Darnhay Cottage in Mauchline

"Having booked this cottage with Sykes (excellent company to deal with) we had not been to this part of Scotland before. The initial impression on entering the cottage was quite good, but as the week went on we discovered some things were getting "tired". The two checked sofas in the lounge have seen better days. The two single beds in the downstairs bedroom have springs coming through on the mattress. The log burner was quite good. The kitchen was clean, including the cooker, but again a lot of the equipment is getting tired, the cupboard coatings are beginning to peel away. The hot water from the kitchen tap runs really slow, so takes an age to fill the sink. I have based my asumptions on being here for a week and reading some of the earlier reviews."

Reviewed by David I on 22/05/2019

"This is a superb barn conversion in a lovely location, very tastefully furnished and well equipped in the modern and roomy kitchen. Large sitting room, well furnished with comfortable sofas and modern dining suite. Beautiful wood flooring and bedrooms carpeted and comfortable. The owners are charming and helpful."

Reviewed by Mrs Green on 03/07/2016

"An excellent cottage which served as a great base to explore the local area and Glasgow. Felt like home from home. Very comfortable and well equipped. "

Reviewed by Mr Budding on 30/10/2013

"Darnhay Cottage is a lovely, clean, well equiped and comfortable cottage. One of the best we have stayed in. The owners are friendly and helpful. We enjoyed a week in the cottage which is a fantastic base for touring the area. It is a peaceful location to return to. We would recommend the cottage to friends and family."

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 03/09/2013

"Good base for exploring the West side of Scotland, and the cottage was very comfortable and clean. "

Reviewed by Mr Holleran on 19/08/2013

"Lovely clean and well equipped cottage in a peaceful location. A good base for touring the area. The owners were friendly and helpful."

Reviewed by Mrs Whiteside on 02/07/2013

"The cottage was the best we have stayed in. The owners were very friendly and on hand to give any help when needed. The area is very pretty with good walking and plenty to do. There is a very good pub serving excellent meals in the nearby village of Sorn. We had a really relaxing break and would recommend it to anyone."

Reviewed by Mr Kennington on 17/06/2013

"Welcoming, clean, cosy, comfortable and quiet."

Reviewed by Mrs Johnston on 08/10/2012

"Very warm friendly welcome, the property was very clean and well furnished, the log burner made it very warm and cosy, one of the best that we have rented via Sykes. I would have no hesitation in recommending this property to my family and friends."

Reviewed by Mr Purdy on 02/10/2012

"The owners met us and were very friendly and helpful. They had provided milk and a cake as a welcome gift which we enjoyed. The cottage was very clean and tidy and we would recommend it to all our friends."

Reviewed by Mrs Raine on 24/09/2012

"Great hosts and very peaceful area. Easy to get around and see relatives in the surrounding area."

Reviewed by Mr Turnbull on 06/08/2012

"We liked the quiet location, yet the proximity to good facilities in Mauchline and an excellent pub/restaurant in Sorn!"

Reviewed by Mr Kirkham on 29/07/2012

"We loved our holiday at Darnhay, we could not find anything to complain about. It was the best cottage we have ever had - modern luxury and best of all our hosts were really friendly and nothing was a bother. The owner makes the welcome extra special with her home baking."

Reviewed by Mrs Moffat on 26/07/2012

"In spite of the extremely wet and windy weather we had a very relaxed and enjoyable holiday at Darnhay Cottage, it was beautifully presented and catered for everything we needed, the wood burning stove was greatly appreciated because of the weather and we were kept well supplied with wood for it. The owners were very welcoming and even left us a home baked cake on our arrival. The only small defect we found was that the beds in the twin bedroom were a little short for my 6' 2" disabled husband because of the footboard. The location is a little remote, but there is easy access by car to both Sorn (where the food at the Sorn Inn is excellent)and Mauchline."

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 02/12/2011

"The standard of accommodation was excellent, the owners were very welcoming and did everything they could to make our stay enjoyable. We would definitely return to this cottage. "

Reviewed by Mrs Kenworthy on 11/10/2011

"first class owners very helpful.will help in any way they can.must have a car for this cottage."

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 25/08/2011

"The location was wonderful. Very quiet and literally in the middle of nowhere. But with very little effort we were on the coast and there was plenty to do, with several castles and other tourist attractions within easy driving distance."

