Barney's Cottage

This cottage is fantastically placed in the town - and surprisingly quiet at night so sleep wasn’t a problem.

The shower is great - nice and powerful. Unfortunately, the housekeeping level is low. There was nothing that felt clean, except the bedlinen and the bathroom (if you didn’t look into the corners where a lot of dust and fluff had accumulated). The floors were filthy, crumbs on the sofa (didn’t look under the cushions - didn’t dare), sink and worktops, cupboards, microwave .. basically everything in the kitchen hadn’t seen a proper clean in god knows how long. Dog hair collected under chairs, carpets unhoovered… the list goes on. It could be SO nice!!! Such a shame that the attention to clean is not prioritised. Could also do with a nespresso machine!

5 stars for LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.

A homely cottage, with a car park space in a fantastic location. 2 points to do with being ‘pet friendly’: The outdoor space is technically a walk through with a bench. It’s not an area for 2 large dogs to go for a quick morning/evening wee. Due to security there are no windows, on the ground floor, that can be left open when no adult is in the property. This makes the living/pet area very warm.

We had a really good holiday and enjoyed being at Barneys cottage.

We were particularly pleased by how warm it was during a cold week. There were just a few niggles that reduced our opinion from what could easily have been "excellent" to "good": No soap in the bathroom, quite a few cobwebs and marks on the wall that we cleaned, a doggy smell on the first floor when we arrived, noisy doors and a very annoying smoke alarm that goes off before a piece of bread can be toasted. We have stayed in other places this year where there has been a generous supply of toilet roll and a nice welcome pack of food / milk / coffee pods / wine. We hope this helps.

Absolutely lovely cottage in the perfect location 30 seconds from the shops.

We had an amazing week here and would definitely stay here again. A couple of very minor tweaks would improve our stay, 1. The fire alarm needs moving from directly above the kitchen as when we used the oven or toaster it set it off, 2. The aereator is missing off the kitchen tap which caused water to shoot out over the side at times, and 3. The fridge door wouldn't shut because the ice compartment needed defrosting. If these items were fixed the cottage would have been faultless so just mentioning them to improve other people's stays.

We were looking for a pet-friendly accommodation.

Once in the property, there were many rules regarding our Pug, including no pets upstairs and no pets on the sofa. The sofa and chairs are really uncomfortable, lumpy and old. The property did not fully meet our expectations for a pet-friendly stay, as our dog is used to being with us throughout the house. A dishwasher would be a useful addition. There were cobwebs present, and the light switches on the ground floor were confusing as to what controlled what. There were broken ornaments that would be better removed for safety. One broken cactus pot fell apart when moved, which caused some concern. It is not the worst property, but not the best. We would not stay again.

Gem of a little cottage on the edge of Ambleside.

Parking for one vehicle which is great too. We would definitely return to Barney Cottage.

Amazing location, in centre of Ambleside but still quiet and calm.

Good pubs nearby, everything in walking distance. The cottage is warm and cosy- we did not need the log burner as the central heating was set high. Clean, lounge area very comfy, great for a family stay. We could have done with a little bit more in terms of provisions- there was very little soap and this ran out during our stay, only one toilet roll was provided so we had to buy more, there was no dishcloth or tea towels so again we had to buy (although tea towels were then delivered on our second day). Apart from these minor issues, a great stay and hard to beat this location in Ambleside.

One of the best cottages in ambleside, stayed here many times .

Only fault this year is that broken glass was still on the floor from previous occupants and cut our grand daughter foot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had a wonderful stay at Barney’s Cottage!

The location is fantastic — within walking distance of great places to eat and plenty of lovely walks that were perfect for little legs. The cottage itself is cosy, comfortable, and really well equipped with everything we needed. Our kids (4 and 5) absolutely loved having their own space up in the attic — it felt like their own little hideaway! The local bus route made it super easy to get around the lake, and we hardly needed to use the car at all. Highly recommend for families looking for a relaxing and convenient base to explore the area.

Perfect location and size.

