10/10 Excellent
Marilla H.
10 April 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful way to get away from it all.
A lovely, quirky, well cared for, building with stunning views. Very comfortable with the lovely open fire. We did a lot of cooking on the Aga, which keeps the kitchen warm and is great for drying clothes and towels as well. I loved the walk-in pantry with fridge/freezer, although it means you need to go to another room for your food it keeps it all cool, and there is lots of space on the slate shelving. There are all the utensils you would need. The beds are comfortable and there is ample storage. We had some initial problems with the central heating, but the management team were very helpful and sorted it out quickly.
The area is popular with walkers going to Stanley Gill Falls and Devoke Water, there is a footpath going past the properties.
When they say it is remote they are not kidding! I was glad we had a fairly powerful car that isn't too low to the ground. There are very steep, narrow roads and standing water in places after heavy rain. Driving has to be slow and careful, meeting a vehicle on the brow of a hill with no room to pass was a regular occurrence. We were there in March, in the tourist season it would be even worse. I would definitely not want to venture out at night, the road to Eskdale has unprotected sides and steep drops in places. The half-mile track to the cottage is very rough with potholes and a small bridge over a stream with no sides. But did I mention the views! They are breathtaking, a camera cannot capture them, it is only a tiny window.
Local attractions are numerous. We loved the little train from Ravenglass and the birds of prey at Muncaster Castle. Scafell Pike was a reasonable drive, but the road gets very crowded in the summer we were told. An interesting walk up (I didn't get past the waterfall that you need to cross).
Note: shopping is very limited, Eskdale shop is very small, and though only 4 miles away, it takes at least 15 minutes even if the roads aren't too busy. There are a couple of larger stores a bit further away, but no supermarkets within easy reach.
Marilla H.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023