Gunpowder Cottage

We know Gunpowder cottage well & overall for 5 adults, baby and a dog it was good.

The property is a good size, only two bathrooms (one very nice, looks recently refurbished) and although no separate toilet, it worked for us. Lots of hangers, a coat cupboard (with radiator), hair dryers etc. The garden is a real bonus & great for any dogs as secure. There is parking for two cars too. A stone’s throw from the Britannia pub & a short walk from the shop at Chapel stile/pub. The Stoves restaurant & tapas are also close. Could be improved … the dishwasher did not clean properly at all which is not great when you are a large group. I think the property could do with a deep clean (floors) and painting of kitchen cupboards as they look a little scruffy.

We were a group of six adults so I am not commenting on child-friendliness here (though it would be perfectly good for families I believe).

We enjoyed the cottage very much. It was right on the edge of the village so we enjoyed isolation yet facilities of the village were very close by. It was only around a minute’s walk to the Britannia, a nice pub with good very local ale and good food. The cottage was comfortable and spacious for six. Not sure I’d take more people though. Nice large comfortable lounge. Adequate (for six) dining room and adequate kitchen. Bedrooms were are good and beds comfortable. There were two toilets each with good showers in them. Overall we were very happy with our choice. If I was to offer a few mostly minor criticisms they would be these: - I was not happy at interactions with Sykes. I addressed a question about the property aimed at the owner. After three days I had not received an acceptable response. Their main contact method involves a chat session which does not work well. - the garden, though fine, is a bit small and sloping. It would have benefited from better garden furniture. - though it was early June and one night expect decent weather, it is the Lake District and inevitably it rained. It did get a little chilly. There a wood burner available but no wood provided. It would have been nice and not expensive to have provided us with a bit of wood. Thanks.

We’ve stayed at this cottage several times over the last 25 years or so, so knew what we were getting.

Upon arrival though, it hadn’t been cleaned properly. There were wrappers on the living room floor, as well as a cigarette butt. My husband opened the freezer and got water all over him - it had been switched off so had defrosted. Everything else was great.

Excellent cottage in a wonderful location.

Very comfortable and cosy after a day walking on the snowy lakeland fells.

Lovely house in a lovely location, but having stayed in similar-priced properties with Sykes, this isn't as good.

I can see it's been previously reported that the carpet is loose on the stairs: this still hasn't been fixed. The faulty catch on the bathroom door has been 'fixed' by putting a plaster over it. The supplies in the kitchen are very basic. There is a Nespresso coffee machine but unfortunately, one of the ones that only takes the capsules you can get by buying them from Nespresso, not the ones you can get from the supermarket, so pretty much renders this useless. The beds themselves are comfy, but the pillows are not and we all had neck ache for the majority of the stay; they are lumpy and flat and don't provide support. As someone else said, it would be a great addition to have a hand rail down the steps to the front door. We also had someone with us who struggles with mobility and they felt quite unsafe. The garden was lovely for the dogs, but half-way through our stay, the gardeners came to cut the grass, and when you've got two mainly-white dogs... well, you can imagine. It would maybe be a good idea to do this when the house is empty. They also did it on wet grass, so even though they said they would use a blower to clear away the cut grass, it didn't really do anything. Cue bits of grass in the house for the rest of the stay. As I said, the actual building is lush and the location is perfect, but it just needs a bit of titivating and thought to justify the cost.

No doubt a perfect location for a lovely valley.

We have stayed several times. Parking was an issue being blocked in, needs a sign “residents only”. Some snagging issues; Carpet gripper exposed on lower step. Door handle still an issue in the main bathroom as one of the kids got stuck inside as the catch would not release. This has been reported before and the screws keep coming out. Very dusty and needs a good clean and vacuum especially upstairs.There was a stain on a quilt in the wardrobe. On the whole it is a great place to stay as it is a lovely cosy cottage with lots of positives.

Stair carpet come away,wardrobe wobbles both of these a health and safety issue.

General cleanliness is appalling. The sofas constantly felt wet and cushions smelled terrible. Complained to Sykes who side stepped any responsibility will never use them again.

