Sustonica, the first global sustainability standard for holiday lets.
Our aim is to create lasting holiday memories and we intend to do so both responsibly and sustainably.
To deliver on this we've set out a number of environmental and social pledges which help to focus our efforts;
you can read more about them in our Impact Report.
This is why we've partnered with Sustonica, the first global certification for holiday lets,
to support our owners to be more sustainable.
The Sustonica certification focuses on four key areas: energy conservation, water conservation,
waste reduction and promoting inclusiveness. They are on a mission to become the most widely
recognised sustainability standard for holiday rentals and a catalyst to reduce emissions of holiday
lets and influence guests to reduce their own household consumption too.
Properties that display the Sustonica badge have successfully passed the criteria,
which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards,
and their owner has made a commitment to look after our planet as well as you.
"Booked a last minute trip with friends and our little boy, the welcome basket on arrival was lovely, my little boy loved the sweets thank you, it's in a great location accessible to Carlisle and the Caledonia Designer Outlet, The Hollies was so quiet and peaceful, the sauna and hot tub were a great addition to a perfect weekend break away."
Thank you for staying with us. We are glad you enjoyed your break.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Lorraine5.0★Jan 2025
"Had a lovely, quiet, relaxing week at The Hollies."
Everything you could need for a perfect stay.
The hot tub and sauna were a great addition and the welcome hamper was enjoyed by all.
Thank you for taking time to give us a review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Amanda4.7★Jan 2025
"Fantastic, clean and well equipped place to stay."
Lots of thoughtful extras such as umbrellas
Thank you for staying with us. Shame you needed to use the umbrellas!
We hope you will want to stay with us again, and that you will experience better weather conditions.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Emma5.0★Nov 2024
"I have to start this review by admitting The Hollies wasn't our first choice of holiday home."
Our original was flooded and Sykes cancelled our booking in the summer.
However, I feel that cancellation was very much in our favour. Having looked at alternatives with the help of Sykes, we changed upon The Hollies. What a great place. The listing really doesn't do it justice.
Rachael had contacted us prior to travel and gave very precise travel instructions, which were a boon. We were also asked about one of the goodies in the welcome pack, which was VERY welcome.
The hot tub and sauna were put to good use, and everything about The Hollies has been very well thought out. The owners should be proud of what they have here.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. Although it must have been a disappointment not to visit your initial location, we are so pleased that we were able to accommodate you, and that you had an enjoyable stay with us.
We would love to welcome you back in the future.
Property Owner
Reviewed by David5.0★Nov 2024
"Beautiful cottage , clean comfortable with a bonus of having a hot tub and sauna decorated lovely and great comfortable beds ."
We loved our stay at The Hollies everything you need the hosts have done a great job and thought of everything.
Thank you so much for your review. We are pleased you had a great stay with us and hope to welcome you back in the future.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Claire5.0★Oct 2024
"The house was lovely with great facilities."
Hot tub and sauna were amazing. Everything super clean. Showers were fabulous, kitchen equipment to a high standard. Absolutely loved our week there. Communication with the owners was quick. Zero complaints, only praise for this lovely place. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your review. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and would love to welcome you back if you wanted to holiday in Cumbria again!
Property Owner
Reviewed by Helen5.0★Oct 2024
"Hosts were very helpful even before arrival, sent good directions for travel and personal contact details."
Property has all the info you need, including copies of instructions for all appliances. Rachel emailed before arrival with links to supermarkets etc as Thurstonfield itself has no shops. Lovely quiet area only 15 min drive from Carlisle, but you would need a car to visit as no local bus. Home was fantastic, hot tub and sauna were easy to use and very relaxing. Comfy beds and couches, wi Fi worked well and there was a booster in bedroom. We did get phone reception in front room! Lots to do in area and a good base for travel to the lakes and Cumbria.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed and informative review. We are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay. Always happy to welcome you back!
Property Owner
Reviewed by Anne5.0★Oct 2024
"Great house in a great location for visiting the Lakes and coast."
We had a very comfortable stay, the house is well equipped yet keeps a cottagey feel. The hot tub is an added bonus as is the extended garden. Could not fault a thing. Friendly hosts. We felt very welcome.
Thank you for your lovely review.
We would love to welcome you back.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Avril5.0★Oct 2024
"What a wonderful house in a lovely quiet area."
The sauna and hot tub are a lovely added extra which we enjoyed during our stay. The beds are so comfy too. The hostess, Rachael was very quick in getting back to us and also helpful with recommendations for dog walking. I would definitely love to come back hopefully next year.
Thank you so much for your kind words Karen. We are delighted you had such a comfortable stay and were very happy to help research for off the lead dog friendly locations.
