Bracken Ground

38 Customer Reviews

• "Property was perfect, even better than the photos itself."

  Had everything and even more than what we expected. Honestly thinking of making this a yearly thing with the lads as it’s perfect place for a getaway

  Reviewed by Zulqanin5.0★Apr 2024

• "We love staying here and have done many times."

  It’s spacious, clean, warm, quiet and the beds are comfy. The hot tub and sauna are great to relax in. Dogs are safe in the grounds. It’s our favourite location to stay in with our dogs.

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Mar 2024

• "The glass screen around the pond was green, desperately needs cleaning."

  Hall lights were on a sensor but stayed on 24/7 . 2 of the bathroom fans also stayed on 24/7 , which was annoying. However the property is a good size and clean and tidy. Could do with a little personal touch of toiletries in the bathroom, not half filled bottles. Overall I'd rate it 7/10, and would definatly go back.

  Reviewed by Andre3.8★Feb 2024

• "Excellent facility."

  The 'extras' of sauna/hot tub & sports channels on TV were invaluable as the weather was not great for outdoor pursuits.

  Reviewed by William5.0★Dec 2023

• "Absolutely everything that was required was provided and was in very good condition."

  Lovely touch was the welcome pack of goodies. Honestly don’t know how it could be improved - superb!

  5.0★Oct 2023

• "The only issue we really had was the water in the showers was a bit cold, it would be nicer to have a bit of a warmer shower especially after a long hike."

  There also looks to be a bit of a dampness issue, the condensation on the windows in the morning were puddles.

  Thank you for your feedback. We take comments on board, and we will look into them further. The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner

  Reviewed by Brian4.7★Oct 2023

• "Bracken Ground is a truly warm welcoming and comfortable place to spend a break and has more amenities than you could ever want."

  The bedrooms have large comfy beds and the bathrooms are fresh and modern with invigorating showers. The lounge dining room is huge and has cosy seats for all in the sofas or at the massive wooden table. The welcome pack of wine, bread, cheese, cake, milk, butter eggs and some things I have forgotten was not only very welcome but also it was all consumed gratefully. Kitchen is large and very well equipped (Apart from a coffee machine ?) with almost everything you could think of. Sauna & Hot tub were amazing, spent many hours in these over the course of the week. The location is Private and quiet and nestled amongst many trees and to be honest idyllic. I would struggle to thing of a single fault...... Actually there is one.... The Internet is pretty bad but honestly you shouldn't be glued to devices all the time when you are staying in such a great property in such a beautiful part of the country.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Sep 2023

• "A lovely property, plenty of space for a large family gathering and very comfortable."

  Well equipped kitchen. beautiful welcome pack left for us which was very generous, Sauna and hot tub were very well maintained and towels and bedding all lovely quality, thank you. Surrounding roads are a little tricky so ensure you follow the Lakelovers directions to take the most direct route and ignore your satnav which takes you along very narrow roads! A very enjoyable stay thank you for sharing your lovely property with us

  Reviewed by Julie5.0★Sep 2023

• "++ Beautiful, well maintained property in an idyllic, secluded setting."

  The welcome pack of local produce was super. The pond was full of dragon flies, butterflies & pond skaters. Backing on to woodland, we enjoyed the birdsong & caught sight of squirrels going about their business. The garden, patio & hot tub were restful places to linger in peace. Walking (climbing) along the local lanes afforded great views of land & sky. We saw the 'super blue' moon in August. The XBox 360 system was hit - we all improved our bowling action! Property notes. + the automatic trigger illumination as one stepped down from kitchen to passage was reassuring but - the step from lounge to hall caught us out a few times. For those in the party with mobility problems, the brief but steep climb up the drive could have been an issue but the ample parking, just outside the front door allowed perfect access.

  Reviewed by William5.0★Aug 2023

• "A comfortable spacious house, off the beaten track in Bessy Bank woods , with lovely woodland garden and pond."

