Reviews
Hatter’s Cottage, Hawkshead Hill
Just a few of the comments and reviews that our guests have kindly written over many years
May 2023. Ann & David: A HIDDEN GEM - HATTER'S COTTAGE
We love Hatters Cottage, nestled in its own rural paradise.
Sitting in semi seclusion behind the walled garden of the pretty main farmhouse, seclusion at its best with added security. We were met with a warm, friendly welcome. Judith and John were extremely helpful, with a good knowledge of the Lakes, but also respected our privacy. Ambience is important to us and this beautiful, spacious 18th Century stone cottage, with its original hat making features, tasteful decor, comfortable bedrooms and lovely dining area, was much more than we could have wished for. We enjoyed alfresco dining on the pretty, sunny patio, surrounded by beautiful cottage flowers, and its shrub lined lawn, to the sound of happy bird song.We found peaceful bliss in the heart of the Lakes, with many of the Lakes' attractions within easy reach by car, and many lovely walks close to the cottage. We enjoyed Hawkshead which is couple of minutes drive away, or a pleasant stroll across the fields. We plan to stay at Hatters Cottage for our annual visit to the Lakes in future, we have found our Lake District idyll.
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May 2023, Richard
Fantastic house - in terms of both the interior and the exterior - in a very peaceful and secluded location. Easy to get to and from (off the B5285), with private, easy parking. Strategic location with regards to many walks in different areas, and it's possible to walk from the house on paths and/or a quiet road to e.g. Tarn Hows and beyond. You can sit outside in the separate garden of Hatter's Cottage. There is a supermarket, restaurants etc. nearby in Hawkshead (very enjoyable walk from Hawkshead Hill to Hawkshead on a path across the fields). The hosts are extremely nice, kind and helpful, and respectful of privacy. In sum, this property provides excellent value for money!
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May 2023, Rachel
Hatter's Cottage is a beautiful cottage in stunning countryside. It was clean, cosy and so comfortable and the fresh flowers were a beautiful touch. The kitchen was really well equipped so it was easy to self cater. We mostly ate outside in the private and peaceful garden. The beds were really comfortable and there was always plenty of hot water. Tucked away just a few minutes from Hawkshead Hatter’s Cottage offers beauty and tranquility in equal measure. We had a such a lovely and varied holiday visiting Beatrix Potter’s Hilltop farmhouse, mountain biking in the Grizedale Forest, and seeing lots of nature and the light shimmering on Tarn Hows on our evening walks. John and Judith were very welcoming and helpful throughout the booking process and throughout our holiday.
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The cottage is secluded without being remote. There is no passing traffic although the B2585 road between Hawkshead and Coniston is within a hundred yards away. I particularly like the view from the bedrooms which reaches as far as Helvellyn so you can see what the weather is doing on the eastern fells. I have found it to be a good base for walking locally to Tarn Hows and Grizedale or more generally to the peaks of the southern Lakes.
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The cottage is very secluded and so peaceful . It was lovely and warm when we arrived. We slept well - the bed was very comfortable . Lovely shower and plenty of hot water. Kitchen was very well equipped. And everything spotlessly clean. Plenty of lovely walks so we didn't use the car that often. All in all a lovely 2weeks .
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Lovely, quiet and secluded cottage with everything we needed. Bedrooms were very comfortable and warm. Lots of maps and books on the Lake District. Surrounded by excellent walks and scenery.
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June 2016, Nancy J: A Lovely Relaxing Week In Homely Cottage
We had a lovely week in Hatters Cottage; it's tucked away in a peaceful location on the owners farm with it's own private garden and patio area. It's really comfortable with a relaxing homely feel, and was well equipped with everything we needed during our stay. We were made to feel really welcome by the owners, who hit the perfect balance; they were on hand and very helpful if we needed anything, but otherwise left us to enjoy our week undisturbed. We used the cottage as a base to explore the area and my husband took the opportunity to enjoy the hilly lake district cycling, whilst I had wonderful lazy mornings enjoying the cottage with a good book. I would unreservedly recommend this lovely cottage to anyone wanting a relaxing break in the Lake District and hope to stay here again myself in the future.
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Dec 2014, Guyneb: A Stay In At Hawkshead Hill
Our stay at Hatter's Cottage was a moment of English charm. From the moment we first contacted the owners we felt good about our choice, they readily conversed with us via email, answering our questions and suggesting local pubs and amenities. Upon arriving we were greeted by them and introduced to the cottage and all its rural charm. The cottage is well furnished with every thing you need and if you happen to forget anything, we had forgotten flash lights for night walks and a rain jacket, the owners are more than helpful.
We spent a week in one of England's most magical areas. The cottage is stocked with many little books on the walks around which are clearly indicated and once upon them, if you take the time to look around , have some of the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen. One of our favorite walks was to the village of Hawkshead, about a half hour, where you can find pretty much anything you need.
Bring your boots and rain gear, it can get a bit muddy but if you keep your mind open about walking rain or shine the area is picturesque, breath taking and an absolute charm to discover. At the end of the day when you are well worn by the kilometers of trekking the welcome of Hatter's Cottage is perfectly warm, quiet and relaxing.
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Aug 2016, David W: A Charming Cottage In A Beautiful Location
The cottage was clean and had everything that we needed. There were lots of leaflets and maps and it is an ideal base for exploring the beautiful lakes. John and Judith were helpful but not intrusive. Would definitely visit again.