We’d love to welcome you back.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Karen5.0★Sep 2024
"We had an absolutely wonderful week at the hollies."
The house is beautiful. Thank you so much to our host for the level of comfort and cleanliness and the little touches such as the welcome basket (including doggy treats for our pup), cot set up for our baby, stroller left for us which saved us space in the car and was ideal for ventures out. The bed in master room was unbelievably comfortable and cosy. I don’t doubt that we will return for another break in the future. My 6 year old absolutely adored the hot tub. Emailed Rachael with a query during our stay and very quick & friendly reply. 10/10. Thank you.
Thank you Sarah for that lovely review. We are so pleased you all enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Sarah Jane5.0★Sep 2024
"Lovely property."
Great facilities and nearby for either Scotland or the Lake District.
Reviewed by Adam4.7★Jul 2024
"Really nice to find somewhere so clean."
We stay in a lot of cottages and I'm often left feeling a bit disappointed with them. Yours is fabulous. Only 1 thing I would want, a bit more kitchen equipment. Limited serving bowls and no scales for baking, I usually bring my own but forgot.
Thank you for your feedback and constructive comments Verity - extremely helpful for us to provide these for future guests.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Verity5.0★Jul 2024
"Absolutely amazing week at this beautiful house!"
The house was so clean and had thought of absolutely everything, we wasn't short of anything! The owners could not do enough to help us, they were lovely! Will 100% be coming back for more breaks away! Thankyou again xxx
Thank you Ashleigh for such a positive review. We are pleased you had such a great stay and always enjoy welcoming guests back. Hope to see you soon!
Property Owner
Reviewed by Ashleigh5.0★Apr 2024
"Once again we had a fabulous time at The Hollies."
Location great, facilities great, hosts great, hot tub & sauna great, this is definitely one of the best cottages we have stayed in and we have stayed in quite a few ! Thanks again and I think we’ll be back yet again !
Reviewed by Richard5.0★Mar 2024
"Absolutely lovely stay at The Hollies this weekend, honestly don't have a bad word to say about anything."
Located in a peaceful village, the house itself is gorgeous and all the facilities are well maintained. The little welcome pack was such a thoughtful detail and even had treats for the dogs! I think we will be back again!
We really appreciate your positive feedback and would love to welcome you back to The Hollies.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Hannah5.0★Feb 2024
"Front door was a major problem as it was an absolute nightmare to close, lovely house but a few things like this make a massive difference."
Thank you for your feedback. Your visit was during a period of extremely wet weather which may have contributed to the front door sticking. It has not been reported as an issue before but now you have brought this to our attention we will do our best to rectify the issue for future guests.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Sandra4.1★Feb 2024
"This was a return visit to The Hollies."
We were so impressed first time and the second didn’t disappoint. The location is great for Carlisle and the surrounding countryside. The hosts couldn’t be better, the three bathrooms are a luxury and for us the hot tub and sauna are such a fabulous and unique feature we made use of every day. Thank you and we will be back !
It was so good to welcome your party back Richard, and we are pleased you enjoyed staying as much as the first visit.
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Richard5.0★Feb 2024
"Lovely cosy, clean and comfortable."
Would definitely recommend this property.
Reviewed by Tania5.0★Jan 2024
"Great cottage with great facilities."
Would recommend ☺️
Reviewed by Amy5.0★Dec 2023
"Gem of a find in Cumbria!"
We were looking for a lovely place to stay just on the outskirts of Carlisle to visit family before Christmas. The Hollies was a perfect place to stay. Everything was catered for and it was beautifully appointed. Would totally recommend this place.
So glad you found us Rachel.
It was a pleasure to host you and we hope you’ll stay again when you next need to visit Cumbria.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Rachel5.0★Dec 2023
"Amazing"
Thank you so much Gemma. We are really glad you and your party enjoyed your stay at The Hollies.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Gemma5.0★Dec 2023
"The Hollies was the perfect venue for a family celebration."
The property was very welcoming and provided everything we needed. In the cold damp weather the hot tub and the sauna were a big added bonus. This is definitely 5 star accommodation in a lovely peaceful setting.
Many thanks for taking the time to give us a review. We are so pleased the poor weather did not stop you enjoying your special family celebration, and we were so pleased you chose to celebrate at The Hollies.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Doreen5.0★Dec 2023
"We returned yesterday from three days at The Hollies with our three children and dog!"
