The Old Barn, Farley Near Alton Towers

Stayed over for the weekend with 7 of my girlies and had a fantastic time! When we arrived there was a mini hamper box waiting for us which was a nice little touch. If someone has a disability issue there is a bedroom downstairs which was perfect for two of our guests with a bathroom just round the corner. There was another four rooms upstairs combing of double, twin and bunk beds. Also a bathroom upstairs. Each room had a small mirror for makeup etc and all the bedrooms were clean and tidy. The living room was a large space, penalty of seating as well as the kitchen. Plenty of cutlery, plates, mugs, pans etc. Three picnic benches outside which are ideal on a sunny day. Not too far was a pug called The Star I believe…it was the perfect place for a few cheeky bevvies!! You can walk there but be mindful there are no footpaths and some crazy bends in the road so just be careful! Sarah the owner - great communication, incredibly helpful and polite. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay!!! ONLY suggestion is a full length mirror - unless there was one and we missed it - sorry if we did!!

Firstly, a perfect place for a large family gathering; we could all eat together in the kitchen and there was ample space for relaxed evening seating and games in the evening, with outside space to play garden games, too. Plenty of plates, dishes, cutlery, mugs and glasses which was a bonus, although there could be a better hob and oven, and oven dishes might be useful. Supermarklet delivery is simple to arrange in advance. We all had a great time here, with no problems...and it was easy to relax with no worries about 'precious-looking ornaments' that might be damaged. Ok, one might add that it is not in pristine condition throughout, but it's certainly sufficiently clean to have no worries staying...

Not worth the price when comparing to similar sized properties. Positives: 5mins walk to Alton Towers. The beds and sofas are comfy. Negatives: Very unclean and dust everywhere. It is apparent the cleaners are not doing their job properly and the property itself needs a deep clean (I've seen this mentioned on prebious reviews). Mould around windows, sinks and showers. One of the bathrooms has its windows sealed shut and hence any smells or condensation cannot be let out. Property itself needs redecorating and renovation including new kitchen furniture. Windows and front door do not lock properly and some can't be opened properly. Cupboards and furniture misaligned or falling e.g. kitchen cupboards and dining table. Unclean utensils in kitchen cupboards e.g. an oven baking tray was covered in grease and clearly not washed properly. Dining chairs do not fit the dining table properly i.e. too low down Lack of small things like washing up cleaning sponge, soaps, etc. When stripping the bed, noticed a boot mark on an underlying sheet and yellowing pillows. Shower doors were loose and had to complain as they could have fallen off if our children were not careful with them. Unsure how the property passes safety checks for example, light switch close to the shower, loose boiler cover. No proper front drive. The front drive is a step covered by gravel which makes driving up it very difficult as the opening is narrow. As mentioend, not worth the price compared to other similar sized properties I've rented. The owners clearly show no pride in maintaining the property and will definitely not be using this company again for rentals.

Totally agree with most recent review. Property dirty on arrival, we had to ring owner who came over and cleaned along with my husband and myself before the rest of our party arrived.Property advertised as been deep cleaned and arrival was 5pm to facilitate extra cleaning in the current covid pandemic. I pointed out many broken items,as we had to pay a £100 bond, but she said she was aware of them all... which begs the question why weren't they fixed. At £2011 I expected an outstanding luxury house as advertised. Would definately not recommended this property. such a shame as it could be lovely.

General Lack of kitchen equipment- no chopping board, no mats for the floor in bathrooms, furniture falling apart especially in the ground floor bedroom, no ventilation in the ground floor bedroom( no opening window and patio door locked shut with no handle) blinds didn’t all work, filthy in between cushions on sofa, windows filthy esp in the main bedroom, outside benches on their last legs, the tv in one of the bedrooms didn’t work, kitchen doors were hanging off, shower door was loose, toilet seat came off, the general cleanliness was poor. Positives - it could be a lovely cottage if the above issues were improved, it was a good size and the outside space was lovely and an excellent location. We felt that for almost £2000 for a weeks stay that the standards would have been higher. We would not stay here again. We did request a fan when we arrived for the ground floor bedroom and the owner brought 2 over which was appreciated. Alton towers is literally on the door step and lots of places within a 30-40 min drive, we loved Matlock bath and Cannock chase.

