Anvil Cottage | Sawrey | Near Sawrey | The Lake District And Cumbria

4.2★

6 Guests
3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

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

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

73 Customer Review(s)

Peter
June 2025

“Anvil Cottage is a lovely traditional Lakeland house in the centre of the beautiful village – Near Sawrey.”

We found the cottage reasonably clean and smart but felt it needed a thorough whole house deep clean to make it feel and look much better. Kitchen is reasonably well equipped but with no basics provided – eg no salt or pepper etc (take such provisions). The 3 bedrooms (all upstairs – a steep staircase – mention this for anyone with mobility issues) are lovely and we found the beds very comfortable indeed. The lounge has two large settees which were not that comfortable unfortunately ...

We found the cottage reasonably clean and smart but felt it needed a thorough whole house deep clean to make it feel and look much better. Kitchen is reasonably well equipped but with no basics provided – eg no salt or pepper etc (take such provisions). The 3 bedrooms (all upstairs – a steep staircase – mention this for anyone with mobility issues) are lovely and we found the beds very comfortable indeed. The lounge has two large settees which were not that comfortable unfortunately and the other small sized armchair looked a bit grubby. The lounge looked tired with TV sound quality poor. The nice dining table had a sticky surface and so we wiped it down of course but it still retained some of its stickiness. Anvil Cottage has a downstairs shower room with wc and an upstairs bathroom/wc. These are excellent. The shower downstairs we found perfect thank you. Outside, the cottage has a small garden with mature shrubs and seating. This small lovely garden is adjacent to the small drive to the side of the house. The drive has metal gates and when these are securely closed, this garden/drive area creates an enclosed area for your dog/child to enjoy, which is great. Please note (for mobility/safety issues) that the garden is slightly elevated with three stone steps to it from the drive.

- Peter, June 2025
Elizabeth May 2025

“The cottage was in a good location for us and would have been great if there had been a little more care for guests.”

When we arrived we found the crockery in the cupboards was not clean. One bowl was fillled with black water. There was a dishwasher but not a singlle dishwasher tablet provided. There was also no cleaner spray to clean the kitchen surfaces, (There was a spray for killing fleas and bedbugs so we were pleased to find there weren't any unwanted insects). I contacted Sykes but was told it was up to individual owners. Our experience of other self-catering cottages is that they provide basic cleaning equipment because the owners want guests to look after their properties. I suggest bookers should be told in advance they need to bring dishwasher tablets and cleaning products if they are not provided in the rental.

- Elizabeth, May 2025
Emma April 2025

“Very lovely location and extra tv in the other double bedroom and a hot tub would make it perfect”

- Emma, April 2025
Victoria March 2025

“The cottage is in a lovely village, close to a couple of pubs serving food.”

The cottage itself is in need of some tlc and a good clean. It has everything you could need and more, but simple things like the heating and cleanliness let it down.

- Victoria, March 2025
Gill February 2025

“When we arrived at the cottage it was absolutely freezing in the property.”

I understand that there is a timer in the property however when guests are arriving it should be warm enough for them to enter, we had a 2 year old with us and was very cold. We then put the heating on and it took a long time to heat the house up and the radiator in the living room did not heat up to the fullest compared to other radiators in the house and the downstairs toilet heater did not work at all and the bathroom was cold the whole time. The upstairs bathroom door has a big gap underneath it and does not provide the privacy in which a bathroom should. The water in the shower did not heat up enough and was luke warm and the power in the water for a shower upstairs was very slow. The location of the property is lovely and the size of the rooms were great however we would not return to this property due to the above reasons. We also feel that there should be some sort of mirror opposite the parking in the back garden in order for you to be able to see oncoming traffic as you are blind coming out of the drive.

- Gill, February 2025
Martin January 2025

“Great cottage in a lovely quiet location.”

Well equipped, comfortable and clean. My only recommendation would be to have tea, coffee and sugar available for guests when they arrive. This would add a personal touch for your guests, especially if they have had a fair distance to travel. Would absolutely stay again.

- Martin, January 2025
Rhona December 2024

“A lovely old cottage steeped in history, we did have a small problem where the kitchen sink was pouring water out , but we rang Sykes straightaway a plumber arrived the next morning to fix it so we had no inconvenience.”

The rooms were lovely and facilities great. It was clean and tidy and welcoming when we arrived. The Tower Arms pub is brilliant as well 2 mins from the cottage. A brilliant Christmas stay , would highly recommend both the cottage and Sykes.

- Rhona, December 2024
Louise September 2024

“We had a lovely week at Anvil cottage.”

We found it charming and in character with an old Lakeland house. The log fire was very welcome when the temperature took a sudden unseasonable dip and made it feel very cosy.

- Louise, September 2024
Rebecca July 2024

“We really enjoyed our 3 night stay at Anvil Cottage.”

The location is perfect, right in the centre of Near Sawrey, with beautiful walks on the doorstep. The property is cosy and well equipped with a pleasant enclosed garden where we could sit out and enjoy a drink. The village playground was a huge hit with our children. We did notice an issue with the boiler during our stay, the owners were easy to contact and offered a solution to the issue. We very much enjoyed reading about the history of the cottage and it's links to Beatrix Potter. The property isn't ultra modern but this adds to its charm, we would definitely visit again.

- Rebecca, July 2024
Julia June 2024

“Thank you we had a lovely holiday, the cottage was well supplied but seemed tired but .”

... The Dyson vacuum blew out more than it sucked up so I bought a broom to sweep the carpets before we left, the showers were dreadful ,cold and very poor pressure even after we found a second boost switch in the wardrobe (master bedroom) behind some louvre doors. The lawn needed cutting and overall garden maintenance. Having said all that we still had a good holiday and the cottage with a little bit of attention would be fabulous and we would go back. We found Sykes cottages a very good site and will book through them again

- Julia, June 2024
Louise June 2024

“We had a wonderful week at Anvil Cottage.”

