Overflowing with character, this beautifully-renovated former Victorian schoolhouse just outside Pooley Bridge is dotted with impressive original features, like its bell tower. Sleeping six people across three bedrooms, it’s the ideal detached, single-storey holiday home for families or groups of friends who want to get together to enjoy the best of the Lake District. Spend your days hiking at Aira Force Waterfall, exploring Lowther Castle or cruising Ullswater, and your evenings spotting red squirrels in the garden or warming your toes by the wood burner in the lounge.
Step into the lobby and you’ll find that it opens up into the spacious kitchen and a light and bright south-facing dining area. Cook up a storm for your loved ones and gather everyone together to eat around the dining table. After dinner, pour a glass of wine and head out into the garden to take in the views across the fields. If you’re lucky, you may spot a red squirrel. Or make your way to the lounge to slip onto a sofa and catch up on your favourite TV shows by the glow of the wood burner. When the day is done, there are three lovely bedrooms to choose from.
Spend an afternoon browsing the local shops in Pooley Bridge (0.5 miles), where you’re sure to find plenty of local fudge and gin. Stop off for afternoon tea in a traditional teashop or enjoy a pint in one of the village pubs. Alternatively, take a trip on one of the famous Ullswater Steamers, which have connected Pooley Bridge, Howtown, Glenridding and Aira Force for 160 years. You can even take your bikes on board if you want to check out the different bike routes around Ullswater. Take a trip to Rheged (5 miles), to explore the gallery, shops and creative spaces.