Lovely wee cottage that is well placed for all amenities in Ambleside, yet seems quiet as you don't really notice the outside world once tucked inside! Parking is good although can involve a bit of negotiation to get 4 cars parked in the driveway for each cottage. Underfloor heating is great and we made use of the lot burner a couple of times after getting soaked on long walks. Only criticism would be the king size bed was solid so not that comfortable and the sofa has seen better days but otherwise it was lovely.

Another beautiful week in The Lakes staying at Barney's Cottage.

The cottage is so welcoming and comfortable. Situated in the pefect location for the town, with its cafés and restaurants, the fells and amazing walks, Rydall Water for swimming, and the Golden Rule for its friendliness and a well earnt pint.

We had a lovely stay in Barney’s cottage.

It was comfortable and clean. Positioned within 2 minutes walk of town, its ideal for lazy morning coffees and pastries. There are some fabulous walks straight from the front door, and the rest of the Lakes are an easy drive. We had a great week, thank you.

Second time we’ve stayed at Barney’s cottage and again it didn’t disappoint.

Comfortable cottage all needs catered for with off road parking a massive bonus. Great location for exploring the lakes, and Ambleside has every thing you need from shops to pup and restaurants. Will defiantly be back in the future and Barney’s cottage will be are cottage of choice.

Stunning comfortable cottage, very close to shops and restaurants in Ambleside.

Would love to return.

Lovely cottage, very comfortable with everything you need Ideally placed near to centre of Ambleside with plenty of places to eat Would not hesitate to go back to the cottage for a relaxing stay

Nice little cottage ,had parking which was a bonus.

Found the cottage wasn’t warm enough at times ,so had to use wood burning stove.This was probably due to old windows,draughts. Quilts on beds very light ,more suited for use in summer, could have done with heavier bedding.Smoke detector in kitchen went off daily when using toaster which was annoying.Found old rubber dog toys under chair in living room,so the floor hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly since last people stayed there,also needed a good dust to remove dust and cobwebs.

What a warm cozy cottage, in a prime location with off road parking ( a bonus ), we had a great holiday, with a great base to explore the lakes.

Will always use this cottage when visiting the lakes. PS The full Sky package was areal bonus

We love this property and have returned for the past few years.

It is very comfortable with everything we need and is kept maintained. The bed is so comfortable, and although we always liked the wet room, the new large shower cubicle was great. The cottage is in the perfect location for exploring the Lakes with gorgeous walks, and the restaurants and pubs of Ambleside right in your doorstep. With the help of local buses you can walk far and wide without the need for a car. Thank you, we will be returning.

We had a lovely stay.

The cottage is very comfortable and has everything needed. We will definitely be back!

As always this is a lovely cottage to visit.

Very centrally located in Ambleside and has on site parking. Excellent WIFI signal throughout the cottage,for us with teenagers essential. Lovely selection of books and games. The only thing we found was the mattress in the main bedroom was too firm for us but that is down to personal preference.

Unfortunately not for us - booked for 7 nights but only stayed 4 !

The seating provided was not quality & was not comfy ! The beds were the same ! Unable to open windows or sit out as just too toxic - constantly inhaling vehicle fumes ! The unkempt garden at the front of the property would lend itself better to a bench seat for those who would perhaps want to sit out ! ☹️☹️☹️

First class, this is the second time we have stayed in the cottage.

It is excellent!

Wonderful cottage within prime location.

We would highly recommend this beautiful cottage, hoping to stay here again in the future.

My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Barney's Cottage.

It was in a great location and is a lovely quaint little cottage. Our only feedback would be to provide hand soap and more toilet roll, and we couldn't find a chopping board! These are minor points though and we would still recommend highly and love to come back one day!

The cottage had everything we needed to enjoy our stay .

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay

A lovely property, the owner seems to have thought of everything you might need, in an ideal location.

Ambleside is a lovely place to stay or visit.

We had a lovely stay at our return trip to Barneys Cottage, we stayed here at a similar time last year.

