Sustonica, the first global sustainability standard for holiday lets.
Our aim is to create lasting holiday memories and we intend to do so both responsibly and sustainably.
To deliver on this we've set out a number of environmental and social pledges which help to focus our efforts;
you can read more about them in our Impact Report.
This is why we've partnered with Sustonica, the first global certification for holiday lets,
to support our owners to be more sustainable.
The Sustonica certification focuses on four key areas: energy conservation, water conservation,
waste reduction and promoting inclusiveness. They are on a mission to become the most widely
recognised sustainability standard for holiday rentals and a catalyst to reduce emissions of holiday
lets and influence guests to reduce their own household consumption too.
Properties that display the Sustonica badge have successfully passed the criteria,
which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards,
and their owner has made a commitment to look after our planet as well as you.
Found the house warm and comfortable. Had a fantastic stay and would definitely book again
Reviewed by Stuart5.0★Dec 2024
"Another enjoyable stay in Heather Cottage, which was very clean and comfortable."
The cottage being in the centre of Ambleside is convenient for shops and loads of eateries all within minutes walking distance.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend or book Heather Cottage again, all in all a lovely weeks stay.
Reviewed by Gary5.0★Oct 2024
"We will be trying to book Heather Cottage for another 2 weeks next year ."
As soon as we have Holidays confirmed.Fingers crossed .
Reviewed by Christine5.0★Sep 2024
"Really enjoyed our mini break at Heather Cottage."
Everything we could possibly need and location was brilliant. Parked the car and didn't use it until the day we left. Walking either into Ambleside or getting a bus to visit other lakes and walks was within 10 mins. Absolutely loved it and would certainly book again. Thank you
Reviewed by Dorothy5.0★Sep 2024
"My feedback isn’t just for the cottage but the service received from Sykes too."
The cottage had a damp problem we were alerted to the week before our stay. (About 4 days notice)
Trying to get information about this was like pulling teeth (Sykes)
Upon arrival the cottage smelt strongly of damp, particularly downstairs in both the kitchen and living area. Sadly as the week progressed the damp didn’t alleviate with people coming and going.
The owner had arranged for some work to be done on the roof, this was carried out on the bank holiday Monday of our stay.
By mid week I had a sore throat from the damp and we spent as little time in the cottage as possible. This made our week very expensive as it was so wet outside that we had to find indoor options. We usually spend time paddleboarding or walking, it was too wet for those and instead of being able to sit at our accommodation we had to go elsewhere.
It’s been a month now since we returned. I’ve called/messaged/whatsapped Sykes regarding this but there response has been “because you have no photos we can’t do anything”. The fact the owner and Sykes were aware of the damp prior to the stay I didn’t feel we needed to take photos and how I’m supposed to take photos of the smell and the impact it had on us I don’t know.
Poor service, will not return to either the cottage or Sykes.
I feel that the feedback hasn’t even been given to the owner in order to try and resolve.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback following your stay.
We are sorry to hear that you experienced issues in communicating with Lakelovers/Sykes.
We take all comments very seriously and will pass them onto the relevant teams.
The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team
Property Owner
Reviewed by Steph2.5★Aug 2024
"Great location lovely cottage fantastic holiday"
Reviewed by Sharon5.0★Aug 2024
"Nice tidy and clean, bus stops pubs and shops a short walk away, ticked the boxes !"
Reviewed by Steven4.7★May 2024
"When we arrived, we had to put the dishes, cup's and all the cutlery into the dishwasher, due to everything looking so greasey."
The wife described it as the plates had been smeared in butter.
I don't know who cleans the place but they don't do a good job.
The stepdaughter was unable to unpack due to the cupboard in the spare room being full of stuff, so she had to live out of a suitcase.
Reviewed by Neil3.1★Apr 2024
"Absolutely fantastic cottage."
It is placed in a location that's a short distance from the middle of ambleside and lake windermere. We felt it very homely and I would definitely go back and I would also definitely be recommending Heather cottage to others. Great cottage thankyou.
Reviewed by David4.7★Apr 2024
"Perfect location to Ambleside."
