The Blithe Hare

A lovely little cottage ideal for the southern lakes.

Bedrooms very comfortable, bathroom and shower great. Living room could do with a bit of TLC, kitchen compact with all the facilities you could need. A few teething issues which an update to the cottage notes would alleviate. All in all a lovely stay.

Next to a very busy main road, not mentioned in listing.

Kitchen utensils were dirty, some with food still left on them, just made me feel like the whole place was dirty….i cleaned what we needed and used only them. Beds very uncomfortable, I found the mattress topper (hidden away in a cupboard in another room) and that at least meant I couldn’t feel the springs in the mattress anymore but still uncomfortable. Stains on the chair in living room, stains on carpet going up the stairs. It just felt like it hadn’t been prepared or cleaned properly for our arrival. I got some money back, not much and that was after about 20 phone calls and emails ruining the first part of my holiday.

The cottage was clean and comfortable.

The upstairs rooms in particular are well designed. As others have noted, more and better organised crockery and renewing furniture in the lounge would make a big difference

Whilst the location was excellent, the rooms comfortable, and the shower really good, the kitchen had a lot of issues 1.

The cupboards were over filled leaving no space for our food 2. The oven was not clean, and without any cleaning solution and only one Jay cloth it was impossible to clean. 3. The table was so big it was tricky getting to the oven anyway 4 We couldn't find an instruction book for the washing machine so decided not to risk using it. Please put that in the cottage 5. We couldn't find the outside bin! I hope it was the one behind the cottage that we noticed on leaving, as we put our rubbish in that 6. A roll of kitchen roll would have been useful, as would maybe a small bar of soap in the bathroom. Fortunately the Spar opposite was well stocked

We loved the Lake District !

The cottage was central for visiting everywhere. It would be helpful to leave leaflets of things to do/attractions in the area. Also a basic welcome pack is generally standard I’ve never visited anywhere that has nothing. The bedrooms were lovely and a nice firm bed we slept well. This is a quirky little cottage we liked it but it’s possibly not to everyone’s taste. The pass for the pool and spa were a nice extra.

Our fourth visit to Cumbria and one of the best.

I think we have found our ideal place to explore this corner of England further. Cottage is located as if between everything.Every need within reach.The shop is well-equipped, incredibly tasty, warm sandwiches for breakfast, lots of paths for walks, our little dog was very happy, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, wow my son loved spending time there. The most important place ZIP World Windermere 20 minutes walk.We managed to sail a motorboat, play golf and get 5, 10 and 15 meters in Zip World. Incredibly friendly neighbors around. I, my husband, son and our little dog did not want to go back to reality. Cottage itself is charming, magical, we fell in love with it immediately.We found everything we needed in it. As if we had come from home to home. We highly recommend everyone to visit and spend time there at least once.That is why we are already going back there for longer in the Summer Holidays to discover the area even more.

This is the first time in 30 years of booking holiday cottages that there has been no basic welcome pack.

You will need to bring your own tea, coffee, milk, salt, pepper and hand wash for the kitchen. As mentioned multiple times by previous guests, the kitchen is just bizarre. Too much crockery and not enough space. If you like to brew your own tea, don’t forget to also bring a teapot, although weirdly they have provided a tea strainer. If you want a hot shower, you’ll need to go to the spa, access to which seems like a surprisingly generous add on, to what is a generally disappointing property. The seating is awful and the hard backed 3rd chair in the sitting room is laughable if you really want to suggest this property can accommodate 3 people. Do also bear in mind that the house is approximately 30 yards from the A591 which the main bedroom looks on to. By all means leave your bedroom window open over night or have a cup of tea in the tiny garden at the front of the property but do bear in mind you will be accompanied by the sound of roaring traffic for much of the time you are in this property. Sadly this is not somewhere we would recommend or will be returning to.

While the cottage was absolutely lovely it is far smaller than the photos lead me to believe (while perfect for my mother and I, I can definitely see why other people were disappointed in their stays, particularly with the kitchen).

