The Rockery Suite
Description
The Rockery Suite is one of only six tastefully appointed apartments in an impressive residence called Sawrey Knotts which was built by the magistrate Robert Sowler in 1861. Situated between Lake Windermere and Hawkshead, it is within walking distance of Beatrix Potter's fascinating home and museum Hilltop in Near Sawrey, and a 10 minute drive from Esthwaite Water which is renowned nationally for its fishing.
The building retains the feel of a country house with the main front door opening into a large entrance hall with winding staircase. It is built into the rocky hillside with the cosy one bedroom Rockery Suite tucked away at the rear of the building, looking up into the rockery garden. The front of the house and garden enjoy stunning views towards the lake as it stretches southwards and toward Coniston Old Man in the west. The apartment has a separate outside entrance and is therefore private and perfect for relaxation at any time of the year with its original open fireplace and elegant lounge.
Walk from the door up onto Claife Heights with its dramatic views, or relax in the spacious peaceful gardens with a glass of wine, a good book, and the beautiful scenery. The ferry to Bowness is a two minute drive and The Cuckoo Brow Inn with its bar and restaurant is only a four minute walk, so when you retire to consider your verdict over an evening drink, we would direct you to find 'The Honourable Robert' guilty on all counts - of choosing this perfect location for his country house!
Accommodation: Stairs from impressive entrance hall and into small lobby. Elegant well furnished lounge/dining room has windows to two sides, original shutters, tall ceiling and good sized open fire with original marble surround, cast iron and tile inset, TV with Freesat, DVD player & extensive collection of DVD’s, CD/radio, WiFi. Fitted kitchen has everything for your holiday needs. Small freezer for sole use of Rockery Suite in cupboard under stairs. Bedroom has king-size bed and windows to two sides. Shower room with good quality white suite (shower, basin and wc). The apartment is attractively furnished in keeping with the property, with fitted carpets, central heating and many tasteful personal touches. Rear door for private access.
Outside: Sawrey Knotts has three acres of shared gardens and grounds with benches, tables and chairs and there are lake views to be enjoyed from the grounds. In addition to this The Rockery Suite has its own small patio at the rear in the shade of the house. Coin operated laundry on site. Ample parking. Local pub 4 mins walk. Shops including a well-stocked Co-op and excellent deli, are in Hawkshead - 3 miles away.
PLEASE NOTE - the broadband speed at The Rockery Suite is 1 - 2 Mbps and is suitable for e-mail and surfing but not for 'heavy duty' use. Wood for open fire provided October to May.
Your dates
Everything you'll need
- Wifi
- Dishwasher
- Open Fire
- Off Road Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Wifi
- Dishwasher
- Open Fire
- Off Road Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Smoke Free
What guests are saying
The location of the property is perfect.
Other than that I don’t have a good word to say. The decor and furniture are very tired. The place has the same musty smell that hits you when you walk into an old museum. Nothing was clean, I don’t mean just dusty, I mean the place was filthy. I had to go to coop in Hawkshead and get some cleaning materials. There was filth and pubic hair around the base of the toilet. Hairs in the sink and shower. The kitchen doors feel greasy and are dirty. There were splashes of food around the cooker. The toaster is so dirty we couldn’t use it. We washed all kitchen equipment before we used it. When we stripped the bed we found stains on the mattress protector. We certainly left the place cleaner than we found it, it wasn’t difficult!!
We are delighted Jayne that you enjoyed the location of The Rockery Suite/Sawrey Knotts - it is glorious isn't it. Many apologies however for your dissatisfaction. As can be seen in/from the positivity of all previous reviews this is "unusual". But we have of course passed on your feedback to our cleaner Jan. While such discontent is a rarity, we would obviously urge any guests who find that something may have been missed during the change-over/clean prior to their arrival to please contact Lakelovers/Sykes or Jan immediately (her number is in our Welcome Folder) - she lives in the village so would be able to visit to rectify the situation at once. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We loved our stay.
Full of charm and very cosy. Everything you could need is provided. We loved the huge selection of films. Perfect location to explore the lakes.
Many thanks Eva for your lovely review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite, loved the location, and found that you had everything you need - we have tried to equip the apartment with everything we would wish to find in a holiday apartment. Excellent also that you enjoyed our extensive DVD collection ...which we keep topping up from home! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
This is the 3rd time we have stayed at the Rockery Suite which says it all i would like to think.
It's a lovely peaceful place to come back to after a day in the fells or visiting the local villages, the living room is spacious with its Victorian character still intact, the kitchen has everything you need for your stay, the bedroom has plenty of storage space for your clothes and belongings, the bed was comfortable and with no natural light made for a peaceful sleep. The bonus is the open fire, logs and kindling is plentiful where the washhouse is located outside of the main building, we look forward to come back again.
Many thanks Mark for having come back again, and for your lovely detailed review - it is always good to have it confirmed that all the thought we have put into The Rockery Suite is appreciated. Hopefully it won't be too long before your 4th visit! :-) With best regards and all best wishes for 2026, Malcolm & Kate
We had a lovely week with our dog in the Rockery Suite.
It's warm enough, the grounds are lovely (so many rabbits!) and so many paths and trails to wander. There's no view from the apartment, but when the sun goes down you can see as much as your neighbours with one can! Definitely bring a torch for walks to the local pubs, but if you're staying in the DVD choice is as large as it is varied! You'll need to plan ahead for shopping, but getting across to Bowness on the ferry is easy and quick. Perfect and affordable hideaway.
Many thanks Paul for your detailed & generous feedback re. our apartment, the grounds and the locality. Also for your "top tips' for visitors! We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Period two person (and 1 dog!