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March 2016: Walks From The Door No Need For Car
We spent a fantastic week at Hatters Cottage during the Easter Holiday 2016. The cottage is in a lovey quiet location. It was immaculately clean and had everything that we needed for our holiday including an effective heating system, comfortable beds and a decent shower. Our two teenage children spent the week with us and also had a fantastic time – they keep on asking to go back!
The owners John & Judith were welcoming and helpful. They were quick to answer any queries via email before our stay, were there to greet us on arrival and were discreetly available throughout our holiday.
There are lots of wonderful walks straight from the door. We especially enjoyed wandering down to Coniston water via Tarn Hows, catching the Gondola from the head of the lake to Brantwood (the Jumping Jenny serves fantastic cakes and coffee!) and then walking back to Hatters Cottage through Grizedale Forest. A round walk over to Windermere via Latterbarrow and Wray Castle also provided us with memorable views. We all appreciated the easy walk across the fields into Hawkshead for the shops, pubs and cafes.
We will definitely be staying again.
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The owners were very welcoming and available for any queries. The cottage was clean and comfortable (there were two of us) - good for walkers. The kitchen is small and basic but had all we needed. There were laundry facilities available but we did not need to use them as we had very good weather. The shower room is small but with a good hot and powerful shower.
It was in a very quiet and pretty location with beautiful walks without having to drive anywhere. Close to Hawkshead village - we particularly liked the Sun Cafe there for lunch or tea and cake. We also had a very nice evening meal in the Sun pub. Hill Top farm gets very busy early so be there before opening to get parked! Tarn Haws and the area around is lovely walking - we enjoyed walking up Conniston Old Man with stunning views at the top.
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May 2016: Hidden Gem
Follow the instructions closely, and you will find this delightful cottage tucked away behind the main buildings, and feel a million miles from nowhere, although in fact not far from the main road. Wonderfully situated for walking across the fields, either down hill to Hawkshead or up hill to the Tarn. Very comfy cottage, providing a taste of rural living but with excellent WiFi connection. Great local information and maps provided. We loved our week here and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who fancies 'getting away from it all' while still maintaining some electronic connection to the world.
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Aug 2016: Anthea And Paul D: Authentic Lakeland Retreat
The cottage is in a charming hamlet on Hawkshead Hill which offered us the peace and quiet we were looking for without being isolated. It was clean, warm and draught-free, comfortably furnished and sufficiently equipped for our needs. Our friendly hosts in the main house were always on hand to advise and the bookshelf provided us with enough information on walks etc. to keep us going for months! Wishing good morning to their hens and two cows became a morning ritual as the tensions of city life fell away. There was great food to be had in the pub restaurants of Hawkshead about a mile away but the brilliant deli and a grocery shop offered the normal supplies too. The setting makes Wifi connection rather intermittent which may appeal to some. We'd recommend this cottage to anyone looking to enjoy the tranquility of the Lakes.
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June 2014, Hector: A Real Gem
Lovely holiday quiet country lanes views to die for. The cottage has every thing you need including a private garden.The location its self is perfect walks and a lovely village right on your door step with a few pubs which were all very nice. The owners were very helpful. I would highly recommend this cottage already planning our next trip. If you want a lovely cottage in a perfect location this is the place for you.
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Jan 2014, Mark B: Unexpected Peace & Quiet In The Lakes!
We found Hatters Cottage to be simply but comfortably furnished and especially appreciated its quiet location. The quiet along with the very comfortable beds ensured that we slept wonderfully. The garden too is very good: it's small but secluded -- & in fine weather it's a great sun-trap.
The cottage feels a world away from busy Hawkshead, yet is only a 15-minute off-road walk from this lovely village. There are many excellent walks (including Tarn Hows) right from the front door. As enthusiastic cyclists we particularly appreciated the easy access to miles of tracks throughout Grizedale Forest. We were also surprised to find that, even in July, the minor roads hereabouts were quiet and ideal for cycling. In the course of the week, we used our car only twice, which was very welcome.
The owners (who live next door) are kind and welcoming people. Having lived in the area for many years, they're extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the Lakes (even its geology, should that be of interest!)
We really enjoyed our stay at Hatters Cottage and will certainly return.
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Jan 2014, Family 4: Lovely Old Cottage In Quiet Location
We enjoyed a lovely week at Hatter's Cottage during the heatwave so were able to take advantage of the garden furniture and eat all of our meals out of doors. This is an old cottage so the bedrooms are quite small but very comfortable. There is an excellent shower with plenty of hot water. The cottage is situated in a beautiful but quiet location and it was nice to retreat to the garden there after a day in Coniston or Ambleside.
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Jan 2014, Four Walkers: Hatters Cottage
A pleasant small cottage with lots of historic character. Tucked away behind farm buildings in a very quiet location with a lovely outlook . Good location for a walking holiday as many possibilities start locally.
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A lovely cosy and warm cottage in the heart of the Lake District. It is clean, well equipped and well maintained, in a secluded and private location but within easy reach of Hawkshead, Ambleside and Coniston. There are many varied walks nearby to suit all abilities. The Outgate Inn is not far away and serves excellent food in generous portions! Hatter's Cottage is a delightful retreat - an ideal place to recharge one's batteries.