The kitchen was cramped due to the large, unnecessary table right Infront of the cooker and cupboards filled to the brim with unseeded items meaning there was nowhere to store food. More concerning was the fact it definitely needed a deep clean. Tired furniture is one thing, but huge cobwebs and black marks in the window frames that may have been black mold are another thing entirely. The space between the two seats of the sofa desperately needs a hoover (and the rug wasn't the cleanest when we entered either). Overall it was a charming cottage with great potential, in a wonderful part of the world. It could really be something special but felt unloved and uncared for. A real shame.

We had a great time in the Blithe Hare.

It’s a nice little cottage with a good bed. The water in the kitchen didn’t warm up enough for doing the dishes and we didn’t use the washing machine because of a loose door. Karin

The cottage its self could be absolutely beautiful!

In a lovely location bus stop within 2 minute walk, 2 miles walk from bowness & 3.5mile from Ambleside & the fire absolutely makes this cottage. - However, we had no starter pack for the fire. - Every single cupboard in the kitchen was full leaving no where to put your food & 10+ plates & mugs & glasses for a cottage for 2 people. - The blind in the living room is broken and doesn’t go up or down. - The Kitchen was grubby we wiped the sided on our arrival and the cloth was brown. Pots and pans was greasy we had to wash everything before using it. - the amount of dust in the bedrooms is shocking. - sofa uncomfortable - Victorian portraits everywhere, not to our taste personally think it would look lovely if they wasn’t there. - we booked our break for Christmas 21st - 26th December and would have expected some sort of Decorations but we had to go buy our own tree/ decs With a bit of love and a deep clean this cottage would be absolutely beautiful but after the cleanliness & lack of love would put us off returning.

Overall we had a good stay.

There was a few small things. I was informed there would be a starter pack for the fire, there wasn’t. After all the many reviews about no bowls in the kitchen, I did think the owner might have rectified the issue, no, still no bowls. Made eating breakfast interesting !! Cupboards are overflowing with unnecessary items, so many pots and pans. Overall the cottage could do with a deep clean and the sofa is very tired. The bed was extremely comfortable and wifi good. No information book provided either. Usually there’s a few suggestions of what to do in the area.

We enjoyed our stay at the Blithe Hare and found it a great base to explore that part of the Lakes.

The bedroom and bathroom are very well furnished and comfortable. The downstairs is less so - the settee in the living room is saggy and past its best, the kitchen table is too big for the room, and the bottom oven of the cooker was filthy when we arrived. The gothic Victorian decor is also an interesting choice. However the cottage is warm and cosy, and we would certainly consider staying again if returning to the area.

A lovely little cottage well positioned for many local attractions.

I appreciated the washing up liquid/sponge set provided, the huge fluffy white towels were a treat too. We found the beds comfortable after a busy day out, the sofa was soft but not uncomfortable. The eclectic mix of crockery was a little strange and there were no bowls for cereal etc which would have been useful but overall a great place to stay, wouldn’t hesitate to book again.

Very cute, though the garden is tiny and needs an extra chair outside.

Only a small dog would suit. The upstairs is lovely and quaint, nice details. Very quiet slept well.The wooden strip to the single bed door is loose and uncomfortable to step on. The kitchen table is too big and if smaller could access the oven better. Well appointed had everything needed. The lounge needs an extra comfy chair so 3 adult’s can sit. A little bit more attention to some cleaning needed. Very good spot with frequent buses just on the road and we found adequate parking on road as well after dropping bags off. Overall good value for money. Thank you.

Lovely little cottage though struggled to find it as there isn't a road that leads directly to it or designated parking.

Having said that we didn't struggle parking on the road outside the leisure centre It said free entry to the leisure facility but we couldn't work out how so didn't end up using it and it wasn't clear which bin was ours so used a neighbour's. The house is set up lovely. Nice beds great use of the space and perfect for us and our daughter. All in all a lovely stay and would recommend x

Lovely cottage but garden very small and not suitable for a large dog.

