Merlestead

Merlestead is just a wonderful holiday home.

The location is secluded, yet the town of Keswick is just a 5-minute car drive (or 20-30 minutes walk) away. Everything you'd need is there - and views are to die for. Stayed 3/7/26 - 10/7/26 (our second visit, the first being May 2025) and can't wait for our next visit in September next year!

Lovely well designed place, with everything and more that you would need.

Very clean and the owners have an excellent system in place so that it stays that way. Very impressed with everything and the views are about the best in the Lake District. I would stay again without hesitation. Everything was well designed and good quality.

This was our second year at Merlestead.

There is plenty of space for six adults and a dog. Very well equipped and comfortable. We had such a nice time that we’ve booked again for next year.

Merlestead is one of our favourite holiday cottages, we have been visiting Keswick for the last 5 years and always enjoy our stay here.

We are a party of 4 adults + 1 dog and Merlestead offers everything on our ‘must have’ holiday cottage list. It takes us approx 40 mins to walk into Keswick cross country, which is a lovely route and the trails from the back gate are perfect for a quick morning loop before breakfast. Plenty of parking, privacy, it’s quiet and the garden is enclosed for the dog - we’ve booked again for 2027

This property is finished to a very high standard and has everything you need.

The kitchen is huge with lots of space for everyone to be involved in cooking and preparation or if not inclined to cook relax in the sofa area. Plenty of space for everyone to eat around the table too. Loved the log burner in the separate lounge area which also has good views to the hills. Fantastic to walk straight out the back garden onto the fells each morning - lovely short loop walk with fabulous views to work up an appetite for breakfast. We also walked up Lonscale Fell from the cottage. You can easily walk down into Keswick via public footpaths through the fields too. All bathrooms & kitchen appear recently updated. Loved the underfloor heating when it was very frosty outside.

We last stayed at Merlestead in 2011 before all of the renovations and it was lovely to come back and stay again!

The house is cosy and comfortable and has everything you could need. Could sit and watch the wildlife / birds in the garden for hours. Everything was catered for. It’s around a 30 minute walk into Keswick / 5-10 minute drive or short taxi ride. Would definitely stay again. The welcome pack was very thoughtful and appreciated.

Excellent property; kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms are of very high quality and above our expectations.

We did find the settees in the lounge were very saggy and not of the same standard as the rest of the property which let it down. Outside there was plenty of space but just wished the stream was cleared of all the undergrowth so as to make more of this beautiful feature. On the whole an excellent holiday and would we return… absolutely, in a heartbeat.

A beautiful house with all comforts in a splendid setting

Absolutely wonderful property, equipped with everything you might need - a real 'home from home'.

The steep, winding driveway - from the road right up to the property - is a little tricky to identify the first time you approach, because it wends its way round behind, and in front of, 4 OTHER bungalows that share the same driveway. Any VERY low chassis cars might find the steep angle of the drive a challenge, but we had a very long Skoda estate and managed without any problems. The views from the property are gorgeous and its location, a 5-minute drive or a half-hour walk by (mainly) off-road public footpaths from Keswick town centre, means that you can have the feeling of 'getting away from it all' whilst NOT feeling at all 'cut off'. The standard of internal decoration, presentation and accommodation is excellent; no shortage of seating or crockery/cutlery/glasses - and so many lovely 'finishing touches'. Everything was spotlessly clean and 'fresh'. The back garden is heavily sloped and in wet weather, is probably most handy for letting the dog(s) out for a bit of investigation; in sunny times, however, there is a flat patio area with rattan seats and a large table, where guests can sit and soak up the sun in total seclusion; the property is not overlooked at all. We felt we'd really hit the jackpot during our stay here - so much so that we have now booked return visits for 2026 AND 2027 (but vacant slots are hard to come by!)

Very comfortable and pleasant stay.

A delightful home, very comfortable beds and furniture.

We received welcoming and departure messages, that were very appreciated. A very pleasant owner, who dealt with a small plumbing issue quickly and efficiently. A spotless and roomy property that contained everything we needed. My dog loved the garden and the ability to close the gates to ensure he was secure was an added bonus. The local takeaways restaurants delivered to the property which was handy and the Coop in town has everything you need. A fabulous home deserving of 5 stars! We would certainly return if we were in the area again and loved our stay.