Upon arrival at the cottage, there was a strong stale smell. Which hit you each time you walked in. The sofa and chairs were not at all comfortable for a relax after a long days walk. A deep clean would really benefit the property.
The beds were comfortable and ample basics e.g pots/pans etc.
Thank you for your feedback. We will ask our Property Services Team to look into the smell that you experienced.
We take all suggestions on board.
Thank you- The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team
Property Owner
Reviewed by Kellie3.4★Apr 2024
"The cottage smelled “doggy” on our arrival which was disappointing, thankfully I’d taken air fresheners."
We had to hoover due to dog hairs from the 2 seater sofa being all over our clothes on the first night & on the carpers (hoover didn’t pick up very well)
The shower pressure is frustratingly low
Storage heating was annoying as we couldn’t control it & felt chilly in the evenings when it went off.
Overall we did enjoy our stay, we’ve stayed in this block of cottages previously and find it very convenient.
Heather cottage is well equipped with many very thoughtful features, it’s just a shame about the comments above.
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry that the cleaning was not up to standard. Unfortunately, as we were not made aware of the problems we could not send out a team to rectify the problem for you. We are glad that you enjoyed the stay and all the area has to offer.
Lakelovers Owner Team
Property Owner
Reviewed by Donna3.4★Feb 2024
"We really enjoyed our stay, the cottage was nice and clean, and very cozy, if i had criticism it would be that there was a strong smell of cigarette smoke upon arrival, and neither of us smoke, so that was a bit off putting, but we really enjoyed our stay and have re-booked for the Christmas period."
Reviewed by James4.4★Oct 2023
"We enjoyed our stay very much."
The cottage is perfectly positioned making it very easy to walk into the town of Ambleside. Private off street parking is an added bonus. Ambleside itself is very central as a base for travelling around the area. Highly recommend this cottage.
Reviewed by Jane5.0★Oct 2023
"Well equipped cottage with parking."
Close to the shops and goid walks from Ambleside to other places we would recommend this cottage and hope to be back soon.
Reviewed by Sue5.0★Aug 2023
"Lovely quiet cottage."
Very cool, would take a little time for the cottage to warm through. Everything you could think tgat you need is there including umbrella and picnic blanket. Only thing we needed were oven gloves.
Reviewed by Annette3.8★Jul 2023
"Lovely cottage in an ideal location for Ambleside ."
Cottage was very comfortable for us and our dog.
Only negative was Mattress Cover needs replacing and Sky light in bathroom needs cleaning.
Would highly recommend cottage as it was one of the best we stayed in.
Thank you for your feedback, we are glad that you enjoyed your holiday and all that the area has to provide. We will highlight the issues you encountered with the housekeeping team.
Lakes Cottage Holidays Owner Relations
Property Owner
Reviewed by Susan4.7★Jun 2023
"Nice clean wee property, convenient for pubs shops and buses, the heating blasting out during a warm week seemed a bit strange but turned the temp down on the heaters so not too bad ."
Defiantly would recommend ,
Reviewed by Steven4.7★Jun 2023
"What a lovely, well equipped cottage."
Perfect for our stay.
Very comfy .
The position is also really good, so near to town but still manages to be quiet.
As we had dogs with us it was really near to a morning walk by the river , I think the only thing missing was some directions to local near walks specifically for the dogs
Thank you for your kind comments, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay.
We hope to welcome you back.
The Lakes Cottage Holidays Owner Relations Team.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Judith5.0★May 2023
"Cracking little cottage, convenient parking outside the door and 2 mins to the pub"
Reviewed by Giles5.0★Apr 2023
"We enjoyed our stay."
Our only criticism would be the cooker wasn't clean on arrival and the shower unuseable throughout our 2 night stay. It was either too hot to use or too cold. We couldn't really risk getting burned with the inconsistencies of rapid change in temperatures. The water tank woke us up both mornings at an early hour yet signs are everywhere not to interfere with settings so we didn't.The dog appeared to have some facial bites but we accept he could have got those anywhere. We woukd only stay there again if the shower was upgraded and safe to use. The cottage was comfortable but coukd do with a little upgrade especially to the living room area.
