Harbour Cottage

The cottage is very nicely decorated, and it’s clear that a lot of care and love has been put into it. The location is great, and we really appreciated the thoughtful New Year gifts that were left for us. The kitchen was well equipped, and overall the property felt welcoming and homely.

The staff at Aspect Holidays were friendly and helpful when we collected the keys.

During our stay, there were several issues that affected our comfort. There was a noticeable smell in the house at times, as well as in the two passageways on either side of the cottage. One of these passageways is used for bin storage, with the bins positioned directly against the wall of the house. Over the Christmas period there was a build-up of rubbish, which impacted the air quality. At times, Customs House Passage also had an unpleasant odour, and on one occasion a passerby commented on the strength of the smell. Because of this, we found it difficult to open the windows for fresh air, and there was occasionally a smell in the hallway and stair area.

We experienced an issue with flies, and on one occasion returned to find several in the upstairs bathroom. The upstairs bathroom sink was blocked during our stay, which contributed to an unpleasant smell. To manage this, we had to keep the bathroom door closed to prevent smells and flies entering the bedroom. Strong plug-in air fresheners appeared to be used to mask the smell, but these were too strong for us as there are asthmatics in our family, so we had to turn them off.

There was broken glass in the passageway, which my husband swept up due to concerns for our dogs’ paws, and I carried them through the area to be safe. On a separate occasion, we witnessed a delivery driver relieving himself against the wall of the cottage in the same area where the bins are located. When my husband challenged this, the response was casual, which was upsetting and added to our concerns about the use of that space.

As expected for a central location, Customs House Passage could be noisy at times. Bottles were being emptied throughout the day and night, and staff from nearby restaurants were using the passageway for smoking breaks.

In the top-floor bedroom, the fitted sheet and mattress protector did not fit the bed properly and kept coming off. The mattress appears to be an IKEA size, which is slightly different from standard double bedding, and this caused some frustration during our stay. (I have noticed this has also been mentioned on a previous review).

Due to the cumulative nature of these issues, we felt it was best to leave one night earlier than planned. We did raise these concerns with a member of the Aspect Holidays team when handing back the keys.

We recently stayed at Harbour Cottage in St Ives for my parents 60th Wedding Anniversary. St Ives holds many happy family memories for us so we were really looking forward to a lovely holiday. Unfortunately, however, our experience was overshadowed by several issues with the property that left us feeling deeply uncomfortable and very disappointed.

During our stay we encountered five problems:

1. A broken dishwasher
2. A defective light that kept flashing.
3. A broken handrail on the steps leading up to the property (which are very steep and dangerous without the handrail)
4. An extremely filthy, brown and blood stained mattress protector on my parents’ bed, and
5. Evidence of mice/rats in the kitchen

To Aspects Holidays’ credit, they acted promptly on the first three issues, sending workmen out the same or next day to try to rectify the problems. However, the last two problems - the stained filthy bedding and the evidence of rodents were far more distressing for us.

Regarding the filthy linen on the bed, the double sheet didn’t fit the bed properly, it was too small for the bed and as such it kept pinging off, so in a bid to try to get it back on my parents took the sheet off to remake the bed again which is when they discovered, to their utter revulsion, the filthy brown, blood stained mattress protector. It’s a shame we cannot upload a photo as words really cannot convey just how bad it was. It came as a shock and it was upsetting for them to think they’d laid on it for a few nights.

Regarding the mice issue, one morning we discovered that a bag left on the kitchen floor overnight had been chewed through, with the contents scattered across the floor. It was clear that mice were present. Because my elderly mother is terribly phobic of mice and rats, myself and my father discreetly cleaned this up and hid the issue from her for the sake of the holiday, but it did make the rest of the stay uncomfortable as were constantly on edge on hearing random noises from behind the kitchen units.

We reported all of this to Aspects Holidays understandably who asked how we would like to resolve things. We asked for a 25% refund, mainly due to the upset regarding the unacceptable bed hygiene and the rodent problem. Aspects were sympathetic and initially offered us £75 as a goodwill gesture (later upped to £118 approx) however, the property owners themselves point blank refused any refund at all, astoundingly claiming via an email sent to us from Aspects, that the owners "are very firm in their belief that it [the linen] would not have been that way before your arrival and continuously assured me that they pay for higher quality linen so it is not possible that they would have supplied this”. We were horrified. The implication was clear. That we had caused the disgusting mess ourselves, which was both absurd and insulting at the same time. We had no reason to invent such an upsetting discovery.

The owners also

This is our 3rd stay in harbour cottage, it really does feel like home from home. Everything you need is provided even picnic blanket. The parking makes this place even better. The noise of the bins being emptied never bothered us as we live on a main road. We find the location perfect for being in the centre of St Ives.

