FB Twitter

Holly Cottage

Holly Cottage

4.1
out of 5
Ratings from 29 reviews
76% of guests
recommend
Cleanliness
4.1
Comfort
3.9
Condition
3.7
Location
4.8
Value
4.1
Customer
Service
4.1

Check Availability


Holly Cottage is a delightful 400-year-old home brimming with character and in touching distance of the Dittisham riverside. Sleeping five in three rooms – and pets are welcome too. A year-round home, a river-view patio at the front and walled patio at the rear are perfect for summer. Inside, plush seating and a log burner make for a cosy stay in the cooler months. Venture a few steps to the riverbank for the popular inn and café or hope on a ferry to Dartmouth or the grand Greenway estate.

Excellent stay

Review submitted on Mon, 09 Oct 2023
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Had a lovely stay in holly cottage, booked last minute, very helpful staff at bookings office, holly cottage perfect for pub and river will be back , Keith and Natalie



Lovely cottage

Review submitted on Sun, 20 Aug 2023
4.2
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Lovely cottage for a family with three children and a dog. Lovely location, great views and well-equipped. The only thing was the double bed was tiny!



Beautiful views and great house

Review submitted on Mon, 22 May 2023
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We absolutely loved Holly Cottage and its location for our three day stay in May. My favourite spot was the little terrace upstairs with its breathtaking view. So peaceful here during the day with no traffic noise. Footpaths around Dittisham provide challenging but rewarding walks. Plan to return and spend a week without the car and use boat services to get around.



Disappointing stay

Review submitted on Tue, 09 May 2023
3.0
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
2.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
2.0
We arrived at Holly Cottage a bit wet from our walk. Entering the cottage it smelled musty and once we unpacked, we realised it was very cold. The storage heaters had not been on and there was no complimentary bag of logs for the fire. We spent that evening cold and damp wearing lots of layers!
Later the next day the weather improved and we went to sit outside in the back yard. The seats were filthy and upturned and caught up in the ivy and the cushions were soaking wet. Would also be good to have some hand towels in addition to the bath towels.
Holly Cottage is in a great location but needs a little bit of tlc.



Lovely cottage

Review submitted on Thu, 13 Apr 2023
4.2
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
4.0
Lovely cottage in great location. Comfortable and warm with nice kitchen and bathroom. Could do with a really intense clean especially the oven! and some basic maintenance - back garden area needs tending.



Lovely Little Devon Cottage In Beautiful Location, Just Needs Some Small Little Things Fixing

Review submitted on Sun, 29 May 2022
4.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
3.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
4.0
We arrived on a wet Monday evening , lovely little cottage,beautiful location..
Enjoyed our stay , just needs few jobs to sort out .. wardrobe doors need fixing , front gate needs fixing ,
Probably the most important is back yard needs pressure washing as when wet very slippery.. ( accident waiting to happen for someone who is elderly or small child )
Also garden needs some tidying /TLC
Saying that we had a lovely time



A superb location let down by a few basics

Review submitted on Sun, 03 Oct 2021
3.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
3.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
3.0
'Ditsum' is a magical place and Holly Cottage has a wonderful location with a wealth of features - character, good quality furniture etc. It's just a shame that a few basics were missing: no towels, no dvd and no working shower. A simple welcome pack would also have enhanced the experience, as would literature showing local walks or attractions.



