“Peace, views, and comfort – a wonderful Lake District stay
We absolutely loved our stay at Kessock.”
This beautifully designed holiday home sits high above Lake Windermere and offers truly breathtaking views — tranquil, panoramic, and endlessly calming. The large terrace with its comfortable outdoor sofa quickly became our go-to spot for morning coffee and evening drinks.
Inside, the house is spacious, stylish and very well equipped. The kitchen is particularly impressive, with quality appliances and everything you need for self-catering. The living area is inviting and full of light, and ...
This beautifully designed holiday home sits high above Lake Windermere and offers truly breathtaking views — tranquil, panoramic, and endlessly calming. The large terrace with its comfortable outdoor sofa quickly became our go-to spot for morning coffee and evening drinks.
Inside, the house is spacious, stylish and very well equipped. The kitchen is particularly impressive, with quality appliances and everything you need for self-catering. The living area is inviting and full of light, and the shower is — without exaggeration — the best we’ve ever encountered in a holiday rental.
The beautifully landscaped garden, complete with a stream and charming little bridges, adds to the sense of retreat. Paddle boarders will love the direct lake access, and the boathouse and pier are wonderfully picturesque.
A few practical notes for future guests: the entrance and exit to the property are quite steep with limited visibility onto a busy road — so do take care. Also, there are no walking trails directly accessible from the house, so you’ll need to drive to reach most routes.
That said, there’s plenty to enjoy nearby. Bowness is just down the road and has a wide range of restaurants — we especially recommend Bowness Tap Rooms for a great burger — and Windermere town just beyond offers even more shops and eateries. For walking, the Brant Fell & Post Knott circular from Bowness is a short but rewarding route, and the Loughrigg loop from Ambleside offers a more varied 10km hike through stunning scenery. The Cat Bells circular walk from Hawes End (reached by ferry from Keswick) is a proper Lake District classic — steep at the start, but the views are unforgettable.
In short, Kessock is a luxurious, peaceful base from which to explore the Lakes. A few tweaks would make it flawless, but we wouldn’t hesitate to return.
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Private feedback for the owners/management company
We had a truly memorable stay at Kessock and think it’s a fantastic property with stunning views and real attention to detail in most areas. That said, we wanted to offer a few pieces of feedback that might help take the experience to the next level:
• Internet: The connection is, unfortunately, very poor. For a house of this quality and at this price point, reliable internet is an essential. If wired solutions aren’t viable, we’d suggest a StarLink terminal as a high-performance alternative.
• Check-in/out times: While we understand cleaning times must be factored in, the 5pm check-in and 9:30am departure window feels quite restrictive. A more standard 4pm/10am would give guests a little more flexibility. That said, we did leave early to beat the bank holiday traffic.
• Mattresses: The current mattresses felt below the standard of the rest of the house. Something like the Simba Hybrid Pro would offer much better comfort at a reasonable price, and would really elevate the sleeping experience.
• Living room audio: A minor suggestion, but a discreet soundbar would improve the TV audio significantly without affecting the room’s clean aesthetic.
We mention these points in the spirit of constructive feedback — the house is beautiful, and we had a fantastic time. With just a few small improvements, Kessock could be truly exceptional.