A lovely cottage in a great location, and perfectly sized for our family of four and dog.

It was great to be able to let the dog roam in the sealed garden knowing that she was safe, with no chance of escaping. Would definitely stay again.

It’s a perfect cottage for us due to its location.

There is no need for a car once parked up. Walks from the door and proximity to pub are a deciding factor as well as taking our dogs. I think the only detail to mention is new place mats please!!!!

1.

The entry is hazardous for elderly or unsteady visitors. It involves steep steps down, and there is no grab handle or banister which would be highly desirable for the safety of elderly or partly-abled guests. For this reason, one member of our party could not enter the cottage, and was forced to stay in nearby Langdale Hotel. 2. The garden was in a very untidy state. An attractive feature in previous visits, it was rendered unusable for our visit. We will not be booking this cottage for next year.

We were happy to find the kitchen well stocked ( pans, utensils, t-towels etc.

) Whilst it could have had more ordinary water glasses there was no shortage of wine glasses! The heating was easy to adjust. A few lights didnt work in the front room, which is a dark room. But overall, a very nice cottage with excellent Shower upstairs. For the bins on a Monday, the bin van reverses right up along the Pub carpark to cottage side. Cottage access is at back of Pub carpark. Britannia Inn has great food, and is virtually next door.

Cottage itself as lovely and spacious as ever (3rd year back).

Only thing that lets it down is the Wi-Fi speed and bandwidth which is very slow. It won't stop us from staying again but would be a 5 star all around if this was improved.

This was a lovely cottage in a perfect location.

It is a little tired but very cosy. A few suggestions though, an information pack would be good as we could not find the rubbish bin at the end of the week. Also it would benefit from being decorated in the Christmas period. We had to bring our own decorations. All in all we had a nice stay.

Arrived at cottage after very difficult wet journey.

Cottage cold and very unwelcoming. No heating on and no wood or coal to light the fire. The fire I would suggest needs maintenance as it was very difficult to get going. The Cottage was warm once we turned up on the thermostat , but it would have improved our experience if it was set to be warm for our arrival at 4pm. Only 3 wine glasses & 3 flutes not enough for a family gathering in a property that sleeps 8. As we were away for a pre-xmas break it would have been nice to find a xmas tree in the cottage. No mop and bucket and no outside bin for the cottage. Both bathrooms needs blinds at the windows.

Having stayed here before many years ago, we were happy to return as its a lovely cottage, great location and close to the famous Britannia Inn.

However, lost marks for listing accuracy, as I feel its misleading to say 4 bedrooms, 8 guests. Whilst true, it needs highlighting in the bullet points that this includes a family room for 3 and a single room, not way down in the extended information. 4 couples might be disappointed! Cleanliness-lovely, crisp white bedding but lost a mark as the floors were really dusty in the lounge. Comfort-An information pack would be appreciated, as arrival is after 4pm on a Saturday and we needed wood for the fire, as its November. Local shops info would be great, or a complimentary basket of wood to get us started, especially as website said fuel included. Now assume they meant oil for heating, not wood. Facilities and maintainence- great, self contained cottage, however would benefit from oven gloves, dustpan and the soap dispensers at all 3 sinks were empty (I note that this has been mentioned in previous reviews). Also, the icebox at the top of the lovely big fridge was completely iced up, so much so that nothing would fit in and the door wouldn't shut. The living room wall lights are useless, either didn't work or the bulbs were hardly noticeable. An additional outside light on the corner of the cottage would be appreciated, as when walking up to the door, there is a very dark section along the property leading to the steep steps outside the door, which you have to be right in front of before the light comes on. I also have to question the safety of the internal doors, both contain clear plain glass, no etching or stickers to highlight them when they are shut. I hope that they are safety glass at least. I know that competition is often fierce for short lets, so attention to detail is important for properties that become our home for a few days.

A cosy house in a very convenient location for lots of walks and the local pub.

Nicely furnished with a new bathroom, hob and oven. We enjoyed lighting the log fire in the evening and the lounge was big enough for our party of 5 adults and 2 dogs. Some things could do with a bit of TLC due to the amount of use it gets and it definitely needs some new cookware. (As we stayed here last year I brought some from home and nothing had changed so I was pleased I did).