At a cost of over £1800 for a week in August we arrived expecting to find as per the Sykes Cottages description 'first class accommodation'. From the outside the property looked promising BUT that's where it ended. A large 5 bedroom property with just 1 smoke detector situated upstairs to me is a big safety problem but lets add that to this further compilation of unacceptables that make this property unworthy of it's description and cost. The house was filthy with ingrained dirt from previous renters down to cobwebs inside next to the non existent door handle on the french doors in the downstairs bedroom. There were cupboard and drawer doors hanging off and the downstairs toilet door wouldn't shut due to warping. 2 out of 3 toilet seats were ill fitting and slid around on sitting down. Bedroom blind strings were broken and repaired with bits of string, cord holders hanging off along with holes in the actual blinds. Black mildew in showers and at back of sinks. The duvets and pillows were obviously ancient being full of lumps with areas of nothing. The water boiler broke down and we had to wait most of day to be repaired, it turned very cold that week and we attempted to put heating on, it didn't work another day of waiting for repair and even then did not heat downstairs. Handle broken of upstairs bedroom with a scribbled note of apology so unable to open and let shower/bath steam out. Several ceiling light bulbs blown. The wood was rotten and falling apart on many of the window sills. Sitting room wooden coffee table had varnish peeling off with drink stains. One of the sofa arms was broken and hanging off with stuffing protruding. Although property description mentions open staircase there are other elements that make this property totally unsuitable for young children and toddlers and should be noted in description. For a property advertising suitable for 12 people it's impossible to cook on the tiny electric hob along with 1 nonstick frypan large enough for only 2 eggs!!!! All the above and more was related to Sykes Cottages who have been unforthcoming making the comment of 'if you'd let us know we would have got cleaners in'!!!!.....should at the cost we have been expected to have to do this? I gave them fair chance for a decent acknowledgement but have been ignored so compelling me to write this review. Therefore I would suggest you do not waste your money by staying at this property or use Sykes Cottages. Happy to provide numerous photos.

Wow. What a lovely place to stay. There was 12 off us. We never felt like we was on top off each other once. Lovely cottage everything you need is there. Lovely big court yard. We even watch the fireworks at Alton towers which the kids loved. Was great having 3 bath rooms too. I’m sure we will be back soon.

This house was a perfect base for visiting Alton Towers; closer to the gates than the resort hotels! It's spacious and great for large groups! The description makes this house sound very grand and upmarket, but is in need of a deep clean, maintenance and attention to detail to live up to those expectations. For example there is no breakfast bar, no hairdryer or full length mirrors. The bathrooms were mouldy, one of the showers was stuck on scolding hot and a number of light bulbs were blown. Being able to come home from Alton Towers for lunch and a little rest in the middle of the day is a revelation. The WiFi was decent and the kitchen well equipped. I would stay here again next time a group of us want to visit AT.

We booked this cottage as it is close to Alton Towers. The cottage looks nice but it lacks any quality given the high cost of rental. We stayed there for the week of 28th July to 4th August 2017. The first thing you notice is that the entrance to the drive is hidden and poorly signposted, actually the overgrown hedge covers most of it. The drive needs repair as it may damage your car underside when driving out due to uneven private road/drive, which is part of the cottage grounds. The rooms look great in the pictures but the beds are squeeky and mattresses are very poor, with no comfort. The bedrooms are not spacious. The dining table was too small for everyone to eat together, and a mismatch of plastic chairs and a few wood chairs. The kitchen was not high standard and definitely not clean. There are no quality cuttlery,plates or dishes, and all mismatched. The living room was spacious but again on closer inspection needed cleaning. The cottage is advertised with WiFi but there is none! Only one shower (from two) worked and a bath tub. The general hot water was not working after 4 days and it was not repaired within the time we were there. So, no hot water for two days. For the cost, definitely one to miss. The location is great for Alton Towers and that is the only positive thing. Definitely would not go again and would not recommend for the cost.

