Raceside Cottage Lake District National Park, Cumbria

First impressions are very good. Fantastic friendly welcome. Milk and fresh cream and jam cupcakes in fridge. Beautiful solid stone built barn conversion. Gorgeous furnishings and fittings. Really comfy sofas. Very comfy double bed. Great walk in shower. Kitchen has everything you need and some you things you don't! Quality furnishings and knick knacks. Yes the bedrooms are partly below ground level but both are well lit with head height windows. All of the guest ' cottage' is on the ground floor and ceilings are about 6' 8". Front lawn for use of guests and their children and dogs. Barbecue and outside seating. Grown ups double garden swing and garden fort for children. Quiet location and 20 minute walk down farm track to the fantastic beach. Black Combe within mile and the Lakes within 30 minutes by car. Local pub still closed and has been since fire 2 years ago, however work is progressing. The negatives are flies, like most of Cumbria there are a lot of sheep and cows, these mean dung which means flies. And there are lots and lots of them...everywhere you go. So don't open the windows and doors and you will be fine. The other main negative is that as the owners live above the guest accommodation. You can hear them make every move. Even walking across the floor. Which is OK if they are on Holiday. But not great when they are in residence We were fortunate that the owners went on holiday the day after we arrived. We wi be back as the positives outweigh the negatives by a long way.

Outstanding property.. ..nice hosts and the area is a lovely place to visit...

The Cottage was very comfortable and clean.. It was quite a way from the main Lakes in the Lake District but this did not take away the fact that we enjoyed the break.

Very spacious cottage, all on ground floor level.. Both bedrooms are very big and beds are very comfortable despite the creaking. Large combined kitchen, dining area and lounge, although the larger sofa could do with replacing as it’s sunken. Very large garden and the whole family discovered Darts

Really good communications from Sykes about key collections etc.. The cottage itself was beautiful and better than expected. Had everything we needed and was left to just enjoy our stay. Thank you!

Raceside cottage was comfortable, warm and everything you might need was provided.. The owners were very welcoming and friendly and on hand for any information/questions. The area is very quiet, with stunning views , would highly recommend if you want a nice peaceful holiday , as it is away from the more touristy attractions of the Lake District.

A really great break and the fresh cream cakes on arrival a lovely touch..

Lovely well equipped holiday cottage in peaceful location.. Close to glorious sandy beaches and with easy access to SW Lake District. Friendly and helpful owners - on site but not obtrusive. We had a super weeks holiday - thank you.

Stayed in this great accomodation for a week with my other half and our two large dogs. On arrival we were met by the owner who made us feel most welcome - she showed us a ground floor conversion which upon entry was of outstanding quality. Kitchen diner, two bedrooms - 1 double and a twin with an extra storage bed, bathroom all exceptional. The fridge had several home made cup cakes with fresh cream a very nice touch! There's a small but very neat front garden with adjacent drive. We were offered the use of BBQ but didn't have the time. The accomodation is a short walk from the beach which when tides permit have sands that stretch for miles (check tide times) 6 mile walk to Millom! Or in the other direction 2.5 mile to Stilecroft. Local restaurant "The King Billy" serves outstanding steaks and beverage whilst "The Miners Arms" in Stilecroft has a lovely restaurant too. Local Black Combe Fell is a good test albeit rather barren - if you're looking for the more acclaimed Wainwrights then be prepared for a 40 minute drive. All in all Raceside Cottage is perfect if you're looking to combine a beach and fell experience! Thank you to our exceptional hosts/owners - had an absolutely marvellous time!