The location was perfect for us. The cottage was comfortable and had everything we needed. Our dogs enjoyed their stay too. A couple of very small points. We had to use the boost to get hot water as i dont think the timer was working. This didnt effect the shower though so not too much of an issue and one of the keys was broken. We assume this was for the garage. We didnt need it as we parked on the back drive but if more than one car group is going, it may be an issue as parking is tight in Near Sawrey. If you arrive early i suggest a drive down to Far Sawrey and the Cuckoo Brow Inn.

- Louise, June 2024
Anica May 2024

“Absolutely wonderful stay and such a perfect location to see that part of the lakes.”

Perfect for the whole family and the dogs with a sucure small garden. Loved the dining room with all the history of the house and the pictures of the family. Only issue was the sofas...they are a little warn out so may need some extra stuffing to support the legs and bums after all the long walking. But other than this the house was gorgeous

- Anica, May 2024
Marc May 2024

“Needs an update on the cottage information and perhaps a warning of the steepness of the stairs.”

Needs a bit of gardening done as well as the shrubs around the windows downstairs exclude quite a lot of light.

- Marc, May 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We will look at the listing to ensure that the information provided is correct. We take all comments on board. Thank you- The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner
David April 2024

“Lovely cottage, ideal location, everything you need.”

Unfortunately the cottage needs a good clean, old dirt and grime on windows, window sills, floors, cupboards, in kitchen especially, skirting boards, shower trap, sofas, smell of dog as you entered the lounge, the rugs need a good wash, shower is very low pressure, pillows and bedding didnt smell very nice, the list is endless. Outside the back door needs a sweep and garden is small, the utility room wall needs attention as bubbled. Such a shame this cottage is not better cared for. Previous comments have been ignored as we had all the same issues, the owner hasn't actioned any of them. Will not return to Anvil Cottage. Sykescottages should perhaps speak to owner about all negative comments.

- David, April 2024

Thank you for your feedback, we are sorry you were unhappy with the cleanliness of the property. I have escalated this to the housekeeping manager who will discuss options with the owner. - The owner relations team. Property Owner
Morag April 2024

“My family enjoyed our stay in this beautiful cottage in the lakes and was a delight to experience this rural home.”

It was very comfortable and ideal for our family. The beds were comfortable, wonderful to sit at the logs burner in the evening. It is very good there is a bathroom upstairs and shower room downstairs. Layout very good. Utility room ideal for dogs and small children coming in from the garden. The garden is secure though much smaller than the photos. It is Ideal to park one car in the garage and one through the side gate. I do advise you to take tea and coffee and cleaning materials - it is a rather far to the nearest shop when you arrive after a long journey to discover this. I usually take them but unfortunately I didn’t this time. The hotel nearby serve great food. It is a lovely house in a lovely village.

- Morag, April 2024
Susan March 2024

“Great location the history behind Anvil cottage was very interesting we really ...”

Great location the history behind Anvil cottage was very interesting we really enjoyed our stay in a true cottage very relaxing looking at booking again we stayed 4 nights could easily have stayed longer

- Susan, March 2024
Colin November 2023

“Beautiful cottage, garden a surprise-a lot smaller than the photo you show on the listing, obviously picture taken at an angle to make it look a LOT bigger than it is!”

Biggest disappointment for our holiday is the water pressure to the property. 4 adults staying and couldn’t use the shower as water dibbles out no power there, bath it needed 15 mins on watch timer to fill up just using the cold tap as no more than a trickle of water then had to run the hot. So all in all for 4 adults having to use just the one bathroom and each tub of water you had to allow 20 plus mins to get a reasonable amount of water in the bath it was very very irritating. After speaking with Sykes cottages they tried to suggest this lack of water pressure was all down to a burst mains pipe in the village while we were there but the issue in the cottage was like this before the mains pipe issue. Shame re water pressure as it has definitely put us off booking Anvil cottage again now. Also speaking to a few other owners in the village/ no issues with their water pressure so an issue with this cottage the owners need to rectify.

- Colin, November 2023

We understand that your feedback states that the low water pressure was the fault of the building plumbing. To clarify, the issue was caused by a recent maintenance work by United Utilities, who damaged the water feed to the property. The owner has been in close communication with United Utilities to address the situation and ensure that the repairs are completed by 20th December 2023. The water pressure will be resolved, and the property will be fully operational. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to our previous guests and appreciate your understanding. We value your feedback and are committed to providing our guests with the best possible experience at Anvil Cottage. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated on any future developments. Lakelovers Owners Team Property Owner
Emma October 2023

“Wonderful property and location.”

Great to have off road parking. Safe garden for dogs too. House is cosy and warm, central heating a bonus! Excellent facilities. Location is perfect for walks from the house and further afield. Food shop and pubs nearby. Couldn’t have asked for anything more. Thank you so much.

- Emma, October 2023
Helen October 2023

“Anvil Cottage was a lovely place.”

The location was ideal to walk in the area without driving, but was also in a good spot to drive to places further away. The property was not as clean as it could have been & did look like it could benefit from painting in the living room. The door to the dining room did not shut. In one of the bedrooms there was a stain on the duvet cover & in the other a long black hair was found. Overall we had a very enjoyable stay, I would imagine that the village is very busy in the summer, but in October it was OK.

- Helen, October 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay in Anvil Cottage. Thank you for bringing your thoughts to our attention, we will pass these on to our maintenance and housekeeping teams. We hope to welcome you again. The owner relations team - Lakelovers Property Owner
Wendy August 2023

“We have stayed many times in Near Sawrey at the pub Tower Bank for short stays but wanted to have a family holiday for longer.”

