4.3★
Lakelovers rating
-
4 Guests
-
2 Bedrooms
-
1 Bathroom
-
Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
* Based on a combined average customer score
42 Customer Review(s)
-
Neil 
“Lovely cottage, quiet, comfortable and cosy.”
Some nice views from the master bedroom, stocked with plenty of games, books etc if needed. Thank you
Some nice views from the master bedroom, stocked with plenty of games, books etc if needed. Thank you
- Neil, December 2024So glad you enjoyed your stay! Hopefully you will come visit again. We are moving from Sykes to Lakeland Retreats in April. Thank you! Property Owner
-
Sharon “Absolutely loved the cottage.”
Great location, great layout, lovely amenities and so quiet yet in the thick of it all. We have been to Ambleside many times and this was our favourite. If there is one downside it would be that the shower could do with updating, but that was our only gripe. Will definately stop again.
- Sharon, November 2024Marie “Fantastic cottage, really enjoyed our stay.”
Being so close to town is an added bonus. We didn't realise how big the town is with so many different eating establishments to choose from.
- Marie, October 2024Jessie “Our stay at Gale House cottage was a pleasant one, but not without some points of feedback.”
The cottage is in a great location, does have a small designated parking space (which is rare when you are so close to the centre of Ambleside), there is a small set of stairs that leads directly to the main road outside Alpkit. The bed was humongous, and comfortable. There is even an iron and ironing board! However, when we went to put on the fire, we scoured the house and there was not a lighter or any matches to be found. We had to buy some at a DIY shop, along with kindling and firelighters because there was only wood provided. The lock on the front door moved around a LOT. It felt like one wrong move and it would have fallen out. The house did have a dog aroma - plug in diffusers or a couple of air purifiers wouldn't go amiss. Overall, we would stay again, the parking space was a huge bonus and the great location for exploring Ambleside - we didn't use the car once as there is a great bus service between towns too. It was a cosy place to spend our evenings.
- Jessie, September 2024Paula “Gale House Cottage is perfectly located just a few minutes walk from the centre of beautiful Ambleside, with its numerous pubs and restaurants, and ideal location from which to explore the lakes.”
The cottage benefits from parking for one small to medium car (albeit somewhat awkward to access), which is much needed. The main bed is very comfortable and the kitchen is well equipped, with good quality appliances and a sharp set of kitchen knives (almost unheard of in a holiday cottage!). Gale House Cottage is however very tired and some general maintenance (external and internal) wouldn't come amiss, including the replacement of damaged and missing furniture (sofa and 4th dining room chair). The cottage needs a professional decorate, along with a thorough deep clean throughout sadly and is in some need of some much overdue TLC.
- Paula, September 2024Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay, and take all comments on board. The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Björn “The house needs a general renewal in our opinion.”
When we entered it was really smelly in a moldy and wet way. We think humidity is really a problem there. The vacuum cleaner is not to be used as it has such a disgusting and dog like smell when operating that you rather take the broom to clean everything. The remote control for the TV didn't work although we bought new batteries and exchanged them. On the attic there seemed to be mice running around at night which lead to a rather unpleasant sleep. Mice could be seen the whole time in the small garden as well. We probably didn't read that dogs were allowed in the house, if we had we wouldn't have rented it. You'll never know if other people allow the dogs to sit on the couch, sleep in the beds etc. The dish washer and washing machine with drying function were a good thing to have. We reported some of the issues though.
- Björn, July 2024We are sorry to hear about the issues you experienced while staying at Gale House Cottage. We have contacted a company to come take a look at the possibility of mice and they are coming this weekend. Hopefully Sykes was able to resolve the issue of the TV remote. Thank you for your feedback as we try our best to make the cottage comfortable for our guests and look to resolve any issues quickly. Property Owner
Joanna “Beautiful cottage in an excellent location, just a short walk into the town centre.”
Well equipped with everything we needed. Really large and comfortable bed, lovely bathroom and enough storage. Parking was a bit tricky due to the width of the drive, however we knew about this and it's what we expected for a cottage in the centre of town. We would definitely recommend to friends and would book again.
- Joanna, June 2024Thank you so much for your review and we are thrilled you enjoyed your stay! Property Owner
Christine “Cosy cottage beds wonderful, slept like logs.”
