Testimonials

We have stayed in a number of Rowley Estate cottages over the years and Cazenovia being one of our favourites. In the present circumstances every effort has been made to make the Property Covid secure. Great location with easy access to the Lake District particularly the stunning Lake Ullswater which only 15 minutes away and Lowther Castle which would highly recommend for a family day out! Also some excellent dog walks in the surrounding area. The accommodation was hugely spacious with all bedrooms ensuite and we could not fault this place! The attention to detail was second to none, with extras such as the welcome hamper and dog treats, dog drying towels were an added bonus waiting upon our arrival. Our dogs had plenty of room in the safe surrounding garden. So much care and attention is clearly put in by the owners and the answer to any requirements we had beforehand and during our stay was always yes!! Would definitely recommend The Rowley Estates which have done. We are already planning our next visit to The Lakes.

An absolutely stunning location with a setting one could only dream of. Particularly with Covid 19 in mind, Cazenovia Hall was immaculately clean with extra cleaning supplies also left for our use during our stay. I absolutely could not fault this place! The attention to detail was second to none, with extras such as the welcome harper and dog treats waiting upon our arrival. So much care and attention is clearly put in by the owners and the answer to any requirements we had beforehand was always yes!! Would definitely recommend.

We went for a wonderful few days with my parents who are now in their late 70s, our two young children (ages 3 and 5) and some friends. This is not the first time we have stayed in a Rowley Estates property, we had an amazing stay in one of the cottages last year and thought we'd book into a bigger place this time around. Could not recommend Cazenovia Hall more, we had a fantastic time with beautiful weather and no issues whatsoever. We felt completely safe - given my parents age and our children we had conerns about COVID but the place was spotless and the hosts have gone out of their way to make us feel comfortable. The children had a brilliant time playing and exploring, the place is well kitted out for them and we felt at ease letting them roam the house and garden - looking forward to coming back! Hosts were super responsive and all the little details were such a treat

We have stayed at several properties in the Lakes over the last few years. This one, like all the Rowley Estates locations we have visited, is superb. Decorated, laid out and presented to an exceptional standard, it is the perfect rural getaway treat. It is clearly an old property, perfectly situated, and modernised impeccably. The owners and their team have paid every attention to detail possible, and adapted rapidly and willingly to our questions and extra requests. They certainly go the extra mile, and couldn’t be more helpful in the challenging Covid conditions. With the spacious open plan ground floor we were able to remain as distant or as integrated as we each felt necessary. BBQ lunches, cosy log fires in the evening, and plentiful logs and restaurant standard charcoal are even provided, so you settle in immediately. Oh, and our dogs give it a 5* too, and loved the location and local countryside. An ideal place to escape for a treat, reunion or countryside retreat. Perhaps I’ll retreat there to be inspired to write that novel that I’m sure is waiting to happen!

Cazenovia is a real gem hidden away within striking distance of the Lakes. The property is ideal to relax with your family and pet dog with excellent facilities and amenities. Everything has been thought of to make it a home from home, with added luxury. Thank you Rowley Estates, we shall be back again, and again!

This was such a pretty cottage and we loved the views, hamper and the local village! Thanks also to the owners who were friendly and helped us with all of our questions before we booked! Both the puppies and the kids really enjoyed the garden and all of the walks (before they got tired!)- I felt really comfortable letting them play in the garden and it was great to have our own private outdoors space. I was surprised by how safe I felt even during covid- the house was extremely clean and it felt private and secure. I'm coming back soon and have recommended to all my friends for family breaks (in our separate bubbles of course!)

This is out 2nd stay at Cazenovia Hall and our 5th holiday with the Rowley Estates. The setting is so special, one way looks to the horizon over rural Cumbria and the other at the most beautiful historical castle. Cazenovia Hall has a stunning open plan living area but a gorgeous cosy snug called the Gin room, apparently its not because you have to drink gin in it but why not..... The decor is carefully considered and the kitchen is incredibly well equipped. One of the most important thing to me in a renting is the cleanliness and this place, as were the other Rowley properties I've stayed in, was spotlessly clean and fresh. The sheets and towels are luxurious and the little extras make it a special place to holiday. There is plenty to do and lots of interesting places to visit, this time we went to the Aira force waterfall, pick you own raspberries and for long walks on the fells, its well worth having a look at the Wainwright's walk as there are several really close by. We did discover the new Shepards huts just over the road by the river and will defiantly be back soon to try them out

We have recently just returned from a weekend at Melmerby Hall and Stag Cottage for my Mum's 80th Birthday. There were 22 of us in total occupying both properties and I can honestly say it was one of the best weekends we have all ever had. Both houses flow brilliantly and cater for everyone's needs.They have thought of everything needed from the welcome hamper to freezers full of ice. With enough space for everyone yet still giving an intimate feeling. We played cricket on the lawn, did one of the recommended walks and were waited on hand and foot by Lynn Hilditch catering on the Saturday evening. We didn't even know they were there as they are so efficient and they served what was probably one of the best three course meals we have all ever eaten. Lynn was amazing to deal with from start to finish and nothing was too much trouble for her. We all felt well and truly spoilt and not much tidying up to be done on the Sunday morning. The kitchen is well stocked and we managed to do a Full English breakfast for all 22 of us, the Aga making cooking very easy indeed. WHen can we come back is the unanimous cry from the family, as we definitely will be.

We had a wonderful week at Elk Cottage during mid-August. Each week since then I have reflected on what a good time we had in what was a comfortable, extremely well appointed and secure environment and it is time to commit that to a review to assist others in their decision making. The property is exactly as advertised on the various websites, is easily accessible and whilst sharing grounds is sufficiently private and was safe/secure for our young grand daughter and our dog. Management staff were on hand to deal quickly with any queries and issues and to advise on local activities and beauty spots; excellent. It was a true home from home in that all our needs were anticipated: we wanted for nothing. Thanks.

Cazenovia Hall was perfect for treating our parents. The place is beautifully decorated and very clean.The kitchen is very well stocked with everything you need with good quality kitchenware. The bedrooms are very comfortable. Also the best welcome hamper we have ever received in a cottage with bread, eggs , cheese ,wine and local jam, toffee and tea. The location is rural and we enjoyed walks directly from the cottage. Christine was very helpful with ideas about places to visit . Ullswater is close and we drove to Martindale and climbed up to the summit of Hallin Fell which afforded an amazing view of Ullswater. We would love to return to this cottage.

Just stayed here with a party of 8 and my dog. The accommodation is beautiful. Very high quality and spacious. Immaculately clean and very well equipped. Views from the property are stunning. Great location for walks and days out to local attractions. Would recommend and would return.

We loved staying at Cazenovia Hall and thoroughly enjoyed our escape from the City for a much needed holiday with our teens. They loved the activities in the area (Go Ape & Aira Falls were the favourites). We loved staying in such a comfortable house that is finished to such a high standard. The place was spotless and we felt that the owners had done an amazing job making sure we felt safe in their property. We didn't want to leave and wished we had stayed longer! We hope to be back soon!

Recently visited with a group of 11. Place is top notch. No short cuts in quality of supplies by the owners.

We booked Melmerby for a small family wedding and it was the most amazing experience. The location is perfect. The hall is beautiful and was the perfect backdrop for our wedding photos. On the morning of our wedding we walked though the gardens and the private gated archway to the local church and returned for champagne on the lawn moments later. The beautiful interior, with huge family kitchen and sumptuous bathrooms, all blended perfectly with original period features. The welcome hamper of local produce was delightful. Nothing was too much trouble for the owners before we arrived and they are clearly attentive to every last detail as everything was perfect for our stay. Joanna was especially helpful while were organising our stay. All our meals were catered by Lynn Hilditch and her food was absolutely delicious and delighted our guests. Lynn's portions were so generous we had more leftovers than we could possibly eat up before it was time to leave. And we really did not want to leave at all, next time we will definitely be back for a longer stay!

Just to say what a wonderful stay we had at Stag cottage recently. The cottage was charming with everything we needed supplied. It was a pleasure to sit in the pretty garden and fun to explore the beautiful grounds and and lovely village.Thank you for being so attentive throughout and I look forward to a return visit next year.

Wonderful cottage to stay for some rest far from everything. Nice and clean. Loved fireplace. Had a great time thank you.

Five old chums get together with partners for the first time in 50 years. The venue was above our expectations. Comfort everywhere, all the stuff you need in a holiday stay. Great log burner Excellent warm welcome on a freezing afternoon. All the information you might need to make your stay worthwhile. Staff who go the extra mile. Superb walking in the vicinity Shame about Wales being robbed in the Rugby.

A wonderful stay at a perfect location. Lovely rooms and great for dogs. Brilliant hamper. Absolutely 5 star!!