) apartment in an amazing location. Very comfortable and nice to return to after a long day walking. Lots of good walks from the door!
Many thanks Kevin for your kind feedback. We are delighted that you (and your dog!) enjoyed your stay in our cosy apartment, and that you had a good time exploring the lovely local walks. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
A comfortable apartment in lovely grounds.
Great area - nice and quiet compared with the Bowness side of Windermere. The electric car chargers at Pure Lakes were extremely useful. No big fells on the doorstep but lots of lovely lower level walks.
Many thanks Elizabeth for your kind feedback. We are delighted that you found The Rockery Suite comfortable and enjoyed the Sawrey Knotts garden. And yes, Sawrey and surroundings are a wonderfully quiet contrast-to and escape-from just across the lake! :-) Also useful to know that Pure Lakes' EV chargers are getting good use. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Lovely apartment, but the shower lacked any power!
Many thanks Michael for your feedback - we are delighted that you enjoyed staying in The Rockery Suite. Do come back! Meanwhile I shall ask our cleaner Jan to check the shower pressure. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We stayed in the Rockery Suite.
Everything was lovely and clean and so quiet. Lovely walks round the area. Hilltop was only a mile away. There was lots of information on places to go and see. We would definitely stay here again.
Many thanks Isabel for your kind feedback, we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite, Sawrey Knotts and the surrounding area. Yes, it is a great base for exploring the locality, isn't it. We look forward to welcoming you back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The apartment was very nice and comfortable, well maintained with all mod cons.
We liked it so much we will be back next year and will recommend it to friends. The only drawback was the back yard where the garden table and chairs were in a precarious position. We had a wonderful holiday and like the position with lovely gardens in front and the weather was amazing.
Many thanks Liisa for your kind review - we cannot ask for a higher compliment than a planned return visit! And good weather always helps! As you no doubt saw, we have done our best to maximise the space available behind the apartment for a table and chairs. But as you say, there is also the spacious front garden with its additional seating. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
A lovely setting and comfortable property, however the water pressure was very poor and I was unable to wash my hair!
Thankyou Cath for your kind review - we are delighted that you enjoyed the gorgeous setting of Sawrey Knotts and the comfort of The Rockery Suite. We are sorry about the issue with the water pressure - I assume this was not an issue with our power shower, but was a hot water tap issue. If so, this is unusual. I shall ask our cleaner Jan and housekeeper Helga to check and keep an eye on the pressure both of the shower and from the taps, in case the issue recurs. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Lovely property in a fantastic location-has everything we needed and was very comfortable and clean.
Many thanks Andrea for your kind feedback. Yes, Sawrey Knotts is a fabulous building isn't it, and in a stunning location. Thankyou also for your feedback re. comfort and cleanliness - our cleaner Jan is wonderful, we are very fortunate to have her as part of our team. Do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We had a great stay at the Rockery.
Excellent location to walk to Hawkshead ferry and the lake shores. Also, a local pub a short distance away (Cuckoo Brow) was very handy for Sunday lunch or a whilst walking the dog! Parking was well organised, and the apartment guidebook was extensive providing an easy start to everything. The grounds provided a nice place to sit or walk our dog and the night sky was amazing without the usual light pollution we normally experience. We would like the owners to correct the Wi-Fi issue as this prevents using the OnDemand apps on the TV. However, this did not stop us having a brilliant stay and we would go back again.
Many thanks Carole for your feedback. We are delighted that you (and your dog :-) enjoyed your stay, the walks from our front door, The Cuckoo Brow Inn and the clarity of the night sky which, yes, is spectacular - it never ceases to amaze us when we visit. Also always good to hear that the attention-to-detail in our welcome folder is useful. Re. the recent frustrating problem with our/the building's WiFi, which relates to the app's on our TV - our apologies for the inconvenience. To summarise the problem & solution: we are having to coordinate with BT/Openreach to run a new line into the building, which will involve closure of the main road this Spring. Until the new cable is installed, the strongest signal in the building is from the main router in the entrance hall. So, I assure you and all future guests that we are constantly pushing for this issue to be resolved A.S.A.P. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Love staying at the Rockery Suite, this was thr second time around and have booked it again for the same time next year, that should say it all.
Love the privacy and comfort, had great restful sleeps after our excursions on the fells, starting to feel like home from home.
Many thanks Mark for your kind feedback re. The Rockery Suite ...and our comfortable kingsize bed! We are delighted that you have become a "regular guest"! Our apartment does seem to have become a "second home" for several guests - very gratifying. Although I say it myself, yes, the apartment is very cosy, including the open fire. We have made every effort to make it as homely as possible. Plus The Cuckoo Brow pub 5 minutes down the track! We always enjoy our time there ...although it is never long enough! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We had an absolutely lovely and delightful holiday in the Rockery Suite.
We found it so inviting and better than the pictures showed. The welcome basket was such a thoughtful gesture and the stock of firewood was so wonderful and such a blessing. The scenery is stunning and the location was quite ideal for visiting nice sites. This was the most peaceful holiday ever and we loved it.
Many thanks Hannah for your kind feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your break in The Rockery Suite and that you loved the location - yes, beautiful & peaceful yet accessible. Excellent also that you made the most of our cosy open fireplace. Please do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Once again we had a fantastic holiday at the Rockery.
There’s everything you need to have a very comfortable stay. It was great to have the fire ready made and a huge basket of logs and kindling ready to hand. I found the bed a little firm but that’s just personal preference. Will hopefully be back again, this could become a November tradition.
We had a great mini break at the Rockery.
