Foxgloves

The bats at the property are protected, and the kids loved watching them fly at night. They didn’t disturb our holiday. Inside, there’s a huge lounge and dining area where everyone could relax and chat, plus a superb kitchen with all the essentials, an ice machine and a washing machine. We also made good use of the games room, the eight large bedrooms, quality linen, and the showers and baths. The outside space was great for the dogs and children. The hosts communicated well and were happy to answer questions beforehand and try to accommodate requests. We’d definitely return. Highly recommended.

The owner sent brilliant information before we arrived, and the house was immaculate when we got there. It was just right for our family group of 16, with plenty of space, very comfortable beds dressed in lovely linen, and a kitchen and utility room full of useful equipment and gadgets. Everyone loved the games room. The house and grounds were fabulous, and we’d highly recommend Maristow Barton.

There was plenty outside seating, and the garden gave our two dogs room to run about. Inside, the house had loads of crockery, pans and cutlery for all 16 of us, along with several fridges and a freezer. The games room was great, and there were lots of toys for the children. Our group included small children, younger adults and older ones, and everyone had a very comfortable, lovely stay. Thank you.

We left Maristow Barton on the morning of day four after deciding the risks we’d encountered made it unsafe to stay. Our party of 11 had booked a seven-day family holiday, but there were two young children, an older person and an immunocompromised person with us. The person who booked complained and was told there would be no refund. The explanation was that the loft hatch “could not” have fallen and that we hadn’t called about the bats to let the owner resolve the issue. We didn’t feel safe contacting the owner before leaving. We did try calling at about 8:12am on Sunday, but he didn’t answer or follow up. On arrival, we found blood stains on the sheets in two bedrooms, and there weren’t enough knives for our group. The cot we’d been assured was suitable was a travel cot that didn’t suit my baby. Its mattress was basically a plank of wood wrapped in fabric, so we had to buy a suitable cot for £70. On the first night, the room where my two-year-old and five-month-old were settling was unbearably hot. The baby kept being sick, so I took them out and checked with a room thermometer: it read 46 degrees. We later found out the heating had been turned on by the owners. The NHS website says 46 degrees Celsius is dangerously hot for a baby and could cause overheating, severe dehydration and a higher risk of SIDS. It recommends 16 to 20 degrees Celsius. The room was more than twice the recommended temperature for children and infants. If we hadn’t noticed, the consequences could have been severe. I slept downstairs on the sofa with the babies because of the extreme risk we felt Maristow Barton had exposed us to. On day two, the loft hatch fell onto the floor as I was going up the stairs and narrowly missed my head. On the third night, bats flew inside the house and woke my family. That was the last straw, and we decided to leave the next morning. The owner should not have dismissed this as a health hazard. The NHS website says bat exposure, particularly for young children, needs prompt medical assessment because of the rare but serious rabies risk from bites or scratches. It says direct contact, or bat saliva entering a wound or mucous membrane, should be reported to a health professional for assessment and possible post-exposure vaccination. The risk from bats in the UK is very low, according to that advice. Sykes Cottages says owners must keep the property clean, tidy and in good repair at the start of the holiday, and give an accurate, complete and up-to-date description, notifying guests of changes that could make it misleading. In light of what happened, I don’t think the owner met those requirements. I’ll be making a serious complaint to environmental health and strongly recommend avoiding this place.