Lake District Cottages for Short Breaks

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Christine - Verified booking

  We have just returned from a rather poor stay at Anvil cottage a d wanted to feedback before any other guests have to go through the same experience we did.

  We have stayed in a few houses in Near Sawrey over the years and we're excited to try Anvil Cottage after reading the description and seeing the pictures. However nothing could have prepared us for the smell upon entering the house. The stench of dog was completely overpowering, our kids didn't even want to go in which was such a poor first impression. The rugs were filthy and very old from which I presume most of the smell was coming from. However we carried on the kids were excited to see their room, however when our son climbed up to the top bunk, the whole bunk bed was so unstable and swayed so much he came back down crying. My husband ended up having to strap the bed together using car straps we fortunately had with us just to try and make it more safe and steady. As you can imagine we were not having a great start to the holiday. When we then went to use the toilet we were disgusted. It was covered with urine and hair. I have attached a photo. I had to clean everything, particularly as we have three young children. There were cobwebs in the bathroom as well. We tried to put a good face on things and get ready for bed, then when I pulled back the duvet the sheet was covered in dog hairs. They were literally ingrained in the bedding. Again, I have attached a photo. I just wanted to cry and leave. When my mum who is quite frail, went to use the chair in the large bedroom the seat sunk so low she nearly hit the floor. We made her a cup of tea and found the cutlery in the drawer was dirty and the dishes were still dripping (I presume from being washed but the cupboard was soaking which wasn't nice). There were dog hairs in the fridge and the dish brush we had been left was nothing short of disgusting, covered in long hairs and dirty. I felt like I didn't want to touch anything. It's such a shame as it obviously has character and was well equipped with firewood and plenty of pots and pans, plus the freezer and washing machine was great, but we really didn't enjoy our stay there. The icing on the cake was that the water pressure was awful, often no more than a dribble, and the shower went cold after only a few moments each time, again, really awful for my mum who has arthritis. I really hope this feedback is useful. We had every intention of rebooking for next year but we have gone with another house in Sawrey with another company.

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• Joanne - Verified booking

  Not perfect Lovely cottage in a scenic spot with great dog walks on the doorstep.

  Great location for getting into Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside etc There were a number of frustrations with our stay, however: The garden doesn’t adjoin the cottage so rather than being able to simply open a door to let dog out we had to put his lead on and take him across the roadway to access the garden - not ideal in middle of night or poor weather - this detail is not clear in the cottage specifications. The door knobs on both access doors can be tricky to turn - we spent way too much time frustrating trying to twist them open. The kitchen pack is inadequate, barely enough washing up liquid for 2 bowlfuls of water and only a few dishwasher tablets. We ended up buying a bottle of washing up liquid. There was only 1 toilet roll! I didn’t expect there to be a week’s supply but thought there’d be more than one roll. Again we had to buy more. No hand soap in bathroom or kitchen - we had to buy 2 bars of soap. Main room is described as king size - the bed is not king size, just a standard double. Misleading. There was only one log for wood burner and a meagre amount of kindling. Specification said fuel would be provided. Again, I wasn’t expecting a week’s supply, but in previous rentals you get a couple of night’s worth of logs? One log!! Frustrating and disappointing. Wood burner has no companion set, so no poker or tongs to assist with fire stoking. Shed key is missing. I was so incredulous re there only being one log I wanted to check the shed in case there were more there - folder in house says shed key in top kitchen drawer - it is not and could not be located. Main bedroom would benefit from curtains, the horizontal blind not adequate to block out the glare from the neighbour’s security light which repeatedly came on and off. To summarise we had a lovely week in the Lakes, cottage is very attractive, but is missing some simple touches which would have elevated our stay to something more special. There is nothing in the way of greeting or hospitality so if you do choose to stay here bring your own loo roll, soap, salt and pepper (both cruets were empty), washing up liquid, logs and kindling. Reading previous reviews, the vast majority of the frustrations I have outlined have already been documented by previous guests so I have no confidence they’ll be taken on board.

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• Joanne - Verified booking

  Not perfect Lovely cottage in a scenic spot with great dog walks on the doorstep.

