Barforth Hall Dairy, Gainford

After reading the reviews after booking was a bit reserved about what to expect ... After reading the reviews after booking was a bit reserved about what to expect when I first arrived postcode took me wrong way so if going input boat lane in sat nav first impression was really good place was clean had a little smell when first entered opened a window for 5 minutes no problem after that probably due to age of cottage board games need updating as most are missing things plenty of wood and lovely hosts beds a bit soft for my liking everything else was good

The cottage is a bit difficult to find as no real signage. It was a nice place to stay for a weekend could do with a bit of TLC to the garden area and indoors , but the rooms were all clean and beds comfy. Didn't use the log fired hot tub personally i get rid of it. could do with another bench for garden . Thanks .

Description needs to be updated. This cottage needs a lot of love and care, it's very tired. Many potholes on approach even though it states there are none. 3 out of 5 electric heaters do not work. The log burner leaks smoke out of the back and the glass which is broken. Although there were some logs provided, the wood supplied in the wood shed which we were told to use is chip board, laminated chip board and MDF all of which could be a health hazard. The cottage is not worth the value paid it needs severe updating. We had really been looking forward to our stay but sadly the condition of the property ruined it for us. Properties should be inspected to make sure they match the advertised description. This property has false advertising.

The property does no longer look like the images on Sykes website! ! The rugs look and feel like they have not been hoovered and look unclean. General dirt on sockets in the kitchen area. Fire place has been patched up compared to the online photo. Bbq area is not usable and damaged. Kitchen wear and crockery unclean. Cooker run down and rusty. Most items within the property are run down, uninviting and not representative to the images on your site. The property did not feel like and welcoming property like we were expecting to stay in for our short break.

There was a general lack of maintenance which was a shame because it has the potential to be lovely. The walks from the door were not possible as the bridges over the river are closednot accessible. But its wonderfully quiet and the surrounding area is stunning, with lots of great walking a short drive away. The back garden was secure, which was great for the dog. Would we return? To the area, yes. To this property, no.

The cottage was beautiful and in the perfect location for quiet walks with my dog. The owners could not have been more accommodating, there were issues with the water during our stay but we were kept well informed of any disruptions so this did not cause any issues for us at all. I highly recommend this cottage and will likely return in the future, thank you!

Absolutely loved our stay at the dairy, it's a beautiful cottage, plenty of space, lovely secure garden and everything we needed for our stay was provided, all within a beautiful location but would be nice for a little map of walking directions to the village or where we were allowed to walk on the property. Will definitely be booking again

We absolutely loved our stay here, the kids loved seeing the animals and petting the horses. We took our dog and its really helpful that the garden is secure so we could just let him run around without worrying about him escaping. We read some bad reviews before setting off and were slightly worried, but provided you are not expecting a luxury five star accommodation you will not be disappointed. If you expect a welcome hamper and flowers on arrival book somewhere else and pay considerably more. The cottage is warm and clean, and theres no issue with hot water as long as you put the boost on. Regarding the hot tub, yes it takes maybe a couple of hours to heat up but just keep the wood topped up to keep the fire going strong and itll be ready before you know it. Most importantly the kids had a great time and they want to go back!

The property is practical and fairly reasonably priced. The bathroom and bedroom was very clean however the cutlerykitchen utensils were dirty and required washing before we could use it. The hot tub was not maintained properly resulting in some pieces of wood that were falling off the topwood that was beginning to crumble. No hand towels were provided in the bathrooms. For a small amount of input, the cottage would feel a lot more comfortable. The wood stove was great and lots of wood was provided for this and the hot tub. The cookermicrowavefridge was clean however basic. The information book is tatty with outdated information incorrect TVmicrowave manual and we struggled to get hot water despite using the boost button. The setting is extremely peaceful and relaxing.