  Perfect for a relaxing family get together holiday for us all. Found a couple of local woodland walks with the dogs - beware of checking for ticks. Layout of the house good and room for our youngest grandchild to play safely. Sauna and hot tub well used and maintained daily - hot tub towels a nice touch. Separate laundry a great idea and good place for drying off wetsuits after wild swimming and paddle boarding at Coniston . Kitchen is well equipped and enjoyed cooking and baking (rainy day activity) with grandkids on the new range. And thanks for a lovely welcome pack and wine

  Reviewed by R5.0★Aug 2023

• "Excellent property."

  Perfectly equipped for our large family. Lots of space. Highly recommend.

  Reviewed by Katherine5.0★Aug 2023

• "This was our second visit to Bracken Ground and we had a wonderful stay."

  We love the space and the location and the comfortable accommodation. Our only negative comment is about cooking utensils, crockery, serving dishes etc. There was only one table spoon, no serving spoons and limited crockery for 10 people, making it tricky to cater for such a large group. Bowls had to be washed mid breakfast to enable everyone to have one It would also |be good to have some new sharp knives.

  Reviewed by Michael4.7★Aug 2023

• "We looked at the house comments on line about two weeks before the start of our holiday and some of the comments were not as positive as we had hoped."

  Nothing could be further than the truth! The house had more facilities than we expected and we had an amazing time there were some nice surprises i.e. towels for the hot tub and also dishwasher blocks, washing equipment (small things but worked well) overall the house was as advertised and we had no problems. well done and thank you :-)

  Reviewed by Tim4.7★Jul 2023

• "This is a very beautiful house in a quiet setting."

  When we reported a few minor issues they were resolved that day. It is very well equipped. When we asked in advance for feather free bedding it was provided and there was a gorgeous welcome pack. It was the perfect place for a large family group to spend time together. Being regular visitors to the Lake District we were perfectly happy with short trips out but as the house is quite remote it may not suit people who want to explore more widely or eat out every night. If you bring a dog in summer you need to be vigilant for ticks on walks in the grounds or nearby, so pack a tick remover. The house wasn’t cheap to rent, but we felt was worth every penny.

  Reviewed by Wendy4.7★Jun 2023

• "Lovely house, perfect for two families and two dogs."

  Plenty of space for everyone to enjoy and unwind

  Reviewed by Anthony4.7★May 2023

• "Excellent venue, we booked for a birthday party and had an amazing experience."

  very dog friendly too.

  Reviewed by Jason5.0★May 2023

• "We have stayed here a few times before and always enjoy our holiday here."

  It’s a lovely place to stay and I noticed that there had been some redecoration done, new curtains and new gates fitted too. The beds are really comfy; the house is warm and spacious; the kitchen is well equipped; the hot tub and sauna are a great way to wind down; the grounds are beautiful and well kept and if you are lucky you might be able to spot some deer further out! Also a lovely welcome basket, which is really thoughtful. I think a new range oven was being installed on the day we left. Our dogs loved the gardens but do be mindful that dogs can always find an exit as our small dog did under the gate. She’s got decent recall so it wasn’t an issue at all. That’s not a complaint re the lovely new gates, just an FYI for people with dogs to keep an eye on them. Our week here in May was made even better with glorious weather. We always really enjoy our time spent here and will most certainly return.

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★May 2023

• "The property was very nice and spacious, generally comfortable."

  The location in one way was lovely, couldn't wish for a nicer spot. However it is quite a treck from the main Lakes area.I have 2 observations to make. The description mentions 7 acers of land, it doesn't say that you are not allowed to access most of it. The other area of concern was the damp and black mould in the bathroom and bed room near the kitchen. Both showers over the baths leaked badly. We did not use the jacusie or sauna so can not comment. It really is a lovely place to stay if the location is right for you.

  Reviewed by Pamela4.1★Apr 2023

• "The house is beautiful, the lounge cushions need replacing."

  Beds really comfortable. However i think it would be an idea this is not a criticism only a suggestion to give an option for feather free bedding. My son is asthmatic he's not allergic to dogs but is to feathers. We didn't realise before we arrived or would have brought bedding with us. This resulted in having to source an emergency supply of his inhalers & the purchase of a duvet & pillows.The kitchen needs a frying pan. The closet in the twin bedded room needs attention as there is damp seeping through. Given the surrounding environment its inevitable & must me a constant battle. Overall a lovely stay - thankyou

  Reviewed by Steve3.8★Mar 2023

• "We treated ourselves to this house as it is big birthday year for me and my husband."