The cottage is lovely and in a fabulous location for walking and getting around the area.

Unfortunately we couldn’t use the downstairs bathroom due to a plumbing issue which wasn’t ideal hence why I have marked facilities and maintenance down.

We had the best week, the whole family loved the cottage and my foster boy said he was really sad and wanted to live there for good he’s 8 btw… the bedrooms are spot on and the kitchen had everything you needed the glasses and cups etc was ample and the welcome pack had everything needed to keep clean… Perfect place for wandering out and back with the pub on the doorstep for food that was amazing!

Hi, on the whole we had a lovely stay, and thank you for the welcome pack, that was a nice touch.

. We have been to Gunpowder cottage before, and this time we mastered the use of the cooker. There was a constant flushing noise coming from an outbuilding, which was leaking water. Before we had chance to report this, we noticed the gardeners had been and the water had stopped, so assumed they had fixed the leak, but it was still quite noisy. The door handles inside are difficult to open and close, in particular for a young or elderly person, and the screws kept coming out of the upstairs one so we kept on screwing them back in, although they need bigger screws. This was a particular issue with the bathrooms which had to be fully closed when in use. When we arrived we had to wash some of the cutlery, glasses and plates, as some were left dirty. We also noticed the settees are getting a bit worn and have stains on them. However, we found the cottage a comfortable and cosy cottage, that is well equipped, and in a lovely location, so we have booked again for next summer. Just a thought, we overheard someone stopping elsewhere had said that they got 10-20% off meals at the wainwright and Britannia. This wasn’t available for us, could this be explored to support eating out through Lake Lovers as it’s very expensive now, just in case this could be an option, thanks.

The cottage was very nice in a superb location and a great private garden.

A couple of minor points were that the handle to the dining room came off in my hand because the door was sagging and catching on the floor because the top hinge was loose but luckily I had some tools in my van and sorted the problem. No charge involved

Absolutely fabulous cottage and area to stay at.

2nd year in a row at Gunpowder Cottage and the owners being kind enough to allow us to extend by a couple of days, made this year even more special. The lounge area is extremely comfortable and roomy with very large and comfortable bedroom too. All the facilities in the kitchen you need and so many walks directly from the door. Britannia Inn close by with a very good menu and friendly staff. Would recommend anytime except the week we want next year.......we will be returning, if you will have us?

Gunpowder is an excellent property for us, allowing dogs and 2 minutes from pub.

It’s comfortable and very easy to clean up after a stay. The only gripe is not having our £200 good housekeeping returned to us for quite a few weeks. Last time we booked through Sykes/ Lakelovers I had to enquire about it before it was paid.

ovely cottage and the location is superb.

No problems but a couple of minor things that could be improved. Quite a lot of the lamps and lights are faulty, either coming on but not very bright or flashing on and off. No cottage information folder or visiters book? There is a information folder from the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic which is more like a historical artifact now.

Great holiday cottage.

My only complaint would be that there were no frying pans that worked with the new induction hob (but this can be easily fixed). Lovely location, well done out and very comfortable. We had a lovely stay as a extended family of 6.

Having read previous reviews we were a little worried about Gunpowder Cottage, but we need not have been concerned.

The cottage was warm, comfortable and clean. Positives: great location in Elterwater, tucked behind the Britannia Inn; quiet, secure garden; recently redone upstairs shower room; well provisioned kitchen (hob can be temperamental - make sure the pan fits the ring); warm, comfortable living space with log burner (no wood provided). Negatives: while there are beds for 8 people, this requires a single bed in one of the double rooms - the cottage really only sleeps 7 and the living accommodation, while comfortable, could be cramped if there were more than 6 people (as there were only 4 of us, this wasn’t a problem); downstairs shower room is very dated and the shower itself isn’t great; no soap provided in either bathroom and no washing up liquid, just dishwasher tablets, but we have found the same issue in most Lakelovers cottages we have stayed in. Overall, we would stay here again but would like to see the downstairs shower room revamped.

