Ghyll Bank Bungalow

46 Customer Reviews

• "Just spent 4 nights at Ghyll Bank Bungalow, absolutely stunning location on the outskirts of Stavely, beautiful views, located about 5 miles from Kendal and Windermere, had the pleasure of meeting Donald and Sylvia, lovely couple very friendly, would definitely recommend this property."

  Reviewed by Christopher5.0★Jun 2024

• "Lovely little venue."

  Stunning surroundings

  Reviewed by Alex5.0★Jan 2024

• "The bungalow is fine."

  Comfortable enough and lovely location - great views. Could do with a sort-out of the crockery etc (eg too many side plates but no bread board and only one wine glass) and it's not for those who like good looks, quality or modern style. But it's decent value, good place for walks and, overall, does the job. Thank you

  Reviewed by Clive3.8★Dec 2023

• "Was a cozy and comfortable cottage."

  Facilities were good, although they could do with some sharper kitchen knives. Thank you!

  Reviewed by Chad4.1★Dec 2023

• "It was a very lovely cottage the owners was very helpful there was everything ..."

  It was a very lovely cottage the owners was very helpful there was everything in it you needed thank you for helping us at the last minute

  Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Oct 2023

• "We had a lovely stay at gryll bungalow, the views were amazing, very quiet and cosy and the owners were very welcoming."

  The bungalow was well equipped with all we needed for our stay and lots of places to visit with lovely walks. All in all a very relaxing comfortable stay and would recommend a visit. We will definitely book again! Thank you Sylvia and Donald Jayne , chris, Brian and Bella

  Reviewed by Brian4.7★Jul 2023

• "Ignore the bad reviews."

  The bungalow was very clean, no bad smells. It had everything we needed to make our stay comfortable. We found the walk back from Staveley challenging as its up hill but well worth the amazing views. Plenty of places to explore nearby. We loved seeing the lambs everywhere.

  Reviewed by Alex4.7★Apr 2023

• "I only stayed one night, it was very damp and cold even with heaters and fire lit, there was a awful smell in the bedroom, and is very dated, the wood they provided for the fire had foam on it, which in my opinion is bad for the environment, really needs a massive makeover, and I’m afraid I don’t understand how they get away with letting it, as it is, when I told the owners they said oh we haven’t had any complaints before, but reading other reviews tells me different, it would be nice if I got my money back as it was the worst place I had ever stayed in, I have pictures if you would like to see them."

  Kind regards Jill.

  Reviewed by Jill1.9★Feb 2023

• "We really enjoyed our stay at Ghyll Bank bungalow."

  The weather was spot on for a January visit, sunny and not too cold. The bungalow itself was very comfortable with amazing views.

  Reviewed by Andrea5.0★Jan 2023

• "Lovely holiday bungalow."

  Great location with amazing views all around and very friendly, helpful owners. We hope to stay again one day.

  Reviewed by Leon5.0★Sep 2022

• "Cottage was lovely, had just about everything we needed."

  It was clean and although there was much bigger houses either side which were full of guests we still felt as that we were alone. Views from the front door was amazing. Kitchen was well equipped but the knifes could do with sharpening or replacing, chopping board was small but we managed and the frying pan was small and we struggled to cook our tea on the first night. Shower isn’t amazing and there was no toiletries or anything, but we will definitely be back.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth4.7★Aug 2022

• "There are lovely views from this cottage."

