Smithy Cottage | Living area
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Reviews of Roaches Cottages

3 out of 5
Roaches Cottages
Paddock Farm, Roach Road, Upper Hulme, Leek, England

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 61 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 61 reviews" "

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Alan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Love it here
We had a fabulous stay. Our 3rd time here. We just love it. So cosy and comfy, beautiful part of the world. Nice and relaxing. Karen is a fabulous host! Made to feel so welcome
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Philip

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claire

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Absolutely perfect
What a hidden gem! Couldn’t have asked for any more from out weekend stay, a clean, cosy, comfortable cottage, with everything we needed and Set in stunning scenery. We are a family of six and came to visit Alton Towers for the weekend, and we couldn’t have picked better accommodation. The hosts were lovely, and a plate full of cake in the kitchen on arrival was very much appreciated by my children after a six hour car journey!! Already thinking of coming back.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Response from Karen on 13 May 2023
Thank you so much Claire, it was a pleasure to have you here!

10/10 Excellent

John

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Very comfortable and a great location for exploring The Roaches, Lud’s Church, Ramshaw Rocks and even further afield.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Response from Karen on 13 May 2023
Thank you very much for visiting us John!

10/10 Excellent

Emma

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Beautiful stay!
Such a lovely property. Lovely warm welcome, with lovely little touches like cakes and milk in he fridge! Beautiful location! Had a fab returning visit!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

4/10 Poor

Paula

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
A Great Stay!
Lovely cottage, well stocked with everything you need. You can park right outside the property. Also the views are stunning across the hills. Karen was lovely and left us milk and lovely cake in the fridge as we arrived late. We ate breakfast at the adjoining tea rooms which was really good value and the food was excellent! Tia the guard dog was on hand to meet us and, although very large and vocal, was harmless so you don't need to worry, she's a gentle giant. Would definitely go back.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Manoharan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Little heaven
A nice cosy accommodation, pleasant surprise prices of fruit cake was awaiting for us. Nice location with stunning view. The beds are very comfortable, Worth for the price.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Agneta

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jacqueline

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great cottage for family get away
Absolutely lovely wee rustic cottage with old worldy charm. We stayed in the Smithy cottage which sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. Has electric shower. Hairdryer. Fully equipped kitchen. Iron. Everything you need for a comfortable stay. No wifi I believe but kids just hot spotted from our phones. Cottage was spotless on arrival. Tea and coffee facilities included. Fresh milk and a cake was provided on arrival. A really lovely touch. There is a popular hill climb a short walk away which has lovely views. Met the owner and family on our arrival night and they were extremely friendly. The tea room is right next door for those who wish to have breakfast or lunch there. We stayed here as a family of 5 to visit Alton Towers which was only 25 mins drive away. Would happily stay here again. It's a great find in a lovely location.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
What a little gem
We (2 adults, 2 teenagers) have just returned from 3 nights staying at The Smithy. We checked ourselves in as we arrived late in the day, but it was lovely to be greeted by a large plate of delicious cake! The cottage is very cosy, and has some beautiful features. The bathroom and kitchen are a little tired, but if anything this added to the character. The surrounding scenery is stunning, and there are great walks from the doorstep. The adjacent tea shop is also recommended, and we had breakfast here. We would look forward to coming again if we were returning to the area. Also a great base if visiting Alton Towers - which we did on the way here. Photos are views from the windows.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Karen on 13 Apr 2022
Thank you very much and for coming to stay. So glad you had a lovely time. All the best.

10/10 Excellent

Lorna

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Karen on 13 Apr 2022
Thank you Lorna, glad you had a good stay.

10/10 Excellent

kathryn

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Really lovely cottage with beautiful views and great location. We took our dog and twin toddlers and there was plenty of room for all of us.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Karen on 6 Apr 2022
Thank you Kathryn for coming to stay with us. I’m glad you all had a lovely time.

10/10 Excellent

Sara

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Very friendly owners and tea room staff. Cosy and homely, tea room food was delicious and breakfast was one of the best we’ve ever had! Perfect balance of self catering with option to have someone take care of the cooking for you 💕
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022
Response from Karen on 2 Mar 2022
Thank you Sara, It was lovely to have you both stay here for your mini getaway.

