Sutcombe, Holsworthy, North Devon Sundial Cottage

Sundial Cottage promised cosy, cottage accommodation and it tries hard to charm, but the interior feels as though you have stepped into a 1980s timewarp, in almost every detail. This is apparently when the owners began renting it as a holiday cottage, and although the kitchen and bathroom have been updated, rather depressingly little else seems to have changed since then, despite their evidently successful letting business. There are a few 'cottagy features' - latched doors, sloping ceilings and a great log burner. However, acres of wood chip wallpaper, slightly sooty with mould in places and tired, dated furnishings spoil the effect. Curiously, like some 1980s funeral parlour, there are garish silk flower arrangements, filthy with years of dust and cobwebs in virtually every room and the bedrooms don't smell nice, though the sheets and towels seemed clean.

In aspect, Sundial Cottage is disadvantaged - cottagy in that it can be a beautiful sunny day outside, but gloom reigns within. Almost every window looks out directly onto a hedge or bank of nearby bushes. Some lopping back could restore a little more light - things are somewhat more overgrown than when the photographs were taken.

The upside of the house is its garden, though a bit boggy and mostly away from the narrow plot around the house. There are 2 acres, with streams, a pond, bridges, waterfalls etc., which we enjoyed immensely. The sitting area by the pond is beautiful on a sunny day. Thankfully our stay was sunny all week - feel sorry for those who have rain during their stay.

In terms of location - no complaints, rural and peaceful as billed and there are numerous North Devon attractions within easy reach.

If interior decor doesn't bother you, don't be put off - it's a good base and every facility described functions adequately. However there are much pleasanter places in the area for the same price or less per week - we know as we stayed in another cottage locally in May 2010, which was lovely inside and out. (Kicked myself all week for not re-booking the previous one instead!)

Owners seemed kind and well-meaning - just don't think they're aware of what their guests might expect in 2010. English Country Cottages either don't inspect their properties regularly, or are similarly out of touch with modern standards.