A lovely property, well equipped and has a homely feeling to it.
Close to the harbour/sea front, so not far to go when you come in from a drink one of the many bars and restaurants.
Two double bedrooms, complete with double beds, which is not always the case. The owners have thought of everything. A bathroom complete with bath on the top floor, whereas the ground bedroom has a lovely walk in shower.
A little gem in St Ives.

We booked Harbour Cottage without realising how close it was to Pubs and restaurants. If we had gone as two couples, we would have thought it was ideal.
We had our son with us and did think we would be kept up at night but actually it couldn’t have been more perfect. He was able to go into the town for a walk with us feeling he was safe, we had four beaches in a five minute walk for our pooch and the cottage it self was cosy, comfortable and stylish!
Unloading the car is easiest late at night or early in the morning and the car space up the hill will get your calf muscles working by the end but it was great to have somewhere to return every day knowing you had a space.

You will hear the odd delivery in the morning but we think it was well worth it for the location and cosy cottage.

What a jewel of a place right in the heart of the harbour front but tucked away from the Main Street hustle & bustle.
Tastefully decorated & furnished throughout, very high end feel. You can feel the love the owners have put into the place.
Very well equipped , nothing not thought about.
The best place we’ve stayed in St Ives, and we are repeat visitors for the past 7 years.

Perfect location, spacious and comfortable.
Would stay here again. I would just recommend that they change cleaning services as was not as clean as it has been in previous years.

This is our 2nd stay at Harbour Cottage and we love it! The Central location means everything is at your fingertips. The cottage is well equipped with everything you need. It really is a home from home, beautifully decorated. Hopefully we can book for next year!

This is an excellent holiday home with everything you could possibly need catered for its very well thought out for two couples holidaying in the same house with both bedrooms having en-suits the lower bedroom can be noisy early hours with delivery’s especially the beer kegs been rolled down the lane which if your taking dogs sets them off barking but still saying all that not a bad trade off for such an excellent location and house we would stay here again

I can’t stress highly enough how pleased we were with the quality of the furnishings and equipment in Harbour Cottage. The location was absolutely perfect being literally seconds away from the centre of Fore St shops one way and the harbour the other. All whilst being tucked away in a reasonably unused alley. I know it could get noisy in peak times but the small amount of noise we experienced was inconsequential and more than worth it for the convenience.

Very clean and tidy. Nice decoration. Beds comfy

Ok ??

Lovely cottage with everything you need. Location is great for the beach and shops. Complimentary welcome gifts is a nice touch.

On the down side the cottage is located in a walkway that is noisy in holiday season. This can become quite noisy at night , especially in the bedroom below ground.

Great property, tastefully decorated and very central for shops, bars, restaurants and harbour. Parking space was a bonus. Perfect layout for two couples to stay. The only downside was it was a little noisy at night in the downstairs bedroom due to its proximity to a public passageway. Would definitely stay again.

Harbour cottage did not disappoint, the owners have tastefully decorated the place, and have thought of everything you could need and more! Centrally located and easy to access the dedicated parking. Can't wait to come again!

This is our second year at Harbour Cottage and again wasn’t disappointed. Lovely, well equipped cottage, beautiful decor and a great size for a family of 4 with a large dog. Beds are lovely and comfy, plenty of hanging space and hangers which is always a bonus.

The welcome pack was a lovely gesture of wine, scones, milk and champagne.

Only downside is it can sometimes be a little noisy when the restaurants are having deliveries am, but it’s not sometime to be put off by.

A great stay at harbour cottage as always, this is our 3rd stay here . Central location can be a bit noisy as the pubs close but not to mutch .with the included parking space I would say this is a great cottage to stay with your 4 legged friend ours loves it

wonderful week of R&R at Harbour Cottage
Amazing location, clean and well looked after property.
Will be rebooking for another stay next year, can highly recommend for a lovely stay in St. Ives

Harbour Cottage is great! Very conveniently located. Quirky, comfortable and well equipped

Harbour cottage is in such a fantastic location, and we didn't have too much problem with noise (not enough that would put us off booking again). Fixtures and furnishings are high end and the house has a real feeling of luxury to it. Not too bad a walk to the car parking space either, we would stay again happily for 2 of us. For use of the bottom bedroom we couldn't open the shutter over the window so my father in law had no natural daylight downstairs but this may have been user error and we didn't raise as an issue until we were leaving so sure it would have been resolved if we'd raised it sooner. The downstairs is lovely despite this but something to be aware of if both bedrooms are needed

Location of the cottage is excellent, right on the Harbour - the cottage is well equipped and decorated to a high standard - the welcome pack was a nice surprise - we really enjoyed our stay at a Harbour Cottage. Only downside is the early morning deliveries to nearby restaurants so can be quite noisy. Other than that, it’s a beautiful cottage and would highly recommend it.

