Swallow Barn

A great place to relax and use as a base for touring the Cumbrian coastline and lake district.

Spacious property.

Large open plan living area with super size TV. Kitchen had a big fridge freezer ideal for a large family shop. Quite basic cooking utensils but got by. Needs serving tongs for turning / serving food. Large master bedroom with huge bed & had an ensuite with good shower. 2nd bedroom had small double bed but with a very uncomfortable mattress. Nice size family bathroom with huge bath. Secure garden and off road parking. There was a couple of housekeeping issues, whilst not major it did spoil the first impressions. The wooden stairs leading to the upstairs living area hadn't been cleaned and covered in dog hair. The wooden floor upstairs had bits on too. The dining room table had crumbs on and the placemats were dirty. It did mean the first job on arrival was to sweep the floors and wash the tables and work surfaces. There was some shortbread and a bottle of wine which was thoughtful and appreciated. However, there was an empty coffee jar, 3 sachets of Nescafe coffee and some UHT milk pots that had all passed the expiry date. Recommend you bring supplies if you want a brew on arrival. Overall had a pleasant stay at Swallow Barn. Quite location, 5 mins drive from Cockermouth and 20 mins drive to Keswick.

Property is stunning, well equipped kitchen, mahoosive TV and beds are so comfortable.

Great location & village pub food is delicious Would highly recommended

Amazing, we absolutely loved it!

Will definitely be coming back

We were very pleased with Swallow Barn and the location in a quiet hamlet a couple of miles outside Cockermouth.

The house has been well refurbished and obviously has a good level of insulation as it's warm without being too hot. It has has very nice fixtures and lovely furniture. The owner we found to be very helpful and responded quickly to any questions we asked him. We'd all be very happy to return for another holiday in this property.

Great comfy property couple of maintenance issues en-suite sink doesn’t drain away, master bedroom door needs checking as it kept sticking Shower in main bathroom very poor apart from that lovely cottage and stay

Just came back from another stay at Swallow Barn, beautifully presented property, clean and comfy.

Will no doubt be back in the future.

Lovely barn in a beautiful location.

Perfect Lakeland holiday!

Lovely accommodation, very comfortable and had everything we needed - would definitely recommend it and would book to stay here again

Great property, worked well as attending a wedding near by.

Could do with a few more kitchen items. Good location to Cockermouth and western lakes. Area not as busy with tourists. Great pub in the village, food very good and staff really friendly.

A great property, not for little ones as the living area is upstairs and there are no safety gates etc.

Very wet when we were there and could do with a large door mat and some hooks for coats. Otherwise a lovely place to stay. Thank you.

We all had a fantastic week at Swallow barn.

Where it was situated, was second to none. And it was relatively close to every place we needed to go to. Also found places we had not thought about. Totally recommend the Swallow barb to anyone. Thank you once again.

We were all more than happy with this stunning property, it had everything we needed, no complaints at all.

Well equipped kitchen, comfy sofas, very clean bedrooms & bathrooms. Great distance to fab walks, lakes & villages, big bonus of a pub just a few minute walk away! would highly recommended & definitely stay again if we can do the 4hr drive, probably stay for longer next time, felt extremely relaxing. Loved listening to the cows in the morning.

Fantastic holiday, lovely cottage.

. Only two slight moans, the grass needed mowing and more cleaning products ie cleaning cloth, more dishwasher tablets. Welcome pack could be a little bit better!! There was no tea or biscuit’s.

Hello we had a lovely stay.

My only concern is how fast tractors & lorrys go up & down the road.

Lovely place however could do with a bit of TLC and a few more refinements.

ensuite sink blocked. Master bedroom door catch keeps needs adjusting. difficult to open. Bedrooms could do with with dressing table or something to put items on. We ended up putting things on window sills or on floor.

Fabulous accommodation, really spacious and great location for exploring western lakes and mountains

Lovely warm and clean cottage.

We had a great couple of days there. In the spirit of constructive feedback, a few extra touches would have made it perfect eg coat hooks in entrance, a few necessities such as salt and pepper, paper towels. Thank you for a lovely stay.

A lovely accommodation in a quiet area.

With three couples and two dogs there was still plenty of room. Communication with the owner was a good experience and the welcome pack on arrival was appreciated. The local pub serving delicious meals was a bonus. Would definitely recommend.