Anvil cottage fitted the bill and did not disappoint. A beautiful cottage bigger inside than I was expecting. The kitchen was clean and well equipped and the rear porch served well for any wet/dirty boots. The hot water/heating system was very easy to use and a unlimited supply of logs for the log burner for colder months. Having an upstairs and downstairs bathroom served very well. The whole cottage was clean and well presented, loved all the pictures and history of it. Set in a peaceful location with many walks straight from the doorstep. The WiFi was good and the one small problem we had was put right the same day. If you wish to eat out I would advise booking early as local pubs etc get booked up quickly, thankfully we had a few meals booked before we arrived. Thank you for a lovely holiday .

- Wendy, August 2023
Christine August 2023

“We have just returned from a rather poor stay at Anvil cottage a d wanted to feedback before any other guests have to go through the same experience we did.”

We have stayed in a few houses in Near Sawrey over the years and we're excited to try Anvil Cottage after reading the description and seeing the pictures. However nothing could have prepared us for the smell upon entering the house. The stench of dog was completely overpowering, our kids didn't even want to go in which was such a poor first impression. The rugs were filthy and very old from which I presume most of the smell was coming from. However we carried on the kids were excited to see their room, however when our son climbed up to the top bunk, the whole bunk bed was so unstable and swayed so much he came back down crying. My husband ended up having to strap the bed together using car straps we fortunately had with us just to try and make it more safe and steady. As you can imagine we were not having a great start to the holiday. When we then went to use the toilet we were disgusted. It was covered with urine and hair. I have attached a photo. I had to clean everything, particularly as we have three young children. There were cobwebs in the bathroom as well. We tried to put a good face on things and get ready for bed, then when I pulled back the duvet the sheet was covered in dog hairs. They were literally ingrained in the bedding. Again, I have attached a photo. I just wanted to cry and leave. When my mum who is quite frail, went to use the chair in the large bedroom the seat sunk so low she nearly hit the floor. We made her a cup of tea and found the cutlery in the drawer was dirty and the dishes were still dripping (I presume from being washed but the cupboard was soaking which wasn't nice). There were dog hairs in the fridge and the dish brush we had been left was nothing short of disgusting, covered in long hairs and dirty. I felt like I didn't want to touch anything. It's such a shame as it obviously has character and was well equipped with firewood and plenty of pots and pans, plus the freezer and washing machine was great, but we really didn't enjoy our stay there. The icing on the cake was that the water pressure was awful, often no more than a dribble, and the shower went cold after only a few moments each time, again, really awful for my mum who has arthritis. I really hope this feedback is useful. We had every intention of rebooking for next year but we have gone with another house in Sawrey with another company.

- Christine, August 2023
Sarah July 2023

“We absolutely loved our holiday at Anvil.”

The property is beautiful and in an amazing location. The gates don’t close properly onto the drive but we just put the wheelie bin in front. Garden could do with a spruce up but nothing would put us off returning!

- Sarah, July 2023
Lynn June 2023

“Overall the property was very nice, and quite adequate for the four of us staying.”

We did however find the garden a lot smaller than the pictures have you believe, and with 3 dogs with us not a lot of room and nowhere nearby for us to let the dogs run off lead. The bed in the smaller double bedroom had broken legs, the first night was spent trying not to roll off the bed, we remedied this with bricks on the second day. We took photos of the legs and can forward them if needed. Lovely setting and a very relaxing week was had by all.

- Lynn, June 2023
Lorna June 2023

“It was not as clean as you would expect.”

We thought the shower tray was going to flood the floor. It turns out the trap was full of hair. Soon remedied. We got grey fluff stuck to our feet after the shower so decided to hoover. I have never seen a hoover so full. Again soon remedied but not what you would expect to have to do. It said clean before leaving but there were no cleaning products so we had to buy some. We decided not to leave it behind. Also we picked up other animals poo in the garden - small so it could possibly have been a cat. The iron was burnt and the ironing board a bit rickety but we managed. There was a bad smell near the back door but we couldn’t figure out what was causing it. On a positive note it was a good size cottage in a good location. The pub across the road was really friendly with good food.

- Lorna, June 2023
Janice May 2023

“We had a lovely stay at Anvil Cottage - bit of a problem getting in to the key safe ( a key pad would be easier).”

The cottage was a real home from home and very comfortable especially with the log burner on. Luckily we had booked our evening meals at the local pub as it does not have many tables but worth booking the month before visiting the cottage. Would book again except for one thing - the large rug in the lounge smelled strongly of wet dog ( I know it allows dogs and my cousin has her own dog but it was very unpleasant) and the mat at the bottom of the stairs and in the kitchen we had to put outside. Nice touch in the dining room was the history of the cottage , plenty of games and books. Lovely little sun trap of a garden with table and chairs. Was a great break despite those little moans!

- Janice, May 2023

Thank you for your comments, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We take all comments on board, and we will ask our Housekeeping team to look into your comments. We hope to welcome you back. The Lakes Cottage Holidays Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Vanessa March 2023

“A big thank you for plenty of logs at hand.”

It made a cosy stay when it was snowing.

- Vanessa, March 2023
Lesley March 2023

“Once again, a lovely holiday in Anvil Cottage.”

It is ideal for us, full of character, located in the heart of Near Sawrey and with a historical link to Beatrix Potter.

- Lesley, March 2023
Philip January 2023

“A lovely cottage.”

Very cosy and the facilities are more than adequate. Comes with a plentiful supply of logs for the wood burner, but you'll need to bring matches and fire lighters. The rooms are a good size and the house does sleep 6 - however it might be a bit cosy in the living area with 6 people. Some have mentioned lack of parking and tightness of parking, but there is a large garage, and additional parking to the side. I parked my long wheelbase Renault Traffic 9-seater van in the parking space with no problems. It's a little bit of a squeeze backing, particularly in the dark (probably not a good idea to go in forwards!) in but once in, there's plenty of room all round to get in and out of the vehicle. And the gate stop is only about 2 inches high and 4 inches wide, so don't understand the comment about a car only just getting over it. The only issue is that you need to creep out of the drive slowly because you can't see down the road... or ask someone to guide you out. But not a problem. One tiny issue is that the gate has come away at the top hinge, so needs to be lifted into place when closing it. Sykes were very helpful and communicated very well at every stage of the holiday. Will definitely be looking to stay at this cottage again. Highly recommended.