  Walk up on a nice day to take in the panorama (public footpath goes very close) but DON’T STAY HERE. The cottage is shabby, neglected and in dire need of some maintenance, sprucing up, replacement of many internal items and a deep clean. Some of contents appear to have come from a skip – you could get better on freegle or from a jumble sale/pound shop. Coupled with an apparent absence of even superficial cleaning before my arrival was the fact that much of the dirt was ingrained, not just recent. The utility/porch, in particular, was in an appallingly filthy state. (& light bulb didn’t work). The kitchen sink was dirty brown, embedded grime in kitchen caddy and washing up bowl. Empty soap container in kitchen. Food debris in kitchen cupboards. Filthy stained lampshades. Mould on bathroom ceiling, bathroom blind and a snail on the bathroom wall. Hairs on basin and on bath. Toilet brush bristles and holder had excrement in. Bedroom blind covered in mould. Dirty stained bedroom stool upholstery. Tatty threadbare ‘decorative’ cushions on bed. Accumulation of dirt along edges and in corners. Mass cobwebs throughout (not just an odd wispy recent one, clearly not been attended to in weeks/months). Sweet wrappers & other debris down side of sofa cushion. Of the three remotes for TV/DVD/VCR, one had no batteries, one had dead batteries, the other took a different size. No spare batteries in cottage. (unable to use TV until owner brought some batteries - he declined to leave any spares in the property). Told him there were corroded batteries in kitchen cupboard & queried why hadn’t cleaner removed them. Also relayed poor cleaning standard to him. He said you would know better than me what’s in here and said he’d ‘have a word’. He moaned about contract cleaners, difficulty getting seasonal staff. Made no apology and seemed pretty indifferent despite being told about various issues, including the snail in bathroom (which the cleaner could not have failed to see if they’d even gone in there). Other oddities/omissions/small gripes: No dustpan and brush. No bleach. “Bath” towels were small, thin & rough. Just 3 teaspoons yet over 30 side plates?! Provision of foil/cling film would have been useful, and has been in previous s/c I have stayed in. Apart from the dirt & neglect of the place, there was the issue of vehicles from the 4 adjoining lets; one a large building divided in 3 cottages, the other a large house taking around 16 people (that I counted). There was a minimum of 10 cars/vans during my entire stay, which turned round on, passed across and sometimes parked on, the area of tarmac directly in front of the cottage, meaning there was limited privacy and frequent engine noise/fumes. The cottage is anything but the idyllic, peaceful retreat it is made out to be. Having paid around £1,300 I made the best of my stay, but I was disgusted with it & to say it was disappointing is understatement of the century. I don’t think this property should even be let out again until cleanliness issues addressed & certain items replaced.

  Reviewed by Gill3.1★Aug 2022

• "A lovely little cottage in a beautiful area."

  The bungalow was small, but comfortable and well equipped. The only issue we had was parking. The houses on either side were full of guests from the same party....there was 13 cars, one of them parked within 3ft of our porch door. We did manage to park near the cottage before other vehicles arrived. However, this did not spoil our stay and we would definitely book again.

  Reviewed by Angela5.0★Jun 2022

• "This is a lovely location."

  Quite idyllic and isolated and yet easy access to Staveley and then Windermere. There are a number of interesting and challenging walks from the doorstep and it is very easy to get further afield to the higher fells. The bungalow has everything you need - good kitchen facilities and bathroom, comfortable bedrooms. This was my second visit and I hope I will be able to make a third some time in the future. It was also nice to meet the owners who dropped by on Sunday evening.

  Reviewed by Phil4.7★May 2022

• "Ghyll Bank Bungalow was everything we could have asked for."

  There was plenty of room for us and our dog, including space for her crate. The bedrooms were a great size as was the bathroom. The kitchen a perfect size and well stocked with crockery, pans and cutlery. Even with people staying in all the properties on site there was no noise to distract from the sound of birdsong outside. The views were amazing in every direction with a super choice of walks and hikes from the doorstop. The location was ideal for visiting Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick and Kendal. A visit from the owners, Mr and Mrs Beaty on our first morning was absolutely delightful, a real personal touch that you don't see very often.

  Reviewed by Sara5.0★May 2022

• "Fantastic getaway location with beautiful views."

  The stay was highly enjoyable and the log burner made it a lot better. The property could do with a refresh and the furniture updated. The seating was not comfortable at all so the evenings were hard to relax. The shower did not work and there was mould in the bathroom. The bed were very comfortable but just not to our taste. We would love to stay again if there was a uplift to the property and furniture.

  Thank you for your comments. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay and will look into the issues you have raised as a matter of priority. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Hannah2.5★May 2022

• "The cottage was lovely and the view's were fantastic."

