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6 Guests
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4 Bedrooms
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1 Bathroom
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Highchair available
- Washing machine
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
34 Customer Reviews
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"It took no time to settle in and feel at home."
Everything important was well provided for, lovely, fluffy towels, comfortable beds, warmth, pots and pans, great pictures on the walls, a drying room, and more. It is a wonderful base to start walks out from of which there are plenty and close to a beach on Ullswater. A super location.
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"We had a lovely few days at Townhead Farmhouse - it was very cosy and well equipped (it has a dishwasher which isn't listed on the web)."
Sandwick is a fantastic location for walking, with the Ullswater Steamers providing a regular service from Howtown.
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"This comfortable house is in an idyllic location."
It even had house martins and swallows nesting around the property to complete my happiness.
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"We had a lovely stay in this old Farmhouse which is cozy and very comfortable."
First time that we cooked with an Everhot which was very nice. The heating worked well but we also had a fire to make it extra cozy after a few rainy walks. Great fluffy big towels and feather duvets which we loved. The extra fridge-freezer was also super helpful. The only minor point which one needs to know is that there are no basic cooking essentials such as salt, pepper, spices, oil or sugar which are a standard in most self-catering places we stay at. Otherwise there is everything you need. We had lovely walks up a few fells, to Howtown where we took the boat from to Glenridding and a walk back to the cottage from there. The lake is very close with a nice little beach. Had a great time! Hopefully we'll be back one day...
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"We so much enjoyed our four day break at Townhead Farmhouse, which is very well appointed, clean, warm, cosy and comfortable."
The location was quiet and within a breathtaking landscape. We would love to come back again for a longer stay! Thank you very much for your hospitality. Martin, Louise, Chris, Fiona 21-25 May 2024
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"We've stayed at Townhead before and loved it, as were delighted to be back."
A beautiful lakeland cottage, full of character, just like staying in someone's home.
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"Beautiful location and cottage, right at the end of the road so quiet though you will get a lot of walkers in the summer."
There are excellent walks along the lake and further and red squirrels running around in the garden. Would definitely stay here again. A few comments and things to flag to the owner. The cottage is 18th century and listed and so you should expect some idiosyncrasies in terms of comfort and decoration, however some areas look like they could do with a bit of TLC. The cooker, as others have mentioned, is an aga-type and so using the oven is a bit hit and miss - make sure you give it plenty of time to warm up and close the door properly. We had some issues with the heating - the timer/pump was on but the boiler was not and needed to be reset a few times during the stay. Somebody has obviously tried to burn coal on the dining room grate in the past and melted it - we found it outside and did use it as it's very difficult to keep the fire going without one. Dogs - there are very specific instructions about where dogs are allowed in the book when you get to the cottage (non-carpeted areas) that are not made clear in the listing which might put many people off. TV - some people have had difficulties. There is a freesat box which picks up everything you need, however there is only one HDMI cable so there needs to be another provided as otherwise you have to choose to plug it or the dvd player in. Also there are some issues with the freesat box - it seems to regularly reset itself while your watching something so may need replacing. A positive compared to the listing though - the internet is obviously improved from where it was and is fine for streaming netflix/bbc etc - the apps are available on the TV. Overall, these are fairly small issues that can be easily addressed and didn't detract from overall a lovely stay.
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"It was our forth visit and second Christmas stay and we like it just the way it is, homely and lived in."
Practical and ideal for walking and dogs. Delightfully free from cream carpets and urban upgrades. Plenty of hot water and house warm enough. A few things would benefit from maintenance before they get worse: door handles that come off in your hands, a loose tap fitting in the downstairs loo, dodge electrics on the lamp to the right of the sitting room fireplace. ( do watch the electrics). Your log man provided an excellent bag of well seasoned logs of mixed sizes. I look a hand axe with me but hardly needed to use it. We are getting use to the stove but some meal timings more by luck than judgement. Kitchen very well kitted out. Excellent walking on the doorstep. We shall return
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"The cottage has been kept with a good feel of the old farmhouse, such as entering through the old flagged hallway, and the aga style cooker which was fun to master."