The location was great - quiet and out of the main tourist area, but a short distance away from locations to visit. The suite was lovely, had everything we needed and the log fire was perfect, especially for the cold evenings. The welcome pack is a lovely touch and everything had instructions, which were very useful. We did visit the local pub - well worth a visit if you are staying. We would certainly visit again when we are up in the area to stay. Thank you.
Many thanks Kelly & Andrew for your lovely and detailed feedback. It was great to meet you during my annual low season maintenance trip to The Rockery Suite and the Sawrey Knotts estate. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. Yes, do come back!
We had a great stay at the Rockery Suite, there is everything you could need to make it a memorable experience, the house is in a lovely quiet area across lake Windermere which we hadn’t explored before.
We only have one small critique and that is the pillows are very lumpy and could do with changing.
Many thanks Michelle for your feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay, and found that you had everything you might need in The Rockery Suite. Yes, Sawrey and surroundings is a beautiful and peaceful area, isn't it - how lucky we were to have discovered it and Sawrey Knotts when we bought the apartment ...over 20 years ago! I shall of course ask our wonderful cleaner Jan to check out the pillows. Do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
It was a really lovely location and lovely place to stay and a local pub 3.
mins away for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Would definitely come and stay again.
Many thanks Jen for your kind feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite ...and that you were able to make good use of The Cuckoo Brow Hotel just down the track! We look forward to welcoming you back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
lovely grounds, nice and cosy apartment.
thankyou for the great welcome pack. great location and good to have the dog enclosed area, but would have welcomed a gate on the back garden. Also only one bin bag. Otherwise very homely and lots of great little touches for new travellers to the lakes to help them get around. Stayed in the lakes many times but not here, very nice area.
Many thanks Colette for your kind feedback. We are delighted you enjoyed your stay in our cosy apartment, and that all of the info. was helpful - yes, Sawrey and surroundings are lovely, aren't they. Good idea re. the garden gate - I shall look into this. I shall also ask our cleaner Jan to leave another bin liner. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Another pleasant stay at this tranquil apartment the other side of Windermere away from the hustle and bustle.
The grounds are lovely and the local pub is close by reachable off road. Far Sawrey is 1 mile from the Bowness ferry.
Many thanks Matt once again for your kind feedback. Always encouraging to have returning guests. Yes, the house & estate of Sawrey Knotts and village of Far Sawrey are a wonderful escape aren't they. Including The Cuckoo Brow pub 5 minutes walk down the track! Do come back again. Just to let everyone know, it is always a good idea to check that the ferry is running before committing yourself to the route via Bowness across the lake: website: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/windermere-ferry. And there is an illuminated sign at the Kendal/Crook roundabout which keeps drivers up-to-date - the service can be affected by bad weather. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Wonderful location which is the reason for 4 stars.
The accommodation it’s dated but comfortable, kitchen is small but serviceable. My main issue and the reason I would stay here again was the cleanliness, the bathroom was dirty I had to wipe down the walls, which had hair on them, the bedroom had lots of cobwebs, and has thick dust on skirting boards and the bedside tables had dirty cup marks on from previous guests. The parking is very tight if you have a larger car and it didn’t help that the Gardner’s van was parked in an area blocking easy exit. The grounds and location are excellent and the pub which is just a few minutes walk serves lovely food. We had a wonderful holiday it was just a shame about the cleanliness.
Thankyou Helen for your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you found The Rockery Suite comfortable and that you enjoyed the grounds, location and Cuckoo Brow pub. Our apartment is of course decorated and furnished as befits the style of a Victorian country house. We are however surprised and sorry to hear that the cleanliness of the apartment was not to your satisfaction - this is very unusual - our cleaner Jan is very thorough. We shall of course pass on your comments to her. We shall be visiting Sawrey Knotts/The Rockery Suite next month for our annual low season maintenance trip, so we shall pay close attention to the areas/issues you mention, to ensure that they have been (and continue to be) addressed. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Beautiful property in beautiful grounds.
Stunning veiw. Great location. The Rockery suite was very comfortable. With everything we could want for a great stay. We did have minor problem, only down to wear and tear, it didn't effect our great stay and the owners couldn't be more helpful to sort it out.
Thankyou Diane for your generous feedback - we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. And thankyou again for having taken the initiative to notify us about the cracked shower head holder - now replaced. Do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Great place and grounds to wonder in.
Good welcome basket very cosy
Many thanks Jan. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in our cosy apartment and in Sawrey Knotts. And yes, the garden is lovely isn't it - I shall pass on your compliments to our gardener David. Also always good to get feedback re. our welcome basket. Do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The Rockery Suite had everything we wanted for a comfortable holiday in this beautiful part of the country.
We loved its charm and enjoyed the views from the well kept main gardens and sitting on the private terrace in the early evening sun. Highly recommended and somewhere we would love to return.
Many thanks Deborah for your feedback. We are delighted that you had an enjoyable stay in The Rockery Suite and in this lovely area of The Lake District. I shall pass on your compliments to our gardener David. Great also that you were able to make use of the patio - yes, it is lovely when the sun comes around the house in the Summer. We would of course be happy to welcome you back at any time of year - each season has its own attractions. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We have just come back from a lovely holiday at The Rockery Suite.
It was a great place to stay & explore The Lake District. We had never been before, & found that there is too much to do in a two week holiday!! The accommodation was so cosy & comfortable. The kitchen was a bit smaller than I am used to, but you soon adapt & there was adequate cooking facilities. A very comfortable bad, there lounge was gorgeous with more DVD's than you could view in a year!!! And the log fire was amazing. We enjoyed every single second we were in The Rockery Suite. Thank you so much for a great place to stay.
