The Curious Orange

This is a lovely cottage and would be ideal for a couple.

However, we were disappointed that it felt more “dog tolerant” than genuinely “dog friendly.” The property description wasn’t clear that the enclosed garden is shared. It also doesn’t mention that there is no direct access to the garden from the cottage, meaning we had to accompany our dog outside every time rather than letting her come and go freely. The neighbouring cottage has direct access to the garden along with its own seating and dining area, which made us feel as though we were intruding on their space, as there was no clearly designated outdoor area for guests staying at Curious Orange. On arrival, we also found a note asking guests not to allow dogs upstairs. This restriction was not mentioned in the listing, and had we known about the lack of direct garden access, the shared garden, and the upstairs restriction, we would not have booked this cottage. The listing also stated that toiletries were provided. In our view, a bottle of shampoo left in the shower, hand soap by the sink and two toilet rolls for a week long stay did not meet the expectation that description creates. Overall, this is a charming cottage, but we wouldn’t recommend it to dog owners, as we don’t feel it offers the facilities or level of convenience that most people would expect from accommodation described as dog friendly.

The cottage is exactly as described and everything was in perfect order.

The location is excellent as a base for walks and tourism. Our first holiday in the Lake District was therefore a success and worth repeating. We have a large dog and did miss having a garden, partly because while the interior is cozy and comfortable, it isn't really big. The parking space is sufficient for a 4.7m long car, but you do have to maneuver a few times; we had absolutely no problems. By current standards, the available Wi-Fi is, although working correct, a bit slow.

This little cottage was exactly as described, incredibly welcoming and comfortable.

The owners have provided everything that you might need, the kitchen is very well equipped. It’s ideally located in the lovely village of Troutbeck, which has two very good pubs and a Post Office that has a small shop, and also functions as a cafe. I would not hesitate to recommend The Curious Orange for anyone wanting to stay in the Lake District and be within easy reach of Windermere, Coniston, Bowness and Ambleside.

A delightful cottage ideal for 1 or a couple in a great location for exploring the South Lakes with great walking routes straight from the front door.

Sizeable, reliable shower and separate dressing room from bedroom was welcome. Very comfortable king-sized bed in a peaceful location ensured a great night's sleep. Slight negative was parking space ( for 2 cars) with attached cottage was accessed by a fairly tight,steep driveway which meant you had to be mindful to reverse park to ensure a safe joining onto the bendy,country road the cottage is situated on although perfectly manageable with my small car. The owners have made good use of the limited kitchen space and everything necessary has been provided, kitchen foil,cling film and kitchen roll were a thoughtful touch and were appreciated. Whilst I was impressed with the overall cleanliness, the kitchen and bed linen in particular. Some areas let my overall rating down, otherwise they would have rated 5 stars from me. The sofa had some pet hairs, there were cobwebs in the bedroom and the shower base wasn't as clean as I would have liked ( on the outer, not inside) but none of these detracted from my overall enjoyment or would prevent my booking again. Indeed, I wouldn't hesitate to book again in the future!

The cottage had everything you needed and was clean and comfortable.

However, it was really cold whilst we were there, and the draft that came in through the front door, especially through the letter box made sitting on the sofa quite uncomfortable. I put a towel in the hole, which helped. This is a one off I’m sure, and just a small inconvenience.

Warm, cosy and comfortable accommodation, beautifully presented.

Lovely walking directly from the cottage and two good pubs within easy walking distance. We preferred the food at the Mortal Man to that at the Queen's Head. Vehicular access to the parking area is quite tight and steep and could be a problem in slippery conditions or for large vehicles. Our car struggled for traction on occasions, and we were glad of the road salt thoughtfully provided in a box halfway up the slope.

Lovely cottage, great location.

Pictures on website are accurate. Mainly very clean but the bottom rim of shower cubicle side panels were not cleaned properly. Grime came out quite easily when I scraped it. Couldn’t get all features on oven working but that was probably user error! The above should detract from a really cosy, homely cottage that we thoroughly enjoyed during our stay. Hence the 4 star rating

A very comfortable cottage in a beautiful area.

A lot of effort has gone into making this house practical but also in keeping with it's setting. Loved the sofa - brilliant place to collapse in the evening - supremely comfortable.

A lovely cottage in a quiet setting yet very near to amenities

Lovely clean cosy stay.

