Hall Bank Cottage, RYDAL

Rated 4/50 by Gllyn on 17th June 2018

"Well equipped and comfortable but there were some issues. I've reported to the agents a problem with the front gates. You need a lot of strength (which I haven't got at 78) to lift one of them off the cobblestones. So we left them open all week and sheep from Rydal Hall wandered in at least three times; it also meant that the garden wasn't enclosed for our dog. One of the first things my wife found was that the freezer was covered in frost on the outside and, as a result, the door couldn't be closed. She has fixed that for the time being. There were signs of a party having been held recently, with bits of glitter, etc on the floor of the dining room. Two dining chairs have been damaged, suggesting over-enthusiasm on the part of some guests. The only cooking we do is my boiling an egg. It took me 20 minutes to do this and, naturally, it was hard-boiled. This happened three times so I gave up. At home I turn on the hob, put on the saucepan with egg included and count three minutes once it's boiling. These new-fangled hobs fluctuate so that you can't tell when the water is actually boiling. Presumably the EU's intention is that we use less electricity but it had the opposite effect. The gardens are rather disappointing, partly because of their sloping nature. They're just coarse grass and weeds with some trees and shrubs. On the warm and sunny days I did find a couple of reasonably level areas for placing my picnic chair in the shade at the back. The front "lawn" is dominated by a tree with very low branches. However, the cottage is in a fine location. If you have the energy, Nab Scar and the Fairfield Horseshoe start immediately, as does the Coffin Road, and from the main road below the Rydal Hall drive there are higher and lower walks along Rydal Water, plus Loughrigg Terrace and part of Grasmere. The bus stop is just down the drive and provides excellent and frequent services, so you could spend the whole holiday without using the car. By the way, we have a return visit booked for next month. Any hope of fixing the gate?"

Rated 5/50 by KristinaD140 on 16th June 2017

"A lovely place to stay for a family getaway. Really relaxing, beautiful walks and pubs close by. Easy to get to places like Bowness or further into Grasmere. Cottage inside was really spacious and comfortable. Well maintained and clean. Good facilities provided with kitchen appliances etc including tonnes of cutlery and plates etc, tv with DVD player, pay phone, wifi access, bed linen and fresh towels provided. There were also lots of indoor activities such as games, dvds, books and jigsaws available to use- brilliant for rainy days. The log fire was nice and cosy on a colder night with wood provided. Gardens were big and ideal for outdoor games for kids or for eating. There is also parking available just outside the cottage secure inside gates. Scenery surrounding cottage and in Rydal beautiful especially near lake just five minutes walk away. Rydal hall is a lovely walk with a mini waterfall, forest, scenic gardens just two minutes away. The local church is just down the road which is open to see- again some lovely gardens round it and lovely inside too. This is a place where you can just relax and take life at a pace you desire. There are four bedrooms which means it easily caters for eight people- so much room available both up and down that you wouldn't stand on each other's toes. I have no hesitation in recommending this cottage and would come again."