Brackenber House

34 Customer Reviews

• "Excellent property for our group of 13."

  It was clear that a lot of thought had gone into furnishing and equipping. And many thanks to the owners for their speedy replies to our queries via the Sykes app. I think our only suggestion would be to have a few more drinking glasses available (notably wine glasses)

  Thank you very much for your kind and positive review. Unfortunately breakables such as wine glasses are sometimes hard to keep upto date. Thank you for letting us know. We will resolve this. We hope this was only a very minor inconvenience during your stay. Property Owner

  Reviewed by John5.0★Nov 2024

• "Wonderful property for 11 family members of various ages."

  Plenty of crockery and kitchen items. The red squirrels were an added bonus, the large window upstairs was fantastic to sit and look out. The only fault/problem was the step into and out of the kitchen. Possibly could do with a different colour tile to distinguish step for older people.

  Thank you for your kind review. The red squirrels are indeed entertaining and the views usually provide plenty to watch if the squirrels don't cooperate. The step is on our list of improvements. Unfortunately what we have in mind isn't a quick job so we have to wait a bit to get it done as we want to get it right. Again, thank you for the compliments on the house. We improve bit by bit, mainly driven by constructive feedback such as yours. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Fiona5.0★Oct 2024

• "The house overall was a little on the cool side and at least one bedroom had to be heated with the electric heaters stored under the stairs."

  The underfloor heating is good but without supplementary heating maybe not ideal for a holiday cottage because of its inflexibility. You specifically say don't adjust the thermostats which is how the sysetm is designed to control the temperature. No one could make the heated towel rails work. We pressed buttons and made sure the outside switch was on but none got hot. There was only a very small cheese grater. Not adequate for a big propertry One of the kettles needs very careful placing on the base otherwise it does not work. Not sure there were any clear instructions for the induction hob for those not familiar with them; at least we did not find them. Despite these issues we had a great time and would recommend the property to others.

  Thank you for your review. We are concerned that there is an instruction not to adjust the adjust the thermostats. This is not our intension as we would like all our guests to be comfortable, which is why all rooms have adjustable thermostats. Previous guests have had no issue with setting temperatures to their requirements. We apologise if there has been a misunderstanding and would welcome a direct message from yourselves to direct us to the instruction you found so we can amend. The bathroom radiators are not instant do take a short time to heat up. They have been fitted with timers to cut off after 1 hour because some previous guests have left all radiators switched on when they left. I will have them checked. The cheese grater was purchased to be easy clean. Larger graters we looked at were difficult to clean that meant that future guests would have to deal with dirty equipment which would be both unpleasant and unhygienic. Unfortunately, we have to make less than ideal compromises to ensure the property is as clean as possible for all our guests. I will also have a look at the kettles as we have not been informed about this as an issue until now. The hob operates in a similar way to all other hobs and is fairly intuitive. I don't believe there were any instructions due to the ease of use. I will also have a look at this issue. Overall, you appear to have had a great stay despite issues. We would have been very concerned if that had not been the case. Again, thank you for a 5 star review. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★Sep 2024

• "Great 3 night stay at Brackenber with family."

  The house has a high spec, is very clean and nice and warm. The kitchen is very well equipped and we were able to feed 13 people for 3 days worth of meals. The utility room is great for storage and has a 2nd l fridge freezer. It is a great house for big groups, as unusually there is a bathroom for each bedroom (only 2/6 are not en-suite, but have sole use of a bathroom). The outside area is lovely and the garden is contained, which for us meant we could let the kids roam around freely, enjoying the apples from the trees and Red Squirrels running along the stone wall. The renovation of an old property is beautifully done and the placement of the large dual aspect window in the lounge gives a stunning view of the sunset across to the Lake District. The communications were good from the host and we met the owner by chance in Appleby. Lovely little town with a castle & great children’s play park to visit. Improvements- -Curtains in each room to be blackout- the master suite with large corner window was very bright in the mornings. -An additional hairdryer or two. There is 1 for the house across 6 bedrooms. -Salt, pepper & oil if possible as kitchen basics (We did bring our own salt and oil) We would definitely stay again as we all thoroughly enjoyed spending time here as a house, not just a place to sleep.

  Thank you very much for such a positive review. We especially aim to be a location for family reunions and are pleased that your children enjoyed the stay as much as the adults. The Eden Valley is a beautiful part of the country with much to offer in the immediate vicinity and within a short drive. It certainly has plenty to explore and enjoy. I will take on board your comment on the curtains when we refresh the rooms. I will also purchase additional hairdryers. Condiments are slightly more problematic due to the problems of guest allergies and the risk of cross contamination. As such we provide a guest welcome selection of sealed, mainly locally sourced items which not only support local business, but hopefully provide something interesting to try. We hope you will return to explore more of the area and enjoy another family gathering. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Chloe5.0★Sep 2024

• "Brackenber house was a beautiful stay!"

