Steps Cottage | Bowness-on-windermere | The Lake District And Cumbria

4.5★

2 Guests
1 Bedroom
1 Bathroom
Pets No
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Features

Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Open fire
Garden / Patio
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

33 Customer Review(s)

Susan
October 2023

“Ideally situated for our Windermere visit, comfortable accommodation and really appreciated the little extras like tea, coffee and kitchen basics.”

Didn't spoil our stay, but felt a little overlooked by neighbouring properties. Found the bathroom sink and shower a little compact, and both had very slow drainage. It had been raining very heavily prior to our visit and not sure if this exasperated things, but there was a strong smell of damp towards the bathroom and bedroom. Overall though, enjoyed our time there, thank you.

Didn't spoil our stay, but felt a little overlooked by neighbouring properties. Found the bathroom sink and shower a little compact, and both had very slow drainage. It had been raining very heavily prior to our visit and not sure if this exasperated things, but there was a strong smell of damp towards the bathroom and bedroom. Overall though, enjoyed our time there, thank you.

- Susan, October 2023
Elaine September 2023

“We couldn't resist coming to Steps Cottage when we saw the listing because we spent a week here 40 years ago when our son was a toddler and we were in our mid thirties.”

We had a great time and found the cottage generally very comfortable, spotlessly clean and very well equipped. Everything we needed was there and was of a good quality. As others have said, the bathroom is extremely small and the washbasin is the size you would expect in a downstairs cloakroom, not a main bathroom. That said, we managed perfectly well. We do feel that the steepness and height of the 4 steps leading to the door should be mentioned. I am 5'1" with dodgy knees and in particular found going down them a bit of a challenge. All in all, we were very happy with our stay - though the walk up from the lake is definitely longer and steeper than it was last time we stayed here!

- Elaine, September 2023

Thank you so much for your kind feedback about your recent stay at Steps Cottage. We are so pleased to hear that you had a great time and that you found the cottage generally very comfortable, spotlessly clean, and well equipped. We understand your feedback about the bathroom and the steps leading to the door. The bathroom is smaller than your normal house bathroom but due to the cottage size this was decided to be the best fit, and the steps can be steep for those guests with mobility issues. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. We appreciate your understanding, and we are glad to hear that you were overall happy with your stay. We hope to welcome you back to Steps Cottage in the future. Property Owner
Ray September 2023

“Steps cottage was a pleasant surprise when we arrived and added to a lovely week in the Lakes.”

It ticked all the boxes and we intend to return next year. I noticed some people commented on the small bathroom and even the pepper pot being too small, how sad for them. The bathroom does it’s job perfectly well. Looking forward to our next visit.

- Ray, September 2023
David August 2023

“Generally ok, however major problem with the building work ongoing with the shared access property behind the cottage.”

Daily Noise in the morning / all day including weekend plus constant burning wood of old furniture carcasses etc causing the cottage to have a constant smoke smell. Clothes absolutely had smell of smoke. Ruined our stay. We were not informed this work was happening

- David, August 2023

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We appreciate your honesty and we're sorry to hear that you had some concerns about your stay. We understand that you were generally happy with the cottage, but you were disappointed with the building work next door. We're sorry to hear that the noise and smoke from the building work ruined your stay. We want to assure you that we were not aware of the building work when you booked your stay. We do our best to keep our guests informed of any upcoming construction in the area, but this work was not on our radar. We understand that the noise and smoke from the building work was disruptive and we apologise for any inconvenience it caused. We'll be sure to contact the property owner next door and ask them to be more mindful of the noise and smoke levels. We hope that you'll consider staying with us again in the future. We'll do everything we can to make sure that your next stay is more enjoyable. Property Owner
David July 2023

“Nice clean well equipped cottage ,ideal location off road parking a plus”

- David, July 2023
Christina June 2023

“Lovely location, lovely accommodation, bathroom compact but functional would be tricky if I were a very large lady!”