8/10 Good

Philip

Liked: Room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Response from Karen on 13 Apr 2022
Thank you

10/10 Excellent

Alan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022
Response from Karen on 1 Feb 2022
Thank you and thank you for visiting us! I’m glad you had a good break 😊

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Karen on 7 Jan 2022
Thank you

8/10 Good

Lucy

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Lovely property, just needs some tlc to bring upto date.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Karen on 7 Dec 2021
Thank you Lucy. All the best to you and your family

8/10 Good

David

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Really nice place, very quiet and had everything
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Karen on 7 Dec 2021
Thank you for coming to stay with us David. All the best to you and your family.

10/10 Excellent

Brigid

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021
Response from Karen on 2 Dec 2021
Thank you Brigid for coming to stay, I’m glad you both had a good break 😊

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Lovely walking break in the Peak District
Amazing, relaxing stay. Highly recommend for a break away from it all. Doesn’t have WiFi in the cottage but we weren’t bothered and didn’t attempt to connect at the tea room adjacent. Lots of beautiful walks available from the cottage or a short drive away. Really toasty cozy place for a break away!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021
Response from Karen on 13 Nov 2021
Thank you for coming to stay Sarah and so glad you had a relaxing break!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Response from Karen on 3 Nov 2021
Thank you for coming to stay.

10/10 Excellent

Dave

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great base for alton towers
6 of us stayed here. 4 kids and two adults. The cottage was comfy and warm. Owners jad great communication and best of all, they made us a cake for us arriving
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Response from Karen on 18 Oct 2021
Thank you for coming to stay Dave!

10/10 Excellent

Louise

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Response from Karen on 13 Oct 2021
Thank you for coming to stay with us Louise.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Beautiful scenery, adequate accommodation
The setting is beautiful. We stayed in Smithy Cottage which was largely adequate for our needs for a short stay. The living/dining/kitchen is compact but OK for our needs. There was no WIFI. I had put this in my requirements on my search on Hotels.com but when I read it again it says WIFI in lobby, I'm not sure what lobby they are referring to but definitely not available in the cottage. The heating was on which was considerate but as the weather was quite warm it made it unbearably hot in the bedroom and bathroom, making sleeping very difficult, although the bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was not good, neither bath or electric shower had a decent water pressure. The steps outside are steep and the yard uneven so be careful. Directly outside Smithy Cottage there was also a store/bin shed which wasn't particularly nice. Go for the location and scenery, the cottage is adequate for most needs.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Response from Karen on 29 Sept 2021
Thank you for your comments which we will take on board. Best wishes

10/10 Excellent

Mabel

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Perfect cottage getaway.
Excellent stay at the cottage. Loved every minute of it. Felt right at home as soon as I walked in. Having breakfast available every day was a bonus. Host was brilliant, so friendly and the arrival gift of cake was delicious. Local pub, York, fantastic food. Would definitely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Response from Karen on 27 Sept 2021
Thank you so much Mabel, It was such a pleasure to have you stay here and know you had a good staycation! All the best

10/10 Excellent

scott

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Lovely place
The cottage was in an amazing location and having a tea rooms next door was very handy. The cottage was cosy and perfect for what we needed. The owners were very welcoming. The bathroom could do with a refurb but overall we really enjoyed our stay and would certainly come back again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Karen on 2 Aug 2021
Thank you Scott and thank you for coming to stay with us!

10/10 Excellent

Benjiman-Allan

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Amazing, would stay again
Last minute find, definitely worth to book if you’re off to Alton towers. The owners are friendly and helpful. We arrived very late and they were very concerned until we arrived, they were glad we arrived safely. I would definitely be staying again at some point! The views were also amazing
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Karen on 4 Aug 2021
Thank you Benjiman for coming to stay! It was pleasure to have you and your friends here and I’m glad you had a fantastic time!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is a quaint converted stables located in a relatively remote location overlooked by a rocky ridge. Although the cottage is remote, it isn't far from Leek, a moderately sized town, and there is free parking onsite for guests and for customers of the excellent cafe (Staffordshire oatcakes strongly endorsed). Only drawback is that the property is old and dusty, and it can trigger dust allergies. Overall, highly recommended as a reasonably priced base for exploring the Peak District.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Karen on 28 Jul 2021
Thank you for your review and for coming to stay with us. I do apologise if you found the property dusty as we do pride ourselves in cleaning and dusting the cottages to make sure they are clear for guests. However I will look into this further.

