Boasting many traditional features, this home is great for reuniting with family and has lots of sociable spaces to spend time in.
This property is unique. It offers a window back in time to the early 1900s and the Arts and Crafts movement, whilst still providing a comfortable home-from-home with all the mod cons to hand. Sleeping six people in three large bedrooms, the house is not suitable for under 12s, but if you like something that is not run of the mill, take a look and fall in love with this amazing house. All the rooms are full of character, with furniture, paintings and ornaments representing over a hundred years of happy family holidays since the house was built in 1900, but 'The Long Room' with its original features still stands out. Gather family and friends together and make some wonderful memories in this timelessly elegant room. The wooded garden to the side of the house overlooks the orchard and offers the perfect space to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquillity.
Located just outside the bustling town of Bowness, the cottage enjoys the perfect combination of a peaceful rural setting yet it is still only a short distance from all the local amenities and attractions. Windermere Golf Club is nearby as is The Dales Way footpath which offers an easy walk of just over a mile into Bowness, with beautiful views of Windermere on the way. Footpaths also lead to Staveley, Windermere and over to Gilpin Lodge where you can enjoy a meal. Walkers and non-walkers alike can catch the car ferry across the lake to Sawrey for lakeshore and woodland walks over Claife Heights, Beatrix Potter's home at Hilltop and the pretty village of Hawkshead. Bowness is the home of the Windermere Lake Cruises, opening up the whole length of the lake and it's many attractions without having to take the car. Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Motor Museum, Aquarium of the Lakes, Wray Castle, Brockhole and Ambleside can all be reached by boat.
For those who want to travel further afield or maybe explore areas a little less known, the property is perfectly placed. Kendal is only a short drive away and offers a good range of independent shops, many arranged in little pedestrian 'courts'. Explore the beautiful quiet Lyth Valley, famous for its damsons, take a trip to Cartmel to sample their sticky toffee pudding or visit Grange-over-sands where a walk along the prom may be a little different from what you expect. Fell walkers have easy access to the Kentmere and Fairfield Horseshoes. Cyclists will be spoilt for choice with a network of quiet roads and paths to explore, whilst craft of all shapes and sizes can be hired to take to the water on Windermere.
The house was built in 1900 by William Long. The design and finish of the house was strongly influenced by the friendship between William Long and Sir Edward Holt, who built the well known Arts and Crafts house at Blackwell, a short drive away. The house still contains many period details in the Arts and Craft style and some of the furniture has been in the house since it was built. Certainly the two beds in 'The Servant's Hall' and the dining table were commissioned by William Long from A W Simpson, a Quaker from Kendal. The house is full of paintings, ornaments and trinkets that the family have collected over the years. There are family portraits hanging above the stairs and a bust of Marian, daughter of William, in a niche on the landing. The cottage has been passed down through the family and has always just been used as a holiday home, apart from a time during the Second World War when the family lived here and had food parcels sent up from the walled garden associated with their main home in Warrington. In 1984, the family sold the main house, retaining the cottage, which included the old servants quarters, to use for family holidays. It is obvious that this is a much-loved family house with each generation adding to it without detracting from what has gone before. It is rare to get an opportunity to stay in a place like this and guests will be privileged to holiday here and continue its history full of happy memories.
From the parking area to the side of the house, two slate steps lead up into the porch where there is a mat for muddy boots and a stand of walking sticks. From here, the front door opens into a large quarry-tiled hall which offers your first impression of the characterful interior of this special house. The hall is traditionally furnished with a coat stand, grandfather clock, carved storage box, telephone table with chair and a gong hung on the wall which could just come in handy for summoning tardy guests at mealtimes! To the right off the hall is a useful utility room with a washing machine, leading through to the downstairs WC and shower room.
