“A superb, stylish and modern conversion with a peaceful, happy ambience”
My wife and I were looking for a self-catering cottage as a base for spending time with one of our grandsons and his mum and dad, plus a birthday meal for me enjoying Simon Rogan’s wonderful dishes over in Cartmel. We found Pendle View through Sykes Cottages, who encourage short breaks, so we booked for four nights. The cottage can sleep up to five.
ARRIVING
Please note: Travel instructions from Sykes emphasised that SatNav will miss the lane leading up to the cottage, so we ignored our SatNav and found the cottage easily. It’s one of a pair, formed out of the conversion of a former milking parlour. To the right is another almost identical cottage, and to the left is the home of the owners, Steven and Anna Howarth. In front is a large area of grass to be used communally; however the owners’ family uses their own area at the back. Though all three are attached, the solid stone walls separating them mean we heard not a single sound from either neighbour during our stay.
LOWER LEVEL
The cottage is on three levels. You enter at the lowest level, the kitchen/diner, which is a large room with attractive ceiling lights and superb views from three sets of windows. The units are modern and attractive, including a kitchen island and breakfast bar with four comfy stools. Free WiFi is provided – however (as Sykes warns in advance) the connection is somewhat erratic, because of the rural geographical area, not the equipment.
Fittings include an electric hob and separate oven, large fridge and separate large freezer, fitted microwave, washing machine, fitted dishwasher, lots of cupboard space, very good modern utensils (even a small omelette pan) and small Freeview TV. The dining table is solid and smart, with six very comfortable chairs.
MID-LEVEL
A short flight of seven steps slopes up to the second level, comprising living room, bathroom and the smaller of two bedrooms. Heating for the kitchen and the second level is underfloor and very effective; the living room also has an electric fire.
The living room is spacious, with French doors leading onto a small balcony with table and chairs. The sofas are leather, large and comfortable (though a little low for tall people). The décor is muted and peaceful. The Sony TV is large and HD, with the full Sky package including movies and sport, so there is no DVD or Blu-Ray player.
The bathroom is beautifully finished, with separate bath and shower. The bedroom has a double bed with wooden footboard – since I’m over 6 ft tall this was too short for me, but the room is well finished, with standing wardrobe.
SECOND STOREY
A flight of thirteen steps takes you up to a new floor: the main bedroom, built under the eaves and above the bathroom and smaller bedroom. It has two Velux windows with fitted blinds, and two comfortable single beds which can be joined to form a large double, with no footboards. There is also a third single bed. [Note: Although the Sykes information states that the king-size bed can be separated into two singles “on request”, on arrival we found them separated, and had to ask the owners, Steven and Anna, to connect them. They are a lovely couple, and did this willingly, providing new full-size sheets and a warm duvet.]
OVERALL
This is the kind of holiday cottage you think about returning to. (Steven and Anna told us they are planning to build two additional cottages on neighbouring ground.) Everything worked, the owners were unobtrusive but really kind when needed, the atmosphere is very peaceful and we both slept well. The whole set-up felt ‘happy’, and I’m pleased to give it a 5-star or ‘terrific’ rating.