With beautiful, formal gardens, an orchard and large, open woodlands with winding paths, a babbling stream and a large pond, find peace and tranquillity that all ages will love.
This property is a traditional farmhouse steeped in history and set in large grounds in an amazing location in the heart of the Eskdale Valley. Comfortably sleeping up to 10 people in five beautifully crafted bedrooms, it's absolutely bursting with character. As if that's not enough, there are stunning views over the valley to the fells beyond! This really is the perfect property for family get-togethers or for two families wishing to holiday together. The cottage retains lots of original features and has been restored to an exceptional standard to enhance and compliment these whilst slotting in plenty of mod cons to make this a welcoming and cosy place to stay.
Outside, gorgeous formal garden areas wrap around the house, providing ever-changing year-round colour. A small path leads to a large area of open woodland with winding paths, a babbling stream from a large pond, and wildlife in abundance. It's a simply magical place.
The La'al Ratty miniature steam train passes by the bottom of the garden and the station is only a short walk away, as is the nearest pub which serves food as well as offering local real ales. This farmhouse offers easy access to Wasdale and some of the highest and most popular of the Lakeland fells. Eskdale also offers a variety of scenic lower-level walks through the valleys and over the low fells. The coastal town of Ravenglass and Muncaster Castle can be reached by rail or road.
Much of the western Lake District is quiet and there is always something new to discover, or you could quite easily spend a week in the environs of this property and revel in the tranquillity.
The earliest parts of the farmhouse date back to the late 1600s with additions and alterations in the 1800s. A working farm until the 1960s, it was beautifully restored to its 19th century heyday in the late 1990s to conserve and enhance the original character features whilst cleverly integrating all the modern comforts you would expect.
The furniture throughout the house is traditional and much of it is antique: each room has a selection of paintings, many of the local area and local wildlife, and all in keeping with the period of the house. All the doors throughout the house are traditional latch style and, although mostly not original, they have been crafted from locally sourced oak to retain the historic feel. The property is timelessly elegant and practical throughout.
The main door from the traditional covered porch leads into a hallway. On the right is a large utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer, sink and American-style fridge/freezer. Straight ahead the downstairs toilet walls are covered in interesting old photos of Cumbrian life. To the left, past the umbrella stand, a door leads into the dining area, which is semi open-plan with the kitchen.
The dining area overlooks the front garden and has a lovely solid antique table seating ten guests, a dresser, coat cupboard, beams and paintings: the perfect backdrop to memorable meals with friends and family. The attached kitchen is partially concealed by a section of wall, which makes it ideal for sociable cooking and concealing the washing up at the same time! The central feature of the kitchen is the Aga, which is set amongst fitted units that are equipped with everything you could possibly need and plenty of worktop space. The all-important dishwasher is builtin, as is the under counter fridge.
On the far side of the kitchen, a door leads into the main living area. This is a stunning room with two three-seater sofas, an armchair, and two chairs facing an open fire in a large stone fireplace. The original stone flagged floor is covered in strategically placed rugs: it's a room simply made for relaxing evenings around the fire! Other furniture includes side tables with lamps, a writing desk, grandfather clock and built-in bookshelves with a wealth of local interest books to browse. There is a TV and a DVD player as well as a stereo with CD player. The window looks over the garden to the front with beautiful views beyond.
Carry on through the living room to the first snug, which has two armchairs around a feature sandstone fireplace (for display only), a historic built-in cupboard, and views to the back garden. Take a seat in this room and wind the years back to the 1800s, away from all the stresses of modern life.
Past the snug is another hallway - which features beautiful timber panelling and traditional mosaic hall tiles - leading to a second living room, second snug, and second kitchen! This second lounge has an open fire, oak panelling, and garden and mountain views. It includes a three-seater sofa and an armchair.
The second snug has a two-seater sofa, fireplace, beautiful antique cupboard dated 1607, and a rug on oak floorboards. It's yet another unique space in which to relax, perhaps with a good book.
A drop-leaf table with chair provides the seating for the second kitchen, which is reached via two steps. This kitchen also has an Aga, fitted units with some equipment, a sink and even a smoothie maker!
There are two flights of stairs at the property: one leads up from the hallway between the snug and the second kitchen and the other through a door from the main living room (look out for old photos of the farmhouse here). An upstairs corridor links these two sets of stairs and all the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms. This corridor is panelled with exposed beams and individually lit paintings in niches: another part of the house where you step back in time. All the bedrooms have exposed oak floorboards with rugs and built-in oak cupboards with hanging space and drawers.
As you reach the top of the main stairs (from the hallway), to the right is a beautiful bathroom finished with limestone tiles. Have a soak in the large bath with its view out to the (very private!) back garden, or make use of the separate shower. After you've bathed, wrap yourself in a warm, cosy towel from the heated towel rail. The sink is in a built-in vanity unit with lights around the mirror.
As well as the built-in cupboard, the first king-size bedroom has three sets of drawers - two doubling as bedside tables - as well as shelves of books and a mirror. The window looks out to the front with beautiful views over the valley to the fells beyond.
To the left of the stairs, a twin bedroom has a window overlooking the back garden towards woodland, perfect for a bit of early morning wildlife spotting. The fabric headboard set into the wooden panelling is stunning and really gives the room character. There is a dressing table as well as bedside tables with lamps.
Continuing along the corridor, the next bedroom is to the front of the house and enjoys the views. This includes a king-size bed with another of the lovely fabric headboards on wooden panelling. There is a chair and a small dressing table with additional chair. This room also has an elegant en-suite with marble tiles, bath with shower over, sink and toilet (both build into a vanity unit), and a heated towel rail.
At the end of the corridor is a bunk bedroom to the front with large solid oak bunk beds and a chest of drawers in addition to the built-in cupboard. The top bunk is reached by free standing steps and would not be suitable for a young child.
The final bedroom is a twin at the rear of the house. This has bedside tables and a chair as well as a fabric headboard built into oak panelling.
Tucked in the corner beside the bunk bedroom is the second bathroom with a mix of tiles and panelling. This bathroom also has a large bath with separate shower, heated towel rail and a sink in a vanity unit.
The property boasts extensive grounds that are a young explorer's dream! Beside the parking area, is a small garden enclosed by stone walls with cobbled paths through it and a range of fruit bushes and herbaceous plants. A bench at the top provides a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the garden with the views beyond. The lawns continue right around the house and at the front there is a patio with large slate table and seating for a spot of al fresco dining. The lawn at the front of the house slopes down to a bank of rhododendrons and the views across the valley to the fells beyond are just beautiful. Head to the side of the house and you will find a little path that leads into the wilder parts of the grounds. To the front left of the house there is woodland, or turn right to pass below the rhododendrons and into a field with a small orchard. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway runs right alongside here. A gate leads from the meadow back out onto the driveway.
Behind the house and reached by the same little path is a large area of open woodland just ripe for exploring. Follow the winding paths to find a stream, benches overlooking a large but shallow pond, rocky outcrops and sunny glades. If you take a quiet evening stroll you might get an amazing wildlife encounter, as badger and deer are known to wander the area! Adults and children alike will love this little piece of paradise - yours for the week.
There is plenty of parking available in the cobbled yard in front of the old barn.