Excellent to have met you Vic & Chris, and thankyou for your positive feedback. So pleased that you enjoyed The Rockery Suite and your first visit to The Lake District - yes indeed, how many weeks-worth of things to do?! You simply will have to come back ...which would also give you the opportunity to watch some more of our extensive DVD collection! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
This was are 4th time in the rockery suite that says it all really, we love it there and will be back again soon chris and jan
Excellent to have met you Chris & Jan, when I was up at Sawrey Knotts for our Management Company AGM that weekend. And thankyou for your kind feedback. We also love our apartment, the house and its surroundings. 4 visits?! Wow! We must be doing something right! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
A lovely, cosy Victorian apartment located midway between the Bowness ferry and Hawkshead.
The instruction manual was very clear and comprehensive so we had no problems during our stay. Looking forward to returning in september and thank you to the owners for the Welcome Pack which was most appreciated.
Many thanks Matt for your kind feedback. It is a great location isn't it. And yes, we have put a lot of thought into our Welcome Folder - basically everything which we would wish to know in a holiday apartment, and we are of course constantly updating it. Excellent that you have booked to return in September - there is no greater compliment! Coincidentally your surname is my Mum's maiden name - her grandfather was the well-travelled working class artist Tom (same surname - this website automatically prevents me from including it in my reply to protect your privacy!) - check him out on Wikipedia - I recently found two of his watercolours on eBay, and am planning to hang them in The Rockery Suite ...then all guests will be able to see to whom I am referring! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
My wife and I had a wonderful stay at in the Rockery Suite, it is in a lovely quiet location, we loved the spacious but cosy living room, the open fire was a treat, especially after a long day on the fells.
The suite had everything we needed, the bed was comfy and the kitchen had all the utilities you needed for the week we were there. We would definitely be looking to come back soon.
Many thanks Mark for your generous feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite. I see from our bookings calendar that you haven't wasted any time ensuring a future visit/availability, and have already booked again for a week in December - thankyou ...and another opportunity to make the most of our cosy open fire! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The property was as described and warm.
We enjoyed the open fire which is always a good feature. Thank you.
Many thanks Peter for your feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite, and that you were warm and comfortable. Yes, the open fire is a fabulous feature isn't it - it was one of the main reasons we opted to buy the apartment, and when we visit ourselves during colder weather lighting the fire is pretty much the first thing we do as part of the process of relaxing & unwinding! Do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Well equipped accommodation, television seemed to have a mind of its own though - can understand why there are so many DVD's!
Great location overall, some fabulous walking straight from accommodation without need to get the car out, good pub a stones throw away as well.
Thankyou Rebecca for your feedback. We are pleased that you loved the location and our most-local of locals - The Cuckoo Brow! Also that you found everything you needed in our apartment - we have made every effort to equip The Rockery Suite with everything we would wish to find in a holiday apartment ...including catering for the many-&-varied viewing preferences of our guests, hence the DVD's :-) Strange re. the TV though - I shall be visiting in March for my annual maintenance trip, so I shall check out the TV then. Do come back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Apartment was cold and damp when we arrived It might be an idea to air the apartment during the morning of the arrival day Apart from that everything you need for a short break is there The building is a bit tired and dated but this gives the place a Lakeland vibe
Many thanks Glen for your review - we are glad that you found everything you needed in The Rockery Suite. Apologies that your arrival was less than "warm"! Unusually the apartment was vacant for a week before your arrival. Being mindful of energy usage our scrupulous cleaner Jan will have turned the radiator thermostats down to "low" (as you doubtless will have noticed) when she prepared the apartment after the previous departure. We hope that it didn't take too long for the apartment to warm up again. But, yes, good point, when we have a similar gap in our bookings during the winter/a cold spell, we shall ask Sawrey Knotts' housekeeper Helga to pop in to turn the thermostats back up on the morning of the next arrival. With best regards, Malcolm &Kate;
Really enjoyed our stay, the fire was a great bonus especially all the wood being included.
The heating was supposed to come on at 3pm, but when we arrived at 4 it wasn’t on and the apartment was cold, perhaps the times haven’t been changed with the time change? It would have been nice to have instructions for the coffee machine, ended up spending ages trying to Google how to work it, so only used it once. Lots of equipment in the kitchen, but far too much crockery which left little room for food, a useful small freezer in the hall once I found it! A cosy sitting room, we didn’t find the TV too small but we only have a small one at home. Lots of DVDs and games, although the weather was very wet at times we didn’t use any of them. Very comfortable bed and really warm, didn’t need to heated blanket. Would definitely come again.
Many thanks Stefan for your feedback - we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay, and look forward to welcoming you back. Our wonderful housekeeper Helga is very "on the ball", so I am sure that she will have adjusted the central heating timer in the boiler room, but I shall double-check with her. The only other thing I can think is that the radiator thermostats may have been turned down, but when we have a same-day change-over our equally wonderful cleaner Jan leaves them at a "comfortable temperature", and I am sure you would have noticed this anyway. I shall confirm that a set of instructions for our Nespresso machine is still in our welcome folder. Re. crockery and storage space (which, yes, is limited in our kitchen - catering for two people), it can be difficult to anticipate what all guests will require, for example not-so-long-ago a guest asked in her feedback whether we could provide pasta bowls, so we have. I shall be up again in the new year, so will of course review how we organise our storage in the kitchen. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Beautiful apartment with everything you needed and nice welcome pack on arrival.