Would definitely visit steps cottage again

- Christina, June 2023
Dave June 2023

“Extremely comfortable, absolutely spotless.”

Great location. We had a wonderful holiday. Thank you.

- Dave, June 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to welcome you again soon. The owner relations team - Lakes Cottage Holidays Property Owner
Ian April 2023

“One of the wall lights did not work, even after replacing the bulb.”

Bathroom is nicely fitted but very small. Only one and a half poor quality toilet rolls provided. Two unwashed soup bowls had been put in the kitchen cupboard. Microwave on top of the fridge freezer was awkward to use and potentially dangerous. No lid for the smallest Pyrex bowl. No medium sized saucepans, only very large and small. This is important on an induction hob. Difficult to manoeuvre into the parking place. Comfy sofa and bed and efficient heating and hot water system. We did not use the wood burning stove. It is in a very good location, in a quiet residential area within easy walking distance of both Bowness and Windermere.

- Ian, April 2023
Maureen March 2023

“The cottage was in a perfect position between Windermere and Bowness.”

Everything needed was there and it was spotlessly clean. The bed was very comfortable and there was plenty of room for clothes etc. The only problem was the bathroom,which was extremely small.

- Maureen, March 2023
Paul February 2023

“Really enjoyed our stay, very clean great location”

- Paul, February 2023
Ann September 2022

“We enjoyed our stay here.”

The cottage is well equipped. The bed is very comfortable but we found the sofa not very comfortable. The parking allocation seemed odd, you have to park at the top end of the drive, whereas the parking outside Steps cottage is for the neighbouring cottage. I'm unsure if this is because there's 2 garages facing the steps for the cottage. They're situated behind the other cottage which shares the same drive. There's also stairs leading to a downstairs room which felt a bit odd as it's private down there. Otherwise the cottage is lovely reasonably spacious, the kitchen is well equipped.

- Ann, September 2022
Selina July 2022

“Another good stay in steps cottage”

- Selina, July 2022
Lai July 2022

“We have enjoyed our stay at Step Cottage very much.”

We found the place clean and tidy. Definitely will re-stay again. Thank you.

- Lai, July 2022
Anthony June 2022

“Steps cottage was lovely, in a quiet position but a very easy walk into Bowness, the walk back is up hill but still manageable.”

In fact the cottage is well situated to visit anywhere in the Lake District. My husband and I had no trouble finding Steps and parking was excellent. The cottage itself was very clean, warm and cosy, the wifi was excellent also. All the furnishings were good quality clean and comfortable. However the bed was so comfortable I feel it needs its own mention. My husband (over 6ft) did find the shower a little restrictive but that was a minor inconvenience to us. We loved our stay and would recommend Steps Cottage to all.

- Anthony, June 2022
Janice May 2022

“Lovely quiet secluded property, every thing you could possibly need provided, ...”

Lovely quiet secluded property, every thing you could possibly need provided, very comfortable bed, immaculate throughout, we enjoyed our stay immensely, Janice Reed

- Janice, May 2022
Eileen May 2022

“The bed in this property was extremely uncomfortable it was VERY VERY HARD.”

Never had a decent nights sleep. Shower cubicle was TINY and not a pleasant experience when trying to have a shower. Got a couple of bruises on my arms. Won`t be rebooking this cottage again.

- Eileen, May 2022
John April 2022

“Very pleased with the accommodation and also the location very close to the Lake and Town.”

Some concern regarding the private bedroom downstairs we were told on booking that no body else was in the property while we were there which we thought was strange as the only access to the private downstairs bedroom was through the property we were in

- John, April 2022
Nicole April 2022

“My partner and I really enjoyed our stay at Steps Cottage.”