The property is ideally located for lots of great places to eat, we would recommend The Tap Yard and The Flying Fleece both just across the road. The cottage is clean and cosy. The bathroom has been refitted since our last stay and has a great shower. The beds are comfortable and there are lots of books, DVD's and games for you to use. The kitchen is well equipped although we did mostly eat out. There are good walks you can do straight from the property and there is designated parking for 1 vehicle right at the door. We have already booked our return visit for next year so you could say we would recommend it! : )

Lovely cosy welcoming cottage ideally located, compact kitchen very well equipped the only issue was the table when extended was very unstable think a new table will be a worthwhile investment.

Would happily return in the future and would recommend

Loved are stay ideally situated for local shops and eateries, many walks straight from the front door.

Only downside was shower floor it tends to run all over bathroom floor no matter how carefully you angle shower heads, resulting in guests getting wet feet when using toilet.

Great location, Great Cottage

Love Barney's Cottage.

A traditional Cumbrian cottage. Cosy and comfortable with everything we need. Prime location in Ambleside. Addition of Stairguard really useful if staying with a dog.

Beautiful cottage in a great location!

We had a lovely stay in Barney's cottage.

We found the cottage to be well presented and as described. Good WiFi which was essential for teenagers, and a sky TV package. Centrally located and with parking which is an absolute bonus in Ambleside. Guard at bottom of stairs to stop pets running up was very handy. We are all looking forward to the opportunity to return again.

The property was lovely and in a great spot, it was clean and tidy as well so great.

We did have a little trouble with the TV and was only able to get BBC 1 one evening but other than that it was great.

Lovely cottage, great location, well equipped, bed was a bit hard so couldn't sleep but understand it difficult to please everyone, everything else was good, thanks

We had a fantastic stay at Barneys Cottage.

Central and close to everything we needed. Our two dogs enjoyed the quietness of it all even through we were just a minutes walk from town. Everything you would expect was provided. Our dogs were crated so we had to utilise some of the living area but if not ample space for two dogs 4 adults and one 1 year old. Brilliant.

This is our experience.

We got woken up really early 4 mornings of our 4 night stay due to the next door property having scaffolding erected for a new slate roof you can imagine the noise of a slate roof coming off and then being tapped back on - you could hear the noise from the carpark over the road , plus the shouting and radio at full blast. We also had to keep the main bedroom blind shut due to to roofers being able to see straight into the bedroom. We had no warning from the owner or Sykes, the noise ruined our break. We booked a dog friendly cottage and it wasn’t really dog friendly , dogs only allowed on the lounge floor and nowhere else in the cottage , garden totally unsuitable for dogs no gate. We understand it’s a walk through for neighbours but surely some gates could be put up , especially if small children are staying at the accommodation , straight out onto carpark and busy road. We also had to remove duvet covers on departure, I’ve never had to do this with any other property I’ve stayed at and my goodness I was horrified to see stains on the duvets from previous guests , I’m not happy that we have slept with these duvets. Also you are asked to leave the cottage on departure day 10 minutes before checkout - few rules with this accommodation, but why can’t the cleaners just come at 10am at not 9.50am. We also felt the lack of dishwasher and fridge freezer was a real negative, so washing up by hand is the only option with a small area to dry plates etc. kitchen space very small with little room for storage for food , we feel a family eating in would struggle the cottage sleeps 5 , plus the dinning table is too small for 4 . We did have a take away on our first night and could barely fit 4 plates on the table so we had to eat out for most of our meals and enjoyed the local pubs, restaurants and cafes. When I’ve booked self catering cottages in the past there is always a few complimentary teabags, sugar and a bottle of milk there wasn’t any with this property, it’s the first thing you want after a long journey is a cup of tea , so we had to pop to Tesco straight away. Car parking there is space for one car only , it’s not the biggest space so you have to hope others park correctly in the spaces provided. Window in the main bedroom you have to wedge it open with a door stop and you can’t open the bathroom window at all - not great in warm weather. Bathroom gets very wet it’s a wet room and you have to mop the floor every time you take a shower the water travels all the way to the toilet - a large shower tray would be better to avoid the water going everywhere. For us the only plus about the cottage is that it’s in a great location only a short walk from pubs and shops. This could be a great property with amendments to the kitchen , bathroom and garden , it’s not in my nature to leave negative feedback it’s just an honest account of our stay and the Owner and Sykes need feedback to avoid this happening to other guests my family and I came for a relaxing break for my husbands birthday but we had to be out of the cottage most of our stay to avoid the noise from the roofers , couldn’t enjoy sitting in the garden in glorious weather. Our stay was totally ruined and we feel exhausted and not refreshed , we feel very let down, it wasn’t a cheap break so not happy at all.