Door closers very strong indeed so could. It really join the flow of lounge or kitchen as always shut. Nice area and surroundings and bedrooms perfect and immaculate.

The cottage was nice, but very very small, which we didn’t expect from the pictures.

We took our 40kg dog expecting at least some garden for him to be in but there was very little where he could free roam. The property is very nice in some ways but the kitchen in particular hasn’t been thought through in terms of layout and feels very cramped.

Overpriced.

Having stayed at the Bylth Hare from the 29th March 2024, the property should really be for two adults. Their was no third seat in the lounge as pictured, only a stand chair. Ended up bringing a bedroom chair down to sit on. The kitchen is cramed with an oversize table, and like other comments nowhere to put food. Other than the work surface. The single bedroom has no wardrobe space, so clothes where kept in the suitcase, although their is a landing cupboard, which could easily be made into a wardrobe at a very small cost, by fitting a rail.. As a professional cleaner we're I clean many ABAB in my area, their was cobwebs on pictures around the ceilings. A mop bucket and handle. No mop head!! And the not so good, the bathroom was entered by both bedrooms, so no privacy, only a peg to stop the master bedroom from entering. Not vice versa. All in all disappointed, the downstairs needs a total renovation. Overpriced at what we paid, speaking to other property owners and holiday makers. I wouldn't go back

Great stay.

Lovely warm clean cottage

The property was up on a hill were the upward path stopped and then a grassed area to walk over which with all the rain was very muddy.

Very little space to open your car door to off load luggage etc due to a big overgrown bush. Cottage was smaller than expected. Glad we didn't take our dog. Sofa in sitting room for 2 people was really uncomfortable, tired. The kitchen overcrowded with a big table which would have to be moved if you wanted to use the cooker oven. We didn't. Thank goodness for ninja. Kitchen cupboards crammed with crockery pots n pans excessive for a 3 person cottage. No place to put groceries other than on the kitchen table. Freezer box dirty and some utensils on windowsill still had food on. Upstairs was nicely laid out and clean but double bed was like a brick. Bathroom nice. Only one set of towels per person for a week stay. No welcome pack or starter kindling for the fire. We had to take our rubbish and recycle home as the said green bin outside the cottage was nowhere to be found. We came home 2 days early as I developed a painful back. For the money we paid for this cottage we were highly disappointed and would not hire it again.

My husband and dog Bonnie had a lovely stay at Blithe Hare Cottage last week I think the price reflects the minus points.

Lounge was small with a comfy 2 seater settee, it would not be suitable for a 3rd person as there is only a hard chair to sit on. Wi-Fi didn’t work but that didn’t bother us, central heating is great we only needed to use it a couple of times, would have loved to have had a fire but it would have been too hot I think it would be wonderful in the winter months, bring or buy everything needed for a fire though except matches. Kitchen had just about everything one would need, I think at some point maybe the owner had 2 cottages as there was about 12 of everything plates glasses etc, no pint glasses for anyone that likes a pint, 6 saucepans 3 frying pans and numerous bowls and tins, as previously mentioned by others there is no cupboard space whatsoever for any food, I can’t think why the owner doesn’t address this, I decanted some of it into a drawer in the lounge and put some under the stairs so we had room to put some food in the cupboards then returned it to its place when we left, it wouldn’t be a problem if you don’t mind everything on the worksurfaces personally I like things put away. No little treats like other places we’ve stayed at like a pint of milk and a couple of scones etc, no tea coffee salt pepper etc you need to bring everything, there is a well stocked Spar over the road though. The smell coming from the drains was really bad at times we bought a fresh air spray which helped. Very steep stairs to bedrooms and bathroom gave me a good workout every time I went upstairs! The bedrooms and bathroom were lovely, great shower plenty of cupboard space, my hubby said the lighting in bathroom was not good for shaving 2 light bulbs missing. The jury is out on the bed, I found it quite uncomfortable but my husband likes a firm bed so he thought it was fine. The garden is tiny and needs sorting its quite overgrown with lots of weeds. It’s a bit of a trek to and from the car to the house but it didn’t phase us, possibly wouldn’t be suitable for anyone with mobility problems. There is a great Brooks supermarket just as you get into Windermere, also a Lakeland which was dog friendly as were most of the shops and cafes we visited were wonderfully dog friendly. Good base for exploring the lakes, our dog is very elderly so we didn’t walk as much as we would have liked. All in all we had a lovely time thank you

In short: Arrival: Hard to get in with luggage (people parked blocking pathway in and had to force a way between car and bush / house steps).

