Birkbank Farm

3.8Good

3.0Lakelovers rating

12 Guests

5 Beds

6 Bathrooms

Pet Friendly

Description

Birkbank Farm is a traditional Cumbrian farmhouse set in rural countryside near Cockermouth, within the Lake District National Park, ideal for families and friends.

This pet‑friendly farmhouse features two woodburning stoves, a freestanding bath and a dedicated games room, creating an inviting base for a rural escape.

Pull down the country lane and park up before stepping inside to explore this generous interior.

The sitting room presents an exposed brick fireplace with a woodburning stove and a corner leather sofa, perfect for unwinding after a full day; flick on the TV as the logs glow beside you.

The neighbouring snug and games room hosts a central woodburning stove, snooker table and darts board, encouraging relaxed evenings or spirited competitions.

Continue through to the kitchen, where you can rustle up dinner on the hob while pudding bakes in the oven, the feature range cooker adding warmth and character, before gathering in the dining room to enjoy the meal together.

Make your way to the first floor to find a king‑size bedroom where you can flick on the TV from the comfort of your bed before retreating into the en‑suite walk‑in shower, basin and WC.

Along the landing sits the family room, offering a king‑size bed with adjoining twin beds, its own TV and an en‑suite walk‑in shower room, where countryside views greet you as you start the day.

This level also provides a double bedroom with an en‑suite walk‑in shower, along with a further king‑size bedroom complete with an en‑suite walk‑in shower, each one offering a peaceful setting to unpack and sink into the sheets when evening arrives.

A Velux window brightens the staircase leading to the second‑floor bathroom, fitted with a freestanding bath, basin and WC, perfect for slow, indulgent soaks.

The final king‑size bedroom lies just beyond, featuring a charming overhead beam, dressing area and an en‑suite with bath, shower over, basin and WC.

When the time comes to explore, the Lake District offers a wealth of natural beauty, heritage sites and family attractions.

Set in rural surroundings not far from the lesser known West Lakes like Buttermere, Crummock and Ennerdale.

It's a wonderful part of Lakeland, being off the main tourist track, yet with so many places to explore.

Nearby Cockermouth with its castle, art galleries, shops and restaurants is a great starting point for a trip around Wordsworth Country.

Close to the gorgeous Cumbrian coast for a day on the beach, and an easy and scenic drive to Keswick.

Why not visit the Osprey project in Thackthwaite, with two viewing platforms you can watch out for the beautiful rare Ospreys over Bassenthwaite Lake, encouraged by an active breeding plan to get more of these birds back into the local habitat as there are only a few breeding pairs in the country.

Venture into Keswick for museums and boat trips, head to Derwentwater for lakeside paths and panoramic viewpoints, or roam the wider national park to uncover trails, peaks and picnic spots to suit all ages.

Birkbank Farm offers a welcoming base from which to enjoy all the Lake District has to offer.

Your dates

Everything you'll need

Wifi
Dishwasher
Garden / Patio
Games Room
Open Fire

Wifi
Dishwasher
Garden / Patio
Games Room
Open Fire
Off Road Parking
Pet Friendly
Smoke Free
Near Walks

What guests are saying

3.8

Based on 7 reviews

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and maintenance

We had a great time.

This 'off the beaten track', peaceful house has 5 ensuite rooms with an extra bathroom on the 2nd floor and was great for our party of 7 adults. The rooms were all very clean and well presented when we arrived. The house was very warm and we turned the radiators off in the bedrooms after the first night, as we all preferred cooler rooms to sleep. The beds were comfortable and the showers hot. The log burner in the lounge is easy to light and cosy in the evenings. The natural, sloping garden was good for the dogs but we were there too late in the year to sit out in it. We saw bats and a woodpecker in the garden. Young children would need supervision in the sloping garden and adventurous children to be kept away from the disused farm buildings next to the house. Don't forget a torch!

DeborahSep 2026

We had everything we needed, plenty of room.

We enjoyed the darts and pool table room. The beds were very comfortable the kitchen had everything fantastic. The only criticism would be the accommodation needs some updating in the bedrooms and some repairs to be done, also the sign to Birkbank Farm to be more prominent and clearer. But we enjoyed our weekend there and there are plenty places to go.

