About this property
A lovely Lakeland cottage, ideal for a young family or group. Built in the 18th century, Oaklea has been beautifully updated to provide luxury accommodation on the outskirts of lively Ambleside. Its vaulted ceilings, stone and oak floors, and exposed beams make it a property full of character. Superb bathrooms, generous bedrooms and a fabulous kitchen/diner make this a very welcome home from home. And the views are something else!
The entrance to Oaklea is at the heart of cottage and welcoming rooms, but before guiding you through the accommodation, it’s worth mentioning that there are many great places to store walking gear, with even a drying cupboard for soggy boots. The open plan kitchen/dining area is a real highlight of the property. Granite worktops and contemporary design make this a wonderful space to gather for breakfast, lunch or dinner and perfect for a catch up over a brew. Moving on from here is cosy living area with woodburning stove set in an impressive fireplace. The second reception room, known as the garden room, gives guests the chance to spread out and admire the garden through glass patio doors. Also on this level can be found a well-equipped utility room and a shower room with basin and wc.
Upstairs are three wonderful bedrooms. The master bedroom features a king size leather sleigh bed with en-suite bathroom. A monsoon shower is over the designer bath, with basin and wc. A second king size room with superb views, shares the marble house bathroom with a pretty twin room.
The garden outside is the perfect spot for relaxing on sunny days, with the sound of running water from nearby Stock Ghyll Waterfalls making it a soothing place in which to sit and meditate. What could be more perfect? There is private car parking for 2 cars. With the centre of Ambleside just a short stroll away, there is something for all ages and tastes. Cosy pubs, tea rooms, Zeffirelli’s cinema, pizzeria and jazz bar, the Glass House or Fellini’s for a film and vegetarian treat, the choice is yours.
Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips and watersports on Lake Windermere itself and numerous shops, restaurants and pubs in the village to suit all tastes. On the lakeside at Waterhead, the parkland offers lovely views down the lake and a short stretch of beach, whilst a walk in the other direction, following Stock Ghyll through woodland, will bring you to the entrancing waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force. Along with the Lake and the great walking on offer, Ambleside is also famous for its annual rushbearing ceremony and the diminutive 17th century “Bridge House” - one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District and now the National Trust Information Centre.
Accommodation
Three bedrooms: 2 x doubles with king size beds, (one with en-suite featuring monsoon shower over designer bath, basin and wc), 1 x standard double.
House bathroom with power shower over bath.
Garden room.
Kitchen/dining area.
Sitting room.
Utility room.
Additional shower room with basin and WC
Gas central heating and hot water.
Electric range with gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, TV, DVD, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Wood burning stove.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Designated parking for 2 cars.
Pub close by.
5 mintues from Ambleside and shops.
Sorry, no babies or infants, no pets and no smoking
Reviews (10)
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Barton
Ideal location for walks and town. Such a lovely place to active from, or rest inside. Lots of space - super large dining kitchen, utility kitchen. Adjoining snug lounge with high quality wood stove (clearview for those who know). Beautiful retiring lounge,(which we didn't even get to), opening on to an outdoor secluded patio. Lots of solid light oak around (beams, doors, skirting boards, staircase), clearly quality fittings, along with local slate detailing (alcoves & entrances). Upstairs we loved the bedrooms. It goes without saying the beds were all super comfortable, but also the thought put into the surroundings - local pictures, slate lamps, books - it was just lovely. I can't recommend Oak Lea highly enough, it was exactly what we wanted and then some. PS. being 3 minutes walk from the centre of Ambleside for drinks or meals was a real bonus, as was being able to do three walks from the house without touching the car. Thank you Oak Lea.
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Deborah
Family and friends have stayed with us. Lots of room to gather downstairs to socialise. Great location to town. Ambleside is a lovely quaint town, with lovely shops and good food establishments. However we struggled to eat out on the Saturday nights, we recommend to book or go out early. Our main advice for the property is to sort through the kitchen cupboards as too much clutter, there is a need for new pans as not many to cook with. Also the beds are too large in the bedrooms at the top of the stairs on the right. Therefore there was limited space to pass the beds, to get to the wardrobes. Finally, the sofas in the lounge (especially the two seater on the right) are extremely uncomfortable and need replacing. All in all we would definitely stay in Oaklea again, and have and will recommend it to friends and family.
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Charlotte
When you first walk into the property it looks amazing, but after youâve stayed a couple of nights, you notice the issues flagged in previous reviews and that updates that are needed. The house and garden needs a bit of TLC and general maintenance, particularly in the bathrooms. In the main bathroom, water leaks out the corner of the shower screen (even after positioning the shower head to point away from it). Thereâs a big patch of water damage on the landing carpet because of it, which will eventually become a bigger problem for the owner if not sorted. The left tap on the sink is also loose and falls off. In the master bedroom en-suite, the same problem with the shower screen, plus the toilet roll holder falls down and needs tightening up. The downstairs shower is the best option, but the pedal bin in there needs replacing as lid is no longer attached to the bin. In the master bedroom the curtains are very thin and the light pours through, and the curtains in all of the bedrooms are a bit ill-fitting. The kitchen is well-equipped, but most items needed washing before use as they werenât left clean and obviously hadnât been checked. The living rooms were both fine, but sofas could be better, a spring is poking up into the seat on one of them. The garden was the biggest disappointment, it needs a tidy up and the furniture needs replacing - itâs completely covered in rust and no cushions are provided. The location is fantastic though and the biggest plus, an easy downhill walk to the centre of Ambleside and Stock Ghyll Force - which you can also hear from the garden! All in all we would recommend staying here, but the owners really need to go round the house and take the feedback provided by everybody on board, if they want the house to be as nice as it has the potential to be.