The Cragg | Ambleside | Gillbank | The Lake District And Cumbria

3.9★

8 Guests
4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
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

42 Customer Review(s)

P
October 2024

“A lovely cottage, in a great location close to Hawkshead.”

Had everything we needed for a lovely family holiday. Clean, tidy, comfortable, and cosy. Just for balance, it may not suit everyone as the walls between a couple of bedrooms are very thin, what do you expect for a property of this type, and age! Also, the access to the parking does need some faffing about as the slope up from the Hawkshead side will have your car bottoming out! That said, it suited us well.

Had everything we needed for a lovely family holiday. Clean, tidy, comfortable, and cosy. Just for balance, it may not suit everyone as the walls between a couple of bedrooms are very thin, what do you expect for a property of this type, and age! Also, the access to the parking does need some faffing about as the slope up from the Hawkshead side will have your car bottoming out! That said, it suited us well.

- P, October 2024
Zoe October 2024

“The bathrooms were filthy, the shower was not draining properly, and there was a fly infestation upstairs on arrival.”

Heating was not obvious how to use. It was not good value for money.

- Zoe, October 2024
Pete September 2024

“Disagree with some of the comments left by previous customers, yes the drive is ...”

Disagree with some of the comments left by previous customers, yes the drive is tight but so is mine at home, walls thin but it's been renovated in line with a listed building and that's what you are getting when you rent it

- Pete, September 2024
Jane September 2024

“The Cragg is lovely, roomy, comfortable & very well-supplied; also, full of quirky charm and history.”

The extensive grounds are fabulous & the location perfect. We and the dogs absolutely loved our stay & will definitely return.

- Jane, September 2024
Tracy June 2024

“I was concerned after reading previous reviews but this is a lovely old cottage, perfect for our stay in the lakes.”

Lots of lovely walks directly from the cottage and Hawkshead just a short stroll away.

- Tracy, June 2024

Thank you for your kind comments. We are pleased to see that you enjoyed your feedback. We hope to welcome you again. The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Nigel May 2024

“We really loved our stay and enjoyed the quirkiness and character of this old farmhouse.”

There was everything we needed in the kitchen bar washing up liquid. Beds and bed linen were clean and comfortable. Yes it's an old house and the floors are creaky, but that goes with the age of the house and if anything it adds to the character. The one downside was the access ramp from the road into the property. We were having to go up the road, turn round (not easy) and come back and enter from the left ramp to be able to get through the gate (I have a van). The ramp needs some attention, particularly the right ramp and the gate could be wider to make access from both sides easier. All in all a very enjoyable stay and we will definitely be back

- Nigel, May 2024
Jonathan March 2024

“We stay in a lot of these sorts of places - 4 to 5 times per year.”

I'd say that whilst definitely high on quirk/history, it was low on cleanliness and facilities. The listing appears to have been written by someone who was an estate agent in a previous life. Take "...a luxurious roll top bath or a quick rinse in the walk-in shower..." as an example. A more accurate description would be "...cold metal bath or low flow electric shower..." No mention about the lack of privacy throughout bedrooms and bathrooms due to wood panelling with large gaps between panels until reading the welcome folder that we didn't find until checkout day. Lots of broken items, poorly stocked kitchen, exterior lighting non-existent. Could go on and on but won't. Not bad enough to demand any refund but generally at the poorer end of similar offerings.

- Jonathan, March 2024

Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback. The property is advertised as Grade II listed and so many of the quirks of the property are to be expected. We always recommend that guests check the suitability of a property prior to booking. We will raise the issues in regards the amenities with our housekeeping and maintenance teams. Lakelovers Owner Team Property Owner
Elaine December 2023

“Beautiful cottage.”

Great facilities. Lovely and warm. As it is a little ‘out of the way’ and there is no street lights, I just think there definitely needs to be some lighting on the outside. At night time it is pitch black and the only light is a small bulb in the doorway. Even if it’s a couple of lights that come on with movement, as you turn into the property.

- Elaine, December 2023
Debbie December 2023

“This is a very historic house and just what we like as it had bags of character and quirky features including sloping floors.”