Well maintained and fully equipped in kitchen. Very handy for walking into town and easy to catch buses to various other villages. Will stay again.
- Christine, June 2024We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay at Gale House Cottage! Looking forward to welcoming you back in the future! Property Owner
Kerry “Gale house cottage has absolutely every you need for a holiday in the lakes.”
Beautiful cottage really well furnished and equipped … everything you needed was available. Location wise - it was fantastic, just a few minutes stroll to the centre of Ambleside with all its amenities and in the other way a 15 min stroll to Windermere. A car packing space right in front of the property which was a massive bonus as we explored the whole Lake District. I would 100% recommend Gale house cottage. We had an amazing week and Daisy the dog had the best time too !
- Kerry, May 2024Thank you so much for your review and we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay, we hope to welcome you back soon! Thank you! Lauren Property Owner
Cally “Great property close to everything you need.”
Very clean and tidy.
- Cally, April 2024Thank you for staying at Gale House Cottage! So glad you enjoyed your stay! Lauren Property Owner
Neil “The property is very nice and well appointed.”
Our overall experience was very positive and we would definitely consider a return to Gale House. There are 4 things that I would like to see addressed that would have improved our stay: 1) install a Smart TV in the lounge (and possibly the bedrooms). There is good WiFi and for what is a small outlay a Smart TV with access to our online accounts such as Disney + and Netflix, would make a big difference. 2) Please sort out the shower. You have to run around to get wet. It needs a decent shower, the cubicle is fine. The shower is ineffective and not refreshing. 3) The parking is poor. Not easy to manoeuvre in a family vehicle. A better solution is required. 4) We are a family of 4 and a dog. The clothes airer is insufficient for a family that size. A clothes line out front would be an option for dry days. But a decent airer with plenty of space is a must. I hope our comments are constructive. Thank you for what was overall a very pleasant stay. Resolving the issues mentioned (& the damp issue, which is being addressed, but not fixed, it seems) would help move our ratings up! Best wishes. Family Cobley
- Neil, March 2024Thank you very much for your comments and for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. Customer feedback is very important to help us continually improve our standards. The owner will be able to see your suggestions and can make amendments as required. We hope to welcome you back soon Property Owner
Becky “3rd visit to this property We love it”
- Becky, March 2024Lucy “Really lovely property and well located.”
Only issue was the driveway is quite tight but otherwise all good
- Lucy, March 2024Mike “On arriving at the cottage we thought we were on a building site no scaffolding but the external work is right up to the cottage.”
Thank goodness no builders or trades on site. However upon entering the cottage we were greeted with warmth festive spirit and a very comfortable cottage. We have been very comfortable and happy in the cottage. Alot of thought has gone into the presentation and facilities provided. It is in an ideal location providing a lovely base for a holiday. We would return.
- Mike, December 2023Julie “We had a a lovely week.”
The cottage was cosy and comfortable and the kitchen had everything you could need.
- Julie, October 2023Ellie “The cottage was above all warm and cosy.”
The beds were superbly comfortable. The kitchen contained everything we needed except enough egg cups! Whilst the massive building project next door was a surprise to us, the builders were friendly and didn't make any noise before 8am. The cottage is convenient and in a quiet corner. Would definitely book again.
- Ellie, October 2023Karen “This is a beautifully decorated, warm and very comfortable cottage.”
It is easy walking distance to the centre of Ambleside and the only reason we didn’t give it five stars throughout, is because of the parking situation. We were informed that the building next door has scaffolding, and that building work was taking place. The problem is that this makes the parking very tight indeed. We had an IDA for estate and I don’t think you could park anything larger as the space to turn and reverse is so very tight. Also there is another holiday cottage next door, so you need to manoeuvre around their parked car. The builders were very friendly and tended to start around eight in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. However there were a number of large deliveries whilst we were staying which completely blocked the road outside and our exit. There was nothing that the current owners can do about the situation, but I wanted to highlight it in in case you’re planning to visit with a large car. Other than this, the cottage is absolutely gorgeous and the parking situation would not put us off staying again, although we may bring a smaller car next time!
- Karen, October 2023Helen “The gateway and access is undoubtedly an issue.”
Had we had a larger car I wouldn’t have attempted it, and with double yellow lines on the road, it’s an essential access. The second issue is the appearance of the property entrance. You need to overcome the derelict appearance of the (very near) next door property and the scaffolding and close proximity of the parking to the scaffolding and the other neighbour’s front door before you walk through Gale House cottage gate. It’s hard to not think ‘oh my god what have we booked?’ feeling before you enter the property, which usually would be very nice inside. Unfortunately for us the cleaners hadn’t been in, and at 5.30pm after a 7 hour drive up from the south coast we were faced with dirty laundry on the floors of the bedrooms with the beds unmade, full bins, half chewed fruit on the worktop and dirty towels in the bath which meant we couldn’t even wash our hands properly. On top of this, the handrail up the narrow stairs had been painted and left with a sign requesting we didn’t use until the next morning! It was impossible to get up the stairs without touching tacky paint which stained my hands and sweater. I have to say that Lakelovers were very reactive to my call, the only unfortunate thing was we had to go out to eat on a rainy evening which we weren’t planning to do to allow the beds and towels to be replaced and a quick skip around. The cottage was very well equipped and decorated and the beds comfortable. Lakelovers dealt with the situation quickly and agreed to refund the first night as I requested. I have to agree with a comment in the guest book which said that the cottage would be perfect if it were picked up and put somewhere else as I don’t think it’s an ideal rental property for a restful stress free break. I feel that the property exterior photograph is a little misleading.
- Helen, September 2023Trevor “Comfortable well equipped cottage spoilt by building works on the next door house commencing at 7.”
45am. Couldn’t use parking space as scaffolding erected and fear of damage to car and entrance to drive obstructed by workers vans. We were not made aware of on going work prior to holiday. Obvious this work has been ongoing for sometime. Made complaint to Letting Agency.
- Trevor, September 2023Chris “Lovely cottage and very clean and tidy.”
Great location and nice to have private parking. Would recommend.
- Chris, August 2023John Raymond “Property needs to be cleared of the dampness and the general smell of damp which greats you as you open the front door and seems to be over the entire house, all in all not a nice place.”
- John Raymond, July 2023Thank you for your feedback. We take your comments on board. Please be advised that this issue is being looked into. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Kati “We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the property and found it to be furnished to a high standard with all the necessary amenities.”
There were a few elements of feedback that I would wish to highlight: 1. The toilet brush holder in the bathroom could do doing with emptying - it had dirty water inside it and the toilet brush itself could be doing with replacing. 2. The adjacent property had ongoing building works, which we were not notified of prior to arriving. While this did not disrupt our holiday, I feel this should have been communicated prior to us arriving. 3. On the day of departure we were awoken at 8am with scaffolding being erected outside of our bedroom window. I feel this was incredibly poor and disappointing. Again this was never communicated to us, nor did we feel this was necessary given we were departing at 10am on that day. I am sure this could have been scheduled after we had left. None of the above would prevent us returning in the future; but I do feel that better communication to your guests would have alleviated any of these noted concerns.
- Kati, May 2023Thank you for your comments, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We take all comments on board, and thank you. Property Owner
Becky “Perfect property Couldn’t fault it”
- Becky, March 2023Thank you for your comments, we are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We hope to welcome you back. Property Owner
Shaun “The cottage is really nice,we have stayed here before,location is perfect and the cottage as everything you need,the only complaint was the main bedroom had a leak which dripped into the bedroom,on looking at the reviews this had been reported but it still dripped,and the other thing was in the living room the back wall was completely damp and quite unsightly underneath the cabinet,it was quite cold too and we couldn’t change the temperature.”
- Shaun, March 2023Thank you for your comments. We are glad to hear that you found the location of the cottage to be your liking. Thank you for your comment regarding the leak, this is due to be resolved in May. Property Owner
Catherine “We stayed at Gale House while our own similar sized holiday let in Ambleside was having a new kitchen fitted, so it was a good opportunity to check out the competition!”
Gale House was a lovely well appointed cottage a short walk up the hill from the town. Particular highlights for us were the large and very comfortable master bedroom and bathroom. The only issue sadly was the previously mentioned drip from the ceiling in the bedroom when there's heavy rain. We have to report it has not been resolved I'm afraid. That aside we'd happily recomend Gale House for a couple or family with a couple of kids.
