Buttonhole Cottage

A nice little cottage perfect for a short break.

We didn’t actually spend much time in it but the kitchen had everything we needed and the bed was super comfy. Some things felt a bit dated eg sofa and rug but they can be replaced. The courtyard garden wasn’t really useable but a bit of work to it could make a massive difference and be a potential hit with clients.

This was our second visit to Buttonhole, and the weather made a lovely change from our rain-soaked stay in September 2022.

This time, the sun was constantly shining, so we enjoyed some beautiful walks with our dog. We found clean water for him to swim in near the park and stepping stones, just the right distance away under the trees. Grove Barn café, up the lane to the left from the cottage, was also a highlight, with great tea, cakes and dog-friendly ice creams after another mostly shaded walk. Overall, Buttonhole remains in a beautiful location with excellent dog walks nearby, but the cottage itself needs cleaning & maintenance before we could recommend it as confidently as we did after our first stay. We enjoyed returning to the cottage and still love the location, but several areas now need attention. The cottage felt tired and in need of a deep clean, with a strong smell of damp at the top of the stairs, that were very “doggie” worn. The bedding and towels also felt worn and smelt musty. We looked for a welcome or instruction pack after seeing it mentioned in the visitors’ book, but could not find one, and the pizza oven was no longer there. The leather furniture has also been replaced with cheaper, uncomfortable seating, and the settee appears to be propped up with cushions underneath. The lovely 4 different types of Radox have been replaced by two unpleasant smelling bubble baths. There were some thoughtful touches, including water and treats for the dog and fresh flowers, but these were outweighed by the condition issues. After an exhausting eight-hour drive, the parking situation outside the cottage was stressful, especially with impatient drivers coming both ways as the 3 car spaces were taken. With some TLC, Buttonhole could once again match its lovely setting, but in its current condition it does not quite warrant the description or encourage a return visit.

Lovely cottage, beautiful and cool in the hot weather to come back to.

Everything was lovely and comfortable. Owner came to shower when wasn’t heating up but was working fine in the end, but he was very helpful and friendly.

Lovely cosy cottage in a great location.

Loved the bed so comfortable and only 5 mins walk into town

Buttonhole Cottage was a lovely cosy cottage in a great location.

The only reason i didn't give full marks was parts of it weren't very clean. We pulled the TV out to make it easier to watch and there was rubbish behind it (a toy car, a child's toothbrush and bits of wood). Also the blind in the bathroom needed a good clean. I think also it would benefit from a new sofa it was propped up with cushions under the main cushions and wasn't very comfortable. Saying all that we enjoyed our stay there and loved Ambleside.

We have been to this property twice now and have even booked up for December this year.

Great little cottage stay, very cosy and with lots of welcoming touches.

Clean, well maintained and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Perfectly located for quick access to the town and walks, but also far enough form the bustle. Loved it and will stay again for sure

Lovely cottage, perfectly located and with a small garden too.

Nice little cottage had everything we needed.

Lovely touch of cake, sweets and dog treat. Plus fresh flowers. Only issue with having the lovely double ended bath is that the tank doesn't hold enough water for a decent bath. Only half filled the bath having to wait until the water heated up again before topping it up. We did add a couple of kettles worth of boiling water to top as well. Otherwise lovely cottage.

Absolutely loved Buttonhole!

It was just perfect! Lovely, cosy little cottage in a great location. Lots of personal touches such as chocolates and flowers. Would definitely return here again.

We stayed at buttonhole over Christmas, the little touches such as the tree, gift and decorations were lovely.

The cottage itself was in a brilliant location, and was very comfortable. The only thing that really let it down was cleanliness. Upon arrival there was an awful smell in the kitchen which turned out to be bin juice, which we had to clean up. The blinds in the bathroom and surfaces in the cottage were really dusty as were all of the mirrors. The carpet up the stairs was stained and the hoover provided was clogged. Overall if the cottage was given a deep clean it would make such a difference.

WE ENJOYED OURSELVES SO MUCH WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE SAME COTTAGE NEXT YEAR SO CLOSE TO ALL THE AMENITIES IN AMBLESIDE HARDLY USED OUR CAR NEXT TIME WE WILL USE THE OPENTOP BUS THE COTTAGE WASW LOVELY THANKYOU.