We agree with other feedback in that there are damp patches on the walls however, this didn’t bother us as it’s what you would expect from a house that is 300 years old (if we are right taking the date from within the house). However we cannot speak as highly of Sykes. When we arrived the Aga wasn’t working properly and was expelling horrendous fumes which meant we couldn’t stay downstairs and had to open all the doors. Clearly the flue was blocked as the fumes were coming back through the vent. We reported this to Sykes and as it was Christmas Eve, we expressed the need for urgency to be able to cook Christmas dinner for 8 people. A representative came and said he could smell the fumes walking up the path and agreed it was unacceptable. However being 5pm on Christmas Eve (and him not being an Aga engineer) all he could do was light it or turn it off as it would need a proper engineer. Clearly we were very disappointed although we can’t complain about the maintenance guy who was very pleasant and sympathetic. Alas we had to cook dinner in a small electric oven in stages and reheat in the microwave as the turkey was cooked. We finally received a message from Sykes saying they would need to send someone out so as not to impact any future bookings and could we leave the key so he could get in! I made it clear I didn’t care about future bookings. The Aga was not needed now as we would be out or able to use the small oven and hob for the rest of the week. Christmas dinner was the important meal which needed the Aga. We followed up our message with a call to Sykes confirming they were not to inconvenience us anymore and they were not to send someone out. Despite two clear instructions and us taking the key, they let themselves in and lit the Aga. No idea what time but we returned to the house after a day out which was yet again filled with fumes! We had to open all doors and send the children upstairs again. On reporting this the representative on the phone agreed they had clearly received our instruction and it was very wrong for this to have been ignored. An hour or so later we felt a little chilly. The heating had gone off! We put the thermostat up and checked the boiler. No joy. Whatever the person who came in had done it had cocked up the heating. We again called and said we had no heating at all apart from a small oil heater that was in one of the rooms. We were told that someone would come back to us. By 7pm we realised no one was calling or coming to sort this out. Being late December it was VERY cold and the children were crying. We had to drive round to find logs so we could at least light the log burner in the snug. Finally finding them at Troutbeck bridge and £50 later with an hours round trip, we finally had some form of heat but overnight it was still so cold. At 11am next morning we had STILL not received a call and had to chase again. At 1pm someone brought some electric heaters and had a look at the heating. He couldn’t fix the heating but called a gas engineer who told him to reset something on the boiler and finally we had heat. Firstly why was someone not out the night before with those heaters? Why were we left as a family with young children without heat and why were we ignored? Again the guy that came out was very sympathetic, pleasant and understood our frustration and agreed it was poor service. The day after we came home so we had a lot of drama for what was a looked forward to family Christmas break with 3 generations. Clearly we complained. Sykes advised us that the owners had offered a partial refund. I feel that was unfair on the owners as our issue was the service from Sykes. Clearly the Aga was faulty which is the responsibility of the owner however, Sykes manage it and should have prioritised the fault being Christmas Eve. Again the heating was because Sykes ignored our request not to mess with the Aga and was not the owners fault. We have at least 4 holidays a year in the UK and have holidayed numerous times (at least 10 times with various family members) with Sykes but have never had the need to utilise their service during our stay. Clearly this was shockingly poor and a huge disappointment to say the least. I hope they have learnt from this and improve their responses especially at crucial times of the year. Lost customers through poor service should not happen with a good business who value their customers. I am afraid they have lost at least 5 within our family groups as well recommendations. We have already booked our next holiday in February but sadly not with Sykes, Heart of the Lakes or Lake Lovers. It is a shame as we would recommend the house but the owners need to change managing agents for us to return.

- Debbie, December 2023
Sophie October 2023

“We had a wonderful stay at The Cragg.”

It’s bursting with character and charm and positioned only a short walk from Hawkshead. As a family of 8 it had everything we needed. The beds were comfy and the gardens were lovely to walk around. The only thing missing from our perspective was information on the history the house, given it’s over 300 years old we’d love to have learnt more about its past!

- Sophie, October 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We take all comments on board, and hope that you will come back again. Lakelovers Owner Relations Property Owner
Lesley October 2023

“Property was not at the level of clean lines expected.”

We appreciated the Quirkiness of the cottage due to its age. What was extremely heard to understand is how many of the issues we experience have been highlighted on multiple occasions but yet nothing would appear to have been done to address the issues. The property was dirty old COBWEBS, flies, spiders, dust everywhere. Any attempt at maintenance would appear to be basic. Mould was seen everywhere, downstairs, bathroom and bedrooms alongside peeling plaster on walls. Sofas in the room with the log fire very poor. Log fire window glass broken. Only positive was the aga which kept the house warm. Would not stay again with out futher invest ment in property maintenance.