The kitchen was very well equipped. It's not a 'done up' place, but it felt like a much loved holiday home providing plenty of nostalgia for me having grown up on a farm. It's a great location for getting back to nature - red squirrels and lots of birds visiting the garden, and red deer in the nearby valleys. Being at the end of a small road, it was very quiet when we visited in October. We appreciated that the central heating was on and a fire was laid, should we have needed it. Our feedback for something we would have liked would be outdoor seating - maybe a bench to take off boots by the door and a garden table. Overall a lovely base for a walking holiday.
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"Unfortunately there were significant issues with cleanliness."
Rotting food in bottom of switched off fridge and freezer. Lots of dirt and mess, particularly kitchen cupboards and utensils. Lots of dog hair on soft furnishings.
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"A perfect stay in the perfect cottage."
Beautifully situated right by the lake and at the end of a stunning - but narrow - drive in. There are so many places to walk directly from the cottage and you even have access to the ferry to take you to either end of the lake and see all the sights there as well. Can’t wait to go back!
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"This place is in a beautiful location with a stream running down the side of the house to a short walk to the lake."
In the morning there is an outdoor area to sit and drink your coffee while listening to the stream, and in the evening there is another outdoor area at the back where you can drink wine and look at the hills and the lake. Then during the day there are a huge amount of walks and hills to explore. The house had many areas to relax and the kitchen is big enough for the extended family to potter about. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. It is not modern, but it was warm, clean and rustic. We loved our stay.
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"Lovely, quiet cottage, very comfortable, cosy and warm."
It's in a peaceful, beautiful location, on a popular walk but didn't disturb the peace when relaxing in the garden, very lucky with the weather. We are hoping to book again next year.
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"On arrival there was no heat on, it took nearly a day for the house to feel warm."
We could only find instructions relating to the previous heating timer which made things even more difficult. It was only on arrival that we found our dog was not allowed in the lounge. This should have been made clear before we booked, as we would not have made a booking here. The general maintenance of the house was poor, TLC required. Cleaning was not very thorough eg there was a layer of dust on skirting boards (which caused my asthma to get worse). There was a note asking us to be out of the property by 9am although all information received from Sykes said 10am. The welcome pack at the house needs updating.
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"The property is in a beautiful location."
If peace & quiet, along with some lovely walks on your doorstep is what you are after then this is perfect. We’re very grateful to be able to have a cottage like this for a week. Inside the decor is feeling tired / lacking TLC, and in places of need of repair.
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"Brilliant cottage."
Stunning location. We didn’t want to go!
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"Quiet location, good parking and close to the lake."
Kitchen was big and had everything. WiFi worked well. Great garden for relaxing. Close to a little cafe
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"Great cottage, perfect for us and dog."
Walking from the door. Well equipped, a little tired round the edges but that's part of the charm. Will return!
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"We loved the cottage."
Very close to the lake so we were swimming every day. Lots of good walks nearby. A cosy cottage with a nice garden to sit out in. We saw red deer and red squirrels and lots of sheep. The beds were very comfortable, the kitchen well stocked and plenty of fridge space. The owner was very responsive to any queries we had. We will book again.
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"Fabulous cottage!"
Very comfortable & clean. Everything that you could possibly need for self catering, plenty of dishes, pots & pans. Very cosy & full of character. Have been about 5 times & will definitely go again! The location is amazing. Could not f adult anything about it. 10 out 10
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"Townhead Farmhouse is fantastically situated for anyone wanting to discover the true Lake District, away from the hustle and bustle of the more obvious tourist attractions."