  Whilst it was a very comfy stay, everyone slept well and there was plenty of room the standard of accommodation was fairly ordinary and not particularly high end as the listing would have you believe. Outside the grounds were lovely and the house is in a very rural area with no tourists, no traffic, beautiful skies and plenty of low level walks. However in the garden the sauna door didn't close and the hot tub was tiny - the house is for 10 people and only 3 people could use it comfortably. Inside we were warm and cosy. The kitchen was well stocked with quality items. However the oven was a real pain - all the icons rubbed off, it took a few goes to find the right setting - 2 hours one night to cook some frozen chips! There still isn't a frying pan, and the master bedroom smells damp. Whilst some rooms were roasting hot others were freezing cold. We tried to light the woodburner but the room filled with smoke. The verdict was it's a lovely house but tired. I find it annoying that the problems we had have been mentioned several times before, on other reviews and clearly nothing has been done. Leaving the sauna door like it is is just plain careless and an insult to people spending that extra money for these things. You can get equally if not better accommodation for less than half the price in more central areas closer to the fells.

  We're sorry that the accommodation didn't live up to your expectations. We are undertaking a programme of upgrades at the moment, with a new woodburner being installed and a new range cooker coming soon. The whole house is being repainted in April. With regards to the damp I can assure you that we have had a damp specialist conduct a survey and there is no damp issue in the property. The issue in the bedroom is condensation from the ensuite bathroom caused by, we can only assume, from people leaving the door open. We have put in a new extractor fan and hopefully that will alleviate the issue. This is the first I've heard about the sauna door. As the door (like the sauna itself) is made of cedar it swells and contracts in the moist Lakeland air so it sometimes proves difficult to close. There are frying pans in the drawer at the bottom of the oven. Sorry once again that your visit disappointed you. We do hope that, if you choose to come back in the future, you will approve of the improvements we're making. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Stephanie3.1★Feb 2023

• "Such a lovely place in beautiful surroundings and walks direct from your door."

  8 of us and 2 dogs spent 4 days there, it was fabulous. Bedrooms are all a great size with wardrobes, drawers etc and 4 bathrooms altogether. This place has everything that is needed for a family holiday and can’t wait to try it in the summer, as the grounds are fabulous and great bonus having a hot tub and sauna, both great to use in the cold weather. Only a couple of minor faults but none of these would put us off going back in any way, just thought a mention as these changes would help a lot. The markings on the oven have all wore off, so difficult finding the correct oven setting. Has a fab selection of pans, apart from the frying pan. There is only 1, very small frying pan for 10 people, which was difficult cooking breakfast. And as the weather was cold and we were using the fire, unfortunately a lot of the fire wood had got damp outside, although under cover, is on a ramp and with all the rain had flowed into firewood, which unfortunately made the fire very Smokey in the house. But very minor problems, easily rectified and definately wouldn’t put us off returning.

  Reviewed by Sharon5.0★Jan 2023

• "The negatives: Do not be mislead by the website images, these were taken in 2011 immediately after a refurbishment."

  The property is looking tired now and in need of some TLC. The hot tub is now a smaller plastic version. The property is suffering from some damp issues, particularly in one bathroom and all of the windows, as a result the majority of the curtains have mould on the window sides. The bathrooms are cold due to the “weird” timing of the electric radiators with no obvious way to change this. The lower entrance gate is broken so if you have young children and/or dogs be aware. We are advised by the owners that the damp issues and the gate are due to be addressed in January 23. The cleanliness wasn’t great on arrival, we had to clean the kitchen and floors again and most of the cutlery and utensils. The main oven stopped working during Xmas dinner preparation, a sign of its age, which wasn’t ideal! It was fixed on the 27th December but other reviews have noted issues with this oven, so be aware! The positives: In a wonderful location surrounded by 7 acres of private grounds. Access to a few walks straight from the property. Comfortable beds. Plenty of parking space.