- Lesley, October 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to read about the cleanliness of the property. We will raise this with the housekeeping team. However, had we known about it during your stay we would have actioned a reclean. Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Mark September 2023

“Hi there I have just returned from staying at the Cragg and wanted to make a few comments as to the quality of the building The place is very untidy and very dirty, I spent the first 2 hours cleaning the kitchen as it was so dirty and did not look like it had been cleaned for some time, dirt and cobwebs were above the cooking area For 8 people the standard of pans and knives was quite poor There were lots of lights that had gone and spare lights bulbs should be in the cottage, I would suggest a hoover of some standard should also be left so that we can hoover the rooms to provide a better living experience In the room with the open fire one of the blue chairs legs was broken so we didn’t use it also both sofas had seen better days and basically meant this room was unusable All of the beds mattresses were very poor and gave a poor nights sleep each night There was mould in all of the bedrooms and bathrooms to such an extent that one of our friends had to leave after 2 days as the mould was affecting his asthma There was one shower only to be shared between 8 people Overall the cottage was very tired and basic and did create the holiday experience we were expecting from your company.”

I look forward to your response Yours Mark howden

- Mark, September 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear of your experience. We take all comments on board, and we will be looking into the points raised. Thank you- The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Mel June 2023

“What an absolutely delightful cottage, it was really well equipped and so quaint and we loved it.”

The garden absolutely made it for us, our 4 legged guest had the best time running around and snuffling in the bushes. I have 1 tiny criticism ...I stayed in the king sized room and there was no mirror apart from that it was perfect and I would recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere peaceful to stay. We shall be back next year.

- Mel, June 2023

Thank you for your kind comments. We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay, and that your dog enjoyed the garden too! We take your suggestion about the mirror on board. We hope to welcome you again. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Jacqueline May 2023

“Beautiful quirky farmhouse with lots of character and stunning location.”

The aga was great fun to try and masses of hot water, however, on arrival to find no basic cleaning products or toilet cleaner. Anyone hiring needs to make sure they bring basics such as tea, coffee, salt, pepper which have usually been provided in previous self catering properties. Although the house was clean it could do with a deep clean generally ( we do live in a very old house so understand that it’s difficult to keep areas free of dust etc) but we do feel when paying quite a lot to hire this should be done. Having no access to a broom or hoover made trying to clear up after having a dog plus children quiet difficult. We did feel that anyone hiring should be aware that the gate entrance for larger cars could be an issue, however, we did really enjoy our stay and loved living in the historic farmhouse with a great garden which our dog enjoyed.

- Jacqueline, May 2023

Thank you for your comments, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay, and your doggie too! We will ask our Housekeeping team to ensure that our high standards continue to be met. We take all comments on board. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Jayne May 2023

“We had a fabulous few days.”

The Cragg is full of character and quirks that you would expect with a listed property. The gaps in the wood panelled walls and the undulating floors added to the character and charm. The facilities are all good, with only a couple of things that maybe could be improved. The bathroom with shower in bath, I was concerned about the wall, floor getting overly wet (and causing damage longterm) when the shower was in use - not sure how to resolve that, and it would be useful to have a long handled broom so people can brush up after themselves. The garden and outside are beautiful, especially the azealea’s in full bloom. Access to the property is a little challenging especially with big cars, but with care and practice we worked out the best way through the gate. I would thoroughly recommend the property and would be glad to go back for a repeat visit. You have a stunning property in a superb location.

- Jayne, May 2023

Thank you for your comments, we are so pleased to hear that you had a lovely stay. We take all comments on board. We hope to welcome you again. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Caroline April 2023

“Size and warmth (from the aga) was great.”

The property just feels a bit tired and grubby. Fridge light wasn’t broken, dishwasher either needs a good clean or it’s on its last legs, a few non working light bulbs. The main areas are clean, bedding and bathrooms were fine. It needs a really good deep clean, in the corners and behind and under furniture.

- Caroline, April 2023

Thank you for your comments. We take all comments on board. We hope to welcome you back. Property Owner
Smith March 2023

“Firstly, a big thank you to the housekeeping team for leaving the house so clean, tidy and such organised cupboards!”

