Kirkstone Cottage

Fantastic stay in Kirkstone cottage Ambleside

We had a great stay here we’ve stayed at this cottage a few times before albeit mostly summertime.

This time a very cold December, we stayed Sunday to Sunday but that last weekend was subject to the most heavy snow where it was impossible to get out on our last day Sunday, I emailed the owner Julia to explain the situation and thankfully she said it was no problem to stay till Monday

When we arrived at the cottage the lights were all on and the under floor heating in the lounge was on we couldn’t switch it off.

I phoned the number in the information book and was told that they were extremely busy and to leave my number and they would get back to me. I am still waiting no reply. We were concerned about your cleaners as the floors were dirty. When we returned back to cottage twice there was a cleaners car parked in our space and not working in the area. Unfortunately not up to Sykes standard.

I have explained to the owner and to Sykes that this property isn't suitable for anyone who needs peace and quiet.

But Sykes and the owner know this already, which is why they are not honest about the listing. The pollution from the A591 makes your nose and eyes run. The photos should show the A591 and not Smithy Brow at the back. The cottage is fine if the guests are out all day. Do the right thing.

This was our 4th visit to this cottage,it is clean, comfortable and well situated.

On arrival this time we found that the toilet didn't flush. We rang and reported it and within the hour it was fixed. Excellent service from Sykes.

Anyone booking the cottage needs to know is that it fronts the busy A591 that runs from Windemere to Keswick and which carries heavy lorries.

It is on a mini roundabout as well. All the windows over look the main road and it would be very noisy if you wanted the windows open in the summer. You also need the blinds half closed in order to ensure privacy downstairs during the day as the public can see straight in. The first step down to the front door is extremely steep ( about a 12" drop ) and the car park space is very small. I was told my Skoda Octavia would fit but in reality only a Fiat 500 or a Smart car would fit comfortably. Our main problem was securing the property. The first day we went out we locked up and put the key in the key safe. On our return I just pushed the door open as the lock had failed. I rang Sykes straight away, and although someone came out on the Saturday night, it took until Wednesday for the lock to be replaced resulting in us having to hide valuables such as laptops before we went out as we couldn't be sure the lock was secure. A couple of times the lock failed the other way and we were locked in and it took a lot of jiggling to get the door open. The underfloor heating in the sitting room wasn't working as the controller needed a new battery but both the out of hours maintenance men said they don't carry spares and we were given a portable electric heater. When we left at the end of the week the underfloor heating issue still had not been resolved. Inside the cottage is tastefully decorated, clean and cosy, the wood burner very efficient, the kitchen well equipped and the bed very comfortable. We did enjoy our week but it wasn't as relaxing as it could have been because of the worry of securing the cottage and its contents.

Sykes have little local knowledge, from booking with some one in Essex who did not know the property or Lake District to helpline in Chester who knew nothing about Ambleside, (asked me to nip out and buy fresh bedding in Ambleside at 7.

15pm in the evening after roof leaked previous night and I’d been asking all day for dry bedding).

The cottage was clean, cosy and very well equipped.

Our only criticism is that in the description and photos it is not apparent that the cottage is on the corner of the main road through Ambleside. All the windows face the road. The double glazing is very good but, when it was warm you couldn't really open the windows because of the cars and pedestrians. We still enjoyed our stay very much.

Lovely cottage in perfect position to cover the local area.

The shower pressure could be better and a heater in the lounge would help those like us who are novices with a wood burner. Yes it is on a main road as highlighted in other reviews but that didn't worry us and did not wake us up early, in fact after 6.30pm it was very quiet. Thank you for a great 4 days.

Cottage was very cosy and had a well equiped kitchen.

The location was excellent on the doorstep to lovely walks, shops, bars and restaurants. There is traffic noise however we were aware of this and it was absolutely fine. The bathroom was a little cold and could do with a radiator or underfloor heating (same as the rest of the house). The shower pressure was poor and may require updating but did make use of the Amazing bath tub! We would definitely recommend & hopefully be back Thanks for a fantastic week :-)

We have had another comfortable stay at Kirkstone cottage ,everything Inside is really clean and cosy our only thing we think needs doing is a paint on the outside of the cottage it is looking a lot tired and grubby it doesn't give a first impression but as we have stayed before we knew what is inside , and this year we had a lovely cosy log burner on the cold wintry nights .

and also new blinds on all the windows. Upstairs The bedroom is really comfy and plenty of space for clothes and like I've said before the bed is sooo comfy We will definitely be returning

Cottage very clearly has issues with damp.

The smell is apparent whenever you walk in. It rained most of the time we were there and large wet patches began appearing on the bedroom walls. Its also on a very busy road, and is noisy from traffic from around 6:30am. Wouldn't recommended this cottage, especially for the price we paid. Also the wifi doesn't work!

There is quite obviously a problem with damp/mold/mildew within the property as the first thing you notice on entering is the overwhelming musty smell.