  We came here 13th - 16th September for my partners 30th celebrations with family. The house was absolutely spotless and had everything and more that we needed. However, I would say that in the main bedroom upstairs (the king size) room was so uncomfortable- it was the worst nights sleep we have ever had due to the mattress being like a concrete slab. Both myself and my partner have come back with really bad backs due to the mattress in the main bedroom. That was the only thing that lets this house down was the comfort of the bed which is a huge thing when you want a good nights sleep. Overall we would come back but not stay in the main bedroom unless they changed the mattress as all the other beds were comfortable.

  Thank you for the compliments on the presentation of the house and the facilities. It is unfortunate that the bed did not suit you. We took professional advice with regards to mattress specification and purchased hospitality quality medium mattresses as this is recognised as suiting the majority. The main upstairs bedroom necesitated a different brand due to access issues, but provides a alternative for guests to choose a bed to suit. Even so, it is impossible to meet the requirements of all guests. We will of course continue to monitor issues specific to beds and welcome this feedback from yourselves. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Mia3.8★Sep 2024

• "We had a lovely time at Brackenber house."

  There was a total of 14 of us and we were all extremely comfortable and happy with the place. It very important to mention my sister who is very particular when it comes to cleanliness had zero complaints. We were very happy with the facilities, there was plenty of dishes and glasses/cutlery etc, we always had hot water even though there was 6 bathrooms, the house was nice and warm, the lounge is a lot bigger than the pics suggest and we all sat comfortably together in there, there was games and books which we used, the owners were very quick to respond when we struggled to find the baby cots (which we did find), all in all we were all really happy and comfortable and would recommend this place to anyone who is considering staying here! Thank you so much!

  Thank you for a very kind review. Our cleaning team work very hard to ensure the house is in tip top cleanliness for all our guests and take great pride in the work they do. We are are extremely lucky to have them looking after the house and are extremely pleased that they came up to your requirements. We are pleased you had a great family holiday and grateful for your recommendations to others. Again, thank you very much. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Issamul5.0★Aug 2024

• "Overall we had a great stay at Brackenber."

  The house is spacious and well equipped. We had a few niggles listed here but they are pretty minor. A couple of everyday items like cheese grater and regular baking trays were missing but every thing else you could ever imagine needing in a kitchen was there! We loved the location being so quiet overlooking the golf course full of sheep. The sofa with the big window was a lovely spot to watch the rain outside or the sun go down. The ev charger was a bonus. The decor is pretty basic but fine for a holiday rental and it was sparkling clean everywhere. A couple of the beds were rock solid so we had so sleep with spare duvets beneath us, and the end bedroom was so hot due to the glazing and its outside door being broken that it was unbearable so we sadly had to leave it vacant. There were lots of games and books to keep you occupied on a rainy day which was a nice touch.

  Thank you for taking the time to feedback to us. I will try and address the issues you have listed. The beds have been specified as medium softness following research and guidance from suppliers in the hospitality business. Medium suits most guests, but unfortunately we are not able to cater for everyones needs. The door on the lower bedroom is a firedoor, but was damaged when it was opened by a guest. As it is a firedoor, we have to follow strick guidance with regards to guest safety when specifying a replacement. The specification process is now complete and we hope to have a new door with opening window in place shortly. Unfortunately this custom design has been problematic and taken longer to action than we would have liked. I have reviewed kitchen items and added a few as per your suggestion including additional cheese graters and roasting dishes. The decor has been specified to be clean, calm and uncluttered to provide a restful space for our guests. Again, we cannot cater for all tastes, but we are pleased that you found the property to be sparkling. I am sure our cleaning team appreciated the compliment. Again, many thanks for you feedback. It helps us provide a better holiday for future guests. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Cat4.4★Jun 2024

• "Great house to stay!"

  Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to go to the Lake District as a holiday most things are with in an hour from the house which was perfect for us! The house overall was what we wanted and more! Very well equipped for the amount of people(10)

  Thank you very much for your very kind feedback. We are very pleased that you found the house to be a perfect centre for exploring the wonderful surrounding countryside. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Liam5.0★Apr 2024

• "Absolutely stunning house, high specification and attention to detail throughout ."