  Thank you for taking the time to record your concerns with regard to your recent stay. Of course, we are very sorry to hear that you had such a negative experience and because of this we were glad you took us up on our offer of compensation for the inconvenience caused. Given the in-depth nature of your complaints, I would like to take the time to respond to each of them in turn: ‘The property is looking tired now and in need of some TLC. The property is suffering from some damp issues, particularly in one bathroom and all of the windows, as a result the majority of the curtains have mould on the window sides.’ We bought Bracken Ground from the previous owners in the summer of 2019 and have spent many thousands of pounds on improvements and repairs in that short time. Much of this will go unnoticed as it includes a new boiler and essential remedial work to external stonework and pointing. We had a specialist damp report carried out in February 2021 and it made several recommendations, all of which we have acted upon, including stonework and chimney stack repair and the fitting of new constant run, humidistat controlled mechanical extractor fans to provide more effective atmospheric moisture control in the master bedroom and ensuite. However, given the location of the property surrounded by nature in the Lake District, we will continue to monitor this over the course of our ownership and will indeed be commissioning a further survey to that effect this month. Re-decoration work to rectify the aesthetic damage caused to walls and curtains is something that has been delayed due to Covid and an extremely busy bookings calendar in the past two years. We have, however, blocked off several weeks in the calendar between now and the Spring to repaint walls and fit new curtains. ‘The hot tub is now a smaller plastic version’ As far as I understand, the previous wooden hot tub was the same size as the current version and was replaced only a few years after the 2011 renovations because its location amongst the trees - one of the houses’ most beautiful features - caused the wood to turn green very quickly and the less aesthetic but more practical plastic hot tub was bought in its place. New photography is to be commissioned by Lakelovers when the warmer weather arrives. ‘The bathrooms are cold due to the weird timing of the electric radiators with no obvious way to change this.’ The radiators in the bathrooms are on a timer designed to come on during the mornings and the evenings. I was not aware of any issues in this regard, but l will certainly get this looked at and apologise for any discomfort this caused. ‘The lower entrance gate is broken so if you have young children and/or dogs be aware.’ This gate was damaged in November and a replacement was immediately commissioned from a local craftsman. I have just today (January 5) received an email confirming it is ready for fitting. Given its bespoke nature, I think this has been a remarkably quick response, but I am sorry that it wasn’t ready in time for your stay. We do note in the guest manual that: 'we have made every effort to make the property and grounds dog friendly, but owners must be aware that the perimeter fence is not completely secure in all places. With regards to young children, we also make the point: 'the perimeter is roughly defined by the wire fence surrounding the woodland and you are welcome to stroll around and investigate but please take care as this environment conceals steep and rocky slopes and natural hazards such as brambles, wobbly stones and low-hanging branches. Younger children need to be supervised at all times, especially around the water. ‘The cleanliness wasn’t great on arrival, we had to clean the kitchen and floors again and most of the cutlery and utensils.’ This is clearly unacceptable, and I have spoken to the cleaning team about this. I can only sincerely apologise that the cleanliness wasn’t up to standard and I’m not sure what happened on this occasion. I will say though that our last Five Star Visit England report from January 2022 noted: Housekeeping continues to meet excellent standard within the property. ‘The main oven stopped working during Xmas dinner preparation, a sign of its age, which wasn’t ideal!’ Obviously, the timing of any oven breakdown isn’t welcome but at Christmas I understand this would be particularly distressing. As I understand it, the oven stopped working as an excess of tinfoil had been pushed down the back of the oven causing a shorting of the electrics. Lakelovers responded extremely quickly - particularly given the time of year - determined the unusual nature of the issue and fixed it there and then. The smaller oven in the range remained unaffected. The oven, like all major appliances of more than a few years in age, has been repaired in its lifetime but is regularly serviced and has performed well. We will however look to replace the oven in 2023 as part of our ongoing improvements and repairs program. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Richard2.2★Dec 2022

• "The property was everything that was promised and more."

  We were welcomed with a lovely welcome hamper and the facilities were of a high standard. I would definitely look to stay at the property again in the future. Thank you for everything.

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★Oct 2022

• "Very good stay in a quiet location, facilities as described with a home from home feel."

  One suggestion would be to add an external heater - (fire pit and or gas heater). A minor thing really - the whole experience was enjoyed by my family group.