- Catherine, January 2023Thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Gale House Cottage. We will pass on your comments regarding the ceiling in the bedroom to our Maintenance team. Property Owner
Sharon “Great stay in a lovely cottage, enjoyed it very much , would love to return.”
- Sharon, November 2022We would love to welcome you back in the new year! Thank you for coming to stay. Property Owner
James “Amazing cozy cottage with all the amenities to make you feel at home.”
Fixtures are if a high standard and much appreciated. Location is brilliant for Ambleside and excellent for numerous walks on the fells. Would highly recommend.
- James, November 2022Thank you so much for coming to stay. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Property Owner
Shona “Just a shame about the drip in the ceiling in the bedroom disturbing a nights sleep for my parents.”
As my mum got up through the night she got a drip on her head then it was drooling onto the carpet. It did stop that night but then started the next night with the rain again. This was a special trip for us as my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer this year. Apart from this they did enjoy their holiday and loved the area.
- Shona, October 2022We are so sorry to hear about your father and his diagnosis. We are pleased they enjoyed their holiday despite the drip in the ceiling. Unfortunately the combination of high winds and rain led to some of the slates being blown out of place. We have now had this fixed, thank you for comments. Property Owner
Darren “A well decorated, nicely dressed, well maintained, clean cottage with all the comforts of home.”
We cannot wait to return…
- Darren, July 2022Thank you so much for your review! We look forward to welcoming you back in the future! Property Owner
Rhiannon “Gale House cottage is a beautiful stone built cottage within easy walking distance of all amenities.”
The house itself was sparkling clean and spacious, the outside space and herb garden is a real sun-trap in the early afternoon. The styling choices inside the property made the space feel even more peaceful, while the kitchen was fully equipped with everything you could need. A fantastic stay, can't wait to book again!
- Rhiannon, June 2022Thank you so much for your review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your stay and cannot wait to welcome you back in the future! Property Owner
Lorna “Fabulous cottage, gave us everything that we needed.”
Perfect location to walk out for the day, walk into town in the evening. Will definitely look to book this cottage again!
- Lorna, March 2022Steve “Fantastic stay and a great location.”
Had an issue on arrival which was immediately dealt with when the electrician arrived within the hour
- Steve, February 2022S “We arrived for a weeks stay over Christmas and found the property very easily.”
The location is great and the kitchen well stocked with pretty much everything you would need. The wood burner is very cosy and the bed is comfortable. Downsides are that the cottage is suffering from mould & damp in the lounge area by the small window by the back door & the wall by the lounge door and the walls in the second bedroom sweat with condensation at night. Unfortunately the floors in the lounge & kitchen were gritty and dirty and there were cobwebs galore on the bedroom & kitchen ceilings. The welcome information pack is out of date as it states that there is a parking disc available for use in the town (not in the cottage anywhere) & that there is parking for 2 cars which there is, but the website says only 1 designated space? I contacted HOTL and they state that the welcome pack will be removed on changeover so as to avoid any future confusion. Last little thing is that the tap in the bathroom runs very slowly, in summary the cottage is in need of some TLC.
- S, December 2021Emma “We have stayed in a lot of properties in the lake district but this has so far been the best one.”
The bed in the main room was comfy and big. The property was finished to a high standard and it had everything we needed for a 5 night stay with a dog and 2 children. The kids enjoyed the property and had fun learning about the wood fire in the living room. Easy reach of the town and local walks
- Emma, December 2021Sally “Fantastic cottage, very cosy and excellently equipped”
- Sally, October 2021Lesley “The cottage has serious damp issues and there are leaks in the windows downstairs, all the windows need replacing as they either don’t shut easily or have loose hinges.”
It says Sky in the details but there isn’t. The place was covered in dust and the floors had lots of bits laying around. The lamp by the bed in the main bedroom wasn’t working. There isn’t anywhere to dry more than one wet towel. However, on the plus side, the bed was really comfy, well stocked kitchen, the cottage is in a good position and within walking distance of everything.
- Lesley, September 2021Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately we had a slight leak that appears to have developed over the last few weeks, this has led to some damp areas around the windows. This has now been fixed and will be decorated next week. Additionally, the fuse was broken in the bedside lamp and has been replaced. A quick call to Heart of the Lakes would have resolved this. With regards to the window openings, this is the first time we have heard this feedback and haven’t noticed this ourselves. We are happy to look into this further if you are able to provide us with any further detail. Apologies for any inconvenience you encountered, but thank you for bringing to our attention. As owners we appreciate feedback as we like to ensure a great experience at our cottage. We visit regularly as we love it ourselves and so always aim to keep high standards. Property Owner
Roland “Everything you could need was provided.”