The cake and coffee pods were a nice touch. Comfy bed. The host was very helpful before and during our stay. Parking is tight but manageable we have a golf estate. Great for exploring the local area from your front door or within a short drive. Would 100% stay again.

Enjoyed our stay.

The Cottage and location was good. It was a shame the listing changed from time of booking to no shared garden (as we have a dog).

We loved the Curious Orange, clean and a comfortable large bed.

It had all the amenities needed for a lovely week in the Lakes

We really enjoyed our stay.

The property was in a nice quiet location. A very good attention to detail and thoughtfulness was evident from thr design of thr kitchen area to the provision of rechargable torches. The only thing that wasn't perfect was the parking. We took our land rover and it was quite a struggle to enter and exit the driveway and park the car in the allocated parking space. No so much a criticism but rather a constraint of the site that might be worth mentioning to guests with larger cars. Other than that it's a lovely property, very clean, well maintained and a pleasure to stay in and the owners were very helpful in providing information and assistance when requested.

A really lovely little cottage in a tranquil village,the most comfortable bed!

A little dark downstairs but can understand why with it being an old building also the drive very tight as others have mentioned,but again can understand why.

A nice well kept cottage.

Size is smaller than our normal cottages, especially the kitchen area, but good use of the space was made by having an oven/microwave combo located under the stairs. The fridge was also under the stairs, however the freezer compartment was difficult to access. Made use of the included slow cooker. Frying pans could do with being replaced - Teflon going/gone. The smart TVs at the cottage are of the older generation and we could not get Netflix working on either, wifi connection on lounge tv constantly dropped out which was slightly annoying. Lovely super king size bed with nice bed linen and was very comfortable. Shower in the bathroom was good size with constant hot water. Weather was not our friend so was pleased the heating came on a couple of times even though it was July - airing cupboard was always warm and good place for drying our wet weather gear. Whist dogs are permitted at the cottage they are not allowed upstairs. Parking is at the bottom of a small hill and is shared with the adjoining cottage - turn your car around if you can so it’s ready to drive up the hill when leaving the property. The cottage is excellently located for exploring the surrounding Lake District area. Remember to plan your routes and allow extra time due to the narrower roads.10 minute drive to Windemere for a good supermarket and plenty of coffee shops. Similar to Ambleside - loads of sports equipment stores and restaurants. We had a very active week taking in Scafell Pike, Grizedale, Keswick, Rydal and Grasmere but the highlight was the Troutbeck Valley walk up to High Street, returning via Froswick and Ill Bell - a challenging 23k hike. We followed the route from a walk leaflet handed out at the Queens Head pub which along with the Mortal Man are both located very close to the cottage. Reservations are recommended for evening dining if you’re staying during peak season. Overall a great cottage in a great location. Thanks Rob for contacting us before and during our visit to make sure everything was OK.

We had a lovely week staying in the beautiful village of Troutbeck in Curious Orange cottage.

The cottage was beautifully furnished with a very comfortable bed and a fantastic shower all finished to a very high standard. We enjoyed the warm welcome and food at both the local pubs and cosy evenings in the cottage. We also appreciated some local recommendations from the owners. A perfect location for exploring the lakes and taking in the breathtaking scenery.

We absolutely loved Curious Orange, very clean and all good quality linen and towels.

The bed was so comfortable we never wanted to leave it and everything was just that little bit special. Having 2 great pubs on the doorstep was a bonus as well and we will definitely be back

The cottage is in a fabulous location close to two great pubs serving really good food.

The coffee shop in the Old Post Office is excellent and we can recommend their bacon ciabatta. The walks from the cottage are truly fabulous particularly towards Ambleside with absolutely stunnning views of far fells and Windermere. Others have commented on the car access and we found that the secret is to take it steady and you get used to it so after a few days it is no problem at all so it should not put you off staying here. The layout of the cottage has been cleverly done to maximise the best use of space - this is particularly true in the kitchen. The quality of the fittings is really high with an extremely comfortable bed to aid recovery after a day on the fells. We had a fabulous week despite the mixed weather. A place definitely worth staying at.

Lovely cottage, clean and well equipped.

Good location,

We had a lovely week in this beautiful cottage, all essential things are there.

Very cosy. Two pubs in walking distance both serving fabulous food. Close to Ambleside/Windermere with some great walks nearby. The only problem we found was the internet connection for the TV downstairs was poor - upstairs was fine.

Great cottage, had everything you required, very comfortable, loved having a log burner, made it feel warm & cosy.