  We really enjoyed our holiday, our little dog Jess enjoyed hill climbing. The owners of the property were very pleasant and sociable.

  Reviewed by Lesley5.0★Apr 2022

• "Wonderful Little Cottage/Bungalow."

  Ideal for exploring South Lakeland. Warm and Cosy (loved the log burning stove). Well appointed Kitchen, easy for self catering. Lovely owners, really helpful. Will definitely return next year.

  Reviewed by Janet5.0★Dec 2021

• "Some essential equipment missing in the kitchen, fridge old and not working properly, sofa grubby and bedrooms need refurbishing with unpleasant smell In main bedroom."

  Big house became a car park on change over day with 7 cars parked outside spoiling view from cottage. Fabulous views and quiet area attentive owners.

  Reviewed by James3.1★Aug 2021

• "Was not expecting to be so near to other properties."

  Maybe a different picture could be used. Saying that other properties were full and it was still peaceful.

  Reviewed by Martine4.7★Aug 2021

• "Needed handrails in the property"

  Reviewed by Julia4.4★Jul 2021

• "The bungalow is situated amongst four other properties which were all fully booked, this did not change the tranquility at all."

  A beautiful setting in which you can relax. I particularly liked to watch the birds of prey soaring around the valley. The bungalow has everything you need for a break away. We slept really well after full days of visiting some fantastic areas of interest. The bungalow was spotlessly clean and the owners were very attentive. This is an ideal base for a lovely holiday.

  Reviewed by Helen5.0★Jul 2021

• "Beautiful setting with fabulous views."

  Perfect size for family of three. Would definitely stay here again. Only small negativity would be that because the bungalow had been locked up over lockdown it was a bit musty to begin with; but nothing that a few good days with widows opened didn't fix. Met the owner who was lovely, ex dairy farmer and very friendly. Staveley itself has the Hawkshead Brewery which is definitely worth a visit. Would not hesitate to recommend!

  Reviewed by Victoria4.7★May 2021

• "We loved our stay in this cosy bungalow, when we stayed we didn’t have any neighbours bar 2 people next door, there is potential for it to get busy however didn’t bother us."

  The hosts were very nice and accommodating, even tho we did lock ourselves out at 12pm!! We were back in the bungalow within 20 mins! Lovely walks on the doorstep, and Windermere not too far away.

  Reviewed by Danni5.0★May 2021

• "The cottage was warm and clean with the bonus of the wood burner on cold nights."

  It had everything we required for our relaxing holiday. Very handy being inbetween Kendal and Windermere plenty of places to eat and attractions for everyone. The only down side to the cottage is that it is very close to the large house which can occupy 2/3 families which on busy weekends and school holidays, this could make the cottage less private and peaceful.

  Reviewed by Susan4.1★May 2021

• "This was our 3rd visit to Ghyll Bank Bungalow, we love the location it’s so peaceful with just the sounds of the sheep & the wind."

  It’s has everything you need, the log burner is a bonus. It’s just nice looking out of the window & admiring the view. If you want a quiet peaceful holiday this is a perfect location.

  Reviewed by Ed5.0★Sep 2020

• "The property is shown entirely on its own and we booked it because of that as we wanted to be isolated."

  In fact there are 2 large properties adjacent and there were children running around and dogs, one of which barked a lot. This wasn't what we'd expected or what we wanted. There should be a different photo. The property is listed as having TV, however this did not work during the whole week. The picture was so pixelated that it was impossible to watch on any channel. We rang the owner who did come and have a look at it and re-tuned it (which I had done already) but the picture was just as bad. We were looking forward to relaxing evenings watching our favourite programmes but this was impossible and spoiled much of the holiday for us. We did tell the owner (by text) that the TV still didn't work but nothing more was done. Additionally we had taken some DVDs but were unable to watch these as, although it worked fine, there was no remote control and so it was impossible to use subtitles which we need as my husband is hearing impaired. On the day we left, we found the remote which had been put (by previous occupants?) in a corner of the main bedroom - we hardly thought to look there! Perhaps the cleaner could ensure that all remotes are in the right place. There were no instructions for TV or DVD which would have been useful. A small point - but there was no bath mat. This would be useful. There was no casserole type dish (apart from a really tiny one) which would also have been useful. The screen for the shower round the side of the bath didn't stay put very well - could that be looked at? There were many good points, however: excellent supply of hot water; comfy beds and good decoration throughout.