Could not sleep in the double bed ax the mattress was to hard for me.

Apart from that the cottage was great.

Great location.

Well equipped and comfortable. Will definitely return.

Barney's Cottage was a lovely place to stay and the owners were superb when attending to our query about the heating.

The chairs and sofa are a little tired now and the beds were a little firm (just personal preference) but there was everything you could possibly need in the cottage. Perfectly situated too for easy walks into Ambleside and also out onto the fells.

Great cottage with everything we needed and more!

Perfect location with parking, very handy. We also liked the little extras like books and games for the kids. Great family cottage.

We had a lovely stay at Barney's cottage.

It is situated right on the edge of the village with lovely walks all around. It is well equipped and has a very good shower. The king size bed was very comfortable but the twin beds in the attic room would benefit from a couple of mattress toppers as they aren't so comfortable.The property has a wood burner and underfloor heating. Our dog is allergic to the wood burner so we had to rely on the underfloor heating.There is an induction hob that is fine but due to our dietary requirements I always take my own extra frying pan which didn't work, so perhaps just state its an induction hob in the listing.

We love to stay in your cosy cottage,such a good location too,we’ve stayed a few times b4 and hope to see u in the future,lovely to b able to bring our doggies makes our holiday.

and being able to come back to the cosiness and comfort of your cottage means we can enjoy the beautiful Lake District no matter what the weather is

Had a lovely 3 night stay at Barney's cottage.

Very clean and loved the under floor heating . Would definitely recommend.

We are regular visitors to Barneys cottage and as usual had a lovely time.

It is a charming cottage in a fantastic location. Perfect for a cosy night in in front of the log burning stove or convenient for a great night out in one of Ambleside’s many restaurants. It is compact but perfectly set out downstairs and surprisingly spacious upstairs with a lovely bathroom. Parking is tight but if everyone on the row sticks to the correct alignment set out with stones then it is possible to even get a vw van in the spot for Barneys.

The low rating is to the disappointment of what constitutes 4 ticks in the Sykes holiday world.

I looked up their definition, which is a little bit short of detail, but came up with: 1 tick / star - Simple, practical, no frills. 2 ticks / stars - Well presented and well run. 3 ticks / stars - Good level of quality and comfort. 4 ticks / stars - Excellent standard throughout. 5 ticks / stars - Exceptional standard with a degree of luxury. So as 3 ticks is a good level of quality and comfort, selecting 4 ticks, you would expect a higher level than good for quality and comfort. You wouldn't go looking to see if it had basics such as a freezer and arguably a dishwasher, but it had neither of these things. I appreciate comfort is argued as a personal thing, but some companies sell their holidays on the basis of comfort, so clearly with research, it is possible to purchases mattresses and sofa's that are comfortable to the masses. I feel little investment has been made to both these items in this property and taken with the hard wooden kitchen chairs at the table, there was nowhere where we could get cosy and comfortable. We both got very poor sleep in the first days, so much so that after one particular sleepless night, I suggested we go home. No sleep, makes you miserable and it's a shame to be miserable on your holiday. We perservered for the two weeks. There are a few housekeeping issues, such as lights not working including the cooker hood, which was reported to the owner as was the broken freezer box door. This wasn't fixed in the two weeks we were there or replaced making it impossible to have even any ice for drinks let alone store any frozen foods. An email sent to Sykes before our holiday, to this day remains unanswered. The pre-programming standard emails, get dashed out... well done computer... but personalised, have to think about it, emails, not so. Overall, this property looks modern and fresh, well looked after, but as this is as far as it extends, 4 ticks gives a completely wrong impression of everything else and it is certainly not £1000 per week in October for what has essentially only one adult bedroom.

Lovely cottage in the heart of Ambleside.

