wibsie
November 2013
My friend booked this (she is the name on the authenticity statement). We were a large group of 8 ladies only, staying in the cottage for a 50th birthday weekend. The layout was absolutely perfect for us, especially as the kitchen / dining room / sitting area were open plan, so we could all spend lots of time together (and we danced a lot too - plenty of room, even for a waltz!!). The kitchen seemed new and had more than enough crockery / cutlery / utensils / glasses / etc for our party, with spares. We did have some difficulty making the oven and the dishwasher work (we managed it but maybe by fluke). The table is very large & had enough chairs and room for all of us. There was a utility room at the back entrance, next to the kitchen, which contained the very large fridge / freezer, as well as other storage and coat hooks. There was an extractor fan on the wall next to the key unit, just outside the back door, and this created a lot of fumes which came into the house when the door was open (the fumes could also be smelled in the small, single room directly above the extractor unit).
The rest of the downstairs had a living room (very spacious, plenty of room to all sit in - but we didn't use it much, as it was so comfy sitting around in the kitchen. The front door opened onto a massive hallway, with more coat hooks and plenty of space for boots, etc. Also, there was a downstairs loo.
Upstairs, the bedrooms were all lovely (including the single one, which, although wasn't en-suite, felt like it because the bathroom was only just across the corridor) and a couple of them were very impressive indeed. Another double room shared the 'house' bathroom. This didn't cause any inconvenience at all, as so many rooms were en-suite.
There was a little sitting area at the top of the stairs, which is lovely to look at but nobody used it.
The cottage is situated on quite a busy road. We walked to the local pub (Queen's Head) on our first night. Can highly recommend a visit - it really does do the most fantastic Sunday lunches ever!! BUT take a torch with you - there're no street lights to help you find your way back to the cottage and it's pretty dangerous walking in pitch black!
We went for a walk during our stay, straight from the cottage, left up the lane and in a circle, turning right at the top of the lane. We made the mistake of heading back along the road. It's completely dangerous but we didn't know that until it was too late! Traffic goes very fast along there and there are many blind corners.
I would recommend aiming for Pooley Bridge or Aira Force or Lowther for walks, which will involve a short drive to your starting point.
Don't forget to take your own towels as they are not supplied.
There is an issue with one of the showers. There is not a wall fixture for the shower head to hang from, so it has to be held by hand, causing difficulty (eg, one-handed washing of hair etc).
I would stay in this cottage again and I highly recommend it.