Heron Cottage

3.9★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Pets No
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Features

Cot available
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

22 Customer Review(s)

Lynne
February 2024

“On arrival, the lounge/kitchen does not reflect the photo on your site.”

On arrival, late afternoon, having been up from 6am traveling, we were disappointed to find the room cold, with minimal central heating. Further, NO instructions for the heating or gas fire. The lounge was dusty with rubbish behind the furniture, under seat cushions, etc; looking rundown and desperately in need of a LOT of TLC. Previous guests had commented on “problems”, none of which had been rectified. Clutter in all rooms. Lights not working properly throughout the property. Rubbish on ...

On arrival, late afternoon, having been up from 6am traveling, we were disappointed to find the room cold, with minimal central heating. Further, NO instructions for the heating or gas fire. The lounge was dusty with rubbish behind the furniture, under seat cushions, etc; looking rundown and desperately in need of a LOT of TLC. Previous guests had commented on “problems”, none of which had been rectified. Clutter in all rooms. Lights not working properly throughout the property. Rubbish on top of wardrobe. Shower on first floor STILL hot/cold, potential to scald, no hand rail even though steep step out of shower, extractor fan “thick” in dust and not removing steam. Sink tap loose! Picture on first floor landing “still” on floor! (See previous reviews) . Eventually on WEDNESDAY, following 2 visits to your office, a maintenance man attended, and on our return the gas fire was “on”, and a note stating “set the thermostat to manual so just need to turn it up or down”; but no mention of where to find the thermostat. Also an attempt had been made to “clean” the property. On going to bed Wednesday evening, switched gas fire off, and would not reignite on Thursday evening. All in all, very disappointed with the cottage.

- Lynne, February 2024
Joy September 2023

“Beautiful cosy cottage, really stylishly presented, kitchen small but everything you could possibly need.”

Living area slightly dark, but it's part of the charm of a older property Bedrooms lovely deco, you can tell a lot of thought went into them, beds are so comfy slept better than I do at home! En-suites a lovely extra and really hot powerful showers I will definitely book again

- Joy, September 2023
Angela August 2023

“The cottage was a mixed bag.”

It was comfortable and clean, but and this is a big big but, the shower was unforgivable. My daughter was taking a shower and the temperature knob was jammed on hot and she was burned. She had a visible mark on her arm. When we contacted Sykes, they had someone come and sort it out quite quickly, which is great. When I went back to look at reviews for the cottage on your website, the first review I came across was by Wioletta, who said that they had attempted to contact the owners twice about the malfunctioning shower with no joy. I am shocked that nobody paid any attention to the complaint and feel it’s really inexcusable and negligent on your part. My daughter is an adult, but if she had been a child, the outcome could have been much much worse. Other than the shower issue, there was a picture sitting on the stairwell. When we looked, there was a nail in the wall with a note on it saying not to try to re-hang it because the nail hole needed re-sighting. There were also no normal sized dinner plates, which was irritating and none of the condiments that we are used to finding when we book a holiday home were provided. We all had a laugh about the tiny sample of dish washing liquid we were provided with. So to sum it up, overall the cottage needs some TLC and updating. We would not wish to stay at Heron Cottage again.

- Angela, August 2023
Wioletta July 2023

“We had a good stay in the Heron Cottage in the last rainy week.”

The location is perfect for shopping, dinning and exploring the Lake District. We used the street parking around the house. We loved sitting in the mornings and evenings in the 1st floor bedroom's bay sitting area and enjoyed watching the beautiful view of the hills. /The shutters and windows were very dusty from inside also some areas in the house/. The beds, bath, sinks, toilet, kitchen were clean, so a little more attention to the details will make much a difference. also we had an issue with the shower's tap mixer. It was blocked and only really hot water was available, so we couldn't use that shower at all. I reported that on 2 provided tel numbers to the owner twice, but not response all week. The cottage is well equipped, but we couldn't find a laundry rack dryer. Our raincoats and trousers were not suitable to use a washer dryer. We would like to come back to the cottage if the reviews will be more positive then mine in the future.

- Wioletta, July 2023
Anthony July 2023

“Bedrooms and bathrooms are excellent, very comfortable with plenty of space and storage.”

the living room and kitchen are well equipped if a bit on the small side . Note there is no garden or outdoor space which didn't bother us as we were out all day anyway. Very well positioned for all facilities in Ambleside and a parking pass for the main carpark just down the road is provided, this pass is also valid in many other major towns and villages in the lakes too! Would recommend and would use again.

