-
8 Guests
-
4 Bedrooms
-
3 Bathrooms
-
Pets No
Features
- Off road parking
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
50 Customer Reviews
-
"We loved the property."
It was well equipped and furnished and very cosy.
-
"So nice and lovely."
Absolute one of our highlights of our journey through UK
-
"It was a good-sized property for two families."
Unfortunately, there were quite a few hiccups! The dishwasher was filthy and turned out it was not working at all and obviously, whoever cleaned up the accommodation before us did not check that the dishwasher was not working. We phoned the property management on the morning of the second day. They said they would send someone to check in the afternoon (while we were out), but did not call us what they have found. So in the late afternoon, we had to call them back to check if someone had been to investigate. We were informed that they will contact the property owner about this and there is nothing that can be done during our visit. What made me unhappy te most was that there were no apologies at all at any point regarding the non-functional dishwasher. The properpy might not belong to the management, but they represent and were hired by the property owner, so an apology is expected. The chrome on the showerhead in the King-sized bedroom had peeled off (old) and gave one of us a deep cut on the thumb. On the second day, we had no hot water at all for hours and hours. One of the children had to be cleaned desperately and had no choice but to have a very quick dip in the ice-cold bath!!! The hot water is finally back on when one of us checked the boiler and had to press a button to sort of reset it or make it work again. This property needs to renew some of its facilities and desperately need a proper maintenance!!!
I am glad you liked the size of Gillercombe and it fitted your requirements and I am very sorry the dishwasher and the hot water were not working during your stay. I know how important things like this are to making your holiday as enjoyable as possible. The dishwasher has been now been replaced. We are also replacing the shower head. Thank you very much for letting us know about it. It is great to get useful feedback like this from guests so we can keep the property in excellent condition for future holiday makers. I hope these issues did not detract too much from your enjoyment of the beautiful Lake District. Property Owner
-
"Spent a lovely week at Gillercombe."
Good location, very well equipped and presented.
-
"Fabulous property in a great location with everything required for a fabulous weekend"
-
"Lovely house comfortable beds very clean"
-
"The only real problem we had was when we arrived the keybox was really hard to open after we had turned the dials to the correct keycode."
You could do with using a digital one instead. Also, though there was coffee on hand there were no tea bags. Besides that we had a nice stay at this property and would recommend it for families or friends.
-
"Overall the property size was ok for 4 adults and 4 children with a decent sized living room and plenty of bathrooms."
Kitchen is small and big enough for one person to be in there. The garden is small and wouldn’t recommend for small children. The property was not clean on arrival. Rather than calling facilities we spent a lot of time cleaning up food stains on benches, hoovering the floor, trying to remove food smells from the property. We in hindsight should have called and reported this on arrival but as check in was 5pm we decided to sort it out ourselves. The overall cleanliness was disappointing compared to other Sykes properties we have stayed in - plates and cutlery had to be dishwashed again and pans were not clean when we went to use them. The major problem we had was with car parking. There is a space at the rear of the property that was not accessible due to a neighbour parking their vehicle on the corner of the bay. No real issue with this as the neighbours are entitled to park outside their property but it meant unloading cars from half way up the street. Parking on the street was a disaster to be honest. Appreciate the location is busy and expected not to be able to park outside the property. However one of our cars was vandalised overnight with with key scratches and fittings damaged. The street is available for general parking however some of the neighbours (guess I would be the same) are protective of the space outside their home. Just something to be mindful of when unable to park outside of this property. The location of the property is great and central for meals, walking to the lake etc. Overall a pretty disappointing experience purely based on the cleanliness and the parking/damage to car issues. Personally we would not return to this property.