This cottage was the perfect location but it was very tired and needed some tlc!

Some of the draw fronts were hanging off and in one bedroom the door knob wasn't attached so continuously fell off! Such small things that could easily of been sorted out. A lovely new bathroom shower upstairs but a very tired and basic shower downstairs. Also tiny amounts of soap in the hand dispencers, surely these could of been replaced?? This cottage did not feel welcoming at all. We luckily didn't need to spend much time in the cottage and we certainly will not be returning.

Gunpowder,which we have rented annually for over 30 years, again provided an excellent base for our family holiday.

The recent upgrads are very good; but the lack of some form of handgrip for the front steps remains a problem.The only other issue is that the draying room remainded locked for the whole week. We have already booked for next year in the name of my dauaghter Shelley

This was our second stay at Gunpowder Cottage and there have been some excellent improvements.

The kitchen is fabulous and offered a good selection of crockery, glasses, utensils etc. The new fridge freezer was ideal as we are a big family. The new bathroom is great. Loved the shower! We were very pleased that the awful smell from the oil heating system has been sorted! Some of the soft furnishings (sofa cushions and curtains) could do with a clean. Otherwise a fantastic stay.

Lovely cottage.

Only concern was the glass doors!! If you have children they have no concept of throwing a door open & the main room door had no stop & with a great big unit behind the door where the corner would hit the glass if your not careful. Se we left it open but it still moved, this is an accident waiting to happen. Views from upstairs were lovely, clean & tidy.

Good points.

1. Location is excellent for low level walks and mountain biking and bouldering and climbing. The younger members of our party did the last three. 2. Accommodation was large enough for our party of five adults and two dogs. Large modern upstairs bathroom with shower. 3. Kitchen was well equipped save for exceptions below. 4. House was Reasonably clean, save for comment below. 5. Twenty yards to a busy friendly pub that served good food and drink. It didn’t generate disturbance with noise at night. 6. Within walking distance of several fine tea and cake shops. 7. Well fenced and fully enclosed garden. 8. A working TV 9. Good internet and Wi-Fi On the other hand. 1. Could have been cleaner; several cobwebs in bedrooms and on wooden beams. 2. There was no dustpan & brush nor a sweeping broom to allow us to sweep up dog hair and keep the place as clean as we would have liked. We had no major spillages but if we had…… 3. There was no large pot in the kitchen which, as the accommodation is for eight, is a big miss. There was one small and one medium saucepan which was not sufficient for us. More saucepans needed of a larger size. 4. There were no pegs for the rather “Heath Robinson” washing line. A decent fixing for a longer and stronger line would be an improvement. 5. We were five adults and two more plus a baby were due, but could not make it. Whilst we felt there was sufficient room for five add another two plus child and it would have felt a bit cramped. We were lucky in having good weather so did not have to spend too much time indoors. 6. Some of the Steps to back garden and washing line need refixing as they were unstable. Overall This house was fine for us and our feedback points out the detail of where it could be improved. We would definitely stay there again and really enjoyed the location as well as the property itself.

Lovely cottage, perfect location.

Strong oil smell from downstairs cloak room so didn’t put coats in so was fine and ok if you keep door shut and don’t use. Cooker was interesting and complex but figured it out that only certain pans work on it but wasn’t straight forward. Main thing is I would stay there again without question. Thank you

We thought there was supposed to be a bath.

Disappointed replaced with a shower. my elderly mother in law isn't able to use a shower how ever fancy it is . The pots and pans were inadequate in size and number for catering for 5 of us never mind if we had had 8 . Looks like this issue dates back to last summer as well 1 hob ring, the large one front right, is temperamental and some evenings didn't work. You still have a saucepan in the cupboard that won't work on an induction hob! Parking for 3 is inaccurate. 2 normal cars only unless you block the gate access beyond. We had to use our national trust cards to park in village car park . Elterwater perfect location .

A lovely cottage in a fabulous location.

Our family and the dogs had a great time exploring the lakes and coming home to a log fire in the cosy sitting room. Would definitely recommend this property and will stay again.

After reading recent reviews of gunpowder cottage , we had worries that it was going to disappoint.