Mixed reviews on this stay. Facilities are rather basic in terms of showerbathroom. There was no hot water on our last morning and the hot tub is very worn out and not so appealing. Simple things like the cottage guide folder could be updated as its tatty and old. Which straight away doesnt give you a clean and well kept feel. The location of the cottage is really out in the middle of no where as the surrounding roads and footpaths all seemed to be blocked off.? We stayed for Christmas and a Christmas tree was provided, however it wasnt very festive, it was just an old artificial tree with few odd baubles, its the little things like this that could of made the stay more welcoming. The chocolates left by the owners were appreciated and they did provide plenty of wood to keep the fire burning through the cold days. This property is rustic and can be cosy at the same time, it just needs a little more love and thought or to be honest about what you see is what you get by updating the informationpictures.

The property is in much need of a refresh, it clearly has not had any money invested in it for some time, and the work that has been done is of very poor quality. The cooker, microwave is in desperately need to be changed and modernised, and the Fridge Freeze for the size of the cottage is way to small. In our opinion the owner has scrimped in every area in this cottage right down to the kitchen chopping board, which was a cheap plastic sheet and not a board of any sort. The bathroom was very big, but the shower was small and very poor in terms of water pressure and quality of the facility. My wife and I have been to many many holiday cottages over the years and this is the only one we have ever visited without some form of welcome pack on arrival, even if it was some tea bags and coffee to be available after a long journey, or to show appreciation for your business Nothing I find it unbelievable that Sykes have rated this cottage to be 4 star, as it clearly is far from a 4 star cottage, I have stayed in 3 star cottages that were of a much higher quality than this one. Yes it is in a beautiful area, but accommodation is also part of the holiday, which in this case was very poor. I would not recommend this cottage to any other holiday makers.

Really enjoyed our break away. Our toddler loved the horses and goats in nearby fields. Having unenclosed garden for our dog was ideal. Really great rustic cottage. Cons No hot water one day, did work out we needed to use the booster. Spent 5 hours heating hot tub up, made it up 10 degrees but needed another 10 degrees to be comfortable to sit in. No walk to local pub that didn't involve dangerous walk on lanes, so drove everywhere.

Beautiful setting relaxing clean comfortable So peaceful loved it

Barforth Hall Dairy Not Clean, Not COVID Compliant, Not Able to Stay We booked Barforth Hall Dairy for a week long stay but had to leave after 36 hours due to a failed Additional Clean. We highlighted issues to Sykes & the owner 1 hour after arrival the place was not clean and therefore not safe for a family visit during a time of COVID 19 restrictions. the water and substances in the kettle upon our arrival please see Appendix 4 The dried in food evident on dining plates, making these not safe for use on our arrival Appendix 5 The sticky substance covering on the work surface in the kitchen The dirty condition of the utensils intending for cooking, which contained several cobwebs. The owner does not dispute that these were present in Barforth Hall Dairy at the point of our arrival and after the second clean on 3.7.21 but said the photos had been taken to look bad. The fact that there were cobwebs on cooking utensils hanging above the sink after 2 supposed cleans WAS bad. It was certainly bad for our family Cooking utensils being cleaned and safe to use for our arrival is a basic expectation in hospitality. In addition to the missed cobwebs during the Adfitional Clean we were still left with Dead insects in kitchen Remnants of food still present on dining plates Removal replacement of bath mats which appeared to have been utilised by previous guests Removal replacement of toilet roll which had evidently been used by previous guests Food crumbs debris in drawers of freezer Furthermore the situation was exacerbated when the cleaner who carried out the additional clean used our towels and did not use separate sponges etc . COVID19 guidance states that towels and sponges should not be shared the towels we brought from home and the dish sponge left for us at Barforth Hall Dairy were both soiled during the second clean, meaning they were no longer in a condition to be safely used by our family. We binned our towels at the property when we left early on the Sunday morning. The owner offered us 50 to make up for the issues but thinks its acceptable to keep the 759 paid for a holiday we couldnt have we had to leave 6 days early! We are now taking this further which is completely new territory for us. Check out the reviews of Barforth Hall theyre the same owner & frighteningly similar to our experience. I wish we had we wouldnt have made a booking. This place was not clean, not COVID compliant and as a result we did not have a holiday.

