Chapel Hill
Description
Chapel Hill is a glorious three-storey retreat set within six acres of outstanding countryside in Catlowdy, Cumbria. Ideal for large families and groups of friends, this pet-friendly haven boasts an indoor swimming pool, two gyms, and a bar, all perfectly positioned near the Scottish border and Northumberland National Park. A private gated entrance and sweeping driveway welcome you into a world of space and serenity.
The approach reveals manicured lawns and a peaceful patio, where garden furniture invites you to pause and soak in the tranquil surroundings. Inside, a spacious hallway sets the tone—bright, inviting and thoughtfully arranged. Guests enter through a coat room before ascending the stone stairs to the first floor, where a well-equipped kitchen/diner with three ovens and a generous fridge/freezer makes group catering effortless. The adjacent dining room is a refined space to gather, with a large window overlooking the garden and stylish lighting casting a warm glow over evening meals. The first sitting room offers a relaxed hub for conversation and connection, while the bar across the hall adds a touch of indulgence, with its vaulted ceiling, blue décor, stools and armchairs creating a stylish and sociable setting. For those seeking movement or mindfulness, the ground-floor gym in the garage and the first-floor gym with sunbed provide options, while the indoor pool promises hours of fun and relaxation.
A spiral staircase leads to the second floor, where a study and mezzanine music room offer quiet corners for reading, working or creative play. The second sitting room is a plush retreat, featuring a large mounted Smart TV and a deep corner sofa perfect for film nights or lazy afternoons. When it’s time to unwind, six double bedrooms await, each bathed in natural light and uniquely furnished to offer a restful and stylish escape. Four of the bedrooms feature en-suite shower rooms, adding privacy and comfort. The remaining two share access to a sleek family bathroom with a deep bath—ideal for long evening soaks—and a separate shower room, perfect for refreshing starts to the day. A first-floor cloakroom adds further convenience.
Outside, the enclosed garden is a paradise for pets and children, with space to roam and explore. Bridges cross gentle streams, paddocks stretch into the distance, and horse stables add a touch of rural charm. Direct access from the utility room makes outdoor living seamless, while the patio is perfect for alfresco dining or morning coffee.
A well-stocked shop and welcoming pub are just a short drive away, making essentials and evening meals easy to come by.
For adventures further afield, Hadrian’s Wall offers ancient Roman ruins, panoramic views from Walltown Crags and the engaging Roman Army Museum. Carlisle invites exploration with its imposing castle, medieval cathedral and the Tullie House Museum. Or cross into Gretna Green, famed for its romantic legacy, boutique shops and charming cafés.
Chapel Hill is a stunning and stylish base for discovering the beauty and heritage of Cumbria and beyond.
Your dates
Everything you'll need
- Wifi
- Baby Friendly
- Dishwasher
- Garden / Patio
- Pet Friendly
- Wifi
- Baby Friendly
- Dishwasher
- Garden / Patio
- Pet Friendly
- Smoke Free
- Near Walks
- Washing Machine
What guests are saying
The house is a gorgeous house and the swimming oool is brilliant which is what we booked for.
Although the filter or something needs attention as by day 7 the water was cloudy and unusable. This could be a 5 star property with some attention. There are a number of damaged items such as shelves, door handles and although there are lots of high end branded kitchen accessories a number of them either don’t work or are are unclean (such as mouldy ice machine, broken wine fridge. Whilst the house was cleaner than we anticipated after reading some reviews we still had to brush up the floors in a number of rooms as the precious guests hair remained- so it had clearly had a quick clean not a particularly good one. The house is massive and great for a group but obviously the owners are renting it out to make some money when their really just want to sell up. For the price we paid I’d expect it to be better maintained and a higher level of cleaning. Also please note there are no curtains in one of the small double- we took our own blackout blind and the beds are extremely soft which was a struggle for us as two of the guests have bad backs. We still had a great time but definitely felt we over paid.
We stayed at Chapel Hill from 27 June to 4 July and overall had a wonderful holiday.
The house itself is beautiful, spacious, comfortable and set in a fantastic location. It was exactly what we were looking for and, when everything was working as intended, it was a great place to spend a family break. The swimming pool in particular was loved by our family group. Our stay had some challenges. On arrival there was no electricity to the power sockets on first floor. During the first day we experienced issues with flooding and also sewage backing up through 2 of the showers. Also later in our stay the entrance gate and pillar became unstable and fell over, resulting in a family member being hit. The power and sewage issues were sorted very quickly thankfully. The gate and pillar collapse was significant, and the owners assured me that a builder would rectify this. However, what really stood out was the response from the owners, David and Paula. Their communication throughout was exceptional. They were genuinely concerned, responded quickly to every issue raised, and did everything they reasonably could to resolve problems as they arose. It was clear that they cared about both the property and our experience as guests. As a lovely gesture, they even sent flowers following our stay to apologise for the difficulties we encountered, which was greatly appreciated and speaks volumes about the kind of hosts they are. While the issues we experienced cannot be ignored, I believe they were largely unfortunate and unexpected rather than reflective of the owners' commitment to their guests. David and Paula were responsive and supportive throughout, and their customer service was outstanding. With these issues addressed, Chapel Hill has the potential to be an excellent holiday property.
Chapel Hill was spacious and well-equipped, highlights including the kitchen (easily able to cook large meals for 10+ people), the pool (great size & temperature) and the gym (not pictured, but was a really pleasant surprise).
The cleanliness mentioned in previous reviews has seemingly improved, we found everything to be at a good standard where we could settle straight away. The only letdown being a few appliances, such as mould in the water tank of the coffee machine, but this is easily solved. Bedrooms were a mixed bag, as the ad describes 5 en-suite bathrooms, where there are only 4. This would have been fine, if not for the shared bathroom (pictured 57) not having a showerhead. For those with young children this may not be an issue, but for a group of adults, people were politely knocking on doors to borrow en-suites all week! Beds were all comfy, the only other note is that some bedrooms had either no blinds, or very thin blinds, leading to some early starts. Overall, we had a great time at Chapel Hill, even when the weather wasn't the best, there was enough inside the house to keep us occupied. With some attention to detail on a small number of changes this could be an extremely luxurious property.
Good to know
House Rules
Good housekeeping bond
This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £1,000
Smoking
Not permitted
Stay Information
Check-in / Check-out
16:00 / 10:00
Property ref
1190457
Parking
Private Driveway
Guest & Pet Policy
Pets
Allowed
Children
Not accepted