Property set back from the road with lovely gardens to walk round. It was nice to have a designated parking place and also good supply of wood and kindling you could stock up on if needed for the open fire, although when we got back in an evening it was plenty warm enough so didn't end up using it. Nearest pub is literally few minutes walk from the property down a path so you don't have to walk on the road and the location of the property is in easy access of the local towns and villages. I would happily recommend the Rockery Suite for a nice relaxing getaway.
Many thanks Julie for your generous review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We arrived rather late through an unexpected hospital appointment and it would have been nice to have found kindling and logs in the room available to light the fire straight away.
It was mentioned in the apartment details that it might be a kind gesture to leave the fire laid and logs available. We did this for the next incumbents but perhaps a bit more emphasis on this in the instructions? Otherwise we found the flat absolutely perfect and very warm and comfortable with everything we needed. We forgot to bring kitchen roll but that was our fault. My partner thought the welcome hamper fell short of the illustrated example but then we were only staying for four nights.
Many thanks James for your positive feedback - we are delighted that you had a warm, comfortable and "well-equipped" stay - we do our best to provide everything that we would wish to find in an apartment, and that we might wish to use when we stay in The Rockery Suite ourselves. We hope, although the hospital appointment delayed you, that it was re. a straight-forward issue. Thankyou for having relaid the fire - as you point out and as we have discovered not everyone will do this, and there may be a good reason - all we can do is ask. We regularly re-stock with items for the welcome basket, so, although it may not be identical to the photo, our wonderful cleaner Jan ensures that there should be the same number of similar items. Please come back, and hopefully circumstances will enable an earlier and more relaxed arrival for you next time. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Beautiful area, lovely walks, couple pubs walk away, Lovely big house and grounds, easy access, Nice size lounge high ceiling, bit dated, carpets, curtains and sofa very old, needed air freshers as stale smell.
Large bed very comfortable and white sheets and towels nice touch and clean. Big old fireplace but tiny modern TV looks out of place, Kitchen needs a fresh up but has all you need for cooking. Overall 7/10 pleasant stay.
Many thanks Elle for your positive review with additionally helpful observations. It has, thankfully, been a very busy season for us, with, as we know, often damp weather. So, with a couple of empty weeks ahead, we are bringing someone in to give the carpets and furniture a good clean & freshen-up, as we do every Autumn. The cosy open fire certainly "comes into its own" at this time of year, being the focal point in our characterful lounge. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Lovely little place, to relax, really enjoyed the fire as we stayed in October
We are delighted Jaime that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite. Yes, our cosy open fire is a bonus at this time of year - whenever we visit in Autumn/Winter/Spring the first thing we do is light the fire! As you say it contributes to the sense of relaxation. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
2nd visit to Rockery Suite.
Not as clean as before, dirty window sills and filthy unwashed cooking trays in cupboard. Tv very fiddly could not get it to work properly it did last time.
Thankyou Allida for your generous score. Apologies re. the two oversights - our wonderful cleaner is thorough & conscientious, but it can sometimes be a rush preparing many properties on change-over day. I shall of course address these issues. A laminated A4 sheet of straight-forward instructions for operating the TV, Freesat and DVD player should be on the TV table, so I shall confirm that this is being replaced before every visit. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Better instructions on how to access the property would be nice, also a side gate on the rear patio area of the suite would help, a dog from the adjoining suite came into our kitchen and ate our dogs dinner, the lack of a gate meant we had to keep the rear door shut all the time and it was very hot during our stay.
Everything else was lovely, bed was really comfortable, sitting room very grand, bigger TV wouldn't go amiss, and the gardens were beautiful, we would definitely stay again.
Many thanks Sarah for your review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite. Apologies of course re. the thieving dog - how bizarre and how frustrating! This has never happened before in the 20 years we have owned the apartment. We had always felt that a side gate would be an irritating extra hurdle on the narrow rear pathway for guests if/when accessing the apartment via our backdoor, but we will of course look at this again. Re. the size of our TV, to be honest, this was/is a deliberate decision - I appreciate there has been an increasing tendency towards larger TV's, but we have always regarded our open fireplace as the focal point in our characterful lounge. But we will of course also look at the possibility of alternative screen sizes. And yes please, do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We have stopped at sawray knotts 5 times in total.
Our 3rd time in the rockery suite always enjoy are time there . Everything you need is there like a home from home . We will be back again soon . Thank you for the welcome pack . Chris and jan. South Shields. Tyneside
Many thanks Chris & Jan for your lovely feedback. We go to every effort to make the apartment feel homely, not least with the open fire place in the winter - very cosy, and the only actual fire place in the building. This is important for us, as well as for our guests. Glad also that you appreciated our new "welcome basket". Here's hoping that it won't be too long before you stay for a 4th time! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
TRAVEL TIP: If you are driving up from the South (we came up from Surrey) - go up the East side of Lake Windermere and take the ferry across (from Bowness - it's £6 each way), the house is less than 5 minutes from the ferry stop is and it will save you from having to drive on some windy, narrow 'B' roads.
When you arrive at the house, there is a marked parking space for the suite, please be sure to use it so that there isn't a parking/driving issue with anyone else staying there. The house is very near to a number of National Trust sites (a viewing station, Wray Castle, and so much more), which was mostly what we wanted to do - as we have a dog and needed to be able to do outdoorsy things with her. Inside, the bedroom is very comfortable and I (the wife) was in love with the duvet. The kitchen was a bit small, but it had everything you could need (pots/pans/oven/microwave/ etc). There is even a small spare freezer located elsewhere in the house in case you bring a lot of frozen items and you need more space than what comes with the fridge in the kitchen. And in the very fancy room, our very posh looking dog (she's a Pointer) loved sleeping on the rug in front of the fireplace making herself look very much at home. The TV was set up with wifi access so you could access your own streaming services, if you felt the need. Outside: The grounds are lovely, the views are spectacular, and our dog truly enjoyed watching the bunnies hopping all over the place. If we ever come back up this way, we would absolutely stay here again !
