Holly Howe Cottage, Ambleside, Cumbria, The Lake District, England - Sleeps 6

About Holly Howe Cottage

Holly Howe Cottage has been welcoming family and visitors alike since we became its owners in 1995. Because our plans to retire there needed to be changed, it continues to be available for holidays. Our focus is to offer guests our personal service, and a reasonably priced, inviting holiday home whatever the time of year. We are fortunate to have the services of a local housekeeper who is ‘on the spot’ should there be an unexpected difficulty which we can’t easily solve from Somerset.

Holly Howe Cottage was traditionally built with stone walls under a slate roof in about 1862. It sits in a terrace just on the threshold of Wansfell Pike as it rises up out of Ambleside. Happily, the road is a private cul-de-sac, which gives us ownership of a marked designated parking space for one car at the front gate.

Inside the cottage there is space for up to six people to sleep in three comfortable bedrooms, with guests enjoying beautiful views over the village to Loughrigg from the front of the cottage, and the approach to Wansfell from the back. The garden to the rear has an insulated summerhouse where guests can enjoy perhaps some hot chocolate in the winter or maybe a glass of wine in the summer, and there is a terrace with outdoor furniture for alfresco dining or picnics. The cottage is a welcoming home for you on your holiday whatever the season. It is fully centrally heated and there is a cosy and comforting log burner in the sitting room which, we think, brings that unique enveloping warmth in the colder weather.

Ambleside is an ideal base for a holiday in the Lake District, since it is central and therefore within easy reach of many popular sights and attractions. There are beautiful walks from the door of the cottage - a favourite of ours being the short ramble through the top garden gate, along the back lane and through the woods to the Stock Ghyll Force. Another easy option is to follow the footpath at the back of the cottage to the road which leads to the foot of Wansfell Pike, where there is a bench from which to admire a panoramic view of distant fells. It’s easy to immerse yourself in the beautiful landscape. A walk across the village leads to the path up over Loughrigg, or challenge yourself to a trek around the commanding and famous Fairfield Horseshoe. The choice of walks varies widely in duration and difficulty; whether you're aiming for a leisurely hour's stroll or a strenuous 12-hour hike, you'll find the perfect route here. Helvellyn, Coniston Old Man and the approach to High Street are all within 40 minutes drive. Cycling is also a good way to explore. There is an excellent and largely traffic free family-friendly network of cycle/walking paths around Ambleside and more challenging bridleway options for mountain bikers.

Well known local landmarks include the 17th-Century Bridge House in the centre of the village, and the Roman fort at Waterhead. Close by you also have Wordsworth's Dove Cottage in Grasmere, Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts house just outside Bowness, and Beatrix Potter's Hill Top home at Near Sawrey. Ambleside's Armitt Museum holds a beautiful collection of Beatrix Potter's scientific paintings, and the Ruskin Museum at Coniston has displays featuring Donald Campbell. The Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry in Kendal hosts an Arthur Ransome exhibition, a must for "Swallows and Amazons" enthusiasts, who might also enjoy The Windermere Jetty Museum. There are several National Trust houses and gardens in the area. Boat Trips can be taken from Waterhead on the northern shore of Windermere, which is approximately a 20 minute walk from the cottage. There is a cinema in the village showing a choice of recent releases, offering something suitable for all ages. Not only is the landscape beautiful but the regionally produced food and drink is some of the most delicious you will enjoy anywhere in the UK. The local restaurants and pubs take pride in using fresh produce in their seasonal menus.

It doesn't matter whether you have never been to the Lake District before or if you make it an annual pilgrimage, as many of our guests do, the location and comfort of Holly Howe Cottage will ensure your stay is one you will always remember.