Lovely time spent in the cottage, it was clean and welcoming.

The listing was mostly accurate but the outside area needs newer photos as there was no pizza oven. Bathroom was big and clean. Bed very comfortable. The staircase has handrails all the way up which may be useful as the stairs were steep. Overall, lovely charming cottage that was very close to town.

Hi, This my second stay at Buttonhole.

I would definitely consider going back again. It ticks all the boxes for me' Regards, A.P.

Really nice place to stay, very well finished and welcoming.

Would definitely book again.

Lovely little cottage, great location too.

We did struggle with comfort though. The sofa seats need replacing. Every time we sat on it we would sink in to the base of the sofa so it became very uncomfortable. Also the pillows on the bed need replacing, they was very lumpy and was hard to sleep on. Overall we loved it though and will stay here again.

The cottage was beautiful with a working log burner very cosy!

a very comfortable bed with a gorgeous large bathroom and roll top bath! Kitchen had everything you needed, there was even a small outside space ideal for the dog, just as a side note we were left milk in the fridge, a bottle of procesco and chocolates on the table which was a really lovely touch.

The cottage had awful smell which we suspected as dog urine on the rug.

We also found something brown and squashed underneath another rug and dread to think what that was The oven and microwave were filthy with dried on food lots of dust and dirty kitchen roll underneath the cutlery tray. We wouldnt have stayed if we hadn't been in such a beautiful area which meant we didnt spend much time in the cottage. I did inform the owner who said they would check the property out

Just a few suggestions.

A handrail fitted to the righthand wall of the lower stair would have made going up and down easier for me as my mobility is not great. A non slip mat in the shower floor would also help a great deal. These are simple things which could make a difference

I was pleased with my first impression of the cottage, the ground floor was clean and looked comfortable and we did appreciate the milk and little chocolate snacks that were left for us.

I did notice that the steps up to the upper floor were quite high and was disappointed that there was no banister or rail to hold on to which resulted in me falling down the stairs.The small grab rail towards the top of the stairs was no use halfway up. I was very disappointed when I went into the bedroom and saw the height of the bed leaving no option but to stand on a stool to get into the bed. I did appreciate the low lights on the stairs and in the hall. There is a lovely large bathroom with a lovely shower unit in it unfortunately the controls were almost at ceiling height and outwith my reach leaving me unable to shower. I am very disappointed that there was no indication of these safety hazards on the Skyes website. I would hope that no-one else would have to go through everything we did.

Fantastic location, within easy walking distance into Ambleside.

Wouldn't hesitate to book again and recommend to family and friends.

Thank you for a lovely stay at Buttonhole Cottage.

The chocolate, flowers and dog treats were a particularly lovely touch! Security-wise, I would have liked a way to lock the front door from the inside, since I was a woman travelling alone and didn't feel completely safe with just the keypad. Otherwise, we had a lovely week and would definitely come again.

Lovely cottage ideal for 2 people and a dog.

Nice touches of treats left for the dog and ourselves. Very handy for the town. The only issue was the parking as we struggled to park near the cottage. The mattress was extremely hard but that is personal taste.

As regular stayers at Buttonhole, we were disappointed with our November 2023 stay.

The cottage was not to the clean standard expected - floors not swept or vacced, kitchen surfaces with crumbs and tea stains, crumbs stains and old paper towels in fridge and kitchen drawers, all surfaces covered in dust, ash left in fire from previous guests, lots of pet hair around the property including in the bed (our allergies are usually manageable with antihistamines but these weren't helping because there was so much build up of pet hair sticking to our clothes and on sofa etc), cobwebs with flies in them, poor plants in bathroom not watered and dying, used up reed diffusers still in place, shower needs some TLC. The lounge sofa is a sofa bed so not designed for comfort at all - most nights we opted to go to the bedroom instead so we could stretch legs out. The rug has been removed from the lounge making feet on the floor very cold! Even with the heater and fire on, the lounge struggled to get warm due to the continuous draughts coming from front and back doors. Perhaps a heavy curtain on the back door will help? Listing needs updating - no Alexa and no Netflix account signed in on TV. Due to the cleanliness issues, we did decide to end our holiday two nights early unfortunately. Such a shame because we used to love this cottage so much and coming to stay... but sad to say, we wont be returning again unless cleaning is improved drastically :(

A very cosy and comfortable cottage.