- Anthony, July 2023

Thank you for your comments, we are pleased that you found the cottage to be clean and comfy. We hope to welcome you again. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Keith April 2023

“Just spend a lovely week at Heron Cottage.”

It is in a really good location in terms of being within a few minutes walk of most of the pubs and restaurants in Ambleside. The car park pass was great and can be used in a variety of other Lakes spots. Cottage is cosy and the beds very comfy, it was quite dark in the living room but didn't spoil our experience, the views from the bedrooms towards the fells are beautiful ! A couple of issues re how to get some of the facilities to operate ( gas fire and hot water boost) but eventually worked these out. All in all it contributed to a lovely week in Ambleside and we would stay here again in future.

- Keith, April 2023

Thank you for your kind comments. We are so pleased that you had a lovely week, and that you enjoyed the views! We hope to welcome you back. Property Owner
Wayne March 2023

“The property was in a nice location and was cozy, however there were a few complications.”

The biggest issue was the first floor shower that leaked like a waterfall into the kitchen area. Had to ring up and have a guy come round to take a look at it. It was a good job there was a second shower which worked, however it was a battle to get hot water. Had to press the boost button for any hot water even if heating had been off all night. There was some noise outside from cars on a night, though it wasn't too bad. Facilities were well equipped and everything worked (except the first floor shower). The dvd player and movies were in the same cupboard as the plates, hidden behind a chair. Kinda weird. Overall a nice little cozy cottage but could have been better.

- Wayne, March 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you had an issue with the showers. We were glad that we were able to attend. Thank you. Property Owner
Deirdre December 2022

“The cottage was immaculate, comfortable and very well equiped.”

We had a fantastic few days walking in the area and returned to relax by the fire and enjoy the entertainment on the large TV. We really appreciated the thoughtful Christmas decorations - all over the house - and the useful welcome pack and Tassimo coffee machine. The location is perfect - on a very quiet street just minutes from the centre of Ambleside, so close to all the cafes, shops and pubs. It was no trouble at all to park our car overnight down the road in the local car park (thank you for the permit). The furnishings are superb, it felt like a luxury retreat! The beds are extremely comfortable and the whole cottage warm and cosy. The water booster to get hot showers was also much appreciated. Unfortunately it rained every day we were there and we struggled to get our clothes dry overnight for the next day - if you could provide a clothes airer for the cottage this would help! Many thanks - we will definitely be returning to your wonderful cottage!

- Deirdre, December 2022
Pete December 2022

“A great cozy cottage in an ideal location.”

Living space compact but cozy & well equipped: ideal in winter. Rooms large with ensuites & views. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will be back

- Pete, December 2022
Lynne September 2022

“We loved Heron Cottage which was cosy, quirky; tastefully furnished and ideally sited for a stroll into Ambleside town or accessing the numerous walks.”

The fire wasn’t operating which was a shame but the central heating was ample and the couple of technical problems experienced when we first arrived were resolved quickly and without fuss. We had an amazing stay and will definitely return to Heron cottage.

- Lynne, September 2022
Caroline August 2022

“We have been staying in Ambleside now for many years and this is the only cottage we weren't completely happy with.”

The downstairs is very dark with only a small window for light. We stayed in the warmer weather which made it lovely and cool when we went back at the end of the day. Although when trying to dry washing (as not everything can go in the dryer) it took ages to dry and the clothes almost felt damp and musty. There was no clothes airer to dry clothes (not a necessity but would have been nicer). There was plenty of space to store food etc but the cups, plates etc would have been better placed in the kitchen area rather than the cupboard on the opposite wall. On the first night, the shower on the first floor leaked - water was pouring through the kitchen ceiling below. We contacted Heart of the Lakes, who came within an hour to seal the shower. Bedrooms were nice and plenty of storage. Situated up a steep hill which was fine for us but tough on the legs if you've done a big walk!

- Caroline, August 2022
Fiona May 2022

“Convenient cottage close to the centre of Ambleside, and close to the start of some walks.”

On quite a steep busy road but there’s a parking permit for the large car park at the bottom of the road. The house is compact, and the living room/kitchen is much darker than the photos suggest. We had to have lights on all the time. The bedrooms were comfortable, although there is no chair in the top bedroom, which would be useful. Both bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, but the one in the double bedroom is more of a wet room, and there’s a step up to the shower and washhand basin. There are fantastic views from the bedrooms, and the louvred shutters were brilliant for privacy and keeping the sun out. We did suffer from noisy neighbours which spoilt one night’s sleep. Overall, the cottage was sufficient for a week’s stay.