We loved being able to get to the lake and up onto the hills so easily. The cottage was clean and well equipped but we found noise from the attached cottage a little intrusive (although they were not being antisocial - the walls are just very thin). There was an ongoing leak in the cottage which led to a pervasive damp smell. As this started prior to our visit it might have been nice for some discount to have been offered to us as incoming guests. We also felt guidance on the garden could have been clearer - we had assumed that the lawned area was ours and that the adjoining terraces were assigned to the attached cottage. The cottage guests however made free use of the lawn area including letting their dog foul the grass. This detracted from our enjoyment of the (otherwise beautiful) garden significantly, as several times I had to clear their dog’s mess up myself to avoid my children treading in it while playing. Not the cottage owner’s fault but maybe a clearer division of the garden area would help. Despite these issues I would recommend staying at Townhead farmhouse as the setting is really incredible - next time however I might be tempted to go as part of a larger group so as to have exclusive use of the farmhouse and cottage together.
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"Townhead Farmhouse is easily the most wonderful cottage I've ever stayed in."
The setting is glorious and the house itself is perfect - warm, comfortable, well equipped and full of treasures that make it feel like a precious home. We had a very happy week and loved everything about it.
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"My husband and I (plus our collie) had a most enjoyable holiday at Townhead Farm - it was lovely to stay in what was once a typical Lakeland Farm and which still retains much of its historical character and charm!"
As we were there just as a couple it was really cosy and warm to just use the fire in the dining area in the evenings, however Townhead is obviously also a perfect place for a family to be able to share a very special and unforgettable holiday together. Townhead Farm is situated in very quiet and peaceful area - the location is amazing and the local scenery is stunningly beautiful - it is wonderful to have direct access to the higher fells and beyond as well as having Ullswater within walking distance. We were also lucky to see the local red deer however it was even more magical to hear the roar of the stags echoing through the dale late at night - an awesome sound! We thoroughly enjoyed outstay at Townhead and look forward to returning to this very special place.
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"The house was very well equipped, very cosy, an old house not over done up but felt well maintained."
Great place! Fabulous for walking. The only thing that I’d mention was the tv was extremely hard to operate. We gave up trying to get a channel and watched a dvd from a small collection that they had.
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"Really relaxing holiday, lovely farmhouse and beautiful country side"
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"The house is in a beautiful quiet spot with spectacular scenery and walks on the doorstop."
Town head Farmhouse is a fantastic house - very comfortable and homely with lots of practical space and storage for outdoor gear. We loved our stay.
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"Wonderful location!"
The best! Cottage comfortable, clean & homely. Wood burning stoves and a good supply of logs.Well equipped kitchen. Ten out of ten!!
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"The roads leading to this cottage are not for the feint hearted."
Theres 5 miles of narrow country lanes to navigate along with steep winding tracks to the cottage itself. Also although it was dog friendly, being based at a sheep farm wasnt really ideal if your dogs areng great with sheep which ours arent. It would be helpful if this was made clearer on the information about the cottage as I wouldn't have booked to stay on a sheep farm.the cottage itself is lovely though and really well equipped and super warm and cosy. Ideal for couples or families but not good if you want to walk your dogs off lead.
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"The Wi-fi was not constant all day."
It was sporadic and was the only thing that we were not satisfied with.
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"Great location with excellent walking and easy access to ullswater on foot."
Well equipped cottage. Very comfortable. Daffodils were beautiful. Saw red squirrels in the garden.
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"Beautiful surroundings, comfortable cottage, great for walking and travelling to different places."
We were exceptionally fortunate with the weather which made it a really enjoyable holiday all round. Would recommend.
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"This is a lovely cottage and the location is delightful."
However if anyone stays who wants to be 'close to amenities' then this isn't for them as it is quite remote. Keen walkers will love it though as there are plenty of walks from the front door. Look out for deer and red squirrels. The cottage benefits from all the basic requirements - hot water, heating, wood burning stoves, an extremely well equipped kitchen (although there were no oven gloves and only 2 or 3 decent teaspoons). The heating/ hot water controls have a mind of their own - the hot water never came on when it should have done so we had to keep setting it to constant and then turning it off when we didn't need it. As there were only 2 of us plus dog we lived in the cosy dining room - and never used the lounge. We couldn't work out how to use the TV and there were no instructions - nice to have a rest from the TV anyway! We left the biscuits and (long life) milk provided as we came with all our food - a nice touch might have been locally produced biscuits rather than Viennese creams! A flick round with a feather duster wouldn't go amiss but other than that the cottage was clean and welcoming.
