Dovecot Cottage | Grasmere | Michael's Nook | The Lake District And Cumbria

4.3★

2 Guests
1 Bedroom
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

27 Customer Review(s)

James
October 2023

“Would highly recommend this quirky comfortable cottage, especially when the sun shines in the afternoon creating a gorgeous glow through the dove cotes onto the landing.”

Great facilities wood burning stove, very comfortable bath, looking out of the window whilst laying in bed and watching red squirrels. Also a lovely footpath adjacent to the property taking you up on a beautiful woodland path that brings you down to Rydal water.

Great facilities wood burning stove, very comfortable bath, looking out of the window whilst laying in bed and watching red squirrels. Also a lovely footpath adjacent to the property taking you up on a beautiful woodland path that brings you down to Rydal water.

- James, October 2023

Thank you so much for taking to the time to write this kind review. Ah - the bliss of enjoying the countryside without getting out of bed. I'm so glad you liked the cottage and the lovely local walks, and that you got to see the red squirrels. The Grasmere Red Squirrel Group (who have put up, and keep stocked, red squirrel feeders in the garden of Dovecot and Fir Tree, our cottage just in front of Dovecot) have managed to double the red squirrel population in Grasmere over the last 12 months! Property Owner
jane October 2023

“Very good directions enabled us to find property easily after a long drive.”

Cottage as described. Very quirky. Very clean. Kitchen very well equipped. Bed very comfy and bed linen clean and fresh. Lovely bath. We really enjoyed our stay. The walks from the door were amazing. Village very close by. Our few days were a great experience.

- jane, October 2023

Thank you so much for your review. We're delighted you enjoyed the cottage. I think you might have been very lucky with the weather, too. Did you manage to spot any red squirrels during your stay. Yes, we love the fact that you can walk from the door all week. We hope you come back another time. Property Owner
Mark September 2023

“On arrival we noticed that the cottage could have been cleaned better, there was dirt/ dust on stairs and the cottage did not smell nice & fresh.”

Also on the first night I was woken up by rodent activity above the ceiling in the bedroom ! As the ceiling here is very near you and its wooden then the noise was quite obtrusive ! This happened every night and as a result I did not get any sleep, this ruined our holiday as you can imagine. The central heating system also switched on every 20 mins or so throughout the night. A maintenance guy came out to inspect the boiler and he was made aware of the rodent activity. I did complain to Lakelovers but nothing was done and no compensation has been offered on our return. So if you like good sleep, then I would can not recommend to stay here.

- Mark, September 2023
Emily August 2023

“We loved our stay here.”

We woke up to five red squirrels in the garden, getting some nuts from the box. It was very cozy and accurately listed. Excellent walks straight from the door. Highly recommend.

- Emily, August 2023

We are delighted you enjoyed your stay and thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review. We frequently see red squirrels on that feeder - but never five at a time! Property Owner
Stephen May 2023

“What a gorgeous little place, fantastic setting just a short walk into Grasmere yet peaceful and very scenic.”

The layout was quirky and cozy. Our dog loved the garden and all the long walks. We can also recommend the newly refurbished Swan Hotel, just a couple of minutes walk, for excellent food and very dog friendly. We loved Dovecott Cottage so much we have already booked another week later in the year.

- Stephen, May 2023

Thank you for your kind comments, we are so pleased to see that you and your dog had an enjoyable stay! We hope to welcome you again. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team. Property Owner
Jacqueline May 2023

“Wow what an amazing little place so unique absolutely loved it I’m only 5 foot so everything was perfect for me.”

The cottage was so well preserved and the garden was amazing lovely views and beautiful surroundings. We had everything we needed for our holiday and our dog got very settled straight away. We will definitely be coming back.

- Jacqueline, May 2023

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to give us this lovely feedback. We do hope that you and your dog come back soon. Taller guests can be reassured that one of our owners is 6ft6" and loves staying at Dovecot as there are no low doorways. There are sloping ceilings in the bathroom and bedroom, but he does not find these an inconvenience. Property Owner
Adrian February 2023

“Great location and nice and closed to places to eat and drink.”

Bonus was seeing a Red squirrel

- Adrian, February 2023

Delighted you enjoyed the location - the combination of fantastic walking from the door and being an easy stroll from Grasmere is one of the things we love about the cottage. We also saw red squirrels in February. There is a feeder outside the bedroom window. Property Owner
Lorraine November 2022

“Quirky, wonderfully peaceful location.”

Well thought out inside. A gem of a property for anyone who enjoys something different. Highly recommend and easy access to lots of beautiful walks. We will definitely be booking again.

- Lorraine, November 2022

Thank you for your lovely feedback. The walking from the door is amazing: from Fairfield and Helvellyn in one direction, to Helm Crag, Easedale Tarn and Silver How in the other. Plus our favourite winter walk of Alcock Tarn and then on to the Badger Bar via the Coffin route and back around Rydal. Property Owner
Charlotte November 2022

“Hi I stayed at the devoted cottage form the 9th to 13th of nov.”

Found it lovely as a little hide away with all the old furnishings on the out of the cottage. Though when we went inside we saw a ladder for stairs which yes it different and I no there is another door to access the bedroom but not every one wants to going around and in and out all the time just to go up stairs. Also the bath is lovely just wish I could of brought it home with me but not the shower part haha. I like the chair in the Corner we’re you could do under hair or makeup ect. All in all we had a really good time in the local villages and doing local thinks. Thinks we come up to lakes again. Many thanks Charlotte and bill

- Charlotte, November 2022

Thank you, Charlotte and Bill, for your feedback. We are delighted you enjoyed Grasmere and Dovecot Cottage. The internal stairs are steep but we do make a real effort to show what they are like on the website. Glad you enjoyed the bath - it is amazing for a long soak after a day on the fells. Property Owner
Kevin November 2022

“A lovely little cottage in a great location, we had a really good stay”

- Kevin, November 2022

We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Dovecot. The location is very good: being able to do so many challenging, and gentle, walks straight from the door whilst also being a short stroll from Grasmere village. Hope you visit again soon! Property Owner
Jodeine October 2022

“Dovecot Cottage was an absolute delight!”

It’s a beautiful and characterful place that was a perfect for our anniversary weekend get-away. We appreciated the love and craftsmanship that has clearly gone into this place. Highly recommend :)

- Jodeine, October 2022

So glad that you had a lovely time at Dovecot for your anniversary weekend and that you clearly enjoyed the place as much as we do. We have made quite a few small improvements over the last year and the original design is beautifully thought out and executed, as you say. Hope to see you again soon. Property Owner
Emma August 2022

“I think the ladders in the property should be more accurately detailed.”

Stunning cottage never wanted to leave

- Emma, August 2022

Thank you very much for your review. We had already asked for new pictures of the stairs on the listing and these have now gone live. The stairs are steep so we do want everyone to have a good understanding of this before they book. So pleased you enjoyed your stay! Property Owner
Jill August 2022

“It's exactly what I hoped it would be, very quirky and cosy in a beautiful area near enough to walk into Grasmere.”

I would love to stay again sometime.

- Jill, August 2022

I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay. Thank you so much for your positive feedback. I imagine you had fantastic weather. I hope you were able to spend some time sitting outside the front of the cottage to enjoy the views of mountains and red squirrels. Please do come back. Property Owner
Joanne June 2022

“Beautiful cottage bit of a struggle for me with mobility issues but spotted the side door to upstairs then I was fine.”

Fantastic grounds my pooch loved it. We will return x

- Joanne, June 2022

Thank you for taking the time to give us this useful feedback. After some issues, we now have new cleaners and I think you would notice a marked improvement if you came back. We've also recently had some work done on the outside stairs, so I'm delighted to hear that you found them useful. I hope you and your pooch will be back again soon. Property Owner
Elizabeth June 2022

“This property is a little gem well equipped very clean the only down side of it would be the stairs being more upright but it's very understanding cause of the size of the gap between the entrance and where the stair case is.”

I wouldn't recommend an elderly couple or any one with stair difficulties because of stairs and using the other entrance to the upper part of the cottage. We are looking forward to coming back to this cottage our dog had a great time to when we got home the dog was upset and was very miserable we think it was cause we come home. Thanks. Mr & Mrs Dawes ( Elizabeth)

- Elizabeth, June 2022

Thank you for your lovely feedback. I'm delighted that you liked the cottage. There is an outside staircase that goes up the bedroom, and we've recently worked on improving this. I do hope you and your dog will be back soon. Property Owner
Anthony May 2022

“I you like quirky this cottage is the place for you nice location quite local to Grassmere only a ten minute walk away”

- Anthony, May 2022

Thank you for your lovely feedback. Property Owner
Harvey May 2022

“This is our 4th time staying at the Dovecot, needless to say we love it.”

I'm delighted to find out that there is now somewhere to store my bike(s). The Dovecot is comfy & cosy, it is small but this well advertised & part of the appeal, though probably not great if you're tall or have limited mobility. The kitchen is compact but well stocked. The new hanging hooks proved useful. Nice garden, beautiful views from upstairs & we were visited by the resident red squirrels again.

- Harvey, May 2022

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. Delighted to hear that you like the new hooks and bike storage. We stay in the cottage ourselves as often as we can and love to sit in the garden in the morning watching the squirrels and enjoying the view. Property Owner
Eliza April 2022

“We loved our week in the Dovecote ; from the setting to the wonderful quirky interior.”

We barely used our car all week as there were so many walks we could do from the doorstep; Helm Crag, Alcock Tarn, Easdale tarn up to Castle Howe, the Coffin trail to Ambleside and the Bluebell woods. The interior, although small was very well designed and there were plenty of places to hang wet clothes, store walking boots etc downstairs. My favourite part of the cottage was the dressing area in the dovecote and being able to sit outside in the garden and enjoy the view.

- Eliza, April 2022
Lu-chin January 2022

“I have no idea why the agency sent us an email about we refuse to leave the property which was very rude and impolite.”

Many corners in the cottage we’re covered with spider web, but the rest is nice.

- Lu-chin, January 2022

Thank you for your feedback. When our cleaner turned up at the property at 10:45am, you were still in the property. You had stated you thought check out was the day after however when we explained this, you checked out at 12 which is 2 hours after the check out time stated. This is the reason an email was sent to you however we do apologise if you thought this was rude. Had you told us about the cleaning issues when you arrived we could have rectified these however you never called to inform us of this. We hope to welcome you back again. Property Owner
Jan December 2021

“While the cottage was just what I was looking for, in many ways, there were a few niggles that had a big impact.”

The listing said that the price included electricity and fuel. When I arrived at the cottage I saw no fire wood for the burner. When I called the office, they said that I would need to buy my own, with the nearest place selling appropriate fuel being 12 miles away. This meant that my first night (of two) was without a fire. The heating and hot water pump made a LOT of noise. This meant that I had to turn it off over night, so as to allow myself to sleep. As such, the mornings were VERY cold. The description of where to park was a little confusing. I ended up turning into the "drive" only to find out that this was not the space. It then took me forever to get out, as there was no suitable egress. While I take my share of responsibility for this, it would make sense to put a barrier across that particular entry and make the signage more obvious and visible.

- Jan, December 2021

Thank you for this useful feedback. We bought the cottage in 2021 and are working to improve it. I'm sorry to hear that the heating was noisy. We are up at the cottage next week and will investigate. We will also try and make it clearer where to park. I think blocking off the drive (perhaps with a post) is a good idea. Thank you. We don't provide wood for the wood burning stove as it is not possible to manage the supply on a week by week basis. We will make this clearer in the listing. I hope you were warmer the second night and will return for a smoother visit another day. Property Owner
Leigh November 2021

“It was just a beautiful magical stay.”

Perfect on the run up to Xmas because the town was so beautifully festive. Next time we are planning to stay for longer 2 nights wasn’t quite enough.

- Leigh, November 2021

Thank you for your feedback. That's lovely to hear. Please do come back. Property Owner
Victoria November 2021

“Perfect for an unusual and cosy escape, with excellent views of the fells opposite and original dovecote features.”

Everything you’d want after a days walking. Easy access back onto Fairfield and only a short walk into Grasmere. The dovecote is surrounded by woods with red squirrels and the occasional tawny owl at dusk - a wonderful place!

- Victoria, November 2021

Thank you for this kind review. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the walks and views from the door. The red squirrels are usually out and about in the morning but it is very special to have seen a tawny owl. Property Owner
John October 2021

“Unfortunately the cottage was extremely poky, and certainly not worth the money charged.”

The one excellent thing was the sightings of red squirrels, unfortunately there was no food left where it should have been.

- John, October 2021

Owner response: Thank you for your comments. We stay in Dovecot a lot ourselves and while it is definitely cosy, we find it perfect for two people for a week and the walking from the door is amazing. Very pleased you saw the delightful red squirrels. Unfortunately there was an influx of grey squirrels the week you stayed and the feed had to be removed to protect the reds. This constant work is why we donate to the local protection group every time the cottage is booked. We hope to have the feeder back soon. Property Owner
Wes September 2021

“It’s very overpriced for what it is should be £450 per week maximum.”

Having said that we had a great week walking over 60 miles I wouldn’t like to spend a lot of time in there it’s very dark small windows. Red squirrels

- Wes, September 2021

Delighted to hear that the red squirrels were out and about and that you managed to get so much walking in. There are great walks to do from the door in every direction � even Helvellyn. The cottage is built in a style sympathetic to the 17th cottage next door and therefore it has traditionally small windows. It does get the morning sun but perhaps it might feel a bit dark on a dull day in the afternoon. We have replaced the light bulbs with brighter ones downstairs, so hopefully that will make it brighter. Grasmere is a very sought after part of the Lakes with its excellent walking and great eating options. The price of Dovecot reflects the current market and is monitored by Heart of the Lakes and takes into consideration the secluded location near Grasmere, the views as well as the accommodation itself. The Owner. Property Owner
Peter August 2021

“Whilst the cottage was charming and perfectly located.”

Also we understood quirky. The sheer physicality of getting in and out of the bath was almost impossible and triggered a bout of sciatica for me.

- Peter, August 2021

We are delighted you enjoyed the cottage's situation and quirky character. The bathroom ceiling does slope and while the bath is nice and big, the ceiling slope means that you can only get in and out at one end. This can be slightly awkward for taller guests. Property Owner
Graham August 2021

“First evening there was a leak coming through kitchen ceiling from bathroom above.”

Maintenance came next day said it was from faulty radiator valve, but this worried us immensely due to electric points where the water came through. Cottage considerably smaller than anticipated, stairs very steep and outside ones slippy and one loose another health and safety concern

- Graham, August 2021

Since this review was written we have had all the radiator valves replaced and there have been no further leaks. The description of the cottage shows pictures of the layout and mentions the steep stairs and these will not suit everyone. We bought Dovecot in May and plan to improve the terracing to the side of the cottage in due course; however it should be noted that it is not necessary to access this area while staying. The Owner Property Owner
Harvey May 2021

“Stayed at the Dovecot before, great cosy little cottage.”

Only issues were the ash bin wasn't anywhere to be found

- Harvey, May 2021

Delighted you enjoyed another stay in Dovecot. Unfortunately we had to remove the ash bin as guests were using it for general waste. Cold ash can be bagged and placed in the main bin. The Owner Property Owner

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Summary

One double bedroom
Bathroom with roll top bath, basin and WC
Kitchen
Living room/diner with woodburning stove (wood can be purchased from the village)
Gas central heating and woodburning stove
Electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge, TV with Freeview and DVD, and WiFi (shared with Fir Tree Cottage)
Gas and electricity inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Off-road parking for one car
Outdoor access to lawned areas, terrace and seating
Shared laundry facilities in outbuilding
One well-behaved pet allowed
Sorry, no smoking.

The property

This is a real little gem but far removed from the average self-catering cottage - better described as a little bit 'quirky', it is known to have been short-listed for the role of Bilbo Baggins' house in Lord of the Rings. The property is unusual in every way but has been carefully planned and is comfortable and cosy - a perfect choice for a couple looking for something that little bit different and it is ideal for a romantic holiday. With a slanted ladder-type wooden stairway with handrails and wood panelled walls upstairs, it will remind guests of the inside of a yacht rather than a conventional cottage. As its name implies Dovecot Cottage was originally a dovecote, it is a detached stone-built and listed building set on the east side of the vale of Grasmere and is a short walk into the village and handy for a couple of local pubs. There are enough walks from the door to keep everyone happy and ample places for eating out in the immediate area - no need to use the car on a daily basis. Those of you who enjoy the challenge of the high tops can tackle the summit of Fairfield, or take the shorter steep path to Alcock Tarn to enjoy the panoramic views, whilst for easier days out you could enjoy a stroll into Grasmere village with maybe a row on the lake or a climb to the top of Loughrigg Fell or Silver How. The beautiful Easedale Valley makes a fine destination for a gentle ramble, lovely for a picnic on a sunny day, and the delightful paths around Grasmere Lake and Rydal Water are some of the most popular in the Lake District. Dovecot Cottage is situated in the same location as Fir Tree Cottage Property Ref. 7045. Accommodation: Steps and path from the parking to the front door. Entrance into sitting/dining room (TV, DVD) with its cosy log burning stove, two-seater sofa and dining table for two. The fitted kitchen has fridge, electric oven and gas hob, and its own door to the outside. Laundry facilities are available on site in a separate outbuilding (also used by Fir Tree Cottage next door). And now upstairs...you arrive first in the dressing area which was the original dovecote entrance with the decorative cubbyholes set in the end wall. The sleeping area (double bed) has some restricted headroom and a door to the outside which accesses steps leading down to ground floor level. A good sized bathroom has deep Victorian style roll top bath, basin and wc. Outside: The cottage is set on a sloping site backed by trees with grassy areas around and there is room to sit outside just in front of the door on the level terrace. At the end of the cottage there are slate steps which make an alternative access to the sleeping area on the top floor. Parking for one car immediately outside the boundary wall. Shared laundry facilities outside in separate room by driveway gate. Grasmere village centre three quarters of a mile. Less than 5 mins stroll to the Swan Hotel for bar and eating out.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.

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About the location

GRASMERE

Ambleside 5 miles; Windermere 9 miles; Keswick 13 miles.

Situated in the heart of the Lake District National Park is the lovely village of Grasmere, probably best known as the home of William Wordsworth, a place he once described as "The most loveliest spot that man hath found". Any visit to Grasmere needs to include The Grasmere Gingerbread shop, where the Wilson family has been making gingerbread for over 60 years. Also in the village are a number of shops, pubs, a church which dates back to the 13th century, and Grasmere Lake. Grasmere Sports takes place every August, where you can watch participants compete in a variety of sports, including Cumberland wrestling. Just five miles away is the town of Ambleside and Lake Winderemere where you will find shops, pubs, restaurants and the 17th century Bridge House, which is one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District. Cruises, boat trips and watersports can all be enjoyed on Lake Windermere, and the towns of Windermere and Keswick are also within driving distance. Grasmere is a wonderful base for your Lake District retreat.

The cottage has steep ladder type stairs and restricted access over part of
the bath - it is therefore not suitable for those with mobility issues. The
wifi is normally good but the router is shared with, and located in, Fir
Tree cottage on the same site, and is occasionally interrupted. There is
normally a good 4G signal.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Would highly recommend this quirky comfortable cottage, especially when the sun shines in the afternoon creating a gorgeous glow through the dove cotes onto the landing.”

“Very good directions enabled us to find property easily after a long drive.”

“On arrival we noticed that the cottage could have been cleaned better, there was dirt/ dust on stairs and the cottage did not smell nice & fresh.”

“We loved our stay here.”

“What a gorgeous little place, fantastic setting just a short walk into Grasmere yet peaceful and very scenic.”

“Wow what an amazing little place so unique absolutely loved it I’m only 5 foot so everything was perfect for me.”

“Great location and nice and closed to places to eat and drink.”

“Quirky, wonderfully peaceful location.”

“Hi I stayed at the devoted cottage form the 9th to 13th of nov.”

“A lovely little cottage in a great location, we had a really good stay”

“Dovecot Cottage was an absolute delight!”

“I think the ladders in the property should be more accurately detailed.”

“It's exactly what I hoped it would be, very quirky and cosy in a beautiful area near enough to walk into Grasmere.”

“Beautiful cottage bit of a struggle for me with mobility issues but spotted the side door to upstairs then I was fine.”

“This property is a little gem well equipped very clean the only down side of it would be the stairs being more upright but it's very understanding cause of the size of the gap between the entrance and where the stair case is.”

“I you like quirky this cottage is the place for you nice location quite local to Grassmere only a ten minute walk away”

“This is our 4th time staying at the Dovecot, needless to say we love it.”

“We loved our week in the Dovecote ; from the setting to the wonderful quirky interior.”

“I have no idea why the agency sent us an email about we refuse to leave the property which was very rude and impolite.”

“While the cottage was just what I was looking for, in many ways, there were a few niggles that had a big impact.”

“It was just a beautiful magical stay.”

“Perfect for an unusual and cosy escape, with excellent views of the fells opposite and original dovecote features.”

“Unfortunately the cottage was extremely poky, and certainly not worth the money charged.”

“It’s very overpriced for what it is should be £450 per week maximum.”

“Whilst the cottage was charming and perfectly located.”

“First evening there was a leak coming through kitchen ceiling from bathroom above.”

“Stayed at the Dovecot before, great cosy little cottage.”

Summary

The property

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About the location

GRASMERE