- Philip, January 2023
Philip December 2022

“We have stayed at Anvil so many times over the past 20yrs, it is a very comfortable property and the inclusion of Logs & Coal is an added bonus which was an essential this holiday due to the -8 temperature and with it snow.”

.. So we are extremely grateful to the owner for this inclusion. We truly love this cottage,, we have shared it with our four legged family... I have only good things to say about the property.

- Philip, December 2022
Sylvia November 2022

“Lovely welcoming warm cottage .”

..

- Sylvia, November 2022
Ellie November 2022

“Great cottage that fit us all in well!”

2 bathrooms were very helpful and great that there was a proper dining space. We did manage to fit our 2 cars in, however had great difficulty opening the stiff garage door. Also the open parking space had a sticking up, metal fixture on ground for the gate which scraped the bottom of our car. I wasn't able to open the main bedroom window so that might need looking at. The central heating and hot water were easy to use and we really appreciated having logs to use for the fire. That was a novelty. Thank you for the stay!

- Ellie, November 2022
John October 2022

“Broken window when we arrived.”

Plumbing a bit basic

- John, October 2022
Shirley September 2022

“We really enjoyed our stay at Anvil Cottage especially as I am a fan of Beatrix Potter and you really get a feel for what her life was like in this village and the cottage itself features in her work.”

If you like a mix of quaint, quirky and modern then this cottage is for you. The lounge and dining room are very traditional, and the bedrooms too. However the kitchen, utility room and downstairs bathroom are modern and have everything you need. We were very comfortable in the cottage but there were just 2 of us. I think if 6 were in the house it would feel a little cramped. The garden is not as large as it looks in the photos but it is a lovely spot to sit - very peaceful. The whole village is peaceful. There are a few points that I feel need to be emphasised in the description: 1: the stairs are quite steep to the upstairs rooms. 2: parking - there really is not room for a large car in the small parking space at the side/rear of the house - you have to open the green wrought iron gates to access this space from the main road through the village. Also - beware of the iron plate that sticks up in the middle of the entrance to the parking which is to act as a stop for the gates. Our car struggled to get over it. There is no space for parking on the street as the cottage is right on the road and on a corner. 3: Take matches. If you want to use the log burner take matches just in case there are none in the cottage. The recommendations for eating at the Tower Bank Arms were great and we ate there 3 nights out of 4 - 2 were booked in advance thankfully as they were fully booked. The 3rd visit was a cancellation. The staff are great, the pub is cosy and the food is wonderful. But BOOK before you arrive! We also ate at The Cuckoo Brow Inn as it had also been recommended - I think they were struggling due to being short staffed and the bar/restaurant area was very brightly lit so a slightly strange atmosphere - but the food was good. Anvil Cottage is very much part of the history of the village as can be seen from the pictures and articles in the Dining Room - be prepared for groups of tourists to take photos and even look through the windows and on one occasion sit and have a chat with each other in the front porch! We really enjoyed our stay and would return....if I am still able to tackle the steep stairs. Would love to return to the Tower Bank Arms....remember to book!

- Shirley, September 2022
Shane July 2022

“We all had a lovely week thank you!”

The cottage was located in a really lovely place and we walked for miles every day in all directions! Some fabulous views from the track heading up to Wray Castle and Latterbarrow, and close enough to easily walk to the Ferry and cross over to Bowness if you want a busier location. Apologies if we missed it anywhere but you really should stress the need to book WELL in advance of arriving if your guests want to eat at the Tower Bank pub over the road. We stayed for a full week and went over to speak to them within 30 minutes of arriving and were not able to book a table to eat for our entire stay! It was quite disappointing as one of the reasons for booking this property was to find somewhere with a pub we could easily walk over to in the evening. We actually only had one drink there all week as all the tables are reserved for those eating. To a degree this even applies to the Cuckoo Brow in Far Sawry; we managed to get booked in for mid week which was lovely, and thankfully we were able to sweet talk them into squeezing us in on the night before we left as well. Great food. Overall it was a lovely break and we will definitely book again! If you can squeeze any more power from the shower and the vacuum cleaner that would be great! haha! :) It was a massive bonus having both the garage and driveway too as we came up in two cars and parking in the Hamlet certainly looked like it would be a nightmare; especially at the moment while all the logging is going on. Will definitely be back!

- Shane, July 2022
David July 2022

“Only negative is the lack of parking”

- David, July 2022
Sally July 2022

“An absolutely delightful Cottage in a beautiful quaint hamlet!”

We were extremely comfortable and it ticked all the boxes for us with our family and little dogs. We love walking in this particular part of the Lake District. We just had one tiny niggle - which can soon be rectified - the plug on the sink in the upstairs bathroom had come off its chain and it was very hard to remove the plug from the sink. We had such a lovely time that we have booked again for May next year! Thank you very much!

- Sally, July 2022
Colin May 2022

“Lovely hotel Ensure book restaurant before you arrive Loved the cakes we could buy of the next door !”

- Colin, May 2022
Julia April 2022

“My family and I had an excellent week at Anvil Cottage.”

I have absolutely no complaints. Would definitely recommend and would definitely stay again.

- Julia, April 2022
Lisa April 2022

“We had a wonderful holiday in a beautiful cottage.”

Could have done with a better vacuum cleaner with having a dog!

- Lisa, April 2022
Laura March 2022

“We had a lovely week, the cottage was equipped with everything we needed for our stay.”

My only suggestion would be a blind up in the kitchen window. Would definitely stay again.

- Laura, March 2022
Lee March 2022

“Lovely cottage in idyllic location Highly recommended”

- Lee, March 2022
Caroline February 2022

“This cottage was advertised as having two bathrooms one was out of order and the other the toilet seat was hanging off.”