The cottage is quaint and cosy, and has pretty much everything you’d need for a perfect stay. Everything is of high quality, including bedding and kitchen items. The heating was easy to control, so we had no need to use the wood burner, but was still a beautiful edition. Outside the bedroom window is a little stream, it was great to have the window open at night and listen to the relaxing sounds of the water. Despite being in an odd place, the car parking space was appreciated. Make sure to read the signs on which space is for steps cottage, as the space directly outside the cottage belongs to another property, which is a bit odd. The cottage was clean (despite a few hairs on the bathroom windowsill) and tidy. The only things I’d add to make this cottage even more perfect would be a bigger bin in the kitchen, the tiny one in there isn’t much use and doesn’t fit much in considering all rubbish is to be mixed. Some kitchen tongs would be great to add to the utensil drawer. Also, some pepper to add to the salt would be useful. It’s good that the cottage provided salt and vegetable oil (things we didn’t really want to have to buy for a 3 night stay) 2 toilet rolls wasn’t quite enough for 2 adults across 4 days, but we took a spare of our own. Overall a brilliant stay, we’ve already recommended Steps Cottage to friends and family and hope to come back in the future. Many thanks for such a lovely break in Bowness on Windermere.

- Nicole, April 2022
Ian April 2022

“Lovely cottage, very comfortable.”

Very well equipped. Great location. Happy to stay again.

- Ian, April 2022
Neil March 2022

“Fantastic little cottage which was just perfect for our needs.”

Very comfortable with good quality furnishings and excellent wifi. Pleasantly surprised to find that some of the things that we thought wouldn’t be provided such as tea cloths, washing up liquid and other cleaning materials, and a few basic food items like sugar, salt and cooking oil, were there for us on arrival. Conveniently situated no more than a 10 minute walk from either Bowness or Windermere. Had seen some previous comments about poorly signed parking arrangements, but this was most certainly not the case. Feel we had excellent value for money, and would happily stay here again.

- Neil, March 2022
Theresa February 2022

“Thank you for a very comfortable and enjoyable stay.”

Your cottage was beautifully clean and central to all amenities. It would have been helpful to have logs available to use on the log burner, rather than arriving at the end of a day and reading that we had to go out and buy them. Also only half a toilet roll available.

- Theresa, February 2022
Gail January 2022

“Lovely cosy cottage stayed here for my birthday and loved it,didn’t want to leave.”

The only couple of things I think could be improved are more firewood and instructions on how to use the cooker.

- Gail, January 2022
Patricia September 2021

“I stayed here for a week with my partner.”

It had everything we needed. Was spotless. Was in-between Windermere and Bowness. We parked up the car for the week and got weekly bus passes and bus stops either side of where we were. A great way to see the Lake District. We couldn't fault anything about Steps cottage and would return there again. Would definitely recommend this cottage to everyone.

- Patricia, September 2021
Graham September 2021

“It would have helped if we had instructions on how to work kitchen appliances.”

The only instructions we had was for the hob.

- Graham, September 2021
Alice August 2021

“A lovely cottage.”

Perfect for a couple.

- Alice, August 2021
Lynda August 2021

“The bathroom is in need of refurbishment toilet hinges rusty.”

There is a glass shelf above the sink which you bang your head on when using. Tiles in shower grotty Overall enjoyed our stay just the bathroom it down

- Lynda, August 2021
Gillian July 2021

“List on the itenary that it has Irwin and Ironing board”

- Gillian, July 2021
Alan July 2021

“Very nice stay at Steps Cottage and would definitely stay there again.”

Cleanliness could be improved particularly under furniture and was surprised at rather odd parking arrangements, car parking for Steps is against adjacent cottage and parking for adjacent cottage is next to Steps, rather odd. Apart from this everything else very satisfactory.

- Alan, July 2021
Kathy May 2021

“We were impressed that a representative telephoned the morning after we arrived to check everything was okay.”