We had our perfect wedding day at Blencowe Hall back in September. From the minute we contacted The Rowley Estate we had a brilliant experience and Christine, Gillian, Joanna and Heather couldn’t have been more helpful. Heather on the day of our wedding was excellent and made sure we were in the right place at the right time. She visited us the day before our wedding to run through things with us which really helped us know how to set up for our ceremony and put us at ease. Blencowe Hall gave us the opportunity to host a weekend away for family and friends, with lovely rooms for everyone. There was enough space for 23 of us plus 2 babies and a 3 year old. We were lucky enough to have lovely weather which allowed us to have an outdoor wedding ceremony followed by drinks and canapés on the lawn, and archery with Michael Coates (who we would highly recommend) the following day followed by a BBQ is the beautiful garden. A special thanks goes to Lynn Hilditch who is recommended by The Rowley Estate and provided us with the most delicious food. We had a ‘drop-off’ meal on the Friday evening, a full English breakfast on Saturday morning, canapés on the lawn after our wedding ceremony, a 2-course wedding breakfast and then pizzas on Saturday evening. The food and service from Lynn and her staff was perfect. We would highly recommend Lynn when staying at Blencowe Hall (or any of the other Rowley Estate properties). We had many complements from guests about the food and Lynn was able to cater for the various dietary requirements that our guests had. Once again, thank you very much for helping us to have the most perfect day at Blencowe Hall. We just wish we could do it all again!!

Words and pictures really can’t do justice to this amazing place! We booked Melmerby Hall, along with Stag Cottage and Kirkbride Hall, for our daughter’s wedding and it really was the most magical weekend. Absolutely everything has been thought of and, although it’s a beautiful grand building, the furnishings and decor make it feel so homely and welcoming. We made use of all the downstairs rooms as it lends itself so well to hosting a wedding - the ceremony in the drawing room, drinks and canapes in the lounge and kitchen, wedding breakfast in the dining room and the library set aside as a ‘chill out’ zone for those needing some quiet time once the dancing started! The billiard room was well used and the grounds were perfect for both photographs and dog walking. The level of service and attention to detail from both Christine and Joanna was faultless from the moment of booking. And a minor blip with the heating on our first day was sorted quickly, unobtrusively and without any fuss in just a couple of hours. They’re quick to reply, so enthusiastic and you really feel that nothing is too much trouble for them to make sure you have the best possible stay. We used Angie at the Village Bakery for the food and she was backwards and forwards bringing breads, pastries, evening meals and the wedding breakfast throughout our stay - all delicious and absolutely nothing was too much trouble. We also had a lovely private sit down meal at the Shepherd’s Inn on the Sunday which is just a 5 minute stroll from the Hall. Both Angie and Mike were a pleasure to work with, helping us design menus and providing food that everybody loved. Our daughter and her new hubby said that they really did have the wedding of their dreams at Melmerby Hall - small, intimate and quality time spent with the people that really mattered to them. We had three wonderful days full of love, laughter and tears of joy and none of us wanted to leave. We really can’t recommend this place highly enough and I’m already trying to think of a reason to go back and do it all again... 60th birthday celebrations, anyone?!

We stayed for a long weekend to celebrate my birthday with family. The property is beautiful - really thoughtfully restored in keeping with the age of the originally building but with modern luxury! We wished we could have stayed longer and will certainly hope to go back.

My family and freinds has just spent a fabulous weekend at the castle celerbrating my 60th Birthday , we could not fault anything. Blencoew hall is well equipt with everything you could possibly need. The historic rooms have been sensitively restored, with amazing views from the windows, a weekend i will never forget, thank you Christine for all your help and advice.

Despite it being the weekend of storm Dennis, 18 of us, covering 3 generations had a wonderful get-together. Ample space for so many people & really comfy beds. Very well equipped including all the things that are sometimes missing. Welcome hamper was lovely and really appreciated.

I can’t believe that it is a week since we were in Vale Croft. I would just like to say how much we enjoyed our stay at your property and also the walks that we had in the area. We will certainly be looking to come back in the future.

We thought that your welcome hamper was very well stocked and that the cottage was well equipped for self catering. This was our first self catering holiday in the UK and were very impressed with your service.

We had a lovely weekend very comfortable and  relatively blessed with the weather. Sat pm walk along the beck and Sunday a trip to Airo force falls which was new to us even tho we have been to Ullswater and area many times. Really enjoyed all the goodies in the hamper provided. Thank you v much.

We had a simply wonderful week away at Hause Hall at the end of August/beginning of September... it is a fantastic property set in a spectacular location. We couldn’t believe our luck with the weather and the fact that we managed to get away during the pandemic whilst restrictions were lifted. Especially considering we had booked it the year before. We wrote a five star review in your guest book and I hope can find the excuse to hire it again at some point in our future.

Thank you for our wonderful stay in the Rowan retreat, it was an amazing experience in a beautiful location.

We had a wonderful week at Elk Cottage during mid-August. Each week since then I have reflected on what a good time we had in what was a comfortable, extremely well appointed and secure environment and it is time to commit that to a review to assist others in their decision making.

The property is exactly as advertised on the various websites, is easily accessible and whilst sharing grounds is sufficiently private and was safe/secure for our young grand daughter and our dog. Management staff were on hand to deal quickly with any queries and issues and to advise on local activities and beauty spots; excellent. It was a true home from home in that all our needs were anticipated: we wanted for nothing - though we couldn't find the egg-cups!

So, thanks to our hosts and we look forward to our return.

Having had the pleasure of staying with Rowley Estates before (Cazenovia Hall and Hause Hall) we jumped at the opportunity to be able to book one of their new shepherd huts. We were hopeful that they would be to the same amazing standard as the halls but on a smaller scale and we were not disappointed. Christine told me that they were even more amazing than the photos portrayed and boy she was right. Sitting on the decking outside the immaculately presented hut where you have absolutely everything you need and listening to the river below is priceless. Forget wifi and tv, kickback, relax and take in your surroundings and not an electronic screen. Three nights at Hawthorn Retreat was perfect for recharging our batteries and we will definitely return. Christine was wonderful at sorting out a small problem we had before we arrived and we love the personal service you get with Rowley Estates.
Thank you once again Christine and Charles and to Jilly for the contact when we returned home.

We had an absolutely incredible stay, the property was beautiful and a very high standard of accommodation for a very reasonable price, especially in comparison to others I saw online.

We needed a few days away for a mini honeymoon. We came across this place and it was perfect. We loved the welcome hamper of coffee, tea, jam, cereal etc... Was so peaceful and would come back anytime!

“This place lives up to the pictures; a stunning stay, effortless check in and check out. Would fully recommend!”

“Very nice place and lots of thoughtful touches!”

“Lovely place, great outdoor area with nice views. Ideal for family time away or quiet weekend with friends”

We had a really lovely time at Glassonby Hall. We thought the property was great-really well equipped and had everything we needed. Thanks also for your help with the washing machine and to Jilly for the lights-really prompt and efficient service to fix things which we recognise will inevitably break from time to time (and which would take me forever to get fixed at home!). We all feel really rested and would love to come back again in the future. It was great being able to have Alfie, our dog with us who also really enjoyed his stay.

This has been our 7th stay at one of the cottages owned by the Rowley Estates. We are never disappointed and this time was no exception. We stayed at Gill Beck Barn this time and it was fabulous. So relaxing, lots of space to cook and socialise together in the large open plan kitchen, dining area and lounge. We stayed during the midst of storm Ciara and were really snug at the cottage. The outdoor garden area was perfect for our dogs and for us to do some of our own exercise when we couldn’t go too far on the Sunday c/o the weather. The small village of Melmerby is lovely and we did a great 7.5 mile walk direct from the cottage. The whole Rowley team are so helpful and make our stay so relaxing. The hamper basket, wine and food in the fridge on arrival, is always so welcome and gratefully received. Thanks again!

Although we were only 7 miles from home, we could have been anywhere in the country. What a gem of a place Kirkbride Hall is. A stunning 5 🌟 property which caterers for your every need. I needn't have been worried about taking the little things, like tea towels and condiments as everything we needed, was provided. All we wanted was a restful weekend break with friends and to shut the world out for a few days, Kirkbride Hall was just the place to do this. I would highly recommend a stay in this beautiful property.

We were 11 staying and had a great weekend. The house is extremely well appointed and warm. Beds are comfy. The kitchen has everything that is needed for large groups. The valley is just stunning, with nice walks from the doorstep. This is a great place for a lovely weekend with friends / family. We couldn't have been happier with our choice.