Nothing for me to do! I also appreciated all the upgrades with glasses, cutlery and bedding. It was such dire weather it was a relief to come back although the main bedroom window would not shut so a bit drafty. I thought this would be my last stay at the Cragg after previous experiences but I now hope to come again although less frequently as small party discount no longer used. Lastly, such a lovely house deserves to be maintained. All it needs is a bucket of plaster, a carpenter with a sander and some varnish, and a load of mould free white paint so hopefully that will happen soon.

- Smith, March 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are glad that you found the house to be tidy and clean. We take all comments on board, and we hope to welcome you back again. Property Owner
Carol December 2022

“Can’t stress enough how awful that driveway entrance is, plus the house name sign is rather small and we initially missed it.”

The property is beautiful and charming, great kitchen although a new can opener is required. Thankfully we’re a close family as there is no privacy between master bedroom and adjoining room, Gaps in the wood walls make it like you’re literally sleeping in the same room. The floors are very uneven, to be expected in a property this age, so I wouldn’t recommend for anyone unsteady on their feet. The property is in a lovely location and overall we enjoyed our stay, house has loads of character and is well equipped, there’s plenty of space for everyone to relax. However a major bugbear was the 10am checkout, with request to ensure dishwasher used and emptied prior to leaving. A bit much of an ask when people are on a vacation to relax. 10am checkout with 4pm check in is a six hour turnaround on the property, this could easily be reduced to give a later checkout.

- Carol, December 2022
Karen November 2022

“Another great stay at the Cragg.”

It is so good to find somewhere so totally authentic and unspoilt yet warm and comfortable. We really appreciate that the owners have not over-renovated but left the creaking and sloping floors and stairs. Two sitting rooms is brilliant, and the outside loo a bonus for a house full of people. We used the arga for all our cooking which was a great learning experience, and the log burner makes for a very cosy feel. Thanks for a brilliant week's holiday.

- Karen, November 2022
Angela October 2022

“We’ve stayed here twice and love the property and location(we’re looking to come back October 2023).”

We were amazed at how warm the property was and the big feather quilts were so cozy. Just a little feedback: - a mirror in all the bedrooms would be better. Myself and another room had to share a little travel mirror when drying our hair. - a few extra bowls for meals would be good. Having to wash between our meal and dessert was a little annoying. There were only 3 wine glasses available so most of the part had to drink from tumblers. These aren’t major things in the slightest, but would have been nice. Also, sharper kitchen knifes! - the building/shed between the two properties has a wooden door with large holes in the bottom of the planks. This was a bit of an issue as our small dog constantly wanted to crawl through. We weren’t concerned about her getting stuck, but not knowing what was on the other side or her causing damage to something in there was worrying. We had a brilliant time and look forward to coming back next year.

- Angela, October 2022
Steven September 2022

“This historic cottage is in a great location for walks from the door to Hawkshead and the surrounding area.”

The cottage is spacious and well appointed with everything needed for staying a week. The snug was great to get away from the TV. As a listed building it is quirky with lots of original features such as wood paneling and low beams (you get used to these) with modern additions. We enjoyed the gardens which are mature and extensive with some views to Hawkshead. The family bedroom would benefit from a wardrobe and the outdoor toilet was not listed (but useful).

- Steven, September 2022
Juanita August 2022

“The Cragg is an amazing house.”

We loved it and felt we needed to take care of it (unlike the group in before us). The aga was a highlight as we are all cooks and enjoyed learning how to use it. Great walks from the house, Latterbarrow, Moss Eccles Tarn, Hawkshead across the fields. Trips out Coniston water. , Old Man Coniston - beautiful. Swimming and kayaking in Coniston water.

- Juanita, August 2022
S July 2022

“Lovely property a bit creaky perfect for a family or two,great and peaceful location enjoyed our stay .”

Thanks

- S, July 2022
Richard July 2022

“This is being published as I’ve sent this review twice to Heart of the Lakes along with photos on the 11 & 25 July 2022, but we have had no response, which is very poor.”