Stunning property and equally as stunning views.

Some lovely local walks from the back garden and close to amenities. Would definitely recommend and hope to come back in the future. A brilliant home from home!

Had a very comfortable stay at Merlestead as a group of 4 adults and 2 dogs.

The house is spacious and thoughtfully fitted out, showers were good, heating flexible, kitchen facilities comprehensive, beds comfortable & what views! Absence of internal steps made it ideal for my less able dad. Great to have the garden and footpath straight out the back where there's an easy short loop for waking the dogs every morning. The boot room / laundry was perfect for arriving back after walks and an arduous fell run/scramble up to Skiddaw. We were surprised to not see more wildlife (sadly no squirrels despite the feeder) or birds (feeder at the front?) but there were deer up on the hillside on our daily walks. Location was a good balance of semi - remoteness but in reach of Keswick for provisions. We'd very much like to come back again. It seems a small thing but although a welcome pack is lovely, we'd have preferred provision of more useful items such as cooking oil / coffee pods / sugar as opposed to plastic bottles of water.

Wonderful property, extremely comfortable for 6 adults and 2 dogs.

Very well equipped. Wonderful views and walks from the door. Would definitely stay here again and highly recommend, not sure why it's not 5* rated!

Fantastic week.

Beautiful house, perfect location. Already booked for next year

We had a wonderful stay.

Accommodation was just what we wanted. . Comfortable sofas in both rooms downstairs . Very nice indeed. Bedrooms fab comfy beds. Lovely bathrooms. Fabulous Owner deals with any issues promptly. Nice walk into Keswick. Would definitely return and highly recommend.

Absolutely loved the cottage and its location.

It had everything we needed.

Excellent property great location

We’ve been holidaying in the Lakes twice a year for the last 12 or so years and we can honestly say this is the best accommodation we’ve come across so far.

We loved the location, the bungalow was spotless, The follow up texts from Kim and phone call from the owner making sure everything was okay was an added bonus. Thank you once again for a wonderful holiday. We enjoyed it so much we’ve already booked a fortnight next September.

The cottage was absolutely gorgeous with everything you could need to enjoy your holiday.

The welcome basket was one of the best we’ve ever had. Knowing people brought dogs they had covers just in case, little things like that show how they care about you having a good holiday. The garden was secure so no worries there. The walks from the doorstep were enjoyable. Looking forward to returning.

Excellent property in good location for the northern lakes.

Elevated above Keswick is this superb holiday house.

Its location with beautiful walks straight from the garden is fantastic and the interior is very beautiful and comfortable. The beds were the best we had in a long time! We were surprised to find out that this cottage 'only' had a 4-star rating. During our stay we concluded it is 5 stars for us. The big kitchen was so thoughtfully equipped that we used some of the storage ideas in our own kitchen at home. A second tap above the largest sink may be the only thing we would add. All in all this house makes you enjoy the beautiful Lakes even more. We totally forgot to write something in the guestbook, but we want to thank the owners for the stay and the giftbasket upon arrival!!

Outstanding cottage in an ideal location.

Very convenient for Keswick and the North Lakes. Beautiful walks straight from the door.

Beautiful holiday home.

Idyllic and peaceful location with wonderful vista of the mountains from the living room and garden. The decor in every room was so lovely. Beds and sofas extremely comfortable. Underfloor heating in master en-suite bathroom and kitchen diner was really toasty. Utility room was fab, couldn't hear the washer on once door was closed. Nespresso was a bonus as we love our coffee and Booths stock a brill selection! The Alexa was so handy too. Landscaped garden was really pretty with the little stream and ferns. Our border terrier Baxter could wander about safely so we were chuffed about that! Our 3 daughters and my husband and I had a chilled week away. Been coming to the Lakes for 33 years, never fails to lift our spirits! Super picture of 4 adorable Borders in the hall by the way! Thank you for our hamper of goodies too, marvellous surprise! Highly recommend Merlestead! Becky and family.

Merlestead is a lovely property- more like a home than a holiday rental.