What a beautiful, beautiful house - the perfect setting for my 'big birthday' country house weekend. All the rooms were sensitively decorated with timeless furniture that combined comfort and luxury, and I really felt that I was 'Lady of the Manor'. Great facilities (snooker room, roll top baths, comfy beds, huge well-stocked kitchen, wifi etc.) we were wanting for nothing. But it was the little touches that really made it special, such as the freezer being pre-stocked with bags and bags of ice to ensure that G&Ts were served at the right temperature throughout our entire stay. Fabulous!

One of the best equipped and appointed cottages we've stayed in - everything you could possibly want is provided, it's good quality and spotlessly clean. It's a great base for exploring the northern lakes and also the eastern side of Cumbria. Stunning scenery all around you and lovely walks right from the door. Christine has provided very detailed information about the area, places to go, things to see and do, and suggestions for when the weather isn't so good! There really isn't anything we could find fault with. Absolutely perfect!

An absolutely incredible stay at Elk Cottage! I really can't recommend this place enough. From the moment I inquired to the moment we left, the service from Christine has been of the highest level. To find somewhere so beautiful that not only allows dogs but goes out of their way to make them feel as welcome as us humans did really is something special. We are already looking at dates to book again!!

We have just had the most wonderful 5 nights staying in Jenny's Croft which really is the most perfect base to explore the Lake District. The cottage is very well appointed, is warm, cosy & welcomes dogs. The welcome pack was amazing & full of lovely treats as well as the essentials. We did some fabulous walks around Ullswater, had lots of delicious coffee from the Village Bakery in Melmerby & stocked up on supplies from Cranstons in Penrith. We couldn't recommend it more highly & Christine & her team were a pleasure to deal with.

Wow ! The Rowley estates were recommended by my friend, resulting in us booking Elk cottage to celebrate new year and we absolutely did ! Amazing cottage, luxurious bedrooms, dining room, wood burner , absolutely everything you need for a fabulous weekend. All logs provided for fire ( not had that before) charcoal for the bbq provided too and we did use it on New Year’s Eve. The hamper was amazing too. I have no faults at all ! But just a note for other dog owners. We took our dog an 18 month old boxer,. There is a small enclosed area leading from the utility room! Fantastic for small dogs but our dog would have easily leaped between the gate and wall. There wasn’t an enclosed area for us to let him him run. I absolutely loved getting him on his lead and walking him at night the clear skies and stars are amazing !! As I say not a negative just something to be aware of. I would absolutely visit again and can5 thank rowley esates enough

A perfect house for large family get together or large group of friends. You will find a very generous welcome pack and immaculately clean yet homely house. The bed linen is all lovely Egyptian cotton and the towels are all fluffy! The kitchen has an Aga and a conventional oven so plenty of space to cook for all the people the house sleeps. There is a downstairs bedroom for anyone with mobility issues and lots of space for people to come together or take themselves off for a little quiet time. I can not recommend this house highly enough!

Stag Cottage is a wonderful place to stay. Melmerby itself is brilliant location - ideally placed so that you're near to the Lakes but not in the madness. The Eden Valley and Pennines are absolute gems and worth exploring. We booked Stage Cottage for Christmas 2019 - the cottage is beautifully decorated, superbly well equipped and very comfortable. The welcome hamper was the most generous hamper of any holiday cottage we have stayed in and the log supply for the log burner was plentiful. It is one of the nicest holiday cottages we have stayed in. Christine Rowley was very helpful and responsive from the moment of making enquiries to when we arrived (and even after our stay). I can highly recommend - a wonderful place to stay to explore a less well know but incredibly beautiful part of Cumbria.

This is our second stay at Elk Cottage and we loved it. It is a beautiful, comfortable and very welcoming cottage. It is also spotlessly clean and was tastefully decorated for Christmas. The kitchen is very well equipped and the welcome hamper is by far the best we have come across - there was even something for the dogs. We loved the log burner and there were plenty of logs. There were lots of books to read on offer too. We slept really well as the bed was so comfortable. The location is great - there is good walking in beautiful, quiet countryside from the door. Christine at The Rowley Estates was really helpful and responsive to questions emailed and it was lovely to meet her in person when the dogs went to say hello. The cottage is a definite recommend from us.

We stayed at Stag Cottage for the week over New Year 2019. My whole family and our dogs had the most wonderful time. The property, the location, the walks, the people...... everything was perfect. We will certainly be heading back there as soon as possible.

We had the most wonderful short stay at Riverain between Christmas and New Year. Emails from Christine in the lead up to arrange bedding were excellent and made sure that the person in our party with a feather allergy was catered for. When we arrived we were delighted to find a festive wreath on the door and Christmas tree in the sitting room. The welcome hamper is an excellent touch filled with local goodies and meant we didn’t need to worry about milk for cups of tea in the morning. In fact breakfast was entirely covered with eggs, granola, home baked bread, butter and jam all provided for us! The rooms are all perfect with luxurious sheets and designer toiletries. Logs and kindling for fires all provided and the views from the house are exceptional! We have already recommend Riverain to friends and have it down on our list of places to return to. Thank you Christine and everyone at the Rowley Estates for a fabulous stay!

One of my favourite places anywhere. Isolated, yet luxurious and comfortable. Beautifully set up, incredible welcome and support, a truly first class experience. Ideal for get always, family events, parties or for groups needing a base for exploring the surrounding Lake District. I agree with the reviewer stating that Hause Hall Farm and Cruick Barn are ‘a slice of Heaven on Earth’. Whatever the weather I could look at, and walk over, the fells viewed from it forever. Thanks to all at the Rowley Estates team for such finesse and hospitality.

The location of this house was fantastic surrounded by wonderful views of hills and valleys. The house itself is exceedingly comfortable with ensuite bedrooms and large comfortable beds. Towels and bathroom toiletries are provided. The kitchen has a 4 oven Aga plus an electric oven and is well equipped with 2 dishwashers and everything you would need to cook at home. The dining table easily sits 14 with very comfortable chairs. Rowley Estates will arrange catering if needed but we chose to cook for ourselves and shopped in Penrith a 20-minute drive away. There is an open fire at one end and a second sitting room at the other with big windows opening on to a large terrace from which the views are stunning. Garden furniture means you can eat out when warm enough. This house is perfect for fell walkers who want to enjoy their privacy and wonderful walks yet want to come back after a long day to high-quality home comforts.

This was my third stay with Rowley Estates and having previously stayed at the larger properties, and wanting for a special location to welcome in the New Decade, it was a given we would use one of their properties. The organisation surrounding your stay is faultless and if your emphasis is on comfort and luxury, then you won’t be disappointed. We always self cater every meal and the extensively supplied kitchen is a dream to cater in, with every possible gadget and kitchen utensil making cooking a dream. Beautifully quiet location and the wood burning stove provides a fantastic ‘welcome home’ after walking in the beautiful landscape. We plan to return.

Myself , my partner and my dog came here for a pre Christmas Break. We had such a wonderful time and we will be back again in future. The cottage is gorgeous from the outside and very well kept and homely on the inside. Christine had organised a gorgeous wreath and Christmas tree which was beautiful decorated. The log burner was fantastic and added to the cosy Christmas Vibes. The kitchen is spacious and very well equipped. The bedrooms are comfortable and the en suites clean, spacious and modern. Christine was very helpful and gave us some great ideas for walks around the area. The views from around the cottage when you step outside are fantastic and our little dog loved exploring the grounds. We will definitely be back, Thank you Rowley Estates!

We stayed in Melmerby Hall for a 60th Birthday party with the whole family and friends. It had everything. Spacious, well equiped and all the creaks and quirks you expect of a period property. Gorgeous

Our third visit to Hause Hall & as enjoyable as ever. Wonderful location which always rewards & offers all walkers challenges/options to suit their abilities. At 73, I just hope I can manage to get to Angel Tarn at least one more time. The large dining/kitchen area is super cosy, especially when the fire is lit. I hope to return next year.

The property was very well equipped with everything you could possibly need. The decor and furnishings are really comfortable and all the equipment is of good quality. Great comfortable beds and bed linen ensured a good nights sleep. The Barn is in a rural location about 1/2 a mile from the village of Melmerby where there is a pub, small shop and a bakery. There is some great walking close by on the Pennines and it's only about a 30 minute drive to the Lake District hills. On arrival we found that the owners had left a brilliant welcome hamper with lots of soil treats and essential such as milk and tea bags plus a lovely loaf of bread. Thank you very much. We have never stayed anywhere and had such a great hamper! We had a thoroughly enjoyable stay and would recommend it highly.

I booked this cottage as somewhere for me and my bridesmaids to stay the night before my wedding as the wedding reception was in the local village hall and we had a lot to set up! I requested an early check in and Christine was really helpful in getting us in sooner. The cottage was warm and cosy when we arrived and there was the most lovely hamper in the kitchen with the essentials such as milk and butter in the fridge too! The cottage was spotless, the fire was set up should we need it, there were board games in the dining room and the sofas were so comfy! The cottage was beautiful, the beds were lovely, the bathrooms were perfect, I could not fault it. It was the perfect place to get ready for my wedding day and it was so easy to move between the venues which took a lot of stress out of the day. It's a magical place to stay, I loved it!