  Beautiful location with amazing views. The property is immaculate, fantastic showers with quality furniture and bedding. Well stocked kitchen, plenty of utensils, cutlery, glass and tableware. Thanks for the best welcome gift ever, so generous. We were a party of 12 including young disabled adults who loved their stay. We will definitely be returning.

  Thank you very much for your review. We are very pleased that we were able to provide a great holiday location for all your family. We would be pleased to welcome you back on a future date. Thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Deborah5.0★Apr 2024

• "The property is in a wonderful location with plenty of space for our large party of 13."

  The bedrooms are a good size and nearly all with en-suites.Even though we were at capacity for the numbers we did not feel cramped at all. The kitchen is very well stocked for a large group of people with plenty of plates, cutlery and serving dishes. Having two dishwashers is a genius idea ! The upstairs lounge with its fabulous views is very special and we all enjoyed chilling there. The owner is very attentive and friendly and answered any queries we had very promptly indeed. The whole setting, both inside the house and the location outside, made for a wonderful “special” birthday weekend for my husband surrounded by all his family. We will be back for my “special” birthday in 2 years time I hope !

  We are very pleased you had a wonderful birthday stay at Brackenber and the house provided for all your needs. We are very pleased that you are considering returning to Brackenber for your next special Birthday celebrations. All the best for the next two years to yourself and your family. Many Thanks, John Property Owner

  Reviewed by Valerie5.0★Feb 2024

• "Amazing property, tastefully renovated."

  The windows from the first floor lounge gave fantastic views over the moors and the red squirrels that were playing in and around the gardens. The house provided excellent facilities, we couldn't have asked for anything more. The owner was very accommodating when I asked for a slightly later check out time and also gave a little history about the development of the house. A definite recommendation for anyone who wants to get away from it all.

  Thank you very much for your kind words. We are very please that you had an enjoyable stay. The red squirrels never fail to entertain and are fascinating to watch. We aim to be as accommodating as possible with requests and we're pleased that on this occasion we could help out. Again, many thanks for your review. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Samya5.0★Jan 2024

• "The house is fabulous."

  It is in a beautiful location, with loads of red squirrels running around. It has been renovated to a very high standard, and was lovely and warm over a very wintery weekend. The bedrooms are very generously sized and there is lots of communal space. The only complaint is the quality of the oven. It takes ages to warm up (about 40 minutes) and struggles to then maintain the temperature (particularly high temperatures). This was particularly frustrating as a big group cooking our meals in the house.

  Thank you for your kind comments with regards to the house. The oven is relatively new, but this does not mean that it may not have developed an issue. I will have a look and thank you very much for letting us know. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jane4.7★Nov 2023

• "Lovely spacious house, a 15 minute drive from Appleby, on the edge of Appleby golf course."

  The house was warm and the bedrooms and bathrooms well appointed, along with a great space with a huge table so the whole group could eat together, next to a well equipped kitchen. The view from the upstairs lounge is great, with the red squirrels providing entertainment. The lounge does however need more comfy seating, as there isn't enough for a group of 12.

  We are pleased you had a great holiday. I will have a look at seating, following your comment, and see if there is anything we can do to improve. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Alice4.4★Nov 2023

• "Brackenber house has again been the prefect place for our autumn family get together."

  Light, warm and spacious, it is a very comfortable place to relax with one another and "chill". The high standard of finish and furnishings in the bedrooms and bathrooms make for a great nights sleep, and the kitchen is so well equipped, catering for 12 was really stress free. We love the location, having distant views across to Lakeland and into the Pennines but with easy access and walking from the gate. Thank you for your welcome and use of the electric car charger. With so few public points locally, that was particularly appreciated. And a unanimous request for us to return again next year says it all really!

  Hello Bob, Thank you again for returning to Brackenber. We are very pleased that your return was as good as your first visit and really appreciate your wish to return again. Again, many thanks, John Property Owner

  Reviewed by Bob5.0★Oct 2023

• "This is an absolutely beautiful property and the photos don’t do the surroundings justice."

  It’s gorgeous! So many rooms and bathrooms and a very well stocked kitchen. It’s a beautifully renovated property. Lots of games, books, dvds, & wii. Excellent quality and perfect for a large family gathering. The cooker is an induction hob, the washing machine is a washer-dryer which is quite slow for drying, there was a travel cot and a buildable wooden cot too which was great. You are at the mercy of whatever guest washed the kitchen utensil last so there were quite a few dirty pans etc. Overall it was clean and tidy although there were quite a lot of dead bugs/flies/wasps/cobwebs, especially behind the tv. The linen and towels were good quality but smelled of smoke. We could have done with a few more comfy chairs in the living room to cater for everyone at the same time. It’s very easy to get to and the local town was lovely and the people were friendly. Loved the red squirrels providing entertainment everyone morning. Overall a fantastic property and we were very happy here. Thank you for sharing your family holiday home!

