Guests say
Thomas Cottage in Cumbria is a well-loved holiday rental, praised for its beautiful views, cosy woodburner, and excellent location for walking. Guests appreciate the cottage's character, powerful shower, and comfortable beds. While some noted areas for improvement, the overall sentiment is one of satisfaction, with many planning to return.
Most guests found Thomas Cottage to be comfortable and well-maintained, though a few mentioned it could benefit from a deeper clean, with some surfaces being dusty and sticky. The majority did not raise cleanliness as an issue.
The location is highly praised for its peacefulness and proximity to walks and nature. Some guests found the remoteness to be a double-edged sword, appreciating the tranquillity but noting the distance to shops and pubs.
Guests generally found the cottage to be cosy and the beds comfortable. However, some suggested that additional or more comfortable seating would enhance the experience, and one review mentioned an old sofa.
The cottage is well-equipped with modern amenities like a dishwasher and a powerful shower. Some guests encountered issues with the oven, reading lamps, and a microwave, indicating room for improvement in maintenance.
While guests express gratitude and a sense of being at home, there is no mention of gifts or special touches that would indicate thoughtfulness from the hosts. Therefore, this category cannot be scored.
About this property
This charming, stone-built Lakeland cottage sits in a peaceful location within the tiny hamlet of Hartsop with its working sheep farms, right in the heart of the Lake District. The cottage has been lovingly refurbished in a totally original farm cottage style with original lime plaster walls, ancient floors and lots of reclaimed furnishings dating back to the 17th century, yet providing a comfortable and cosy home with 21st century touches. Enter the property and wander into the open-plan reclaimed farmhouse kitchen to find all the essential appliances and cooking utensils to whip up a sumptuous feast, with a large pine table for all to gather at mealtimes.
The sitting area with its simple yet stylish interior is where you can end each evening amongst the warmth of the woodburning stove in front of the television. Move upstairs with a refreshing beverage in hand and enjoy a rejuvenating soak in the bath, before choosing one of the two bedrooms to rest your head. The property boasts both a zip/link super-king-size bedroom which can be arranged as a twin on request, and a king-size bedroom, with both rooms benefitting from fine decoration with original wooden flooring and beautiful kelim rugs. Spend a moment in the morning sun in the garden with a coffee or even dine alfresco in the evening, with scenic valley views to be admired all day.
A few paces from the front gate, past the neighbour’s working sheep farm adjacent to the house, there is abundance of walking routes towards High Street, Fairfield and St Sunday Crag. The village of Brotherswater is a mile away and has a traditional inn and a local shop for picking up any essentials, or you can head into Patterdale for a greater choice of shops. A Lake District holiday wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Lake Windermere where you can enjoy circular voyages around the water before stopping off at Ambleside for a spot of lunch or to browse the many independent shops on offer.
The ever-popular towns of Bowness and Windermere are also within easy reach, offering something for everybody to enjoy. Boasting plenty of personality and comfort, you will want to return to Thomas Cottage each year.
The bustling market town of Penrith, once the capital of Cumbria, enjoys a central position between the Lake District and North Pennines and is ideally placed for taking in all that the region has to offer. Renowned for its wealth of specialist shops, the sandstone buildings of Penrith hide intriguing yards, lanes and alleyways, with a myriad of attractive cottages, gardens and little shops. With a wide choice of excellent pubs, hotels, restaurants and entertainment, Penrith also offers a museum, and Millennium Trails round the historic city streets. Within easy reach of the town is Rheged – an innovative visitor centre with shops, restaurants, exhibitions and a giant cinema screen showing educational and informative films. Brougham Castle (The Windsor of the North), Long Meg and her daughters (the 3rd largest stone circle in England) and the historic city of Carlisle are all a short drive away, as is the stunning scenery of both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
Accommodation
Two bedrooms: 1 x zip/link super-king-size (zip/link, can be twin on request), 1 x king-size.
Bathroom with bath, rainfall shower, basin and WC.
Open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with woodburning stove
Central heating with woodburning stove.
Electric double oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview and DVD player, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Travel cot and highchair available.
Off-road parking for two cars.
Garden with table and chairs to the side of the cottage across the drive way.
One well-behaved dog welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Please note that Thomas Cottage is an old property and so there are uneven surfaces and steps both inside and outside, so please take care.
Nearby points of interest
- Lake Windermere
- Wastwater Lake
- Wastwater Alpaca Trekking
Reviews (23)
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Joe
Place was perfect and a real idyll in easy reach of lots of high peaks. The only negative was that the sofa needed replacing. It was a really super, clean place.
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Tracey
It was so warm and cosy. The decor was welcoming for us and our dog. The area was beautiful and we were lucky to have some snow with blue sky days. Perfect for walking holidays, we would love to be back and thought it would be great to book the house next door as well to bring the family. The owners were at home while we were there and were friendly and left us to our holiday. We met a few locals out on the fells, ideally we would live here! The pub a mile away was closed but we had everything we needed with us or provided for in the cottage. If you enjoy being tucked away with amazing walks on your doorstep the Thomas cottage is perfect ( with shops a drive away if you need them). We plus totally recommend
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Christopher
It is in a beautiful quiet location, with great walks from the door and wonderful views of the fells. The house is well equipped and furnished - it is not easy renovating an old property yet retaining the character, the owners have truly achieved this. It is a warm, welcoming and comfortable cottage that really made me feel instantly relaxed and at home.