  Reviewed by James5.0★Aug 2022

• "We had a lovely stay at Bracken Ground."

  The property is very spacious and well equipped and the surrounding gardens and woodland of the grounds gave us plenty of room to just wander and relax. As with many areas in the Lakes there were a number of trees in the grounds that had come down in the winter storms but this did not spoil our stay in any way. The pond was only half full - maybe damaged by a tree that had fallen into it? The property itself and some of the equipment was showing signs of having been well used and could do with a little TLC but all-in-all a very nice property for a large family and dogs with a level of privacy you do not always manage to get these days in the Lakes.

  Reviewed by Mark4.1★Apr 2022

• "Absolutely fantastic stay at Bracken Ground - a wonderful property in a peaceful, beautiful location."

  Thank you so much for the welcoming extras, clear information and the pristine upkeep of a truly special place.

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Apr 2022

• "We had a really nice stay at Bracken Ground and hope to come back one day despite a few setbacks: 1) main gate was broken and was really hard to open and close 2) a couple of hob burners did not work 3) bottom section of the fridge was a bit unreliable along with the ice maker in the freezer 4) we couldn't figure out how to change towel rail setup, so bathrooms were a bit cold and damp 5) there was no sauna, but we were warned about it in advance 6) we were supposed to check out at 10 am, but someone waited behind the gate from just before 9 am without approaching us."

  It was a bit weird and we felt obliged to leave early without breakfast. Otherwise, it is a great big house with amazing grounds and good facilities.

  Reviewed by Marija3.8★Mar 2022

• "Over all the property was of a high standard."

  All the bedrooms and bathroom facilities were amazing as well as the living areas. The grounds were also well kept well considering the time of year being February and the bad weather conditions prior to our arrival. There was a lovely arrival package of wine, local jams and bread which was a lovely touch. It is an extremely rural location which may not suit some families but we loved it. We came as 2 families of 4 adults, 2 x 12’s boys, 2 x 14 girls and 2 x 8’a girls. There are a few things that need to be looked at but it didn’t impact negatively on the holiday although these would have bothered me more if I was paying the higher prices of the summer months. Some lights are out in the drive way on the approach to the property. The gates on the entrance and exit could do with touching up Lights in the main living area above the dining room are different wattage so look odd. The oven gas points don’t all work and this was a pain. One of the large gas rings won’t stay on at all and other large one goes off when cooking. When cooking for 10 you need them all to work. The dials to use at the front of the over have been warm away so had to guess the settings. Still not sure what they are on the grill side. I’d suggest new oven is needed. Dish washer seal gone on the left hand side causing it to leak slightly. Cooking Scales don’t work even when I replaced the batteries. Hot tub is not the hot tub in the photos (it’s not wooden), not a real issue but should be the correct photo. Also the hot tub is a 4 man hot tub so for a property that holds 10 is too small. Sauna not working (understand out of the owners control as due to storm damage). We were told about this prior to arrival so good communication. No battery pack in Xbox controller (can’t use normal batteries). Only 2 remote controls for 3 TV’s. We did all still had an amazing stay and I would definitely recommend the property. These are mainly small things that can be easily sorted but issues that really shouldn’t be there in a 5* property.

  Reviewed by Kevin4.4★Feb 2022

• "Our stay at Bracken Ground was really lovely; the house and setting are beautiful, the beds are extremely comfortable, and the care package left for us was a truly lovely touch that we greatly appreciated."

  However, I was both shocked and disappointed to see that the sauna was completely broken and written off, and the hot tub was not as pictured or ready to use. I understand that there had been a storm affecting the sauna, however, it was very clear that it had been broken for some time given the state that it was in (cobwebs, mold/moss and fencing up to shield it). I had booked our stay at this property in November, so I really do feel that it would have been appropriate for somebody to inform me much sooner, or at all, about the state of the sauna especially given that I booked this particular property because it had both of the outdoor facilities. Two of my party could not use the hot tub and were looking forward to the use of the sauna, which, given the expense of the stay was an expected luxury to be included. I would like some money back if possible - even just as a token - as I really should have been informed.