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Perfect stay
The cottage was in a fabulous position to explore the peak district. The cottage is spacious and had everything we needed. Friendly and welcoming hosts. We will certainly be back. Highly recommended!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Karen on 27 Jul 2021
Thank you Peter, It was lovely to have you and your family here to stay and I’m so glad you had a fabulous break! All the best😊

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
The cottage was lovely and so welcoming!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Karen on 21 Jul 2021
Thank you very much and thank you for coming to stay with us Amy!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Lovely weekend stay
A lovely little cottage with beautiful views. Great base for Alton towers. Owners were friendly and after a long drive up, there was cake, tea, coffee and milk for us. Very good value for a family.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021
Response from Karen on 21 Jul 2021
So glad you enjoyed your stay here with us! Thank you for visiting us!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eve, Kent

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely quaint stone cottage,in stunning setting. Friendly and helpful staff Excellent tearoom on site
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020
Response from Karen on 29 Oct 2020
Thank you Eve and thank you for visiting us.

8/10 Good

ALAN

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Roaches weekend
property is quite dark inside but this is because the windows are small. We were used to this as we have an old property. Generally we were quite pleased and the location is excellent.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020
Response from Karen on 19 Oct 2020
Thank you Alan.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Perfect escape
Great stay, perfect location. The relaxing peaceful break we needed. Great tea room with excellent cake and breakfast! Very friendly, easy to find and great local hikes!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Response from Karen on 19 Oct 2020
Thank you for visiting Sarah!

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from Karen on 24 Sept 2020
Thank you very much for visiting us here and for your review

10/10 Excellent

Elliott

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great find!
Great little cottage for the family plus dog - just what we needed it for! The views are amazing and there are footpaths right on your doorstep. Tea room was fab too - great breakfast and scones to die for! Will be coming back again, thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from Karen on 13 Sept 2020
Thank you very much Elliot for staying with us and for your review. It was especially lovely to meet your two new babies!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Highly recommended
Had a very pleasant stay, highly recommended. The cottage I was is big enough to host up to 6 people, although that might be a challenge with just one bathroom. Overall it was in a very good condition, the heating was working fine and that was very important as there were only 9 degrees outside. The kitchen was fine too, I managed to cook a couple of meals with no issue. The location is quite nice as not only there are tea rooms just next door (same owner) but also you are close to the Roaches, which is quite beautiful to hike around.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020
Response from Karen on 31 Aug 2020
Thank you for visiting us and for your review.,

8/10 Good

Graham

Travelled with family
Great base to explore
Location is amazing with views over the hills. Cottage itself was lovely and the kids enjoyed it. On arrival it was in need of a dusting/cleaning. Overall It’s a great base to explore the Peak District and I would recommend staying here.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020
Response from Karen on 30 Aug 2020
Thank you for your review and I will check up on the dusting/cleaning as this should have been done properly without question

4/10 Poor

Rahul R.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Improvement
Cottage was fairly ok but needs bit more Improvement,cleaningand would be good if there’s a washing machine.The kitchen utensils bit old and rusty needs changing.The tea cafe just on the side of the cottage was spot on and should add more pictures of the cafe and views.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
A wonderful place to stay for a weekend. Well equipped cottage and a very peaceful location.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Response from Karen on 31 Jul 2020
Thank you so much.

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing stay at the Roaches
Amazing place. Clean and comfortable. Good scenery
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from Karen on 2 Sept 2020
Thank you for coming to stay and for your review

10/10 Excellent

laura

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from Karen on 12 Dec 2019
Thank you Laura! Lovely to meet you

10/10 Excellent

steve

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Response from Karen on 5 Dec 2019
Thank you very much for coming to stay and I'm so glad you liked it here.

10/10 Excellent

Debbie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Will visit again.
The cottage is lovely and very comfortable. Service was great and the cake was delicious. Our only minor issue was the lack of oven gloves!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Response from Karen on 20 Nov 2019
Thank you Debbie for coming to stay and for your review. Many apologies for the lack of oven gloves, these are normally put in but were obviously forgotten this time. We are more than happy to help guests with things we may have not put in or anything else during their stay. All the best.

10/10 Excellent

Sonya U.

Liked: Cleanliness
Review listed below
Absolutely stunning. A delightful welcome with home baked cake & coffee fixing. Outstanding host. I look forward to continued visits & building on new relationship. Incredable accuracy of listing.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Steven D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice, Cosy and the Beds are so comfortable.
Booked this cottage sort of last minute with my misses and the little one. I have to say set in a really nice part of the world. The cottage was cosy, warm and perfect for a small family. To be fair the photos didn't really do it justice so much nicer when in the cottage. If i could say one thing and that was no internet. But in all fairness not having internet turned into a blessing in disguise, our head where not in our phones and we done more. Overall I would recommend to anyone looking for something that is cosy and perfect for a small family.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019