Nina at Dart Valley Cottages replied more than 1 year ago
We are sorry that the DVD player was not available and we have amended the details on our website. Additionally, we do advise that towels are not included but fully intend on speaking with the owner with a view to providing towels for next season. We apologise that the shower was not working but unfortunately a part had to be ordered. We take on board your comments regarding literature showing local walks etc which we will endeavour to correct. We do hope that we will see you again.

a good stay

Review submitted on Mon, 13 Sep 2021
4.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
3.0
Holly cottage is perfectly located near the Dart river and close to the ferry crossing and Dartmouth Ferry access and local pub and cafe. We had an enjoyable break in the lovely Village of Dittisham. Not good for less mobile people as the are many different levels. But perfect for us. We would stay again



Holly Cottage

Review submitted on Sun, 25 Jul 2021
4.3
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
4.0
We have stayed at Holly Cottage three times now. It has had some improvements since we last came..new bathroom, outside seating etc. The location is amazing and the cottage is quaint and has everything you need.
Things have changed since Covid..the pub and The Anchorstone Cafe are not so accommodating which is a shame..I hope all the lovely things about Dittisham will come back soon. No faults with Holly Cottage though..we will be back !



A real gem in Dittisham

Review submitted on Wed, 07 Jul 2021
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
What a lovely surprise this cottage is. We have been holidaying in Dittisham for years and have always stayed on the quayside or the shore until this year but have definitely been missing a trick. Holly Cottage is so close to the water that you are still in the prime spot and with a great view of the moorings and across to Greenway. Even better is that both gardens are sunny all through the day and enjoy the evening sun which you don't get on the quayside. The gardens have plenty of seating so you can really enjoy the outside space. The pub is conveniently close but just far enough away to be unobtrusive and the elevated front garden gives you privacy while also being able to enjoy the buzz of the village.

Inside, the cottage is roomy, well equipped and very comfortable with nice decor. Headroom is pretty good too - I'm tall so that really matters. We loved it and have already booked again.



Review of holiday stay at Holly Cottage

Review submitted on Sun, 04 Jul 2021
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Very comfortable and well provided for cottage in a great position. Everything has been thought of. Good outdoor seating areas front and back, lovely log burner for the one chilly evening, great layout.



General Lack of care and attention. Not pet friendly on our visit

Review submitted on Sun, 13 Jun 2021
2.5
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
2.0
Location
3.0
Value
2.0
Customer
Service
2.0
This property is advertised as pet friendly. In my opinion it is not, it is hazardous to pets in the front garden area due to steep drops. Also the means of fastening the gate giving access to the road was broken. The owner said it ‘only’ broke last week’! The man, who came to fix the smoke alarm! said he would return to fix the gate lock the next day, he didn’t know about it. He never returned.
With regards to the smoke alarm it started beeping within hours of us being there..it beeped all night. (The man who came said he had replaced the battery 6 weeks ago and to be fair it looked pretty clean but once replaced the beeping stopped.)I had very little sleep. It was repaired Sunday afternoon.. our arrival day was ruined and so was the next day as we were so tired.
Despite lovely weather no heating was available for a very cold lounge but winter duvets were still on the beds in warm bedrooms.
By the way the pub is noisy during COVID restrictions because everyone is outside just a hundred yards away. It didn’t bother me as it was a happy noise but it might bother others.
Don’t take your DVDs there isn’t a machine despite the blurb saying there is. The owner told me he had taken it out and I could watch Freeview instead. Make of that attitude what you will.
The middle single bedroom door is in poor condition (holes) and doesn’t close properly. Neither of the wardrobes had doors that would close. Despite the rules there is no door to the lounge and no other barriers to stop a dog attempting the stairs to the bedrooms.
The blurb states you can go to the cottage by car to load/unload only as there is no parking but it does not make it clear that there is a traffic prohibition on turning round in the very narrow road. You have to either reverse in or reverse out on a very steep hill..




Holly Cottage Dittisham May 2021

Review submitted on Mon, 07 Jun 2021
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
This was a first time for us at Holly Cottage, as we usually stay at a higher priced one on the Quay which was already booked.
We were very pleasantly surprised when we arrived, as this one is equally as clean, welcoming and very homely, together with a brand new kitchen for 2021.
The facilities are very good and by no means overstated, we would definitely return in the future.