Review ! An interesting, quirky and peaceful house but beneath its charm lie some issues readers need to be aware before they book or before they arrive. I wish I had known ! First, a positive - found a wasps nest in the roof space on day 2, which meant they were entering the house, and after calling Heart of the Lakes on Monday morning, they sent out their maintenance team - thank you Tony for spraying it & Keith who destroyed it - great great response and thank you to Gabriella who took my call and acted on it. Another few positives - Plenty of hand towels and bath towels and I think they were relatively new, as they were lovely and soft. The wi-fi and 4G coverage was great and an added bonus especially as the cottage is remote. Great to have two fridges and the washer and separate dryer. Separate Freezer was helpful but it could do with a good clean and defrosting. Now onto the issues that need addressing with some urgency by the owner (and to be followed up by HOTL), much of which has been said before on reviews but not acted upon such as wobbly table - its not hard to fix it as it been reported many many months ago by another reviewer. Made for interesting meal times plus don’t use the cork mats, as they stick to the table !!! Access to the property was really challenging through a very very narrow gate on a dodgy driveway with overgrown bushes from the cottage next door, which is badly designed and had I known how tight it was, I would not have stayed - anything bigger than a normal sized car, forget it. I scratched the car through hitting the brambles that had not been cut back on the drive way to the gates, so I’m not happy at all ! Cleanliness - not very clean in places with multiple areas not been cleaned for many months such as behind beds, under beds, behind settees (found tissues), behind blanket chest (found unused nappy). Also some dirt when opening windows in the tv room and on the light above the Aga - finally, some worktops were sticky and not very clean so needed a wipe when we arrived. Lots of surface mould in shower room on the walls, ceiling and mastic - not great especially for those in our party who had asthma. The window remained open for long periods to at least circulate the air. Shower head - absolutely filthy. In addition, for all new arrivals, please bring the basics such as tea towels, cloths, cleaning items, salt and pepper, milk, tea bags as nothing is provided apart from a very small cleaning pack that had 2 bin bags, 3 dishwasher tablets and one cloth in it (be £3 at best). Some of the plates, bowls and glasses were chipped (we reported those). We even had to buy our own oven trays (which we took home - sorry), as the others were minging - that’s a Yorkshire term for disgusting. The aga cooker dials also need addressing as you can’t see some of the numbers on so easy to leave on by mistake and that could cost money. Finally, for those with young children and dogs, the garden is not really child friendly (steep banks and not enclosed) and not very dog friendly (not enclosed and lots of undergrowth). Again, when being charged an extra £20 to take your dog, I had hoped for an enclosed garden for my dog to be able to chill out. I did point out some of these issues in my call to HOTL when ringing about the wasps nest and hopefully, they will get addressed at some stage. Would I come again or recommend it to my friends and family, as it is now - sorry it’s a no and for those people paying top whack in the summer months, do bring your home from home basics as you’ll need them ! Should I have asked HOTL to come in and sort some of these things out - yes, probably but we knew that for the jobs to be done properly, it would take some time and we did not want to be disturbed especially, as we were celebrating a 21st birthday and wanted some rest and recuperation having worked through covid and it was our first family holiday for two years. Come on Mr Owner, spend a few £’s on maintenance, remedial painting, improving the cleanliness massively and upgrading some of the kitchen items, and it will be moving to a four star as the listing says, not a two star in my view. Note - I have provided HOTL with numerous photos to prove this is a truthful review, as I would never ever ever post a bad review without having the evidence. I post many positive reviews and it’s always with a heavy heart that I post but want others to have a better experience than we have had.

- Richard, July 2022
Beverly June 2022

“We had a fabulous week at the Cragg, lovely quirky cottage, quiet, peaceful and many great walks on the doorstep (Wray castle, Latterbarrow, Windermere).”

I already have separation anxiety from the Aga which was a treat to use, This kept the kitchen warm and cosy and we spent most of our time in here rather than the sitting rooms. Nice having 2 sitting rooms but only used the one. One of the blue tub chairs legs is broken ( falls out when moved), this needs attention.The kitchen was spacious and had all the utensils/pots/pans required. Nice to have second fridge in utility/boot room. The kitchen table and some of the chairs are wobbly and require some attention. There is a blanket box in the kitchen which contains lots of pairs of walking boots if required, we found this the day we left. Might be worth knowing about if a guest has forgotten or has no walking boots. There were 2 keys on the ledge by the pantry, we did not know what these for and were not spare front door keys. All bedrooms were comfortable, light and airy. As previous guests have said due the grade 2 listing the cragg has oak panelling both up and downstairs which in parts you can see through to adjoining rooms. Lovely to have freestanding bath and plenty of hot water. It would have be nice to have provided hand towels in each bathroom, this was not a problem for us as we took them with us but useful to know none are provided for other guests. Both bathrooms have wedges to use as door locks. If you are tall then duck wherever you go, door height is an issue for taller people. There is an outside toilet, just outside the TV room. This is attached to a septic tank. The Cragg is a 15min walk away from Hawkshead via the fields, small co op, 4 pubs, one fish and chip shop and several coffee shops. Ambleside 20 mins away by car for Tesco extra. Booths in Windermere. The Cragg cottage is behind the Cragg house ( this faces the road and is also white), accessed through the white gates to the right of the Cragg house and as previous guests have mentioned, this is a bit tight but manageable, however could be a problem for wider cars than ours , 3 cars parked no problem. Overall really good week with family, lovely cottage in a nice area with great walks.