The 2 local pub are great for evening meals, The Queens Head & Mortal Man both within a couple of minutes walk.

Really nice place.

Has everything you could possibly need in a lovely quiet place but close enough to various amenities. Parking is very tight however but if can deal with that then all absolutely fine. Would definitely recommend and hopefully we can come back in future

Lovely cottage for two (and a dog).

Bed was the comfiest we’ve had in 26 years of holiday cottages in the Lake District. Everything you need there for a wonderful stay. Location perfect for the South Lakes with walks straight from the doorstep. Lovely pub just down the hill (Queens Head), which we preferred as the food was fabulous and a menu for our dog too. Would definitely recommend and we will stay again.

The curious orange is a beautiful place to stay!

We had a wonderful time and the pub, the Mortal Msn became our local for the week! Beautiful surroundings, beautiful cottage and an amazing holiday for myself and my partner and our dog. One thing that we would recommend, as it is advertised as dog friendly, that there was no enclosed space for our dog to run around off a lead - just a fence round the garden area would make such a difference to dog owners - as the other couple staying also had a dog and they said the same thing about having to keep the dog on a lead in the garden. We had a wonderful time and would love to come back!

This cottage was amazing, so peaceful and relaxing, lovely couple of dog friendly pubs, village shop and cafe and beautiful walks.

Fabulous decor with attention to detail Couldn’t fault it

Wow just wow!

Such a beautiful part of the country. The cottage was the coziest retreat ever! Rob the owner was really helpful with your stay. Truly my partner and I and the dog, had the best of times. Thoroughly recommend!!! We are really sad now back home. The whole experience was Delicious!!!!

The cottage was exactly what we wanted really clean, comfortable and had everything we needed.

The fact it was an easy walk to the two local pub/ restaurant’s was a bonus and will and have recommended it to friends, Many thanks to the owners for a great stay Regards Glenn and Kate

The property was perfect for 2 people.

It was clean, comfortable and as described. The kitchen was well equipped and the house was warm despite a week of freezing temperatures outside .

very nice stay .

... owner was kind enough to reprograme the hot water to accommodate my idea of a lie in being 6am! I was perfectly comfy in this cosy little cottage

This was my second stay at the curious orange and it was even better than the first (due to having a couple of extra days there!

) The owners are so attentive and helpful, definitely have a soft spot for Troutbeck after my two visits-can’t wait to return for a third :)

Adored the cottage, good location, helpful owners.

Wonderful property, would help to have a couple more glasses so we didn't put the dishwasher on as often, however supplying the tablet for dishwasher and washing machine if such a lovely touch.

And the cake and coffee too!

What a lovely stay we had at The Curious Orange.

It's a very comfortable and well equipped cottage in a fantastic location with superb walks from the doorstep and two welcoming pubs serving good food and ale just a few minutes walk away. It was hard to leave!

We had a fantastic stay at the curious orange.

Everything had been provided and the cottage was very cosy. The location is perfect so exploring the fells and the local towns.

Lovely cosy comfortable cottage Very well equipped with everything you would need for a peaceful break Walking distance to a lovely country dog friendly pub, serving great food

The curious orange was a super cosy home with hitch made me feel relaxed as soon as I arrived and it had everything you might need for a self catering stay.

The cottage is in a brilliant location as Troutbeck has so many wonderful walks and some nice hikes too and it’s a short 20minute drive to nearby locations. The communication from the owners was great and I thoroughly enjoyed my gift basket-can’t wait to go back!

We had a wonderful stay at the Curious Orange!

Warm, cosy, tons of hot water which in a cold Jan was very much appreciated! Just a note that the pic of the cottage shows 2 semi detached properties. The Curious Orange is on the left of the picture but the parking space shown next to the cottage belongs to a cottage behind! The parking is just past the 2 cottages for 2 cars. Can be a bit tight if you dont park carefully! Two fab pubs in walking distance and dog friendly would love to visit again! Thankyou.

A wonderfully comfy well equipped cottage with everything you need to unwind and relax after exploring the beautiful fells surrounding Troutbeck.

We have stayed in several cottages in the Lake District and this one is a real gem. The cottage was spotless, cosy and warm with a lovely wood burner, fantastic kitchen and bathroom. Great location for walks with two pubs which serve great food and are both dog friendly. Thanks go to owners Rob and Rachel for providing the lovely welcoming treats and excellent accommodation.