I mentioned that everything was great but I was very hot in bed as there was a heavy quilt on the bed and the weather was getting warmer. A representative went out that day and bought a lower tog quilt, which was delivered to the cottage, fantastic service. Very well organised information and arrangements prior to and during the holiday. As mentioned on previous reviews the bed is very comfy. The cottage is perfectly positioned for easy access to the lake and Windermere village, with a bus stop virtually outside to access most of the surrounding area and only a relatively short walk to the train/bus station for most places further afield. Driving and parking in the area is not fun and access by bus and train is perfect. Even the weather was amazing. If we get a chance to come back we would not hesitate to use Sykes or Steps Cottage. The only slight problem is the steps to the garden which are very narrow and awkward. Thank you for a great stay.

- Kathy, May 2021
Clive May 2021

“We thoroughly enjoyed our weeks stay at Steps Cottage and hope to return in the future.”

- Clive, May 2021
Kayleigh August 2020

“Me and my boyfriend loved the stay at Steps cottage.”

The property is based in a fantastic location for reaching both Bowness and Windermere on foot. It has one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in and the little stream outside the bedroom window is a lovely sound to wake up to in the mornings! The kitchen is well equipped for cooking in and the property has a nice outside area and adequate parking. My only slight niggle and it might just be a personal one is the strange staircase down to what seems to be a 2nd bedroom which is locked shut. The staircase made me a little uneasy, perhaps it should be blocked off completely or the room available as part of the stay.

- Kayleigh, August 2020
Ryan February 2020

“Really enjoyed my two week stay with Sykes the cottage I stayed in was only a few minutes walk from both bowness and Windermere which is ideal.”

The cottage was clean and well presented the bed was one of the comfiest I've slept in and things like the washer dryer made life so easy while I was there would definitely recommend if you're looking for a place to stay in the lakes as you get extremely good value for money will be using these guys again

- Ryan, February 2020
Geoffrey October 2019

“This cottage was spotless, and comfortable with a really comfy bed.”

the only minor issue is the position of the cottage meant with the curtains open you are overlooked by other properties. you are a ten minute walk from the lake. excellent base for travelling around the local villages and lakes, with magnificent walks and views. we will definately be going back to lake windermere, and would stay here again.

- Geoffrey, October 2019

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Summary

One bedroom:1 x king-size
Shower room with cubicle shower, WC, hand basin and towel rail
Sitting/dining room with woodburning stove
Kitchen.
Electric oven and hob, fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine/dryer
Gas central heating with woodburning stove
Books
TV
WiFi
Fuel and power is included in the rent
Fresh bed linen and towels are included in the rent
Off road parking
Private patio area accessed by stone steps with outdoor seating
Sorry, no pets allowed and no smoking
Pub 0.1 miles
Shop 0.4 miles
Note: The property is all on one level (with steps to access)
There is a room on the lower ground-floor which is used for storage and not available to guests.

Awards

The property

Ideal for couples seeking a romantic getaway. Steps Cottage is a homely ground-floor detached property located in the lively town of Windermere in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria. Climb up the stone steps to the entrance of the cottage and you will be welcomed into a contemporary, well-equipped kitchen complete with an electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, and a washer/dryer. Moving around the cottage, you will be able to find a bright and homely sitting and dining room where you can relax and unwind after adventure-filled days, with dining seating for two, a large stylish corner sofa, a wall-mounted TV, and a warming woodburner for a cosy ambience. Beyond this is a hallway with a small sitting area which benefits from a large window and an armchair where you can curl up with your favourite book. Completing the cottage's interior is a small contemporary shower room which includes a shower cubicle, WC, hand basin and a towel rail, and an admirable king-size bedroom, which features stylish furnishings, neutral décor, and ample hanging and wardrobe space. Accessed from the quaint stone steps to the left of the property, the cottage hosts a lovely private patio area with garden furniture where you can sit with a morning coffee or enjoy some quiet time. The town of Windermere is an exciting area to visit, boasting charming high streets, an excellent range of shops, restaurants, and pubs to choose from, as well as a number of notable nearby attractions including watersports on Windermere Lake, boat trips, guided walking and mountain trips, the thrilling 'Go Ape!' adventure park, and Grizedale Forest Park, a spectacular wooded area ideal for walkers and cyclists. Perfect for making memories, Steps Cottage promises a relaxing retreat in the heart of the Lake District National Park.