Just got back from one week stay at race side cottage. Absolutely love it! ideal place to have a relaxing peaceful family holiday. Me and my husband went with our teenage daughters, five year old son and our two dogs and can all honestly say that we had the best time. The cottage was well equipped with everything. My little boy loved the tree house and playing football in the garden, the girls were entertained with all the dvd's and board games. Cottage itself was beautiful inside and out very cosy and comfortable. We could only get Wi Fi in the back bedroom and no where else in the cottage but to be honest we went there to get away from all the devices so we could have quality time with the kids so I quite liked that, no sure the kids would agreed though. The town centre is close by approx. 2-3miles for local shops, beach is just over a mile away, but wouldn't advise trying to walk there via the back farmland very muddy and stinky, even with wellies it can be a challenge, the beach is lovely down there though. Haverigg beach is much easier, have to go by car but plenty of parking and only 10mins drive, well worth it, we was on there most morning with the dogs, sand dunes and parks great for the kids also a little beach café, pub and fish and chip shop and convenient store that sell homemade cakes on the corner. Viv and Ron the owners live above but you don't really know they are there, they are very welcoming and on hand to help if you need anything. Very lovely people, had homemade cakes made for us on arrival, they supplied some cupboard essentials for when we got there so we didn't need to rush out and get them straight away, Viv also made us some bread during the week which was a lovely touch. Only negative would be that the location of the cottage is a bit secluded, all amenities are close by but the only way to get to them is by car, you are very limited to where you can walk without hitting private land or roads, so was hard to take the dogs on long walks if we didn't want to use the car. There is black Combe just 10mins down the road where you can park at the bottom and the public foot path leads up the mounting once up there is some amazing breath taking views. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to anyone, our first time staying in a cottage and it was a great experience for all the family will definitely be back, anyone staying at this cottage would not be disappointed it was fab!

We thought an up to date review was needed so here we go. The cottage was everything that we wanted for our first break with our three month old. We tend to cook a lot whilst we're away and it made a nice change that the kitchen had everything we needed and more! The open plan living area created a pleasant social setting whilst cooking and eating rather than being stuck in a separate room. The bedrooms were incredibly warm and cosy with loads of space (especially important for all the baby paraphernalia!!) and were a very relaxing space to unwind in after the days activities. The cottage did not advertise wifi but you can use the WiFi belonging to the owners above - the only problem in the walls are so thick the signal is very weak - try the back bedroom!! Viv and Roy (living above) were on hand if we needed anything but left us alone so we didn't really know they were there. It was a lovely touch having homemade buns on arrival (we could have eaten them twice over) along with the bread and milk. The location itself is very quiet. The beach is exactly one mile down a track but this was very muddy due to the time of the year but that didn't matter as there was a hosepipe outside the back door, ideally placed to hose our muddy running gear and the dogs down afterwards. The beach itself is very quiet and unspoilt and if you don't want to walk there, the car park at Silecroft is only a few minutes drive. Unfortunately the village pub was being refurbed but there is a decent pub in Silecroft and a couple in Haverigg, only a short drive away. Overall we had a fantastic week and we would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quiet relaxing break in the lakes.

Set in a nice quite spot in a little village. A 20 minute walk to the beach, which is lovely if you're taking a dog. The best holiday cottage we've stayed in over the last 4 years we have been going to the Lakes.

At the time we stayed the area was lovely and quiet. The beach areas are clean and our dog loved the pools. Raceside Cottage was ideally situated for touring the area and was very comfortable.

We had a wonderful stay at Raceside Cottage. The cottage itself was warm, clean, tidy and just what we wanted. The rooms were an excellent size and the kitchen was very well equipped for if you want to cook (which we did on an evening after being out all day). There's a large Tesco which is a ten minute drive away from the cottage too which was very convenient. The owner had also left lots of tourist leaflets and books within the cottage which was very useful. We spent most of our time around Coniston, Grizedale forest and Ambleside which had plenty of great walks and bike-rides, which are around 30minutes to an hour away! Overall we had a fantastic stay at the property and would definitely recommend anybody to visit.

This cottage was excellent. The kitchen was better equipped than my own, it had everything and plenty of it. The beds were very comfortable and there was plenty of information on places to visit as well as board games/books/puzzles in case the weather prevented going outside. The garden was pretty, but more importantly, secure so that we did not have to watch the dog constantly. The location was great for both lakes and beach as well as towns. One of the best places we have stayed in.