This is our third stay at the cottage and we would return.

It's a great base, central but quiet. A couple bits of feedback though, the sofa is incredibly uncomfortable, not what you want after a long day on the hills! And there is not a great deal of space to dry clothes after a wet walk as only two small hooks by the door. An airer would be really useful to hang up our clothes in the bathroom where there is some floor space and heating. Other than those things the cottage had everything we needed for an enjoyable holiday.

Charming cottage, clean and well situated for either the pier or the town centre.

However, parking is very tight. Walking from the pier or town back to the cottage however is very steep so you need to be reasonably fit. I would suggest that the settee needs replacing as has lost its firmness and now quite uncomfortable; I found it difficult to stand from a sitting position. The outside space at the back could do with a bit of tlc, replacing the dead plants and maintaining the seating area by keeping it clean and dry. I think the stairs may struggle to pass building regs now as quite steep with no handrail. However, comfortable bed; nice big stand alone bath with complimentary choices of Radox; big shower. Some nice touches; complimentary chocolates, beers, orange juice, milk and dog biscuits. Everything you need such as pots and pans, oven trays, ironing board, hairdryer.

Lovely cottage.

Had everything you needed and a very nice selection of welcome treats on arrival. The bed was very comfortable. We really enjoyed our stay here.

I really enjoyed my stay here.

The cottage is cosy, nicely decorated and well equipped. It's slightly out of Ambleside centre which I appreciated as it was quiet, but it is up a small hill so just something to be aware of! The bed was comfortable. The bath tub does take a while to fill, but is lovely and deep for a nice soak after long walks. The water pressure in the shower isn't that strong. The kitchen had everything I needed (plenty of pans, good knives, grater etc) to cook. Minor note if you are a coffee drinker - there's only a one cup cafetiere/french press. You can do some great walks from here - over to Grasmere, around Windermere and along to Troutbeck. Overall I would recommend this cottage and would definitely stay here again.

Lounge furniture very uncomfortable.

Garden furniture unusable due to being very dirty and very wet. Shower very slow to drain away. Sealant and door seals dirty and mouldy. Only 1 Bath towel and 1 hand towel per guest for a full weeks stay. So disappointed we left earlier than planned.

Cosy, comfy makes you feel relaxed.

Nice touches in the cottages. Close to town centre. Just what you need to wind down.

Nice little cottage, ideally located just outside of the village.

Nice extras on arrival…like wine, chocolates etc. Parking was a little difficult outside the cottage.

Lovely Cottage, well equipped .

Nice extra touches too, wine biscuits etc.. Very comfortable bed, large bathroom. Nice quiet area. Make sure you take logs for the log burner. A little drafty from the front door though, just needs the gap down the left side looking at.. but overall a very pleasant stay.

Absolutely beautiful cottage every needed for a wonderful holiday!

Will book again soon

Wonderful cosy cottage, our favourite in Ambleside so far.

We'd definitely book this again. Loved all the welcoming treats, particularly the dog friendly ones!

Lovely little cottage, exactly what we wanted.

Great bedroom and bathroom. Downstairs small but cosy, only downside is the bed is a bit uncomfortable, the kitchen cupboards need a good clean and the garden needs cutting back from above the back wall. The cottage is in a great spot, close to town and within in reach of all other areas. We loved it and had a great time and would go back when we can

This was a booking to visit the lakes while our son swam the length of Windermere in the One Way Swim competition.

