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"Lovely quaint welcoming cottage, with milk, cookies & wine awaiting our arrival."
Very quirky with the spiral staircase - beautiful cosy home from home! Thank you…we will be back
Reviewed by Susan5.0★Oct 2024
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"The step at the front has a broken slab, dangerous when a stand on it,everything else was fine"
Reviewed by Stuart5.0★Sep 2024
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"Absolutely loved this little cottage."
Exceeded expectations. It was exceptionally convenient just a couple of minutes walk from the centre of Ambleside. The interior was tastefully presented with a modern kitchen, comfortable living space and fab bathroom with a great shower. Little details like the matt to put our walking boots was a nice touch. Thank you!
Reviewed by Tim5.0★Sep 2024
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"Such a lovely cottage, with great access to Ambleside."
Really clean and cosy! Never had an issue with parking either.
Wonderful first time to the Lake District
Reviewed by Caitlin5.0★Aug 2024
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"Lovely cottage, very clean, tidy and lots of nice touches."
Only one wee thing.. the step outside is loose and should be fixed.
Would definitely recommend and go back again,
Thank you!
Reviewed by Hilary5.0★Aug 2024
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"Great cottage, great location."
We had a wonderful stay and would definitely come back. The only thing to mention was that we couldn't find the parking permit that was mentioned in the listing. This was not an issue for us though but thought we should mention it.
Reviewed by Richard4.7★Aug 2024
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"A well maintained and clean property just far enough out of the centre of town,but close enough to walk in for meals."
Reviewed by Paul5.0★Jul 2024
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"A perfect cottage for 2 in the center of Ambleside."
We booked this for the week after our wedding and even though we have family in the area, it was a great place to have our own space.
When it comes to parking there is only really space for one car as you have properties surrounding that also have access to the street parking - however it does come with a parking permit for various carparks around the South Lakes. The on street parking does require you to park your car close to the hedge (especially if you don't have the space directly in front of the cottage) but there is enough room for delivery vans to still pass without any trouble. The stairs pictured are narrow and quite steep, so wouldn't be suitable for anyone who requires accessibility. They also proved to be difficult in getting a large suitcase upstairs before unpacking it downstairs, however we did manage to get smaller cases up with ease. There is a small wardrobe in the bedroom that is tucked into the wall, but there is an ample size dressing room that contains the boiler and clothes dryer as well. You could tell the bathroom is new - however, the mirror above the sink is too high (I am 5ft 6 and could just about see), also the paint on the ceiling needs redoing as it was flaking during the last few days.
One thing that we did have to do when we first arrived is move the multiple air fresheners into cupboards as they were all different scents which were too strong for a small property.
Overall, I would recommend this cottage to couples who want something close to amenities but still has that cosey feel to it.
Reviewed by Zoe5.0★Jun 2024
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"We really enjoyed our stay at Smithy Cottage, the location is fantastic and the space is really cute."
Whilst the cottage is compact, the dressing room proved extra space where you could dry washing etc. and a boiler cupboard where we stored bags. The parking permit provided was essential, there is not really parking outside the cottage as it’s shared with the cottage next door. The hedges were overgrown with brambles and the road is used by delivery vans and bin lorries so we preferred to use the car park which was a short 5 minute walk away.
The stairs pictured are steep and narrow and would not be suitable for someone with accessibility concerns. After unpacking our case we did manage to get it upstairs with a “pivot” moment.
The kitchen was functional but several items need replacing, such as the knives, scissors, and non-stick pans. We did find the pans worked on the hob.
We were thrilled on arrival to be welcomed by a couple of amazing scones (the best we had on our trip), a bottle of wine, milk, washing up liquid, and soap. A nice touch to start our holiday. Overall, we would return to Smithy Cottage.
Reviewed by Lauren4.1★Jun 2024
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"2nd trip to Smithy Cottage within 8 months we just love the cottage very homely/clean and it is based in easy reach of the buses and boats and short walk to Hayes Garden Centre and town."
We will be back in the very near future can't recommend enough. We've been coming to Windermere for a number of years but this beats all the other places we have stayed it's just perfect !!