It is one of the rare places we have stayed where running out of plates and cutlery is just not possible as the kitchen is really well stocked. We were delighted with a lovely welcome pack from the owners - very thoughtful. The bedrooms are beautifully decorated and the beds are really comfortable. The en-suite bathrooms are gorgeous and perfect for a group of adults staying in the house. Merlestead has a lovely garden, and on the right days you can sit on one of the two patios and enjoy the sunshine and the views across to Derwentwater. Sadly the weather was not kind to us so we weren’t able to make as much use of theses facilities as we would have liked. The house is right on a public path which doesn’t disturb you, but which is really handy if you want to climb the hill behind. It is a five minute drive away from Keswick and I’m sure there is a nice walk too, but we didn’t use it as one of our party does not walk too much. It is conveniently located to see all of the Northern Lakes - close to Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite, 30 minutes from Buttermere, Crummock Water and Ullswater. We saw one or two comments in previous reviews about the steep access to the house. All we can say is that it is up a hill, which gives you fantastic views, but access is simple in a car and not at all difficult. There are a few steepish steps up to the front door from the drive, so don’t pack really heavy bags that you can’t lift! Don’t be put off by negative comments. The house is lovely and well worth a visit.

This was an excellent property in a beautiful location.

It was spacious, comfortable and well appointed. The handbook was very helpful and the welcoming goodies were super. We would stay again.

This is an excellent place to stay.

The property is in very good condition, the facilities and accommodation are of a very high standard. The location is brilliant for exploring the area either on foot, bike or by car. There are lot of beautiful walks to be had directly from the path at the rear of the garden. For the more adventurous you can ascend Skyddaw, Latrigg is also easily accessible. It is a few minutes drive into Keswick with all its attractions and amenities. We will definitely by staying here again in the future.

Merlestead Cottage ticked all the boxes for us (4 adults + 1 dog).

We loved the layout of the property, with its large kitchen/diner, handy utility, comfortable living room and luxurious en-suites. A few more logs/kindling for the starter pack would have been appreciated, however the welcome pack was fabulous. This is one of the best cottages we have stayed in and highly recommend the Pheasant pub for food.

Lovely spacious bungalow in a lovely peaceful location.

On arrival it gave us that feel good factor, and the kitchen dining area got a wow! It was extremely well equipped with everything we needed, especially the cooking facilities for preparing our Christmas meal, and the Christmas decorations were delightful. We also enjoyed the scenic walks straight from the door, the maps provided were very useful. My only niggle was finding several short black hairs on the bedlinen. However, the bungalow was exceptional, hence the reasons for giving 5 stars.

Unfortunately we had to go back as dog got really poorly with his heart .

and hated the narrow approach up the drives

Our second visit to this excellent property.

Fits our requirements in every way. Ideal location, very clean and well maintained. All appliances and furnishings of a very high quality. We just love this bungalow and it’s location. Will definitely be returning.

This was our second stay at Merlestead and we have already booked for next year.

Accommodation is excellent. The views are brilliant. Everything you need for a relaxing holiday. Lovely walks direct from the cottage. Very close to Skiddaw if you feel fit enough!

Hi, this was our second stay at the property.

We were not disappointed . We had an equally enjoyable stay. Familiarity added to the holiday vibe.

Merlestead is a beautiful cottage, with very well presented rooms.

There was a lovely welcome box upon arrival, with the dog taken into account as well. The kitchen diner is a fabulous light social space, the front room has a fantastic view, the bedrooms had lots of room and nice big wardrobes for storing bags in, and the ensuite bathrooms had actual counters to put down toiletries!! Everything was lovely and clean, and looked very well taken care of. On arrival, we immediately had a phone call from the owner to say that the cleaner had reported the kettle broken (handle had come off the lid, so still usable), they had ordered a new one to arrive the next day, and let us know where to tell the delivery driver to leave it so we didn't have to wait in. It was great to know they were so conscientious. We will definitely be coming back here again. Thank you so much.

This is a beautiful holiday cottage in an ideal location.

A stones throw in the car from Keswick and other stunning Lakes locations. The cottage is clean and has everything you need and more and is well decorated with some nice touches to make it a home from home. The kitchen and dining area is huge, light and airy. The views from the living room and the extensive gardens are amazing. We particularly enjoyed the walk from the back gate and the paths up to the hills overlooking Derwentwater, which is ideal for dog walking.

amazing holiday home beautiful views.

We have had a fabulous week at Merlested great weather and we lived the big dining kitchen and the lively comfy living room.The photos don't do it justice, we all needed a relaxing break and this place did the job. Would love to come back

Such a beautiful property in a beautiful spot.