This was our second stay at a Rowley Estate venue and certainly will not be our last. Melmerby Hall lived up to our expectations, I thought it would be difficult to outshine Blencow Hall, but it was just as amazing. All we needed was a butler to complete the Downton Abbey scene. It is difficult to find somewhere that 18 adults are all completely happy with but Melmerby Hall did that in spades. The thought that has gone into making it a memorable occasion is second to none. The welcome pack is amazing with local jam, homemade toffee/fudge, speciality tea, local bakery bread. There were even eggs, butter, oil, milk, fruit juice, tea bags, coffee and sugar along with various herbs and spices. This along with a host of non-food items such as cling film, tin foil, washing up liquid, dish washer tablets etc etc meant that even if you had forgotten to bring something with you it was more than likely already there. The 9 bedrooms did not disappoint either they were all very spacious and the beds extremely comfortable, each with its own en suite. Most had amazing views and although it was the end of November the frost added to the magical picturesqueness. I booked Lynn Hillditch for my celebration dinner on the Saturday evening and cannot praise her and her staff enough, the food and service was exceptional and when she left the kitchen was spotless. I could write so much more, but suggest you find out by booking, I can assure you you would not be disappointed. I will remember my celebration at Melmerby for a long time, so much so that all my guests are looking forward to making our visit to a Rowley Estate venue an annual event. Thank you Christine and the Team for a very special weekend.

Just returned from a long weekend at Jenny’s Croft. 1st class everything. Excellent communication with the owners (thank you Christine). Superb location and great walks right from the front door. Jenny’s is immaculately presented and quality through out. Excellent welcome pack too! Won’t be long before we’re back at one of the Rowley Estates properties.

Our family were celebrating Nana’s 70th Birthday. Seven adults and four little boys enjoyed a wonderful weekend at this delightful property. Plenty of space, equipment and bathrooms(!) all to a high standard. Lots to do around the area which has beautiful scenery. The highlights for Nana were the sheep and the in-house facial! Our eldest grandson thinks that we should spend his 10th Birthday here and he is just 7 years old!! The outdoor area was also great for the children. Thank you for a special weekend 🥳

WOW! From first contact, to seeing Jilly just before our departure, every contact with Rowley Estate was professional, helpful and friendly. Superb customer service! Blencowe Hall itself is a place of dreams, a place for dreams and a place where dreams come true! 5* accommodation in a beautiful setting, Blencowe Hall left us and our guests speechless - As we were exploring on Friday Afternoon, all you could hear were gasps of delight and excitement as people entered each new room! The thoughtful welcome hamper, the luxury complimentary toiletries, all the little extra touches - superb and much appreciated! Absolutely the perfect place to celebrate! We had catering from Iain McKey and his wonderful team at Bespoke Catering Cumbria - the food was excellent and the service was friendly and professional. A fantastic venue with so much more than the WOW factor! We would wholeheartedly recommend both Rowley Estates AND Bespoke Catering Cumbria to family, friends and strangers alike! If you get the chance to go and stay at Blencowe Hall - DO IT! You won't regret it!!

Superb holiday rental. Whole property with great character, in a lovely setting with great views. Fantastic welcome hamper. Well stocked kitchen -tea/coffee/sugar/spices/salt/pepper/oil all provided. Incredibly well equipped house overall. Great kitchen, very comfortable sitting room- lovely wood burning fires as well. Welcome find of a snooker table- very popular with everyone. Fuse blew one day- cutting some downstairs lights- but all sorted within hours. Overall one of the best holiday rentals that we have had. Would thoroughly recommend.

If your looking for perfection in a holiday home then look no further. We were a family of 11 (6 adults and 5 children). Bedrooms all with lovely en-suite and lovely bedding and the kitchen was equipped with everything you could possibly need.Plenty of outdoor space for the children too. I would also like to compliment Rowley Estates on their welcome basket, everything in it was delicious. Will definitely recommend to friends.

We booked Elk Cottage for.my 50th birthday after choosing Cumbria over New York, and I am so glad we did. What an amazing cottage, beautifully furnished and everything to a very high standard. The welcome hamper was a joy to behold when we arrived, along with the fire all made up and ready to light. I cannot recommend Elk cottage highly enough. We will definitely be back!!

Todhills Farm was a fantastic venue for a family celebration get-together. As long term "self- caterers" we appreciated all the top quality facilities and equipment. The bedroom layout meant the adults didn't have to worry about disturbing the wee ones once they were in bed. The contents of a very generous hamper were much appreciated and enjoyed. The weekend weather was very kind and allowed us to enjoy the wonderful views and local walks. I hope we can gather our scattered family for another stay in the not too distant future.

A group of 16 friends have just spent an amazing weekend at this beautiful venue. Having stayed at a Rowley estates venue previously we knew the quality would be superb and we weren't disappointed! An amazing welcome hamper left for us, such a spacious accommodation with added luxuries such as Molton Brown toiletries in each room. Everything had been thought of and Jilly, the manager always at the end of a phone or 5 minutes away if needed. Excellent quality and customer service. Cant wait to return to another Rowley estates property booked for July next year! Can also highly recommend the Hse and Boot pub for drinks, food a and live band on Sunday afternoon. Located a mile and a half away in Greystoke. Thank you Jilly, Christine and team

Thanks for taking the time to email me. Our stay was very comfortable and would like to compliment your organisation on the comforts of the house and all the little extras which make a lovely and welcoming touch.

This is a wonderful and comfortable house, so well appointed with every amenity one could need during a week's stay thought of and provided for. There's a great kitchen and dining table for meals in and we were lucky with sunshine to enjoy the garden. The bedrooms are very comfortable with lovely bathrooms. It is super clean and looks very newly refurbished. There is a wealth of local information in the house which was much appreciated, including details and maps for walks and drives and local restaurants and menus. The village is lovely with a great coffee shop and a pub. Penrith is nearby and it's an easy run down to the Lakes, with plenty to do around more local area also. Would love to come back here and hope to!

We have stayed at a number of the Rowley properties with family and friends and as ever I am confident we will return again. They are unique and beautiful properties set in amazing locations. The service and attention to detail is second to none. The personal touch can be rare these days but not so with Rowley. Wonderful places for dog lovers who like a bit of luxury. We liked the slightly more enclosed aspect of Stagg as we had a 5 month old pup with us. He & our 9 yo had a great time exploring the woods. The local pub and village store are great excellent and the visit from Icon Beauty on Sunday evening rounded off another perfect weekend.

This was our third time staying at the beautiful cottage. Very comfortable in an idyllic location for walks and easy access to the great lakes. The cottage has everything you need for any length of stay. Our hosts are fabulous and the welcome hamper is always a lovely surprise.

I have no hesitation in recommending the house . Family party of 11 adults , but we found the space was more than adequate. The bedrooms & en-suites were particularly appreciated being furnished to a high standard . Sunsets across to the lakes , a short walk to the village bakery for brunch and log fires made for a memorable stay .

Amazing is no exaggeration for Blencowe Hall. The accommodation is superb, full of historic character and associations, and yet very homely, welcoming and well appointed. We had wonderful catering over 3 days from the incredible Lynn Hilditch and her team for whom nothing was too much trouble. The whole experience was thoroughly enjoyed by all ages, with something for everyone. Happy times and many happy memories!

This was the second Rowley property we have stayed at and we were not disappointed. We found Elk Cottage to be very comfortable, warm and quiet and in a good location for visiting other areas as well as enjoying the nearby countryside. The cottage is well equipped with good parking.

I just wanted to contact you and let you know we had a wonderful week staying in Cazenovia Hall. The house was perfect and so so comfortable. We all just loved it . My husband and I were there with our three daughters and two of their partners. Two of our daughters now live in London so it was fantastic for us all to have a week together in such lovely surroundings. An added treat was the snooker which provided much fun of an evening!
It was such a beautiful area with so much to do . The only down thing was how quickly the week passed!
Thank you so much for your very generous welcome pack .
Many thanks for all your hard work - you have thought of everything for the house to make it a very high standard .
With very best wishes to you and yours.