Reviewed by Mrs Heath on 06/06/2011

"Darnhay is a quiet, rural retreat perfect for getting away from it all but also as a base for exploring the local and wider area of Dumfries and Galloway. The cottage is cosy and comfortable and the owners went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed for a great holiday. The home made bread was a delicious and welcome surprise!"

Reviewed by Mrs Holliday on 11/04/2011

"The location was quiet yet allowed us access to all local attractions within reasonable time. The owners were approachable, very friendly and responded quickly to any questions. The quality of the cottage was excellent throughout, and allowed us to fully enjoy our time away on holiday!! Sykes have themselves a return customer for the future!!"

Reviewed by Mr Harris on 22/03/2011

"It was very peaceful and allowed us to recharge the batteries. Would recommend the area to anyone. "

Reviewed by Mrs Huston on 21/02/2011

"Everything! The property was 1st class, the owner was friendly and helpful, and the location was perfect for our holiday needs."

Reviewed by Mrs Dickinson on 23/11/2010

"Owner very helpful on arrival and available if we had any problems Cottage perfect very quiet but only a few miles to supermarket ect leaflets and information on the area good the cottage (no door on ensuit toilet/shower room) though other bathroom lovely"

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 11/11/2010

"A fantastic cottage in a beautiful location (despite the weather!!). A very high standard throughout with a warm welcome from the owner. Already missing the wood burner! Would recommend a visit."

Reviewed by Mrs Warrington on 02/11/2010

"This is by far the best property we have stayed in. The owner was so friendly and helpful. The cottage and surroundings are superb. We would like to say a big thank you for such a wonderful place to stay and relax."

Reviewed by Mr Westbury on 27/10/2010

"could not ask for anything better, the owner made you welcome and the amenities in the cottage were of a high standard really enjoyed our stay and would go back again in the near future, excellent in every way would recommend this cottage to anyone."

Reviewed by Mr. McLachlan on 24/07/2010

"like a new cottage brand new very clean location perfect for touring"

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 17/07/2010

"Lovely quiet spot and a cottage that suited our needs perfectly. Very friendly owners who helped with golf club storage and meal recommendations. Would certainly visit again."

Reviewed by Mr Crilly on 21/06/2010

"Fantastic area - lots to see and do. Loved the holiday cottage."

Reviewed by Mr Cross on 01/06/2010

"It was a pleasure to stay in the cottage."

Reviewed by Mr McLachlan on 24/05/2010

"The warm welcome, the quality of the cottage, the helpfulness of the owner, and the peace and quiet. This cottage is a must for someone who want peace quiet in a very high standard cottage and a great base to explore a special part of Scotland"

Reviewed by Mr Bayliss on 11/05/2010

"It was very peaceful and the cottage was really lovely. We did lots of walking and star gazing!"

Reviewed by Mrs French on 12/04/2010

"The cottage was very clean and well appointed, the furnishings were all high quality. The location is quiet and yet not far from main towns and cities, All in all a great place to stay and would recommend to anyone. Thanks for a great week! "

Reviewed by Mr Reynolds on 06/04/2010

"Perfect location, combined the tranquility of a rural retreat with excellent access to routes to get around the stunning area. The cottage was finished to a very high standard which made for a comfortable week. The sunsets were stunning as was the night sky. We also saw plenty of wildlife and enjoyed Mauchline. "

Reviewed by Mr Scott on 01/03/2010

"We found the cottage to be extremely comfortable and very well fitted. What was most important was that the owners were very friendly, informative and helpful and were so welcoming. We had a wonderful week there, it was a base from where we could visit a number of brilliant sites and was very accessible to getting a ferry to different islands; Rothesay was beautiful. The multi fuel burner is ferocious, we had to light it on the last day when the weather was appalling and it heats the cottage very quickly and very warmly. The only thing of remark is that to use the en suite bedroom you need to be very friendly as there is no door on the toilet/shower facilities. Otherwise brilliant in all respects."

