Rosella Cottage in Rosedale East Side

It’s a sweet cottage in a tiny village that’s absolutely beautiful, but a few things spoiled the stay. The photos we’d seen when booking showed a light, fresh-looking place, while the cottage after its makeover was very dark. Some kitchen items weren’t clean either. I had to scrub a greasy, dirty grill pan before using it, and the cups and plates felt sticky and needed washing. The main problem was arriving to find no key in the safe box. Luckily the door had been left unlocked, so we improvised a way to secure it with a bar stool and kindling. We didn’t feel able to leave our things in the cottage and had to take them with us whenever we went out. By chance, as we were leaving, I found out there was a spare key at Abbey Stores across the road. Nobody at Host and Stay had told us, and I found the agency extremely unhelpful, so I wouldn’t recommend them. It also wasn’t made clear when booking that arrival instructions required an extra insurance payment. The choices were £25 non-refundable or £250, with £240 returned after the stay if there was no damage to the property or its contents.

Rosedale is such a peaceful little village, and the cottage is spacious and beautiful. We enjoyed the lovely back garden on warm summer evenings, and the sofas and beds were comfortable. The kitchen was well equipped, including an American freezer and an aga, and there was a good welcome pack with all the amenities. There’s just one bathroom, but it has both a separate shower and a bath. Everything was finished to a high standard, and our hosts were friendly and helpful. I’d gladly come back.

We spent a blissful week here and had the best time. The cottage is warm, cosy, and fully equipped. There’s even a washer-dryer tucked in a bathroom cupboard. It’s a brilliant base for walks and trails right from the doorstep. Both tea rooms are fantastic, and dogs are welcome at the warm, friendly Coach House pub. This was our first cottage holiday, so we weren’t sure what to expect, but it exceeded our expectations. Kathy, Phil and Mica (the cockerpoo)

We enjoyed our stay, and the local shops and cafe are great too. One issue was that the bathroom floor flooded, so we had to clear the plug hole in the shower. A full-length mirror would also be useful, as the upstairs one isn’t much help if you’re short and want to check your outfit.