Excellent little cottage for 2 plus a dog.

Compact kitchen but has got everything you need fitted in. Nice and comfy throughout and log burner makes for cosy winter nights. Driveway down to parking area is a bit narrow but once done a few times, not an issue. As parking area is for 3 cars and needs to allow space to turn around, some owner guidance on how cars are supposed to be parked in handbook would be a good addition.

A fabulous cottage, cosy, well lit, well equipped and warm.

Oodles of hot water, great bath and shower and a comfy king size bed to rest your bones after a day walking. The sofa is ideal for lounging in front of the log burner soaking in the silence, reading or watching TV. Rob is a great host...always on hand to handle any query, quick to respond. The time flew during our stay, the weather was mixed, but that's the Lakes, loads of great walks around Troutbeck, two fab pubs almost on your doorstep. What more could you ask? We have no hesitation in recommending The Curious Orange.

We have stayed at the Curious Orange before (Approx.

5 years ago) and it was completely perfect in every way. So much so we thought when visiting the lakes, we would not go anywhere else. This time around however it was an incredibly disappointing stay. The day of our arrival at around lunchtime we received a call from the owner advising that there was a problem with the heating/hot water. We were already halfway to the Curious Orange by this time. The Owner advised that there is an immersion heater (for hot water), and he would arrange extra logs for the stove and ensure there were fan heaters. He advised that the plumber was waiting for a part, but it was due to be in and done on the Tuesday. As we were already halfway there, and that it would be sorted by Tuesday (Thus only really affecting Sunday & Monday) this would be ok. We arrived as planned after 4pm on Saturday. When we arrived, we tried to light the fire (it was pretty chilly as the central heating was not working). There were two fan heaters at the property, but they were noisy and intrusive so once the stove was warming up, they were switched off. On Sunday – Our first full day we did, as many would and went for a walk. We had booked into a nearby pub for evening meal and went for a shower upon our return. One of us had a shower, which went stone cold halfway through and there was not enough hot water for the second person to shower. We looked at the immersion tank and it is a half sized one – explaining the minimal amount of hot water available. We planned Monday around the inability for both of us to have a shower as we were led to believe it would be fixed by Tuesday. Sadly, Tuesday came and went with no word from a plumber or the owner. We contacted the owner on Wednesday to advise that the issues remain, and no plumber had been on Tuesday. At 5.30pm on Wednesday a plumber turned up unexpected and we had to postpone our table reservation for that evening to accommodate the plumber. Sadly, something else was wrong and he was unable to fix there and then – We explained that we could not both have a shower on the same day due to the tiny immersion tank and he tried a workaround however, this did not change anything. The plumber advised he would be back Thursday afternoon at around 12. Sadly, Thursday also came and went with no word from a plumber or the owner, and we were still unable to both have a shower on the same day. The plumber finally fixed the heating and hot water at around 5pm on Friday evening. We both showered and went for dinner for the first… and last time of our holiday as we were leaving the following morning. In summary, we could not both shower/bath each day for the entirety of our holiday, the fan heaters were awfully noisy so our choice for the week was either buying significant amounts of logs or listening to noisy fan heaters. Our stay became a frustrating, more costly than expected, un-showered/bathed stop, whilst attending unannounced tradesmen visits. Sadly, despite speaking to the owner on a few occasions, no offer of a reduction for our current stay or voucher toward our next stay was offered and due to the lack of care & concern from the owner regarding the significant inconvenience we experienced we will not return to the Curious Orange.

Curious Orange, is well located and equally well furnished.

The narrow steep drive, to the parking space is not for drivers of a nervous disposition, it should be mentioned. A couple of areas where cleaning could have been more thorough - eg plug holes. Overall fine for a couple and good that 1 dog is welcome.

The service from Sykes was excellent.

We were very happy with the quality of the accommodation - very comfortable furnishings and fittings. It is a cosy cottage but good use was made to maximise the space in the living and kitchen area. The only down sides for us was that the parking space was shared with the neighbouring holiday cottage which was not appreciated by the occupant, this was quickly resolved on advice from the helpful owner.

The cottage was wonderful, great location peaceful, calm and relaxing, the only thing I would suggest is a lamp at the side of the bed nearest to the window, there are overhanging lights but these can only be switched on and off at the other side of the bed, this isn't ideal when you need to get up to use the toilet.

Apart from that no issues what so ever, we enjoyed it that much we have booked the cottage next door for next year.