Had everything we needed including detailed maps of walks around the area. Just 2 slight improvements areas - the position of the toilet means it gets very wet when taking a shower even if you angle the shower head away and no TV in main bedroom but wouldn’t prevent a repeat stay

The cottage was in an ideal location but the parking was limited for small cars only.

There’s no garden as such, only a bench next to a path used by other properties, although dog friendly it’s not ideal for dogs at all. Inside the property there is limited food storage space and a tiny fridge with a frozen over ice box which was useless. Our stay was good despite these niggles.

Just back from a week in Barney's cottage.

As they say Location, Location ,Location We loved it, just a couple of minutes from the centre of Ambleside. The cottage is set over 3 floors with the loft room being a good size. We didn't want to come home after a week of sunshine and clear skies perfect for walkers Many thanks

This was an absolutely delightful cottage in which to stay for our trip to the Lakes.

It has everything you need, a lovely sociable lounge / diner / kitchen where the underfloor heating is a nice surprise. The main bedroom is large and comfortable - we only used the one room so can’t comment much on those although they looked beautiful. Bathroom was excellent. Other major positives include the dedicated parking and the wonderful location. We barely used the car. The property is totally dog friendly and I think our dog loved this pretty and comfortable cottage as much as we did. Thank you for a lovely stay!

Lovely property in a great location, thank you for letting us stay there.

Perfect location for walking and soaking up all Ambleside has to offer.

Fantastic cottage, we loved it and would happily return!

Very enjoyable stay, lovely cottage, would definitely recommend.

Slight hiccup with the heating on Day 1 but Mandy was very helpful and it was sorted immediately.

Overall we enjoyed our stay - the cottage was lovely and tidy and it was warm/cozy.

The kitchen was well kitted out and we loved the bathroom shower! Very central location for everything we needed. A minor problem - the cooker hood light would not stay on (easily fixed I’m sure). That said - we would definitely consider a return stay.

Lovely cottage set in the centre of Ambleside.

A great base to explore the central fells and all the surrounding area. The cottage itself with its log burning stove and underfloor heating as ideal after a long day out on the hills.Luckily the weather was great whilst we visited but numerous books and games availability would have been great for a day nesting! Recommended

Lovely spot.

I hope to return.

we look forward to our stay every year.

This was our 6th year at Barneys and love as much as ever. It is comfortable, clean and feels special especially at christmas time with the tree up and log fire. It is close to all you need from shops, restaurants and walks from the door. never moved car in 3 days .Bliss!! Thank you for our wonderful stay, We look forward to December 2022

Excellent property, great location and such a benefit with parking facility.

Would highly recommend this cottage to anyone!

We enjoyed our stay at Barney's Cottage.

Really good location. The cottage was comfortable, clean, warm and had everything we needed. Would stay here again.

Barney's Cottage is a great place to stay, perfectly/centrally located in Ambleside and with the added bonus of off-street parking.

I would have given 5 stars for this cottage but there are a few points that knocked it off the top spot. It is falling into slight disrepair and decoration, it does need an uplift to give it that extra star. Public access at the side and rear of the cottage was a little annoying and was in constant use at all hours, all blinds and shutters had to remain closed. Having made those comments, I will definitely be booking this cottage again in late 2022, perfect for my Lakes holiday.

Property was as described, clean and comfortable.

Only issue was with car parking but this was only a minor problem.

The cottage was adequate but was not a 4 star property as advertised.

A little tired and not particularly welcoming. The bathroom steamed up and the window could not be opened. In the main bedroom the window slid shut and had to be propped open. The kitchen knives were blunt. On the plus side it is a central location with its own parking space at the front.

We were told that there was a garden with a bench, but weren't told that it was a common access path around house so it wasn't private.

Our dogs were constantly barking as people were going past the windows. Ended up indoors with curtains shut. We should have been made aware of this before booking the cottage as it would have been a deciding factor for me.i.e. I wouldn't have booked.

We loved our stay in Barney's Cottage.

The location is perfect, and the cottage was lovely and clean and comfortable. Shops and pubs in easy walking distance, plus lots of other walks. Highly recommended.

Holiday cottage was cleaned to a really good standard.