I am glad you found the location of the property was great and central for meals, walking to the lake etc and I am very sorry you were disappointed with the cleanness and the parking. I hope that didn’t detract from the beautiful location of your holiday. The check-in time is 4pm (not 5pm) and the cleaning company Orian are on 24 hour call out and will respond immediately to any cleaning or maintenance issues our guests have. It is a shame you did not contact them. Their telephone number is prominent in the property. We have never had any difficulty getting our large car into our private parking space at the rear. However, when you had a problem I am sure the neighbours would move their car as this is a very nice area with lovely neighbours and I can only think that the damage was done to your car randomly by a holiday maker which could happen anywhere and I cannot control that. We don’t advertise a garden in the listing, just front and rear enclosed patios with furniture (which are safe for children). There is a small garden area above the parking space at the rear but it is not for guest use as it is steep and unsuitable for recreational use. Property Owner
-
"On the whole it was a really nice property which suited our needs well."
There were a few (minor) issues which, if addressed would enhance the experience for future guests: - we were given an incorrect code for the key safe. Fortunately this do not prove too problematic as it was a transposition of the last 2 digits. - we were surprised that only one key for the front door was available. This has not been our experience with other previous holiday lettings. We suggest that consideration be given to providing at least one extra key within the house. - we understand that membership of the nearby hotel spa is no longer a feature of this booking. Sykes cottages should remove any reference to this amenity from their post booking information ( ref email from Sykes Friday 24th Feb 2023) and the owners should arrange for the reference to the Spa membership and a membership card to be removed from the Guest Information pack in the property. - the ceiling light in the 1st floor landing bathroom was not working. - there appears to be a blockage in the waste pipe from the shower tray in the 1st floor en suite. The water could build up and overflow causing flooding to the floor if someone remained in the shower for a long time.
We are glad that you liked Gillercombe and it suited your needs. We have been to the property and addressed all the minor issues you mentioned. We have put a second front door key on a hook in the hall which is a great idea, thanks. We checked the key safe code and it is correct. No access issues have been reported by the cleaners or other guests using the key safe. Property Owner
-
"Cosy cottage, right in the heart of Bowness, town enter, great base for a long weekend!"
-
"The house is great, such a handy location for bowness & Windermere."
It’s clean, warm, got everything you need. Only criticism, the showers on the first floor are really fiddly - it’s difficult to get the temperature right.
-
"We had an excellent stay at Gillercombe."
The house was clean and tidy and made a great base for exploring the area, and it’s a pleasant stroll down to restaurants, shops and the lakeside at Bowness. The included pool facilities at Langdale were first rate. It may be a 25 minute drive, but it’s a very scenic trip and well worth it – we visited three times during our stay. We were a group of seven including a 12-year-old and a toddler and we all enjoyed staying at the property. The living room was a little small for the number of people, but it didn’t bother us too much. The only issue to report is that the Nespresso machine was not working, but this was a minor thing. All in all a brilliant trip!
-
"Arrived at the property, no key in the key safe causing stress and upset."
Once inside, horrified by the poor standards. Cereals and debris on the mat, filthy fridge, wine cooler (looked gorgeous on the pictures) filled with dirt and a dead spider. Old, musty sofa with dirt and tissues under the seat pads. First floor twin, mattress thick with dust and hairs. Skirting boards thick with dust. Mouldy bath mat. Very poor quality pillows and bedding. Second floor velux windows thick with dust. No pass in the folder, had to explain our situation on every visit causing embarrassment as we were told to 'just go in'. Be advised that the pool is an hour round trip and with petrol costs a further expense on top of the price paid. Overall, this property is lacking in cleanliness and poorly managed. Very poor response and terrible 'customer service' by Sykes cottages despite the obvious issues experienced by us and others staying at Gillercombe. Not interested in listening to our views- the level of grime would not have been resolved by a visit by the 'cleaners'. Will not be recommending the property or Sykes. Much nicer, cleaner, higher specification properties available elsewhere.