Reviewed by Lynn5.0★Jun 2024
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"I generally don't recommend things to anyone which is why I have given a score of 5."
We have stayed in this cottage before. We think the bathroom with the new shower cubicle is an improvement compared to our last stay. Everything was clean and as it should be. Maybe some coat hooks near the front door would be an addition. The spiral staircase would put some off. We enjoyed our stay and would consider staying again
Thank you for your comments.
We are pleased that you liked the new shower, and the cleanliness of the property.
We take all suggestions on board.
The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team
Property Owner
Reviewed by Ronald5.0★May 2024
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"We recently enjoyed a delightful 3-night stay at Smithy Cottage in Ambleside and it was an absolute pleasure!"
The cottage is perfectly located, offering easy access to all the local attractions and amenities of this charming town. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the charm and character of the cottage, which has been beautifully maintained and decorated.
The cleanliness of Smithy Cottage was impeccable; it was spotlessly clean throughout, which made our stay even more comfortable and enjoyable. The owners have clearly put a lot of thought and care into providing a welcoming and homely environment.
Overall, we highly recommend Smithy Cottage for anyone looking for a charming, clean and ideally located place to stay in Ambleside. We can't wait to return!
Steve & Sally
Reviewed by Steve5.0★May 2024
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"Eventually found the teapot on the last morning!"
Parking a serious problem and should be clearly mentioned in the info before booking. Bathroom mirror set at the height of a giant - my wife could only see the top of her head!!
Thank you for your comments.
We will look at the property listing and information to ensure that the information given is correct.
We take all comments on board.
We hope to welcome you back to the Lake District again.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Nick3.8★May 2024
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"Smithy Cottage is , in my opinion, perfect!"
The location is brilliant, being in a quiet area but only 5 minutes walk away from the town centre. It is very well equipped, clean, comfortable and cosy and we wanted for nothing during our stay. We will return!
Reviewed by Pamela5.0★Apr 2024
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"Everything in the house was fine and clean."
The parking options however were not clear when arriving and we did have to call to clarify as the advert was missleading.
The advert could be more explicit if long term overnight parking is available - we got lucky to get the space outside the house (which isn't even a space) and then didnt move the car out of fear of not being able to get it again.
The induction hob was a bit unfamiliar to us - leading to issues so cooking for a week might be a bit of a problem if you aren't use to it (we only cooked once). Note there dishwasher tablets supplied but no dishwasher…
But the location is very good and it is quaint and a well thought out ground floor/kitchen/lounge.
I would not recommend for older/less abled visitors as the spiral metal staircase is a bit tricky
Thank you taking the time to leave your feedback.
We will check the information given regarding the parking to ensure that it is correct and up to date.
We take your comments on board.
Thank you- The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team
Property Owner
Reviewed by Stephen4.1★Apr 2024
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"Lovely little cottage, just as listed, had everything we needed and a great ..."
Lovely little cottage, just as listed, had everything we needed and a great location, just a few minutes walk into Ambleside
Reviewed by Tracey5.0★Apr 2024
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"Lovely (appreciated) welcome to the property, fresh milk and wine in the fridge, cake and Lindt bunnies (stayed week preceding Easter W/E) for us to munch on."
Ideally located 10 mins to Waterside, 5 - 10 mins to restaurants and bus stop to take us on to further travels beyond Ambleside. Already booked for next year!!
Reviewed by Sue5.0★Mar 2024
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"Fantastic little cottage 5 minutes walk from town."
Excellent facilities, lovely and clean.
The only issue for me is the spiral staircase,....can be tricky with cases and bags and you you have to be careful.
Other than that I still give it 10/10 and it's a return visit in the future.
Reviewed by Tim5.0★Mar 2024
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"Lovely little cottage, absolutely spotless and in grreqt location for views and access to town centre."
Reviewed by Darren4.4★Mar 2024
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"Absolutely loved our stay here, the bed was so incredibly comfy and the shower was great which is exactly what you want after walking up the fells."
No complaints whatsoever, the kitchen had everything you could need too!