Reviewed by Wendy3.4★Apr 2023
"The aspects that attracted us to this property were the allocated parking space, wi-fi and proximity to the centre of Ambleside."
We were not disappointed in these. The cottage was cosy, warm, and had an extremely well equipped kitchen. Impressed by the facilities in the entrance hall with lots of space for footwear, coats and wet clothing.However the property had not been cleaned thoroughly prior to our arrival - very dusty and crumbs on kitchen worktop and floor. Not up to the standard expected from a Sykes cottage! Also a stained duvet cover in single bedroom and hair on the blanket in the double bedroom.
Reviewed by Paul2.8★Mar 2023
"Lovely clean cottage, we were pleasantly surprised at how many facilities the cottage had."
They appear to have thought of everything.
Only issue was the beds weren’t made and the cleaning not 100% finished when we arrived as the cleaner had been ill. I made a call, we went for a walk and it was rectified on our return which was great.
Reviewed by Victoria5.0★Nov 2022
"A lovely clean comfortable cottage , good parking very good location , would definitely come back"
Reviewed by John5.0★Apr 2022
"Excellent facilities in a prime location, beautiful house."
Reviewed by Trina5.0★Apr 2022
"We have stayed at Heather Cottage several times before, and it has always been very clean and well provisioned."
Just minutes from the centre of Ambleside, but very quiet.
Reviewed by Alan5.0★Jan 2022
"Accommodation was fit for purpose and served as a good hiking base."
A great deal of care has been taken with clear notices on how to use things in the house. Shower needs to be connected to mains water not tank to work better.
Reviewed by Geoff4.1★Oct 2021
"We had a comfortable stay at Heather Cottage."
The cottage is centrally situated for easy access to restaurants, cafes, and shops that Ambleside has without having to use the car. It is great to have a allocated parking space. We also used the bus service to visit some areas which was great.
Reviewed by Veronica4.7★Sep 2021
"It was rather dirty, all the pictures had a thick layer of dust on it, the toilet was filthy (up from the floor) covered in hairs etc, it's not often I have to clean before I enter a property."
Cobwebs everywhere from the corner of the dining room table to each and every room and these were old cobwebs been there a while. Behind the furniture was not hoovered I dropped my medication behind the dresser and when I moved the dresser in bedroom I found a scrunching and a pink trinket tray as well as more dust n cobwebs.
Reviewed by Eleanor2.8★Sep 2021
"Perfect cottage to have and use as a base to explore the surroundings."
Comfortable and included everything we needed. Super position in the town. Only issue was the shower/bath water pressure which was very low.
Reviewed by Lisa3.8★Aug 2021
"Bath takes an eternity to fill to a reasonable level"
Reviewed by Brian5.0★Oct 2020
"Fantastic location and cottage."
Reviewed by Mike5.0★Oct 2020
"Ambleside is a very good base for getting out among this wonderful area of our country."
Heather Cottage is ideally situated on the edge of the town so it’s easy to get out and about plus it’s only a short walk with no hills to the shops.The parking at Heather Cottage is good and the cottage very comfortable with all the facilities plus more you’d require. Heather Cottage will definitely be a consideration next time we visit the Lake District again.
Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2020
"Convenient situation with easy walking distance to shops,pubs and buses."
A comfortable cottage with everything provided.
Lovely walks can be made from the cottage or by using the buses. We only used our car once.
The cottage was clean and tidy but the reason for the markdown was reported in an email. I also have to say I had a very unprofessional response!
We would definitely use lakescottageholidays again and would be happy to stay in Heather Cottage again.
Reviewed by Derek4.7★Sep 2020
"I would say that the location was fantastic but we found the bathroom to be unclean."
We were really surprised with how things should be clean at the moment but this was really disappointing.
We are so pleased you enjoyed Ambleside but are of course sorry to hear of your feedback about the bathroom. We would like to assure you that all our properties are cleaned to COVID-19 standards, had you notified us of these issues upon arrival, we would have been more than happy to ask the cleaner to reattend. We do look forward to you hopefully staying with us again.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Justin3.8★Aug 2020
"Covid 19 was a worry Ambleside was really crowded but we found if we made a picnic and sat by the lake we were fine."
Heather cottage was amazing we needed for nothing, we reported a toaster that was not working and within 30 minutes someone from the office in Windamere rang to say they would bring one rignt away thats service for you. Thank you x
Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Aug 2020
"Bathroom was full of cobwebs - was it cleaned."
Main issue was the damp / mild smell in the kitchen cupboards. All the plates and glasses smelled awful. Despite cleaning myself it was has to get rid. Very off putting.
Lots of kitchen items, nothing really matched (like left over items all brought to the cottage - apart from new next dinner service) but pans need upgrading to bigger and non stick (I like cooking and pans were too small) The cottage needs a decent coffee machine too.
Decor was okay but pictures in the wall look like came from jumble sale. Needs a refresh. Old ornaments on dress or need to be binned. All needs a refresh.
If I paid full price I’d fuming. I got a discount so put up with it. But I WONT ever return and will seek alternative accommodation.
Reviewed by Michael2.5★Jul 2020
"We have stayed at Heather Cottage on quite a number of occasions now - it's a very cosy and comfortable cottage in a great location, with parking and a very short walk into Ambleside."
It's well equipped and has everything you need and was clean and tidy. The only thing we noticed was that on arrival the cottage smelt a bit musty and also on opening the velux window in the bathroom when using the shower, as you pulled the window down there was a showering of woodlice onto the floor. I think (and I don't know how) but the velux window and the opening needs to be cleaned from the outside. It was a minor thing and I wouldn't normally mention it, but I do think it is something that needs to be addressed.
We would definitely stay at Heather Cottage again, in fact as our trip was timed just as the pubs and shops started closing ref Covid-19, we definitely need to come back and do Ambleside again!
thank you
Reviewed by Stephanie4.1★Mar 2020
"A very comfortable cottage"
Reviewed by Rob5.0★Jan 2020
"Excellent location - Walks and town centre on your doorstep yet quiet and tranquil"
Reviewed by David5.0★Nov 2019
"The cottage was clean and well equipped, however, our stay was slightly marred by a fault with the cooker, which tripped the main electricity supply when using the grill control knob."
The agents acted promptly when we reported the problem, unfortunately the cooker was not fixed until the last day of our stay. This did not spoil our holiday though. The only thing that we could not figure out was why the fault had not been reported before, as it was obviously not a new issue.
Overall, we would recommend this property to anyone, we would have preferred a larger cottage due to us owning 3 very large dogs, however, we didn't book until last minute, so we were limited for choice. Ambleside has plenty of amenities and is well placed for great walking etc.
Reviewed by Hugh3.4★Oct 2019
"The cottage was in a perfect location - so close to the centre of Ambleside, yet very quiet and peaceful."
The parking space right outside is a bonus. The cottage was comfortable and cosy, with everything we needed. Would love to stay again soon!
Reviewed by Victoria5.0★Sep 2019
"A beautiful cottage with all you could possibly need for a great stay"
Reviewed by Darren4.7★Sep 2019
"The cottage was extremely well equipped - even to the point of having clothes pegs and shoe polish."
The cooker and oven were very simple and reliable in function ( which I have not always found to be the case elsewhere in holiday cottages). In the 'foyer' there was space to deal with wet clothing - needful in the Lake District - and was equipped with a towel drier, which was extremely useful with a wet dog! The parking could not have been more convenient (three yards from the door) and was clearly marked and of sufficient space.The warning in the accompanying cottage information about the one-way system in Ambleside was very helpful in alerting me to the way of entering the cottage. Our experience, overall, was extremely comfortable.
Reviewed by Keith5.0★Aug 2019
"The location and the parking were great."
Close to the lake and to the city center. The property has all required facilities but it is old and not very clean.
Reviewed by Belly4.1★Aug 2019
"We loved Heather Cottage, really well furnished, close to the town centre, excellent double glazing meant it was very quiet, and tempting views towards the Fairfield Horseshoe."
Good local facilities nearby including a Tesco Express, and a superb range of places to eat out in Ambleside. Easy to do some walks directly from the cottage without needing to take the car. We'd thoroughly recommend Heather Cottage.
The only issue was is that the online map with the booking shows the cottage in a different location - we thought from the online map the cottage was in another part of town. That's a detail which Sykes could do with correcting. But otherwise a great overall experience and a restful break. Thank you.
Reviewed by Keith4.4★Jul 2019
"Really Enjoyed our week away, cottage was clean and warming."
Everything you needed was there. The cottage is central to Ambleside and walking distance to everything. Parking was great. Will be coming back again soon.
Reviewed by Peter5.0★May 2019
"Ideal cottage for walks and a good size for a family."
Dogs well provided for.
Reviewed by Brian4.1★May 2019
"Facilities and location excellent."
Flawless administration. Have booked a cottage with Sykes for next month as a result
Reviewed by Andrew5.0★May 2019
"A nice cosy place to stay."
It was the second time we have stayed, will use again. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Marek4.7★Apr 2019
"We love staying at Heather Cottage, the location is perfect - a car parking space and an easy walk to the lake or into Ambleside."
It sits in a peaceful courtyard, and is great to stay in all year round.
It's a well equipped cottage and has everything we need for a week away.
Can't wait for our next visit!
Reviewed by Kathryn5.0★Mar 2019
"We usually take a holiday in the Lakes every year."
We’ve stayed in many cottages but Heather Cottage really is the best one we’ve had the pleasure to stay in. Firstly the parking was superb! Location of the cottage wonderful! Even before we entered the cottage we were happy. The cottage was warm, clean and cosy. Everything regarding the instructions was clear and well explained. We ate various meals at the cottage and we were never found wanting. The Kitchen was really well stocked with cutlery, plates & pans. One more point! The porch! Brilliant when you have dogs!!
Reviewed by Timothy5.0★Mar 2019
"Traffic noise only problem."
Reviewed by Paul5.0★Jan 2019
"We've stayed here for 5 years."
Always great for our family, as a base for our walking! Great facilities, separate area near the front door for walking boots and coats. Only a 5 minute walk into Ambleside. Personal parking space, which can be rare in Ambleside. Perfect.
Reviewed by David5.0★Oct 2018
"Fantastic cottage, well equipped, clean and warm, with thoughtful little extras like the OS maps and the Wainwrights."
Really excellent.
Reviewed by Tim5.0★Oct 2018
"We were able to deal with the slug trail problem mentioned in a previous review."
My husband got up in the night and discovered the slugs and disposed of them. Since then there have been no slug trails. The cottage is lovely and well situated. The only problem we had was that the cupboards in the kitchen all smelt of damp, to the extent that I rinsed the glasses before using them. The problem may have come from people leaving the velux window open in the bathroom directly above. On one occasion, my husband left it open and rain had come in and wet the bathroom floor. The bathroom is directly above the kitchen. As we said in the Visitors Book, we would use the cottage again but it would be good if the damp problem was resolved.
Reviewed by Carolyn3.8★Sep 2018
"Hello, the only thing that concerned us is the hand rail needs to go all the way up the first set of stairs as there is nothing to get hold of, we felt it wasn't safe."
We would like to visit this cottage again if this was seen to. Thanking you. P.S. we will leave it up to you if you wanted to give feed back or not.
Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Sep 2018
"There were slug trails every morning on the living room floor which was a real turn off."
I'm just glad I woke up early enough to try and cover it up before the 3 children saw them. If they did then I'm sorry to say I would have probably have had to cut my holiday short. I'm sure that the slug issue could be resolved quite easily but I won't be booking that particular cottage again. The reason I didn't highlight this issue at the start was because I did not want to alert the kids to the issue and I knew that it could not be fixed whilst we were out during the day etc.
There was also a power cut which just affected our cottage but as it was so dark I couldn't see where the fuse box was. I rang the number on the front of the property and it was swiftly dealt with and with a call back to check if everything was okay the next day was very good. Everyone on the phone was very helpful and pleasant to speak to.
Reviewed by Jill3.1★Aug 2018
"A++++"
Reviewed by Marek4.7★Jul 2018
"The property was wonderful and a great base for exploring the Lake District."
We were very impressed with the high quality finish including good mattresses and linen, a well equipped kitchen and a smart TV. On arrival the house was very nicely presented and spotlessly clean. I would certainly recommend it to others. When I contacted Sykes the response I received was warm and professional leading to my query being swiftly resolved.
We did have some issues getting the washing machine to work - each time we tried to using it (On both mixed load and cottons cycles) it stopped and gave an error ("E-17"). After setting it running again a couple of times the cycle did eventually run to completion but this is something that may need to be looked into. The shaving light and adjacent plug socket in the double bedroom also did not appear to work.
Reviewed by Ross5.0★Jul 2018
"An excellent cottage, clean and spacious."
Would of been nice to of had a small garden to sit out in. This was the only small thing as well situated and quality cottage.
Reviewed by Mark4.7★Jun 2018
"Lovely cottage in a fantastic location."
Very well equipped but, having 2 dogs we could have done with a garden. Would definately return.
Reviewed by Wendy4.7★Jun 2018
"Have stayed in Heather Cottage three times, so clearly we like it!"
This property is part of the Lakelovers collection.
We have properties to suit every occasion throughout the southern and central Lake District including; Ambleside Cottages, Bowness Cottages, Coniston Cottages, Grasmere Cottages, Hawkshead Cottages, Lakeside Cottages, Langdale Cottages, Troutbeck Cottages, Ulswater Cottages, Windermere Cottages and smaller hamlets between, which although seldom heard of are none the less equally wonderful. With hundreds of properties available, Lakelovers are sure to have a property to meet your needs.
Summary
Two bedrooms: 1 x double and 1 x single
Bathroom with bath, shower over, WC and basin
Open plan living area with kitchen, sitting area and dining area
Electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer
Electric storage heaters
TV, DVD player, Wi-Fi and a selection of books
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot available on request
Private parking for one car
Two dogs welcome
Pub and restaurant 3 mins, shop 6 mins
Lake 14 mins
Note: There is no garden at this property
The property
This cosy cottage is nestled in the beautiful village of Ambleside, less than a mile away from the wondrous Lake Windermere.
Part of a small complex of seven stone-fronted cottages which were once originally stables, Heather Cottage is an ideal retreat for couples or families looking to explore the marvelous Lake District.
Up to three dogs are welcome to stay at the cottage as well, so that all of the family can enjoy their holiday together.
Guests can enjoy the cosy feel of Heather Cottage with an entirely open plan ground floor.
The sitting room includes a TV, DVD player and a selection of books to suit everyone's fancy.
An archway leads to the well-equipped kitchen.
Upstairs on the first floor are two bedrooms: one double bedroom and a single bedroom.
There is also a family bathroom with a bath, shower over, basin and WC.
Set in a quiet courtyard area, guests can enjoy views of Fairfield Range from the comfort of Heather Cottage.
Only a few minutes walk away are a variety of amenities which Ambleside has to offer, including pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and shops.
There are also many pretty walks around Ambleside and it's only a 15 minute walk to the largest lake in England, Lake Windermere.
While making your way to the lake you can visit the pretty village of Waterhead which has its own small selection of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as the scenic roman fort.
If you fancy exploring a bit further afield, you can easily jump on a Lake Cruiser and visit quaint villages dotted around Lake Windermere, while admiring the stunning scenery of the Lake District.
Sandwiched between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, the market town of Kendal is just a 25 minute drive away and offers many shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as a castle and a historic museum.
Perfect for a family or a couple's retreat, Heather Cottage is ideally located for exploring the wonders of the Lake District with the beautiful village of Ambleside as your base.
Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips and watersports on Lake Windermere itself and numerous shops, restaurants and pubs in the village to suit all tastes. On the lakeside at Waterhead, the parkland offers lovely views down the lake and a short stretch of beach, whilst a walk in the other direction, following Stock Ghyll through woodland, will bring you to the entrancing waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force. Along with the Lake and the great walking on offer, Ambleside is also famous for its annual rushbearing ceremony and the diminutive 17th century “Bridge House” - one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District and now the National Trust Information Centre.
