With every bedroom boasting a TV, enjoy lazy mornings in bed or take your coffee outside to the large garden and start your day with some fresh air.
If you're looking for the perfect place to gather family and friends under one roof while being ideally situated to explore Cumbria's unspoiled western valleys and tranquil coastline then this will be a treat for you. Sleeping up to 18 people in flexible accommodation, this is a characterful Victorian building on the western edge of the Lake District National Park. It's a fantastic cottage for a gathering of family or friends with largely en-suite rooms, in-room televisions, plenty of comfortable socialising space, ample parking and a beautiful garden overlooking rolling hillsides. It has ground floor accommodation if some members of your party have limited mobility and it even boasts a second living room with a games console for teens and tweens who'd like to commandeer their own space. If your party is coming to make the most of the great outdoors armed with bikes, boats or golf clubs there is even a large lockable shed to store them.
The property lies just outside the charming village of Ravenglass; the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park. It's a special little place with a rich seam of history running through it and a gentle atmosphere all of its own. More than 2,000 years ago it was an important port supplying the inland forts and evidence of this heritage is just a short walk from the cottage in the form of a well-preserved Roman bathhouse. Now it's more famous as being the starting point for the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway, locally known as the La'al Ratty; a wonderful narrow gauge steam railway which winds its way from the coast up to the foot of the mighty fells at Boot. The village also boasts several eateries offering locally sourced food and real ales as well as a cafe and playground at the Ratty station. The cottage is also situated right at the gateway to Muncaster Castle; a historic (and legend has it, haunted) gem with beautiful grounds and events going on throughout the year. The gardens are a must see when the rhododendrons, azaleas or bluebells are flowering.
Slightly further afield from the cottage, there's much to see and do. The stunning valleys of Wasdale and Eskdale are nearby with a world of fell walking to be enjoyed from the mighty Scafells, the highest mountains in England, to lower level peaks such as Irton Pike and Muncaster Fell that all the family can enjoy. The coastline is a natural treasure trove with dunes to explore and a wealth of visiting birdlife. Cyclists are extremely well catered for with a vast choice of off-road options for mountain bikers, a coastal cycleway and some of the most iconic mountain passes in the country for the road cyclists among you. There are also golf courses for all tastes nearby from challenging windswept links golf at Seascale and Silecroft to Muncaster's own 18-hole parkland gem just down the road.
On arrival at the property, guests are greeted by the large porch way with plenty of space for coats and all the muddy boots your party is likely to accumulate on their Lake District adventures. From here, you enter the large living room. This is a fantastic socialising space with plenty of deep leather sofas to lounge about on and a large flatscreen TV with DVD player and Freesat. It also boasts a huge wood burner, perfect for a cosy evening in. The owners have also thoughtfully left a selection of books and DVDs for your stay.
An open archway leads through to the dining area which has long tables which can be put together. This lovely light room has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the garden giving guests a great view of the visiting birdlife. It's also ideal for observing the comings and goings on the surrounding farmland, magical in spring time with gambolling lambs.
Moving through to the bright airy kitchen. This is spacious and extremely well-equipped for catering for a large group with two large fan ovens, six gas hobs, two dishwashers, microwave, breakfast bar and all the cookware, crockery and utensils your party will need. The utility room is accessed from here where there is a large fridge/freezer, a washing machine and dryer as well as, yet more, space for boots and coats.
Firstly, to head to the accommodation on the ground floor. The delightful double room has a lovely light feel about it with two huge windows, its own modern en-suite shower room and a sink unit in the room. This room is ideal for people with limited mobility having its own easily accessible shower added to which there are no steps between it and the living, dining and kitchen space. Next is the large triple room. This has a single bed and a super-king bed which can be made up as twin beds should your party require. It has a decorative fireplace, an en-suite bathroom with 'b' shaped bath with over bath electric shower and a large wall mounted TV and sofa. In this section of the house, there is also an 'annexe' suite with king-size bedroom, en-suite shower room and a small kitchen area. To access this room, guests can either use an external door or use a door through the triple room, ideal if there is a family within the party who require some separate space.
A small staircase leads up from the kitchen into the upstairs accommodation. This is an absolutely ideal space for the teens or tweens in your party as it has its own light living room with corner sofa, TV and games console. No more arguments over the TV controls! Off this room is a single bedroom and a chest of drawers and velux window looking out onto the hillside. Moving through the upstairs corridor there is a bathroom with bath (no shower) and separate toilet. Also on this floor is a lovely king-size bedroom with large wardrobe, drawers, TV and bags of light from the velux and lovely arched floor- level windows.
Back downstairs to the rest of the accommodation. There are four shallow steps from the ground floor to five of the bedrooms. Firstly there are two single rooms one of which has its own en-suite shower room. Next is a lovely light king-size room with en-suite shower room, TV, floor-to-ceiling windows and patio door out onto a lovely decked area to the side of the house. Next its a super-king bedroom which can be make up as a twin room should your party require. This has a lovely modern en-suite and a large window looking out onto the gardens and hillside to the back of the house. Lastly on this corridor is a lovely king-size bedroom with en-suite bathroom, wardrobe, dressing table and a large window looking out on to the gardens.
Outside the house, there is a patio and decked area to the side which benefits from lovely morning sunshine, ideal for sitting outside with a morning cuppa. To the back is a wonderful spacious garden with mature trees and shrubs, a large lawn for cartwheeling about, birdfeeders with no shortage of gardens visitors and a lovely view to the rolling fields and hillside to the rear. The house also has a large lockable shed at the end of the parking area for bike or boat storage should your party require.