Mentioned in the Domesday Book, this grand country house is a magnificent venue for celebrating special occasions with friends or family surrounded by the spectacular Lake District National Park.
Just imagine gathering all your family or friends together in the magnificent surroundings of this welcoming holiday home nestled in beautiful Lorton Vale. This is a house that is even mentioned in the Domesday Book and has entertained royalty in the past. Here you can enjoy an evening cocktail in your own formal gardens that overlook the Lake District mountains. This splendid house offers accommodation for 14 in seven distinctive bedrooms with absolutely stunning reception rooms and grounds. Not only that but it also welcomes up to three dogs.
Lorton is a peaceful village in a wonderful corner of the Lake District National Park. It could scarcely be better placed to enjoy everything that the area has to offer. The property lies just 4 miles from Crummock and Loweswater, two of the most picturesque lakes in the area. It is also 4 miles from Wordsworth’s birthplace, the charming Georgian town of Cockermouth and 8 miles from Cumbria’s adventure capital, Keswick. The village itself is a tranquil gem with an excellent local pub just 100m away from the driveway, a much-treasured village shop and tons of walks and cycle rides from the doorstep. Whinlatter Forest Park is just up the road with a popular cafe, a wealth of mountain bike tracks, a Gruffalo trail and a Go Ape high ropes course. You never know, you could find yourself whooping along a zip wire high up in the forest canopy just 10 minutes from your door. It really is an ideal area for a large group with different interests.
The house itself is a magical world of nooks, crannies and romantic window seats which children (including big kids) will be entranced by. Older members of your party might be more delighted by the large fireplaces, historical details, antique furnishings and beautiful baby grand piano. The lounge also boasts its own bar for you to play at being a landlord during your stay.
So, whether you’d like to style yourself as Lord or Lady of the manor and revel in its rich history and surrounding beauty or whether you’d just like the space to gather your favourite people together in a warm, welcoming house then the property is a perfect place to go.
A wonderful wood panelled entrance hall greets you on arrival and from here the house opens up to you. Firstly, and quite notably, you'll find a large white tiled cloakroom with WC with plenty of space for your party's coats. Notable as it has a Thomas Crapper lavatory which has been graced by at least one royal visitor in the past!
On the ground floor you have a professional standard kitchen with range oven, electric hobs, microwave, dishwasher, large fridge and freezer. Aside from the excellent catering facilities in here there is an antique wooden dresser and a breakfast table for a morning cuppa or just for sociable food preparation. Always fun with a glass of wine! Through the kitchen you have access to the boiler room which is an excellent place to dry muddy boots and clothes after long Loweswater walks. There is also a utility room on the ground floor with washer and dryer.
Once meals are prepared why not ring the large dinner gong to summon the rest of the party from their nooks and crannies around the building? Off the large hallway you'll find the magnificent dining room. This has more examples of beautiful wood panelling, no less than three large leaded windows with window seats, a huge table for feasts and last but not least a beautiful baby grand piano. After meals and singalongs why not retire to the spacious lounge? For history buffs among you, don't forget to bring your magnifying glass as there is the original indenture of the building on the wall in here from the days when it was known as Lorton Hall. There are tons of board games to play, plenty of comfortable seating in armchairs, sofas and window seats in the beautiful arched windows, a large television with Freeview and a DVD player and a large bar. Bring your own drinks and play at being barman!
Tearing yourself away from the reception rooms, venture upstairs to the individually named bedrooms. The rooms all have their own distinct character with some wonderful examples of antique furniture, feature fireplaces, leaded windows and some with glorious four-poster beds. All of the bedrooms have their own television with Freeview and either an en-suite bath or shower room.
Firstly, is Low Fell, a lovely light and airy double room with two deep-set leaded windows to take in the gorgeous view. Low Fell has an en-suite bathroom with shower over the bath.
Onwards to Fell Barrow, a king-size room. This spacious room has the cosy feel of an attic room having a small skylight in its entrance hall. Its en-suite has a modern shower enclosure.
Greystones has the luxurious air of a suite. As you step down into the room it has a wonderful four-poster bed with two large windows with window seats and a huge sandstone fireplace dating from 1630. The beautiful marble en-suite bathroom has a bath with antique style fittings and large walk-in shower with a drencher head.
Whinlatter is yet another characterful room with a wonderful view, a writing desk and a brass double bed. It has a lovely light shower room with large shower enclosure with drencher head.
Melbreak is another king-size room displaying a large coat of arms above a lovely decorative fireplace. This room has a bath with over bath electric shower.
Swinside has a double bed set into a cosy alcove with a window seat, coffee table and armchair. It has an en-suite shower room with electric shower.
Hobcarton is the final king-size room. Once again, this room boasts a magnificent four-poster bed, two gorgeous leaded windows looking out on to the wonderful view and a luxurious en-suite shower room with drencher shower. The suite has a wonderful exposed stone fireplace which, in years gone by, was the upper part of the huge fireplace from the dining room below. It is now adorned with a coat of arms.
Not all the delights of this property are inside though. The house has marvellous grounds to the front and rear. At the back of the house is the formal knot garden with a fountain at its heart. To the front of the house there is a sweeping lawn with a splendid cedar tree in the middle, a swing seat and a terrace which is wonderful for a sunset glass of wine, a pre-dinner cocktail or an outdoor meal. There is also the stunning private river walk for the sole use of guests at Winder Hall and The Lodge - Winder Hall along a half mile stretch of the river Cocker with fishing rights included. Lastly, to soothe any aching muscles after enjoying your Lake District adventures, this wonderful garden has a summer house with a sauna! What a divine place to escape the pressures of 21st century life and spend time relaxing with friends or family.Winder Hall and The Lodge - Winder Hall can booked along side each other to accommodate up to 18 guests