Many thanks Shawn for your lovely & informative review. We are delighted that you, Neil and your "posh" Pointer (that made us chuckle) enjoyed your stay. Thankyou also for highlighting the option of the final approach via the chain ferry - as well as sparing drivers the winding roads, the journey across Lake Windermere is a lovely way to arrive. We look forward to welcoming you back. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Firstly can I say we had a fantastic holiday, the weather was beautiful all week which was a good job because we found the rockery suite very dark & quite chilly even though the weather was hot.
I think this is because it’s at the back of the house. We found the bed too hard though some might like that. The television is too small & when watching dvds there’s a loud buzzing noise that you can hear all the time. On the plus side the grounds are awesome with great scenery. The owners have tried hard and we did have a really relaxing holiday!!
Many thanks Tim for your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic and relaxing holiday. Yes, the weather has been amazing hasn't it! Ideal, as you say, for enjoying the grounds. We are careful to make it very clear in our listing that The Rockery Suite is to the rear of Sawrey Knotts. And the apartment is of course priced accordingly. And/but as you point out one has only to walk out of the front door to enjoy the spectacular views. We have installed bright lighting in the apartment, but with dimmers so that guests can set their own levels. We also provide a few supplementary free-standing heaters in case guests feel the cold when the building's central heating is off in the middle of the day or very late in the evening. Re. the mattress, as I am sure you will appreciate, it can be difficult catering for guests' different preferences re. firmness - one guest's "firm" mattress is another guest's "hard" mattress, and the opposite can of course apply. So Kate and I chose a mattress which works for us, and, thankfully, most guests seem to find it comfortable. We put a medium-sized TV in the lounge because we wanted our open fire to be the focal point of the room. Thankyou for the heads-up re. our DVD player buzzing. I asked our housekeeper to check it out, and she has confirmed that It is now working fine. Maybe a cable was pulled out slightly and/but it has since been reinstated? With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The rockery suite is very well equipped even to an electric blanket on the very comfy bed.
the house is lovely with really nice gardens and a pub less than 5mins away. It is pretty central to the area.there is no view as it is at the back of the building and maybe needs some work at the back (loose pavers ) but generally cosy and comfy. would go back again .would recommend to anyone who likes the old style country house type of accomodation.
We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay, Glennis. As you say, you have only to walk out of the front door to enjoy the magnificent views. And if you are not heading straight out onto the hills, take a seat in the front garden with your coffee or wine, and soak up those views. Thankyou for the heads-up re. the loose paving stones - we shall ask our builder to re-fix them. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Very comfortable and lovely apartment, also very warm and well equipped.
Very good location and we really enjoyed our 4 days at the apartment and we’re thinking of coming back soon
Thankyou Ewa! We are very pleased that you were comfortable, warm and found everything which you needed - always good to have it confirmed that we have thought of most items - we have tried to equip The Rockery Suite with everything which we ourselves would hope to find in a holiday apartment. We would of course be delighted to welcome you back again soon. And yes, it is a gorgeous area isn't it! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Warm and cosy base to explore the area.
The provision of firewood was an added and welcome bonus for the frosty and snowy evenings.
Thankyou Sue for your feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay, and that you were able to make the most of the fire place and the firewood - yes, a cosy bonus on those chillier evenings, whether Autumn, Winter or Spring! And one of the reasons we bought the apartment. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Lovely place with a small kitchen, need to take your own tea towels, oven gloves and dishwasher tablets.
The shower was wide and fitted with a power shower. Both the bedroom and lounge were spacious and very warm, could always turn the heating down if need be. The TV was small especially when you had a good choice of dvds to watch and unwind from your day out in front of the roaring fire (don't forget your matches). All in all a lovely place to stay. There is a public footpath outside the house and a pub nearly next door. What more do you need?
Many thanks Simon for your compliments - we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in The Rockery Suite, and The Cuckoo Brow Hotel - yes, how convenient?! We now have some new oven gloves. I am slightly baffled re. the tea towels - there should always be a clean set ready for guests' arrivals, but I shall confirm this with our excellent cleaner Jan. We decided on a "medium sized" free-standing TV so that it is not a dominant feature in the lounge, the focal point being the open fire, so we can only hope that this did not diminish your viewing pleasure too much! :-) We shall be adding even more DVD's to our extensive collection on our next visit, so do come back! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
A great place to stay, well-equipped and spacious in a lovely location - though the kitchen is somewhat 'compact'.
Heating system works well and log-fires are a treat (bring your own matches). If you like a bed that's firm, you'll like this one.
Many thanks Russell - we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. Do come again! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Lovely building but disappointed with the apartment, it requires an overhaul, very tired, shabby and gloomy.
Worktop, cooker tops and oven pans dirty. Addition space for own food would have been great. Bed comfortable and slept well, shower good pressure and warmth. Excellent information pack and was never cold and also excellent selection of entertainment. However, we would not stay again, unless improvements are made.