  Thank you very much for your comments Mrs Sandilands and for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. Customer feedback is very important to help us continually improve our standards. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay at Bracken Ground, however we are very sorry to hear that we didn't manage to notify you before your arrival about the sauna being out of action due to storm damage. We thought it would have been replaced before your arrival but unfortunately there has been a delay in the supply chain. We have spoken to the owner and it is now planned for installation mid March. The owner apologies for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused to your party and we will now contact you directly to resolve your complaint. We hope this doesn't deter you from rebooking Bracken Ground and hope to see you again in the near future. Thank you once again for your feedback, the Lakelovers team Property Owner

  Reviewed by Emily3.1★Jan 2022

• "Perfect stay!"

  Highly recommend, Thankyou.

  Reviewed by Jake5.0★Dec 2021

• "Our stay at Bracken Ground was a very special experience for our Golden Wedding anniversary."

  It is a lovely, tasteful accommodation for large family or friendship groups. It was very clean (really important to us), the decoration and attention to detail was exceptional. Tastefully 'dressed' for Christmas too. The beds were very comfortable. We all slept really well - rare when not sleeping in your own beds at home. The grounds are super (especially for the children) and the pond/running stream just outside the kitchen was great and very therapeutic. Would be especially beautiful in the Spring and Summer. Hot tub super but a shame the sauna was a victim of the storm the previous week and 'out of bounds' for us. There was a thoughtful and generous welcome basket, which is one of the best we've had on arrival anywhere, here and abroad. We highly recommend Bracken Ground and would stay again.

  Reviewed by Raymond5.0★Dec 2021

• "We stayed at Bracken Ground on the weekend of the 25th of November 2021."

  The cottage was excellent. Clean, well maintained, great location and for a good price. However on the second night of our stay the storm started. This meant that we were left with no power to cook, no heating, no electric, no phone signal and, because of a fallen tree, the sauna was broken and the hot tub was unusable. We understand this is not the fault of the owners/managers of the cottage however we felt that the 20% compensation offer was not enough considering that for 2 of the 3 nights most of the amenities were unusable. This is a shame considering how perfect the cottage was before the storm

  Reviewed by Frankie4.1★Nov 2021

• "Lovely property and lovely location, although bit perturbed initially when I got the exact postcode as quite a way from Coniston."

  We were kindly allowed in a bit early and there was a lovely hamper awaiting us. Property was very spacious, comfortable and well equipped and the hot tub with view of the pond was a joy! Hope to come back sometime. Thanks

  Reviewed by Noreen3.4★Nov 2021

• "Lovely, spacious property in excellent overall condition and situated in delightful woodland."

  Whilst the property is a little on the remote side, I fully accept that our stay there took place in early winter and it must be an absolute delight during the spring and summer months when the daylight lasts for much longer.

  Reviewed by Mary4.7★Nov 2021

• "The house is in a very peaceful location and the facilities on offer are good."

  There are some items that could do with minor repairs or being serviced such as kitchen wall unit doors not staying in place, sauna start up being tricky, pillows could do to be a bit firmer, improved cleaning of shower areas, tumble drier needs checking regularly for over-flowing condensate collection and should the kitchen layout be redesigned sometime in the future, we would suggest moving the dishwasher next to the fridge as that corner of the kitchen is too crowded when a number of people are working in the room. The oven could do with a good clean too. However, there are many good points such as loads of space inside and out with fantastic grounds, great TV/entertainment, super hot tub. Great for kids (big and small)

  Reviewed by Jacqueline3.8★Aug 2021

• "I'm not sure the house had been cleaned just before we arrived as there were dead flies about and the fridge wasn't super clean."

  Lovely position of the house and facilities were great. For the price might expect better quality of mattresses and bedding. We were lucky with the weather and did some great activities including gorge walking.

  Reviewed by Emma4.1★Jul 2021

• "Peace, tranquility, everything there that was needed , wonderful break"

  Reviewed by Nicola5.0★May 2021

• "A beautiful property, very well laid out and exceptionally well stocked in terms of china, cutlery, kitchen equipment."

  Grounds and property well maintained. All the facilities are of a high quality. A very generous welcome pack was provided.

  Mr JohnstonJul 2019

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