I have to start by saying how accommodating our hosts were from the very start ! Every single thing you can imagine you might want is catered for! We had wine, biscuits, treats, dog biscuits, poo bags, fresh coffee, milk and kids sweets all waiting for us! The accommodation is stunning and little touches like light sensors on the steps at the key locks are really appreciated. The hot tub is brilliant, the cottage cosy and the bedrooms luxurious. The three Bathroom/ shower rooms make this just brilliant for larger families. We were very happy with our accommodation and it's easy out to local sites and shops. We went off for a run one morning and quiet country lanes. I am reminded they also provide a few hi vis tops in case you might be worried about traffic. Snuggling in to the lounge at the end of the day was lovely and then getting into the comfortable beds was a delight. Fluffy white towels and all the bathroom trimmings are provided. We couldn't ask for more! Thanks Paul and Rachael!
Thank you Anna for such a glowing review! It was a pleasure to have your family stay with us.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Anna5.0★Oct 2023
"Fabulous property and location."
The sauna and hot tub really made our stay as the weather wasn’t very good most days. The beds were very comfortable and having three really well equipped bathrooms with one of them downstairs next to the sauna was very convenient.
Thank you for such a positive review.
We are pleased we were able to accommodate your group and that you enjoyed your stay, in spite of the weather!
Property Owner
Three bedrooms: 1 x super-king-size (zip/link can be a twin on request, with trundle bed on request,1 x double with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x ground-floor double
Bathroom with roll-top bath, hand-held shower, basin and WC
Ground-floor wet room with walk-in shower, basin, WC
Kitchen
Dining room
Sitting room with electric flame-effect stove
Sauna
Oil central heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, slimline dishwasher
TV, WiFi
Hair dryer and USB charging facilities in each bedroom
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot and highchair available
Ample off-road parking at the rear of the property
Front lawned garden with table and chairs
Rear patio with hot tub and seating
Three well-behaved dogs welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 4.7 miles, pub 1.1 miles
Note: The woodburning stoves are for aesthetics only and not to be used
Note: There are two steps down into the en-suite shower room on the first floor
The property
Carlisle 6.8 miles.
A Grade II listed house situated in the village of Thurstonfield near Carlisle.
Wonderfully presented with plenty of character throughout, The Hollies offers a heart-warming retreat for groups of six.
After a day of exploring, kick off walking gear and head to the lounge, boasting the original cast iron feature fireplace and exposed beams, this is a lovely spot to settle down for the evening.
Move through to the kitchen, equipped with all the essentials for a week away, whilst the dining room is perfect for hosting mealtimes with your loved ones.
On the ground floor there is a double and accompanying bathroom, ideal for those with limited mobility, whilst upstairs plays host to a double with en-suite shower room and a handy zip/link super-king-size with a extra trundle for a more flexible sleeping arrangement.
Start the morning freshening up in the bathroom before preparing a coffee and relaxing in the garden.
After an adventurous day out, be sure to unwind in the hot tub, followed by a few minutes in the sauna before settling down.
When you are ready to do some exploring, hop in the car and head into the historic city of Carlisle, where you can see many attractions home to the 15th-century Carlisle Cathedral and the historic Carlisle Castle; the outskirts of the city play host to Carlisle Racecourse and Cumberland Bird of Prey Centre, where even more fun can be had!
You are also in easy reach of the beautiful Solway Coast AONB, where the dramatic sand dunes play host to some of the most important habitats in Europe, with a number of viewpoints where oystercatchers, curlew, golden and grey plover, lapwing and knot can be spotted.
Further afield, the delights of the Lake District National Park await, including Keswick, Derwentwater and the Bowness-on-Windermere.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £350.
View on map
About the location
CARLISLE
Gretna Green 13.1 miles; Penrith 19.9 miles; Dumfries 36.2 miles
Carlisle is set in the county of Cumbria, situated just 10 miles south of the Scottish Borders and is nicknamed the Border City. During Roman times the town was established to serve the forts for Hadrian's Wall, which runs east from the city across the country to Wallsend on the east coast and today is recognised as a World Heritage Site. During the Middle Ages, due to its proximity to the Kingdom of Scotland, Carlisle became an important military stronghold and Carlisle Castle, still relatively intact, was built in 1092 by William Rufus, after once serving as a prison for Mary, Queen of Scots. The castle now houses the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and the Border Regiment Museum. In the early 12th century Henry I allowed the foundation of a priory in Carlisle and the town gained the status of a diocese in 1122, resulting in the priory becoming Carlisle Cathedral. The Settle to Carlisle railway runs across some of the most breathtaking scenery to the popular Yorkshire town and Carlisle Racecourse has a packed fixture list including Ladies’ Day and evening fixtures. Within driving distance is the Victorian seaside town of Silloth and just over the border is Gretna Green, where you'll find the Gretna Gateway Shopping Centre and Anvil Hall, the famous wedding venue.