Thankyou Adam for your numerous compliments re. the bed, shower, warmth, information pack and selection of entertainment/DVD's. The Rockery Suite is having its busiest year ever - a good sign and for which we are of course grateful. So, in addition to my annual maintenance/"refreshment" trip and the new shower unit installed this year, we have already booked our decorator to do some work in the lounge and bedroom in November - I shall be supervising this personally. Our cleaners are scrupulous, so I am slightly surprised by your comments re. the kitchen worktop etc, but I will of course pass on your concerns. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Beautiful location but the property is in need of a decorating update
Thankyou Caroline for your feedback - it is a lovely spot isn't it. The Rockery Suite is having its busiest year ever - a good sign and for which we are of course grateful. So, in addition to my annual maintenance/"refreshment" trip and the new shower unit installed this year, we have already booked our decorator to do some work in the lounge and bedroom in November - I shall be supervising this personally. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Stunning house in a beautiful location.
The kitchen was well stocked & the shower was nice & hot. Warmed up quickly if you put the radiators on. On the downside, the apartment is very dark with no views from any of the windows. It’s very dated inside & needs a good makeover & thorough clean. Lots of dust, cobwebs, disgusting toilet brush, bed rock hard, shower not very clean & an old bar of soap left in the there. Family above us so we could hear their toddler running around & crying. We wouldn’t stay here again but would definitely stay in this location as it’s absolutely stunning.
Thankyou Katie for your compliments re. the apartment, house and location, also re. the shower, warmth and everything we provide in the kitchen. May I respectfully point out that we make very clear in our description that the apartment is at the rear of the building, hence its privacy and cosiness, including the only original open fire in the house. But this does of course mean that views are of the rear garden. We decided to buy a firm mattress for the bed because this does seem to be a general preference, as can be seen in other reviews. But, as we all know, relative softness or firmness of a mattress is very much a matter of personal choice. Our cleaners are scrupulous, so I am a little surprised by some of your comments, but I will of course pass on your concerns. On a final note, The Rockery Suite is having its busiest year ever - a good sign and for which we are of course grateful. So, in addition to my annual maintenance/"refreshment" trip and the new shower unit installed this year, we have already booked our decorator to do some refreshment work in the apartment in November - I shall be supervising this personally. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Check out this review of Sawrey Knotts on Tripadvisor: https://www.
tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g3665848-d1917077-r858768715-Sawrey_Knotts-Far_Sawrey_Lake_District_Cumbria_England.html
Many thanks Brian for your constructive review and thoughts. We have implemented some of your suggestions. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Lovely property with everything we needed.
Very comfortable and quiet. The freezer under the stairs was very useful. The grounds were lovely - great for sitting around in the sun. We didn't realise how steep the paths were around here (we are in our 70s), so we ended up driving to different places - lots to see though in easy reach. Can recommend the Cuckoo pub/restaurant too - which we did manage to walk to (and back!).
Many thanks Eileen for your positive feedback re. the apartment. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay, were able to make good use of the garden, freezer (always good to know that it is being used!), Cuckoo Brow Hotel and that you were able to make the most of the lovely locality. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The owner has gone to a lot of trouble to consider most of the needs of his guests and the apartment really lacks nothing.
It needs a refresh with the decor and fittings which are old and fausty, the kitchen is very small and not in the best place ,but fully equipped . comfortable sitting room, and furniture , slightly dark because of the position of the apartment within the house . spacious siting room and bedroom .
Thankyou Robert for your positive feedback re. The Rockery Suite "lacking nothing". We are delighted to have had a very busy few months. Whilst the apartment is decorated & furnished as befits an impressive Victorian country house, in addition to my annual maintenance/"refreshment" trip and the new shower unit installed this year, our decorator will be doing some additional work during the low season. Generally, with the apartment catering for two people (including ourselves when we stay) the size of the kitchen does not seem to be an issue - we have made very effort to maximise space, as indicated in our photos, and, as you kindly observe, have equipped it with everything which guests could possibly need. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Second year at the rockery and just as good as last year really love staying there and the area so loverly.
Couldn't ask for more really. Thank you
Thankyou for having come back Chris - always a good sign! We are delighted that you had another enjoyable visit to our apartment, and yes, it is a gorgeous area isn't it - a great base for exploring the South and Central Lakes - we love it! Don't leave it too long before your third visit! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We found the property to be as good as always, we have stayed here many times.
The only downside for us was a persistent odour, in the main room, very like kippers, it was there all week no matter what we did, we thought maybe the kindling left in the fireplace, but not sure. Overall a very pleasant stay.
Thankyou Stewart, we are delighted that you enjoyed your return visit - we are always very pleased at the number of previous guests who decide to re-visit The Rockery Suite - a good sign! How bizarre re. the kippers though! From a neighbouring apartment maybe? Anyway, regardless of the source, fortunately there has been no subsequent feedback mentioning this, so it would seem that this kipper-ish odour has disappeared as quickly as it appeared! We shall of course continue to monitor the situation though. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
What a beautiful place and location.
We stayed 4 nights in the Rockery suite at Sawley knotts and it was just perfect. Cosy for two people and our dog with all the home comforts. Stunning home with amazing views of the countryside. Off the beaten track with lovely walks but only a short drive from Ambleside. We would definitely recommend and will be returning.
Many thanks Karen for your generous words - we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. And, as you kindly observe, we make every effort to make it as welcoming, homely and comfortable as possible - a lovely building and apartment full of "country house" character. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We had a lovely stay at Sawrey Knotts.
Malcolm, the owner could not have been more helpful. Immaculately clean, everything we needed and central for what we needed!
Thankyou very much - we are delighted that you enjoyed your visit. It was lovely to meet and talk with you - a pleasure that my annual house-and-apartment maintenance trip crossed over with your arrival. We hope you are able to return before too long. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Generally fine and we enjoyed our stay.