Thank you for your feedback. I am sorry that you feel this way as I spoke to you on the phone on the evening of your arrival and offered you a re-clean of the property, that evening or at any time to suit you. You declined my offer and said it would be ok. If you changed your mind at any point during your holiday you could have contacted me or Orian Property Maintenance who service Gillercombe for me and we would have sorted out any issues, including the cleaning, bath mat and bedding immediately but you didn’t get back in touch with us. Unfortunately it looks like the spa passes had been removed from the visitors information book and I will personally go to the property and replace them this week during the changeover. The spa will never decline access for Gillercombe guests. I will also bring new bedding and thoroughly check the cleanness of the property. The spa is 9 miles from the property and the time taken to get there depends on the traffic which I have no control over. There are closer spa’s to Gillercombe but they are not as luxurious as the Langdale Spa and I want my guests to have the best experience possible on their holidays. I will monitor further guest feedback and if that shows the spa is too far away then I will change to a closer one. On this occasion the cleaners left without putting the key back in the key safe. I am very sorry about that. I have been assured by Orian that it won’t happen again. Property Owner
-
"Location was excellent but the house was tired and in need of a general deep clean and new furniture in some rooms."
The rooms are very small for an 8 person property - the lounge only has enough seating for 6! Travel cot was replaced promptly when asked due to it being broken. Asked at that point (one hour after arrival) of any other problems which we didn’t mention as they hadn’t been discovered at that point. Didn’t complain during the stay as the level of grubbiness wouldn’t have been a quick fix.
Thank you for your feedback and I am glad you enjoyed the fantastic Lake District position of Gillercombe. I have arranged a deep clean for the property and I have new sofas on order which I hope will give more seating space in the lounge. I will check all the other furniture and replace any that is not in great condition. The property will also be fully redecorated this winter. Property Owner
-
"Excellent property well set out and proportioned a lovely holiday cottage in general."
Easy walk to town and all the facilities, nice courtyard and useful off street parking
-
"I am not at all happy with my stay or how we were dealt with I have photographic ..."
I am not at all happy with my stay or how we were dealt with I have photographic proof of the filth we had to endure even after cleaning and I fully intend taking my issues further
Thank you for your feedback, this was highly unusual as the property usually receives top cleanliness scores. Cleaners returned to address the issues that you raised and I am providing evidence of this to Sykes Cottages. Property Owner
-
"I would recommend new seating in lounge as they are worn and have no support."
This also applies to both beds in master and double room. Shower on top floor has no pressure with a trickle of water exiting shower head. In regard to times to gain access and leave property, we were disappointed. I know Lakelovers do have an hour difference which is much more convenient. The cottage was in a great central location and quiet area which was a bonus. The cleanliness of the cottage was also excellent.
Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. I am glad you liked the location of the property. We are in the process of ordering new sofas for the lounge and we will check the beds and replace all mattresses as required. We will also get the top floor shower looked at to improve the water pressure. We have arranged for an hour later checkout time with our cleaning company and they will review the check in time later this year. We want to do everything we can to ensure our guests have a wonderful holiday at Gillercombe. Property Owner
-
"Gillercombe is a great house, spotlessly clean, decorated really well, great facilities and fantastic location."
Will definitely book again.
-
"This is a great cottage, comfortable, clean, tidy and amazing location."
Just a 10 minute walk down to the lake where you can book your boat trips. There are numerous shops, cafes, restaurants just around the corner. The only negative for us was that the top floor bedrooms were extremely cold at night but then we did travel in February. The rest of the house was lovely and warm. Nice little added extra was to be able to take the kids swimming, just don’t make the same mistake as us and go on a Saturday when it’s packed full of couples on a romantic retreat. Monday morning however was perfect and we pretty much had the pool to ourselves. All in all a fab holiday and we’d definitely return.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are glad you had a fabulous holiday. We also appreciate your comments about the temperature of the top floor bedrooms. Those rooms are usually very warm so we will check the radiators and fix the issue. Property Owner
-
"Well located in relation to the centre of Bowness with several possibilities to eat within walking distance."
Parking can be a challenge but there is a dedicated space behind the property. The property itself is very well-maintained and equipped and comfortable. The drier broke during our stay but the owner attended to it within 24 hours and provide the bonus of a bottle of Champagne. Overall highly recommended.
-
"A lovely property in a great area!"
Lots to see and do, all within walking distance. The house is large, clean, warm and comfortable. Would definitely stay there again and book through Sky Cottages.
-
"Lovely, well equipped house which felt like a home rather than a rental."
We were pleasantly surprised to find that a new kitchen had been fitted and the chairs in the dining room had been replaced with lighter and more comfortable ones than the straight-back wooden ones shown in the pictures - new pictures of the kitchen and dining room would enhance the details on the website. The only major drawback we found was that parking in front of the house, or indeed anywhere on the road, was not often available and though there is a dedicated parking space at the rear of the property, it is very steep and uneven - we feared for the underneath of the car a couple of times! However, this was definitely not enough to affect our overall enjoyment of Gillercombe and the added plus of a pass to the pool at a nearby hotel went down a treat; we visited shortly after they opened each morning and found that we were usually the only ones in the pool.
-
"Gillercombe is a great cottage and well positioned for the perfect Windermere holiday with children."
At the most there were only 4 adults and 2 kids staying so we felt like we had plenty of room. Some of the mattresses on the beds seemed a bit old and squishy but the master bed was fine and comfortable. Also the showers on the top floor seems only suitable for a child as it's teeny and an adult trying to wash in there makes for quite an amusing experience! Great to have the spa / pool pass for the fab hotel 15 mins walk away though and we used it 3 times in 6 days as we had such great weather and did other things. It would be good to have two prices available through Sykes and the option to opt out of the spa pass if you know you really aren't going to use it, as I'm assuming it nudges the price up a fair bit. BUT overall we were happy and really enjoyed ourselves and felt the house was brilliantly kitted out for everything we needed. A clever use of small spaces at times too and the garden is also a lot better than it seems in the photo - private and peaceful and it gets the sunshine in the morning which is ideal.
-
"This cottage was a fantastic holiday home, it had everything needed and more to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable."
The only let down was the cleanliness. When you look at the checklist, everything was done by the cleaning team that was expected of them. It was things like, under TV area and behind headboard areas that needed some attention. Cobwebs, dust and spiders were present in them areas. The cottage could benefit from a deep cleaning. Otherwise it would've been 10/10.
-
"The house was really lovely in a great location, quiet but accessible for the town centre and walks via Windermere."
It was a great space for a family get-together, a lovely large table and loads of crockery & utensils for major cooking moments and a celebration of a big birthday. Though it was generally a wet weekend, the house provided space and comfort for chatting, games and generally having a relaxing time for 8-10 of us (3 were day visitors). We all loved it, and there were plenty of compliments about the house which felt like home for the weekend. We also had a visit to the spa & hotel facilities, and though not used on this occasion, looked a superb addition to the weekend for another occasion. The only downside was the heating on the top floor - both evenings, the members of the family staying up there were cold and the heating would not go on again when the controls were used. The beds in the twin bedroom were also uncomfortable. However, the rest of the house was warm and beds extremely comfortable, and would really recommend. A great weekend overall, and would stay again! Thank you to the owners.
-
"Lovely house, very well placed to walk into Bowness."
Pass for pool was brilliant, kids really enjoyed and gave us something to do when it was wet outside, bathroom provision on both floors meant we all had plenty of space. Garden would be lovely in summer. Possibly aggravated by bad weather and fact that we took 3 cars, parking was a real problem, both finding a gap for street parking and the designated parking space being challenging for both car and driver.
-
"We love this place to stay."
It comfortably accommodates 8 of us. Well situated for Bowness-on-Windermere and Windermere. A couple of small maintenance issues were sorted really quickly. We’ll be back - already booked!
-
"Great holiday home, spa membership was an excellent addition."
-
"Fantastic space, clean & tidy and great location with off road parking = 1st class, highly recommended!"
-
"This cottage is only a 10 min walk from the center of Bowness, we were really happy about the location, the rooms are a nice size apart from the kitchen which only one person could be in there cooking."
The cottage has a relaxing and welcoming feel to it from the minute you walk in the door
-
"The house is very spacious, well equipped and in a great location."
Short walk down the hill to Bowness or a walk back up to Windermere so location is excellent. One allocated parking space at the back of the house but we had no trouble parking 2 cars outside of the house. The kitchen could do with a little maintenance, oven door a bit rickety and oven needs a deep clean. Dining room chairs not very clean either but other than that the cleanliness of the house was excellent. The twin beds on the top floor need mattress toppers or new mattresses. Hand wash provided in bathrooms and washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets etc also. Spa membership card was missing from the house on arrival which was reported to customer services. We would definitely return to this house.
-
"The hotel facilities made up for the price of the house which were very good"
-
"I was surprised after reading reviews saying the same things that the issue of provision of enough toilet roll and any hand soap hadn't been addressed."
The house is lovely and we had a great stay, it was just over priced for what it was.
-
"Perfect location - just a short stroll away from the Lake and local shops/attractions."
We found the house very comfortable and deceptively spacious (for 6 adults and 2 children). Yes the kitchen is small, but we never had a need for more than 2 people in there at a time and it's fairly open plan with the dining room - so remains a sociable space. Would stay again! Thank you.
-
"The cottage is good area manage to park ,it needs to put a few little extra touches like hand soap in bathrooms and some cleaning things for general use , it does say games room on description that isn't quite right as not an actual room !"
! Was a darts board with no darts ! The kitchen is quite small when 8 people there but all in all a nice lakes cottage ,
-
"We had a great time."
Gillercombe feels like a home from home. It's tidy, spacious and close to all the amenities in Bowness. It's recently been done up and is looking great. The house is big enough that even with 4 children and 4 adults in it, it doesn't feel crowded. The young children can be wathing TV upstairs, we can watch somethign downstairs, and the older kids can be using their computer in the dining room. Love it. Booked for October already.
-
"Great property, very comfortable, great location close to town."
kitchen could be bigger for 8 people,
-
"Lovely cosey cottage."
decor, furnishings, kitchen ware -eveything was to a high standard. Ideal location, walking distance from centre of Bowness and lakes.
-
"Had another great week at Gillercombe."
It really feels like home there. Lots of room, so the children can have their own space. Already booked for February.
-
"I booked this accommodation to share with a group of friends."
The accommodation was clean, comfortable, warm, and also very spacious. The two ensuites, main bathroom, and also a small WC were much appreciated because no one had to wait for anyone else to finish with the bathroom. We were only a matter of minutes away from all the shops, restaurants and pubs of Bowness. No taxis required! It was an ideal base and in a lovely, quiet location. A few things I feel would have been helpful are: a bread knife; local bus timetables and locations of nearest stops (when we rang for a taxi to take us to the train station, we discovered all were too busy and we needed to get a bus); menus and numbers of local takeaways which will deliver; some tourist information. We had a lovely stay and would definitely return!
-
"We had a wonderful holiday in Gillercombe."
Situated in Bowness in a quiet road but with easy access to shops, walks, the Lake. What was an added bonus was the membership card to the nearby spa - what a treat!
-
"Brilliant holiday, excellently placed property to be able to walk,use public transport or use the car."
Lovely house and excellent facilities, everything you could ever need x
-
"The strengths of this cottage are: - perfect location in the town - fully and perfectly equipped - big and confortable enough for 8 persons However, the furniture is a bit old and the cottage would need a general in depth cleaning once in a while."
-
"We loved the accomodations."
Beautiful cottage and a perfect spacious for our family reunion.
-
"Generally fine for our needs."
Bit shabby around the edges (water stain on ceiling etc)
-
"Clean. Comfortable cottage in a great location near lake Windermere."
Very easy to get to and good Base for walks and climbs. Self check in and out makes arriving and departing straight forward.
-
"The cottage was in a great location we had a great family holiday very spacious."
We loved the use of the spa which is located in a very nice hotel nearby. The cottage is close to all amenities within Bowness and Windermere. The cottage is in need of an update in places and needed a good clean in the kitchen the dishwasher did not work and the shower on the first floor leaked. Sykes were very responsive when called we would book with them again .
-
"We enjoyed our holiday, but."
.. Found some old socks in the wardrobe. The dishwasher is ancient and temperamental. The sofa is well past its best. We've stayed at Gillercombe many times, and when it was a lot less expensive, one could overlook these issues. It's increased a lot in price, and I think this needs to be met by some further improvement in the property - otherwise, there are other properties at this price, without the downsides.
-
"Gillercombe provided our family (6adults and 2 children) with the perfect New Year break."