The first room off on the left is the homely kitchen and dining room, with the kitchen area just inside the door to the left. A huge fireplace on the right leads the eye through into the cosy dining/sitting area beyond. The well-equipped U-shape kitchen with electric cooker (oven and hob), dishwasher, microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle combines fitted units with an old wooden sideboard. The freezer is in the larder on the other side of the hall. The dining/sitting room is a wonderfully homely spot to relax and enjoy time with friends and family, either eating together at the large dining table or sitting around in the three armchairs for a proper catch up. A traditional grandfather clock looks over the room from the corner, the walls are lined with shelves full of books and pretty china and there are even bookshelves inside the large fireplace. A real family room filled with the echo's of many happy times, this is a room in which to feel instantly at home.
Next along the hall you will find 'The Servants Hall' a high ceilinged, light, large twin bedroom. The chest of drawers, hanging rail and original solid wood beds make sure this is a great bedroom but with a sofa and comfy chair, bookshelves holding a mix of novels, travel and local interest books and a window looking over the front garden, it is also somewhere to spend time during the day. Grab a book and soak up the atmosphere and peace away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of your party.
Head on up the beautiful wooden stairs with traditional carpet runner to the galleried landing and the chance to explore the rest of this unique property. To the left at the top of the stairs is another big twin bedroom, with windows overlooking both the woodland area to the side of the house and the beautiful view to the Langdale Pikes over the wooded hills surrounding Windermere. There is plenty of storage for clothes in a chest of drawers and wardrobe; two chairs, bedside tables and a dressing table with mirror and stool complete the furniture and paintings of local scenes adorn the walls.
Go to the right at the top of the stairs, up three more steps and turn to the left to find the jewel in the cottage's crown, 'The Long Room'. Step back in time and enjoy the easy elegance of this wonderful sitting room full of period charm. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views and the special ambience; two sofas and two armchairs offer the choice of facing the Freeview TV with DVD or the traditional fireplace with cosy rug in front and a convenient and cosy wood burner-effect electric fire for winter evenings in. During the day, prime position would have to be the window seat in the bay window, look out through the traditional timber leaded windows to the hills and woods beyond. A second window seat offers views out of the side window over the yard to the wooded garden beyond. This room is full of lovely character features: a barrel-vaulted ceiling, wood paneling around the windows, picture rail, a long dark wood sideboard, oil paintings on the walls, a small desk and chair plus side tables, lamps and standard lamps scattered around the room for atmospheric evening lighting. Spending time here will make it easy to leave the TV and mobile phones switched off and go back to the time before technology took over: a game of cards, a board game or two, or anyone for charades?
Straight across from 'The Long Room' is the main double bedroom. This comfortable and spacious room has an original fireplace with tapestry fire-screen in front and mirror above. A chest of drawers, wardrobe, bedside tables with lamps, two chairs and an en-suite WC fulfil all your practical needs whilst a seat in front of the window enjoys the same beautiful tranquil view to the front as 'The Long Room'. A bookshelf full of novels, tapestries and paintings on the wall and a freestanding full length mirror compliment the fireplace in making this room special. You will want to enjoy a couple of lie in's just to make the most of sleeping in this charming room, full of homely character.
At the end of the galleried landing past an old map of the estate displayed on an easel is the family bathroom, a large room with beautiful views over to the Langdale Pikes. A shower over the bath with folding screen means you can enjoy either a shower or a long soak depending on your preference. Either way there will be a cosy warm towel from the heated towel rail waiting for you when you get out.
As the property has been divided into two parts, you do not have access to all of the garden. The front lawn is private and part of the adjoining property but you do have a beautiful woodland garden to the side of the house complete with visiting red squirrel and deer. There is a short winding path leading to a stone cairn, which in the winter has views across to the central fells, but even in summer there are glimpses of the eastern fells through the trees. The cottage has retained some of the land and a nearby tarn belonging to the original estate. Fishing permits are available for anglers who bring their own equipment.
Due to the set up of the property no children or babies under the age of 5 years old are permitted.