This is predominant in the lounge and bedroom. We did have windows open to ventilate as my husband is asthmatic. The bathroom in particular has a major problem with mold being all over the privacy screen at the window. We didn't even attempt to touch it as it looked so bad. There is no means of steam extraction in the bathroom except for using the window but as the property is right on the main street, you have to be fully clothed before opening and closing the window. I would think a privacy glass plastic film would be better for the windows here rather than the moldy roller blind. It's a shame about the musty smell in the property as it's in a great location and is the perfect size for a couple's getaway.

Although we did have WiFi there was no Internet connection which renders the thing useless.

For many people this would be a showstopper. There needs to be honesty about this on the listing details. There is however a very good 4G connection which for us saved the day. A rack for putting shamooo/shower gel in in the shower surely is a must and a hook for flannels too. There were cobwebs everywhere and lots of spiders. As we're in our early 70's with slightly dodgy knees we found the steep drop down from the gate to the front door difficult. Again this needs to be declared in description or perhaps an additional step could be put in place. Other than these few niggles great location and comfortable bed.

Internet connectivity is an unexpected issue.

Some coat and hat hooks near entrance would be very useful. Also the bathroom doesn’t have enough storage to put the various toiletries on.

Outside of property needs a clean up, we had to sweep patio before it was tidy enough to use.

A small table outside would greatly improve the patio. Front door and outside fabric of property requires a decent clean up, it is not a good first impression to a luxury cottage. WiFi very poor, not adequate for working from home!

We had an enjoyable break.

The location is great regarding access to Ambleside facilities and walks. We had not realised that the cottage is right on the main A591, but in fact traffic noise was not an issue. The cottage needs more cutlery to enable more efficient use of the dishwasher. The wobbly loo seat needs sorting. The parking space is a bit awkward, but we didn’t need our car during the week, so this was fine. Performance of the internet was dreadful and it was five days before we got a connection. This was a pain because things like boat trips and visits have to be booked online.

The front door could benefit from a net curtain or roller blind for a bit more privacy but without blocking out too much light.

The heavy door curtain blocked out too much light. Also the bedroom window could do with a roller blind like the one in the living room. Overall though we loved our stay and were very comfortable. The shower cubicle would be improved if there was a rack or shelf to put your shower gel, soap, shampoo on.

I would like to add that I did find it slightly noisy , I understand that it is a busy place and lots of people come and visit.

I would recommend net curtains or blank out blinds. This would give guests more privacy when chilling out in the Cottage, there where quite a few time I saw people looking in, however as I said it a beautiful place to visit and I shall return I

Everything was wrong, upon arrival there were 2 recycle boxes on the wall they had not been emptied for some time, apparently one plastic bottle in with the glass container and there was a note left saying as much and would not empty said boxes.

The settee was so uncomfortable, so deep that it was impossible to sit comfy, a footstool or pouffe would have helped, low wattage so it took all day to recharge anything, WiFi was very hit or miss, bathroom could do with a good bleaching, upside down light switches, older people must be aware that the staircase is quite narrow and no hand rail, just the bannister on one side. Bedroom window closer is broken, hence cannot close the window,. We felt it was so so claustrophobic and dark, and at times felt as if we were in a goldfish bowl, as folk were gawping in, and on show all the time, no privacy as the footpath was immediately outside the front window. Finally the traffic noise was horrendous, we did not appreciate that it was the main road in or out of Ambleside, from 6am til, 10pm it was exceptionally noisy. Sorry, but would not recommend it.

Missed the fact that the cottage was by a junction on the main road so a lot of traffic and pollution at certain times of day.

Otherwise a great location - would highly recommend the Golden Rule Pub a few yards up the street. Biggest drawback was the lack of usable WiFi - customers should be warned they will have to use their phone data if they want to make any bookings, look at maps or even read the news online. Cottage itself was comfortable and well equipped.

We had another fabulous stay in kirkstone cottage in Ambleside it has all amenities We were very comfortable in our stay and would definitely recommend Sykes cottages and we will be returning to Ambleside to the cottage in the future There is lots to do round Ambleside and we used the bus service to get around and to Windermere and Grasmere and Keswick Thankyou for making our stay with you so comfy and cosy

We have stayed in Kirkstone cottage several times.

We love the cottage and it is perfectly situated in Ambleside. It has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Ambleside is ideal for us as you can be in the busy town with plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs but you can easily walk away from it to enjoy the countryside. Once we have parked the car there is no need to use it during our stay.

Kirkstone Cottage is a lovely place to stay and has everything you need.

It is very cosy with the underfloor heating and the bed is so comfortable. The kitchen is very well equipped and we would stay there again. We found the parking space difficult due to the size of the vehicle in the next parking space, but we were happy to park in the Car Park over the road.

Kirk stone was a very pretty and well equipped cottage with adequate parking right outside the door.