Holly Cottage

Review submitted on Tue, 25 May 2021
4.3
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
3.0
The cottage is very near the riverside which is very lovely and picturesque, however it is quite a walk to the levels car park.
It would have been nice to have firewood left for the 1st evening.. My only complaint about the cottage itself was the wardrobe door in the main bedroom which was annoying when it kept opening blocking exit from bedroom.
Well equipped, lounge comfortable.



Delightful Dittisham

Review submitted on Sun, 16 May 2021
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We had a lovely holiday at Holly Cottage. The cottage is spacious,comfortable, clean and well equipped. The location is excellent . It would be nice for logs and kindling to be available on arrival to add that special touch. Overall would thoroughly recommend this cottage and would love to return at some point.



Lovely days exploring the Dart

Review submitted on Sun, 02 May 2021
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
4.0
This is a beautifully appointed cottage in a wonderful location just yards from the River Dart. Ideally located for exploring Totnes and Dartmouth which we did by boat and other places of interest along the Dart Valley like Sharpham Vineyard and Greenway. The new refurbishments downstairs are really lovely, the cottage is well equipped and there are views of the river from the front and back gardens. Dittisham is very picturesque and there is a surprisingly well stocked shop at the top of the village and a great pub and cafe on the waterfront near the cottage. Highly recommended.



Beautiful Dittisham Cottage

Review submitted on Sat, 24 Apr 2021
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
After 25 years of Sailing we sold our boat and stayed on the village. We could see the kids crabbing from the garden. The FBI is excellent and The Anchor stone cafe. Comfy and everything you need. A lovely seating area in the front and back. It is a busy village and great for people watching.



Lovely cottage - very low down Manor Street near the pub and the cafe!

Review submitted on Tue, 03 Nov 2020
3.3
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
3.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
3.0
Thank you for a great week in Dittisham - first time we visited was 2003! We love it.

Just wanted to share a few bits I have thought of during the week.

Holly cottage was great!

Location, new bathroom, new carpet upstairs, washing machine
and dryer are great. The added outside toilet a bonus (didn’t use the shower but having the extra toilet was good). Good to have the dishwasher, new oven and hob.

Cottage was always warm and cosy but despite the instructions on the wall and in the book - we could not adjust the heaters. All ok as it was quite mild and very warm upstairs. One of the controls in the lounge is not attached. Storage heaters are historically quite uncontrollable.

Just a few things that might be easy fixes...
*new pillows on both beds in the twin room (current ones are very old and flat)
*update info on rubbish collection - notes say Saturday but some was taken Monday and then again Friday - no big deal - Bin man said he does Mon +Fri with Saturday collection was summer only. Someone took a bag on Wed too.
*light bulb in fridge
*light bulb above the hob
*light switch on lamp as you enter the double bedroom needs looking at as it is not working very well.

Bigger things which would be nice to have - new kitchen would be great and windows fitting a bit better although I get the age of the cottage etc. The lounge window does blow a draught.

The back patio and furniture would be lovely with some TLC - would have been great to sit out there but it is very unloved and the furniture is moldy. The two brushes are broken and have been left.

I also cleaned inside the cutlery holders and fridge and the top of bin, round the sink - there were some caked on spills which had been there a long while by the looks of things. The dishwasher needed salt and rinse aid - just little things in case you want feedback.



Perfect break in difficult times

Review submitted on Mon, 28 Sep 2020
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Having had previous bookings at another of Dart Valleys Cottages cancelled due to covid, we booked Holly Cottage as it was available when our original cottage was not. I'm so glad it wasn't!
Holly Cottage is amazing. It has everything you need and has plenty of room. 3 large bedrooms, a newly refurbished bathroom, large lounge and kitchen and lots of outdoor space.
The cottage is very quirky, the bed slopes with the floor which is interesting, it has walls thicker than a castle's and the location has to be one of the best in Dittisham. Next to the FBI and the Anchorstone Cafe.
Dittisham doesn't change and that's the best thing about it. Those who have been there before don't need me to tell you about the village. I have stayed in Dittisham for nearly 40 years since I was small at various houses in the village from top to bottom and Holly Cottage was way and above the best.
I think the biggest mention needs to be for Dart Valley Cottages though, as in these very uncertain times, have excelled in making the week great. The house was immaculate and when we walked in it felt safe and welcoming. Christine worked with us when we had dates cancelled and has provided us with an excellent, relaxing week away.
We will return and without doubt will book Holly Cottage again!