However, we enjoyed our stay thoroughly. Credit due to the cleaners who worked hard to clean the property before we arrived. Yes, the oil smell exists, but only if you open the boiler cupboard. We didn’t find it intrusive. The property listing doesn’t hide it’s rated at 3-star and so in terms of all the deal breakers i.e cleanliness - it was fine. We did feel that the beds should have mattress protectors - given these times but only a point to consider. The Wainwright pub in Chapel Stile and the Britannia are both excellent pubs and the cottage is well located to just go for a long walk and then a drink in the pub which is 50 meters away!! It’s peaceful and in a lovely place. Really enjoyed it in Elterwater.

Property had not been well cleaned when we arrived and didn't look like it had been thoroughly cleaned in a long time.

The dishwasher was full of poorly cleaned crockery when we arrived. We had to clean the dishwasher and then put most of the crockery, cutlery and glasses through again to get them properly clean. The microwave needed proper cleaning as well. There is a strong smell of heating oil from the boiler cupboard and the coat cupboard alongside it making these unusable. I doubt that the boiler installation would meet health and safety standards.

We have rented many cottages in Langdale but this has to be the worse experience to date.

The cottage was dirty, empty drinks bottles and food packaging down the sides of cupboards, beds etc. Housekeeping had to come back out to correct some of the issues, we addressed the others ourselves. One of the hobs does not accept any pans (induction) and one of the saucepans is not even an induction pan so you cannot use it. Another frying pan has lost its handle. Stairs and landing carpet is long overdue for replacement. The oil boiler has a problem, the smell of oil is not normal, as the maintenance person said it was, after inspecting it. We know from past feedback there has been an oil leak and it has been looked at. Every family member who visited commented as soon as they walked in. The coat cupboard is next door and all coats now stink of heating oil. The same week has gone up by 30% for 2022. We have no choice but to rebook as there is nothing in the village big enough, otherwise I would not have rebooked. I would not normally leave online reviews, but this time I will, as I hope it prompts a upgrade of this holiday cottage soon.

Serious concerns about the way my concerns over the safety of the property - strong fumes coming from the oil boiler - were handled and explained to me as being common with oil boilers.

Despite a request for someone to come out to check the safety of the property we were left all weekend with obnoxious fumes throughout the house requiring all doors and windows to be open - really unpleasant few days and obviously not safe. We did not receive a visit until Monday afternoon when a leak was identified and recitifed although even until departure at the end of the week the fumes in the boiler room (and to a lesser extent in the house) were strong making the drying cupboard useless (unless you wanted everything smelling of diesel/oil). I have taken this up with Lakelovers but a week on and no progress. Some other points, no mattress protector or pillow protectors on my bed which seems odd particularly in Covid times, no hand soap, no washing up liquid, no chopping board (just the big butchers block which did not feel particularly hygenic), no cafetiere, only one saucepan that worked with the touch sensitive hob. These are just minor things but the way in which the oil leak was handled has left me disappointed with the experience. Beautiful location and otherwise pleasant cottage.

Everything was fine but upon entering the property there was a very strong smell of heating oil.

This remained throughout the stay and was dismissed when reported to lakelovers. I was simply told 'we'll let the owners know'. I hung a few coats in the cupboard next to the boiler cupboard and upon returning home they reeked of the oil. I would say this was a fire and health hazard that should be rectified immediately.

The Central Heating was inadequate - it also stank of diesel which spread downstairs.

The mattresses on the beds were stained. There was no chopping board in the kitchen.

A few problems.

1 Advertised as log burner and central heating complete, sorry as we found out that did not include wood for the log burner. This compounded the matter as 2 the central heating did not work. However after two days it was working. This was due to the excellent friendly service by your telephone staff at both the Ambleside and Chester office also a special mention for Keith and Paul the c/heating repair men they we think really did give us great and pleasant attention, even providing us with four radiators to keep us warm till the boiler was repaired. 3 Did expect that the mattresses would have had mattress protectors supplied under the sheets.4 No cutting boards in the kitchen except for an enormous butchers chopping board. Apart from that we all had a really enjoyable stay