Going to the bathroom was a very public affair,there was no privacy at all. The visitors to Hilltop would stop to takes photos of the cottage. Simple solution...blinds at the windows. One good thing there was an unlimited supply of logs and coal.

- Caroline, February 2022
Linda December 2021

“This is the second year we have stopped in the cottage at New Year and once again loved every minute.”

We have booked again for next year If you are reading other reviews, I would make the following observations. This is the 3rd place we have stayed in Near Sawrey, the water pressure in the village can be quite low, and it's an electric shower. Don't complain about something that is outside the owners control. Many houses in the village have no off road parking, the fact that Anvil Cottage does is a bonus. We managed to get an E class Merc in the garage and a 4x4on the drive ( and close the gate without problem). If you bring more than 2 cars April to Sept you will have a problem as there is no onroad parking in high season. The ground floor has stone floors with rugs, it can be cold on the feet in places. Absolutely perfect for dogs, but take slippers. The bath towels are small, we take our own as we are quite large Ample supplies of wood etc to make a fire every day, but would recommend buying or bringing kindling and fire lighters. There is a house up the lane that sells kindling. It has one of the best equipped kitchens I have ever stayed in as holiday accommodation, but you might want to take your own pepper grinder. We occasionally had problems with the downstairs toilet, but never had to plunge it. We tied to ensure we only used it for wees and used upstairs for the rest We ran 2 computers and 6 phones of the WIFI at full signal and had no problems with it at all Make sure you reserve a table in the Tower Bank Arms, the food is excellent, but they are usually fully booked by the previous day.

- Linda, December 2021
Liz October 2021

“The holiday property was generally tired in its appearance.”

The plumbing generally needed sorting, the downstairs shower had very little force of water so difficult to have a good shower. The downstairs toilet kept blocking and had to be plunged regularly. The bath upstairs took an age to fill and then there was little hot water. The sink drain in the kitchen had no washer on it so the waste came off and we had to temporarily fix it. Generally the place needs updating and was a high price for poor amenities.

- Liz, October 2021
Robert September 2021

“The listing mentions Wi-Fi but this was not working on arrival.”

We contacted the Owner (as noted in the Information Book) on Sunday but had to follow up on monday as we had not had any response. The Owner said he had contacted BT and they would be coming out to fix the issue but they never did and we had no Wi-Fi for the duration of our stay. This might not have been a problem but my Son was in between Work Contracts and needed Wi-Fi access and was expecting to have it! The parking at the Cottage is not suitable for a party of 6, (it is reasonable to assume there might be 3 cars for a party of 6). The downstairs toilet was not flushing effectively, we managed this as best we could and advised the Owner on the last morning it needed to be looked at.

- Robert, September 2021
Steven September 2021

“Would definitely stay at Anvil Cottage again.”

Only minor issue BT wifi router would not connect but this does not reflect on the standard of the accommodation which was great.

- Steven, September 2021
Mark August 2021

“Excellent central village location, good garden with plenty of seating, we found the parking was fine for a large estate car.”

The cottage itself was great, only let down by the overpowering wet dog smell in the living room, which was there for the full week, and put us off using that room. Otherwise the house was really comfortable and had everything we needed.

- Mark, August 2021
Sarah August 2021

“A lovely cottage in a fantastic location.”

We enjoyed visiting Hill Top and a highlight was swimming in the tarn at the top of the footpath running by the house. The cakes for sale next door where first class and a real treat each day after our long walks. Lots to do in the local area and we left the car at the cottage most days and walked to Hawkshead, the Windermere ferry or off up to the hills or Esthwaite water. Highly recommend.

- Sarah, August 2021
Sarah August 2021

“Beautiful location, love original features within the cottage and it has been made very comfortable and suitable for families with young children.”

Perfect location. Kept history of property.

- Sarah, August 2021
Tim July 2021

“The cottage is decorated really nicely and the beds are very comfortable.”

The thing we were really impressed with was the amount of kitchen utensils, crockery, pans and cooking dishes.

- Tim, July 2021
Andrew June 2021

“The garden was unkept and a mess.”

The parking is small and customers should be advised as we only just managed to fit our 4x4 on with a squeeze and a shuffle back and forth to close the gate. Not enough instruction information left for the oven and the log burner. The information that was left was out of date and not helpful as lots has changed.

- Andrew, June 2021
Jennifer June 2021

“Really enjoyed the stay.”

Only suggestion would Maybe to have some mesh on gate….if you had small dog may manage to get through. Although fully appreciate it’s the dog owners responsibility

- Jennifer, June 2021
Jason May 2021

“Great cottage, comfortable, spacious, well equipped and fantastic location.”

Parking in the driveway was a bit tight but no probs after a couple of practice shots! Dogs loved the garden.

- Jason, May 2021
Steve October 2020

“Water pressure is very poor.”

Also the hot water would scald a child. Fine for us as two adults but Could be tricky with young children. The cottage is perfect and has everything one could need. Very cosy And perfectly situated for walking, views and a peaceful Haven. We would definitely return.

- Steve, October 2020
Catherine September 2020

“The cottage was great.”

The garden not great. It would have been nice to sit out in the garden in the nice weather we enjoyed. Unfortunately it was a little unkempt. And maybe invest in some nice garden furniture. A dilapidated wooden bench full of bird muck and a couple of plastic chairs that had seen better days is not good. The Gardener did arrive on Friday morning but a bit to late for our stay.

- Catherine, September 2020
Christina September 2020

“We were supposed to be at Anvil Cottage in June 2020 but owing to Covid19 lockdown we re booked to September 2020.”