Our holiday at Holly Cottage in beautiful Dittisham

Review submitted on Sun, 20 Sep 2020
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
You won’t find a more beautiful location than this, just a few paces from the waters edge and the passenger Ferry to Dartmouth. The area has lots of lovely walks right from the doorstep of Holly Cottage, that lead to you some amazing coastal views and on towards Torquay.



Excellent location but cottage needs some attention

Review submitted on Wed, 26 Aug 2020
2.8
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
2.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
2.0
Location
5.0
Value
2.0
Customer
Service
4.0
The location of Holly Cottage is ideal for a River Dart holiday - a few steps from the water and two pubs/cafes on your doorstep.

Sadly the cottage itself was not well cleaned on our arrival, which was a huge disappointment, especially in these Covid19 times. It is a very damp property in need of some love and care.

But the cottage was a great base for exploring the area. Dittisham itself is ideal!



Unloved.

Review submitted on Fri, 07 Aug 2020
3.3
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
2.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
3.0
Location
4.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We had a very good holiday in Dittisham and found our communication with Dart Valley Cottages to be very efficient. They were very helpful.
Holly Cottage is very close to the water which was a key priority for us. However, with the pub and cafe only a short distance away we were awoken by deliveries and/or community rubbish collection every weekday morning occasionally at 6.30pm. This wasn't a big problem for us but it might be an issue for other people.
The cottage has a nice terrace in the front. The outdoor furniture at the cottage was in a poor state. To the back of the house the table was growing moss and the chairs were covered in green algae. We didn't use them as a result. All the iron chairs at the front had loose backs and one of the benches at the front was coming apart.
There is a good washing machine and drying machine but it could have done with a fold away clothes dryer or somewhere to hang wetsuits and towels. We had to leave these drying on the front terrace which was unsightly for everyone.
The Kitchen is old and falling apart in places. Although the surfaces and crockery and cutlery were clean the interiors of the cupboards were greasy and the kitchen extractor was dirty. The cupboards were full of broken bits and bobs that hadn't been sorted for years evidenced by pre-referendum paperwork in them. The outside bins had loose rubbish in them when we arrived and smelled unpleasant. When we were told that deep cleaning had taken place and we couldn't arrive until 5pm this seemed a little surprising. We also found children's puzzles under the sitting room furniture.
The kitchen is small and in order to seat 5 people you have to pull the table out from the wall, meaning you cannot open the oven door.
The shower was great and the bathroom has been modernised. There was plenty of hot water.
The floor in the master bedroom slopes which in itself isn't a problem but the bed sloped at the same angle so you felt like you were camping on a slope. My partner and I ended up sleeping separately as a result. The bed also looks cheap with various boards supporting the mattress. The sheet didn't cover the sides of the mattress. A lot of the linen felt old and in some cases showed small stains.
We appreciate that things may not be perfect but this house feels like someone wants to make money and I imagine that the occupancy rate is high because of its position. However, it doesn't feel as though someone cares about it and loves it. Many things could easily be rectified in order to make it a real pleasure to stay in.



Great location but be prepared for cold cottage!!!

Review submitted on Sun, 03 Nov 2019
3.2
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
2.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
2.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
4.0
The location of this cottage is fantastic but when we arrived at the cottage we were met with an overwhelming smell of “Wet Dogs”. Not sure if the people before had dogs but the smell was so unbearable we picked up some air freshener whilst we were out shopping! It was also not bet clean....lots of cob-webs which is to be expected in an old cottage but these had been here for some time! Also the outside shower room was awful, freezing cold, full of cob webs & damp. No heating in there at all! There was also no mention of this in the cottage description so was a littke mis-leading.