Fabulous property for convenience. Moments away from the the beach and restaurants, shops.
Having a parking space makes a world of difference if you wish to sight see further afield.
Well equipped with wonderful art works. Noisy but to be expected in such a vibrant location.

Harbour Cottage is beautifully decorated and perfectly located to enjoy all St Ives has to offer. The cottage is well equipped and is a stones throw from the harbour. The view from the top bedroom is stunning, It can be a little noisy, but that’s the price you pay for the location. The bedrooms had plenty of storage and comfortable beds. My son loved the Hogwarts room! The parking space is about ten minutes walk away and is a great addition.
Thank you for such a lovely stay, we would definitely return.

Spacious and luxurious accomodation positioned within seconds of the Harbour, shops and all the excitement.
We have already re-booked to return next spring we liked it so much, plus it has the bonus of a reserved parking space nearby, highly recommended
As an artist I found the accommodation wonderfully decorated with beautiful paintings and sculptures, every little detail was catered for and our whippet enjoyed being so close to dog friendly beaches. It was a joy to be back at St Ives for the festival. Thank you Aspects for your reliable and friendly service.

The property is in an excellent location with the benefit of a parking space, the property was very clean and very spacious. The harbour is literally on your door stop and you are extremely close to all of the beaches that St Ives has to offer and all of the shops. Will definitely book this property again.

The cottage was amazing!! Was so clean, comfy and brilliant location. The welcome package was so thoughtful and overall the experience was 10/10!

Great central cottage. Perfect for exploring St Ives.

Lovely cottage in the centre of St Ives harbour, perfect for up to 4 guests. Minor cleanliness issues with our stay, but all round would recommend for anyone looking for a Cornwall getaway.

We were very happy with both the accommodation and location of the cottage.
The close proximity and convenient access to the seafront is great and one doesn't really hear much from the hustle and bustle of what is quite a busy place.

We have stayed at Harbour Cottage twice now, both times have been excellent. The cottage is immaculate, the cleaning excellent, and the property so well furnished, it is beautiful. A great location, tad noisy but that is surely to be expected staying right in the centre of st ives, for us the location is perfect. We cannot wait to return!

Description of cottage completelyi ignores the monstrosity immediately outside the kitchen and living room windows. The view is of an large industrial extraction chimney oozing with grease and very smelly, so much so that it could be smelled from inside the cottage. I shall be submitting a formal complaint as I find it hard to believe that this is not mentioned whereas noise from the public passage is which causes me to question the honesty of reviews on your site. I wouldn’t have booked had I known about this!!!

Lovely cottage. Very well equipped. Would definitely book again.

Noise is much worse than described. Proximity to commercial kitchens and their bins is very close. Extractor fans from restaurant blow straight into bedroom windows. Glass bins emptied right outside windows. You would be unable to open windows due to noise and smell all year round.
Parking to unpack car was not possible on a Saturday which is change over day.
Steps to front door very difficult to use particularly when carrying your bags.
Property inside beautifully furnished and lots of nice touches. All you could need provided and our dogs made welcome.
If you are not a light sleeper and don’t mind lots of noise directly outside windows and doors then you’ll be ok.

The property was just perfect. Could not fault it in any way.

Fabulously comfortable cottage, with everything you could need for a lovely stay. Sadly the pay-off for the central location is the noise, smell and litter.

Beautiful well equipped cottage beware of noise from its central location close to all the action.

Nice property in a beautiful seaside town you won’t go wrong staying in Harbour Cottage

We have just returned from a stay at Harbour Cottage. The location was fantastic ... ideally placed for beaches, shops, restaurants etc.
The cottage was immaculately clean, and the decor & furnishings were lovely.
We were greeted with a welcome hamper, which was such a nice touch & very much appreciated.

Harbour Cottage was ideal for myself, my husband, and our cockapoo, Lola. It would also be perfect
for paties of four, as one bedroom & bathroom was located upstairs and the other downstairs with the living / kitchen area on the floor in between.

Could not fault this beautiful cottage & can't wait to return. Would highly recommend.

This is by far the best holiday property we have stayed in. Luxuriously comfy beds, Fabulously equipped with everything you could need. Beautifully decorated & lots of thought put into this Gorgeous property & all just a stones throw from the sea. We absolutely loved it.... stayed over Christmas & didn’t want to leave... hope to return one day soon.

Great find. Caters for all your needs with great access to all amenities with either the harbour or fore street on the doorstep. Looking forward to coming back again

The best place we have stayed which says something as we keep coming back ....

We have been visiting St Ives for a long time now and have stayed at lots of different properties. Harbour Cottage was our winner so far. The property is even nicer on arrival than the website photos shown. Really well furnished with top end quality finishings. Felt really welcome and comfortable there - will definitely be booking a return visit.