  Reviewed by Sally3.4★Aug 2020

• "The good bits!"

  Absolutely beautiful views, while the photos of Ghyll Bank are as has previously been stated misleading in that it’s very much sandwiched between two other large dwellings, nevertheless when we stayed we were not encroached by this with both properties being empty. With a full complement of guests present on site this would be far from isolated (I’d imagine) everything one would need is present though some attention to detail would help. It’s location offers easy access to a good proportion of beautiful lake land, without the need to travel vast distances & the local village of Staveley is well appointed with eating & shopping facilities. Ghyll Bank is certainly warm & dry & overall provides a lovely base. Not so good are the niggles. Attention to detail would have left us with the means to light the wood burner which, we felt we needed by the evening as the storage heat drops away a little by then & the electric bar fire is broken. The wood store leaks leaving a good proportion of wood soaking wet but there was enough dry to be able to cope. The shower screen is abysmal, it needs to be manually wedged in order to use it, but there is plenty of hot water. A drainer on the sink draining board would be useful too. Be warned clothes storage in the second bedroom is limited!

  Reviewed by Mark4.1★Jan 2020

• "Lovely quiet little cottage about 2km outside Staveley and a short taxi ride to Bowness."

  Easy enough to find as it’s just off the A road from the M6 to Bowness. The cottage is remote enough that you feel you’ve “got away from it all” but no so remote that it’s a bind getting to some sort of “civilisation” (aka, the pub). It is the smaller of the three cottages available, ideal for just a couple or a couple with a child. The facilities are very good, well laid out, very cosy and comfortable and well appointed. Highly recommended.

  Reviewed by Nick5.0★Jan 2020

• "We enjoyed Ghyll Bank Bungalow."

  Very quiet place with superb views.

  Reviewed by Lori4.1★Nov 2019

• "Great little bungalow, very cosy."

  Will definitely be returning

  Reviewed by Tracey4.7★Nov 2019

• "Can’t fault anything it was a lovely break and would come back"

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★Oct 2019

• "A fabulous home for our weekend away !"

  We loved the bungalow which was plenty spacious and very clean on arrival! A great base for our trip to the lakes as able to reach lots of lovely nearby areas. Had a walk out of the back of Ghyll Bank and instantly had phenomenal views and a great hike! Thank you to Mr and Mrs Beaty for our fantastic stay x

  Reviewed by Ashleigh4.7★Oct 2019

• "I raised a complaint the day arrived."

  We didn’t stay. The property has not recently received any investment from the owners, nor had it been cleaned. The photographic evidence speaks for itself. have called three times since and each time, I have had to call because the promised call from you has not been received. On this basis I would not recommend the property nor Sykes. I have also left the appropriate feedback via Trip Adviser.

  Reviewed by Julie1.3★Aug 2019

• "This is a cosy, comfortable bungalow with stunning views."

  It was spotlessly clean and had everything we needed. It is a perfect location for access to Windermere which is a short drive away. It is situated between two larger properties, both of which were occupied but we did not find that intrusive at all We enjoyed sitting on the bench looking at the view. Two small suggestions - a welcome tray would be nice after a long journey and it would have been nice to have two toilet rolls rather than just one. We loved this place. Thank you.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth4.7★Aug 2019

• "Lounge furniture was very uncomfortable and main bedroom smelled slightly damp."

  Bungalow was spotlessly clean ,very well equipped and owners were very helpful and friendly.

  Reviewed by Stephen4.1★Aug 2019

• "The images don’t reflect the fact that the cottage is actually in the middle of the car park between two larger properties ( within 50ft) The cottage has been renovated in bits bathroom is lovely but the rest of it has been given a cheap makeover."

