Gilson

Lovely cottage , fabulous views, conveniently close to the ferry crossing Cleanliness of the floors could be better, Hoover is super loud and leaves a horrible smell in the room Would definitely stay again

Generaly good could do with a bit of TLC getting a bit tired the one we were in GILSON apart from that very good ideal great walks with dog and yes would stay.

again

Cupboard doors broken in bedroom Unable to open all windows - very hot and portable fan not adequate.

Blinds in bed room cheap rubbish - broken and not black out ones Hoover is faulty Beautiful location but holiday spoilt by poor up keep of cottage - very disappointed….

Can you please advise the owner of an issue with the towel radiator.

The trv leaks when open which has caused damage to the ceiling below . They may be aware of this issue as the ceiling in the kitchen has old water stains. Also the extractor fan doesn’t work . We had a lovely time regardless of this as it didn’t cause us an issue just want to advise so it could be rectified. Peaceful setting and lovely view

When we stepped through the door we were very impressed with the appartment and the views.

We loved sitting having a drink on the balcony watch the birds and looking at the views. An umbrella would have been usefull due to the balcony getting all the sun in the afternoon, due to the hot weather you could not sit out for too long without shade. Overall fantastic place and have booked it again for next year, so much more to see and do out and about. Very peaceful and relaxing, everything you need is in the appartment.

Lovely quiet location with excellent view over bay will small boats anchored.

Amazing place to chill out.

A great setting with Lovely views over the lake.

However the oven grill still had food on from the previous guests so obviously had not been checked/cleaned. There was no spare bag for the small bin in the kitchen. The wardrobe doors are faulty and do not slide easily, inspite previous reviews highlighting this fault.

An absolutely stunning location with the lake on the doorstep.

We walked every day from the door and had the best (and very hot!) time!

Our state was brilliant lovely place and the accommodation was perfect.

Nothing to complain about whatsoever except the vacuum cleaner didn’t work very well but the rest was perfect. Would like to return for another holiday. Thank you.

Amazing stay.

Great location. Good arrival information. The apartment is very accommodating for our needs, just a few tweaks and it would be outstanding. The shower room Could do with a good bleaching to remove dirt and dust from tile grouting and corners. In the shower there is soap scum in grouting - again a bleach spray when cleaning would resolve this. As previously reviewed the wardrobe door comes off the rails - probably due to getting caught on coat hangers on rail. Remove rail and put hooks along the back of wardrobe for people to put hangers on. To help keep apartment smart put out coasters to use. Glass has crack on it as in a previous review (was tempted to throw it away). Rug a bit dirty. Race cleaning spray for clients as they will use it to keep apartment clean. All little things that will enhance your property. Great hamper provided that was really appreciated and views, walks and being so close to the ferry was fantastic. Thank you for a great stay.

The location was stunning, right next to the lake, with a balcony to maximise the benefit; quiet location but next to the ferry landing - excellent for getting to Bowness.

Car parking right outside. Even a cafe round the corner. The apartment was lovely, spacious, modern, comfortable and well-equipped. Cons - A wine glass was cracked when we arrived; I only found out as I was drinking out of it. Another glass was dirty from just not having been washed for ages. There was no bread knife. There was no hand soap at the bathroom sink. The wardrobe door kept falling out of its sliding channel. Only a tiny bottle of sterilised milk was left in the welcome pack - as there are no shops anywhere nearby surely a pint of fresh milk could have been provided. But the welcome hamper was otherwise delightful with lots of festive goodies, even beer and gin! Thank you!

Wardrobe doors are ill fitting , sofa needs re-stuffed , location is excellent,could do with a freezer, for long stays as not all people want to eat out, bed pillows could do with a rethink as they are down filled ,and front door area very cold , maybe some form of supplementary heating for that area in winter months could be adventageous,, audit sheet for the kitchen cupboard contents was wrong a few items unaccounted for during my stay, other than that it was great

We loved our stay here for the week, the property is a nice size for a couple with a dog.

It had everything we needed and we felt very comfortable - the owners have clearly thought of everything. The welcome basket was a lovely surprise - thank you! The balcony is a real treat for bird watching and relaxing. The property was so handy for the ferry across to Bowness where you can venture further by boat or bus. It was nice to leave the car parked a bit for a change while away. We would definitely recommend this place and hope to return in the future for another relaxing break.

Gilson is just perfect to stsy.

Sitting on the balcony in the sunshine is simply wonderful.

This is our third time at Gilson and we will definitely be returning in the near future.

The location is perfect for us and the cottage itself is so comfortable and relaxing. It has everything you need for a couple of nights to a longer stay. The night is so peaceful so always have a great sleep. Lovely walks close by or the ferry over the bowness. Couldn't ask for anything more.

From first impressions to the last day we really couldn't fault this place.

Had everything we needed and the welcome hamper full of local goodies was a really nice touch. Loved being able to sit out on the decking at the rear overlooking the water and enjoy a drink together. Well located for exploring the surrounding area. Get on the Windermere ferry as a foot passenger and you can walk there in half hour with none of the hassle of having to park when you get there. Would absolutely recommend a stay here to anyone interested in visiting the area, and would very much like to make a return visit ourselves.

A lovely gem of a cottage on the ferry landing at Far Sawrey.

Great views onto the Lake, really comfortable and warm. Small hamper on arrival- thankyou containing Jam, chutney, sample gin and beer, milk and teabags. Have stayed here before and will definitely be back. A couple of things need replacing, caught the cleaner as we left which she will pass on. Felt really relaxed staying at the cottage, I think where it is helps you to unwind!!

Lovely location, comfortable accomodation.

The shower is great. And the property is well equipped. When we had a question about where to put bins out, Sykes were quick to respond. Sykes contacted the property owner on our behalf. The extractor fan in the bathroom is in need of repair / replacement. The property could be cleaner, specifically dust / cobwebs up high, and the rug in the living room was filthy. It appeared to be covered in dog hair. It would be better at this point to just remove the rug!

Dirty & poorly maintained, toilet was difficult to flush, shower pressure low, shower drain blocked.

Sliding wardrobe doors stuck and broken. Rail on balcony loose, lights in kitchen flickering. Floors were filthy, rug was very dirty and sofa needs cleaning had food marks on it. Hoover didn’t work and no broom. Marks on walls and view not as described as a tree blocked most of it, over looks an estuary on side of Windermere. Looking back through previous reviews a lot of these faults have been mentioned but clearly not been rectified.

We loved our stay here.

It suited us as a comfortable base as we can no long go out walking much anymore. Lovely to see the ducks, rabbits and we even had a robin who entered our living room several times. We stayed at Pennington several years ago the first year you were renting these properties. We loved it then….then after Covid the cottages out priced us. We managed this time as a late deal price. We had the end cottage so we could see the water etc, but a lot of our neighbours complained that the overgrowth of trees and bushes restricted any view they might have had.

Booked this for my mum and dads 25th wedding anniversary, and they were amazed, they loved that it was right on the lake, they loved every minute of it and want to return next year!

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Had everything we needed.

Very clean & super tidy. Hamper was a lovely extra, thank you x

A couple of chips in the cups, the wardrobe is falling apart and the shower could be better.

The rail on the balcony is unsafe. The wooden post to the left is rotten and the screws don't have any grip.

Booked this property via the FBA website as it's an organisation I like to support.

The apartment is in a fantastic location with the added super bonus of being able to launch my paddleboard straight from the apartment onto Windermere. Will definitely be booking this apartment again. We left the windows open on the morning of our departure as when we arrived all the windows were closed and there was a strange smell downstairs, not sure if it was from the drains or due to the work that had been carried out previous to our stay. Ps the arrival hamper was a nice touch, thank you.

Our lifeline to the east bank and the towns was cut off.

No one informed us or other guests that the ferry was out of action for months. This meant I could not use a disability scooter I had ordered because we could not get to Kendall. Our dog and myself drank the tap water and both of us came down with a stomach upset. Mine severe enough to last for 6 days. We packed up and came home a day early because I felt so ill. A real shame because we stayed in the same apartment last October and it was wonderful. Never again. Sorry.

We had a lovely brew days at Gilsonite cottage and would definitely go back there

We were booked to stay in frost which we chose because of its particular facilities and memories of past stays and did so for the first day.

The second day - Saturday the heating broke when on the Monday we eventually contacted the owners. They seemed to know that the accommodation had a heating fault. We were moved - but we had to do it all ourselves, food, clothes etc etc. we were offered no help and it took at least most of the day from our stay. Not even a new welcome pack or indeed a part of one. Very disappointing - the size of the bed in the Gilson is smaller than that in Frost - nor is there a bath,

We arrived at our accommodation to find that it was spotless.

A beautiful hamper of goodies was left for us and the table set with crockery and glasses, all ready for us. Everything that could be done, was done for our comfort and enjoyment. I would highly recommend this company. We had a wonderful stay. Thank You.

A nice comfortable property in a quiet location.

Easy access to Bowness via ferry (but if you go on foot you could be stranded on wrong side of the lake in adverse conditions. It stops if too windy). Did not have any problems with ferry traffic blocking the car parking as previous comments suggested - probably because our stay was mid September. All-in-all a nice break at Far Sawrey.

The place was lovely , but sofa too small , after a long days walking you need to stretch out … bigger sofa needed or large foot stool… comfortable bed but found the pillows uncomfortable.

Light came in from the front door into the bedroom … so awake too early ..But over all a lovely place to stay very peaceful at the back. We were lucky as ferry not running most days . Would recommend this property.

We enjoyed our weeks stay, loved the location , can't think of any where else on the Lake that your balcony is only 4 feet away from the Lakes - brilliant.

Only thing we found that a 13.5 tog duvet in summer was too hot and heavy. Also I know it's not the FBA's fault but the (keep clear ) road markings have have faded on the road , as a result you have a crodile que of cars with their engines switched off blocking our allocated parking space off ( not just ours the other 5 cottages as well. A few of the cars were empty(owners having refreshments by Ferry house - so there was no one to ask to move their car. Coming back to park the car was just as bad .We had to wait in the queue for 20 minutes to turn into our space, there was no other way. Just an idea couldn't a FBA staff member buy a can of white maisonery paint and after 10 pm when the last ferry has run - they will be no cars on the road and they could repaint the markings. That could solve the problem as in summer the queue will be longer!

Really easy checking in process, once we arrived opened the door to clean smelling apartment.

Lovely welcome hamper on arrival. Over all cleanliness was good, no sign of any dogs being there previously. Only thing I would say is the rug in the living area could do with being change as it did look quite dirty, a darker colour would probably be best. There were all the things you would need in kitchen area including dishwasher and washing machine tabs. Location was great, ferry ran from about 8/8.30am up until 10pm every night which you can take your car on for prices from £2 pp to £4.40 per standard car. I would say this apartment is great for any one who does mind exploring places aren’t right on your doorstep but very easy to get to. Lovely walks short distance from apartment which didn’t need ferry to get to. Over all great stay and would definitely go back.

Other than an issue with the heating and hot water on the Monday morning, )which was rectified within an hour of contacting the estate services), the Gilson apartment is perfectly fine for a week's vacation.

The view from the balcony looking out over small boats anchored is very relaxing. The ferry is only 100 metres from the apartment and there is a wonderful walk that goes to Wray castle. For us it was the perfect place to relax. We would definitely stay here again.

We stayed here for a long weekend, it's a bit run down needs loads a jobs needed doing as there was a cracks on wall broken tiles ceiling looks as if its had a water leak it wasn't worth the price.

It's in a nice location and plenty of walks, left the car at the cottage and got the lovely ferry to Bowness-on-Windermere. Wife was happy looking out to the lovely view. In the cottage we couldn't get the dishwasher on and the instructions where for a different machine , the shower wasn't powerful . We will it these jobs get done. We left the cottage really clean, better than it was.

Nice property although not realistically within safe walking distance of the pubs.

unfortunately our stay was slightly spoiled by an issue with the central heating. The sykes office staff were very helpful however the maintenance staff were slow dealing with the heating issue. apart from this and the odd cracked tile . we had an enjoyable break that is ideal for easy to Bo'ness.and has lovely scenery.

This is our 5th time staying in this block of apartments and we can’t recommended it highly enough.

This time we brought 2 friends who stayed in one too and no surprises they loved it as much as we do.

A perfect base .

Lovely apartment with stunning views.

A little smaller than we thought, but was perfect for us and two springer spaniels. The adjoining door to Frost was perfect as we were on holiday with my son, daughter in law and 3 month old grandson, and it mad it easier to get to each other. We didn't find the closeness to the ferry a problem at all. Found some great walks and swims, for the dogs , although had to be careful where in Windermere due to blue green algae. Will definitely consider coming back in the future.

This is our fourth visit to these cottages so clearly we enjoy them.

Always clean, always comfortable. Once the ferry stops, after 10pm you can feel a little isolated as it is a drive to find civilisation. We love that but it may not be for all. Remember, the ferry costs every time you use it, there and back and all car parks charge so it can get costly. Minor concern with the low shower pressure but you can live with that. If the above does not bother you then this really is cosy perfection.

We stayed at Lund a few years ago and had similar problems then as we did this time, “Parking”.

Unfortunately people who queue for the ferry disregard the faded keep clear signs on the road, so prevent visitors who are staying in the various properties from getting parked. Our property “Gilson” was a little tired, the whole place could do with a lick of paint, the extractor fan in the bathroom didn’t work and one of the floor tiles on the bathroom floor was cracked. The view from the veranda would of been better if the tree obscuring the view had been cut back.

The accommodation was perfect for us.

Everything we needed was provided. The location was central to all that we wished to explore, we simply parked up and walked. The ferry gave excellent access to Bowness where we found good pubs and shopping and boats to make visits further afield. The walk to Hill-top is particularly attractive and clearly sign-posted. Perfect weather made long evenings and early mornings on the balcony both delightful and very peaceful.

A beautiful cottage in a perfect location just yards away from Ferry port.

Accommodation had everything we needed for a very comfortable stay. Would certainly recommend. Five star choice!

An excellent cottage,loved the position it was in so peaceful and picturesque,

Lovely property in a beautiful setting.

Had a lovely week and having the ferry to Bo’ness on the doorstep was great, with regular crossings. The feathered visitors to the balcony were lovely to watch. The property lived up to our expectations and we would recommend it to anyone. We shall return to Gilson, thank you Sykes and the property owners for providing such a beautiful place to relax in.

Farers coffee was fabulous.

A few more sachets would have been good.

Beautiful cottage in fantastic location right on the edge of Lake Windermere so has fantastic views.

Also, loads of nice walks nearby. Would definitely recommend a stay here.

Our second stay in Gilson (Oct 2019 & Oct 2021) and 3rd at these FBA properties (Frost Oct 2020).

Asa with previous stays everting was as expected, clean, tidy, well appointed and with great relaxing views out over Windermere (Mitchel Wyke Bay). The weather did not stop us getting out and enjoying the local area, with great walks to be had direct from the property as well as easy access to the ferry. The property is very warm and cosy and ideal for us as a couple with our dog. We will definitely be back again next year to enjoy all that the Lake District and in particular the western shore of Windermere has to offer.

Our 3rd stay at Gilson, a lovely cottage in a peaceful setting far enough away but within easy reach of the "madding crowd" of Bowness.

It must be said that on this occasion we were a little disappointed to find the cottage was looking a little "tired" and in need of some tlc, grouting & sealant in the bathe is in need of replacing, paintwork is in need of freshening up, only one flush button on the toilet cistern working, all of this work, I feel, could have been carried out during the lock down period of 2020, the noticeable lack of maintenance certainly doesn't warrant a 30% increase in cost for 2022, so for us, a change of location unfortunately

The location was amazing, apartment was just perfect, we had a problem with the boiler but was fixed promptly and had a lovely hamper delivered to us for the inconvenience.

I would hugely recommend staying here, everything about this holiday was just amazing, from the views, to the location, to the stay. We will be back very soon!

The overall cleanliness was poor the bowl in the sink and drainer was dirty, there were cobwebs on ceiling, under the bed was filthy, tile outside shower unit broken, sliding doors on wardrobe kept slipping off track.

In view of COVID and price paid this was less than acceptable.

Lovely quality accommodation, set in a beautiful area of the lakes, close to the hustle and bustle of Bowness but far enough away to be peaceful and relaxing.

Enjoyed the company of the swans and ducks for breakfast.

Impressed with everything, in particular the response when contacting your office re a poorly table, I think it was Dawn but it was repaired/replaced with minimum of fuss, it is the little things that matter.

Thank you. PS can you get the keep clear sign outside re painted or make it a yellow box Tim Waterhouse

Accommodation was roomy, airy and well appointed.

Lovely views. The starter pack of tea, coffee, shampoo etc was a real bonus. Highly recommend the hot chocolate and flapjack at the coffee hut by the ferry. Interesting to watch the Windermere ferry live webcam feed.

Property situated in an idyllic location at the side of the lake and also a minute’s walk to the Ferry.

We didn’t use the car hardly at all as we were close to Hill Top and had access to lots of wonderful walks. We would certainly return to the property.

Excellent location-lots of beautiful walks from the door.

Only 30 mins walking to the pub. Accommodation really good.

Loved staying at Gilson and area of Far Sawrey.

However we felt the tile flooring downstairs needed a good steam clean. There were a few old coffee stains that probably just washing didn’t get out. But we love the views from the cottage and the cottage itself. Would definitely go back.

My girlfriend and I could not have been happier with our Sykes Cottage, Gilson.

It exceeded our expectations and was even nicer in person than in the websites pictures. Nice additional touches were the handbook covering all parts of the property and its appliances; and the Lake District guidebook which gave a huge range of suggestions for things to do and places to see. I would 10/10 recommend Sykes and this property for anyone looking to book.

Considering what is going on at the moment, cleanliness is one of the things at the top of most people's lists regarding holidays.

Finding a used cotton bud on the bedroom windowsill did not give me confidence in the level of cleaning carried out at the property. Also the frying pan was completely burnt out and almost unusable. I emailed Sykes the day we arrived with these matters, didnt hear anything, just rang them today, 10 days later, 3 days back home. The person i spoke to was very helpful and said they had been in touch with the owners and hadnt heard back from them yet. I completely understand how busy Sykes must have been as lockdown started while we were away. I'm unable to think of an excuse for the owners however. Shame...the location is outstanding. We stayed in this cottage 3 years in a row and would definitely have gone back if things had been dealt with better. Up your game with the cleaning, maybe you're not giving your cleaners long enough to clean property. I do that job myself so i know how hard it is.

Excellent property with all the comforts of home The bed was very comfortable and the furniture was modern and up to date No trouble with the shower or the door locks Only problem - I was tempted to buy a pot of white paint to update the KEEP CLEAR sign on the road Note: Blue Badge holders travel free on the ferry - saved us a lot of money!

Great location and excellent accommodation/facilities.

Will be returning

The accommodation was lovely.

Didn't realise the stairs to the bedroom would be so steep so we were glad we left our elderly dog at home. Unfortunately there was a problem with the hot water whilst we were there and had to have cold showers on 3 occasions during the week. This did put a bit of a damper on our stay. We also had an issue with security whilst we were there, where the front door was open when we got back after a day out. We definitely locked it before we left. Even after a call to the office, this could not be explained and they didn't seem that concerned. Obviously, we were unsettled and had a sleepless night. Small hamper box was a nice touch.

The view from the balcony was not what we expected - it was just a small inlet rather than Windermere lake.

It was also obstructed by trees. Being so close to the ferry meant that access to the parking was difficult or impossible at busy times.

Lovely setting and great base for weekend trip.

Would definitely recommend to others and will be looking to use again, hopefully in better weather this time. Thank you.

Really lovely, clean cottage.

Everything we needed for myself, my fiancée and our Labrador. A great base for a fantastic few days. Thank you - we hope to be back!

It's location is fantastic, really beautiful and very convenient for the ferry.

It's a very comfortable cottage, and very spacious for a 2 person accommodation. Kitchen is pretty well kitted out. My only negative point would be that the walls could do with freshening up but we are right at the end of the season so of course that's to be expected. We have rebooked again for next year, it will be our 3rd stay at that cottage.

Gilson is a fantastic cottage in a great location with lake views to wake up to every morning and great walks straight from the cottage and easy access to the falls.

Accomodatiin was perfect for two plus dog, with excellent facilities and very warm and cosy. Dedicated parking was great and the proximity of the ferry was not an issue.