We finally managed to find the cottage which was in a quiet hamlet. I suspect that in normal times it would be a very busy hamlet during the day owing to the closeness Hill Top Farm. The cottage was very clean and tidy. Beds were very comfortable. The kitchen was fully equipped with everything needed but could do with one smaller frying pan (there are 2 really large frying pans supplied). We thoroughly enjoyed our time at this cottage. There are plenty of walks and the surrounding countryside is magnificent as Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, Grasmere Lake and Rydal Water are all nearby.

- Christina, September 2020
Ken August 2020

“Great location and an excellent cottage.”

There were six of us and we had plenty of room. I’d recommend taking a small vehicle - the garage and the parking area are quite small. Having said that, I’d recommend taking a small vehicle to the Lakes, given the narrow lanes. A really nice place to stay. I’d recommend it to anyone.

- Ken, August 2020
James August 2020

“Anvil Cottage is in a great location in the small village of Near Sawrey, which is close to all the great walks and hills.”

It is also perfectly located for the small village of Hawkshead and the larger town of Bowness. We were very lucky as the weather was exceptional throughout, but this part of England is just magical and a must visit for all.

- James, August 2020
Paul December 2019

“The cottage was set in a lovely area and was just what we expected.”

Although a little tired in places it was comfortable, and well stocked. We made Christmas lunch for six in the property and had a really good time. The garden at the rear is small and has gates so excellent for our poodle to play out without going near the road. The pub is just across the road and has a Yorkshire range fire, good beer and excellent food. Some fantastic walks and views The family room would be better if it was a twin

- Paul, December 2019
Chris November 2019

“Lovely period property in great location.”

- Chris, November 2019
Martin October 2019

“This was a lovely quaint cottage with plenty of room and well equipped kitchen.”

The house felt like a home rather than a holiday let and we felt like we were at home from the moment we walked in the door. It was comfortable and cosy and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We initially tried to book online but something went wrong with the site when trying to make payment so we rang the office. We received a very friendly and efficient service from the lady we spoke to on the phone and received receipts, booking confirmation and key collection details within a minute of ending our call. So all in all a relatively hassle free booking.

- Martin, October 2019
Fiona July 2019

“The house provided a comfortable stay for visiting the lake district and surrounding areas.”

The interior was a little dated, and the garden wasn't really as advertised. The gardening had not been done for a long while and as such was not very pleasant to sit out there, and it isn't very private as passers by on the street can see into it. House was right in the centre of the village opposite Hill Top and as such a lot of tourists were outside taking pictures of the house and looking through the windows. One tourist actually walked right through the front door and when asked to leave demanded to know 'if this cottage is private then why is it in the national trust brochure?!' Safe to say we kept the front door locked from then on. Parking situation was also a bit tricky, and although the kitchen was mostly acceptable, the fridge had a really strong odour that made it very unpleasant every time you opened it. Other than this the cottage was extremely clean. Overall a nice stay but not as private as we would have liked, and the house could really do with a bit of TLC I think.

- Fiona, July 2019
Bruce June 2019

“The cottage is really comfy and feels like it's "lived in", so home away from home.”

The kitchen was well stocked and we loved the fact that there were lots of children's books as we had a (nearly) 3 year old. You do tend to get people peering in the window and photographing the house as it's opposite the famous Hill Farm (Beatrix Potter's house), and was featured in a couple of her books - I expect there's a lot more of this in high season! The only minor thing I'd ask for is WiFi, but that's hardly a big issue.

- Bruce, June 2019
Mel April 2019

“We love Anvil Cottage and have stayed there many times and hope to do so in the future.”

The cottage and garden are lovely. Just a few small points of recommendations are that the Dyson did not work well so we were not able to clean the floor as we would have wished. Also the cooking utensils do need upgrading, particularly the frying pan. A few small improvements would greatly improve the stay. We appreciated the wood burner and the logs. Many thanks for a lovely holiday.

- Mel, April 2019
Zoe March 2019

“Cracking cottage - everything we needed - brilliant location - we aren't massive hikers - and there are lots of lovely works around the cottage and all involving lovely pubs !”

Hawkshead is only 3 miles away for provisions - and there is a daily milk delivery to your door to. The landscape around the cottage in enchanting - especially knowing our neighbour is Beatrix Potter - stories from my childhood. Coniston is only about a 15 minute drive - we managed to walk a good way up the Old Man - almost reached the snow cap !! We visited the first week of March and yes it did rain, but we also had some dry days too - will most definitely be visiting again. We took Gary our cockapoo too - who very much enjoyed his stay at this dog friendly cottage - nice enclosed garden.

- Zoe, March 2019
Clifford February 2019

“The fridge requires a deep clean.”

Although spotlessly clean it had anasty fusty smell for the whole fortnight. Leave door open when not in use. The lights under the kitchen units don't work. Every thing else v. good

- Clifford, February 2019
William Henry December 2018

“Location good for walks and Ambleside, with a pub nearby.”

However cottage is right on the road,so if you're used to a quiet spot,or like a lie in, maybe not for you.

- William Henry, December 2018
Alison December 2018

“Anvil cottage is very comfortable and cosy.”

The beds were great and we all had good sleep. It is wonderfully located in Near Sawrey but not noisy despite being by the main road. The enclosed garden is great. The kitchen was very well equipped with the exception of a cheese grater! And a few more mugs would be good to allow better use of the dishwasher. We also found the tub chair in the lounge uncomfortable and as such don’t feel that the lounge would comfortably seat 6 adults as the cottages sleeps. Maybe a more comfy armchair? We also were surprised at the arrival of the gardener mid week who brought his dog with him. As we had a dog with us this was unwelcome as we could not let our dog out whilst he was there as she would have been scared. it was also early in the morning (about 10:30)for a holiday day! It would be good to know as in other cottages I have stayed in when maintenace like this is due to take place so we can plan accordingly. Overall we had a fabulous stay and would definitely come back and recommend it to friends.

- Alison, December 2018
Mark September 2018

“Hi. We have been going to Anvil since it became a holiday cottage and we love it.”

