Reviews from our community
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
The hosts were friendly and our kids enjoyed their time fishing but overall we felt taken in. The accommodations were dated, decorated with a cornucopia of person effects such that it felt like staying as house guests of the owners. There was a musty smell to the house mixed with cat litter. We felt we needed to work around their trout farm business as their fish cleaning area was attached to the guest house and right beside our living room window, without even a curtain for privacy. The shampoos appeared to be hotel samples and one had been used with hair on the lid. The liquid soap and shower gel were cheap dollar store purchases and the ensuite shower head in our children's room (fully decorated in dusty rose) didn't fit properly and fell out of it's holder one night, hitting our son's head. We stopped using this bathroom and our children used only ours for safety. We expressed concern about this and though it was responded to quickly, the response provided no solution. When we again addressed this, we were told they'd not had complaints before. The kitchen was well stocked with any utensils you'd hope for but left with no space to actually store food and no usable counter space to prepare due to the excess equipment. Be aware the washing machine is portable and must be rolled into the kitchen and plugged in to do a load. Drying is done on a line outside. On checkout, concern was expressed that we leave most promptly as Pat had a lot of work to do to prepare for the incoming guests. Given how the house was advertised, we felt cheated and it was difficult to relax. We expressed a concern or two but felt they were minimized and in the end didn't complain as we felt we were complaining to our older parents and this felt uncomfortable and disrespectful. It was well located for activities in the area and John and Pat were most helpful in providing suggests for activities. Cape Breton is a beautiful place and John and Pat are friendly but I'd be cautious about these accommodations. It feels like they got tired of running and B&B, did nothing to convert it to a Guest House and have no plans to update but rather just let it run its course until they are ready to give this up also. Even writing this review feels uncomfortable as they are kind and friendly people and this review is harsh. They simply seem to be looking to maximize profit without any interest in investment and therefore I feel taken in. We were sorry to leave the area but not this accommodations.
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The comment on the cat letter is particularly disturbing because, as you know, we do have cats on the farm but they are NEVER allowed in the Guest House. Nor has there ever been litter anywhere near there. As to the hair on the shampoo, that IS embarrassing. I will certainly check my supply. Those smaller items are provided as a courtesy in case guests have forgotten their own shampoo and other toiletries: the bar soaps ARE locally made and are definitely not Dollar Store. The liquid soaps came from the local pharmacy.
I suppose, in the main, we do consider people making reservations in our Guest House guests as friends we have not yet met and we have tried to make the accommodation as comfortable as possible, providing items in the Guest House that children or guests can use. Perhaps a more Spartan environment might be more to your liking.
As for the way it is decorated: it was my choice to decorate in that style and, I admit, it is certainly not a modern hotel theme, but a style I like. I would like people to feel it is “a home away from home”, as, indeed, many of our guests have commented in our guest book.
We do, (and did), apologize for the shower head. We did end up replacing the entire unit after we discovered, when you were leaving, that the "fix" we had tried did not work.
We provide the portable washing machine mainly so people on holidays could do a load or two a week. It was never intended to be used daily and, quite honestly, heretofore, never was.
As to the fish cleaning table: this area is only used during the day, when most guests are out and about. As far as I know, all our advertising indicates that Old Miller Trout Farm IS a working farm. Certainly the ad on Flip Key does and, I believe, the pictures show the exterior and interior of the Guest House pretty much as they were when you arrived!
That being said, I will, however, admit, that the picture of the sitting/lounge area does show a heater that we removed less than a year ago and replaced with baseboard heaters. (This would also indicate that we are making upgrades and renovations.)
In regards to the check out time: normally people do check out between 10 and 11. I asked you if you could check out by 10 as I had seen the rearrangements that you had made with furnishings and decorations and I was concerned about getting everything back to where it was and the rooms cleaned and made up before our next guests were expected that afternoon.
Finally, in regards to your comment about maximizing profit....I must admit that comment upsets both of us greatly. We run the Fish operation, and the Guest House because we enjoy it and we enjoy meeting customers and guests. The U fish is also a service to area residents and visitors. Being active keeps us healthy!
