Guests say
Flaska House is a well-received holiday rental with stunning views of Blencathra and a location ideal for exploring the Lake District. Guests praise the spacious, well-equipped kitchen, cosy living areas, and the sunroom for its scenery. The property's setting is perfect for a peaceful retreat and is appreciated for its cleanliness, comfort, and thoughtful touches.
Most guests found Flaska House clean and well-kept, though there were isolated complaints about specific cleanliness issues such as unflushed toilets and dirty kitchenware. These seem to be exceptions rather than the rule.
The location is highly praised for its stunning views and proximity to local attractions, making it an excellent base for hikes and exploring the Lake District. Its remote setting is appreciated for tranquillity, though some noted the distance from shops and pubs.
Guests generally found the house comfortable, with spacious rooms and cosy living spaces. However, there were comments about the need for better pillows and softer beds, suggesting room for improvement in this area.
The property is well-equipped with a range of facilities, but some guests reported maintenance issues such as leaks, blocked gutters, and a broken microwave plate. These issues indicate that while facilities are generally good, there is a need for better upkeep.
Guests mentioned thoughtful gestures such as a welcome card and Prosecco on arrival, which contributed positively to their experience. However, as these gifts are not guaranteed for every stay, they should be considered a bonus rather than an expectation.
About this property
Approached down a narrow lane, flanked by towering Scots pines, the driveway leads to this charming cottage. Park outside the front door and step through the porch into the open-plan kitchen and dining area.
The well-equipped kitchen boasts a large central island, perfect for gathering, while a substantial family dining table sits conveniently to the side. Beyond the kitchen lies the spacious summer room, offering breathtaking views towards Blencathra. Doors open from here directly onto the garden, inviting the outside in.
The cosy and welcoming lounge, with comfortable sofas and armchairs arranged around the log burning stove and TV, is the perfect spot to relax. Patio doors provide direct access to the rear garden and patio.
Stairs ascend to the first-floor landing, leading to four well-appointed bedrooms, one of which benefits from an en-suite shower room. A family bathroom and separate shower room complete the first-floor accommodation. To the rear of the property, a spacious lawned garden with comfortable outdoor furniture offers stunning views, creating an idyllic setting.
To the front of the cottage, a wildlife garden provides a haven for nature and is currently home to a delightful family of red squirrels. These playful residents are regular visitors, often seen scampering amongst the trees and providing a truly enchanting spectacle for guests.
Flaska House is ideally located within easy reach of the shores of Ullswater (just ten minutes away) and the popular market town of Keswick (a twenty-minute drive). This charming cottage offers guests the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind amidst beautiful surroundings, providing a superb base from which to explore the Lake District.
The small Lakeland village of Troutbeck can be found between its more famous neighbours Windermere and Ambleside, close by the Kirkstone Pass. A mixture of houses, cottages and farms, the village is scattered along a narrow lane bordered by a drystone wall. Many of these buildings date back to the 17th Century with features such as mullioned windows and heavy cylindrical chimneys and the northern end boasts its own 17th century inn. Close by, the bustling towns of Windermere and Ambleside are popular with visitors, providing a range of amenities to suit all tastes. Lake Windermere offers boat trips, including the lakeside ferry to the Lakeside Aquarium and Grizedale Forest Park. The ‘Windermere Steamboat Museum’ displays a fascinating collection of boats whilst children will enjoy the ‘World of Beatrix Potter’ in Bowness, where technology brings her characters to life. Within easy reach of destinations such as Coniston Water, Kendal, Keswick and the Lakeland Mountains, Troutbeck is ideally situated for exploring all that the region has to offer.
Accommodation
Four bedrooms: 1 superking double with ensuite shower room, with shower basin and WC, 2 king size doubles and 1 twin or superking.
Bathroom with bath with shower over, basin and WC.
Shower room with shower cubicle, basin and WC.
Kitchen with dining area.
Summer room with seating.
Sitting room.
Utility room.
Lockable storage within the garden to store 4 bikes.
Oil central heating and log burning stove.
Range cooker with five ring gas hob and electric double oven, two fridges, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, Smart TV.
Rear enclosed garden with patio area and outdoor furniture, wildlife garden to front.
Private parking for four cars.
Secure storage for mountain bikes.
Wifi.
Pets are welcome.
Ten minutes drive to pub, twenty minutes drive to shop.
Reviews (28)
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Catherine
It was a perfect place to stay - the House had everything we needed and plenty of room for all of us (5 adults, 2 children and 2 dogs!). We particularly enjoyed morning coffee in the sun room, which was cosy and had fantastic views of Blencathra. Christmas dinner around the table in the spacious kitchen / dining area was magical - a very sociable space. (Thank you also for the Christmas decorations). The House is well positioned for visiting the area - we enjoyed a visit to Patterdale (10 mins way and a beautiful drive with amazing views), we were only 15/20 mins from Penrith (great for supplies) and Keswick (went to the independent cinema which was great and also recommend a walk around the town which has some lovely independent shops). We were lucky with the weather which was very mild and mainly dry, We would highly recommend a stay at Flaska House.
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Lisa
The house is well equipped, very cozy and great for a larger family or 2 families. The kitchen area was ideal for playing games and spending time together. The bedrooms spacious and the views from there also amazing. The only feedback I would give is to have a tumble dryer as the weather was very wet and cold and would have been ideal to dry our clothes after being out. We had a fantastic break and would highly recommend Flaska house.
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Hayley
The kitchen diner has been fabulously done and is a real hub, and the sun room perfect for watching the red squirrels! The house on the whole was well kept, clean, and the kitchen well stocked. As others have said, the beds really do need attention, they're very springy and loud - good nights sleep is what you need after a day out on the fells but unfortunately wasn't what we got. We reported the bathroom sink hardly drained, and the radiator in the blue gable end room wasn't working; LL said they would send someone out, but nobody came. The gutters are extremely blocked with leaves, which I guess is leading to the leaks previous guests have reported, though we didn't experience any while we were there. If the beds get sorted we will definitely be back.