We really enjoyed our stay at Swallow Barn.

A lovely, clean, modern living space that was very comfortable. The washing machine was a bonus, and the property has an enclosed garden which is very convenient if you have a dog. Lovely furnishings. Great location too, Cockermouth was very close with lots of lovely parks and walks by the river and we even managed to get a Dominos Pizza delivered to the property. We read in one of the information books that feedback is really important to the owners so here is our honest feedback on any issues we had, or anything we felt that would make the property even better. Oven- When opening the oven, a black strip kept falling off and dropping to the floor. These needs securing back on. Dining Sets- The plates/bowls weren’t microwavable. They became extremely hot in the microwave and then we realised. This is purely from a convenience point of view, but it meant we had to use the hob more and create more mess! Downstairs lighting- The lighting in the downstairs hallway area was quite poor in the dark. The only light that you can switch on from downstairs is the upstairs middle light so when you are coming from either of the two smaller bedrooms you have to walk across the hallway in the dark before you can turn a light on and the same for turning it off and then having to walk across the hallway to the smaller bedrooms in the dark. We also found that even with this upstairs middle light on, the corner where both smaller bedrooms and main bathroom is was still very dark. There needs to be another light added under the stairs or in that corner to make it more inviting and also for safety reasons. We were visiting with someone who is unsteady on her feet so an additional light in that corner would have added more safety and would have made her feel more comfortable. There was only 1 key to the property – We had issues when we didn’t always go out together and this meant we had to either lock people in the house in order to take the key away to be able to get back in, or had to get someone to lock us out and then get up and let us back in when we go back. This may not seem like a big issue but I can imagine if 3 couples were sharing this property for example and they go off doing different things eg: one couple is back late at night when the others are asleep then they are going to have to wake up to unlock the door or the couple going out or going to have to lock the others in the house so they can get back in on their own. The issue with this is that there is only one door to exit the property so if this is locked then its dangerous if there was an emergency. We think 2 keys are essential, allowing those inside to lock and open the door whilst allowing people to leave and lock the door behind them. As I mentioned, we are travelling with someone who is unsteady on their feet and we would go out to the shops ect leaving her in the property, but as we didn’t want to lock her in with no key in case of an emergency she would have to walk all the way downstairs on her own to let us all in, which at times was unnerving as they had no assistance walking down the stairs. We needed the additional key so that we could lock her in, knowing that she had another key in order to get out if there was an emergency. The water in the fridge- The water machine in the fridge had a funny taste, not very nice. Pipes might need a clean ect. Wasn’t a big deal as we just had tap water but worth mentioning. The Zip link bed- The zip link bed closest to the bathroom had quite an uncomfortable strip down the middle where it was joined, I appreciate that there may not be much that can be done about this but for older people or people with more sensitive backs this could be an issue. Quite a few of the windows were very stiff to open, might need some lubricant to make it easier. Added touches that would make it even better: A stairgate at the top of the stairs to keep children and dogs upstairs in the living space. We mention this as its quite a large staircase and the wood can be slippy. A blanket for each bedroom in case it gets chilly. A mat by the front door to wipe feet, the door is quite close to the floor so appreciate that it might be too high for the door and might not be possible. A mat in front of the bench downstairs could work as an alternative potentially. A really lovely stay at Swallow Barn and we would stay here again, it’s great that the owners are open to improvements and with a few alterations it could be a really perfect property. Thank you again for our lovely stay!

Swallow Barn is fantastic!

A wonderful place to stay, spacious, clean and comfortable. Location is perfect for all walks.

We had such a lovely 5 days at swallow barn, perfectly situated for exploring the surrounding areas and access to some of the amazing fells including Skiddaw, Blencathra and Red Pike.

The barn was really well equipped, everything in working order and the open plan layout made it feel really spacious, perfect for a family of 6, giving plenty of space to come together but enough for teenagers to escape to their own space if needed! The property had a Dishwasher, washing machine and large fridge. Plenty of books to browse and games to enjoy. Pub within walking distance.

Beautiful property extremely well equipped and very warm for such an old property - didn’t need to light the fire !

Lovely village pub, facilities of Cockamouth very close and a great location for touring the Lakes

Lovely place to stay in a peaceful and beautiful location.

