstairs is spacious and appealing to the eye, but it is totally spoiled by uncleanliness, neglect and above all, a very serious damp issue. These concerns were raised in private with Sykes cottages who promised to speak to the owner and get back to us but unfortunately after chasing them for a week there has been only silence in return.

Lovely location.

The accomodation is as described, but let down by a couple of things. Firstly the level of cleanliness. It is basically clean, but could be improved. An example - the sink had been cleaned, but the pedestal was dusty. The same with the toilet, there was dust and hairs on the pedestal. I could write my name in the dust on the telly base. A bit more attention to detail is all that is needed. There were a lot of cobwebs that could have been removed, but I accept it is an old building. The second point I am not sure how you would get around because the ground floor is musty and there is a dampness about it. Probably again it's age, but the first night I could not get the smell out of my nose. The toilet paper felt damp! Saying all of the above we did have a good stay. The kitchen, dining and seating areas were comfortable and well equipped. The showers were hot. The door needs looking at in the twin room by the bathroom. Very stiff like the wood is swollen, probably the dampness.

Nice place, plenty big enough for the 8 people, lovely and quiet, did take sometime to find as I thought the directions were sending us down what looked like a private driveway, I had a problem with the oven as it was calor gas so took a while to get use to as it felt like it took longer to cook but that was my issue not the cottages, all in all a nice place to stay.

This is a nice property in an absolutely beautiful location.

The upstairs is lovely, open plan living and very comfortable. The kitchen is well stocked with everything you may need to self-cater. The TV is a little small and dated but who wants to watch TV when in the Lakes? Downstairs is less impressive (bedrooms). There is a 'musty' smell in some of the areas and the second double bedroom was unusable. The mattress on the bed was collapsed in the middle and incredibly uncomfortable to lay on. The final issue for dog owners to be aware of is that whilst the garden is completely secure for your four-legged friend, it leads to the drive way with a farmer's gate. The gap underneath is large enough for most sized dogs to slip under. We ended up buying a role of chicken wire to run along the bottom of the gate which worked a treat. We've left it there for future dog owners to use. Overall, would definitely book again - the issues listed were minor in comparison to the overall experience.

We found our bed comfy- room with en-suite.

However the others found the beds uncomfortable so could do with new ones perhaps. Other feedback, the gate could do with something on the bottom to make it more secure. Pet friendly but dogs can easily gey under the big gap. Minor point but important I think. Otherwise nice property and lovely stay. Neighbours were very friendly.

We arrived on Friday afternoon to find the cottage warm, clean and well equipped.

The heating was on all day, which during a cold February, made our stay both warm and comfortable. The beds were comfortable and clean. The Kitchen is well equipped with all modern appliances. The cottage is located to the West of Lake Windermere, so Ideal for exploring the Lake District. There are a few pubs that are local, we would recommend the Hare and Hounds for a great meal. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would recommend this cottage as a good place to stay.

Was glad I ignored previous feed back , this is a great dog friendly cottage but was hard to find in the dark only issues for us was not enough bin bags or washing up liquid as there is no local shop to get them when rang out as we cooked most days for seven we soon used up what was there but had a lovely week away the dogs loved all the walks around the cottage the pub not too far away was great for a meal out too would like to say thanks to sykes for getting in touch with the owner for us as we could of missed out on this cottage

Amazing cottage but could of been cleaner.

There were numerous beetles on the floor and a wasp nest in the outside wall. A light to the outside garden would be a really good idea. Also an old sack of rubbish was left in the garden.

Filthy Neglected Damp downstairs Beds felt damp Disgusting bathrooms, black mould and filthy floors Kitchen a mish mash of old dirty and broken stuff mixed with new Fixtures and fittings old and need replacing Sofas dirty To be honest you have a cheek renting this place out to unsuspecting holiday makers and should be thoroughly ashamed

This was a last minute deal, I wouldn’t pay full price for this property.

