Guests say
The Hayloft in Ambleside is praised for its cosy, homely feel, comfortable beds, and excellent location, making it a great base for exploring the Lake District. Guests appreciate the property's character, views, and the well-equipped kitchen. Some concerns were raised about maintenance issues, such as the shower pressure and heating system. The presence of jackdaws and cleanliness were mentioned as occasional drawbacks.
The property generally receives positive remarks for cleanliness, with several guests finding it clean and well-kept. However, a few guests noted that it could benefit from a deeper clean, particularly around the edges and after previous guests. The inconsistency in cleanliness feedback leads to a slightly above average score.
The location is highly praised for its proximity to Ambleside and the Lake District, offering beautiful views and convenient access to local attractions. The peaceful setting away from the town centre is appreciated, although some guests noted the nearby road can be busy. Overall, the location is considered excellent.
Guests find the beds comfortable and the cottage cosy, contributing to a pleasant stay. However, some guests mentioned the property felt cramped for larger parties and the noise from jackdaws and nearby traffic affected their comfort. The property is generally seen as a comfortable retreat with minor areas for improvement.
The facilities, including a well-equipped kitchen and comfortable lounge, are appreciated by guests. Criticisms focus on the shower's water pressure, heating system, and the need for better maintenance. While the kitchen and bathroom have been updated, the issues with some amenities affect the overall experience.
There is insufficient information to assess the level of thoughtfulness in terms of gifts or extra touches provided by the hosts. No reviews mention gifts or special attention to detail that would indicate thoughtfulness, therefore this category cannot be scored.
About this property
Originally an early, eighteenth-century hayloft, this quaint first-floor cottage apartment is situated in Clappersgate, a hamlet between Ambleside and Hawkshead. You will enjoy visits to these two lovely, traditional Lakeland towns. You can also take a five-minute drive to the picturesque village of Elter-water at the head of the dramatic Langdale Valley or to the charming Chapelstile at the foot of the Langdale Fells. You will be overawed by the amazing landscape.
Park your car in your private space, enter your cottage and hang up your outdoor wear in the large heated porch, perfect for drying wet coats. Climb up the carpeted stairs and walk into your inviting L-shaped, open-plan living area with lovely views towards Lake Windermere. Browse the se-lection of books available on the large built-in bookcase, then step into your stylish fitted kitchen and admire the pretty garden views, before settling down at your circular dining table to enjoy a bite to eat.
Your bedrooms feature delightful, exposed beams that emphasise the Hayloft’s traditional charm. Relax in your comfortable, cosy furnishings and enjoy a good night’s sleep. You will find your mod-ern bathroom is light and welcoming.
In the morning, head out onto your patio and soak up the fresh Lakeland air, or take just a few steps across the road to your attractive shared riverside garden. Why not bring a picnic or book and enjoy the quiet relaxation of this unique space or launch your canoe on the lovely river which will take you to Lake Windermere’s many inlets, wooded islands and small bays? If you prefer to spend a day on the fells you will have a wide choice of scenic trails to follow, including a footpath to Todd Cragg and Loughrigg only one hundred yards from your front door.
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
First-floor apartment.
Two bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x single.
Bathroom with shower, basin and WC.
Open-plan living spacewith kitchen, dining area and sitting area.
Electric storage heaters, electric fire.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview/Freesat, Wi-Fi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Private parking space for one car.
Patio with outdoor seating area and use of shared gardens.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking.
No cot or highchair available at this property.
Nearby points of interest
- Lake Windermere
- Wastwater Lake
- Wastwater Alpaca Trekking
Reviews (38)
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Susan
The Hayloft was very comfortable and warm and had everything we needed. The furniture was comfortable as were the beds (although there isnât a lot of space around the beds). The kitchen had everything we needed. Ambleside was a short 10-15 minute walk and has lots to offer. One small point, the details said it slept 3 but there was a double bed and 2 singles.
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Nicola
Comfortable, homely, a great location and we especially appreciated the range of books on the Lake District. Took us a while to work out the storage heater settings, but very efficient once we had! Hope to be back another time.
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Andrew
Sadly our stay at the Hayloft was not amazing, however. On arrival there were a few issues that felt petty but were annoying and could easily be fixed with some thought. - No hot water. We had to read through the masses of paperwork to find out how to turn this on and then wait an hour. Given the really late check-in time of 4pm, I assumed cleaners would have been busy cleaning up to this time. Perhaps get them to heat a tank before people arrive? - There were no toiletries at all in the bathroom or even any soap. - No washing up liquid, let alone milk or bread which some places are kind enough to leave. - The frying pan wouldn't work on the induction hob because it was beaten out of shape previously. So cooking a stir fry was out of the question (my choice of dinner the first night). - No tea or coffee or kitchen basics (like vegetable oil) - we had to go out and buy all of this. Even a room in a B&B would have this? The Hayloft itself was very small and did feel like a converted loft. There were 2 of us, and it felt cramped - but you could have had 4 people staying there - that would have been a real squeeze. The bathroom was nicely redecorated (quite recently I'd imagine) however, the shower was awful. Even though it's quite new, there was so little water pressure a proper shower was impossible. The beds were comfortable and the sheets and towels were lovely. Overall though, not amazing. Sorry.