Ballyginny Cottage

We had a lovely stay at Ballyginny Cottage, and the hot tub was amazing, a big hit with my seven-year-old daughter. It was a quiet, peaceful location about five minutes’ drive from Newcastle, and the cottage was very clean, warm and comfortable. I found Joanne extremely helpful. We stayed four midweek nights for £600, plus a £150 deposit that’s refundable after the cottage is inspected at checkout. Our little dog was allowed, though there were plenty of places she could escape through. We used the hot tub on two days and had enough logs, but extra ones need to be requested and cost more. Some previously mentioned issues were still there, including the broken patio door lock, a bed supported by wood and no wardrobes or bedroom storage, though none really bothered us. The entertainment mentioned in other reviews wasn’t available, and there was no BBQ. That wasn’t a big deal for us since the weather was beautiful and we spent lots of time at the nearby beach. There’s no WiFi either. We still enjoyed our time at Ballyginny Cottage.

Jo had a cute welcome pack ready when we arrived, which was much appreciated, and she had the wood-fired burner set up for us. Using it cost an extra £50, and it was the highlight of our weekend. The cottage is small but beautifully done, with two bedrooms and two en-suites. Our kids loved the large side garden. Newcastle and the shops are only a five-minute drive away. I did miss having a freezer, especially for ice cubes, but I’d happily stay again.

Jo and Graham had kindly set up the hot tub even though we hadn’t booked it, so the children and we could enjoy it. We especially liked that it was wood-fired, and the children made full use of the fantastic garden too. The cottage felt wonderfully homely for our long weekend. There’s a gorgeous local pub within walking distance, and Newcastle, Castle Wellan and the Mourns are a short drive away. The welcome pack was a delightful surprise. Thanks for making our stay in Maghera so lovely. I’d highly recommend it.

We paid £600 for a three-night cottage stay booked at short notice and arrived late Friday. The cottage was dirty, run down and badly in need of maintenance. The kitchen patio doors were broken, some windows wouldn’t close all the way, and the door hinges needed fixing because the doors kept banging. The furniture looked like it had been bought on a shoestring. We tried to stay positive despite all that. Around 11.30 the next morning, the owner and her husband turned up without a call or text. I was vacuuming and mopping because the place was filthy, ahead of a small get-together with guests I’d told the owner about. They stayed about 15 minutes, and I still don’t know why they came by, since we would have contacted them if we needed help. Later, while we and our guests were enjoying food and drinks outside, a man arrived and tried to get into the property, saying he was there to work on the garden and trees. He was abrupt and rude, and seemed to think he could enter during our gathering. We told him we’d paid £600 and he couldn’t come in while we were staying there. He said he was the owner’s son and she hadn’t told him guests were there. It ruined the evening’s atmosphere and left us feeling checked on throughout the stay. For that price we expected much better. Had I known about the condition and these unannounced visits, I’d have stayed at home. I’ve stayed in lots of holiday homes and never had an owner act this way or send family members over when guests were staying. I spoke with the owner by phone. She apologised, but tried to justify what happened and didn’t offer compensation or a refund. I also nearly forgot the hostile neighbour, an unfriendly older woman who lives alone. When she left the property, she appeared to have no interest in saying hello, despite trying to smile and make eye contact. The owner had warned us about her before we arrived and told us to buy natural wood firelighters for the hot tub, because the regular Sunny Jim ones badly annoyed the neighbour. Totally disappointed. I’d recommend finding better accommodation.