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"2nd time here, fantastic location, cottage has everything needed just like being at home."
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"Beautiful location, cosy farmhouse"
Summary
- Four bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x twin, 2 x single
- Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
- Ground floor basin and WC
- Kitchen with small dining area (seats 4)
- Boot room
- Dining room with woodburner
- Sitting room (seats 5) with open woodburner.
- Oil central heating with woodburners
- Electric stove, electric hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, TV with Freeview, DVD, WiFi
- Fuel, power inc. in rent
- Logs for fire are not included
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Highchair on request
- Off road parking for 2 cars
- Lawned garden with furniture
- Two well-behaved dogs welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop and pub 5 miles
- Note: Property accessed via three stone steps, please take care
- Note: No mobile phone reception
- Note: Stream opposite cottage, which is at the bottom of a very steep bank, children must be supervised at all times
- Note: Road to cottage is narrow and steep, a four-wheel drive may be required in winter
- Note: Due to the location of the property, WiFi is suitable for browsing only and not for streaming or downloading.
The property
A semi-detached, stone, character cottage with barn in the hamlet of Sandwick.
This spacious property is close to the lake and is perfect for walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and those seeking peace and tranquillity.
There's two dining areas at this cottage with beams and cast iron radiators, and one even has the bonus of a large woodburner.
Also on the ground floor is a lovely sitting room with open woodburner, and this cottage is in a glorious location with garden, and many walks from the doorstep.
Note: This cottage is next to Ref. 927735, together they sleep 8.
Townhead Farmhouse And Cottage
Pooley Bridge 5 miles. Two character stone cottages in the rural location of Martindale in the Lake District National Park, close to Lake Ullswater. These two cottages are a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the stunning scenery with many walks in the area. These cottages are at the end of a road over the Hallin Fell with stunning long lake views, and are surrounded by tranquil and stunning lakes scenery, offering a superb location to really get away from it all and unwind. Inside these cottages, from the quaint railed cottage garden, you are able to step back in time with beams, cast iron radiators and period fireplaces with a real fire. Glenridding is on the opposite lake shore and from here you can enjoy cruises on the historic steamers in the summer months. One of the most popular ways to explore and enjoy this area is to take a boat from Pooley Bridge, disembark at Howtown and walk to Glenridding, which was a favourite walk of Wordsworth, and then pick up the boat back to Pooley Bridge. One of the five vessels, The Lady of the Lake, was launched on 1877 and is believed to be the oldest working passenger ferry in the world. From Glenridding, you can also hike the challenging Helvellyn, with local companies offering guided tours, as well as to Striding and Swirral Edge. Situated close to the lake, there are many water activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and fishing. The popular pretty village of Pooley Bridge, at the northerly tip of the lake, offer shops, cafés and excellent pubs to tempt you. As well as this glorious scenery on your doorstep, Keswick and Ambleside are both within easy reach, making these two cottages a special place to stay with family and friends all year round.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.
About the location
POOLEY BRIDGE
Penrith 6 miles.
The picturesque village of Pooley Bridge sits on the northerly edge of Lake Ullswater in the Lake District National Park. The name Pooley came to be due to the forming of a large pool, which was left by the fast flowing River Eamont, and the word Bridge was later added when a bridge, which is now 250 years old, was built over the river. Pooley Bridge has many traditional inns and tempting tea rooms, plus the Ullswater Steamers depart from the village, from where a tranquil cruise down the lake to the villages of Glenridding and Howtown can be enjoyed. There are numerous walks with breathtaking views nearby, plus a short walk up to Dunmallard Hill reveals fascinating Iron-Age remains, whilst the towns of Penrith and Keswick are within driving distance. Pooley Bridge is an ideal base for a cottage holiday stay in the stunning Lake District.
View more holiday cottages in Pooley Bridge
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Christmas