  Great location for getting into Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside etc There were a number of frustrations with our stay, however: The garden doesn’t adjoin the cottage so rather than being able to simply open a door to let dog out we had to put his lead on and take him across the roadway to access the garden - not ideal in middle of night or poor weather - this detail is not clear in the cottage specifications. The door knobs on both access doors can be tricky to turn - we spent way too much time frustrating trying to twist them open. The kitchen pack is inadequate, barely enough washing up liquid for 2 bowlfuls of water and only a few dishwasher tablets. We ended up buying a bottle of washing up liquid. There was only 1 toilet roll! I didn’t expect there to be a week’s supply but thought there’d be more than one roll. Again we had to buy more. No hand soap in bathroom or kitchen - we had to buy 2 bars of soap. Main room is described as king size - the bed is not king size, just a standard double. Misleading. There was only one log for wood burner and a meagre amount of kindling. Specification said fuel would be provided. Again, I wasn’t expecting a week’s supply, but in previous rentals you get a couple of night’s worth of logs? One log!! Frustrating and disappointing. Wood burner has no companion set, so no poker or tongs to assist with fire stoking. Shed key is missing. I was so incredulous re there only being one log I wanted to check the shed in case there were more there - folder in house says shed key in top kitchen drawer - it is not and could not be located. Main bedroom would benefit from curtains, the horizontal blind not adequate to block out the glare from the neighbour’s security light which repeatedly came on and off. To summarise we had a lovely week in the Lakes, cottage is very attractive, but is missing some simple touches which would have elevated our stay to something more special. There is nothing in the way of greeting or hospitality so if you do choose to stay here bring your own loo roll, soap, salt and pepper (both cruets were empty), washing up liquid, logs and kindling. Reading previous reviews, the vast majority of the frustrations I have outlined have already been documented by previous guests so I have no confidence they’ll be taken on board.

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• Katie - Verified booking

  Directions to get to the cottage were rubbish and after a 9 and half hour drive to get there, the last thing I wanted to do is drive around in circles.

  Parking situation is completely inaccurate, unless you have a two seater city car then you won't fit on the so called driveway (court yard) even then there is a pinch point between neighbouring house and garden wall. The TV signal weak and TV would go blank and state TV signal is weak, we reported this heart of the lakes as it caused much upset for our little one. I think this could be resolved if foliage when removed from the electric cables. Bathroom: the sealant has gone on the bathtub, again reported as I don't want this to become an issue for the owner with leaking ceilings. The ceiling is pealing away like there is wall paper on it, this is not helped by the fact there is no fan, there is also no water pressure for shower. Windows were painted shut, this is a big bug bare for me incase of a fire risk. Storage heaters I've never used before, when we arrived it was a little chilly and no hot water, even though the setting was on timed. We turned on the storage heaters hopefully to take the chill off and spent the next 4 days dying of heat (and not being able to open the windows made it really uncomfortable during the night). Key missing for the shed, which stores the seating cushions for the garden, however even if it had cushions the chairs where unsafe to use as they were rusted through, reported to heart of the lakes. No direction as to where the wood for the fireplace is, I found it on the last day and put a log in the fire and filled up the basket for the next person. The doors are sticking on ceiling causing damage to the property, and the carpet. No curtains in bedrooms just blinds, which made it too light in the mornings. No views unless you go outside, you are overlooked by neighbours both front and back. People renting next door spent one evening just walking around their garden looking in at us constantly. Very well equipped kitchen however not a single cupboard space for food. The shelf falling off the wall in the kitchen, which has the toaster on. Ok now the good bits. Good for location to Windermere and bowness, Ambleside even Keswick easy to get to. Leave the property and there are amazing views. Very quiet location Very well equipped kitchen Beds were quite comfortable.

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• Shirley - Verified booking

  We really enjoyed our stay at Anvil Cottage especially as I am a fan of Beatrix Potter and you really get a feel for what her life was like in this village and the cottage itself features in her work.

  If you like a mix of quaint, quirky and modern then this cottage is for you. The lounge and dining room are very traditional, and the bedrooms too. However the kitchen, utility room and downstairs bathroom are modern and have everything you need. We were very comfortable in the cottage but there were just 2 of us. I think if 6 were in the house it would feel a little cramped. The garden is not as large as it looks in the photos but it is a lovely spot to sit - very peaceful. The whole village is peaceful. There are a few points that I feel need to be emphasised in the description: 1: the stairs are quite steep to the upstairs rooms. 2: parking - there really is not room for a large car in the small parking space at the side/rear of the house - you have to open the green wrought iron gates to access this space from the main road through the village. Also - beware of the iron plate that sticks up in the middle of the entrance to the parking which is to act as a stop for the gates. Our car struggled to get over it. There is no space for parking on the street as the cottage is right on the road and on a corner. 3: Take matches. If you want to use the log burner take matches just in case there are none in the cottage. The recommendations for eating at the Tower Bank Arms were great and we ate there 3 nights out of 4 - 2 were booked in advance thankfully as they were fully booked. The 3rd visit was a cancellation. The staff are great, the pub is cosy and the food is wonderful. But BOOK before you arrive! We also ate at The Cuckoo Brow Inn as it had also been recommended - I think they were struggling due to being short staffed and the bar/restaurant area was very brightly lit so a slightly strange atmosphere - but the food was good. Anvil Cottage is very much part of the history of the village as can be seen from the pictures and articles in the Dining Room - be prepared for groups of tourists to take photos and even look through the windows and on one occasion sit and have a chat with each other in the front porch! We really enjoyed our stay and would return....if I am still able to tackle the steep stairs. Would love to return to the Tower Bank Arms....remember to book!

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