- Beverly, June 2022
Tonia May 2022

“Such a lovely cottage”

- Tonia, May 2022
Gillian May 2022

“A lovely holiday at The Cragg.”

The house is very comfortable, and there is everything there that’s needed, especially for cooking. The Aga is lovely and makes the kitchen so homely. The garden is beautiful and well cared for (the azaleas were spectacular while we were there). Perfect location for a restful break, no problem to find from the instructions provided, would love to visit again.

- Gillian, May 2022
Peter April 2022

“Beautiful cottage.”

I could foresee some problems for some people with the cracks in the wood panelling allowing prying eyes to peek through. The only other thing is the gateway is pretty tight space. We had a great holiday thanks

- Peter, April 2022
Gordon April 2022

“Loved the property and situation.”

Beautiful property inside and out with all the facilities you would expect in a holiday let. If I was to be super critical, the kitchen could have been cleaner and the previous residents had left mouldy bread in the bread bin. The access to the drive is a bit testing when coming from the south, we tried all the options, reversing in, reversing out but settled for the 3 point turn in the junction up the road. That aside we would stay again, great property.

- Gordon, April 2022
Alexa March 2022

“We had a lovely stay.”

Clean - it seems that a deep clean must have taken place, given previous reviews. Comfortable beds. We will definitely stay again :)

- Alexa, March 2022
Teresa December 2021

“Had a lovely Christmas at The Cragg, the family enjoyed the house ,very warm and cosy.”

A nice touch would have been to have a Christmas tree and some decorations, however we all had a lovely stay

- Teresa, December 2021
Smith November 2021

“There were many outstanding issues raised by me and other guests before including large patches of peeling paint on walls, how partially dirty and disorganised kitchen was left for me, mattress which needs to be replaced badly and disgusting toilet brushes and holders (rusty, stained, dusty and with dirty water on and in base).”

The latter were replaced with budget brushes but at least they were clean so absolutely fine. I took photos and sent them to Sykes/ heart of the Lakes but barely an apology, mainly automated replies assuming that once brushes were provided all was well. It remains to be seen whether agency or owners do anything at all.

- Smith, November 2021
K October 2021

“The cottage is full of character and in a beautiful part of the Lake District.”

It is very warm and the aga is a real treat to use. Having two sitting rooms and two bathrooms helped to make it very flexible for five friends and individuals.

- K, October 2021
Rebecca October 2021

“Really enjoyed staying at this lovely old farm house, loved all the old details of the building and enjoyed learning how to cook on the aga.”

Great location for exploring the Lakes too.

- Rebecca, October 2021
Colin October 2021

“Lovely setting and a very nice place to spend a great week in the Lake district.”

The property is old and quircky but is all the more interesting for that. The table in the kitchen really needs seeing too as many of the past users have noted and yet nothing has been done. As does the fridge in the kitchen which has no useable shelves in it - which is a bit awkward when their is a lot of you wanting to store food for the week. Everything else in the place is lovely and the setting is fantastic for people wanting to walk from the property. The Outgate Inn is a superb pub providing very good food at Lakeland prices. Booking in any of the pubs in Hawshead is very difficult if you are not a resident in that pub. We really enjoyed our week long stay booked through Heart of the Lakes who are excellent people to deal with. Mr C Brooks.

- Colin, October 2021
Anthea September 2021

“The property is in a good location and a short walk into Hawkshead (either by road or public footpath).”

The cottage is very quirky but most of the doors are very low so if you are tall you need to stoop to go through. There is a good garden space with a seating area on a raised patio which was a great place to sit when the sun was shining. On the downside, the property needs a thorough deep clean (which was mentioned in an earlier review but appeared not to have been addressed by the time we were there). It was not possible to use the log burner as there was a crack all along the glass pane on the door. This was a major disappointment as that was the main reason I had booked the cottage. The bedding on the super king bed did not fit properly and left the top end of the mattress showing. The rubbish bin for the property was full on arrival and it was not possible to put our rubbish in This was partially emptied after I called the local office to report it. There was a spiky plant near the front door which scratched my eye whilst I was bending down to sort out the food delivery and could pose a hazard to a child.

- Anthea, September 2021
Christina September 2021

“Cottage ideally located ,warm and large enough to accommodate a big family .”

Negatives , narrow gates and pot hole on drive , in need of deep clean , apart from.. master bedroom mattresses need updating ,

- Christina, September 2021
Sarah July 2021

“We had a brilliant week loved the house, will be returning.”

Just a couple of things to note: Table in kitchen could do with fixing top is lose. Useful to tell people Aga has an electric combination cooker in addition to traditional Aga. Directions need to say the house is behind Cragg Cottage, best to approach from Wray Castle end so avoid driveway pothole!

- Sarah, July 2021
Vicki July 2021

“The house is beautiful and wonderfully located.”

The garden is huge but appears fenced - happy to give my dog freedom. Great to see the gardener comes to cut grass. Well equipped kitchen. Lovely to have the Aga on in summer for cooking and warmth . I think given the oak walls which don’t give much privacy then house not suited to more than 2 couples/ families. Loved it , Thank you.

- Vicki, July 2021
Carl June 2021

“Property was a bit shabby, needs a bit of refurbishment .”

Not very clean, garden is not toddler friendly. The drive going into the property needs re doing big pot hole on one side. Very disappointed.

- Carl, June 2021
Graham May 2021

“Yes. It's an interesting property, bearing in mind its age, with various quirks like uneven floors upstairs and a back door that can't be opened from the outside.”

The garden has some nice shrubs at this time of year and is good enough to sit in when the weather relents. Very quiet and peaceful. We took some time to get used to the modern taps in the kitchen and bathrooms. The lounges are comfortable but the beds less so - if you prefer a firm one. Things we didn't like: 1 The information pack needs updating. There is no longer a separate dvd player. I was on the phone to you when my wife found the slot on the newer TV. By the way, the remote control doesn't control the dvd and the picture is sub-standard. 2 The baking tray doesn't fit in the oven. We had to go to Lakeland. 3 Not the owner's fault but we didn't like the recycling arrangements; couldn't see how sodden newspapers could be recycled (no blue bag provided for them). So the only things we recycled were glass bottles. 4 The drive from the road. I soon discovered a pot hole in the approach to and from Hawkshead, with wheel spinning and a concern about possible damage to the car. This meant I had to drive up the road to find somewhere to turn round. A small car might just about miss it.

- Graham, May 2021
Linda April 2021

“Fantastic location, only 15 minutes walk to Hawkshead, beautiful views from the house.”

House so homely, comfortable & warm. Lovely grounds, ideal for us all.

- Linda, April 2021

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Summary

Four bedrooms: 1 x family room with one super-king-size and one single, 1 x king-size, 1 x double, 1 x twin
Bathroom with roll top bath, handheld shower, basin and WC
Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
Kitchen/diner
Utility
Sitting room
Snug with woodburning stove
central heating and woodburning stove
AGA, electric oven and ceramic hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview and DVD, radio and WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
High chair at the property
Off-road parking for four cars
Private patio and lawned garden with furniture and secure bike storage
One well-behaved pet welcome
Sorry, no smoking.

The property

It is easy to see why this beautiful Grade Two listed character farmhouse will be a popular holiday venue for our guests.

Dating from 1695, and set in Beatrix Potter country, The Cragg oozes character, combined with a peaceful, relaxing feel, a large garden and plenty of home comforts - everything you need for a perfect holiday in any season.

There are walks and cycle rides from the door along quiet country lanes, and footpaths to nearby Hawksead and also to Claife Heights and Latterbarrow.

Don't miss a visit to Wray Castle, an exciting lake shore venue especially if you have children - the adventure playground is one of the best in the area.

Hawkshead has everything you need for day to day shopping as well as several excellent pubs and cafes.

You are also well placed for visits to Beatrix Potter's Hilltop home at Near Sawrey.

Accommodation: The covered entrance porch leads into the stone flagged, oak panelled dining kitchen with its cosy AGA (additional electric cooker with ceramic hob) and circular dining table for family meals.

There are two sitting rooms - a quiet room to the front with log burner - an ideal spot for a relaxing read or a quiet glass of wine.

The snug to the rear of the house has flat screen TV (freeview, dvd), comfy seating and back door to the garden.

Wi-fi.

Well-equipped utility room. Upstairs you will find four good bedrooms - a king double, a twin and a further double whilst the fourth bedroom has super king double and an extra single bed (please note maximum 8 people in the property.

Family bathroom with roll top bath, basin and wc and additional shower room with shower, basin and wc.

The Cragg is comfortably furnished with fitted carpets upstairs and rugs to flagged floors on the ground floor.

The original oak panelling throughout the house is a real feature, complemented by the deep set windows, beamed ceilings and spice cupboards.

Outside: Garden areas extend to around an acre with mature shrubs, patio with garden seating and plenty of grassy lawns to front and rear.

Parking within the grounds for up to three or four cars.

Bike storage available on site.

Shopping and eating out in Hawkshead 1 mile approx.

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 for woodburning stove are available to buy locally. Note: This property sleeps a maximum of eight guests

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Your selection:

Features

Reviews & Ratings

“A lovely cottage, in a great location close to Hawkshead.”

“The bathrooms were filthy, the shower was not draining properly, and there was a fly infestation upstairs on arrival.”

“Disagree with some of the comments left by previous customers, yes the drive is ...”

“The Cragg is lovely, roomy, comfortable & very well-supplied; also, full of quirky charm and history.”

“I was concerned after reading previous reviews but this is a lovely old cottage, perfect for our stay in the lakes.”

“We really loved our stay and enjoyed the quirkiness and character of this old farmhouse.”

“We stay in a lot of these sorts of places - 4 to 5 times per year.”

“Beautiful cottage.”

“This is a very historic house and just what we like as it had bags of character and quirky features including sloping floors.”

“We had a wonderful stay at The Cragg.”

“Property was not at the level of clean lines expected.”

“What an absolutely delightful cottage, it was really well equipped and so quaint and we loved it.”

“Beautiful quirky farmhouse with lots of character and stunning location.”

“We had a fabulous few days.”

“Size and warmth (from the aga) was great.”

“Firstly, a big thank you to the housekeeping team for leaving the house so clean, tidy and such organised cupboards!”

“Can’t stress enough how awful that driveway entrance is, plus the house name sign is rather small and we initially missed it.”

“Another great stay at the Cragg.”

“We’ve stayed here twice and love the property and location(we’re looking to come back October 2023).”

“This historic cottage is in a great location for walks from the door to Hawkshead and the surrounding area.”

“The Cragg is an amazing house.”

“Lovely property a bit creaky perfect for a family or two,great and peaceful location enjoyed our stay .”

“This is being published as I’ve sent this review twice to Heart of the Lakes along with photos on the 11 & 25 July 2022, but we have had no response, which is very poor.”

“We had a fabulous week at the Cragg, lovely quirky cottage, quiet, peaceful and many great walks on the doorstep (Wray castle, Latterbarrow, Windermere).”

“Such a lovely cottage”

“A lovely holiday at The Cragg.”

“Beautiful cottage.”

“Loved the property and situation.”

“We had a lovely stay.”

“Had a lovely Christmas at The Cragg, the family enjoyed the house ,very warm and cosy.”

“The cottage is full of character and in a beautiful part of the Lake District.”

“Really enjoyed staying at this lovely old farm house, loved all the old details of the building and enjoyed learning how to cook on the aga.”

“Lovely setting and a very nice place to spend a great week in the Lake district.”

“The property is in a good location and a short walk into Hawkshead (either by road or public footpath).”

“Cottage ideally located ,warm and large enough to accommodate a big family .”

“We had a brilliant week loved the house, will be returning.”

“The house is beautiful and wonderfully located.”

“Property was a bit shabby, needs a bit of refurbishment .”

“Yes. It's an interesting property, bearing in mind its age, with various quirks like uneven floors upstairs and a back door that can't be opened from the outside.”

“Fantastic location, only 15 minutes walk to Hawkshead, beautiful views from the house.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

AMBLESIDE