Reviewed by Charlotte5.0★Feb 2024
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"We had a great stay at Smithy Cottage."
Thank You for the lovely touches - cake & wine - Amazing!! The weather wasn't great but it didn't matter as the cottage was cosy and we had everything we needed to stay indoors. A perfect romantic getaway. We will be back!!
Reviewed by Claire5.0★Jan 2024
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"Unfortunately on arrival I got out of the car in the designated parking space right outside the cottage and stepped straight in dog dirt that was literally on the door step!"
After cleaning it all up the cottage is brilliant, just what we wanted. Unfortunately the underfloor heating is broken which would have been nice but would definitely recommend
Reviewed by Natalie4.7★Jan 2024
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"Such a lovely cottage."
We had a great New Year staying here. We will definitely be returning here. The location was brilliant too
Reviewed by Ann5.0★Dec 2023
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"A bigger bed or a Sofa bed would have been nice but apart from that,Wonderfully Stay"
Reviewed by Lloyd4.7★Dec 2023
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"We really loved our stay."
The cottage was perfect for the 2 of us, really clean and so comfortable. We loved all of the thoughtful festive touches. Having a Christmas tree & a beautiful holly wreath hanging on the front door was so lovely & made it feel so homely, snug & welcoming. We would love to stay again
Reviewed by Sophie5.0★Dec 2023
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"Everything we thought it would be , clean , cosy and an ideal location, would love to return sometime soon ."
Reviewed by Jason5.0★Dec 2023
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"Lovely little house , very comfortable bed and in a excellent location, 5 star"
Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Dec 2023
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"Lovely cottage and great holiday."
Reviewed by Gary5.0★Oct 2023
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"We enjoyed our stay at "Smithy Cottage" found it very relaxing and cosy after having full days out."
Very close to the centre of Ambleside and also within easy reach of the local bus stop to other parts of the Lakes.
Reviewed by Lynn5.0★Oct 2023
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"We have stayed at The Smithy on numerous occasions and we cant wait to come back again, its a lovely cottage."
Brenda & Stuart
Reviewed by Stuart5.0★Sep 2023
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"Thoroughly enjoyable stay"
Reviewed by Warwick5.0★Sep 2023
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"Smithy Cottage was perfect for our stay."
The cottage has lots of character and modern touches that helped make our stay so comfortable.
One minor issue was the washing machine not working properly - it may be worth having someone to check that on a regular basis.
Otherwise we loved our stay and will look for this property next time we visit the Lakes.
Reviewed by Arron4.7★Jul 2023
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"Absolutely loved our stay here , fantastic location, the cottage was perfect a lovely place to come back to after a day's walking
Would definitely stay here again ."
The scones and bottle of wine on arrival was a nice touch .
Reviewed by Mark5.0★Jul 2023
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"We had a very pleasant stay the bed was comfortable , property was well ..."
We had a very pleasant stay the bed was comfortable , property was well equipped, tea towel would have been nice for dishes , the small sauce pan wouldn,t work on the hob don,t no if it was the pan or us I personally didn’t find the hob very easy to use but we did manage , the wine and scones were a very nice touch if I was staying there either as a small child or olderly guest the stairs would have concerned me but again this wasn,t too bad for us I would highly recommend
Reviewed by Teresa4.7★Jun 2023
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"Perfect for two people, had everything in a great location."
Reviewed by Alan5.0★Jun 2023
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"Smithy Cottage is so peaceful and perfect for two people."
It had everything we needed and a lot of extras too! The decor is really tasteful and calming, especially the colours in the bedroom. The shower was refreshing and we loved the Bath House products. The welcome pack of scones, tea and a lovely bottle of wine was much appreciated. A perfect location for exploring, we have come home feeling unwound and relaxed. Thank-you do much!
Reviewed by Jane5.0★May 2023
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"What a beautifully decorated, well-equipped cottage."
A most comfortable stay and the perfect base for exploring the surrounding areas. The cottage had everything we could possibly need during our stay. The scones and jam on arrival were a lovely touch.
The shower could have benefited from having a shelf on which to put shampoo, shower gel etc. Also, we are both 5'1" and neither of us could see in the bathroom mirror! Not a huge issue and made us laugh!
We made use of the outside seating area - such a pretty little corner and a real sun trap! Great to have a parking spot right outside the door too.
It was an absolute treat to stay at Smithy Cottage and we hope we'll be back again some day.
Reviewed by Jo4.7★May 2023
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"Smithy cottage was fabulous, it had all you needed and was really comfortable."
On arrival there were some lovely Scones and jam and a nice bottle of wine. (Nice touch) It is well situated minutes from the town and plenty of places to eat. Some lovely walks from the town, we didn’t have to use the car at all.
Thank you for a lovely stay
Mark and Sophiea
Thank you for your kind comments, we are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay and that you enjoyed the treats.
We hope to welcome you back.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Sophiea5.0★Apr 2023
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"The property is ideal for a couple and is perfectly situated in Ambleside away from the main road but only a 5 mins walk into town."
The cottage is small and cosy and all the fixtures and fittings were in good condition and working order. The owners had made a real effort with some nice touches, such as a complimentary bottle of wine and expensive soap/shower gels. Parking in the area is a bit tight but we always managed to get close to the cottage. We’re regular visitors to the Lakes, but for those who aren’t, Ambleside is an ideal base for exploring the Lakes.
Reviewed by Graham4.4★Apr 2023
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"Beautiful cottage in a fantastic location."
A lovely welcome by the owners with the scones and wine - absolutely delicious. We had chosen a cottage with a bath so we were slightly disappointed that this had been replaced by a shower, but the cottage more than made up for this. Very useful boot mat - property would benefit by having coat hooks near the front door.
The hob and oven could not be used simultaneously. Not all pans provided would work on the induction hob - error codes. Leak under the sink - Lakelovers more helpful with this so quickly resolved.
Reviewed by Jane4.1★Mar 2023
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"Second time that we have stayed at Smithy Cottage and it was every bit as enjoyable as our first visit."
Thank you very much for your lovely feedback we are so happy that you enjoyed your second stay just as much as your first and we would be delighted to see you again soon.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Dorcas5.0★Mar 2023
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"Cottage was warm and cosy, perfect for a couple."
Decor beautiful. The cottage is within walking distance of the town and perfect for exploring the lakes. Lovely couple of days in the lakes.
Reviewed by Karen5.0★Feb 2023
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"The cottage was very clean and comfortable, and quality of facilities and decor was of a high standard."
Small but perfect for two. The Prosecco, scones, chocolates and cakes added a lovely touch and were very much appreciated. The only other comments I would add are that the shower could be hotter and the central heating comes on during the night (we had to turn the thermostat on the stairs right down before going to bed to prevent this). However these minor things did not detract from a wonderful stay, and we would definitely stay here again.
Reviewed by Alasdair5.0★Dec 2022
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"Positives, lovely place, well laid out with excellent facilities considering the size of the place, excellent heating for our winter stay, xmas tree a lovely thought, lovely bathroom with large shower,."
negatives, comfy sofa but cushions kept sliding forward, mattress was to hard for us, a topper being available would be useful, arrival time is late, leaving time is early, entry at 2pm-12noon depart would be better.
overall we enjoyed our stay.
Reviewed by Heather4.1★Dec 2022
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"Lovely little cottage in Ambleside - quiet but also close enough to the town."
Place was as described, easy to find and road parking worked out well.
Reviewed by Natasha5.0★Nov 2022
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"We had a very enjoyable stay at Smithy cottage, it was really comfortable and ideally located for walking and easy access to shops, resturants and the cinima."
Would highly recommend.
Reviewed by Dorcas5.0★Nov 2022
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"Super little, clean, well equipped and comfortable cottage in a great position with the town centre a short walk away yet a very quiet location."
However, parking is a nightmare. There is no dedicated parking for the cottage and all parking is along the narrow road. A parking ticket is provided for public car parks, which is great, so you don't need to pay, but they are quite a distance from the cottage and mean leaving your car in a car park overnight out of sight if you can't find a space near the cottage.
One factor which may be an issue to someone with mobility issues is the tightly winding metal staircase and I'd advise you not to bring a large suitcase as you'll struggle to get it up the stairs, it is tightly winding.
I loved my stay and the cottage was warm, clean, very comfortable and even had a bit of a view as well as a great walk up over Wansfell from the doorstep.
Reviewed by Theresa4.7★Oct 2022
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"A big thank you Sue for letting us stay in this beautiful property."
Smithy Cottage made our 25th wedding anniversary the most memorable one.
Thank you for the milk, cake and bottle of wine. How kind to care for us like that.
We have stayed in properties around Ambleside for about 20 years and this was the cosiest, prettiest and most homely cottage ever!
Thank you for making our week a happy one.
Jenny and Ian
Reviewed by I5.0★Oct 2022
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"Beautiful little cottage in the perfect location."
Loved the little arrival hamper and it was lovely and warm once we got the underfloor heating going! Only thing is that the shower was VERY slow to drain and at points we thought it was going to spill out of the shower onto the floor. Also the kitchen knives could do with a sharpen, very difficult to chop onions!
Reviewed by Lucy4.4★Sep 2022
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"An excellent little property, very clean and exactly what we wanted to use as a base for our stay."
If I could make one small point; You have a Halogen Hob, but some of the pans, notably the frying pans, are not suitable for this hob and subsequently won't work. As I say, a small point, but worth bearing in mind.
Reviewed by Mike5.0★Aug 2022
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"This was the cleanest, loveliest cottage we have ever stayed in."
Fabulous in every way.
The only disappointment was that the lovely bath in the photos has been replaced by a shower
Reviewed by Richard4.7★Aug 2022
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"Beautifully decorated, well maintained & modernised internally."
Nice welcome pack - much appreciated - thank you.
Very near to local amenities, which was really handy.
Enjoyed our stay at Smithy cottage.
Reviewed by Trudi5.0★Aug 2022
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"Gorgeous cottage."
It was a lovely surprise to find some things had been updated from the photos on the website - the bathroom, sofa etc. Thank you for the cake, wine and milk on arrival.
We would definitely stay again.
Reviewed by Alice5.0★Aug 2022
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"Excellent cottage and in a really great location, close to the town centre but nice and peaceful."
The wine, flowers and cake on arrival were a very nice touch and much appreciated. Very nicely decorated and well equipped. We loved staying there and would do so again
Reviewed by David5.0★May 2022
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"Beautiful cottage with everything you need."
I couldn't be happier with it and the location of it is just perfect .
Reviewed by Raluca5.0★May 2022
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"The cottage was beautiful and we had a lovely time."
Thank you :)
Reviewed by Paul5.0★May 2022
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"First of all the property was lovely thank you for the wine & cake, it was most appreciated, the bathroom needs a good clean, we cleaned some of it for you, the floor by the side of the bath hadn't been cleaned properly for ages."
We couldn't get the hob to stay on either.
We still had a lovely time at Smithy cottage .
Reviewed by Kim4.4★Mar 2022
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"A fantastic cottage will situated and very comfortable"
Reviewed by Sherman5.0★Mar 2022
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"What a find!"
Had a absolutely brilliant stay in this modern cosy cute cottage, we will definitely book again. The cottage is perfect, it had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The Wine, milk and scones were a lovely gesture to arrive to. Very centrally located for both Lake, pubs, shops, walks and cafes. Our first visit to Ambleside but certainly not our last.
Thank you for your lovely comments. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you again in the future.
Sue - owner of Smithy Cottage
Property Owner
Reviewed by Kathryn5.0★Feb 2022
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"A wonderful little cottage perfect for the two of us."
Just a couple of minutes into Ambleside on foot with enough space to sprawl out and relax after a day in the Mountains. Everything we needed plus a few extra little touches which were much appreciated.
Reviewed by Paul4.4★Dec 2021
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"We found difficulty in using the spiral staircase especially if you were caring annything the steps were very narrow."
The TV control had a mind of it's own , you had to have patience when you tried to switch it on or off..
The lounge was comfortable and well heated , it's a warm cottage.
The bars and restaurants were only a short walk away.
Parking can be difficult on the narrow lanes around the property.
Reviewed by Andrew4.1★Oct 2021
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"Getting the television to come on ."
Reviewed by Stuart5.0★Sep 2021
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"Myself and my Husband stayed at the smithy cottage for our honeymoon."
The cottage wasn’t very clean at all. The bathroom looked like it hasn’t ever been cleaned and had black mould all over the tiles, around toilet and bath. The upstairs dressing room had mould all around the skirting boards. The cottage hasn’t been dusted and had cobwebs in most corners and on al lamps.
As there wasn’t a allocated car parking space the parking was a struggle. The on lane parking for the cottage isn’t ideal. We struggled to get parked near the cottage on a few occasions with other cars tending to park here from other cottages.
The information booklet left by lake lovers provided some information regarding flexible rates and deals with some leisure clubs in the area to use their spa facilities. When calling lake lovers on our first day the lady we spoke to didn’t know anything about it. She said that someone would contact us the following day. However we waited the remainder of our holiday with no further contact from lake lovers until the night before our last day where we received a voicemail and email telling us that they were unaware of any literature regarding money off/discount for spa facilities in local hotels. I feel their response time to this query was not very prompt at all and we had to wait nearly our whole holiday to hear back regarding it.
Overall the cottage was in an ideal location within Ambleside, perfect size for a couple and great base to visit many of the surrounding villages. However, since the cottage wasn’t very clean at all this is spoil our honeymoon as we did expect more from lake lovers. Wd did attempt to email lake lovers regarding our concerns on the cleanliness whilst we were still there but are still awaiting a response from them. We wouldn’t recommend this cottage or using lake lovers due to our above experience.
Thank you for taking the time to send your feedback after your recent stay at Smithy Cottage. We are saddened to hear of these deficiencies raised and we hope it didn’t spoil your honeymoon too much.
Unfortunately we weren’t aware of the cleaning issues you found at the property as we would have made the owner aware immediately to resolve. We have discussed with the owner to ensure attention is made to those outstanding moving forward.
Due to the Covid pandemic some information in properties is now invalid, so the owner will now also address this too. Each individual property has differing deals and special rates, we can only apologise for the late response time. Once again we thank you for your comments and hope the above doesn’t deter you from booking again with us.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Sophie1.9★Sep 2021
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"We had a lovely stay in this cosy little cottage."
Loved the selection of candles which really gave the cottage a romantic feel.
Perfect base in a great location for exploring the Lake District.
You may want to replace the oven gloves as they didn’t offer much protection from the heat of the oven trays. Apart from that a perfect stay!
We would definitely stay again!
Reviewed by Simon4.4★Aug 2021
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"The spiral staircase was quirky but tricky to manouvre up and down with suitcases."
Wouldn't recommend to anyone with mobility issues. Otherwise lovely with lovely welcoming pack.
Reviewed by Claire4.7★Jun 2021
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"Beautiful place, center of Ambleside lovely and cozy big thank you for the milk ..."
Beautiful place, center of Ambleside lovely and cozy big thank you for the milk wine and scones delicious , will be booking again
Reviewed by Adele5.0★Jun 2021
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"Central location, access to walks, to cafes/restaurants and bus routes"
Mr ReynoldsNov 2019
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"A brilliantly situated and charmingly decorated cottage, perfect as a base for walking and exploring in Ambleside/Windermere and with a good transport network to multiple locations beyond."
Open-plan living room/kitchen very inviting after a day's hiking.
Mrs WorboysJul 2019
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"The location of the property was excellent."
We only used the car once during our stay. The rest of the time we used buses or walked our of the village. The property was very comfortable.
Mr CoxJun 2019
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"Smithy Cottage is a fantastic cottage, which is a very beautiful location."
Our four legged friendly thoroughly enjoyed the large garden. I highly recommend staying here.
Mrs KettleMay 2019
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