Only minor point was we were not sure how to work the heating
- Roland, September 2021Marie “Really cosy cottage.”
An amazing central location in Ambleside, yet incredibly quiet. The kitchen was exceptionally well stocked, which made cooking super easy. We loved our stay!
- Marie, July 2021Andrea “Lovely well equipped comfortable cottage.”
5 minute walk to town and yet very quiet. Perfect location and would definitely book again.
- Andrea, June 2021Gill “A delightful cottage with a luxury feel.”
The super king bed was very comfortable, the bathroom and shower very good and the kitchen equipped with everything you might want. The little touches, like milk in the fridge and biscuits were lovely. A lovely roomy cottage furnished to top standards. The only thing that surprised me was the lack of views from any of the windows. This has been the case for most little cottages we have rented over the past 30 years, but I did expect from the location up Gale hill, that we’d get a view. The overall superb quality of the cottage made up for this, and the two outside spaces were very cozy and, in the spaces of the little courtyard, beautifully lit, so it didn’t really matter. Many thanks for a lovely cottage holiday.
- Gill, June 2021Roger “Lovely cottage, just right for what we wanted.”
Would have scored higher had it not been for how dusty window ledges etc were
- Roger, May 2021Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback following your stay. We can only apologise that on this occasion the cleanliness did not meet your expectations. Had we been made aware of these shortfalls during your stay we would of re attended and rectified these points for you, however appreciate we may not wish to be disturbed during your holiday. We do hope to welcome you back for a trouble free stay in the near future. Property Owner
Mrs Jones “Perfectly located cottage.”
Gateway a little tight for a large car. Decoration and equipment excellent. Would highly recommend and certainly book again. Perfect holiday. TY
- Mrs Jones, Dec 2019Summary
- Following redecoration and some soft furnishing changes, the lounge may look slightly different to how it does in the photos
- Two bedrooms: 1 x super-king-size, 1 x twin
- Bathroom with cast iron bath, separate walk-in shower, basin and WC
- Kitchen
- Living/dining room
- Gas central heating, with woodburning stove
- Electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview/Freesat and DVD Player, Wi-Fi
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Highchair available on request
- Designated parking space for one car
- Two private patios
- One well- behaved pet welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Parking in designated area.
Awards
The property
In a quiet location, only a short stroll from the centre of Ambleside, Gale House Cottage has been totally refurbished and offers an excellent quality holiday home from home from which to explore the Lake District at any time of the year. The cottage dating from the 19th century nestles in a small courtyard with good private parking for two cars.
There are walks from the door to the surrounding fells and also to the head of Lake Windermere where the lake cruises begin and where boats can be hired. For those who wish to eat out you will find all of Ambleside's amenities within short walking distance, and there is a good selection of individual shops for all your daily needs.
Ambleside has two good cinemas showing all the very latest films and there are tennis and bowls just off the village centre. Accommodation: Front door entrance into small hallway with plenty of storage space for all your walking gear.
Comfortable sitting/dining room with a cosy welcoming feel (TV with freeview, DVD, stereo with Aux input for phones, log burning stove and free wi-fi).
Beautiful kitchen in a soft grey shaker style with granite worktops and small breakfast bar. Stairs from the sitting room to the first floor where there are two bedrooms - a large master room with a super king-sized bed and smaller twin room.
Family bathroom with cast-iron bath, separate shower, basin and wc. Contemporary furnishings, decor and flooring throughout add the finishing touches to this lovely Lake District Cottage. Outside: Enclosed south facing patio garden to the front of the cottage with seating and further patio to the rear with seating - small but with enough room for eating out of doors when the weather allows.
Pleasant outlook with mature trees.
Parking in clearly signed designated area.
Village centre a few hundred yards.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.
View on map
About the location
AMBLESIDE
Grasmere 4.4 miles; Windermere 4.7 miles; Keswick 16.7 miles.
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.
Note: Logs can be purchased locally.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas
Are you on the phone to our call centre? Your Customer ID is: aia3o4fe