We tend to eat in at the cottage more and more and the only suggestion we would make is that for a small outlay new glasses that match and better kitchen utensils would improve the cooking experience. For example there were no pint beer glasses and three mis- matched wine glasses. We bought and donated two beer glasses. There are many good things about Anvil, like the logs provided for the fire, which we appreciate. Regards Mark Ottignon

- Mark, September 2018
Joanne September 2018

“My Mum, myself and the dog loved this cottage.”

It was clean, warm, comfortable and welcoming. Yes we did have people looking through the windows as it is opposite Hilltop. I know this would put many people off but as one reviewer said, this must be one of the busiest attractions in the Lake District so what do you expect? The garden is small and private. Everything worked, washing machine, dishwasher heating etc. and was easy to use. If we had to say anything at all slightly negative about the property, it is the driveway. It is on the narrow side with metal gates, so watch your car (we only have a medium sized car) and you have to obviously check for traffic when you are reversing out. I am not sure why we couldn't use the garage as this was bigger. However, Emma (very helpful and friendly) from Lakes cottage holidays said not to. Anyway it was perfect for us and very close to everything with beautiful walks. Will definitely be returning.

- Joanne, September 2018
Julian June 2018

“Cottage was in a lovely location, however, didn't realise how busy location was due to the number of tourists visiting Hill Top.”

This brings me to my first comment of which there were no net curtains within the property, only night ones. This resulted in a lack of privacy because some tourists would take photos of the cottage, which was fine but some people would also look through the windows which I found to be a bit of a pain. so there were certain times the curtains were closed whilst we we there. Secondly, at the beginning of the week, the boiler had a problem producing hot water. I spoke to the owner and was told there had been previous problems which had been fixed but the way to sort it out was to turn on the Immersion heater as required which was in the main bedroom.A bit inconvenient, especially when I didn't always remember to do it. The owner also said he would get an engineer in on the Saturday (the day we were leaving) which for me was not acceptable. It should have been sorted out, whilst we were there.Thirdly, I am not used to oil-fired boilers. This one was rather noisy and whilst running produced rather nauseous fumes. The boiler was located in a small Utility room near the back door. Fourthly, the garden was very small. We have three dogs. The picture on the website suggests it is much larger. Fifth comment, whilst the front of the cottage gave off a certain amount of charm, the back needs a lot of work doing on it, especially some of the drain-pipes. They are rusty with paint peeling off them. I suspect they are part of the original fittings. Lastly, the drive which is behind a couple of metal gates is small. Really only suitable for a small to medium size vehicle. With three dogs, we have a larger one. Manoeuvering was quite tricky, especially as the gates were mounted on posts which reduced the width somewhat. Best way, was to reverse in, which meant moving to the middle of the road to obtain the correct angle to reverse. Watch out for passing cars. When pulling out of the drive, make sure there is a second person to guide you out. You cannot see either left or right until you are in the middle of the road and the road can be very busy. There is nowhere to park outside the cottage. All-in-all, location was lovely but I feel the price of the cottage was rather high for what it had to offer. I spoke to the agent about some of the problems and was told the owner was aware of them. If so, why were they not dealt with?

- Julian, June 2018
Kelly June 2018

“Had an excellent week at Anvil Cottage.”

Sawrey is a beautiful village with great walks, fabulous food and beautiful scenery.

- Kelly, June 2018
Kirsty February 2018

“I rang Sykes Cottages on arrival as the house was cold, damp and there was no kindling to light the fire.”

The TV needed setting up from scratch, the rear garden light didn’t work and there was nearly no hot water supply in the upstairs bathroom. The key safe is rusty and took us 15 mins to access the key. The fridge smells terrible. I was told somebody would ring me back or email me after the owners had been notified. Nobody has rung me back or emailed me. We are leaving today after enduring a terrible experience with our 3 children. Thank goodness it was only 2 nights. Just under £500 to stay in this horrible cold place. Please could somebody get in touch to explain why nobody helped us or even got back to us. Sykes Cottages customer service so far has been none existent.

- Kirsty, February 2018

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Summary

Two double bedrooms (one with satellite TV and DVD player), one family room with single bed and bunk beds (top bunk only suitable for a child)
Family bathroom with bath and hand held shower, separate basin and WC
Ground floor shower room with wash basin and WC
Lounge with satellite TV and multifuel burner
Separate dining room
Kitchen with separate utility room
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher
Oil fired central heating and multifuel burner
Satellite TV, WIFI CD player
Oil, electricity, coal, logs, bed linen and towels included in the rent
Cot and highchair available
Enclosed garden with lawn
Up to 3 dogs welcome
Village location, pub/restaurant 100 yards
Note: Attached single garage and off street parking to the rear
Note: Other pets may be considered

The property

Anvil Cottage sleeps 6 and is located opposite the former home of Beatrix Potter, the cottage has a multi fuel stove great for winters evenings, whilst the small garden is ideal for those warm summer nights. Near Sawrey is located on the western side of Lake Windermere, 2 miles south of Hawkshead and 5 miles east of Coniston.

The local area is steeped in history and is well known for its association with Beatrix Potter who lived opposite at Hill Top.

Close by there are numerous off road walks and mountain bike routes including Grisedale north shore trails. Anvil Cottage, once the village bakery and more recently known as Molly Green's Tea Room is a well appointed, double fronted, traditional Lakeland stone cottage centrally located in the village within 100 yards of the Tower Bank Arms, as featured in Beatrix Potters books.

The cottage is well equipped for modern day living but has retained much of its original features with slate flagged floors and coal fire.

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About the location

SAWREY

Hawkshead 2 miles.

