Guests say
The Old Stables is a charming cottage in a tranquil, scenic location, ideal for walkers and those seeking a peaceful retreat. Guests praise its comfortable beds, well-equipped kitchen, and beautiful surroundings, with many returning for repeat visits. The property is especially appreciated for its secure garden and proximity to the northern Lake District. Some reviews mention minor issues with cleanliness, intermittent WiFi, and dated appliances, but overall, the cottage offers a cosy and restful stay with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
Most guests found the cottage clean and tidy, with comfortable bedding and well-kept interiors. However, a few reviews noted areas missed during cleaning, such as under furniture and pet-related cleanliness, suggesting some inconsistency.
The location is highly praised for its peace, beautiful scenery, and excellent access to walking routes and the Lake District. The remote setting is a highlight, though guests note the distance to shops and amenities.
Guests consistently mention comfortable beds, a cosy atmosphere, and a relaxing environment. The cottage is described as warm and inviting, with only minor comments about the suitability of kitchen seating for all guests.
The cottage is generally well-equipped, with positive remarks about kitchen amenities and bathrooms. Some guests experienced issues with WiFi, old appliances, and occasional power or water outages, reflecting the rural location.
There are no mentions of welcome gifts or extra thoughtful touches in the reviews, so a score cannot be provided for this category.
About this property
A peaceful cottage in the Northern Fells with walks from the door, private gardens, woodland surroundings and views towards the Uldale Fells..
Ground Floor:
Living room: Freeview TV, CD Player, DAB Radio, Gas Fire
Kitchen: Breakfast Bar, Electric Oven, Electric Hob, Microwave, Fridge/Freezer, Dishwasher, Washer Dryer
Bedroom 1: Single (3ft) Bed
Bathroom: Bath, Toilet
First Floor:
Bedroom 2: Double (4ft 6in) Bed
Bedroom 3: 2 x Single (3ft) Beds
Shower Room: Cubicle Shower, Toilet.
Gas central heating, gas, electricity, fuel and bed linen and towels included. Cot and highchair available on request.. Outside there is a landscaped lawn area and patio leading to open woodland. Private parking for 4 cars.. The Old Stables is set in the quiet hamlet of High Ireby in the peaceful Northern Fells, offering a relaxing base for walking, exploring and enjoying the quieter side of the Lake District. Surrounded by woodland and open countryside, the cottage enjoys views towards the Uldale Fells and direct access to a wide range of walks, including Binsey Fell,m straight from the door.
The cottage combine original character features with comfortable accommodation and is set within the grounds of the historic Ireby Grange Estate. Guests are free to explore the surrounding Estate, grounds and woodland, with the garden and nearby landscape providing a haven for wildlife throughout the year.
Despite it’s peaceful setting, The Old Stables is within easy reach of Keswick, Cockermouth, Caldbeck, Carlisle and the Solway Coast, making it well placed for exploring both the Lake District and North Cumbria. After a day outdoors, guests can return to a warm and comfortable cottage with provate garden and plenty of space to relax.
The property also has literary and historic interest. Pub within 1 mile. Shop and restuarant within 6 miles.
Towels are not included.
Suitable for up to 2 pets
Reviews (15)
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James Stern
Reasonably well equipped and well presented with a few minor issues and one significant one which is the lack of Wi-Fi.If you like getting away from it all the location has a lot to be said for it - it is well off the beaten track and the noisiest things you are likely to encounter are a flock of sheep being driven down the road, and periodic shooting nearby. There are red squirrels in the wood a couple of hundred meters away. On the downside there don't seem to be any local shops around that we managed to discover - does one really have to go into Keswick for a litre of milk? There is a garage on the A road from Bassenthwaite village to Keswick; we didn't investigate - maybe they sell something?Main downside is the lack of Wi-Fi -there was nowhere indoors where it was reliably available - sometimes it could be used in the double bedroom - mainly near the window. It appears to come from the adjacent Laundry cottage, where a router is visible in the window. The relay device in The Old Stable doesn't seem to have any useful effect whatsoever - we tried positioning it in different locations.Only way to get reliable reception is to stand outside in the courtyard. This state of affairs needs improvement. Whether you can get mobile data will depend on your mobile provider - giffgaff doesn't work, I think EE does.The building was apparently renovated well over 20 years ago and in certain regards is showing a bit of wear and tear. Some of the windows are due for replacement/rotting/don't open properly. Other minor gripes - clothes line but no clothes pegs that I could find, and not much else to dry clothes on inside. Could do with a vegetable steamer but fortunately we brought our own. Limited space for dining - no table as such - dining is at the kitchen worktop. Dishwasher was out of salt. Pressure gauge on boiler close to zero - we topped it up. The inlet valve on the upstairs loo started to malfunction while we were there due to a mechanical linkage defect - for the time being I fixed it, but it may need replacing.Brownie points for providing a radio in the sitting room and a pair of binoculars, both of which got used. Would I stay there again - overall yes.
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Confirmed Guest
The cottage was most comfortable and had everything we needed. The wilderness garden was most interesting to explore and the seats on the sheltered lawn had wonderful views. The setting of the house in its courtyard was very pleasant. I was able to watch jackdaws furnishing their nests from my bed!I only gave 'amenities' fewer stars as it was some distance to a shop, but that was made clear in the description and we arrived well prepared. The other slight nuisance was that the WiFi signal was intermittent and we seemed to have no phone signal at all. However there was a payphone available - not that we used it.The Hugh Walpole Herries connection was fascinating and in between being out and about I reread the books (very cheap on Kindle) having first read them many years ago.The immediate countryside is very attractive in a quiet sort of way. We climbed Binsey, with its wonderful views and had two short and pretty, although admittedly, after a lot of rain, rather muddy, walks, one at Cockermouth and the other at Caldbeck. Also it was not far to drive into the Lake District and we had two wonderful walks in Borrowdale. It was busier there and it was lovely at the end of the day to come back to our quiet spacious residence. It was a lovely place to stay and there was more to do than we could fit into the week.
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Bryan Green
A quiet and restful retreat surrounded by pleasant scenery. The cottage provides a warm and comfortable welcome after walking in the area.Nearest food stores are 7 - 10 miles away, so wise to stock up enroute.