My husband and I have been to this cottage for several years running and we love it so much that we have already booked again for next year! All the equipment - cooker, fridge/freezer, shower (in bath - and what a super power shower it is!) and properly flushing toilet cannot be faulted. I am sure the dishwasher is good too but we never use it, just handwashing the plates and cutlery. For us a washing machine would be more useful than the dish washer. The beds are comfortable and there are plenty of clothes hangars. We noted this year what seemed to have been a freshening up of the (always good anyway) paintwork which was appreciated.
On the downside the carpets really could good do with a good clean at appropriate intervals and there is an unpleasant smell in the entrance lobby. We have noted it in previous years but this year it really was worse - underfloor sewage, damp?.... The very narrow parking access is unpleasant and is really only suitable for smallish cars, especially in recent years where it has been necessary to reverse to keep the inward end access clear. Without reversing in from the main road, necessitating pulling out into the opposite traffic flow (to get the angle) the driver cannot open the car door. The concrete pillars separating the Bay Tree Cottage parking space from the Police/Borough are something of a nightmare and would make life so much easier if they were removed (sabotage or negotiation!?). Unlike previous 'hoovers' the current smiley faced model is very hard work and does not encourage end of stay cleaning. The change of central heating control this year was disconcerting as the timing of on and off could not be altered but my husband did find a way of overcoming the temperature control mechanism, very necessary during an unseasonably cold spell compared to usual. It would have been nice if we could have got ITV 3 on the otherwise good TV! Because of the Saturday night noise from Wetherspoons opposite (so much quieter when it used to be a police station!) we would keep the double glazed bedroom windows closed and/or sleep in the back bedroom where you can at least keep the windows open if the weather is warm.
Despite the niggles it really is a nice place to stay with immediate access to everything. If it wasn't we would not keep travelling every year from the South West for our regular fortnight in The Lake District. Very recommended.