On the down side the toilet hadn’t been flushed when we arrived and wasn’t very clean under the seat. Bed was not made and there was no bag in the kitchen bin or spare bags. The rug in front of the fire is a trip hazard as the edges don’t lie flat.
We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay Anthony. There was an error in the cleaning schedule on your arrival day - very unusual - which accounts for the lack of preparation, remedied later that day of course. But we do apologise for this error, and thank you for having drawn it to our attention. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Property was lovely and cosy in a beautiful remote location!
We had a wonderful time. We were delayed arriving and when we arrived there was no power (both due to the storm - not the owner’s fault) but it was difficult to contact anyone to ask about the situation except for the cleaner who did her best but it’s not clear this should be her responsibility.
Many thanks for your feedback Natalie - we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. As our cleaner will have told you, like other areas of the country, much of The Lake District was affected by power cuts, and some areas and properties were "out" for a few days! It was, to say the least, inconvenient and chaotic - the last thing you want on your holiday! So thankyou for having endured the situation with such patience and good humour! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Good stay very nice apartment in great location.
We couldn't find the rockery suite car park space when we arrived as not marked. We phoned heart of the lakes who told us to park in writing room space as no one there this week. All good and sign for rockery suite car park space put up on Thursday. Very good value and warm and cosy
Many thanks Leslie - we are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay. I have made and installed a new and much sturdier sign for our parking space - this one should last considerably longer than its predecessor ...which needless to say, I did not make with my own fair hands and tools! As they say, "if you want a job done well..." etc etc :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
This was our 5th visit to the Rockery Suite which says everything about our satisfaction.
Is it five times already Paul?! Wow! Well, thankyou - as you say, that is a good sign! We hope it won't be too long before your sixth... With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We really enjoyed our stay at The Rockery Suite.
Kitchen very well equipped, Bathroom shower roomy and water nice and hot. Bedroom had the biggest most comfortable bed we have ever slept in. Ideal location for Windermere Ferry, Hilltop, Wordsworth and Ruskin. Great for exploring wonderful countryside - walking, birdwaching, and painting. On the downside we found some of the car parks rather expensive, plus 50p to use public loos sent us looking for a bush!
Lovely to receive your detailed feedback Valerie - thankyou very much - it sounds like you really filled your visit with both natural and cultural delights - so much to see-and-do within easy reach! It is no wonder that so many writers and artists chose the area as their home, is it! And it is equally no wonder that you needed a comfy night's sleep! Ten shillings for the public loos though ...ah well, if nothing else it is an excuse to indulge in the many fine hostelries and cafés! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The Rockery Suite is very quirky.
It has everything you need and in a beautiful area with good pubs nearby, great walks and very close to the ferry to Bowness. However I found it very dark and the decor very dated and tired.
Many thanks Mrs Parr for your feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in the apartment and area. For your and futures guests' reference, further to my most recent maintenance trip in March 2022, when our busy 2022 holiday season is over we shall be redecorating the lounge. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
The property was in a lovely location, very comfortable and reasonable rates.
Many thanks Guy for your feedback - we are delighted that you enjoyed your visit to the apartment and area. Yes - we, Heart Of The Lakes and Sykes have put careful thought into the pricing of The Rockery Suite - we are grateful that you think we have "got it right". Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
We had a lovely week in the rockery suite.
It had everything we needed, it was comfy and warm with lovely view's from the front of the house . Lovely hot powerful shower, and if you needed to put heating on, it would warm the room in minutes. We had a really sunny week so didn’t need to use the log fire . The suite maintains the character of the old country house with some lovely walks from the door step . We hope to be back again soon. Chris, Jan and Sky .
Place was excellent catered for all our needs would highly recommended it perfect for taking your dog our dog Oscar loved his time there so did we
Many thanks Alan for your feedback - we are very pleased that you and Oscar enjoyed your time in The Rockery Suite. Do come back! With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Location was good, quiet with good walking on the fells.
Ideal for ‘easy walks’. Venue looks a lovely old house. Rockery Suite needs a bit of TLC, lick of paint/face lift. Would definitely return. John.
Many thanks John for your feedback - yes, some lovely walks from the doorstep. For your and futures guests' reference, further to my most recent maintenance trip in March 2022, when the busy 2022 holiday season is over we shall be redecorating the lounge. With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Everything fine, warm and cosy, only comments would be the kitchen was very small and the cistern pull was a real work of art.
Many thanks Phillip for your feedback. We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay. No, the kitchen is not enormous, but The Rockery Suite is a one-bedroom apartment, and we would respectfully maintain that the size of the kitchen is reflected fairly-and-accurately in our photographs. The cistern chain-pull has been replaced, but yes, it does have to be said that there is a certain "assertive technique" to it - usually mastered after two-or-three pulls! :-) With best regards, Malcolm & Kate
Brilliant week staying at The Rockery Suite. Accommodation was perfect and well equipped! Best we have stayed in.
Another most enjoyable stay! In fact this was our 8th stay which says it all. Cannot wait to come back again!
Our first time in the Lake District! and we could not have wished for a better place to stay! Plenty to do in the area! Thank you
Perfect for our needs, 3rd visit says it all really.
Good to know
House Rules
Good housekeeping bond
This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200
Smoking
Not permitted
Property notes
Note: Coin operated laundry on-site.
Note: Broadband speed is 1-2Mbps and is not capable for streaming.
Stay Information
Check-in / Check-out
15:00 / 10:00
Property ref
1043132
Parking
Off Road Parking
Guest & Pet Policy
Pets
Allowed
Children
Children and infants welcome