House instruction folder has little in it - eventually found some instructions spread throughout the drawers loosely. General stay: Good point is - a great big refrigerator with lots of room. Bad experiences: Shower cold. Shared bathroom doesn’t have lock on one of the doors - which caused issues The main bed has a mattress that is like sleeping on concrete - other bed was exact opposite and luxurious (unfortunately not big enough for us all to share). Washing machine did not work so we could not do laundry at all except smalls by hand Could not get heating to work efficiently Maintenance said they changed boiler setting ‘so should make the shower hotter’ - it didn’t really. Maintenance said they put a temporary fix on washer door ‘so it should be ok - it wasn’t tested to see if it did work for us - and it didn’t! Maintenance said they’d come back when they had a part to fix - we didn’t see them back while we were there. After maintenance had been we started getting power cut outs (fuse tripping) this was especially when using toaster - but also kettle and cooker). These are basic items needed regularly. There was no bin to be found (the instructions where it should be was incorrect - it was not there and we could not find it. We were forced to use others bins and felt embarrassed doing it so sneakily. Unfortunately - we were so disappointed that we pulled out two days early and went home - because of this as we’d had dreadful sleep. Which exacerbated the situation. Suggestion: Starting at basics you should sort out the house file and make sure all necessary instructions are in, together, accessible and clear. You should not have to search fior these or google advice. Police the parking in the street - instruction clearly states no parking but selfish people do exist. Alternatively - provide a park space (there are some available to rent at the bottom of the lane near the house). Have the heating on a sensible setting (not 5 degrees auto!) Have the water temperature on sensible setting for shower / hot water etc. Fix the power cuts issue Fix the washing machine Definitely change the main bed mattress. Ckear some cupboard space (far too many pots/ pans / dishes etc and absolutely no room to put any provisions.

There was an unplaesant smell in the kitchen apparant due to rellen problems.

The cottage had a very small garden, parking was further away and A591 a bit too close. Cottage was nicely decorated and had new bathroom and kitchen. A manual of the washing/dryer machine lacked.

My 90 year old father was on holiday with us.

There was no mention that the cottage was not appropriate for the elderly. The "lane" to the cottage was rough and not suitable for walker/wheelchair and the internal steps were very steep. The 3rd chair in livingroom was uncomfortable. The cupboards were overstocked....why does a cottage that hold an absolute maximum of 3 people need around 30 plates leaving no place to store food! The hoover barely worked - I believe the bag needed emptying but I wasn't going there. I appreciate there is nothing that can be done regarding accessibility but the cottage could be improved with a large de-clutter and general redecoration.

This stay could have been improved greatly if some real issues were addressed.

Downstairs is dull and smelly and in need of a deep clean. Living room cupboard is full of old tea tins/foodstuffs some 5 years past sell by. The other cupboard with hoover etc is just a rabble. Like many others, i would also complain that there is literally no cupboard space to use in kitchen as it is also crammed with old broken crockery. 7 of the 9 mugs taking up space were chipped. Someone needs to do a serious clear out. Upstairs was fresh and clean. The weather was nice but it was hard to sit outside as the wee garden area is totally overgrown! Two wee rickety chairs could do with being upgraded. So apart from local pub closed 2 days of our 4 day stay and not serving meals in this time and the elderly neighbours to feel that taking a noisy hedgetrimmer to boundary hedge at 7.30am was not unreasonable, not much left to say really unfortunately.