The village of Sawrey is situated two miles from Hawkshead down the eastern side of Esthwaite Water, overlooked by the woods and tarns of Claife Heights. Sawrey consists of two separate hamlets - Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey - both with a cluster of picturesque cottages, tea rooms and pubs. Near Sawrey is famous for Hill Top, the 17th century farmhouse where Beatrix Potter wrote her acclaimed children's stories. Now a museum, owned and run by the National Trust, Hill Top is one of the most visited houses in the Lake District. Far Sawrey is the hamlet furthest away from Hawkshead and the nearest to the ferry point on Windermere. It offers a church and pub/restaurant with a beer garden. There are good walks in the area, including those to Claife Heights and in Grizedale Forest. It's also a great base for enjoying a wide variety of typical Lakeland pursuits - with watersports close at hand on Lake Windermere, fishing on nearby Esthwaite Water and, of course, fell walking.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Anvil Cottage is a lovely traditional Lakeland house in the centre of the beautiful village – Near Sawrey.”

“The cottage was in a good location for us and would have been great if there had been a little more care for guests.”

“Very lovely location and extra tv in the other double bedroom and a hot tub would make it perfect”

“The cottage is in a lovely village, close to a couple of pubs serving food.”

“When we arrived at the cottage it was absolutely freezing in the property.”

“Great cottage in a lovely quiet location.”

“A lovely old cottage steeped in history, we did have a small problem where the kitchen sink was pouring water out , but we rang Sykes straightaway a plumber arrived the next morning to fix it so we had no inconvenience.”

“We had a lovely week at Anvil cottage.”

“We really enjoyed our 3 night stay at Anvil Cottage.”

“Thank you we had a lovely holiday, the cottage was well supplied but seemed tired but .”

“We had a wonderful week at Anvil Cottage.”

“Absolutely wonderful stay and such a perfect location to see that part of the lakes.”

“Needs an update on the cottage information and perhaps a warning of the steepness of the stairs.”

“Lovely cottage, ideal location, everything you need.”

“My family enjoyed our stay in this beautiful cottage in the lakes and was a delight to experience this rural home.”

“Great location the history behind Anvil cottage was very interesting we really ...”

“Beautiful cottage, garden a surprise-a lot smaller than the photo you show on the listing, obviously picture taken at an angle to make it look a LOT bigger than it is!”

“Wonderful property and location.”

“Anvil Cottage was a lovely place.”

“We have stayed many times in Near Sawrey at the pub Tower Bank for short stays but wanted to have a family holiday for longer.”

“We have just returned from a rather poor stay at Anvil cottage a d wanted to feedback before any other guests have to go through the same experience we did.”

“We absolutely loved our holiday at Anvil.”

“Overall the property was very nice, and quite adequate for the four of us staying.”

“It was not as clean as you would expect.”

“We had a lovely stay at Anvil Cottage - bit of a problem getting in to the key safe ( a key pad would be easier).”

“A big thank you for plenty of logs at hand.”

“Once again, a lovely holiday in Anvil Cottage.”

“A lovely cottage.”

“We have stayed at Anvil so many times over the past 20yrs, it is a very comfortable property and the inclusion of Logs & Coal is an added bonus which was an essential this holiday due to the -8 temperature and with it snow.”

“Lovely welcoming warm cottage .”

“Great cottage that fit us all in well!”

“Broken window when we arrived.”

“We really enjoyed our stay at Anvil Cottage especially as I am a fan of Beatrix Potter and you really get a feel for what her life was like in this village and the cottage itself features in her work.”

“We all had a lovely week thank you!”

“Only negative is the lack of parking”

“An absolutely delightful Cottage in a beautiful quaint hamlet!”

“Lovely hotel Ensure book restaurant before you arrive Loved the cakes we could buy of the next door !”

“My family and I had an excellent week at Anvil Cottage.”

“We had a wonderful holiday in a beautiful cottage.”

“We had a lovely week, the cottage was equipped with everything we needed for our stay.”

“Lovely cottage in idyllic location Highly recommended”

“This cottage was advertised as having two bathrooms one was out of order and the other the toilet seat was hanging off.”

“This is the second year we have stopped in the cottage at New Year and once again loved every minute.”

“The holiday property was generally tired in its appearance.”

“The listing mentions Wi-Fi but this was not working on arrival.”

“Would definitely stay at Anvil Cottage again.”

“Excellent central village location, good garden with plenty of seating, we found the parking was fine for a large estate car.”

“A lovely cottage in a fantastic location.”

“Beautiful location, love original features within the cottage and it has been made very comfortable and suitable for families with young children.”

“The cottage is decorated really nicely and the beds are very comfortable.”

“The garden was unkept and a mess.”

“Really enjoyed the stay.”

“Great cottage, comfortable, spacious, well equipped and fantastic location.”

“Water pressure is very poor.”

“The cottage was great.”

“We were supposed to be at Anvil Cottage in June 2020 but owing to Covid19 lockdown we re booked to September 2020.”

“Great location and an excellent cottage.”

“Anvil Cottage is in a great location in the small village of Near Sawrey, which is close to all the great walks and hills.”

“The cottage was set in a lovely area and was just what we expected.”

“Lovely period property in great location.”

“This was a lovely quaint cottage with plenty of room and well equipped kitchen.”

“The house provided a comfortable stay for visiting the lake district and surrounding areas.”

“The cottage is really comfy and feels like it's "lived in", so home away from home.”

“We love Anvil Cottage and have stayed there many times and hope to do so in the future.”

“Cracking cottage - everything we needed - brilliant location - we aren't massive hikers - and there are lots of lovely works around the cottage and all involving lovely pubs !”

“The fridge requires a deep clean.”

“Location good for walks and Ambleside, with a pub nearby.”

“Anvil cottage is very comfortable and cosy.”

“Hi. We have been going to Anvil since it became a holiday cottage and we love it.”

“My Mum, myself and the dog loved this cottage.”

“Cottage was in a lovely location, however, didn't realise how busy location was due to the number of tourists visiting Hill Top.”

“Had an excellent week at Anvil Cottage.”

“I rang Sykes Cottages on arrival as the house was cold, damp and there was no kindling to light the fire.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location