A beautiful cottage in a very nice part of the country.

Myself and my husband and children and grandchildren and dogs...... stayed in Raceside cottage in July for one week. I have never stayed in such well equipped cottage accommodation. I had taken pots and pans and ... almost everything that is usually missing from rented accommodation, only for my husband to say, we could have saved a fortune in fuel if you hadn't brought all the equipment that is already here! We cooked for 5 people most nights and it was a joy to stay in and cook (not something that can usually be said for a rental cottage). The garden is beautiful, the bathroom is spacious and shower constantly hot! The master bedroom is lovely and the lounge dining room is very comfortable, spacious and just SO practical. We took our 2 dogs and they settled immediately. Viv and her husband are really lovely people - and whoever baked the cakes that were left for us on our arrival! 10 out of 10! I suppose it depends on what your expectations are, but we just wanted somewhere comfortable, clean, and quiet. And this cottage has it all! A very short drive, or 20 minute walk to the beach - which in itself is so clean and unspoilt! We were there every evening until 10pm - both grandchildren and dogs thought they had died and gone to heaven! Kirksanton is a really quiet place to stay, nothing there really only King Billy pub and pretty village square with nice area/park for little ones. Haverigg and Millom are just 5 minutes away by car, and the café in Millom, just over the bridge, serves great snacks, very reasonably priced, with a beautiful garden to sit in. We ate out in the Bear on the Square on Sunday Lunch, and it was a really good meal, and again very reasonably priced, and the staff and locals were so friendly. My only quibble was that in the small bedroom you can hear noises of the owners above you from quite early in the morning, but hey, take ear plugs! We are booked back in to the cottage in August 2015 and the only additional item I will be taking this time is a pack of ear plugs! Bear in mind that we are British and have to moan about something! Don't even think about booking this accommodation - JUST DO IT before it is booked up! We had a lovely time and a wonderful stay in this cottage in Kirksanton! Thanks Viv and hubby - I promise to return your bedsheet in August!

My son and his fiancée who live in Singapore were visiting the UK in July to attend a friends' wedding in Hawkshead. As a Christmas present, they booked a week long stay at Raceside cottage to enable us to share the week with them and to take our two dogs. We have been frequent visitors to the Lake District but have never been to the South West corner where the village of Kirksanton is located. The village of Kirksanton is just that ! a tiny village with no mote than 20 properties including Raceside Cottage where we stayed. The accommodation is in a barn conversion and occupies the whole of the ground floor. We were delighted by the quality of the cottage and impressed by the amount of space in all the rooms, including bathroom. The property was very clean and well maintained and it was a delight to discover that the owners had provided us with home baked bread, fresh cream muffins, milk and eggs. Very welcoming after a busy drive. The beds were very comfortable and provided perfect rest and relaxation. The beach is a pleasant 20 minute walk away but can be accessed by car form either of the two neighbouring villages of Silecroft or Haverigg. There was plenty of dog walking opportunity in the area which was great and everybody who we met, either local people or others on holiday were incredible friendly. Our one regret that due to the social aspect of the wedding which went on for the whole week, we didn't get to try the highly recommended food at the King Billy pub in the village literally two minutes from the cottage. Good excuse to go back at a later date ! Be prepared to have a techno free week as there is no Wi-Fi in the cottage and mobile phone coverage is patchy, the cottage walls are incredibly thick. ! No bad thing as a stress reliever. If you are desperate there is free Wi-Fi in the coffee shop in Millom - a 10 minute drive away and there is a Tesco there for supplies. All in all this is a great place, a lovely area and really nice people. I can thoroughly recommend it.

A beautiful tranquil, clean, and homely Cottage. The owners really care and this shows in the decor and facilities in the Cottage. We had a lovely time.

Raceside Cottage was very welcoming and like a home from home, in a quiet area with a lovely pub just a minutes walk away, serving delicious steaks!

A well thought out and designed cottage in a part of the lakes which offered good commuter links to the south west area. Special mention to our hosts who made our stay very enjoyable and to the folk in Kirksanton who were always friendly and welcoming.