- Fiona, May 2022
Angela April 2022

“I would recommend Heron Cottage with some reservations.”

It's a lovely cottage a short, steep walk from the centre of town. All appliances worked and it was a comfortable, atmospheric place to spend a week. However some cleaning issues; areas not dusted-like under the sofas, and the bedding on the top floor was too small for the single beds. Also too many unattractive knick-knacks that clutter an already small space. However having two bathrooms in a cottage this size is a real find (though only one parsimonious toilet roll between them!), as is the parking pass.

- Angela, April 2022
Oksana March 2022

“Cottage is nice and cosy, facilities are good.”

Living room is rather small and it was difficult to park behind the house on a very steep hill and a narrow back street with so many other cars parked there. Shame there is no garden and the front door is 1 metre away from a busy street. Location is good - 5 minutes walk from Ambleside centre. Overall I had a nice stay.

- Oksana, March 2022
Andrew March 2022

“Our second stay, fantastic again.”

You really can’t beat the location, very central, seconds away from a great pub and the apple pie cafe for the best breakfasts. Great to see the mattresses on the top floor have been updated, these were so comfy. Kitchen very well equipped. Everything is so handy for what we need, real bonus having a travel cot and a highchair available. Highly recommend

- Andrew, March 2022
Paul February 2022

“Overall the cottage was really good.”

The downstairs was a bit cramped but nothing that we couldn't cope with. Bedrooms were excellent with ensuite facilities in both

- Paul, February 2022
Andrew November 2021

“We have been visiting the lakes for the last 10 years or so and this cottage was as nice as any we have stayed in.”

Would definitely stay there again. Very happy with everything.. Andy and Lynn smiles

- Andrew, November 2021
Jo October 2021

“The cottage is lovely and cosy - keeps the heat well and really well located.”

The Golden Rule pub was 93 steps away!! We found the living/dining area a bit snug for a family of 4 (children 13 and 10) and not especially comfortable for watching TV with chair positions and height of the TV. The bedrooms were great - light and spacious and handy to have a bathroom on each floor. The first floor bathroom we found an odd design as the shower is on a step, along with the sink so a bit weird if you have a shower, then at any point later you want to use the sink the floor is still wet so you end up using it at an angle. The 2nd floor bathroom was perfect though and we mostly used that one. The sheets didn't seem to fit the beds for some reason, pretty sure the beds were standard sizes - not sure what the issue was but would have preferred sheets that fitted properly. The central heating lost water pressure one day so no heat or hot water until we filled the system. Luckily my husband had done this before and that we figured out where the boiler was! Personally I found the place could have been cleaned more thoroughly. The washing up bowl was grubby, the bread board was dirty and I wiped crumbs from the cupboards before adding our own food. We moved a chair and there was mess underneath - the hoover was accessible but I don't expect to have to clean anything other than my own mess in a holiday property. It was quite busy when we visited so had to park in the car park at the bottom of the hill. This was fine and the pass can be used at car parks in Bowness and Grasmere too as an added bonus!!

- Jo, October 2021
Tony September 2021

“An excellent holiday cottage in a really convenient location for all of the local amenities.”

Very comfortable and well-equipped (though lacking a hairdryer). En-suite facilities were very modern and great to use -better than many a hotel. Generally managed to get parked close to property most days but the provided car park permit certainly saved us from any difficulty (and a few quid when out and about).

- Tony, September 2021
Philip July 2021

“Thank you for the opportunity of providing feedback following our stay in Ambleside at Heron cottage.”

The following is not necessarily aimed at the owner although ultimately they have responsibility for the condition of the property presented to holiday makers. On our arrival:- 1. There was no toilet paper in either bathroom 2. There was no soap,in either bathroom 3. There were dead insects - flies and wasps on the top bedroom floor 4. The property was generally dusty with dirty surfaces throughout For a rent of £1000+ for the week, we expected to arrive at a property that was clean and presentable and provided with basic materials and clean, especially in the context of COVID. Because of the items above we had the distinct impression that any cleaning and replacement of basic items prior to our arrival was at best cursory and at worst non existent. I don't think we will stay at Heron Cottage again.

- Philip, July 2021

We would like to thank you for your feedback. We are so sorry to hear that Heron Cottage was not cleaned up to our usual standard. As we have only just been made aware of this, we can only apologise that our Housekeeping team did not have a chance to re attend to rectify these issues. The Housekeeping manager is now aware and will be looking into this to ensure that this does not happen in the future. Once again, we are sorry that you faced these issues and we hope this does not deter you from staying with us again. Property Owner
Jan May 2021

“We had trouble with the central heating.”