We loved our time at Swallow Barn and wish we could’ve stayed longer. The Old Posting House nearby is a great pub with delicious food too.

WE loved Swallow Barn and found it very comfortable.

It is extremely well equipped with everything you need.

Swallow barn is in a quite quaint village,with one pub and a stream .

.it has a quiet garden area with table and chairs, ideal for sitting and dining outside, the property is clean and comfy, it has a well equipped kitchen, nice large smart TV which is a really nice touch and Cockermouth is only a 5 min drive away !

Great place to stay, everything we needed and more , made for a fabulous holiday, great beds, shower , kitchen facilities, massive tv super heating can't fault anything , hope to come back one day

Really good and comfortable property, have nothing bad to say x

Swallow Barn is a lovely base for exploring the western lake district.

The Barn was very clean and well maintained. There was everything you needed in the well equipped kitchen for cooking. I would highly recommend this place

We All had the most Wonderful time together at Swallow Barn, it was just what the Doctor ordered

Lovely Barn and perfect for a base that is home from home to go and enjoy the beautiful part of the country.

This was my first visit to the lakes and most definitely not my last… The barn was lovely and clean and had everything you needed for a great family stay.. The information booklet was amazing and we managed to visit most of the places in the book that was recommended. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to visit an experience the secret part of the country.

A fantastic place to stay where you’re made to feel welcome by owners and residents.

The property is exceptional in build, amenities, cleanliness and decor. I would definitely recommend and use this place again.

This property is a beautiful place to stay!

We absolutely loved our time in the lakes made all the more special by coming back to such a lovely welcoming place to stay. Everything you could need and we loved the layout, huge hit with the kids

Swallow Barn was amazing.

Beautiful, clean and comfortable home. In the perfect position for exploring the Lakes.

Immaculately clean and incredibly comfortable.

One of my dogs particularly enjoyed the low window in the living room where she could spy on the streets comings and going. The tractor carrying sheep was very popular. The kitchen is thoughtfully stocked and had everything we needed.

We absolutely loved staying at Swallow Barn…we would definitely return and recommend to friends.

We stayed as it’s only a ten minute drive from my parents, so it provided us with the space and freedom we otherwise wouldn’t have had. The only thing I would have liked was some kitchen essentials/basics; salt, pepper, olive oil, and maybe another couple of rolls of loo paper left in the bathrooms. Just to make it’s so we didn’t actually have to bring everything but the kitchen sink :) The garden was great for the dogs, but the upside down layout might not be ideal for some, for us it was fine as our dogs are only small. A note for the owner: I think the sink plumbing/pipes in the kitchen underneath the island has some sort of leak - we tried not to use the sink often but when we did we noticed water coming out from under the island cupboard to the right of the dishwasher. I just wouldn’t want water to seep through to the bedroom/bathroom below. Thank you so much for the best and most comfortable stay! X Kate and Andy x

What a spacious and quality fitted barn conversion.

Very comfortable beds and seating areas. The dogs loved the spacious first floor, but I feel other dog owners should be aware that to access the garden area , you have to use the only exit via the front door which is adjacent to the main country road and having a 22 month old basset , he had to have his lead on all the time. Our friends had the amazing bedroom 1 and loved the en-suite, but would like to make the owners aware the toilet seat is very loose and needed careful sitting on. Having been in property myself and rented many holiday homes I feel a folder explaining the usage of the appliances, where various items were placed and what is required when leaving the end of the holiday rental would be a great asset , also a owners contact number should an emergency occur. Thank you for a great holiday experience and the wine, ginger bread biscuits and milk.

Swallow Barn was an amazing place to stay, it was very clean, welcoming & had everything you could possibly need.

Thank you to James & Melinda for their kind gift on arrival. Would highly recommend. Just a minor point to mention the slate door step was broken/cracked on arrival which would be sharp if you caught your foot or paw on it. It certainly didn’t take anything away from this amazing property. Would hope to return in the future. Thank you again.

An absolutely fabulous place to stay.

Would recommend to anyone looking for a quiet place to stay. Thankyou.

What an amazing cottage!