We are city people who love being outdoors so to stay at Barmouth Dairy was a great change of scene for us and we had great weather. A great place for a family get away.

We were looking for a relaxing couple of days and we ended up wanting to stay longer! The location is fantastic, nestled into the countryside on a working farm with horses in view of the hottub and out the front along with the Alpacas! We had no issues finding the cottages, the Sykes instructions as Paula advised were great, anyone struggling can use the What3Words Navigation of stencil.racetrack.marshes to get to the front door. Easy to contact the owners, I missed Paula on the phone but we managed to email, and her responsiveness was superfast I asked for some extra logs and they were there before we even got back to the cottage The Hot tub is simple to use and once heated up once only needs an hour or so each day to get up to full heat, everything needed is provided. We took some plastic glasses and it's so relaxing sitting in the hot tub with a drink and just watching the sunset with the horses in view. Locations wise perfect of Barnard Castle, Bowes Museum, Raby Castle etc are within easy reach by Car and there are a multitude of excellent walks especially along the river to get some fresh air and enjoy the English Countryside. The cottage is exactly that, a cottage on a farm. It is not clinically clean and there are some cobwebs etc but that's to be expected. The kitchen is a good size and has almost everything needed to cook a decent meal in we made Carbonara & Pasta from scratch and all we were missing as a grater so we got pregrated cheese! The lounge is very comfortable with a good size TV if thats needed. The wood burner makes the room cosy and warm in the evenings when you can drag yourself out of the hottub Bedrooms were roomy and well fitted out, the 4 poster was great! Comfortable and spacious with pristine bed linen. We had absolutely no issues with either the heating or the hot water shower was lukewarm but wasn't an issue Bath was hot. All in all a fantastic place to stay and get away from it all. Responsive owners, wellequiped cottage in a great location!

Lovely cosy clean accommodation with plenty of space. Spectacular views to the front and rear of the property. The wood fired hot tub took about 4 to 5hrs to warm up from it being totally cold to getting to the acquired temperature we wanted we expected this and it therefore wasn't a problem, infact it was still warm enough the following morning to enjoy. There was plenty of wood provided for it but if there hadn't have been, a quick call to the owner would have rectified it. No problem with hot water in the accommodation and no problem with flies as previously mentioned in other reviews. The accommodation had everything you would need for a break. The owners were friendly and were on hand if required. The farm is huge with lots of livestock. The accommodation has an enclosed rear garden which was secure for our dog to wander in and out. Beautiful walks are available from the doorstep. There was even an opportunity for our daughter to help feed the baby lambsgoats. We would definitely visit again.

The views were breathtaking and the animals were so people friendly. A real country getaway.

There are a lot of positives to this little lodge, the location is great for access to local landmarks and days out and very quiet. The lodge itself had some positives, good size, comfy beds owners responded very quickly to a bulb that wasnt working. There were a few negatives though, a lot of flies but you can see they tried to remedy this in the kitchen with an electric flie zapper. The outside area had a lot of broken solar lamps, and the hot tub had seen better days with the lip of it rotting. Wifi worked in one room, but wasnt a huge issue. Hot water booster must be used to ensure you have hot water

Lovely quaint cottage. Loved the kitchen! Owners couldnt be more accomodating Brilliant to take the kids for the walks. Plenty of animals around too. X brilliant staycation. Would stay again.

We enjoyed a lovely relaxing week at the Dairy. Perfect place for a family break. Enjoyed good walks straight from the front door. Location is also perfect for exploring both the Dales and the Moors. The owners were very friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble. The wood fired hot tub was a nice bonus to relax in after a long day walking once you had mastered the fire. Hope to return one day soon!