Booked for a week to celebrate Mums 80th birthday. Was perfect for all the family. Loved the big table in kitchen. Lounge was fantastic. Had a couple of problems when we arrived but they were sorted straight away. Would have liked more fridge space rather than lots of freezer space. Bit tired but suited us. Great location.

The house was wonderful and fully met our expectations. Everything we needed was provided for down to the matches for the fireplace, meaning that all we had to do was bring the food for our meals. We were able to fully relax and enjoy the weekend. The area is lovely and perfectly situated for a walk in the Peak District.

Excellent location and plenty of space within the house.

We stayed at The Old Barn for a weekend to celebrate a very important birthday as a family, stretching over three generations, and it worked very well. The property is located nearly at the entrance of Alton Towers and you really would not know it. The bedrooms worked really well between the adults and children, clean and very comfortable. Everyone had good nights sleep and had more than enough room for 9 of us. We enjoyed the comfortable living room with space for all of us to enjoy, even the children on a very wet afternoon. A highlight for them was watching a tractor come out of the drive opposite! However, the kitchen was a disappointment. I had to give it a clean before using the surfaces, the table was very wobbly and the fridges had seen better days, one of them barely chilling the food, the other freezing the salad. With limited time there it wasn't practicable to work out the nuances of the apparatus. I know it was the height of the season, but for the amount we paid I would have expected superior equipment. Overall, we had a lovely time and would have loved longer to enjoy the rest of the area which looked lovely. On that basis I would recommend it to a friend, but warn about the kitchen.

All 11 of us had a fantastic holiday! The cottage was very spacious and very well equipped.

A fantastic stay. It was very easy to organise and pick up keys, and the owner was great and very helpful. Would definitely recommend!

I would highly recommend The Old Barn. It had everything we needed for a brilliant stay; from comfy armchairs to a log burner and an elegant bath. It is set in a stunning location and the owner was extremely helpful. Thanks to all involved.

Delightful property in very relaxing surroundings. The proximity to Alton Towers was a blessing. It was a good sized lounge, and there were 11 in our party - lounge was comfortable and welcoming with the log fire.

Beautiful, spacious cottage, very warm and cosy, comfortable and well-equipped. Couldn't believe how close it was to Alton Towers! Very easy cottage to spend time together in. Very helpful owner.

Great location with the house being really easy to find as well, it was literally across the road from Alton Towers. The owner was really helpful and the house was great - an excellent size with really comfy features. Great garden as well. We'd definitely stay again.

The location of the property was excellent. Communal areas (lounge, kitchen) were great for a large group. For our group, a Christmas weekend away is an annual event, and everyone very much enjoyed and would definitely consider a return to The Old Barn.

The cottage is superbly located for those attending Alton Towers. Lovely comfortable and well equipped property

Perfect for a group holiday, we had everything we needed and really felt at home! Thank you, we will be back!

The cottage was very homely, the lounge chairs are very inviting. The best thing about this cottage was the 5 minute walk to the Alton towers ticket kiosks and a leisurely walk back after a day on the rides - past the queues of exiting cars! Great location and cottage!

We first chose this house because of it's closeness to Alton Towers, but it was so much more than that. It is a home from home. It has everything you could possible need for a 3 night stay or longer. All the rooms are a good size and plenty big enough for the 3 generations that were in our party. The kitchen is fully equipped, The pots and pans are big enough to be able to cook for a large number of people. A big farmhouse style table that was great for all to sit round and enjoy meals and chats. Plenty of crockery and glasses, (bit like being at home and made up with a couple of different sets), The lounge was large with loads of seating. The brown leather sofa's and chair were not only welcoming at the end of a day in the park, but when you sat in them they gave you a big hug, 5 roomy bedroom and 3 bathrooms made life so easy. Would and have recommended this home to friends and family, and have already made enquiries about going for longer next year.

