Gale House Cottage | Ambleside | The Lake District And Cumbria

4.3★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

37 Customer Review(s)

Björn
July 2024

“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 ...

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 2024

We 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 June 2024

“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 2024

Thank you so much for your review and we are thrilled you enjoyed your stay! Property Owner
Christine June 2024

“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 2024

We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay at Gale House Cottage! Looking forward to welcoming you back in the future! Property Owner
Kerry May 2024

“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 2024

Thank 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 April 2024

“Great property close to everything you need.”

Very clean and tidy.

- Cally, April 2024

Thank you for staying at Gale House Cottage! So glad you enjoyed your stay! Lauren Property Owner
Neil March 2024

“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 2024

Thank 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 March 2024

“3rd visit to this property We love it”

- Becky, March 2024
Lucy March 2024

“Really lovely property and well located.”

Only issue was the driveway is quite tight but otherwise all good

- Lucy, March 2024
Mike December 2023

“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 2023
Julie October 2023

“We had a a lovely week.”

The cottage was cosy and comfortable and the kitchen had everything you could need.

- Julie, October 2023
Ellie October 2023

“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 2023
Karen October 2023

“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 2023
Helen September 2023

“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 2023
Trevor September 2023

“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 2023
Chris August 2023

“Lovely cottage and very clean and tidy.”

Great location and nice to have private parking. Would recommend.

- Chris, August 2023
John Raymond July 2023

“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 2023

Thank 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 May 2023

“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 2023

Thank 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 March 2023

“Perfect property Couldn’t fault it”

- Becky, March 2023

Thank you for your comments, we are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We hope to welcome you back. Property Owner
Shaun March 2023

“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 2023

Thank 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 January 2023

“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 2023

Thank 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 November 2022

“Great stay in a lovely cottage, enjoyed it very much , would love to return.”

- Sharon, November 2022

We would love to welcome you back in the new year! Thank you for coming to stay. Property Owner
Jim November 2022

“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.

- Jim, November 2022

Thank you so much for coming to stay. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Property Owner
Shona October 2022

“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 2022

We 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 July 2022

“A well decorated, nicely dressed, well maintained, clean cottage with all the comforts of home.”

We cannot wait to return…

- Darren, July 2022

Thank you so much for your review! We look forward to welcoming you back in the future! Property Owner
Rhiannon June 2022

“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 2022

Thank 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 March 2022

“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 2022
Steve February 2022

“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 2022
S December 2021

“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 2021
Emma December 2021

“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 2021
Sally October 2021

“Fantastic cottage, very cosy and excellently equipped”

- Sally, October 2021
Lesley September 2021

“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 2021

Thank 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 September 2021

“Everything you could need was provided.”

Only minor point was we were not sure how to work the heating

- Roland, September 2021
Marie July 2021

“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 2021
Andrea June 2021

“Lovely well equipped comfortable cottage.”

5 minute walk to town and yet very quiet. Perfect location and would definitely book again.

- Andrea, June 2021
Gill June 2021

“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 2021
Roger May 2021

“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 2021

Thank 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 Dec 2019

“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 2019

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Summary

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.

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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

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“The house needs a general renewal in our opinion.”

“Beautiful cottage in an excellent location, just a short walk into the town centre.”

“Cosy cottage beds wonderful, slept like logs.”

“Gale house cottage has absolutely every you need for a holiday in the lakes.”

“Great property close to everything you need.”

“The property is very nice and well appointed.”

“3rd visit to this property We love it”

“Really lovely property and well located.”

“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.”

“We had a a lovely week.”

“The cottage was above all warm and cosy.”

“This is a beautifully decorated, warm and very comfortable cottage.”

“The gateway and access is undoubtedly an issue.”

“Comfortable well equipped cottage spoilt by building works on the next door house commencing at 7.”

“Lovely cottage and very clean and tidy.”

“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.”

“We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the property and found it to be furnished to a high standard with all the necessary amenities.”

“Perfect property Couldn’t fault it”

“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!”

“Great stay in a lovely cottage, enjoyed it very much , would love to return.”

“Amazing cozy cottage with all the amenities to make you feel at home.”

“Just a shame about the drip in the ceiling in the bedroom disturbing a nights sleep for my parents.”

“A well decorated, nicely dressed, well maintained, clean cottage with all the comforts of home.”

“Gale House cottage is a beautiful stone built cottage within easy walking distance of all amenities.”

“Fabulous cottage, gave us everything that we needed.”

“Fantastic stay and a great location.”

“We arrived for a weeks stay over Christmas and found the property very easily.”

“We have stayed in a lot of properties in the lake district but this has so far been the best one.”

“Fantastic cottage, very cosy and excellently equipped”

“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.”

“Everything you could need was provided.”

“Really cosy cottage.”

“Lovely well equipped comfortable cottage.”

“A delightful cottage with a luxury feel.”