“Not exactly what is says on the tin!
Only got 1 star because you can't put no stars!
We planned to meet my parents at Throstle Hall Country Cottage, Twiston for a nice relaxing week.
I know the general area if not Twiston exactly. Beautiful landscape and views.
The track down to the property is entertaining (well kind of..). Down the farm track to the side of a private house. Through a 5 bar gate which you have to open before you proceed and close after you pass through it. It is open countryside after all. Then through another 5 bar gate which you have to open to proceed and again close after you pass through it. Then drive down the track, which is a 30 degree decline, bends first left and then right. Depositing you in front of Throstle Hall Country Cottage. Thankfully on the day i went down the track to the house it was cracking the flags. So i only sprayed stones up at the hire car i was using as i return up the track to the road between the 2 gates. Can't even imagine how it would be on a wet day or perish the thought, its snows. Not a chance unless you have a very competent 4x4.
The house is described as 2 floors with a mezzanine. To my mind a mezzanine is between floors, maybe 5 or 6 steps up from the ground floor. Before you get to the 1st floor. Not in this case. This is a 3 story property. Looks lovely, but not represented truely by the pictures on the website. There is no indication on any pictures of the slope down to the property. There is no literature on the website indicating the severity of the declination from the road to the property. It's severe.
I'm in my 50's. An avid rock climber and fitness freak. Walking up and down stairs isn't even a thought. However, when my parents are comin to stay i always read through property description very thoroughly to make sure there is no indication of restrictive access. I always review all pictures of the property to ensure i can see no restrictive access. My parents are in the 70's (Mum) and 80's (Dad). As with most mature people, my parents now have to be cautious with stairs.
There is not 1 single picture on the website of a staircase or a step. Not a single pic of the 3 floors of stairs within the property. Just 1 pic of the 'messanine' and a couple of spindles. Guess thats a learning lesson for me.
A 600+ pound learning lesson!!
As soon as i realised how many stairs were in this property i immediately contacted the owner. Explained my predicament. Hoped that being 2016 she would understand and work with me. I even said i totally understood there would have been costs in preparing the property for me and offered to cover all costs.
On email the owner was abrupt, rude and absolutely unhelpful. No refund. No partial refund. Nothing.
I have a real problem with a business owners who is all about the money.
I am only in England 4 or 5 times a year. Cherish my time with my parents. If this property website had a true description and true pictures i would never have picked it in the first place. Why would i ever think to ask about limitations on access if there is nothing mentioned on the website?
Not to mention the stream running through the property that is too easy to access as there is no guards, walls, fences or signs to warn of its location.
Guess i have to suck up the loss of the weeks rental cost! Ouch!!
Anyway, we quickly found another place to stay the week. Had a lovely time with my parents. Looking forward to next time. It certainly won't be with the money grabbing owner at Throstle Hall Country Cottage! I highly recommend you do exactly the same and steer (not a farmng term) clear of Throstle Hall Country Cottage.