A superb location for exploring the Lake District. Huge added bonus of a parking space. Property is a little tired in places, it just and needs a little tlc and i’d give it five stars.

The cottage is listed as having a garden/patio but this is misleading.

The cottage has a path running around it which accesses other cottages and tucked to one side of this is a picnic bench that is adjacent to a main road. We have a dog so a garden is quite critical but there is no way we could let the dog out as it was not secure. The cottage was in a great location in town though and was well equipped.

Great quick service when the heating wasn’t working , it was sorted out the same day and a nice note left for us by the owner of the cottage , thank you

I wanted to put a note in the visitors book to thank the owners but I mislaid my pen.

Barneys Cottage was wonderful and ideal for us. Location excellent, everything you required was provided- hair dryer, iron, cooking pots - even baking paper! It was so clean, modern and well laid out. We took our Labrador and it was perfect. He loved lying in front of the fire. I can’t praise it enough. Please pass on our thanks.

It was a very comfy and homely cottage we had an an amazing time, the wet room however wasn’t very ideal as the shower got the entire room soaked.

Overall it was a great holiday and we had a fantastic stay.

It’s position it’s just so convenient, perfect!

Great to have all tv/sky channels available with very comfortable furnishings in living room & a very good bathroom suiting all of us. Definitely would want to return. Needs to have a plaque on outside wall saying Barney’s cottage above the address. We arrived in dark & couldn’t see small note in glass on door.

Would hardly describe the bathroom as luxurious.

The shower virtually soaked the whole bathroom particularly when several people needed to use It and there was nothing provided to mop it with other than the bath mat which ended up saturated. The cottage name was not clearly visible. However the house number, which was 3, clearly was, so putting that on your instructions would be a great help. We spent some time trying to find it, even asked at the nearby pub (they had never heard of it) fortunately the owner was there at the time and she eventually appeared. Apart from the comments above it is lovely cottage and perfectly located for the village, we did enjoy our stay. If these issues are addressed I would certainly give top marks.

This is a lovely cottage.

Well equipment. Lovely decor. Its in the center of Ambleside, with parking. You could not ask for more.

When we opened the door, first impressions were great and this continued.

Lovely cottage and some nice touches from Sykes with an email and phone call checking all was ok. A call later from the owner to check that the heating was ok as it wasn’t on, and some help re the shed key all made the difference. So in summary lovely cosy cottage, nice outside space although not enclosed, but didn’t bother us this time and great location. Great service and care from Sykes and owner. We had a superb holiday in Barney’s cottage.

Wonderful bathroom, but the shower soaks the whole room.

Had to buy a bigger cooking pan and the ones there are not big enough for five

Cottage was very comfortable and perfectly located.

The sky TV was a real treat and very useful on our wet week in the lake district. We absolutely loved the cottage and would love to return, especially around Christmas time. Instructions on how to use the log burning stove would have been helpful as when we were cold and damp we did light it on one occasion but were a little unsure what we were doing with the vents. We loved this cottage. It was spot on for the Julian family Paul, Lin, Charlie, Oliver and our dog Ralph!

The location was perfect and the cottage was wonderful.

There were so many lovely little touches like walk suggestions and spare reading glasses. I had cause to speak to the owner who was friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend this property and am very likely to book it again.

What can you say about the lake district Beautiful anytime of year and as we are here on holiday from australia we where very happy to get back there I have spent many happy holidays there from being a small child and will continue to visit when back in the uk.

As for the accomodation it was perfect for us and wont hesitate to recommend it to freinds, we realy enjoyed our time and a big thankyou to the owners of barneys cottage Nick Holt Wellard Western australia

Although it was great to be so central in Ambleside and the property lovely, it is not ideally suited if you have dogs, the only way outside is through the front door and the passageway by the cottage is not enclosed you certainly could not sit out there with dogs.

It also has underfloor heating which we certainly could not feel downstairs you cannot regulate this and there are instructions about appliances dotted around , having spent numerous self catering holdays we would recommend these were all in one book. If you are a family with no dogs it could be ideal as the bedrooms are lovely and lots of games for wet days and an ideal position in lovely Ambleside