Owners of the farm where lovely even invited my son to help feed the animals any ... Owners of the farm where lovely even invited my son to help feed the animals any questions we had they was happy to help wonderful hidden gem as tucked away from everyone and lots to do locally

We all had a great time the kitchen utensils was not enough for us a we was there for a full week . with four adult's and one child . not enough baking trays no cheese grater and measuring jug no large wine glasses only very small one's which only held a mouth full other then no complaints at all and we will defo come back

Just a beautiful quiet weekend break much needed and my 9 yr old loved the animals perfect x

I would recommend this cottage to anyone that wants a relaxing, carefree break. The cottage is exactly as described, the hot tub does take a while to get hot but is worth the wait and the cost of logs, the cottage is clean and very well equipped. The owners are so friendly and helpful nothing was a bother. The area is amazing although we only live 40 minutes away it felt like we could have been anywhere the views are wonderful. We had a lovely walk to the river. It was lovely to wake up, open the curtains and be greeted by the llamas. My little girl loved going to say hello to the animals at regular intervals. I would recommend taking as many provisions as you think you will need as you really the car to get to the nearest shop, plus we just didn't want to leave the cozyness of the cottage, watching the animals, playing board games and even good WiFi to stay connected to the outside world when we chose to . All in all a fabulous cottage with others nearby if you wanted to have a larger group holiday. Can't wait to go back again.

Enjoyed our break away. The Cottage met our family needs, the kitchen was well equipped and we enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub. The boys loved the open space to run about and play and felt safe, they made friends with Jess the dog on the farm.

This could be a lovely cottage as it is in a rural location on a working farm. Be prepared to drive at least 4 miles to the nearest village though as this may be classed as Gainford but the bridge to Gainford is permanently closed and blocked off even for pedestrian use causing this massive detour. Unfortunately it is also let down by a lack of thought in its interior. The decor and furniture are haphazard like cheap charity shop rejects and little thought has been given to supply of kitchen equipment. For example we had to buy a tin opener and scissors! There was also an iron, but no ironing board and a washing machine but nowhere to dry clothes! There are many more foibles such as this but the main thing to be aware of is the listing of a hot tub. There is a Scandanavian style wooden hot tub but it took us 5 hours to heat to a lukewarm temperature. This was five hours of continually stoking it with the chipboard furniture offcuts that are supplied. You cannot leave it as it burns the fuel so quickly. It looks good but is totally ineffective don't be fooled. You also have to pay for wood used as it is not included. We have stayed in many properties marketed by Sykes but this has been the poorest to date. We will also be contacting Sykes direct with this information.

It was a lovely area, everyone we spoke to around was so polite and kind, had a wonderful time and would definitely recommend and go back again!

We have had a lovely time in a beautiful tranquil place to wake and see horse running around outside your window was a great way to wake. Great for pets with lots of options for nice walks straight outside your door the owners are on hand and very helpful with any advise you may need Overhaul we shall deff go back again

Lovely weekend at a beautiful location celebrating with friends.

The house is very tired looking and the accommodation was very basic, the table cloth was plastic, not very clean and didn't even fit the table, the cutlery etc wasn't properly washed, the furniture in the living room was too big and made it difficult to walk around, the fire in the living room was ineffectual. At no time did we feel cosy, the house did not even have a pleasant atmosphere. Worse of all was the hot tub which took 4 5 hours to heat up & that was only with constant attention and then didn't stay warm more than 10 minutes. There wasn't enough wood to try and have heat the tub for the 2 nights we were there, additional wood was 15!! The only positives were the welcome easter egg and pint of milk in the fridge. At 150 a night it is not massively overpriced

Beautiful cottage , the owners were fantastic and were always at hand if we ... Beautiful cottage , the owners were fantastic and were always at hand if we needed them and were very friendly Hot tub was amazing at night , the cottage was a lot more spacious than we expected and was cleaned to a very high standard Had to email paula on

A gorgeous cottage set in the backdrop of lush green countryside. We adored feeding the animals outside the cottage, the little Pygmy goats were our favourite. The hot tub was so relaxing and it was a superb way to see in the new year. The host was excellent, nothing was too much trouble. We all had a wonderful 5 days and would return in a heartbeat.

Beautiful surroundings. Lovely cottage. Had to wash most cutlery & crockery as some not clean. Had a great Xmas there though.

Beautiful setting, beautiful cottage, helpful owners