We like the fact that the property was only a short walk from Alton Towers. Also the property was large enough for three generations and meant we could all spend time together but not get under each others feet.

The cottage was beautiful and perfect. Quite a few of us commented over the weekend about wishing we could take it home with us and just live in it permanently. Thank you for having such a wonderful place and if anyone else asks me for a recommendation for somewhere to stay in the area I'll have no hesitation in recommending the cottage.

Size of rooms, size of house, location; it was a fully stocked house with everything you would need.I have already recommended to friends and we would not hesitate to go back to this house again. Very impressed!

There was lots of space for large parties, both inside and outside. A very enjoyable stay.

I enjoyed the entire stay at The Old Barn - everything was just perfect, really beautiful cottage and you literally come out the driveway turn the corner and your at Alton towers gates yet it is still peaceful. You would never think you where staying next door to the theme park. I would absolutely recommend staying here, I will definitely be back next year.

The Old Barn was spacious and comfortable for us to relax and spend time together in. The garden was pretty and we had visits from a family of ducks which delighted the children. We also loved the location as it was walking distance from Alton towers so it was lovely to be home and relaxing within 5 minutes of leaving the park!

A luxurious cottage and a fabulous location.

Nice place! Lounge is the best feature - comfortable chairs, rugs to warm your toes, a nice fire with a small supply of firewood. Good value overall.

Loved the location and the cottage.

We stayed at The Old Barn from 14th to 21st June 2013, I completed the feedack form and emailed Sykes Cottages with our complaints, although they acknowledged reciept, the advertising remains the same, I would hate others to be as disappointed as we were, so here goes. The Old Barn was advertised as being 'luxury' and 'stylish' and '4 Star' I would describe this as BASIC - VERY! Here are just SOME of the issues we had with The Old Barn:- First impressions, drive and garden overgrown and neglected. Doors and entrances filthy, walls, paintwork etc in need painting and a good clean. Had to vacuum through, kitchen table 'sticky' all surfaces had to be washed down, all crockery and glasses needed washing, the roasting pans had to be scrubbed. Basic, cheap mattresses and old bedding, all well worn and washed out, old, worn and bleach stained towels and only ONE each for a full weeks stay. Bathroom and shower room both just filthy and grotty! Note no photo's on web site of bathroom and shower room. Kitchen bin discusting and stank. Tablemats made us feel sick, couldn't face washing or using them. Highchair discusting! had to wash and bleach it before use, the second one was as bad, we did not use that one. No matching dinner plates, in fact all crockery mismatched. BBQ was a rusty chiminea which had been used as an ashtray, unusable. No 'welcome pack' ! We did complain to the owner on arrival as for a weeks stay we had been left 4 dishwasher tablets and 2 loo rolls - for 11 of us and about the BBQ area, the owner did bring another garden table and benches and more loo rolls and dishwasher tabs, she said she didn't leave more as 'people steal things'! As I had had to provide a returnable £100 for good housekeeping I had felt reassured that the property would have been of a very high standard, how wrong was I! Despite there being no cleaning materials we purchased some and we left the property much cleaner than when we arrived. We have taken many photo's as proof- both the bad and how we left it!

Came over from Canada for a three week vacation.We spent 4 days at the old barn with my family there were 10 of us in the house the 5 bedrooms accomodated us just easily.The pics do not do this place justice It was homely and luxury all at the same time I would defiantly recommend the old barn to any one spending a vacation in the UK .

The main reason to book this house would be for visits to Alton Towers as it is just across the road from the main entrance. The house is perfectly comfortable and clean but it and the garden could do with some tlc! Only one shower worked when we were there and the other is very small with a shower curtain and fluctuating temperatures if someone else is running water in the house. Both bathroom and shower room could do with updating to reflect the rental cost. The best room in the house is the sitting room which has lots of comfy seating (more than in the photos). We had gorgeous weather while we were there but unfortunately there is no comfortable outside seating (only a couple of old wooden benches and a wooden picnic table) which was a shame. Also beware that the garden photo is out-of-date as another house has been built in part of the garden behind the Old Barn so you no longer have that view. Sarah, the owner, did give us a great recommendation for a birthday dinner at the Duncombe Arms in Ellastone which was so lovely we returned a second time. She also replaced the DVD player quickly when we let her know that the one in the house was broken.

