Guests say
Highfold is a well-loved cottage in Ambleside, praised for its comfort, homely touches, and excellent location. Guests appreciate the well-equipped kitchen, cosy living spaces, and the convenience of private parking. While some minor maintenance issues are noted, the overall sentiment is positive with many guests expressing a desire to return.
The majority of guests found Highfold to be clean and welcoming. There was an isolated incident of subpar cleanliness regarding outdoor areas and a mention of litter, but this seems to be an exception rather than the rule.
The location is highly praised for its proximity to both Ambleside town and Lake Windermere, with many guests appreciating the ability to walk to local attractions. The quietness of the area despite being near the main road is also noted positively.
Guests consistently mention the comfort of the cottage, with compliments on the cosy furnishings and the peaceful garden. The new bed received specific praise for comfort. However, some guests were disturbed by creaky floorboards, slightly lowering the score.
Facilities are generally well-regarded, especially the well-equipped kitchen. However, there are several mentions of maintenance issues such as a broken bin lid, creaky floorboards, and a non-operational extractor fan, indicating room for improvement.
While guests have mentioned appreciating the homely touches and welcome packs, there is not enough consistent information about gifts to accurately score this category. It should be noted that while such gestures are appreciated, they are not guaranteed.
About this property
Positioned in the Waterhead district of Ambleside, close to Lake Windermere, rests this quaint cottage amid a cluster of character properties known to some of the most historic in Ambleside. Inside, the property has been thoughtfully brought up to date whilst retaining its traditional charm, ideal for families eager to escape to the heart of the countryside. Head up a flight of stairs and pass through double doors to reach the open-plan living area, with exposed beams, two sofas, a Smart TV and a woodburning stove which all combine to create a warming ambiance. The whole space has a light and spacious feel with windows to three sides and pitched ceiling supported by cruck beams. The kitchen has all the necessary appliances to keep your party well fed but retains the country living charm prevalent through the cottage. Move to the lower floor to discover two bedrooms, including the king-size master bedroom which benefits from a contemporary en-suite shower room so you can prepare for the day in privacy, whilst the wonderfully decorated twin is adjacent to the family bathroom. Continuing to impress, outside awaits a walled garden with raised patio which provides a real suntrap on warmer days, perfect for some alfresco dining or a zesty gin and tonic after a day of walking. There are walks from the door to Jenkins Crag and beyond over to Troutbeck – a favourite with many Lakeland visitors. With the lake a gentle five minutes stroll away you can enjoy lake cruises in all seasons or simply sit in the park by the water and admire the views. Head into Ambleside to find a good selection of local shops, pubs, restaurants and cafés as well as the ever popular Zeffirellis and Fellinis cinemas hosting the best films and periodic live streaming of opera and ballet. In search of energetic activities, drive north to Ullswater to take in a choice of sailing and canoeing, or head south to Grizedale Forest, home to cycling and mountain biking trails, orienteering and the Go Ape Zip Trekking Adventure. A real home away from home, consider Highfold for your next Lake District getaway.
Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips and watersports on Lake Windermere itself and numerous shops, restaurants and pubs in the village to suit all tastes. On the lakeside at Waterhead, the parkland offers lovely views down the lake and a short stretch of beach, whilst a walk in the other direction, following Stock Ghyll through woodland, will bring you to the entrancing waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force. Along with the Lake and the great walking on offer, Ambleside is also famous for its annual rushbearing ceremony and the diminutive 17th century “Bridge House” - one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District and now the National Trust Information Centre.
Accommodation
Reverse level accommodation.
Two bedrooms: 1 x lower floor king size bedroom with en-suite walk in shower, basin and WC.
1 x lower floor twin bedroom.
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC.
Upper floor open-plan living area with kitchen, dining and sitting area with wood burning stove
Gas central heating with wood burning stove.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher.
Smart TV with Bluetooth speaker & WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Travel cot and highchair available.
Off road parking for one car.
Garden with raised patio.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking.
Town centre 0.3 miles, Lake 0.5 miles.
Nearby points of interest
- Lake Windermere
- Wastwater Lake
- Wastwater Alpaca Trekking
Reviews (55)
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Linda
Cosy as well as practical, having a parking space in Ambleside is a tremendous asset. Had a problem with a blind which was fixed the same day so that was brilliant serv. The only issue we had was I had a couple of questions before we arrived, but there is no direct way to contact Sykes, phones cut off and messages take a long time to be answered. Would definitely recommend the cottage, but would hesitate to use Sykes again myself because of poor communication beforehand. Oddly, maintenance was sorted straight away so I suspect it would not take much to improve this.
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Scott
(Our son found that the prong from his charging adapter has broken off and he thinks it is in the plug socket by the door in the small bedroom. Upon Google this is not a risk but electricity should be turned off before extracting with pliers. We are really sorry about this.)
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James
Our young family had a fabulous time on our adventures and coming back to the childfeindly, comfortable homely cottage. Very well equiped. Thank you for a lovely stay.