Plenty of space, fully equipped and an excellent location for a Lakes adventure. On arrival we found the cottage to be exceptionally clean and tidy and were blown awy by the amount of space. The upside down layout made unpacking very easy as no need to carry heavy suitcases up stairs. The down stairs has three bedrooms of which the master bedroom has an ensuite wetroom. There is also a large cloakroom with a washing machine. The upstairs open plan layout offers lots of space and is very light and airy, although dont forget to close the skylights if rain is pedicted! The addition of an xbox meant the kids were entertained after their adrenline fuelled days. Located 10 min from Cockermouth, in which there is plenty of choice for supermarkets and food options, it made it very convenient for stocking up on supplies. As well as this, the cottage was no more then 40 mins away from all the adventures the Lakes has to offer. We would highly recommend Swallow Barn to all.

This is a beautiful, spacious and spotlessly clean property.

The upside down layout is quirky and unusual. The upstairs area was very large and open and we found ourselves enjoying family time together after long walks in the Lakes, snuggled up on the large comfy sofas watching movies on the huge TV. The kitchen was also spacious and well equipped but disappointingly lacking a microwave (when on holiday I prefer quick convenience not hours cooking over the hob!) But luckily the Old Posting House pub down the road served good food and drink and highly recommend! Downstairs the bedrooms and bathrooms were very clean and the beds were very comfortable. However there was no dressing table/mirror in the huge master bedroom to sit and dry/style hair and do make up. The mirror was above the toilet in the ensuite which was unsuitable for this purpose. Overall we had a wonderful stay here and would love to return again as it is a great base for discovering the Western Lakes however we wish we could book Saturday to Saturday to avoid additional days leave from work needing to be taken.

Excellent accommodation all finished to a high specification.

Beds and sofas very comfortable, kitchen/dining facilities all good quality. Location excellent for walking. One of our party needed a desk to do some work and the hosts provided one within hours of our request - they were keen to help in any way to make our stay enjoyable.

Fantastic property in a lovely location.

It was comfortable, clean and had everything we needed. Great that we could take our dog and the upside down layout was perfect. Will try and find time to return soon

Lovely accommodation stayed with family and 2 dogs.

Ideal place to explore North lakes and even fitted in a trip to St Bees. Only one comment as sleeps 6 but only 2 garden chairs.

Swallow Barn exceeded my expectations and added to a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

It is an excellent base to explore the stunning Lakes.

Swallow Barn is a lovely accommodation perfectly situated for your Lakes adventures.

The barn is super clean and comfortable with plenty of space. Within walking distance to a pub and 5 min drive to another. Would thoroughly recommend Swallow Barn.

This is a beautiful home, very comfortable and clean could not fault at all.

My family and I really enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend it to others. The owners also left us a welcome gift which was a lovely gesture and very thoughtful, so must say thank you to them.

Unfortunately there was no details for the property which is unusual for a Sykes property so we had no idea with heating etc or appliances.

Neither was there a comments book which is useful for details of local pubs etc. We struggled to find the property with the directions provided and I think they could be improved. The property was stunning and exceeded our expectations however the lock on the front door needs fixing as we spent many minutes in the rain trying to open it.

Swallow Barn is a modern and contemporary conversion full of light and very spacious.

There was a welcome gift of local produce which we really appreciated. The appliances and equipment are all to a very high standard. The underfloor heating and radiators kept the whole barn comfortable and warm and with the log burner lit very cosy. The entertainment system and provided WiFi worked well. The location is in a quiet village with the normal rural noises and smells but very little traffic passing through makes it a peaceful stay. A short walk takes you to The Posting House pub, with a welcoming landlord and delicious food. Deanscales is ideally located to visit the Lakes and coastline of this part of Cumbria. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay as a family group and would recommend without hesitation.

What a beautiful place!

It was a lovely stay and everything was to a high quality. I would like to thank the owners, Mel and James for this lovely stay. Thank you so much!

Lovely accommodation, really well maintained and a great location.

Fantastic family stay for six adults over the New Year.

Everything catered for and much better than the photograph’s show. Would highly recommend.

We had a brilliant week at Swallow Barn over Christmas time.

A beautiful, spacious barn conversion with a relaxing feel and in an ideal location. Lovely local walks through the village and we explored nearby Keswick, Buttermere and Loweswater, as well as walking the coastal path at St. Bees. The owners gave us some good recommendations and the welcome pack on arrival was much appreciated. We’d definitely recommend staying here!

Excellent place and looking forward to staying again!