Profit has NEVER been our motivation.
Again, I am sorry you were unhappy and even more sorry that we could not discuss these issues in person when you were here.
On our part, John enjoyed the limited interchange he had with the boys and we both wished we had been able to spend more time with you and Andrew but we did not wish to intrude on your privacy. I am unsure what in us caused your inability to relax. That, truly, baffles us. .
Finally, I am pleased you didn't hold back due to courtesy or respect. I am sure my answer will not address any of your complaints or concerns but does at least provide us with a forum to respond...
On a positive side, the first negative review after 11 years as a B&B and now 9 years as a guesthouse indicates we must have been doing something right in the past. We will review our procedures and attempt to continue being the best hosts we can.
Thank you,
Pat
1 review
1 helpful vote
I spent a long weekend at Old Miller Trout Farm this spring. My hosts, Pat and John, were charming, knowledgeable and very helpful. They are well versed in “what to do in Cape Breton” and when to do it! And they love to chat.
The guest cottage is very well equipped, spacious comfortable and clean. The trout interested me the most when I was not relaxing or discovering Cape Breton, because Old Miller is an active fish farm. When you walk the ponds with John at feeding time you can watch the water simply come alive. Even in between, those trout are happy to see a human who might be ready to feed them. Then there are the delighted faces of the fishers who stop. One eleven-year-old boy raced past me letting me know he caught a big one, but, oops, it got away.
The trails are lovely too. I especially enjoyed the high trail at sunset. There’s a view of the Margaree hills. Very beautiful. All I all, I highly recommend Old Miller Trout Farm as a Cape Breton destination.
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37 reviews
13 hotel reviews
20 helpful votes
If you want a perfect place to stay while visiting Cape Breton - Old Miller Trout Farm is the place to stay. The location is not too far from the Cabot Trail and Margaree Forks, where there is everything you need in a small town. Guests stay in a converted barn - which were perfect accommodations – comfortable, spotlessly clean, and fully equipped. We took advantage of the fact that this is a trout farm - having great success fishing and then enjoying barbequed trout for dinner. There is a short hiking trail on their property, where you can take in the breathtaking view of the farm and Cape Breton. In the evenings we sat on the balcony of the barn, enjoying a glass of wine, listening to the bull frog and the quiet, simply basking in the peacefulness.
Pat and John are wonderful hosts! Gracious and very generous - lovely people to get to know. They are very knowledgeable about Cape Breton, recommending many wonderful little gems to visit.
The 4 days we spent at the Old Miller Trout Farm have left us with memories that we will have forever.
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Pat and John
1 review The first thing you notice as you arrive are the sounds and feel of nature. The hosts were welcoming, as if we were family arriving for a visit. The place was very clean and comfortable, with a fully equipped kitchen. It shows that the hosts, Pat and John have paid a lot of attention to small details to make the guests' say homelike. I recommend this place to anyone wanting to get away from the "fast life" and get back in touch with nature. Cap Breton is a picturesque place, a must see.
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1 review
1 helpful vote
We spent one week at the Old Miller Trout Farm and Pat and John were amazing, warm and lovely hosts. Our kids adopted them as on-site grandparents, and they were generous with their time, advice, and home. The rental was spacious, private and had everything one would need. The location was great both for staying put relaxing and fishing as well as for exploring Cape Breton. Quick drives to some of the beautiful beaches nearby, live music, and the Cabot trail.
| How easy was it to book the property? | How helpful were the directions to the property? |
| How easy was key pickup/access to the property? | Overall condition of the property |
| Bedding & mattresses | Kitchen & utensils |
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| Friends getaway | Older travelers |
| Families with young children |
- Was the property as advertised?
- Would you recommend the location of this property?
- Was it a good value for the price paid?
- Did the property offer wi-fi/internet access?
- Was your security deposit returned on time?
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| A romantic getaway | Older travelers |
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