After losing my husband at Christmas to Dementia it felt so comfortable being in the Lake District with all our lovely memories we shared.

My son came with me and my new little rescue dog Peggy. I found the cottage beautiful and I enjoyed sitting outside talking to the other holiday people. Came home yesterday really missing the cottage and the peace. My son said if he could turn the clock back to go back again and start our week he would.

No room for our food.

Really annoying. Owners have taken it all up for themselves incl in the old lounge wall cupboards. This has been commented on by previous visitors to no avail. There's room in the kitchen for 2 more wall cupboards in the corner above the microwave. This is a 3 bed cottage. There is an old leather 2 seater settee in the lounge which is ok considering pets are allowed. However a third person would have to sit on a hard back wooden chair to watch tv. There is room for a small armchair if the wooden chair is removed and things arranged better. There is a smell of grease in the kitchen, again commented on by previous visitors. The front of the cooker is greasy especially around the knobs. Changeover team are not doing a thorough job. The upstairs is good. The bathroom is very nice as is the main bedroom. In the small bedroom the door only opens part way before hitting the bedside cabinet and if you want to raise or lower the blind you have to crawl across the foot of the bed so it's best left lowered. The bed is very comfortable. Could do with 2 or 3 hooks on the back of a door to hang pants and shirt on overnight. The hydraulic closer on the kitchen door is set at too strong a pressure and it takes some effort to open the door. So we propped the door open and missed the waste recycling instructions on the back. Oops. Some of the crockery is chipped and needs replacing. There are nice built-in cabinets in bed 2 and at top of stairs. Part of the insides 65 being shelved and part being open. Could do with a rail and/or hooks in the open space to be of more use. Fridge has only a small freezer compartment. Central heating is very good. The Blithe Hare sign by the gate is painted all over black so it's hard to read when you're looking for the cottage. Picking the name out in white would be helpful. WiFi works fine. Smart TV. Best of all is a near neighbour named Roger Mallinson (85). If you get to meet him be prepared to hear the most amazing life story all of which is confirmed true.

tastefully decorated.

very clean cottage. found car parking instructions clear and very accurate. small bed very comfortable. large bed could be improved with a mattress topper as found it a bit hard. recommend putting a large print instructions in folder for how to work the washing machine. We had a great time, and would happily return and use this cottage as a base again for the Lakes. Have already recommended it to friend.

Property very cosy, photos on website did not match size of rooms etc.

very creative photography!!, having said that , the property filled with unusual antiques with quality furnishings to a very high spec.

Lovely cottage, very comfortable and cosy.

Good location to visit the surrounding area. The parking is on the main road which is about 0.2k from the cottage so can be a bit tricky if you have lots of luggage, dog, shopping but it wouldn’t put me off staying again.

All in all a good holiday.

First time visiting the Lake District and will definitely return

Great location and lovely cottage.

Seating for 3 adults in lounge was a little lacking as sofa only for 2, but overall very comfortable, clean with quirky decor. Recommend for a holiday in the Lake District.

Overall the cottage was comfortable and well equipped.

However, there is a significant issue with the "drain" smell from the kitchen sink which needs immediate attention. Having looked through the visitors' book it's clear that you are already aware of this, but effective action has not yet been taken. If we had stayed for a full week this smell would have had a seriously detrimental impact on the enjoyment of our holiday.

We arrived for our holiday and found no outside table and chairs to sit at and no space in the kitchen to put any food shopping.

I read the feedback book on peoples comments and they had complained about the table, so clearly ignored. Then I went to bed and found the sheets had stains on so had to sleep on the top of the bed with a throw over me. The next day we decided we are hear so we will make the most out of it but as it was raining decided to watch TV but the signal kept going glitchy and out so it was impossible to watch then on the Sunday evening I went to make some toast there was a bang and the electricity went off, so I looked for lakelovers number and read that the office was only open from Monday morning so I did not think I could ring it. We decided enough was enough packed and went so an awful stay. I rang the next day to say what happened and was fobbed off and told I would not get compensated at all.