The house was surprising bigger than it looked from the photos and even from the outside. The house was warm and welcoming with everything we needed for a week away.
-
"Really lovely little place well equipped and comfortable."
Only recommendation is maybe in the winter months the heating could be put on for arriving guests. The property was cold and took a while to warm up but other than that I would definitely return and recommend.
Summary
- Over four floors
- Four bedrooms: 1 x king-size double with TV and en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x second floor double with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x twin, 1 x second floor 2' 6" twin.Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC Second floor basin and WC
- Kitchen
- Basement utility
- Boot room
- Dining room with electric fire
- Sitting room with electric fire
- Gas central heating with electric fires
- Electric oven and induction hob, microwave, 2 x fridges, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine
- 2 x TVs with FreeSat, Bluetooth speaker, DVD player, WiFi, selection of books, games, toys and DVDs
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Travel cot, highchair and stairgate available
- Off-road parking for one car and free roadside parking to the front
- Front and rear enclosed patios with furniture
- Sorry, no pets and no smoking
- Shop and pub 5 mins walk
- Lake Windermere and ferry service to Ambleside a 10 minute walk
The property
Gillercombe is a lovely, traditional Victorian stone-built mid-terrace cottage which lies conveniently between Bowness and Windermere in the Lake District.
A perfect location for friends and families wishing to explore this beautiful part of the country.
This spacious property set over four floors, is a comfortable, well-equipped and beautifully presented holiday home.
Guests will be certain to appreciate the generous and flexible accommodation.
Inside this delightful cottage, you will be able to relax in the comfortable sitting room with ample seating and enjoy your meals in the attractive dining room.
There is a well-equipped kitchen and a basement which houses the washing machine and dryer and extra fridge and freezer.
There are four bedrooms, two of which are on the first floor and they are a king-size double with en-suite and a twin bedroom, together with family bathroom.
On the second floor there is a further double bedroom with en-suite shower and a 2' 6" twin bedroom, together with cloakroom.
From the dining room there is a very useful boot room leading out to a well-lit rear enclosed patio with furniture which gets the sun during the day and is a lovely place to have breakfast or lunch outside on a warm day.
From here you can also access the off-road rear parking via steps up from the patio.
There is also a small patio with furniture at the front of the property, where it is perfect to enjoy a glass of wine in the early evening sun.
Just a short walk from the cottage are the vibrant towns of Bowness and Windermere, both with a vast array of shops, pubs and restaurants to suit all tastes, and even a cinema for entertainment.
Why not take a boat trip or hire a boat, both of which are available from Bowness, Brockhole, Ambleside and Lakeside?
For an unforgettable holiday in the Lake District, choose Gillercombe.
About the location
BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE
Windermere Train Station 1.5 miles: Ambleside 5 miles; Kendal 7 miles.
The vibrant twin towns of Bowness and Windermere hold enduring appeal for visitors to the Lake District National Park, with each providing a range of nearby attractions, amenities, cinema, shops and restaurants to suit all tastes. A variety of boat trips and boat hire are available from Windermere Lake Cruises in Bowness to Brockhole, Ambleside and Lakeside (at the southern end of the lake where the Lakeside Aquarium and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway are situated). The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and the Old Laundry Theatre are 1.5 miles away. Orrest Head, where Alfred Wainwright was inspired to write his series of iconic guidebooks, is a 30-minute walk to enjoy the spectacular panorama of far-reaching views over the lake and surrounding fells. Brockhole, which offers high wire tree top experiences, is three miles away, and the historic villages of Grasmere, Ambleside and Troutbeck are a short drive away. There is also a variety of watersports on offer for the more energetic at marine centres along the lake. The area is ideally situated for exploring all that this region has to offer, whether by foot, bike, car, railway or bus; and is within easy reach of attractions such as the spectacular Langdales, Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House at Far Sawrey, Coniston, Grizedale Forest Park, with its delightful walks and famous outdoor sculptures, mountain biking and 'Go-Ape' adventure park, Ullswater, Kendal, Keswick, stone circles, Roman forts and England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike.
View more holiday cottages in Bowness-on-windermere
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas