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10 Guests
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5 Bedrooms
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5 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Ground floor bedroom
- Garden / Patio
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Games Room
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
32 Customer Reviews
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"Just fabulous."
Location on lake perfect and villa has everything you could need and perfect for puppy Johnny.
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"Fantastic property in the most beautiful location."
The property had everything you needed for a relaxing stay. We spent the week here with our family and had a great time.
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"We found the accommodation of a very high quality with all of the necessary amenities available."
It was warm and comfortable with amazing views and a beautifully landscaped garden with our own private jetty. The shower pressure was 'amazing' and the beds were very comfortable. The only exception is that it would have been nice to have a bbq to use. Some clients have made reference about the TV in the living area being poorly positioned with reference to shining light from outside, but TBH there is the added benefit of the cinema room so we would not mark it down for that. Would definitely go back, so for us that is the best measure of a great place to stay. Thank you
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"Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Kessock."
House is modern. spacious and well maintained. View over Lake Windermere is delightful. We would certainly return for another stay.
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"Every thing was nice the house has every things we need and the kitchen was full of everything we need , one small point i wish the house keeping clean more especially the rules allow pet & the refrigerator wasn’t clean from inside but , I mentioned this for improvement for the next guest ."
But still we enjoyed our stay the is full of love “ five stars “
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"A spectacular location (although drive & garden quite steep) with great views and easy lake access for water sports or cold water swimming."
Plenty of parking (extreme caution needed on exit) A spacious home with a well equipped kitchen & excellent bathrooms (no hairdryer(s) provided
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"Lovely house in a perfect location."
Stunning views and overall a very relaxing place. House provides comfort and luxury. No issues at all. A bit pricey but still worth the experience
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"Wow, what a special holiday we have had in this property."
The house is beautiful in an amazing location. There is nothing better than waking up to that view everyday and walking down the garden to your very own jetty. The house is so comfortable with everything you need. The only thing that was missing was a hoover/sweeping brush and mop. Maybes it was in one of the locked cupboards but there was nothing about this is the welcome pack. Minor issue of no locks on the bathroom doors either but overall an amazing property and beautiful location
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"Excellent stay with 5 couples, plenty of space perfect lakeside location."
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"You will need to take toilet rolls , bin bags , spices ,dishwasher and washing tablets."
Fabulous views from property. Shame not good footpaths alongside main road .
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"Kessock certainly has the WOW factor for both its location and facilities."
Previous reviews had us worried but everything we could have wished for was included.We took kitchen supplies but didn't need them apart from salt & pepper. Everything was luxurious and of the highest modern standards.We enjoyed our celebratory week with family and friends despite the ever changing lakeland weather. Having your own jetty made it very easy for our paddle boards and lake swimming.
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"The property was lovely."
A beautiful setting. However, for this price of rental property, we would have expected a higher standard of cleaning (floors not clean, cobwebs, infestation of ants on the terrace, kitchen units not very clean). We were also told there was a Games room - it had a few board games and a foosball table with no ball! Think that was not quite as described. We were also surprised that there was no BBQ or Welcome Pack. Most disappointingly, hand soap that needed replenishing as well as a lack of basics such as salt/pepper, extra toilet rolls, kitchen worktop cleaning spray and scourers. When reported, we were advised that the Property owner had advised this was for us to bring. Given the amount you pay for the property, I think that's unreasonable. Don't market your property as being high end, if you are not willing to provide the standard that would be expected. It is a gorgeous property - just a few basic changes and i would recommend it.
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"It appears you are not taking note of the previous reviews!"
This is potentially a very comfortable house but for the money one does expect at least the basics covered.....for example not enough toilet roll [some loos without any], 1/2 filled soap dispensers, no shampoos etc & only one tea towel, no salt & pepper or cooking oil, no dishwasher salt or anything!!! Houses of this calibre usually have all this as standard plus more. There were only 6 wine glasses & one of these was cracked - we had to buy our own. I am not the first to say all this. Furniture is from Ikea so OK but not quality. A few more soft furnishings would reduce the echos & dampen the sound so worth considering. How about putting the name outside the house on the road so guests don't miss it!
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"We had a fabulous week here."
The location is superb. The weather was kind and we spent a lot of the time in the lake with our paddle boards. It is very well equipped. I had bought spares of some items just in case but not required. I did have my dog with me and agree with past guests re the warnings in the information pack. Most dog owners take care to abide by the rules. There is a fire-pit provided and we took our own BBQ. There is still no hand towel in the communal toilet? We used one from the bedrooms in the end. The accommodation is lovely and warm, views spectacular! Short drive to shops and nice 5 mile walk from the door. Heed the warnings provided by the owner…steep drive with limited view on exiting. Chicken wire on the pontoon etc. We found the instant hot water tap a bit lethal too! All in all a fab stay and highly recommend
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"The house was wonderful with the selling point being the location."
This is effectively why a high price is paid for this rental. We had a lovely holiday particularly due to the good weather for most of the week. The house itself was beautiful although the quality of some of the furnishings were not necessarily to the high standard expected for the price but this didn’t detract from the holiday as they served the purpose. Given the price of the rental I would have expected the provision of some basic items which you generally receive with the majority of holiday lettings and I would say expected when renting eg a hairdryer, docking station or Bluetooth speaker and BBQ. Finally we felt the tone of the messages left ( not sure whether this is Sykes or cleaning agency) with regard to cleaning/actions at the end of the stay could be softened and even though we did not have a pet staying with us, particularly the tone of the note regarding cleaning up after pets. I appreciate there may be a minority of people who may not clean up adequately but the majority of tenants do and thus should be reflected in the notes left in the house. Overall a wonderful place to stay and thoroughly enjoyed.
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"Fantastic property and very well designed."
The view was breathtaking and a pleasure to wake up to every morning with a nice cup of coffee on the terrace. I would highly recommend this property.
Many thanks for your comments, so glad you had a lovely time. Property Owner
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"A lovely house in a great position on Lake Windermere between Bowness and Newby Bridge."
Well equipped property with beautiful views over the lake. The only issue we had was the entrance to the property from the main road which was obscured, hard to find and dangerous to exit with vehicles parked near the entrance to the drive blocking the exit view.
Thank you for your kind comments. We agree the Kessock is very special on the shore of Windermere. We hope you had a lovely break.We do note your comments in respect of the drive, we find the easiest approach is to turn around in the car park adjoining the Beech Hill so you enter the drive in the direction of Bowness and exit in the direction of Newby Bridge. It is possible to turn into the drive from either direction but as with many of the lakeside properties the turn is tight. We look forward to welcoming you again Property Owner
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"Lovely well-equipped accommodation in a beautiful location."
Owners have responded to feedback from previous holiday makers (eg there was plenty soap provided). The entrance is very steep with limited hand rails which was not ideal for older members of the party. Unfortunately we arrived on night after snow and the access was treacherous. We were directed to grit but there was no shovel or brush available so we had to clear a path using our car scraper.
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"Following the initial "wow factor" of the house our experience was very disappointing."
The house looks fabulous but failed to deliver on a number of occasions as follows. 1. The central heating broke down and we had 24 hours without any heat or hot water, this resulted in the following day having a workman in the house for a number of hours. We spent the night huddled around in blankets - not what we had been looking forward to! The plumber was unable to fix it but managed to set the emersion so that we had hot water. Bill spoke with the owner on Saturday night he asked if there was an immersion heater, the owner said no. The workman turned it on when he arrived to give us hot water. The workman also said that there were a couple of heaters in the locked cupboard! We wanted to swim in the lake but were unable to do so as the house was so cold, and we couldn't have hot showers. 2. Following the heating repair, the power kept tripping and everything going off. This meant more workmen in the house from 8am the following day for a number of hours again. We eventually worked out that the toaster was faulty, so the power situation was resolved but we were left without a toaster. 3. We brought coffee pods as the description said that there was a Nespresso machine, this also didn't work it would produce weak coffee and the milk "heater and frother" didn't work at all. We had to use a pan with a whisk 4. Some of our party decided to go home early as a result of the issues as they needed to work and felt we couldn't rely on the services. 5. There have been workmen next door for the last few days who have blocked the drive with their vans a few times and the noise has disturbed the tranquillity we expected. This work started before 8am most mornings with banging and loud music. We had planned long walks with the dogs which didn't happen as we had to stay in for the workmen. We had planned a big dinner which was spoilt. We all work really hard and were looking forward to some lazy mornings, between the workmen coming to sort out the faulty facilities and the persistent noise next door this just wasn't possible. You described it as ‘pet friendly’ but you mention additional charges unless there is “no evidence of the pet on departure”. which did not sound pet friendly at all. Overall, we have been extremely disappointed with what promised to be a fabulous weekend. It wasn't what we paid for or what we expected. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on resolving the situation. Sylvia
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"House and facilities are amazing as are the grounds."
All in all we had a lovely restful stay and the views over the lake are superb. A few constructive comments - the entrance to the property is so difficult and dangerous to exit due to lack of vision either left or right, and entering from the North is also difficult. Mirrors opposite the entrance may help? When exiting, our passenger had to leave the car to check for traffic and we needed to always turn right and turn round at the public car park a short distance away. The toilet off the lounge on ground floor would benefit from an engaged/vacant lock. Duvets could benefit from being upgraded. The glass door to the master bedroom en suite could be more opaque for privacy purposes. Many thanks David Mojic
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"We had a fabulous family holiday making lots of wonderful memories."
Kessock is such a special house with fabulous views over the lake. Very well equipped for catering for our large family. Would highly recommend this house to anyone we had a wide range of ages in our family group from 2 - 67 and everyone loved it and we would definitely use this house again.
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"Fantastic property that matched all our expectations."
The property is well-maintained and enjoys an elevated position looking out and over Lake Windermere. It's also in a great location, slightly away from the hustle and bustle of Bowness town centre. You're close enough, though, to get to all the walks the area offers within 10/15 minutes. We will be booking again for the summer of 2023. 100%!
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"Amazing property and host was great."
Would definitely stay again. Sunset views from the balcony were a highlight.
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"Property itself is great however no basic amenities provided eg."
Shower gel, hand wash also property was not as clean as it should be considering check out is 930am and check in is 5pm giving ample time to clean to a high standard. Also no welcome pack was provided usually at other properties there is a welcome pack. This should come as standard. Finally on the bottom floor phone signal is poor and WiFi doesn't connect either.
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"The house was absolutely lovely and we had a fantastic week."
It's as good as the photos suggest, it is well equipped, comfortable and easily absorbed nine of us. Being able to launch from the bottom of the garden was great and meant we went out on the lake every day. We did feel that the housekeeping let it down a bit- although the house was clean when we arrived it wasn't spotless and two blinds were broken and stuck shut which wasn't ideal. We reported this to the company and they responded promptly and sent somebody out but they weren't fixed. We would have been less bothered by this had the messages left in the house and those sent by Sykes been a bit better phrased. I understand the need for clear instructions but the tone was rather unwelcoming. We agreed with the other reviewers' comments about the wifi and table football. For what we paid, and compared to other places we have stayed, we would expect to have tea towels, bin bags and hand soap provided, and a hand towel for the first floor cloakroom. These are all minor things, inevitable in a new property, and didn't stop us thoroughly enjoying our holiday.
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"We had a great time in this lovely property and have a few suggestions that we feel would make it even better."
Overall this is a wonderful place so these are minor gripes.Thank you. - Preferably provide soap in all the bathrooms or be clear that guests need to bring it. - Please put light switches in the bathrooms and remove the sensors - it is annoying to be having a shower and for the light to automatically turn off and also for the light to come on when using the bathroom in the middle of the night and then take severl minutes to turn off. - It was very sweet to be given two little bags of fudge as a welcome gift but for a property of this standard we would expect a more useful welcome pack e.g. fresh milk in the milk, perhaps a nice cake and a bottle of wine. - We were very disappointed that there was just one rubbish bin at the property and no facilities for recycling but are not sure if this is the owners' choice or if Cumbria does not offer recycling collections and bins. - Also in regard to the kitchen it would be useful to have a sieve and/or colander. - We loved playing table football but were frustrated that the nuts holding the bars in place kept coming off. We suggest the owners fix this better or get a new table.
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"A superb property with stunning views over the Lake which was ideal for an extended family holiday."
There was plenty of room for 10 of us and the cinema room downstairs was an added bonus. The kitchen was full of mod cons and nobody minded cooking as we could still see the amazing views over the Lake from the kitchen area. It was great being able to use the jetty at the end of the garden for our canoes and we could store them safely down there. The only minor criticism is that the table football upstairs kept breaking when the boys tried to use it as one of the handles kept coming loose.
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"This is a stunning property with an even more amazing view - if you're thinking about somewhere truly special to stay, book it!"
We had a wonderful time in this house. Everything is perfect in almost every way apart from a couple of easily fixed niggles, as highlighted below. Some hopefully positive feedback for the property owner to help enhance the service you're offering your guests: 1) Please consider a Wifi extender for the bottom floor - it's pretty cheap to do but would mean the wifi reaches all over the house, rather than only the top two floors. 2) Please recognise that using Covid as a reason to insist people strip their own beds in what is a very expensive, premium holiday property is becoming rapidly out of date - swapping a simple job for professional cleaners who are paid to do it to something you ask guests who have paid you several thousands of pounds makes no sense at all. Please provide a level of service that reflects the price paid. 3) Similarly to the point above, whilst we really appreciated the biscuits, wine and coffee left at the property, when you're charging what you are for a delightful property, we felt it would be more in-keeping and welcoming to offer a modest welcome hamper perhaps with some basics like bread and milk etc, as per other similar properties. All in all a wonderful stay and I hope our feedback helps shape future guest experience in time for when we return :) :)
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"We enjoyed a fabulous week at Kessock."
The house is very well equipped and everything is well planned. The views are amazing and we loved being able to launch the canoes from the private beach on the lake shore.
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"Beautiful home with the most amazing views."
So happy we were able to take our dogs with us as it would be a shame for them to miss out. The home is that clean/well maintained that you wouldn’t even think they allowed dogs. We already can’t wait to come back. Best holiday home we have ever stayed in.
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"Outstanding property, superb location, excellent facilities."
We will definitely be back !!
So glad you had a lovely time, look forward to seeing you next year. Property Owner
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"Fantastic accommodation - brilliant location and access to the water."
We felt very comfortable.
Pleased you enjoyed Kessock, shame weather wasn't kinder for you to enjoy more time on the lake. Property Owner
Summary
- Lower Ground Floor – 1 x master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite with freestanding bath, walk-in shower, double basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 further bedroom with king-size bed, en-suite walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC, Cinema room, Hallway providing access to rear garden and patio
- Ground Floor – First floor open plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area, 1 x king-size with en-suite bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 x king-size with en-suite walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 x twin with en-suite walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC, fully equipped utility with washing machine and dryer, Cloakroom with basin and WC
- Mezzanine - games room with table football and board games
- Oil central heating with underfloor heating throughout
- Electric steam oven second oven, hob with built in extractor, microwave, fridge/freezer with ice dispenser, dishwasher, coffee maker, wine fridge
- WiFi, 2 x Smart TV’s, table football
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off-road parking for 5 cars
- Front multi-level garden with sheltered patio, gravelled area and furniture
- Balcony with furniture
- Two well behaved pets welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Note: This is a multi-level property with a steep incline to access the house from the off-road parking, please take care
- Note: The garden area is not enclosed and leads to Lake Windermere, pets and children should be supervised at all times
- Note: The property televisions have on demand and streaming services only, there are no terrestrial TV channels
- Note: If you want to do any watersports you will need to provide your own sporting equipment
- Note: No hen, stag or similar parties
The property
A striking and beautifully finished lakeside property found approximately 3 miles to the south of Bowness in Windermere.
Kessock sits in an idyllic location on the shores of Lake Windermere and offers a truly exceptional Lake District holiday home.
Delighting in views across Windermere to Coniston Old Man, one of the Lake District’s most well-known and popular climbs, this property will put you and your loved ones in the perfect position to discover the best of this national park.
