New Year Cottages in the Lake District

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Charles - Verified booking

  Had a great couple of weeks at Ellwood.

  Only two of us (plus mutt) so plenty of space. We were very impressed with the cleanliness and layout of the cottage. We had a fire going a number of nights and the provided firewood was very welcome but the house itself was comfy - we just like log fires. The owner was in touch as necessary and was very friendly (even though we didn't meet in person!) and was very responsive to all queries. The wifi was great, allowing us to stream Spotify and if necessary stream to the TV. Throws were provided in case of dogs jumping which was very thoughtful. There were loads of walking ideas in pamphlets and books in the cupboards and some interesting books so we didn't get bored. Extra freezer storage was in the 'barn' attached to the house which proved useful. We used the twin-bed-into-one humungous bed which was very comfortable. The owner very kindly offered a cleaning between the two weeks; we declined that as I'd only be scrubbing the day before so they didn't think I was messy, but we gratefully received new bedding and towels. We liked the area immensely. The house is on what seems to be a nexus of walking points so we wandered around the local area, and also popped into Keswick for lovely-but-expensive Boothe's and a great walk around Derwentwater. Due to it being on the northern tip of the Lakes it wasn't full of, well, people like us and day-trippers so it was very peaceful. We can recommend 'The Muddy Duck' kiosk; they sold nice dog treats so our furry friend kept dragging us there. The local pub is pretty good and the one in Hasket Newmarket even better (good beer!) but if you want food there make sure to book as you can't just walk in; dogs are welcome at both pubs. The Windmill Cafe is OK, if you have a dog you must sit outside so it is weather dependent. One of the highlights of course was the milk vending machine. I had sort of expected a cow, a bucket and a coin slot but it is higher tech and provides 1litre pasteurised full-fat milk into a customer-provided bottle at a reasonable price (contactless payment). The weather wasn't with us but we had a great time and will be back at some point!

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• Michael - Verified booking

  The main issue we had was actually before the holiday.

  I had a conversation with one of the company representatives regarding travel insurance. I would like to state that it was my mistake selecting travel insurance when initially booking our holiday. But I was sure I did not ask for insurance, due to the fact we already have annual insurance. Because of personal reasons, I did not check the holiday confirmation which included the travel insurance. As soon as I realised the mistake, I contacted Lakes Cottage Holidays and the representative was adamant there was nothing she could do. I was not happy with the situation, but it seemed we were stuck with the travel insurance. I even asked if there was anything she could do as a gesture of good will, but she was polite and firm when stating the company response was final and if I was unhappy the only course of action was the FCA. The insurance situation could have been sorted amicably, but Lakes Cottage Holidays stuck firmly to their terms and conditions. The insurance premium was forty pounds. This is a small amount of money compared with the total holiday cost of around £800. We will not use this lettings agent in the future and any recommendation is out of the question.

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• Paul - Verified booking

  Lovely house,lovely setting.

  Ellwood House is ideally situated just 5 mins from the centre of Caldbeck.Although on a road it's a minor road with little traffic other than the postman and the odd farm vehicle!It is spacious and well equipped.We found it had everything we needed for a relaxing and comfortable stay :) It is also very Dog friendly.The enclosed rear garden is perfect for dogs.We have a very clever Cocker Spaniel who failed to escape so I would say it's pretty secure!Beyond the garden is ample enclosed parking for a couple of cars.We had a LWB VW Van and had no problem turning it around in the parking area.There is also a LARGE garage to secure bikes/canoes or whatever outdoor equipment you may have.On the whole the house pretty much ticks all boxes for an active family holiday! Caldbeck is a nice little Cumbrian village that is not "touristy" like some others in the National Park.It has a very relaxing vibe about it.The local pub is both friendly and serves excellent quality food.Plenty of nice family friendly walking from the village and plenty of maps/guides in the house. We will definitely be back!!

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• Grace - Verified booking

  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Walker's Rest.

  It is located in a quiet road, but very close to lots of amenities, including Booth's supermarket (although further from the lake than we had anticipated). The house was clean, comfortable and had almost everything we needed. As some others have mentioned, there is no folder of instructions, but we worked out the WiFi, heating etc anyway, but there was no information about recycling. We ended up taking ours to the big bins in the closest car park. The two things we do want to mention are the back door which desperately needs looking at by a locksmith as it is temperamental to say the least. The other is the parking... we got into the space initially and then got blocked in for three days. We ended up buying a 7 day ticket from the local carpark (twice)... an unexpected extra cost. Once out, we couldn’t have got back in again due to other holidaymakers parking huge cars at the adjacent cottages and blocking our space. Having said that, we had a great holiday and we are looking forward to returning to the Lake District!

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• Dawn - Verified booking

  We had an absolutely brilliant time.

  The cottage was, clean, comfortable and a joy to stay in. The furniture (including beds) were great - something a lot of places overlook. A few things to note for dog owners: the garden is very secure and our two large dogs were very safe and happy; the bottom floor of the house is not carpeted so dogs wary of slippery floors might struggle - we’ve had this on previous hols in other places so have a stock of non slip mats I scatter about, and; dogs are not allowed in the bedrooms. This is understandable but should be made clear in the advert as I only knew about it just before we arrived. It wasn’t a problem but could have been for others. The cottage was brilliant overall. Ample parking and a fantastic base for exploring. We could’ve spent another week there and not run out of things to do. Thanks for a brilliant stay - I will definitely be recommending it to others. The owner was so welcoming and that really made a huge difference too.

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