We did not know where the thermostat was so it was impossible for us to control the heat. The fire did not work. After speaking to a rep at Sykes the heating was repaired but, nevertheless, this took up a considerable amount of our time on the phone.

- Jan, May 2021
Barbara May 2021

“Lovely comfy seating and bed.”

You fixed our hot water/heating problem (ref COR-210283-CF) quickly. We did point out to the maintenance man that the gas fire didn’t appear to work; he tried and agreed. It would have been nice in evenings to have the look of the fire. The downstairs rad did not get as warm as upstairs. I also pointed out that the thermostat on the bedroom rad had been broken off some time ago, by the looks of it, so we were unable to turn that down. Everything else worked well. We have stayed with HoL many times but under Martin Barton probably; this one was under my name. Mind you we realised that was over twenty years ago - they seem to have made the hills a lot steeper!!

- Barbara, May 2021

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Summary

Three-storey cottage
Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size with TV and en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x second-floor twin with en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC
Open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area.
Gas central heating
Electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge, washer/dryer, dishwasher, Smart TV with Freeview, DVD, and WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Travel cot and highchair inc. Parking permit for one car in local car park or roadside parking on the street at How Head behind the cottage
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Shop 0.2 miles, pub 0.1 miles
Note: Check-in at 4pm, check-out at 10:00am

The property

We are sure our guests will enjoy a visit to Heron Cottage set at the foot of The Kirkstone Pass, just out of Ambleside centre, only a short stroll from local facilities, pubs, restaurants, shops and entertainments. With walks from the door there really is no need to use the car on a daily basis. The cottage has two en-suite bedrooms ideal for two couples wishing to stay together or equally for a family holiday at any time. Relax with a stroll to the lake for cruises amid wonderful scenery, enjoy a game of bowls, tennis or mini-golf and make the most of our excellent local cinema. Hardier members of the party will love the challenge of Fairfield, Wansfell and Loughrigg and there are many easy country rambles for all members of the party. Accommodation: The cottage is built on three floors with the ground floor set as an open plan, beamed sitting/dining/ kitchen with a comfortable cosy cottage feel and a Smart TV, freeview, & DVD .Stairs from the end of the room lead to the first floor with its delightful king-sized double en-suite room (shower, basin and wc). The front bay window takes in the lovely view (TV). On the top floor you will find a charming twin bedded room with an extensive view to the Fairfield fells (en-suite bath with shower over, basin and wc). Furnishings throughout are comfortable and tasteful offering a welcome in any season. Outside: Stop outside to unload and then take your car to the nearby local car-park at the foot of the hill - no need to use the car again during your stay (parking permit provided for use on specified local car parks in the area). All village amenities are within a few minutes stroll. There may also be room to park your car on the street at How Head behind the cottage.

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.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Ambleside, Cumbria & The Lake District (Ref. 1042494)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“On arrival, the lounge/kitchen does not reflect the photo on your site.”

“Beautiful cosy cottage, really stylishly presented, kitchen small but everything you could possibly need.”

“The cottage was a mixed bag.”

“We had a good stay in the Heron Cottage in the last rainy week.”

“Bedrooms and bathrooms are excellent, very comfortable with plenty of space and storage.”

“Just spend a lovely week at Heron Cottage.”

“The property was in a nice location and was cozy, however there were a few complications.”

“The cottage was immaculate, comfortable and very well equiped.”

“A great cozy cottage in an ideal location.”

“We loved Heron Cottage which was cosy, quirky; tastefully furnished and ideally sited for a stroll into Ambleside town or accessing the numerous walks.”

“We have been staying in Ambleside now for many years and this is the only cottage we weren't completely happy with.”

“Convenient cottage close to the centre of Ambleside, and close to the start of some walks.”

“I would recommend Heron Cottage with some reservations.”

“Cottage is nice and cosy, facilities are good.”

“Our second stay, fantastic again.”

“Overall the cottage was really good.”

“We have been visiting the lakes for the last 10 years or so and this cottage was as nice as any we have stayed in.”

“The cottage is lovely and cosy - keeps the heat well and really well located.”

“An excellent holiday cottage in a really convenient location for all of the local amenities.”

“Thank you for the opportunity of providing feedback following our stay in Ambleside at Heron cottage.”

“We had trouble with the central heating.”

“Lovely comfy seating and bed.”

Summary

The property

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About the location

AMBLESIDE