Kessock is nestled within its own landscaped gardens, with bridges crossing streams and a winding path leading down to its own lake frontage with private beach, and tiered picnic area.
There is a private jetty for those with a boating interest.
The house was rebuilt in 2021 and comprises split level property with open plan kitchen, dining and living room opening onto a balcony, together with cinema room and mezzanine games/ snug and five double ensuite bedrooms, all of which makes the property perfect for a large family or group of up to 10 for contemporary splendour and the wilds of the Lake District on your doorstep.
On arrival you will park on the drive which provides space for at least five cars.
A path leads you down to the front door and allows glimpses of the truly tremendous views from which the property benefits.
On entering you will find a gorgeous open-plan living space with floor to ceiling windows framing the views of Lake Windermere and beyond., Unique furnishings and artwork abound as well as inviting areas to socialise and plan your holiday.
Savour a hearty breakfast at the rustic dining table for 10 guests, prepared by the group's chef in the well-equipped, beautifully appointed kitchen with Neff ovens and hob, American style fridge/freezer with ice dispenser, and a Nespresso coffee machine to kick-start your mornings.
A built-in wine cooler will chill your wine to perfection.
Three comfy sofas await in the lounge area, where you will have the difficult decision to either watch the wall hung Smart TV or watch the ever changing lake views.
Younger guests will relish the mezzanine games room and opportunity to challenge the family to table football or curl up into a cosy corner with a good book.
For the ultimate space to host movie marathons, head down to the lower ground-floor cinema room with your favourite snacks to find plenty of cushioned seats and a large, wall-mounted Smart TV.
A first-floor balcony has plenty of seating to dine alfresco on warmer evenings or savour your morning coffee in peace.
As the sun sets over Lake Windermere, choose from one of five delightful bedrooms, all of which feature en-suite bath or shower rooms; you'll wake up to lakeside views in two lower ground-floor king-size bedrooms, whilst two more king-size and a twin are on the ground floor, all with ample storage space and blissful beds to retreat under the sheets.
Both lower ground floor bedrooms benefit from patio doors opening onto a private patio, on which you can enjoy your morning coffee or your evening night cap on the bistro furniture sets provided.
Quickly freshen up in the first-floor cloakroom before heading out the door to explore this fabulous area of the Lakes.
Right on your doorstep are just some of the wonderful perks of staying here, including a sheltered terrace with outdoor seating to make the most of your surroundings; why not take a bottle of wine fresh from the kitchen's wine cooler and toast to your retreat?
Follow the gravelled path right down to the lake and private jetty where guests can kayak and relish their own little piece of paradise.
If you can tear yourself away, plenty of attractions and amenities await; Kessock is next door to the Beech Hill Hotel and Spa to dine out with your loved ones or utilise the spa and pool facilities to recover after a long mountain hike.
Take a short drive into Bowness-on-Windermere and Windermere, where plenty of shops and eateries are at hand for your self-catering holiday, as well as boat trips and cruises along the lake, the stories behind beloved characters at The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction or pack a picnic and climb up Orrest Head Viewpoint for stunning vistas.
Kessock is an ideal location for discovering the delights of the Lake District, with Brockhole for high wire tree top experiences less than two miles away, and the historic villages of Grasmere, Ambleside and Troutbeck offering traditional tearooms, independent stores and plenty of local walks through picture-perfect countryside.
Head to Grizedale for forest trails, memorable mountain views and famous outdoor sculptures, where adventurous guests can mountain bike along exhilarating trails or take to Go-Ape Park.
To pair your rural retreat with contemporary comforts, choose Kessock for your holiday home in the Lake District.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £1000.
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, 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 less than two miles away, and the historic villages of Grasmere, Ambleside and Troutbeck are a short drive away. There are 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
Note: This is a multi-level property with a steep incline to access the house from the off-road parking, please take care.
Note: The garden area is not enclosed and leads to Lake Windermere, pets and children should be supervised at all times.
Note: The property televisions have on demand and streaming services only, there are no terrestrial TV channels
Note: No hen, stag or similar parties
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas