Villas In The Lake District

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Petula - Verified booking

  This is an absolutely fabulous location.

  However, we were very disappointed with the cottage itself. After looking back on the website listing, we now realise that the photographs taken inside were taken with every light being on downstairs. On arrival, we walked into a dark and dingy room with no natural light save that from the one small window. This meant that lights had to constantly be on and althougn the weather was gloriously warm outside, the cottage itself was quite cold. This in turn meant that we needed to put some heating on. Working the central heating was no minor feat and the electric fire had a mind of its own. Putting one vent on low was giving some heat off but trying to turn it up and putting two vents on, switched the whole thing off. We couldn't get the cooker hood to work therefore, there was no ventilation or direct light over the cooker therefore, door and window needed to be open to get rid of the steam from cooking. Upstairs, both in the bathroom and the second bedroom, the skylight was difficult to reach, even with the window pole, and the double bed dipped on the right hand side, as did the headboard. It was only on the morning of departure we realised that the castor was broken and there was no washer on the the slat holding the headboard in place. Going outside, the lack of privacy was quite intrusive. Gilpin View front door and Bobbin Mill front door are very close together with a joint path leading to both. Outside of Bobbin Mill cottage, there is a wooden table and bench which, quite rightly, their guests can enjoy sitting on. However, this afforded no privacy when coming out of Gilpin View and was quite uncomfortable. I would suspect that those staying at Bobbin Mill would also feel the same way. Gilpin View's seating area was quite unkempt and not very pleasant to relax in, and obviously hadn't been tended to for some time e.g. weeds, overgrown and generally messy and untidy. As one time owners and managers of a holidy let further up into the Gyhll, we were looking forward to revisiting this picturesque hamlet, sadly, on this occasion, Gilpin View dulled what we had hoped, would have been and enjoyable week.

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• Helen - Verified booking

  This cottage is described as dog friendly, which is why we booked it.

  We were told right from the start that dogs were NOT allowed on the beds, or indeed any of the furniture, and were not to be left alone in the property. These are usual requirements, and perfectly reasonable, and we would do this anyway, without being told to. What we were NOT TOLD until we arrived there and found the notice on the table, is that dogs must be confined to the "ground floor". At first glance, this doesn`t seem unreasonable, however in practice, due to the layout, it means that we had to shut our dog in the kitchen at all times, and only the kitchen. If we wanted to relax in the lounge, watch TV, have a drink in a comfortable chair instead of a hard kitchen chair, we couldn`t have our dog with us.A " dog friendly" property where the dog can`t be in the lounge?We paid to hire the whole property, but in practice, could not use the lounge area, or have the enjoyment of it.This put something of a damper on our holiday.We are not happy, and feel deceived. We realise that this is the owners choice, it is his property, and it may suit some people, who wouldn`t mind. However, prospective hirers should be told the terms on the write up, so that they know what to expect, and can make an informed choice. We had these terms, previously not mentioned, forced on us on arrival. We holiday with our dog because we want her with us. Had we known from the start that she had to stay shut in the kitchen, and not join us in the evenings, we would never have booked this particular property.

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• Sarah - Verified booking

  The owners are clearly doing what they can with the layout of this property and we acknowledge that some things can’t be improved due to the sloped ceilings etc.

  The positives: Overall very clean, quirky accommodation with ample goods such as toilet rolls, cloths, washing up liquid, hand wash etc. Great location. Good instructions and no issues getting into the property. Negatives: We couldn’t find anywhere to park to unload on arrival late at night. This was up and down all week, sometimes it was easy to park outside and other times we were way up the road. Needing to kneel in the bath for a shower. We accept that this is the only likely option in this property. The crockery and glasses looked like they’d been hand washed by the previous guests and put away. Some weren’t clean. We ended up leaving a day early as the beds were crippling us. We like a firm mattress but these were beyond a joke. I ended the holiday exhausted with a sore back, hips and shoulder. My partner really struggled with his back after the first night but by day 3 was in agony with his shoulder to the point he couldn’t lift his arm or drive by the end of the week, which has righted itself since we got home. We tried putting blankets under the sheet for him which didn’t do much, but a padded mattress topper may have resolved this. It really took the shine off our trip. The house feels like a compromise due to the parking and shower. We’d have accepted this for the price if the beds were comfortable but sadly it’s unlikely that we will return here again.

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• Tracey - Verified booking

  On arrival there wasn’t even a pint of milk for a coffee.

  When we went upstairs on the first corner step it threw you off balance and into the corner- we think the step is broken. The bed nearest the window was like sleeping in a crisp packet because of the mattress protector it crackled every time you moved and there’s black mould and torn paper underneath the window in the bedroom. Polystyrene tiles on the ceiling in the downstairs loo and boiler room, the door to the boiler room would not close so this could not contain a fire. There’s no warning sign in place to for the boiler room because as you go through you step up and my husband who is only 5’7” banged his head with some force the first time he went through. The extractor in the bathroom didn’t work and only one light worked in there. There were 6 empty air fresheners doted around the property 4 of which were placed like ornaments on the shelving in the dining area. We know it’s an old property but it could be beautiful and there’s so much wasted space, it’s all worn and very dated. We love the area and as you are aware normally love where we stay but we will be much more careful picking our next accommodation. We are aware that we could have contacted the Keswick office regarding these issues but we did not want to wait in for someone to come and we did not want a stranger in while we were out. The property should have been checked thoroughly before we arrived.

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• Jayne - Verified booking

  Firstly may I say an idyllic peaceful place, ideal for a well earned rest away from the busy life, birds singing and the noise of that beautiful running water, lovely and thank you.

  Directions for us worked well and great for access to other parts of the Lake District and surrounding places of interest for us. Key collection great and easy to find. Just a couple of suggestions if I may, entering the property we thought the patio sitting area could of been tidied up (shrubs cut back, weeds taken out and table and chairs maybe painted) first impression a little untidy but easily sorted. Inside just again a little TLC and attention to detail required, pictures very faded and not all relating to the area, I think I would take them down and maybe have 1/2 new ones. Artificial flowers replace, fresh plant or flowers. Bedrooms again little touches would make all the difference, remove old pictures, attention to details when finishing off the decor fill in gaps, emulsion over marked areas on walls and either paint gloss or make sure it's washed down thoroughly removing brown stains of bathroom door, and I do hope this is used as constructive feedback in a positive manner as I have wrote it. Lastly we have and would certainly recommend this holiday cottage as a peaceful, relaxing central base for your stay that will help you unwind with very pleasing surroundings, we will go back again. thank you Jayne

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