The cottage is right in Ambleside close to all amenities, shops, bars and restaurants; which are the positives! The negatives are: There wasn’t any where to put toiletries in the bathroom, an extra shelf would be advantageous, or a little table. Once we started to look around we felt the decor was a little tired! Damp stains and some peeling paint in the lounge, paint scratches all up the stairs and corrosion on the loo seat fittings and the shower surround. The bedroom ceiling was very high and I’m sure difficult to get at, but it was dusty with cobwebs in the corners! ( not pleasant) We did have nice time, we were very lucky as the weather was practically Mediterranean. But those little things we’ve mentioned, definitely took the edge of the break!

The shower tray is very slippy it is a smooth tray with no dimples could do with a shower mat of some kind.

As we entered a piece in the visitors book we noticed this has been mentioned a few times by previous residents. Hair dryer needs checking it kept cutting out when cable was moved. Overall this cottage is really good in a wonderful position, close to all amenities most people would need on holiday. Fantastic bus service for a walking holiday especially if you have a bus pass.

We really enjoyed our stay at Kirkstone cottage it was so lovely and cosy , we didn’t use the car for two days we had no trouble parking our golf in the allocated space the cottage had everything we needed the underfloor heating was a treat and the bedroom was a good size and the bed sooo comfy The kitchen was very well equipped and the bathroom was a good size with a roll top bath .

The cottage is in a great location and there is plenty to do in Ambleside we will definitely return

Kirkstone Cottage is a very well situated, clean and well equipped cottage.

We had a fantastic week walking the surrounding area and only used the car twice. Would definitely return to the cottage again. Just one concern for future guests, the kitchen table is very unstable (which had been noted by other guests as far back as six months ago)

We have stayed in Kirkstone cottage several times so obviously like it and know what to expect.

We love the location and general comfort of the cottage. As we usually go in winter, the heating is important to us and this seems to work well in most areas despite us not having any idea how the controls work. A shame though that the underfloor heating in the bathroom is out of order. We will no doubt return.

A little more parking space ok for small car.

Love this cottage - it's our second visit there and we plan to return.

It's perfect for two people and the location for all amenities is ideal.

The cottage was well appointed with every facility you could need.

It's well located for the market square, shops, pubs, and there are many excellent walks that can be done from the doorstep. The cottage is rather close to the A591, which was rather busy when we arrived, but it was quite quiet in the evenings, so not really a problem. (Note: I think there might be a fault with the underfloor heating in the bathroom. I followed the instructions provided but the panel on the wall was quite dead and the floor remained stone cold.)

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Kirkstone Cottage.

It's in a great location and the parking space is a real bonus. The only negative point was the cleanliness - there was an overwhelming smell of 'wet dog' in the living room on occasions and a stale smell upstairs, especially in the cupboard, which clung to our clothes. I think better ventilation e.g. in the bathroom would be helpful to combat the odour. The shower cubicle would also benefit from being resealed to tidy it up and a build up of rust removed from the plug.

Cottage is well placed in Ambleside even though it's on a very busy road !

. A few things in cottage need sorting like the constantly dripping kitchen tap (read comments book and it's been like it for a while !! )also a couple of extra tea towels would be good . overall the place was clean apart from a few cobwebs here and there and a lick of paint in a few places would give the place a lift ..

Cottage was extremely comfortable and well situated near the town centre.

Although on a busy road you could not hear any traffic noise from inside the cottage. The service from Sykes was excellent, I was contacted on the first day to ask if everything was okay. I will definitely book again.

Lovely cottage only drawback was noise from the main road very early in the morning but still an excellent central location x a very attractive cottage.

Enjoyed our stay there

Very stressful time trying to park the car, there is four spaces in the area for parking, kirkstone cottage allocated space does not have a dropped curb, also has a wall protruding into the front, if the people go out that leaves you trapped in the space, the weather at the time was snowing and ice, trying to reverse your vehicle up into this space was so stressful, it's on a steep hill and close to a roundabout, remedy,TAKE FOUR FOOT OF WALL.

Having just spent thousands on a new car the parking could be better. We had booked this cottage for april but having found the access was terrible we decided to cancel it with in the fourteen days, no such look Contacted Sykes Cottages five times, the owners offered us an alternative date somewhere else, which was not suitable for us, but the owner was adamant we should pay the full deposit, I think this very unfair, also stated in the cottage is wifi don' t be taken in by this, it is very poor, if we had known would not have booked in April, Girls in the Sykes office were very helpfull to try and address the problem, hope Sykes can rectifie some of thes issues before other people have a problem, look in visitors book we not only one to complain about parking and wifi. Losing nearly 200 pounds for a deposit is wrong through not our fault. NEED TO AMEND THE DISCRIPTION ABOUT PARKING AND WIFI

Lovely perfect location for Lake District adventures.

Suggest thicker blinds in the bathroom as people could see in.

Great cottage, clean and tidy and superbly located, minor point is WiFi was NoFi but maybe that was a good thing.

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