Very relaxing, just what we wanted.

It was a lovely quiet and very relaxing holiday Our hosts were very nice and the gift of bread and cakes also milk was a very nice touch and much appreciated. The coastal walks were great and we enjoyed every minute of our holiday and would definitely return.

The owners were very friendly and everything you would need was available; a well stocked kitchen, iron and hair dryer. A very spacious Cottage which was lovely warm. There was a pub at end of lane which was dog friendly and a country lane walk to beach.

Arrived at the cottage it was beautiful. Went in to find that the owner had left us cakes and fresh bread - very delicious. We had everything we needed in the cottage, it was a charming cottage and the owner made us feel very welcome. It was well situated for the beach and there was plenty of the things to do and see without having to go to far, it was a great base to visit all the lakes. We really enjoyed our holiday as did the dogs.

Kirkanston is a lovely little hamlet, outstanding for those people that want to use it as a base for visiting elsewhere or stay local and walk, or cycle or horseride!!! or just chillax. The cottage has been converted to a high level and has everything that you need, it is suitable for couples with or without children, I went with my partner and because there was an extra room my Mum was able to stay for a couple of nights also. We have 3 small dogs that were welcomed. The garden is shared but you still get plenty of privacy and the owners of the cottage are really lovely anyway so it doesn't matter. We went walking everyday there's walks from the front door to the beach or you can get in the car and go further afield. Lovely pub at the end of the road so you can stagger back after a few beers!!! :o) Overall perfect location, we will be returning, oh and nice touch of homemade cakes and bread which were both delicious upon arrival :o). You can get access to the internet but you have to put your phone against the window and wait for a bit...it is the countryside only to be expected!!!

We liked the proximity of the property, the freedom to come and go where we pleased with no problems and the home from home feel of the accommodation. The owners were very helpful with advice on days out and supplying some fresh goodies on our arrival. The BBQ was an absolute bonus.

Beautifully appointed and maintained, this cottage is in lovely quiet location only 20 minutes walk from an unspoilt beach. Raceside Cottage definitely warrants its 4-star rating. The furnishings are very tasteful, the settees and beds extremely comfortable and the overall feel is very homely. The owners provide a welcome loaf of bread and home-made butterfly cakes which were really lovely. The cottage has everything you need including TV and DVD player (with a good library of DVDs), books, games, etc. There are several good circular walks from the cottage and our dogs had a wonderful time - especially on the beach! Highly recommended - we would definitely go back again!

The area was very beautiful, the cottage was in an idyllic quaint little village; very peaceful and a great base for touring the Lake District. The cottage was better than expected and the owner was very welcoming and helpful with a good knowledge of areas to visit. We would definitely visit in the future.

Although the cottage is attached to the owners cottage and there is a shared garden there is a lovely private area to sit in and the owners are friendly and answer any questions that you have but have. A really excellent and well appointed cottage with lovely owners and fabulous scenery and walks all around. We would recommend to others and would like to return some day.

Very peaceful and comfortable with nice beach walks with our 2 pet dogs who were also very happy. Hosts left some yummy strawberry cream tea cakes and fresh home baked bread when we arrived which was very nice touch. Lots of literature on the surrounding area left in the flat was very helpful. Lots of crockery, cutlery and towels. We would definitely recommend this place for those wishing to leave the hustle and bustle of modern life behind.

Lovely warm cottage to escape to in January. Very dog friendly, really enjoyed our stay.

Lovely cottage, dog friendly, very clean, cosy and warm what more could you want for a January break! Local pub in walking distance allows dogs and the food especially steak is great. The accommodation is below the owners but it still felt private enough. Is a bit of a drive to the main attractions in the lakes.

A very peaceful setting. The accommodation was warm and extremely comfortable.

Owners were very welcoming, warm and friendly. The cottage was lovely and warm, we stayed Christmas week it was blowing a gale and pouring with rain. We were glad to be in the house tucked up in front of the TV.