  Has the feel of a 1960’s pontin chalet! Hot water is technical - is on a small immersion that you need to remember to boost on a regular basis especially if you want a bath or two showers in a row!! Couple who run it try really hard and are lovely they’re just not in touch with modern expectations, I suspect. We own a holiday cottage ourselves so we do understand the challenges- however they either need to upgrade or be more explicit in their marketing in order to manage people’s expectations.

  Reviewed by Mark2.2★Mar 2019

• "Ghyll Bank location perfect, fantastic views, the facilities of the bungalow were as described and perfect for the two of us plus one dog for a long weekend, but the whole site is superb."

  .. we will be going back and if there are more of us we will stay in one of the other units as they are amazing!!! The owners were lovely to deal with and so helpful .

  Reviewed by Kay5.0★Mar 2019

• "Comfortable, warm cottage on a beautiful, well kept farm but poor communication regarding keys."

  Listing does not mention 2 large adjacent cottages which housed large groups of noisy guests. WiFi didn’t work. Facilities acceptable for self catering but no attempt to make it a memorable visit - a few teabags would go a long way. We’ve stayed self catering in the Lakes before and find the price of this cottage too steep for what you get.

  Reviewed by Jo-ann3.4★Nov 2018

• "Delightful location and a great place from which to explore the valleys and ridges of Kentdale and Longsleddale on foot."

  There are some excellent walks on the doorstep. I could imagine for some the location might be considered somewhat isolated but if you want peace and quiet and superb tracks and bridleways then Ghyll Bank is perfect.

  Reviewed by Phil4.4★Sep 2018

• "A problem with electric sockets was dealt with promptly by Zoe at Sykes Cottages shop Windermere who contacted owners on our behalf ( no mob."

  signal on my phone) and dealt with by owners the same day. A few more microwaveable containers would be good but not a huge problem. Comfortable enough for two but think 3 people would find it a bit cramped. Over all nice place to stay lovely views little bit off beaten track

  Reviewed by Elizabeth4.1★Sep 2018

• "The village of Staveley is very quaint."

  Post office sells the best pork pies we’ve ever tasted. Hawkshead brewery which is in the village serves superb real ales. Wilfs cafe renowned for their legendary breakfasts. The bungalow itself is lovely and has everything necessary for your stay , however could do with a couple of easy chairs in living room. The beauty of the local scenery and different walks from The bungalow are breathtaking.

  Reviewed by Maria4.7★Jun 2018

• "Absolutely loved it."

  Booked our return already!

  Reviewed by Anonymous5.0★May 2018

• "A beautiful setting overlooking the the valley down to the village."

  We had the large house and the bungalow and I wonder if the large group (18) of us may have rather over shadowed the people staying in the other cottages. You can walk out direct from the house but beware that there are a lot of sheep about. We had a well behaved young dog with us and we had to keep an eye on her the whole time. No exploring on her own. The village of Staveley, a 20 minute walk away is brilliant. Superb bakery, pub, cafes, brewery. Plus chemists, small shops et al. The owners of the house came by a few times and we usually had a chat and a cup of tea. Cuckoos calling and House Martins nesting under the eaves. As you can probably tell, we had a great time.

  Reviewed by Roger5.0★May 2018

• "The property was not over clean,we had to wipe all surfaces, the property smelt and was very damp we brought some fragrance spray and some glad Jels to try and make the place smell better."

  The bedding had hairs in it ,so we used our own.the dvd did not work and the bathroom heater did not stay on.The washing machine was caked up with old powder .which we had to scrub and clean before we could use it.over all the worst property we have ever stayed in.We shall not return.We left the property twice as clean as when we arrived.The owner emailed us to say we had left clothes behind,if he had checked the property before we had arrived he would have known the clothes had been left buy another renter before us,just shows he had not done the cleaning or inspected the condition of the property before we arrived.

  Reviewed by Trevor1.9★Mar 2018

• "The only reason we wouldn't re book this cottage is because we like to stay in different places each holiday."

  Reviewed by Alan4.8★Sep 2016

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