  Hello Gemma, We are very sorry that certain items were not up to our expected standard. I will ensure our cleaning team are made fully aware. Towels smelling if smoke is completely unacceptable and I will be requesting the cleaning process be looked at. Due to the size of the house and the limited time available for change overs we do to a certain extend rely on the integrity of previous guests to make sure crockery etc is clean before being put away.Your comments are welcome to help us improve. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gemma4.1★Oct 2023

• "From our group point of view, provision of comfortable seating in the dining area could have facilitated quiet activity away from the TV (which was excellent,by the way)."

  A lovely house with excellent facilities generally.

  Dear Peter, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, which helps us to improve to make our guests stays as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, due to the size of the dining area, it was not possible to provide large soft furnishings without creating a cramped and awkward dining area and loosing the existing open and airy space to comfortably accommodate all our guests. We hope that this did not detract too much and you, overall, had an enjoyable holiday. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Peter4.7★Sep 2023

• "Fabulous property."

  Catered for everything so only went out for short walks from the house. Loved the modern refurb with attention to detail and keeping the Salt Box was fab. Dark skies and peace & quiet. Thank you for the goodies also!

  We are very pleased that Brackenber House gave you an enjoyable location to enjoy the nearby walking and peaceful and quiet surroundings. Thank you for the compliments regards the renovation. We worked hard to develope a modern property which kept as many of the features from the old building as possible. Your complement is gratefully received. Many thanks. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lynne5.0★Sep 2023

• "Lovely cottage - was clean and tidy upon arrival."

  Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We very much hope you enjoyed your stay. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Saqib5.0★Aug 2023

• "We rented the house for a 70th birthday celebration."

  We had family from Scotland, Hastings and Essex. We loved the peaceful location and the house was perfect for all our requirements. We had a wonderful weekend, visiting the Lake District and eating out around the Appleby area. The views from the first floor lounge were stunning and we were lucky enough to be able to watch the red squirrel running along the dry stone wall and the owl hunting each evening. We would not hesitate to recommend this property. The lack of good Wi-Fi connectivity was not an issue for us but we feel that maybe this could be mentioned in the property spec as some future visitors might possibly want to work during their visit.

  Hello Karen. Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and enjoyed the surroundings. Seeing the local owls is a real treat, whilst the red squirrel is regular entertainment. Apologies about the broadband. We are stuck with one supplier and a low bandwidth connection typical of many rural locations. We have used it satisfactorally, but I agree that it may be too slow for home working. We hope this did not cause too much inconvenience. John Property Owner

  Reviewed by Karen5.0★Aug 2023

• "Brackenber House is a superb property in a lovely location, all ten of us enjoyed a memorable week with everything of a high standard."

  Very convenient as a walking base with no need to travel far for spectacular countryside and views. Ate at some nice pubs in the evenings, special mention to the food and staff at The Royal Oak, Appleby.

  Thank you for your positive review. It's great that you were able to explore some of the fantastic walking in the area and had pleasant evenings at some of the local pubs. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Iwan5.0★Jun 2023

• "A beautiful property, above expectations, very well equipped with everything we needed for all 13 of us!"

  We had a fabulous weekend!

  Thank you for your kind review. We are glad the house met your expectations and provided you with an enjoyable stay. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Shellan4.7★May 2023

• "Just arrived back from a fantastic stay at Brackenber house."

  The house was the a perfect place to celebrate my husbands 40th birthday with family. We couldn’t off asked for anything better ! The house is fully equipped with everything and so much more! The cleanliness is a 10/10. The views and quietness of the small village was just perfect! Would 100% recommend!

  Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are glad that Brackenber provided the ideal location to celebrate a special birthday and provide great memories for your family. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paula5.0★May 2023

• "We have just returned from a lovely bank holiday weekend away with friends (8 adults and 5 children) at Brackenber House."

  Directions were spot on and the place was easy to find. The house was exactly as described and the surrounding area is lovely - the views are stunning. The house had everything we needed and the dining/living space was brilliant for us all to eat/sit/socialise together. A superb place for a relaxing weekend away in the countryside.

  Thank you for the positive review. We are pleased you had a superb holiday and Brackenber House provided the ideal base to enjoy the area. Thank you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lauren5.0★Apr 2023

• "Had a wonderful weekend at Brackenber with family and friends 17th to 19th March."