This cottage was exactly what we we had been told - everything was perfect although our holiday was anything but relaxing it was great to come home to the cottage after a complete and full day sightseeing to relax. What a great place; would recommend to everybody!

We loved the cosiness of the Old Barn, and the location. Everything was clean and tidy. Would recommend anyone to go for a break. Lovely.

A cosy house with lots of room in a stunning location. Perfect for big get-togethers; a place that quickly feels like home. The views are beautiful.

Ideal location for alton Towers. Good size property. Kitchen nice and large. Family friendly accomodation. Good size garden and parking. Good communication and helpfulness from owners. Overall experience very good minor issue with showers {Used to power shower} and would have liked more towels. Nice touches with games etc and a welcome pack with local info. Village was a mile away and no pavements for us Townies need a car if you have children.

We had a fantastic break at the Old Barn, it is a lovely property and so close to Alton Towers. I can't recommend it highly enough.

The property was very spacious and definitely child friendly. The garden was interesting for the children to play in. As a place for a family gathering it was ideal as it was within easy access of Alton Towers but also a quiet location.

The Old Barn was perfect for a get together with friends. 9 of us met there for the weekend and there was enough room for all of us with a lovely spacious lounge and big country kitchen. Although close to Alton Towers you would not know it and the setting was beautiful and peaceful. I would highly recommend this property and we would definitely go back.

Located right next to main entrance of Alton Towers. Lovely views. Beds clean and comfortable with clean bed linen.

Very spacious property, handled 8 adults and 3 children very comfortably. Amazing fireplace, so welcoming. Cottage was exactly what we needed and as described.

It was a lovely spacious cottage which accommodated all of my family and we had a lovely week together.

Everyone had a great time, the property is within a minute of the main entrance to Alton Towers!

Overall an excellent property, handy for visiting National Trust properties, Alton Towers, small farm zoo and for walks from the cottage. Great views enjoyed by family.

Located opposite the entrance to alton Towers, within walking distance. The accomadation was ideal for our large family. Grandparents took the downstairs bedroom and were able to avoid using stairs. Overall the property was clean and well equipped. However we did have to wash all the cutlery, plates, oven dishes etc before using because they were visabally dirty. Also gave they kitchen units a good wipe down. We loved having a washing machine and tumble dryer as our teenage children love to create mountains of washing, which I didn't have to spend days doing on my return home. Ideal location to access Peak district attractions by car, Bakewell and Derwent Valley. Stoke on Trent also near with a nice indoor shopping centre. We really enjoyed the comfort,space and location of this cottage. we would love to come again.

A fantastic house, needs some maintenance doing though and some kitchen stuff needs replacing - there were a lot of lights not working! Other than that we had a great time, thanks!

A lovely cottage with ample space. A great location, we were able to walk to Alton Towers within minutes.

The cottage was lovely and a perfect size for us. It was ideal in its location so close to Alton Towers. We loved every second of our stay and will be back again.

Excellent accommodation with every extra you could hope for. Very well maintained and all in all an excellent break! I have already recommended it to several friends.

We have already given a review on two occasions. No further comment.

We could fit 10 adults into the property comfortably with no issues over sleeping or eating arrangements. The dining room had JUST enough space.

Lounge, kitchen, bedrooms were really good, large enough cottage for 7 adults and 3 children.Very warm, central heating and open fire were really appreciated in the very cold weather. The only criticisms were the bathroom and shower room,not enough hot water for a bath and shower leaked into kitchen beneath, shower downstairs didn't work properly (cold water) some crockery was chipped. But despite this we had a great time and I would recommend it.

The location and the house were both excellent. The overall standard of the cottage was very good, the gardens were lovely and the bedrooms' quality was very good. The real fire was a bonus and the seating very comfortable.

Great value for money. The property was clean and much better than I had anticipated. I was pleased that little details had been thought about and it really was like being home whilst away from home.

The location was fantastic, the property was amazing and we will definitely be going back. All our family enjoyed it and our friends thought it was fabulous. It is perfect to explore the area, and we can highly recommend the tram museum in Crich and also the Abraham Heights in Matlock.

Fantastic weekend away. Lovely place.

The proximity to Alton Towers was amazing you didn't need a car (so no parking or monorail!) even with lots of little ones. A glass of wine by fire in the lounge was also the perfect end to a loooooong day with the kids.

The cottage was an excellent base for exploring the Peak District, visiting local attractions, e.g. Chatsworth, and local towns, as well, of course, as visiting Alton Towers. It was a pleasant house to relax in when not out and about. Everything that we needed was supplied.

Excellent property! Alton Towers 2 mins walk from property. Croxden Abbey well worth a visit. 'Blacksmith Arms' in Alton serves good food.

The Old Barn was perfect for what I wanted. All of the rooms were really good sizes and really nicely decorated. The kitchen was well equipped, and we were met with fresh flowers and bread and milk - a really nice touch. The location was perfect for Alton Towers (it is literally walking distance) and some really nice walking and exploring of the area generally. Sarah was really friendly and helpful - I'd definitely go back.

The Old Barn was beautifully decorated, and we arrived to fresh flowers, and bread, milk and butter in the fridge. The location was perfect. All of the rooms were really comfortable and felt really cosy.

This was a family weekend and all ages of the party loved the homely feel to the cottage and the spacious rooms. We felt very comfortable relaxing after great days out at Alton Towers and the Water Park. Very warm throughout even without lighting the open fire. The 6 inches of snow was "the icing on the cake".

Easy contact with the owners; friendly support. Location was excellent for our needs.

Comfortable, homely cottage. A lovely place to spend Christmas with family. Loved the open fire.

Really lovely cottage right next to the main gate of alton towers but still secluded, so ideal for getting in arly and going to and fro during the day. Large sitting room and kitchen, bedrooms really nice. Plenty of rom for the kids to lounge around at night. Nearest town is Oakamoor which is 10 - 15 minutes by car, plenty of grocery stores and take aways. Only downsides were garden didnt have big enough grass area for our 4 energetic children, but there was a swing. Also, there wasnt a pub within walking distance. Otherwise, very good house.

Well presented property, a stones throw away from the entrance to Alton Towers. Would rec to all.

Enjoyable Holiday

Picuresque walks.

Good location.

The garden is great for young children.

The Old Barn is a lovely cottage and was large enough for our group get together. There was enough space for everyone to enjoy the fully equipped kitchen or sit around playing games, music or chatting in the lounge. The garden was wonderful too.

Proximity to Alton Towers theme park. Size and layout of the cottage.

A home from home experience, everything well thought about. We want to go back already. Thank you very much!! We loved this cottage!!

I just have to say how wonderful our holiday cottage was! Great value for money with the extra touches of the welcome pack and the heating being on for arrival.

The cottage satisfied all our requirements. We would definitely go back.

The cleanliness of the property, decor and location.

The barn was beautiful and spotlessly clean, and the small touches like fresh flowers, milk, orange juice, bread etc. were just lovely. Highly recommended!

Getting away from work and relaxing in this beautiful house with our friends.

It was a lovely place to spend Christmas. Good central location, nice walks nearby and cosy pubs.

The location and standard of the property was great and it was roomy enough for all of us.

The house was warm and cosy. A really good place to meet up with old friends for the weekend. A real home from home. Immaculately clean, which was very much appreciated (and so were the comfy beds).

A lovely property in a tranquil location, despite being close to Alton Towers we were never disturbed.

Location - 100yds from the entrance to Alton Towers. Property was warm, comfortable, well furnished and well maintained. Nice welcome pack of foodstuffs left by owner.

The house and the location Lots of lovely places to walk from the doorstep.