Villas In Ambleside

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Emma - Verified booking

  The house smelt awful when we entered and the smell lingered for a couple of days.

  It was reminiscent of a hospital smell and hard to tell if it was something the cleaner had used prior to our stay (the floors were still wet) but after a few days we discovered the lining of the curtain over the back door was literally covered in mould so that might have contributed to the smell. We knew the patio area was small but it was awful. There was a huge wheelie bin on there and wherever it was placed you would not have been able to sit anywhere without it being right next to you. It was crammed full and the lid was ajar so it smelt. The patio itself was unusable because the chairs had degraded with bits of the seat bottoms dropping off. You simply could not use them. The sofas did appear to be quite new but as per previous feedback we have read they are simply not comfortable but this is nothing to do with how new they are, It is because the seating part is so small. They have no seat depth so you end up perched on them and you are unable to relax. There are signs literally everywhere in the property warning you or advising you about this and that. The one place there were no warning signs was above the doors in the bedrooms. I cut my head open on the frame of the double bedroom first on the left as you come up the stairs. This was because rather than a traditional frame construction, there is a thin wooden frame running inside the door frame that is about 3-4 mm thick. I caught my head on this as I exited the room one night and I am only 5' 8"! I appreciate the bathrooms are new but the sinks are too small and the lighting in the bathroom with the bath is inadequate with no light anywhere near the sink so shaving is an issue. Even in summer (though granted it was not a hot week) we found not being able to open the windows due to secondary glazing prevented being able to get some fresh air in the property was a a big issue. Having said all this, the property was well equipped and actually considerably bigger than we expected. We were a party of 6 and we never felt cramped. It was clean (apart from the mould) and the kitchen was very well equipped. The location for us was perfect. We know Ambleside very well and the cottage is very central and 6 steps from possibly our favourite pub in the world - 'The Golden Rule'. So a mixed bag. We would not return but we did have a good week.

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• Stuart - Verified booking

  Grassholme is a wonderfully decorated and perfectly located property, however it is somewhat lacking in maintenance, cleanliness and basic supplies.

  The positives: - The carpets, sofas and decorations of the cottage is really very modern and homely - the cottage is in a stunning location with a fantastic view over Lake Windermere - it comes with some nice basic food supplies such as freshly ground coffee, tea, biscuits and jam - the kitchen white goods were of a high quality brand which made use of the kitchen very easy. I normally hate electric hobs but the Bosch hob and oven were brilliant! - it’s brilliant that dogs are allowed in such a well decorated property, as it is so nice to be able to have our dog with us! - the Graythwaite estate is wonderful and has plenty of nice walks in the surrounding area The issues: - there were no hand towels provided for the bathroom - various cobwebs and spiders in corners of EVERY room - there was no hand soap in the kitchen - there was no kitchen spray or cloth to clean the worktops after cooking - the curtains were beautiful, however they were poorly attached to the curtain pole with some hooks having come out - the log fire needs kindling as well as large logs and firefighters otherwise it’s pretty difficult to get the large logs to light properly - there were no matches to light the fire, so you need your own - the outdoor furniture definitely needs some TLC, which has been pointed out in a previous review - the “Grassholme Cottage” sign at the front of the property is completely worn and you can’t actually see why it says - various walls need a lick of paint from wear and tear Also, the description of the cottages is incorrect as it is not detached. It is semi detached. Overall it was a lovely stay which we thoroughly enjoyed and didn’t want to leave!

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• Tanya - Verified booking

  The cottage is lovely, especially the views of the lake which we would never tire of.

  However, there were many things that were missing or could be improved upon. E.g. the patio overlooking the lake was stunning but the "seating" was tired and worn and there was only a coffee table and 2 chairs, which for a cottage sleeping 4 people, was not sufficient. Further, there was not a table you could eat a meal at, as a family, which is a shame given the setting. We were very disappointed about this. Other things which would increase the score are a more powerful shower - it was almost a trickle if you wanted it hot; instructions re recycling/rubbish etc; a map of the estate so we knew where the cottage was in relation to the courtyard and swimming pool; the door handle on the doors to the patio was broken, a dressing table in the master bedroom; aswell as personal touches like tissues, toiletries, a better equipped kitchen (more utensils). These things didn't detract from the enjoyment of the holiday and the stunning location of the cottage, but they would have made it better and more comfortable. Given that Skyes have increased the price by 150% for the same dates in 2022, I would say they need to up their game. This lovely cottage is all about the views but there was not means to enjoy them as much as we may have and in our opinion, it is noteworthy £2500 for a week! I would expect luxury for that.

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• Helen - Verified booking

  We have stayed in this particular property for Christmas a number of times.

  In the past we have arrived to a few personal seasonal touches like chocolates, shortbread and a bottle of wine along with a lovely Christmas card. Noe of that this year which we found disappointing as it’s the little things that make the difference. A new sofa in the front room was really uncomfortable and meant we had to sit around the dining table most of time which was not ideal. The location of this property is great, no so much so for those with mobility problems as it’s in a hill and the access to the back door can be difficult due to paving slabs placed on gravel that move around and also the access to the front door is directly into a narrow road. That said we knew this as like I said it’s not our first visit but that comment is more for those who have not stayed there. While there we looked at the lake lovers site to book somewhere for next Christmas and we’re shocked to see this property had gone in in price so much for 2022. While I appreciate that it might bring it in line with other properties of a similar size I feel that most other properties are beautifully refurbished and modern. This property has clearly not been refurbished (apart from the 2 bathrooms) but could do with it if you are to charge similar prices to the more modern ones.

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• Jackie - Verified booking

  This is a very comfortable and spacious cottage with a really well equipped kitchen.

  You could easily cook full meals here. There are also condiments, herbs and spices, and even some tea and coffee sachets. We brought basic washing up kit and a tea towel as instructed by Sykes, but none of it was needed. There are also at least two hairdryers which I had not seen mentioned on the description, so brought along. One of the bulbs in the bedside lamp went, and it was good to have a spare in the cupboard. There are dog bowls, mats for the bowls and even a dog bed. We didn't use any of them as we'd brought our own, but always good to have back up. Dog owners will need to take dogs a few minutes' walk away for early morning/late evening exercise as the "patio" is tiny and there are no grass verges etc in the immediate vicinity. The cottage is really well situated, close to shops, pubs and restaurants in Ambleside. The car park is only 2-3 minutes walk away, and the permit could be used in several car parks. The only slight downside for us was that there are quite a few changes in level in the cottage which were sometimes tricky for my elderly parents to negotiate. However, in general, that adds to the charm of the place, and it certainly wouldn't stop me from booking again (without elders!) or recommending to others.

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