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 21/12/2009

"The holiday got off to a good start. I was impressed with Sykes' efficiency and promptness in dealing with my initial availability request, even though my enquiry was late Sunday afternoon! Darnhay cottage was excellent; a converted barnhouse done up to a very high specification.The rooms were great and the oil fired stove in the lounge a nice extra touch. The kitchen was well equipped, and although we only ate in a couple of times, we could have cooked a more ambitious meal had we wanted to. The owners lived on site but weren't too obtrusive, whilst always being on hand to help. One bonus was that we could keep our bikes in another outhouse, which saved having to keep them in the house or re-load onto car. The location was fairly remote and perhaps that was the only down side for us. We would have liked to have been able to walk to the village. That said, the free Burns museum in Mauchline (2 miles away) is a real gem and worth a visit, and the village itself has a couple of grocery shops and a few nice pubs which serve good food. Overall, we would certainly recommend both the cottage and "Sykes Holidays" and will definitely use "Sykes" again for a good quality reasonably priced break. Bendigedig! M. Lewis Roberts Anglesey"

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 18/12/2009

"We stayed at this cottage for 1 week the owner was very friendly and helpfull. Plently of information at the cottage both about how to work items and about surrounding places to visit. Nothing was too much trouble for the owner they ensured our holiday went with out any hitches. The cottage was warm and cosy. Facilities great."

Reviewed by A FlipKey verified reviewer on 03/12/2009

"Excellent place for peace and quiet. The owner was very helpful."

Reviewed by Mrs Clarke on 16/09/2009

"The welcome was very warm. The bottle of wine was great and the owners were very helpful and informative. "

Reviewed by Ms Ling on 22/08/2009

"Cottage of highest quality, in a lovely lovely quiet area. We thoroughly recommend it. Culzean Castle well worth a visit, as is the free Burns Museum in Mauchline. Poosie Nansies in Mauchline serves a great "hunters chicken"."

Reviewed by Mrs Lewis Roberts on 10/08/2009

"The cottage was beyond expectations and the owner couldn't do enough. It was central enough for the surrounding areas but was peaceful and relaxing. "

Reviewed by Mr Llewellyn on 28/07/2009

"The surroundings were beautiful, the locals were really friendly, it was great for kids or on your own very peaceful. The cottage was out of this world really done to the highest standard,lots to see and do for young or old, the owners were so friendly they were there if you needed anything couldn't have asked for better people, nothing was any trouble.A truly wonderful holiday we will be going back, couldn't speak highly enough of it and would recommend to anyone. "

Reviewed by Mr Elliot on 06/07/2009

"Excellent Cottage, very helpful host."

Reviewed by Ms Melia on 18/06/2009

"The owners were very friendly and helpful. There always appeared to be someone on hand if there should be any problems. This property gives you a complete feeling of being a million miles away from anywhere, yet you're only a short distance from the nearest village. A perfect spot in the country with only the sounds of nature around you and virtually no traffic. Perfect!"

Reviewed by Ms Whitcroft on 29/04/2009

"A fantastic cottage finished to a really high standard with all mod. cons. We enjoyed a wonderful week exploring the local beaches, kid's play areas and forest walks. "

Reviewed by Mr Millward on 21/04/2009

"There are nice walks from the cottage. Fairburn Hotel in Mauchline had very good food."

Reviewed by Mr Tait on 01/04/2009

"We really enjoyed our stay. The owners made us very welcome and the property and location were excellent. We particularly liked the wood burning stove. "

Reviewed by Mr Hollinrake on 13/01/2009

"Well-equipped and furnished to a high standard. An area that has much to recommend it. We enjoyed the walking. "

Reviewed by Mrs Whitworth on 08/12/2008

"The cottage was the base from which we went on day trips. The cottage was perfect for our needs."

Reviewed by Mr Seccombe on 29/09/2008

"The property was modern, clean and well maintained. There were plenty of places of interest to see. Culzean Castle and Kelburn Castle were particularly interesting."

Reviewed by Mrs Slack on 07/07/2008

"The owners could not have been more helpful. Nothing was too much trouble and they made us feel very welcome. The cottage was first class and even better than the excellent photographs in the brochure."

Reviewed by Ms Waters on 09/06/2008

"Ideal romantic retreat set in quiet surroundings."

Reviewed by Mrs Thorpe on 02/06/2008

"Cottage is extremely well presented. The best we've ever stayed in. "

Reviewed by Mr Coates on 26/05/2008

"The cottage was exactly as described. We liked everything."

Reviewed by Mr & Mrs Paul on 05/05/2008

"Amazing cottage. Very friendly and helpful owner. 10/10."

Reviewed by Mr Carvell on 18/02/2008