LindaSep 2026

Internet barely worked and no mobile signal.

Leaks from the bathrooms. Shower doors broken/not closing. Lots of items tired and need repairs. Bedding is tired and needs replacing one set was torn and sheets did not fit the bed. Garden unkept. Lots of cobwebs around the accommodation. Accomodation was clean and bed linen clean which was good. Host friendly and very helpful / good communications.

LaurenJul 2026

Owner response:

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you found the accommodation clean, the bed linen freshly presented, and that the host was friendly, helpful, and communicated well throughout your stay. We appreciate your comments regarding the condition of certain features within the property and thank you for bringing these to our attention. We are pleased to confirm that the matters raised have already been addressed and reviewed following your stay. We are sorry that the internet connectivity and mobile signal did not meet your expectations. As the property is situated in a rural area, both broadband performance and mobile coverage can be influenced by factors outside of our control. Whilst internet access is provided where advertised, availability and performance cannot be guaranteed under our booking terms and conditions. Thank you again for your balanced feedback and for recognising the positive aspects of your stay. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to the area in the future.

Reached up a dirt track (more later), at first glance property looked abandoned.

Property is spacious with amenities as described. Pros: beds clean and comfortable. Ensuites clean. Cons: no welcome pack, information folder, books or games. Oven temperamental on heating up, one hob not working. Internet very intermittent. Some shower doors not closing and off tracks. Tumble dryer not working, no airer or pegs. Water drips through ceiling of snug when shower used. Some bedroom furniture old and dilapidated. Garden like a jungle when we first arrived, gardeners woke us up one morning, cut grass but garden still very neglected. No patio furniture or benches. Cobwebs everywhere, windows very dirty. Returning to track, photos do not show present state or problem areas. Grass so high in parts of centre, it rubs against car underside. Deep ruts and loose stones in raised parts made it an obstacle course for our cars. I wish I had borrowed a 4x4. Correction if I had known I seriously doubt I would have booked this place. Dreaded going up and down it. We have stayed in many Sykes properties over the years and never complained. We were so disappointed with this one and were glad to leave!

DavidJul 2026

Owner response:

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Whilst we are pleased to hear that you found the property spacious, comfortable and well-equipped, and that the beds and en-suite facilities met your expectations, we are naturally disappointed to read that other aspects of your stay fell short. Having reviewed our records, we can see that no concerns were reported to us during your stay. Had we been made aware of the issues raised, we would have welcomed the opportunity to investigate them and, where possible, arrange assistance or repairs whilst you were in residence. We note your comments regarding the garden and that the gardeners attended during your stay. Whilst we appreciate being woken earlier than expected can be frustrating, contractors do work to business schedules in order to maintain properties and grounds across a number of locations. That said, we will raise your feedback with the gardening team and discuss whether future visits can be arranged at a more suitable time where possible. Regarding the property's location and access track, the cottage is situated in a rural countryside setting and forms part of its character and appeal. We appreciate that rural access routes are not suitable for every guest's preference; however, the property's location and surrounding area can be viewed through modern mapping services and satellite imagery, which generally provide prospective guests with a good indication of the property's setting and approach before booking. As for the cobwebs, these can be a particular challenge during the warmer months in countryside locations. Whilst the property is cleaned prior to arrival and any visible cobwebs are removed, spiders and insects are naturally abundant in rural areas and cobwebs can reappear very quickly, sometimes within a matter of hours. This is an unavoidable aspect of many country properties and should not be mistaken for a lack of cleaning. We do appreciate you taking the time to provide your comments, as guest feedback helps both ourselves and the owners identify areas where improvements can be made. We are sorry that the property did not meet the high standards you have experienced during previous stays and thank you for sharing your observations. We wish you all the best with your future holiday plans.

Good to know

House Rules

Good housekeeping bond
This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £300
Smoking
Not permitted
Property notes
. Note: There are complimentary Armathwaite Hall Spa passes provided by the owner, adult use only due to the nature of the spa facilities (Must be pre-booked through the owners and subject to availability). Note: Please bring your own towels, only hand towels are provided

Stay Information

Check-in / Check-out
17:00 / 10:00
Property ref
1195705
Parking
Off Road Parking

Guest & Pet Policy

Pets
Allowed
Children
Children and infants welcome