Although some good points, this cottage needs attention from the owners. Good points: Convenient parking close to front door. Nice well equipped kitchen overall . Good to have a dryer when it’s wet outside. Love the open plan space upstairs. Pleasant enclosed garden. Quiet spot in a pretty village. Beds comfortable Bad points: Sticky kitchen table. Bathrooms grotty, and need an update, new sealant needed on bath and extractor fan not working properly. Smell of damp downstairs. Missing light bulbs and fire alarm needing new battery. Basic maintenance is poor. No pint of milk or tea, which would have been appreciated after a long journey. Information pack was poor, no info on recycling or working the TV. A guest book would be helpful so folks can recommend places to visit. We really enjoyed visiting Ambleside and Blackwell the Arts & Crafts house. Tip: Take some DVDs and games with you, (the games we found were old) Note: Both toilets are downstairs (bedroom level), we have family members who have to take extra time negotiating stairs, so just a heads up! Note: When finding the property the bins were blocking the house name, luckily friendly neighbours helped us find it. Conclusion: A cottage of two halves, living area nice upstairs but downstairs needs an update. Maintenance needed.

This was a real disappointment.

The description is very misleading. The property smells of damp. It is very badly equipped. The crockery is chipped. The TV appears to be from the 1980’s and took an age to work out how to use. The rooms and furnishings are similarly from the 1980’s. I have tried to liaise with both Sykes and the owners about this, in an attempt to agree a reduced rate but their response has been arrogant and unhelpful. I would advise you not to stay at this property unless you can get at least a 50% discount on the price and ask them to ensure that the smell of damp has been removed.

Location was great for the Lake District, great walks close by and neighbours all friendly.

Property was full of equipment needed for any break. Overall the cleanliness was good, given the quick turnarounds that the cleaners need, however property could do with a one off deep clean to less used areas. But the kitchen, bathrooms and bedroom areas were all clean for normal use. Garden is small but beautiful, with the Lake District on your door step the garden is a perfect size. Would definitely recommend and we would stay again at riven oak.

Generally a great property for a stay with dogs & an enclosed garden.

The bathrooms could probably do with a ‘refresh’ but beds comfy & clean throughout.

The property could have done with a thorough clean as on arrival we found the utensils, pots snd pans all had to cleaned and we had to Hoover approximately 30 dead wasps that was in the upstairs kitchen and room area.

That said that was really the only thing we can write negative feedback on as once we had cleaned up we enjoyed everything about the cottage and would definitely recommend it.

Lovely cottage.

My husband and I and our three dogs loved our stay. Very comfortable. Fantastic living area upstairs. Garden a bit small but ok with us. Secured dog friendly garden. Loved our stay here

The Facility was lovely, and we had a really good holiday.

.. Unfortunately the Pub (1/2 Mile away had closed , and was now an Air BNB. This meant we had to drive to the nearest Pub/Restaurant.

Property was ok but needs TLC.

There was a smell of damp in some of the bedrooms. Lack of emergency number was a bit of a concern. Need more garden furniture as we were lucky to have lovely weather but unable to make the most of it. Most expensive cottage we’ve had from Sykes and though good, it was not top end quality for the price.

Generally good.

Just a few niggles: Neighbours have lots of cars/vans and getting in/out of the drive is awkward. There is absolutely no involvement from owner. It would be nice to have some way of asking questions (e,g, local walks, raising issues etc) The garden is very small with no facilities other than a small bench. Certainly needs a BBQ Bin emptying was a worry (as it didn't happen)

Loved the accommodation and our stay.

There was no problem with cleanliness. The garden is a little small, but we knew this when we booked it, and because we have a dog, it was more important that the garden was enclosed.

The accommodation was comfortable.

Beds very comfortable. However cleanliness was not of a good standard. Also I do think that better furniture in the garden would have been a plus. We as a family usually holiday abroad. Value for money was not as good as a high end villa abroad. If you are going to charge a high price for your accommodation you expect a high standard of accommodation. Lake District very beautiful.