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About the location

BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE

Windermere Train Station 1.5 miles: Ambleside 5 miles; Kendal 7 miles.

The vibrant twin towns of Bowness and Windermere hold enduring appeal for visitors to the Lake District National Park, with each providing a range of nearby attractions, amenities, cinema, shops and restaurants to suit all tastes. A variety of boat trips and boat hire are available from Windermere Lake Cruises in Bowness to Brockhole, Ambleside and Lakeside (at the southern end of the lake where the Lakeside Aquarium and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway are situated). The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and the Old Laundry Theatre are 1.5 miles away. Orrest Head, where Alfred Wainwright was inspired to write his series of iconic guidebooks, is a 30-minute walk to enjoy the spectacular panorama of far-reaching views over the lake and surrounding fells. Brockhole, which offers high wire tree top experiences, is three miles away, and the historic villages of Grasmere, Ambleside and Troutbeck are a short drive away. There is also a variety of watersports on offer for the more energetic at marine centres along the lake. The area is ideally situated for exploring all that this region has to offer, whether by foot, bike, car, railway or bus; and is within easy reach of attractions such as the spectacular Langdales, Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House at Far Sawrey, Coniston, Grizedale Forest Park, with its delightful walks and famous outdoor sculptures, mountain biking and 'Go-Ape' adventure park, Ullswater, Kendal, Keswick, stone circles, Roman forts and England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike.

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Ideally situated for our Windermere visit, comfortable accommodation and really appreciated the little extras like tea, coffee and kitchen basics.”

“We couldn't resist coming to Steps Cottage when we saw the listing because we spent a week here 40 years ago when our son was a toddler and we were in our mid thirties.”

“Steps cottage was a pleasant surprise when we arrived and added to a lovely week in the Lakes.”

“Generally ok, however major problem with the building work ongoing with the shared access property behind the cottage.”

“Nice clean well equipped cottage ,ideal location off road parking a plus”

“Lovely location, lovely accommodation, bathroom compact but functional would be tricky if I were a very large lady!”

“Extremely comfortable, absolutely spotless.”

“One of the wall lights did not work, even after replacing the bulb.”

“The cottage was in a perfect position between Windermere and Bowness.”

“Really enjoyed our stay, very clean great location”

“We enjoyed our stay here.”

“Another good stay in steps cottage”

“We have enjoyed our stay at Step Cottage very much.”

“Steps cottage was lovely, in a quiet position but a very easy walk into Bowness, the walk back is up hill but still manageable.”

“Lovely quiet secluded property, every thing you could possibly need provided, ...”

“The bed in this property was extremely uncomfortable it was VERY VERY HARD.”

“Very pleased with the accommodation and also the location very close to the Lake and Town.”

“My partner and I really enjoyed our stay at Steps Cottage.”

“Lovely cottage, very comfortable.”

“Fantastic little cottage which was just perfect for our needs.”

“Thank you for a very comfortable and enjoyable stay.”

“Lovely cosy cottage stayed here for my birthday and loved it,didn’t want to leave.”

“I stayed here for a week with my partner.”

“It would have helped if we had instructions on how to work kitchen appliances.”

“A lovely cottage.”

“The bathroom is in need of refurbishment toilet hinges rusty.”

“List on the itenary that it has Irwin and Ironing board”

“Very nice stay at Steps Cottage and would definitely stay there again.”

“We were impressed that a representative telephoned the morning after we arrived to check everything was okay.”

“We thoroughly enjoyed our weeks stay at Steps Cottage and hope to return in the future.”

“Me and my boyfriend loved the stay at Steps cottage.”