Holiday Cottages In Bowness On Windermere

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Mr John Forster - Verified booking

  The location just a short distance from Ambleside was perfect with a safe walk into the town which had plenty of amenities. We all had a wonderful time as the lakes are stunning and the weather was very kind and dry. The equipment at the property was plentiful, no real need for an iron, ironing board, who irons when on holiday and a dishwasher as there’s only the two of us. The log fire is also OTT as you have underfloor heating. There’s no permanent place to put clothes or towels in the bathroom so everything has be hung on either the shower stall or the clothes airer which takes up half the bathroom. The sink outlet pipe is obviously blocked as the note above the sink testifies to other stayers having similar issues. A number of the wall unit doors were sticking especially the end cupboard door and the dishwasher unit was badly fitted so the door was 2” out at the top. 3 of the plates were chipped. We were asked to remove the bedding which revealed large stains on the Mattress, mattress cover and duvet cover. The storage cupboard had a freezer an iron, an ironing board which reduced its capacity and wasn’t needed. Overall the-feel of the property was a little cramped and that it needed a good clean especially to the outside of the property which let it down. We’ve become accustomed to having a few treats on arrival with all the properties i.e. milk tea coffee or a bottle of wine etc so was disappointed with not even a welcome card. The property was very comfortable the bed the sofa etc, apart from the 2 pillows which were rock hard, but as I said difficult to move around the bed with the TV on the wall next to the bed end, next to the fire base, the stools as well as 2 large dogs and their beds. Value of the property was ok but never sure what the accidental damage charge and the £20 per dog goes to as the property had all wooden floors. We booked a midweek break but the 4pm arrival and the 9am departure time for the soul purpose of cleaning left me with the feeling it was more like 3 days and the regular reminders of the arrival and departure times x6 were tedious and excessive. We would have no issue with booking with your company apart from the additional charges, admin dogs etc if we found a property but not The Hideaway. I Never recommended companies or products. Just to say we did have a pleasant stay but due to issues raised above it felt short of our usual experience and expectations

  Read more less >

• Stuart - Verified booking

  Grassholme is a wonderfully decorated and perfectly located property, however it is somewhat lacking in maintenance, cleanliness and basic supplies.

  The positives: - The carpets, sofas and decorations of the cottage is really very modern and homely - the cottage is in a stunning location with a fantastic view over Lake Windermere - it comes with some nice basic food supplies such as freshly ground coffee, tea, biscuits and jam - the kitchen white goods were of a high quality brand which made use of the kitchen very easy. I normally hate electric hobs but the Bosch hob and oven were brilliant! - it’s brilliant that dogs are allowed in such a well decorated property, as it is so nice to be able to have our dog with us! - the Graythwaite estate is wonderful and has plenty of nice walks in the surrounding area The issues: - there were no hand towels provided for the bathroom - various cobwebs and spiders in corners of EVERY room - there was no hand soap in the kitchen - there was no kitchen spray or cloth to clean the worktops after cooking - the curtains were beautiful, however they were poorly attached to the curtain pole with some hooks having come out - the log fire needs kindling as well as large logs and firefighters otherwise it’s pretty difficult to get the large logs to light properly - there were no matches to light the fire, so you need your own - the outdoor furniture definitely needs some TLC, which has been pointed out in a previous review - the “Grassholme Cottage” sign at the front of the property is completely worn and you can’t actually see why it says - various walls need a lick of paint from wear and tear Also, the description of the cottages is incorrect as it is not detached. It is semi detached. Overall it was a lovely stay which we thoroughly enjoyed and didn’t want to leave!

  Read more less >

• Tanya - Verified booking

  The cottage is lovely, especially the views of the lake which we would never tire of.

  However, there were many things that were missing or could be improved upon. E.g. the patio overlooking the lake was stunning but the "seating" was tired and worn and there was only a coffee table and 2 chairs, which for a cottage sleeping 4 people, was not sufficient. Further, there was not a table you could eat a meal at, as a family, which is a shame given the setting. We were very disappointed about this. Other things which would increase the score are a more powerful shower - it was almost a trickle if you wanted it hot; instructions re recycling/rubbish etc; a map of the estate so we knew where the cottage was in relation to the courtyard and swimming pool; the door handle on the doors to the patio was broken, a dressing table in the master bedroom; aswell as personal touches like tissues, toiletries, a better equipped kitchen (more utensils). These things didn't detract from the enjoyment of the holiday and the stunning location of the cottage, but they would have made it better and more comfortable. Given that Skyes have increased the price by 150% for the same dates in 2022, I would say they need to up their game. This lovely cottage is all about the views but there was not means to enjoy them as much as we may have and in our opinion, it is noteworthy £2500 for a week! I would expect luxury for that.

  Read more less >

• Mr Mark Visser - Verified booking

  The cottage was lovely, well appointed, had good quality equipment, and was very easily accessible. The parking provided was good, but not clearly stated in the information sent out before our arrival, but I did find the information in the file in the cottage. We had a struggle with the underfloor heating in the bathroom which kept on going off, and the instructions were not the easiest to follow to set the heating. There was no remote for the tv, and when I phoned your office I was told someone would look into it and provide us with a remote, but it never materialised and I never received a follow-up call from your office - I know it was the festive season, but that is poor customer support. We struggled to find the cutting board in the kitchen, finally locating it stored under the microwave, not a very visible place to store it. The glass pot of the cafitier (French Press) has a crack in it near the spout & one of the side plates had a chip in it. Neither of these issues prevented us from using the items, but they should be replaced. The one negative about the property is that there is only 1 small hanging place for clothes and no chest of drawers, or even shelves for your clothes to be stored, they had to remain in our suitcases.

  Read more less >

• Michael - Verified booking

  Dangerous! I would hope the owners would respond to this but these are the facts - The steps leading to the rear of the cottage are extremely dangerous to the point where my wife fell and hurt herself.

  You have no option but to navigate these as the key safe is at the rear. The rear courtyard and the steps are so green it is almost impossible to stand up and again we both slipped on this. The steps are also very steep and no handrails. At the time of our visit there were also no outside lights meaning we had to use torches which were supplied by the cottage as they informed us they were aware the outside lights weren’t working. At night there is absolutely no light at all other than torch light. We had no hot water for two days meaning we had to have cold showers and the children had to have cold baths at the end of October! The fire alarm in the front bedroom went off every few hours keeping us and 2 young children awake all night. We contacted Sykes and Sykes have been very communicative, however the owners are not interested and have offered no solution. We also emailed the contact details supplied in the cottage but we did not receive a response. We have Sykes/the owners the option to resolve the issues before submitting this review. Would definitely not recommend and we certainly won’t be returning. Think long and hard before you book this cottage.

  Read more less >