Absolutely lovely cottage, superb location, fully equipped.

Very happy holiday thank you.

This cottage is wonderful, we could not fault it, might be so good for older visitors as the stairs to the entrance are very steep.

Absolutely immaculate cottage everything you could ever want in there, style, location and comfort.

We have had a lovely stay in Harbour Cottage. A clean and comfortable cottage which has some quirky features and lots of character. Would happily recommend, 10 out of 10!

The best cottage that we have stayed in during our 20 years of coming to St Ives. We have stayed in some of the best places in St Ives and this beats them all. Feels like home from home and every need is catered for no matter how small. Dog friendly and ease of access to all of the beaches, restaurants and bars.

Lovely cottage, furnished to a very high standard and the cleanliness was the best we have encountered.

My husband and I and our flatcoat retriever had a very comfortable stay in this delightful cottage. Beautifully fitted and decorated and so convenient for the harbour and beach. Owners have gone to a lot of trouble to make a rental property so nice for visitors.

Would definitely come again.

Su

Beautiful cottage situated in a perfect position. Not many places that you can rent in such a prime position that allow dogs. The accommodation was pure luxury and a real treat!!
Thank you Aspect Holidays for making our Xmas 2016 one of the best ever!

Harbour Cottage offers superb accommodation and is equipped with everything you could possibly need for a relaxing holiday. This is our second stay and we wouldn't want to stay anywhere else in St Ives - we really love if there! There cannot be many holiday prioperties in St Ives which offer wonderful sea views and situated so close to the harbour front but with the overriding advantage of privacy which the seafront properties lack. Hope to return again soon.

Stunning property in a stunning location. Owners had thought of everything, so many lovely touches everywhere in the cottage. Very up to date and modern, pictures look fantastic but still don't do it justice. Really enjoyed our time here with the dogs and will definitely be back again.

We all loved Harbour Cottage . This cottage is the best we have stayed in yet for location, comfort and interior design (we come to St Ives at least 4 times a year (home from home). Just gutted that it is booked for the rest of the year as we will defiantly come to Harbour Cottage again, again and again.

A beautifully furnished cottage very clean and comfortable, our little dog was welcome too, we stayed during a cold spell and the cottage was so warm and cozy its just perfect, we all loved it here, Happy Days!!!

Excellent property beautifully decorated top class fittings . Very comfortable Central location

The accommodation and location was everything we hoped it would be. It was very well equipped and warm to say it was November we spent a great week there and hope to return again next year.

Absolutely fantastic place. We have stayed in many really nice properties in St Ives over the past 10 years, however, this was without doubt the best ! The welcome pack was a very nice touch, kitchen was so well equipped and the bed was very comfortable - all things that have been sadly lacking in previous accommodation. We will definitely return.

Our stay in Harbour Cottage was amazing. We had a perfect week in absolutely perfect accomodation, attention to detail in this property was second to none, would love to return as we really didnt want to leave!

Lovely place would recommend

A lovely, tastefully decorated and furnished apartment with amazingly comfortable beds right in the centre of St Ives!

I've stayed in St Ives many,many times over the years and without doubt this property exceeds all expectations, furnished to an exceptionally high standard,the owners think of absolutely everything to make your stay one to remember. Beautiful sea views from the bedroom window and most definitely a loo with a view, thank you for making our stay so enjoyable .

Paul and Valantis

A beautifully appointed cottage which has been tastefully restored by its current owners with extra touches which gives it such a homely feel. It's proximity to the harbour is perfect, just a few seconds from the front door. We have loved our stay here and will definitely be returning.

Welcome hamper was a special touch. Very impressed with art work in cottage,especially the fish. We enjoyed spotting similar pieces in the local galleries Really well equipped cottage which made our week thoroughly relaxing. Our two Westies loved their stay in Harbour cottage. Thank you so much

An outstanding cottage in the centre of town that is probably the most impressive holiday cottage we have stayed in terms of layout, fixtures and fittings and overall quality with lovely pieces of art and a great place to come back to after a hard day on the beach!!!

Beautifully restored and well equipped property. Will look forward to returning!

I DONT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING FOR FEAR OF IT BEING SO BUSY WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO BOOK AGAIN :)

Habour cottage is a little st ives hideaway. Set right in the centre of the town, it's perfectly placed for restaurants, shops and the wharf. The cottage has been renovated with love and care and is absolutely stunning. We had the most wonderful holiday here with our Cockapoo Heidi. Everything has been thought of to make our time here extra special. We absolutely loved it & will certainly be back!
Jen & James 2014

The property is in a wonderful location and has the most wonderful views from the top bedroom.

Beautiful cottage in a perfect location in St Ives, I couldn't have asked for anything more and I can't wait to return.