Very well presented, clean, comfortable and had everything we could possibly need on our holiday- very luxurious! Lovely walks from the doorstep, perfect for our dogs. Owners were lovely too. Really enjoyed our holiday, even with the 3 storms we had during our week!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Merlestead and would have no hesitation in recommending this property.

The house is spacious, comfortable and well equipped. The house has some lovely walks from the front door and there are a number of great places to eat within a reasonable drive. My only complaint is that it is already booked for my holiday week next February and I will now have to try and find somewhere that matches it!

Property was spacious, modern and perfect for our group including two dogs.

We were worried that as a bungalow we'd be on top of one another, but the house was like the "tardis" inside! The master bedroom was a real treat! The large utility room was great for drying and feeding the dogs especially as it led to back door and garden with outside hose. The house had a beautiful outlook and had plentiful walking from the door. House was lovely and warm and Christmas decorations were a bonus for us celebrating New Year as was the welcome hamper! We did not want to leave!

WOW - Wonderful Outstanding Welcoming property.

It certainly is a home from home, colour coordinated bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen with everything one needs from teaspoons, cooking utensils, pots and pans to mugs and glasses, everything has been thought of. If there is a gripe, its a minor one - logs for the fire. These have to be bought. Appreciated the festive decorations and table set for Christmas as well as the welcome box of goodies. Thank you. I would recommend this property without hesitation.

Thank you for such a lovely holiday home.

We had everything that we needed for a fantastic holiday and family reunion. The kitchen was beautifully kitted out which made home cooked meals a breeze. The walks and views from the house are splendid. We loved it!

The cottage was as expected from the website description.

There are 2 issues I’d like to make you aware of. I called your offices beforehand to check that there was a cot and high chair available for our infant.I was concerned as a previous comment stated that there was no high chair available in the premises.The call handler checked with either a supervisor or the owners and assured me that the high chair was indeed in the property - probably in one of the many cupboards.It wasn’t. However the child was unable to join us on this occasion but it would have been a problem if he had joined us.Disappointing and needs to be addressed. Secondly the garden was quite overgrown making the rear pathway a bit of a struggle to access and the plants on the front step needed cutting back to prevent anyone slipping.

One of the double rooms was made up as a double and not as a twin, which caused us problems as there were no single sheets and duvet covers at the property and only one single duvet.

We managed to convert the bed to two singles, but one child had to sleep with a double duvet cover and double sheet while the other had a single duvet with no cover and a bare mattress protector to sleep on for three nights until sheets were delivered. The quality of the sheets that were delivered was very basic. I understand that I should have asked for twin beds when I booked, but it wasn't obvious to me at the time where I needed to do this. I think that it should have been fairly clear that a party of three adults and two children would need only one double bed. There was plenty of storage space at the property, so it would have been easy to leave single sheets and single duvets and covers in any event.

We are used to the breath-taking beauty of the Lake District as frequent visitors to the area, but this holiday was made all the more special due to finding the gem that is Merlestead.

Such a fabulous holiday home, lots of space for everyone, well decorated, comfortable and tastefully furnished and a beautiful garden with several seating areas. I have serious kitchen envy as the kitchen and dining area are huge and so well-equipped. We spent most of the time we weren't walking in there and enjoyed having lots of space to cook and chat together. Can highly recommend Merlestead as a base particularly for walking up Skiddaw and to Latrigg and beyond and it is an easy amble into Keswick for walks from there. We'd booked for next year before we had finished our holiday.

The cottage was very easy to settle into.

The facilities were perfect for a family holiday.

We had an excellent stay at Merlestead which exceeded our expectations and the amazing kitchen/dining room was the heart of the house.

The views from the lounge and bedrooms are stunning and we also spent quality time enjoying the same from the glorious gardens. The stream was a real bonus for our dog plus the excellent walks from the property itself. We would highly recommend Merlestead.

We did call to request a highchair one week before departure and it wasnt available at house.

Hard to do anything about it once you you are there as the signal isnt great. This is the only negative thing i have to say, the property is immaculate.

A beautiful house and garden in a superb location.

The house was furnished to a high standard and the huge kitchen was equipped with everything you could ever need...........and more! We'll definitely be returning!