Fantastic cottage, very well equipped, could have stayed longer.

The owners are very friendly and helpful. This was the second time we have stayed at Raceside Cottage, and we sincerely hope it will not be the last!

Raceside Cottage is an absolute jewel of the Lakes! From the scrummy cakes and bread as a welcome gift, to the well thought out books and visitor leaflets for planning days out, Raceside Cottage had it all! We had a relaxing week in august including the dog - the accommodation was of the highest standard and had every utensil you could have needed. The bedrooms were cosy with plenty of storage, lovely bathroom and a great open plan kitchen/lounge. It was just a 15minute walk from the beach and the King William pub 2 mins away, does a fab steak! Although on the West coast, most visitor attractions were within easy driving.

The cottage was spotlessly clean and very welcoming. The garden was pleasant and secure for the dogs.

The property was comfortable and well equipped. The description was exact, and we were not disappointed in any way. The beach is within walking distance. Windermere and Coniston are within an easy drive, and we were also able to explore the west coast of the Lake District. The local pub, only minutes away, serves excellent food.

Raceside Cottage is absolutely delightful. Homely, comfortable and gorgeous! Little things like a DVD collection and local tourist attraction leaflets made the experience 10/10.

Race side cottage was lovely and it had absolutely everything you could possibly need. Beds were fantastically comfy a real home from home. Lovely walks for our 2 dogs and lots of nice towns and villages to visit and explore. Extra nice touch were the 6 delicious cupcakes the owner had made for our arrival and 6 fresh eggs and milk in the fridge, all in all highly recommend this accommodation.

Raceside Cottage was perfect. It had everything we were looking for. Everything we needed was close at hand. Thank you for a very comfortable stay.

The cottage was amazing with every home comfort you could ask for. The original features of the house merged with the gorgeous modern design and gave a fantastic finish to this beautiful cottage. Location was remote and relaxing and just perfect. The owners made us feel so welcome, even leaving ussome home made cakes to enjoy after our long journey. Such a great holiday!!

The owners made us feel so welcome. The cottage was amazingly comfortable, cosy and furnished so tastefully. The quiet and isolation was ideal but within driving distance of lovely country towns.

Spacious, warm and comfortable the owners have provided a very hospitable cottage. Kind and generous provision of cake and fresh eggs on arrival; lovely touch.

the cottage was clean and the living area / kitchen was well equipt. the bedroom and the bathrooms were functional but lacking in luxury. its at least a 30 minute drive to most places - whether that be a town, a decent hill or a tourist attraction.

Good place to stay when visiting c Cumbria and the Lakes

Very comfortable and relaxing barn, owners couldn't have been more helpful. Cakes and bread much appreciated after a long drive and more importantly dog friendly!

Owners very helpful about walks in the local area. On arrival we found home-baked bread and cake. The surrounding area was super for walking dogs and the beach was particularly beautiful.

The Cottage was ideal, it was clean and comfortable. The owners were friendly and very helpful.

A wonderful cottage, very well equipped. The owner made a cake and bread for us and there were eggs and milk in the fridge which was a really nice touch. An amazing beach and overall a very good holiday.

Everything was faultless - the property, the surroundings and the owners. One of the best and relaxed holidays we have had.

The owner was really friendly and I was amazed how close it was to the beach.

Pictures don't do this cottage justice! Lovely, cosy and near a beach!

A very warm welcome and a lovely, quiet location.

The cottage had everything! Lovely decor and close to the beach. A lovely garden and the property was also dog friendly. Having home-made bread, buns, free range eggs and milk available on arrival was fantastic and very thoughtful - there was tea, coffee and sugar too. The washing machine and clothes line was very handy, and the beds were very comfy too.

Arrived and welcomed by the owner, Freshly baked Cakes on arrival, photos dont do this property justice, its immaculate. short walk to beach, easy access, Try the King George Pub for Lovely Food serving 1.5kg Steaks and great food drop into the lakes everything you need for that relaxed break