Have to say we are proud parents as he won the whole thing, unexpectedly! The cottage was fine for our needs, albeit rather small and dark downstairs. There was a musty odour throughout which wasn't pleasant at all and we couldn't pinpoint it. The bedroom was lovely, bed comfy, bathroom good although I love a long hot bath soak and I didn't see the tiny notice that said the boiler needed priming half an hour before, so I ended up with a lukewarm bath, which wasn't ideal after the miles of walking we had done that day. The location was perfect and it was fab to be able to walk into Ambleside and take the dog for walks locally, although it was almost too hot one day to walk at all. The little extras and treats were very welcome, thank you. We couldn't park outside the first day as someone had inconsiderately parked lengthways against the advice and left no room, but we found somewhere not too far away, off road. The second and third day we could park outside. Cute little courtyard area and we saw birds of prey above which was fab. Lots of info left for the local area too. Just a bit pricey for what it was (as so tiny) at £600 for 3 nights, but then it was August in the Lakes!

A lovely little cottage in a great location out of the centre of Ambleside, but close enough to walk to.

The cottage was ideal for me and my dog

Great little cottage, good Location.

Personal touches, dog welcome pack, beers, mint cake, fresh flowers etc made a great welcome. Would recommend to anyone.

Lovely cottage, conveniently but peacefully located 5 minutes walk away from Ambleside centre.

Thoughtfully fitted out and wonderful welcome pack. The photos don't fully do it justice.

Wonderful cottage great location and the welcome packs were exceptionally good.

Highly recommend.

Great place to stay.

Pretty little private garden, with good facilities in the house. Comfortable bed and lovely bath, perfect after walking. Thanks for the little supplies that made it so we could have a brew and biscuit once settled in.

A lovely property in a great location.

Exactly what we wanted and more. Beautifully dressed for our arrival with welcome extra touches. Would thoroughly recommend

Beautiful cottage in an excellent location.

The only problem is that a spring appears to be broken on the left side of the bed. This led to a very uncomfortable 3 nights sleep for one of us. Apart from that, we had a wonderful time.

Had a lovely stay - just marred at the end due to another cottage two doors down that parked their two HUGE cars (a BMW X5 and VW Transporter no less) right opposite on the fence side.

This essentially meant Buttonhole and the one next door had lost their parking space. As they were sat out, I asked the owner to possibly moved and they literally just ignored me - if you are also the owner of 2 Busk Cottages it might be an idea to clarify where their parking is(?). Other than that the cottage and location was fantastic though.

Comfortable and well equipped cottage 5minutes from centre of Ambleside.

Lovely Cosycottage with many extras.

In a beautiful location in Ambleside

The bed was uncomfortable.

After a day of walking and cycling it was so needed to recover. Otherwise an excellent cottage with many additional gifts which made it special.

We had an amazing holiday at button hole cottage.

It was a fabulous place to stay and all of the little extras were appreciated and used! We regularly stay in the Lake District but for a cottage this was by far our favourite accommodation to date. The owners really have thought of everything and the use of space in this small cottage was excellent. Would recommend to anyone

We had a great stay at Buttonhole Cottage.

Its well situated within Ambleside and its a great base for walks into town and the fells beyond. The cottage has everything you need for a comfortable stay, however the only negative feedback was the mattress topper was too soft in the middle, making it difficult to turn over in the night! We would stay again at Buttonhole, just hopefully with a comfier bed next time!

We both found the bed to be uncomfortable.

It appears to drop from the centre, either way. The duvet is 15 tog and a little warm for the time of year. This is our only issue because other than that everything else was spot on, with everything else of high specification. This means the cottage feels homely and somewhere you can spend evenings in comfort after long days on the fells. Good spot, minutes away from key amenities, yet distant enough to be peaceful. We would definitely consider staying at Buttonhole Cottage again; sometime soon, hopefully.

The only issue we had was with parking there is not enough parking spaces to allways be able to park your car outside the cottage, as it id positioned on a very narrow lane, an on a few occassions had to scour the nearby streets to find an alternative space, apart from that everything was great

Absolutely charming little cottage full of character and nice little decorative touches.

Comfortable, all the key amenities, well situated near the centre of Ambleside a 5 min walk away. Would stay again!

Beautiful and well equipped cottage that we’ve now stayed in 3 times.

Spotless with little added touches to make it feel like home

Lovely cottage to stay in, great location and well equipped and very comfortable especially the bed.

Only downside there was never enough hot water to fill the bath.

Great little property.

Great location. We had an issue with the bed but the owner was super helpful about fixing it, and even dropped round a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine.