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20 people have viewed this property in the last 24 hours

Dovecot Cottage

Grasmere, Cumbria & The Lake District (Ref. 1067622)

Customer rating

4.5

How reviews work

A property's star rating is the average of the star ratings received from guests that wish for their review to be published

Lakelovers rating

  • 2 Guests

  • 1 Bedroom

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

  • Show on map

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

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63 Customer Review(s)

  • Maddie

    “A lovely, cosy cottage in a great location.”

    Such a peaceful area, and we saw lots of red squirrels! Living area was great, enough space to watch some TV in the evening and a small table to eat/play card games at. The kitchen was filled with plenty of cooking utensils, great hob and oven. Upstairs was great, bath is HUGE and definitely made use of it. Bed super comfy. Myself and my partner are both over 6ft and got along okay for 5 days (couple of bonks to the head in the bathroom but we were expecting the ceilings to be low!) Only ...

    Such a peaceful area, and we saw lots of red squirrels! Living area was great, enough space to watch some TV in the evening and a small table to eat/play card games at. The kitchen was filled with plenty of cooking utensils, great hob and oven. Upstairs was great, bath is HUGE and definitely made use of it. Bed super comfy. Myself and my partner are both over 6ft and got along okay for 5 days (couple of bonks to the head in the bathroom but we were expecting the ceilings to be low!) Only issue we found was the lack of amenities like oil, teabags, coffee etc in the kitchen. Plenty of mugs in the cupboard and frying pans to cook but nothing to help use them! So I would advise coming prepped with your own. Having read some other reviews I can see the owners aren't in the area to provide extra amenities but I can't ignore that it would've been good to have some. Also we didn't have any cloths to wipe down surfaces, and the only sponge for washing up we found was a very old used one on the floor under the sink? (Not sure if that is standard or missed by the cleaning team?). We suggest maybe a little basket on the kitchen windowsill with a little bottle of oil, some teabags and instant coffee that can be topped up every month or so? :) Overall, a great space for a few days of hiking and would recommend !

    - Maddie, September 2026

    I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay in the cottage and saw the Squirrels. They can sometimes be a bit elusive. I am very sorry to hear that the cleaners did not leave you a cleaning pack. You should have be left a sponge/scourer, a cleaning cloth, bin liners and a small amount of washing up liquid. If this happens again you should call Lakelovers and they will get you one pretty quickly as this is very much part of of the service. We do try to leave you with washing up liquid and hand soap in dispensers, but unfortunately we can't guarantee this will be topped up. Lakelovers, who manage the cottage for us do not offer the starter pack service you, and others, have proposed so we are, sadly, unable to provide this. We would advise any future guests to bring the basics, of the type you list ,with them, but it they don't or can't, there is a very handy Co-Op in Grasmere village which stocks all you might reasonably need. It's normally open 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm and is only 10 minutes walk down the lane and along the tarmacked path through the fields. I do hope you return for another visit. Property Owner

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 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) 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.

EPC Rating: Band F

Short-term Holiday Let Licence No: AB-12345-C

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:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute

How we calculate the "Was" price

Our 'Was' price shows the average price for this property over the last 90 days, so you can see how today's price compares.