The cottage also only had a log burner in the lounge for heat as the storage heaters in the property were useless and didn’t keep us sufficiently warm in the evening. A few nights we ended up going to bed as it was too cold to sit comfortably downstairs so we ended up biting 3 extra bags of logs to burn in an attempt to keep warm.

The cottage is in a beautiful position but was let down by its lack of cleanliness and it’s heating.



Excellent value in September and a fabulous position. Original Devonians visiting from Derbyshire

Review submitted on Wed, 11 Sep 2019
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Once you've come to terms with the steep hill just relax and enjoy your holiday. Leave the car in the top car park (about £25 for a week) for as many initial days as you can before exploring out and about. Take just a few steps to the local ferries to the other side of the water or a return to lovely Dartmouth for a day trip. Visit the two local National Trust houses, Totnes and Torquay which is up and coming. The nearest pub (Ferry Boat Inn) is just a few steps away and offers good value meals and drinks and the Anchor Stone sea food cafe is just opposite the pub. We occasionally sat outside the cottage frontage and enjoyed our drinks whilst sometimes talking with visitors 'at ankle level' (you'll see what we mean). There's also a small rear garden with another set of table and chairs to enjoy. This is where the 'wet room' is situated so be brave when its a bit chilly. There an interior bathroom with w.c. so no need to venture out at night. The kitchen is well stocked with implements as is the whole house with everything you require from a rented property. Ample space for maximum occupancy and even better for just the two of us.



A lovely cottage in the heart of the village

Review submitted on Sun, 04 Aug 2019
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
A lovely little cottage in a very good position if you want to feel part of village life. Friendly, chatty neighbours made us feel very welcome.

Both the front and rear outdoor seating areas are compact but provide a good space for sitting in the sun with a drink and a news paper.

A well equipped kitchen and good washing and drying facilities make it a great base if you're having an active holiday. We did have a bit of trouble locking and unlocking the front door. There's probably a nack to it, but we never really got it.

A really great little holiday bolt-hole.



Our stay at Holly Cottage

Review submitted on Sun, 21 Jul 2019
4.3
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
This was our second stay at Holly Cottage, It is a very quaint 400 year old cottage set in a fabulous position with amazing views !
It is close to the Ferryboat Inn which is very convenient! The cottage is cosy and homely.



Nice house but tired

Review submitted on Sun, 30 Jun 2019
3.0
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
2.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
2.0
The house is in a great location and is very quaint. It does however need some work - the main bedroom is too small and the mattress is lopsided which was disappointing. It should have been changed. The front door is on it’s last legs - the lock is almost coming off and opening/closing it is hard. The outside toilet/shower is pretty filthy (it’s full of insects). Finally, the downstairs ceiling is leaking water where the bathroom is. Again - just quite poor really. I told the housekeeper but never heard anything back.

I wouldn’t stay there again - it was quite a lot of money considering the condition the house is in.



Perfect

Review submitted on Sun, 23 Jun 2019
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
A perfect cottage close to the pontoon, the FBI and Anchorstone Cafe and everything ‘Ditsum’ has to offer! Clean, comfy and a total delight! Would highly recommend but don’t want to spoil my chances of a second stay later this year! So please look elsewhere, people ;-)



Ok but not great

Review submitted on Sun, 24 Feb 2019
3.0
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
3.0
Location
3.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
3.0
Cottage was ok; kitchen was small and dark and unappealing to cook in so didn't bother and ate out instead, even with the fire going the lounge was cold, parking was much further away than expected - about 500 yards away up a steep hill, and cost £5 per day... not the end of the world but added a lot of effort each day getting the family out. But the location is very pretty and the pub was friendly. We had great weather for February so all had a good time. But sadly we won't miss the cottage.