  There were 8 adults and 5 children in the group and there was plenty of space for all of us. The house is beautifully decorated. We really enjoyed the games in the property and the facilities were great. We had everything we needed. It was a lovely relaxed getaway to celebrate my 50th where we could catch up, have a laugh and make nice meals together. Just what we all needed. Thank you.

  Hello Joanne, We are very pleased you had a great weekend and birthday. We really aim for families and especially to allow families to meet up and catch up so it's good to hear that Brackenber fulfilled your expectations and allowed you to have a good celebration. Thank you very much for your kind words. Hope the next year is kind to you and your family. Regards, John Property Owner

  Reviewed by Joanne5.0★Mar 2023

• "What a lovely place to stay!"

  John was amazingly helpful and the cottage is superbly well-appointed. Very comfy beds, super views, immaculately clean and it was nice and warm despite the wind and snow outside. We had a great time!

  Reviewed by David5.0★Mar 2023

• "Lovely spacious cottage."

  It was great with kids and in a lovely location with so many places to visit close by. The host was very helpful and responsive. Highly recommend the Brackenber House.

  Reviewed by Takudzwa5.0★Feb 2023

• "Brackenber house was a perfect place to stay for our extended family holiday."

  The house has excellent facilities, is very clean and really well equipped for catering for a large number of people. The design of the house, the decor and furnishings are all to a very high quality and made our stay really comfortable. We loved having an extensive view across the Eden valley from the lounge and our grandchildren also loved the Wii! We all appreciated the quiet location with immediate access to open land across the golf course for walks and runs.

  Dear Robert, Thank you very much for your review. We are very pleased that the house provided an ideal location for your family to get together and have an enjoyable holiday. Again, thank you very much, John Property Owner

  Reviewed by Bob5.0★Oct 2022

• "House & grounds were stunning!"

  ! John the owner was so nice and helpful. I would definitely return in the future :)

  Dear Laura. Thank you for your kind words. We are very happy that the house met and exceeded your expectations and you and your family had an enjoyable holiday. Many thanks. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Laura5.0★Sep 2022

• "We absolutely loved Brackenber House."

  It was perfect for our large family group. Plenty of room, comfortable beds, loads of kitchen and dining essentials, spotlessly clean and a fabulous large corner window overlooking the most beautiful countryside. Such a feeling of calm inside and out. A great base to explore the area. We could easily have stayed longer. Thank you for the excellent communication from the owner too. Can highly recommend.

  Reviewed by Sharon5.0★Jul 2022

• "Loved the cottage and annexe."

  Clean and spacious with great bathrooms Would benefit from tea, coffee, salt, pepper and oil being left. Also no recycling is a major shame

  Thank you for your review. It's great that you enjoyed the house and we hope you had opportunity to enjoy the fabulous Eden Valley countryside. To respond to your concerns. We don't leave any unsealed food items due to contamination concerns leading to allergic reactions. We also feel that small individually sealed food items are not good for the environment. Unfortunately, commercial waste is not sorted in the Eden Valley and we are prohibited from using the household waste system, which is sorted. It is a frustration for ourselves as well as it appears to be illogical. However, sorted waste can be disposed of in Appleby, the proceeds of which benefit the local community. Thank you for highlighting this issue. We will add a note to the visitor information. Thank you for raising these issues. We are always looking for ways to make our guests stay as pleasant as possible. Go to the feedback tab to approve/deny this owner response. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lorraine4.4★Jun 2022

• "Lovely property very well equipped to house 13 guests without a problem."

  Perfect location peaceful friendly & helpful neighbours my 3 children & 10 family adults loved it plenty to explore in & around the area. Will definitely be visiting again. Owner of property was lovely with helping us find places to explore around the area one of the reasons we will be back again hopefully this time not driving to the MOD shooting range.

  Thank you for your positive review. Unfortunately, the mysteries of SatNav sometimes prefers the public road through the MOD range whilst thinking the public road through the moor is closed. The benefits of modern technology. We were thankful this little detour did not mar your overall enjoyment of the house and the Eden Valley. Thank you for your feedback. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Husnain4.4★May 2022

• "Fantastic stay in a brilliant location, the house was perfect for our needs and would not hesitate to stay again."

  Everything was very clear and explained to us beforehand.

  Reviewed by Daniel5.0★Apr 2022

• "Beautiful house - clean , spacious and well equipped"

  Reviewed by Donald5.0★Apr 2022

• "Superb house, stayed here over Christmas for 7 days, 11 adults."

  Great location for exploring the area. The house is very welcoming and cosy, the kitchen, lounge, dining area, bedrooms and bathrooms are perfect for a long stay with so many people. Ample parking. Highly recommended

  Reviewed by Deborah5.0★Dec 2021

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