We have just had the most wonderful six days in Elk Cottage. You cannot fault this holiday let in any way. Self catering usually means carting the staples like washing up liquid, dishwasher tabs., loo paper, bread, milk, butter, eggs etc., not with Elk Cottage though. On arrival, there on the kitchen table was a wonderful and very generous welcome hamper. It had lovely things in it including wine, tea bags, fudge, lovely home made jam, bread etc, and on opening the fridge we found eggs, butter and cheese!! There was a wonderful bowl of fruit on the table and flowers in vases around the house, what a lovely welcome after a long drive. Tallulah, our Curly Coat Retriever had a lovely time too, she had a visit from the 2 Flat Coat Retriever boys next door! We all had a very relaxing time, visiting several friends in the area and apart from one day, we had lovely weather. Thank you Christine, Charlie and Jilly

I stayed at Glassonby Hall previously with friends and thought it would be a great place to celebrate my mums 60th birthday weekend. It didn’t disappoint! Christine was fabulous and instantly at the end of an email to answer any of my questions. There was ample parking and the welcome hamper superb, which even had a birthday card in for my mum. We hired a hot tub through Cumbria Hot tub hire which was fabulous and lovely added bonus to the weekend. We hired a caterer from Eden catering solutions which was wonderful, would highly recommend using Sam. The house itself was amazing, plenty of room for 6 adults, 2 children and a baby (cot and high chair provided). The garden is enclosed which was great for our small dog who slept in the nice warm utility. We also ate at the Fetherston Arms in Kirkoswald, just a 5 minute drive and had an excellent meal. Aria Force waterfall was a worthwhile trip out not far away, saw 2 rainbows over the water which was just stunning. This house has lots of character and 2 huge fireplaces with plenty of logs available, would definitely recommend.

We have not yet stayed at Melmerby Hall but I needed to write a review on our experience of booking our wedding with Rowley Estates. After months of looking for the perfect wedding venue we found Melmerby Hall via Rowley Estates. We are having a small wedding and all the guests are staying for the weekend. The service has been exceptional, it has been completely stress free and enjoyable. Joanna is a dream, from answering questions to arranging for us to visit the Hall and spending time looking round and deciding who would love which bedroom, the pictures really do not do this amazing property justice. Joanna has provided details on caterers, flowers, photographers and even a hot tub provider, the response is always quick, friendly, professional and fully informative. On our visit she recommended the local cafe/ bakery, we visited before our journey home and the food was lovely, we are going to use them for fresh bread etc for our stay. We have booked Lynn Hilditch for the wedding breakfast and again nothing is to much trouble and we can design our own menu with different choices. Lynn even does a drop of service so you don't have to do any cooking if you don't want to! The church is very close, just a lovely short walk on pathway through the grounds, we have booked the little church but you can get married in the drawing room. If you are thinking about what to do differently for your wedding rather than spending all that money on just one day in a generic Hotel that only cares about taking your money then book a weekend property and extend your celebrations with the freedom to do what you want when you want. I can't recommend booking Melmerby Hall highly enough and although I have not seen the other properties from the service we have received I would recommend to book through Rowley Estates. We are having the wedding of our dreams (in budget I might add) and its been totally stress free, roll on March 2020 :-)

Stag Cottage is a wonderfully comfortable cottage with well appointed good-sized rooms throughout. I like my home comforts when I travel - and they were here in every respect. Each bedroom had quality linen, comfortable beds and en-suite facilities. The sitting room was perfect with a log fire and squash sofas.The kitchen was very well stocked with the best hamper I have ever had! My spaniel had a lovely time with walks from the door, and extra biscuits provided! I really liked the amount of information provided on suitable walks, places to go, where to eat...The village has a great pub, village shop and old bakery - we tried them all and the people were so friendly and welcoming. We plan to be back!

Very well designed as a modern holiday home. Lots of space, comfortable, well maintained and cleaned to a high standard. Lots more tableware and cutlery than people, we didn't run out of mugs even with regular tea breaks. Aga was too cool for most of our cooking, but could boil on the hottest plate and slow cook in the oven. Internet worked well and we all seemed to have mobile phone signals. Owners were very friendly and contactable. Surprisingly interesting area, we walked up the Peninnes from the village, others walked to the village store/teashop! Drove to Bird of Prey centre, Jersey Ice cream farm, National trust Acorn bank, Little Salkeld MIll, Alston railway.... then further away to Keswick and a couple of Lakeland fell walks. Talking of which, sitting in the "day room" (used in evening as well) we were treated to a week of sunsets over the distant Lakeland fells. Thoroughly recommend Todd Hills Hall Farmhouse, thank you Rowley Estates (it's on the "Halls" page of their website)

Beautiful cottage set in immaculate grounds. Idyllic and peaceful. Views were tremendous over the hills and vales. The cottage very comfortable and well appointed. And with luxury linens and towels. Beds were super comfy. Kitchen had everything one might need. The hamper was perfect to start the holiday - perfect for the extra feeling that the owners care about their guests. My husband went fly fishing with one of the names given to us by Christine - what could be better. Easy and full communication from the day we wrote our first email. Thank you

We spent a week at Jenny’s Croft and it was delightful. We chose it because we wanted somewhere rural and would also provide a good base to get around and also to meet up with family. We were not disappointed as The Croft was of a very high standard and the setting was beautiful. Thank you for a beautiful hamper, the fruit bowl was great and everything in it was delicious. We also enjoyed the champagne courtesy of an early booking! We found everything to be as described and everything was catered for so no reason to be disappointed! Although there are other cottages adjoining you still have provided sufficient privacy to allow everyone to sit out - which all 3 cottages did on one of the evenings as we enjoyed the last of the days sunshine! Thank you Christine for your advice and prompt responses it was very helpful and very much appreciated, you have done a great job!

We had 24 people for a birthday 3 days . The castle is a wonderfully interesting building that feels like a 5 star hotel. Bedrooms fantastic. Lovely kitchen with big Aga. Very well equipped . good catering from Lynne Hilditch using many vegetables she grows herself. The beef she coooked for us was amazing. So much to do in the area. We had a great time.

Wow – how better to spend an 80^th Birthday with all the family with all the family. Happy days and happy memories at a stunning setting. Wonderful views, walks and very lucky weather. The house is amazing , very warm and so very well equipped – all you could ever want. Thank you – hope to be back sometime.

We did return for another amazing week! We were able to eat on the terrace, almost every day and thoroughly enjoyed our second Hause Hall experience. The memories of ‘that’ view will travel with each and everyone of us. Thank you to Christine, Jilly and the team. A wonderful time was had by all.

Thank you for a fantastic time. Surprise 80^th family gathering. Beautiful location, scenery and surroundings – made lots of memories.

A magical long weekend celebrating our Golden Wedding Anniversary, with walks, BBQ’s, laughter and a fun-filled time with our lovely family and grandchildren who want to come back to Hause Hall Farm soon. Thank you Christine, a truly beautiful spot.

Our second stay at this enchanting house for a get-together of friends and like last time, we were not disappointed. We have had a wonderful few days here in idyllic surroundings, with lots of fantastic walks. The house caters for everything you would possibly need and much more. So, so comfortable. Thank you to Christine, Jilly and everyone at the Rowley Estates. We can’t wait to come back again soon.

Thank you for a wonderful week in this beautiful house – the view from the sitting room is sublime and the house is brilliantly equipped for the large numbers – if you look, you will find. We particularly enjoyed walking from the house and not repeating ourselves once. The response to the internet going down and the hot water failure was exemplary – truly customer facing, thank you to the team.

A wonderful, relaxing house, fantastic views even in typical Lake District weather. Just a fantastic place to have a holiday. We will be back!

Thank you for the most wonderful stay and the most perfect setting for our wedding. We have enjoyed every single minute and we will never forget the beautiful views and fun we have had here! We really appreciate all the help in making this such a wonderful stay for us our families and friends and hope to be back again soon! Thank you for the amazing memories – we’ll never forget them!

Having recently returned from cazenovia hall i cant wait to go back. From the moment we arrived everything was just perfect. Great welcome pack waiting for us with lots of local jam,eggs cheese etc. the bedrooms are all finished to a high standard and are all a good size. Beautiful gardens to sit in which we used every day, There are plenty of local and further afield walks to do in the surrounding area. Cazenovia hall provide you with maps of walks which was very helpful. Greystokes village is just a short stroll along the road with a friendly local pub. We visited it several times. food was very good but advisable to book. Thank you once again to Christine and her team for a fabulous week.

Thank you so so much to everyone at blencowe hall for such an amazing wedding weekend you did myself, Paul and our guests proud. Also a huge thank you to Lynn Hilditch and team for their utterly fabulous catering!! The weekend went flawlessly and could not have been done with your help. Thanks again, Jordan

Your every whim is catered for at this gorgeous property. We were a group of 16 with 3 dogs, clearly the owners have been doing this a long time and know their stuff. The property was immaculate on arrival with a well stocked welcoming hamper to start you off. This a a very well organised set up for larger groups. We tended to use the main lounge, conservatory and kitchen area for socialising. There were a number of other beautiful rooms with a formal dining area (great should you bring in outside catering) which we did not use but ideal if anybody wants to escape for some quiet time. Towels and toiletries are provided and all the bedrooms are to a good standard. The grounds of the property are amazing, some great family games of cricket on the Archery lawns and there is a lovely dog walk in the grounds via a wooded area and adjacent to the beck which takes about an hour or so depending on pace. We were going to hire a hot tub but stupidly left it until a month before to book (none available) so ensure you book one well in advance should you be considering one. Had some lovely afternoons sat in the outside seating are between the hall and the lawns. Their is ample fridge space (2 large) , 2 dishwashers, An Aga which we made use of and is surprisingly easy to use and a conventional cooker and hob. Nearby within 500 yards is a local store, bakery with dining area and adjacent shop, Shepherds Inn pub which we highly recommend, had lovely meal for 16. The only fault is that we didn't book to stay for a full week. Worth a look if you are considering a wedding venue, church next door to property and can be accessed directly from the hall and there is a local village hall within 200 yards which can be hired out. This property sleeps up to 18 and there is a property to the rear Stags cottage which I believe sleeps 8. Hall would be great for murder/mystery weekend. Fantastic property, full of character. Many thanks to Christine and Charles, particularly Christine who always replied to emails promptly re queries from guests prior to attending. Perfect weekend with family in perfect surroundings.

Every single thing about this booking was fantastic. The correspondance and support in having our wedding at blencow hall was amazing. A huge thank you to Christine and the team, they really are the best. The 3 cottages were impecable too... it was an absolute wedding of dreams for me and my now husband and we hope to return to stay at the hall sometime in the future. It was the perfect setting and made all of our wedding dreams come true. Thank you Rowley Estates xx

I stayed at the cottage with my bridesmaids for the nights leading up to my wedding (located down the road in Greystoke) and it was absolutely perfect! Beautiful cottage with all the amenities you could want, very clean and super comfortable! The main kitchen/ dining area was a highlight and great for us all to eat together. A few of the guests liked it so much they delayed their departure so they could spend the last night there! Christine was very helpful and great at communicating. I'd highly recommend for a break with families or friends.

Dear Christine
I just wanted to say that I would give a five star review (6 if it were possible ) for everything about our stay in your beautiful accommodation .  From the initial enquiry to the reluctant end of our stay and to the kind and generous after care.  The Hall was immaculately presented the welcome basket was generously and thoughtfully prepared.  The very slight change to our requirements in the arrangement of our bedroom requests was dealt with within minutes of reporting  it with kindness and humour.
Although the weather was not on its best behaviour nothing could detract from the comfort and beauty of the hall and the well kept garden or the fact that it is situated in a most wonderful area with plenty to do and see no matter the weather.  The thoughtful email sent to me detailing the many indoor and outdoor attractions near by helped us to enjoy every minute of our stay .  Learning the intricacies of the huge Aga made preparing meals a learning event for the whole family and the conversion of the dinning room table into a snooker table made for great fun and competitiveness in the evening tournaments.
The kind and considerate after care came with the speedy finding and forwarding of a gift my young grandson had bought and which had been forgotten and thereby averting  (in his opinion)a major tragedy Once again many thanks for all you kindness and care and consideration.  It is now my greatest wish that we will be able to return sometime and enjoy all the benefits of your lovely accommodation.

Melmerby Hall provided the perfect location for our family celebration. From start to finish of our week-end stay, our expectations were consistently exceeded. Beautiful rooms and grounds meant that everyone in our party (ranging in age from 7 to 81) had a superb time. Lots of open space to enjoy outdoor games and only a 40 minute drive on the Saturday to spend an afternoon on Ullswater Lake. We were made to feel most welcome at Melmerby and the Hall is somewhere we all agreed we would hope to return to one day. A truly exceptional property that we feel very lucky to have found.

Our group had a fantastic weeks stay at Todds Hills Hall Farm. Christine was infinitely helpful from the outset, ensuring that our needs were met to every degree. Fantastic views, location and setting, with some beautiful sunsets. Plenty of space for a group to unwind, take some time out and enjoy a week of relaxation. I have no doubt that we will be visiting the Rowley Estates again.

We were 14 of us and we had the most amazing time at Riverain. It's the kind of house you have seen in fairytale, the difference is, you can come and stay here :) 14 of us stayed here for 4 nights and 4 days. It was spacious and well-equipped with all amenities. The living room with fire place is a highlight. Located in a quite neighbourhood, not far from local cafes and restaurants. Just a short and scenic drive away from most experiences in the Lake District. We had an unforgettable stay and would definitely come back for another one.

No matter what ‘home’ means, there is surely something warm about that place. It’s a place where we are with friends and family, making happy memories. A place that quickly helps us make it as our own. It nurtures our moments to forever stay in the happy place of our hearts. In short that was our experience at Riverain. Exceptionally beautiful property in the vast lands of the english moors. With all the comforts and amenities we needed to call it a home, it gave us the space to have a time that best suits our emotions. In totality, I can say that Riverain for me and my family is just not a home we stayed in, its a feeling that is going to stay with us...forever.

This is a lovely house, lovingly refurbished, wonderfully maintained, well stocked and a lovely real wood fire. In easy reach of Ullswater, I would recommend it for anyone wanting a lovely base in the Lake District.

This is alovely house, lovingly refurbished, wonderfully maintained, well stocked and a lovely real wood fire. In easy reach of Ullswater, I would recommend it for anyone wanting a lovely base in the Lake District.

Amazing views! The walk down the village to see the ponies was delightful. The farmhouse was beautiful ~ especially the Kitchen! Such a tranquil and scenic place and the views are breath taking. We really enjoyed our stay here and highly recommend it to others.  

Thank you for everything! 

Fantastic stay and 70th Birthday. Wonderful venue for family get togethers. Beautiful. Thank you.  

A beautiful location to celebrate a special birthday! We all had a fabulous time. Enjoyed family dinners around the huge dining table, then snooker games later! Amazing views and balmy Feb weather 14 C!! Brilliant. The walks down the road to see the ponies is a must! 

What a fantastic place to spend our New Years Eve week., really superb. We have stayed in many rental accommodations in the Lake District but this is by far the most outstanding. The attention to detail, the welcome packs, the unberleaverbly well stocked kitchens and beautiful bedding.  

We have had the most amazing time making wonderful memories with our lovely families. We will without doubt return here. 

We had a great week at Todd Hills Hall Farm. The food was delicious as we got it from the local coffee shop and we enjoyed some wonderful walks such as the trek up the hill at Aira Force. The house was modern and well equipped. We enjoyed many evenings playing board games and watching movies and we would definitely recommend Todd Hills to friends. All together. It was a great week and a very enjoyable half term break.  

Loved Todd Hills. Another amazing Rowley restoration. What an amazing place to watch the weather change, the colour of the fells and remember of favourite memories. Thank you.  

Fabulous views comfortable house ‘lovely bath’. We have loved being here with our friends in such an amazing place. Thank you.  

We loved our stay in Todd Hills! So delighted to be here with such an amazing group of friends! 

Perfect for a big family celebration, all the space and equipment you need. The long building layout meant babies/children could sleep quietly in some bedrooms whilst the other end could be noisy and party within the living area. Fantastic dining table which turned into a snooker table! The main bedroom suite with cast iron bath and double shower in room was stunning! Great for our dogs to run around and enjoy the well kept garden and wonderful views. Village is close by and worth a walk to. Owners were exceedingly helpful. Wonderful memories made in our second stay with Rowley Estates.

We can't speak highly enough regarding the Rowley Estate Properties - we rented Melmerby Hall, Kirkbride hall and Stag Cottage for a family wedding. The rooms are beautifully historic with the addition of modern bathrooms. The property was equipped with everything we needed to host a brilliant house party with no skimping on consumables such as dishwasher and laundry detergents - often absent in other properties we have rented. The local Church accessed through the gardens of Melmerby Hall and the addition of the highly affordable, modern village hall almost opposite the Hall made for the perfect wedding venue.

We would like to thank you very, very much for a wonderful stay at your fantastic Wythburn Cottage this last weekend.  You've done an excellent job there and offer superb accommodation.

We stayed there to celebrate our niece's wedding which took place at the nearby Greystoke Castle and your cottage just 'put the icing on the cake'  to make the perfect weekend. Other family members also stayed in Riverain so we could easily see each other.   We also thoroughly enjoyed the gardens (including the lovely birds) and beautiful surrounding area.  On Saturday we drove to Pooley bridge and walked to the Ulswater Lake and waterfall - lovely experience.

We have not long returned from our visit to Blencowe for our wedding..amazing!Christine, Gillian and Joanne were amazing from srart to finish! The stay was everything we wanted. Brilliant break away with everything on your door.

My daughter, grand-daughter and I had a lovely stay at Wythburn Cottage. The welcome hamper was outstanding; the cottage was very well-equipped and spotlessly clean; location was great, and the owners and manager were very helpful. Food at the Boot & Shoe in Greystoke was delicious. Already booked the cottage again for next year.

This magnificent Country House, cottage, gardens and estate was a perfect venue for 24 of our friends to jointly celebrate 40th birthdays in May 2019. The house is perfectly located, near Penrith and close to the Lakes District, Durham Dales and easily reached via the A66 or M6. We rented the main hall, sleeps 18 and Stag Cottage, sleeps 6, and it was superb in every way. The main hall is a blend of historic home with all of its original charm and character and modern, well appointed rooms (especially the luxurious en-suite bathrooms) and the awesome kitchen. The owners think of everything that a large group needs, including huge American Fridge Freezers packed with bags of party ice and a classy welcome hamper, milk, bread, tea, coffee and local goodies. We hired in the Rowley Estates' recommended caterer, Lynn Hilditch catering, using the dinner drop off service on the Friday and Lynn and her team for a waited banquet in the main dining room/ Great Hall on the Saturday. Lynn delivered a stunning 3-course meal, including 30-day aged sirloin steaks and slow roasted lamb shanks. The food and service was magnificent and Lynn and team cleared up absolutely everything by the time we had finished our desserts. Perfect. The weather was great and we enjoyed drinks on the archery lawn and gardens in warm sunshine on the first night. There is a lot to do locally, including a number of fell walks and a lovely (if slightly pricey village bakery and cafe) plus a nice local pub which seemed to only open in the evenings. Melmerby Hall is a magical place where a large group can live like lords and ladies, recreate memories and enjoy a level of sophistication and splendour that is hard to recreate in modern venues and settings. Our group had a brilliant weekend and plans are afoot to make it an annual or bi-annual weekend in the Lakes. We booked through Kate and Tom's but once set, we received outstanding communication and customers service from owner Christine Rowley. We received useful e-mail marketing with helpful local events, ideas and suggestions which helped us to get the most from our stay. I can't think of a single negative about our stay - my only advice would be to take care driving into the hall and estate - the arched entrance is a snug fit for bigger cars. On the whole, Melmerby Hall is magical and a perfect venue for group celebrations and weekend escapes. 5-Stars

This was our second stay in a Rowley Estates property and it lived up to our high expectations. We booked the Farmhouse and the other two buildings on the site. The space and comfort are marvellous. Plenty of room for the coming together of a large family party and also for privacy and quiet when required. Kitchen equipment is of a high standard and there were generous welcome provisions in each property. The area is beautiful with plenty of footpaths nearby.

This place is amazing. Beds really comfy and whole place really clean. We loved the hen do we had here there was 24 of us who stayed and it was the best weekend ever... it's so peaceful set in beautiful surroundings.. defo be back xx

OUTSTANDING we went for my daughter in laws hen weekend from the moment we got there it was amazing beautiful bedrooms unbelievable comfort and the hens were great to thank you so much xx mother in law L

Our first walking holiday in this beautiful part of the world. The views have been breathtaking. We have made the most of all the wonderful and varied walks in the area and also further afield and eaten very well in the local pubs. Elk Cottage is all we had hoped for, a homely base for us to return to each day and relax. Every possible requirement has been thought of. As we return to London, I will miss being woken each morning by such a varied and beautiful sounding dawn chorus (then going back to sleep!!)

Thank you for a lovely relaxing holiday. Comfortable cottage with super hamper and everything you need for a luxurious break. Excellent friendly staff and immaculate gardens. We will be back and hope to try out one of your other properties. Thanks.

Absolutely stunning cottage – every need is catered for – owner was incredibly helpful offering ideas of where to visit. Don’t want to leave, peaceful, calm, magnificent views and scenery. Essex will seem so flat now. Recommend Aira Force, Coniston, Farm at Carlisle, lunch in Grasmere. A perfect mix of activities for grown-ups and little people!

Perfect cottage in beautiful setting. Plenty of rest, relaxation and good walks. Acorn Bank is a must as is Lanercost Priory. Also had great morning on South Tynedale Railway and visited Carlisle Cathedral. Will go home with many happy memories and lots of photo’s! Thank you!

Lovely relaxing stay in this toasty cottage during a wintery weekend. We loved the food and beer at The Crown, Kirkoswald. - Tricia and Steve, March 2019

Another wonderful stay at this superb cottage. We can’t wait to book our next visit. The Hamper pack excellent as always and much appreciated. Thank you once again for providing exceptional accommodation and such friendly and personal service.

What an amazing place. We just loved it. Very cosy and beautiful, thank you.

We enjoyed a wonderful wedding celebration in this beautiful place. Everything we could wish for. Thank you.

Beautiful cottage with garden to match. Very well equipped and plenty to see and do close by. Hamper with fresh local produce also a great touch. Highly recommend.

Perfect location for restful or active holifay. Inspiring views of the Pennines and Lake District as well as gentle local country walks, yet not too far from local pubs and facilities. (Lovely bakery in Melmerby and brilliant for browsing bric a brac shop) On arrival the first impressions said it all. An amazing welcome hamper and basics in the fridge and then beautiful Egyptian cotton sheets. A high quality barn conversion, the cottage is deceptively spacious and was ideal for us (two couples) with two en suite, and several sitting areas. We were lucky and had sunny weather and had most of our meals on the delightfufl terrace. So hot that we asked for a sun umbrella which the friendly and super efficient Gai(Housekeeper) quickly provided.. Only little downside i can think of - my tall brother did bump his head on low door frames and I couldnt find a butter dish but we are alreay planning a return vsit in autumn

We all had a wonderful weekend and loved the house. The major selling point is of course the view and the location but internally it had many super features. The generous quantity of crockery and glassware was very much appreciated, often rented properties are a little mean in that area. The bedrooms and many bathrooms were all fine and there seemed to be sufficient hot water which was good. All in all we lacked for nothing and the caterer we employed was also excellent. Would highly recommend you to others

My wife booked the farmhouse and the barn to celebrate by 70th birthday. Three generations of family, totalling 15, stayed for 3 blissful days and nights. Accommodation and everything else about the property were of the highest standard. The views from the main sitting area and the large patio were unforgettable. As a long-time devotee of the Lake district, I was in heaven, sitting in the sunshine with a G and T watching the sun do down.. Walks all around from the doorstep. Introduced my grandchildren to the delights of the Ullswater steamers (from Howtown to Glenridding). We had one or two queries and these were dealt with very promptly and helpfully by the Rowleys. Cannot recommend highly enough. We plan to return.

We were a large family party ranging from infants, right up to the age of 90, travelling from all over the UK to celebrate the 90th birthday of my father. Blencowe coped superbly, comfortable rooms, most en-suite and with four poster beds, spacious dining and sitting room areas, and a well equipped kitchen with two dishwashers. We had an excellent time, and in the garden the tree sparrows nesting in an old wall kept our birdwatchers entertained. Close to the Motorway and the mainline train station, but set in rolling pastures and fields criss crossed with footpaths, Blencowe exceeded expectations.

What a wonderful birthday weekend we have just spent at Melmerby - the Hall is amazing, the setting sublime, and we really appreciated how cosy and warm we were in such a big house. The kitchen is so well appointed, the bathrooms spotless, and the reception rooms and bedrooms extremely comfortable. Thank you also for the lovely welcome basket in the kitchen, and being so dog-friendly. Saturday saw the whole family enjoying riding with the lovely instructors at Bank House Equestrian centre, and the day was topped off by a fabulous meal in the superb dining room, provided by Lynn Hillditch and her excellent team. The exciting games of hide and seek were endless! An unforgettable experience, in a delightful setting !

We booked Blencowe Hall to celebrate a 70th birthday and an amazing time was had by all. Age range from 2 - 70. The children couldn't get enough of the "castle" and it's spiral staircases, the whole place lends itself to hide and seek with a wonderfully creaky door off the upper sitting room area. The facilities are excellent and Christine and Jilly were quick to respond when we accidentally set of the fire alarm (window open and barbeque smoke drifted in - be warned!) The welcome hamper was lovely and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Comfy beds too. Outside was great for playing rounders and football games. If you are looking for that special "somewhere" with atmosphere and excellent heating (it was freezing cold outside) this is a place well worth considering.

Our family had a wonderful Easter weekend,the hall had a great relaxing atmosphere which together with the gardens (lawns) and aided by the superb weather gave our athletically minded family a great playarea. Badminton croquet,cricket,soccer,egg and spoon races and most of all for the oldies relaxing

“A wonderful stay at the cottage. We could not have asked for more. The space was perfect for 6 people and they provided extra bedding for the second half of our stay which was great. Christine was on hand and quick to respond to any queries and when the dishwasher stopped working they fixed it that morning at no inconvenience to us. A beautiful stay in a lovely location. I hope to visit and stay here again.”

Jenny’s Croft is a fabulous cottage! The rooms are spacious and comfortable and everywhere is spotlessly clean. The whole cottage is exceptionally well equipped, everything you could need is provided. The welcome hamper is a delightful extra - full of delicious treats! Thank you to Christine and her team for having us. We will definitely be back!

What an amazing place to stay. Beautiful surroundings and everything we could have wished for, wanted and more. Thank you so much.

Wow, what a fab place. Really enjoyed our stay. Such a beautiful place. Had lots of walks and then back to this awesome house.

A beautiful house for a weekend away with family to celebrate a 60th Birthday. It was very clean and well appointed. The welcome pack was exceptionally good. The whole experience was wonderful we hope to stay again.

3 couples stayed at Wythburn for a family reunion and we had a wonderful time. The building has been superbly converted and is both functional and stylish. All the amenities were good - very satisfactory kitchen, plenty of hot water and the house was well heated even on cooler days. The 3 ensuite bedrooms were very comfortable and 2 open directly to the well kept front garden .The back garden is secure and very attractively laid out. The Lake District is on the doorstep and when we were there every day was sunny ! In summary we would highly recommend this venue and will be likely to return in the future.

Wow. Wow. Wow! Absolutely fantastic place to stay! We have just visited Melmerby Hall & Stag Cottage for a long weekend to celebrate my 50th Birthday! The house is exceptional in every way - such a warm and welcoming place, extremely comfortable and perfect for our large party of adults and children. Also being pet friendly it was great to be able to take the dog with us as well. He loved the big grounds and we had easy access to the walks in the surrounding hills and fields. Would also like to give a plug for the local Shepherds Inn (not on Trip Advisor) but a great place to dine and only a few minutes walk from the Hall. Thank you very much for your hospitality it was enjoyed by all.

We had a fantastic time at the Old Hall. So much so that we tentatively said we should book it out each year because we loved the place so much. We loved the little touches and also the area. It was so peaceful yet beautiful. We will definitely be back. 

This place is spectacular and perfect for large groups, with a proper sense of occasion (we held a great 50th birthday party there). There are many communal spaces nicely spread about the castle and the bedrooms are fantastic (very comfy beds), meaning everyone can escape to privacy if they need to. Penrith, Keswick and the best of the Lake District are all within easy reach - something for everyone. We had an amazing meal (including vegan options) cooked by Lynn Hilditch caterers. Lynn and her team were really lovely and the food was outstanding. Really couldn’t recommend this place highly enough!

This is the best equipped holiday accommodation we have ever rented. There is a very generous welcome hamper and many, many other extra provisions. The accommodation is lovely - large rooms, plenty of space, comfy chairs and a delightful garden, with a private area for sitting out. The Hall gave us the most perfect place for all our family to meet up and we highly recommend this holiday retreat.

The 5th time for us this year and as ever, a very enjoyable occasion. It really is a great house, a great location and once more it gave us a great weekend. Already looking forward to the 6th. Hopefully it will round in the blink of an eye!

Thank you for providing us with a comfortable base where all our family could be together to celebrate my my Mum’s 80th Birthday. We have been fortunate to enjoy fantastic weather to explore this little gem of a place and had the well-appointed house and cottages to return to after walking each day. We really appreciated having such a well kitted out kitchen to prepare our meals and also the high standard of bedrooms/bathrooms etc for rest at the end of the day. The views are superb in all directions and we loved congregating in the living room with its picture windows. Thank you too for the welcome hamper and thanks Jilly for taking us through fixing the satellite dish so enthusiasts could watch the rugby.

What a magical place and a fantastic house – many thanks for making our first visit to the Lakes so special – we are only sad we aren’t staying longer – we will be back.

Another great stay in one of the Rowley Estates cottages. The views are beautiful. We have enjoyed celebrating my partners birthday this weekend and it was a lovely touch from the Rowley team to leave a birthday card and a cake! Thank you for providing beautifully decorated, well equipped places to stay. We will be back!

An absolutely awesome weekend in a fabulous place which we all loved.

Another lovely week in the fantastic Hause Hall! Great walks, evenings in playing games was cosy! Absolutely stunning views all round and a breathtaking place to be. We fell in love with this place from day one! Thanks.

Another fantastic fun-filled weekend. Our little mini Christmas was perfect.

A lovely cottage, spacious and very well equipped, in a nice village with good pub and cafe. Good safe enclosed garden and situated in the grounds of the hall. Good access (by car) to the lakes and the Pennine hills, and with walks directly from the cottage.

Wow , the cottage was just perfect in every way. Spotlessly clean, cosy and everything you could possibly think to need was provided. It also included a welcome basket with goodies in. The beds were so comfortable we had the best nights sleep. Thank you to Christine and her team for having us , we will be back soon x

Thank you for letting your beautiful cottage to us! It was perfect! The children have had a wonderful Lake District adventure and Elk Cottage was a fantastic base. We will definitely visit the Rowley Estates again!

This holiday was just what we all needed. A beautiful cottage in a beautiful location. We can highly recommend the walk to Aira Force. We also enjoyed day trips to Beatrix Potters Hill Top Farm and the Ravenglass Railway. There are some beautiful walks in both areas. We go home tired, but rested and are looking forward to our next trip back to the Lakes.

We have had an amazing stay here at Wythburn Cottage. Every amenity has been thought of and the welcome hamper the best we have ever had! Thank you. Max enjoyed the snow, especially building his first snowman with his daddy. We ate some fabulous meals, namely at the Boot and Shoe, The Bridge (on the A66) and Dockray Hall. We can especially recommend the Bridge and its twice baked cheese souffle!! Thank you for a wonderful holiday – we will definitely be back!!

What a fabulous stay at your amazing cottage! Everything proved for a perfect holiday and what a well-stocked welcome hamper, the only regret was we didn’t book for longer, but we will definitely be back!! Thank you, especially from Arthur on his first holiday!!

Had an amazing stay at Wythburn Cottage, we would definitely recommend to family and friends, beautiful cottage !!

Beautiful cottage. Loved the hamper. We had a fantastic holiday and the pool table went down a treat. Thank you.

What a fantastic place to stay. I had arranged to visit Riverain for my boyfriends birthday, meeting up with family as a surprise. We couldn't have asked for a better place to meet. The cottage itself is stunning and the service really was 5 star. The welcome pack was yummy especially the home made raspberry jam :-) We would definitely visit again and have already recommended it to a number of family and friends.

Our return visit to Cazenovia Hall did not disappoint. Wonderful welcome hamper with so many lovely treats! House had everything we needed and more. Christine is a delight to communicate with and nothing is too much trouble. We will return again I am sure!

"What a fantastic place to stay. I had arranged to visit Riverain for my boyfriends birthday, meeting up with family as a surprise. We couldn't have asked for a better place to meet. The cottage itself is stunning and the service really was 5 star. The welcome pack was yummy especially the home made raspberry jam :-) We would definitely visit again and have already recommended it to a number of family and friends."

We had a superb weekend, ostensibly celebrating my 90th birthday, but it turned out to be so much more than that – a very memorable festival of family and friends with strenuous expeditions on Saturday: one up Saddleback and one up High Pike, while the decrepit went to Howtown and walked around Hallin Fell, wildlife and views superb. 4 Generations for lunch on Sunday, thanks to Lynn. The Hall provides lots of delightful things to do for young and old. Huge thank you. Breathtaking house.

Blown away by this magnificent place. Precious memories made with our amazing families. Definitely recommend.

Officially the best birthday ever! Blencowe Hall has been just perfect and had the best time with my amazing fabulous family. Thank you.

An excellent weekend, fabulous food and the hosts were brilliant. Thank you.

Fabulous Christmas with the family. Amazing house. Thanks for everything. We will definitely be back.

Fantastic house for a 70th Birthday. Recreating the 40’s and 50’s. Perfect setting. Caterers brilliant. Thank you so much, we’ll be back for a summer weekend!

We had the most wonderful time here with our family celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. There were 16 adults, 8 children, 1 infant and 1 dog and everybody has had a fabulous time, magnificent house for the occasion and Lynn Hilditch was brilliant.

Fabulous venue for an intimate wedding with 19 in total! Everyone so helpful and superb for photos – even had sunshine and blue skies on the day of the wedding. Thank you.

We have had the most amazing time here at Blencowe. We are celebrating a 50th birthday and a 20th wedding anniversary and it has been the perfect location. We have not travelled out and about as wanted to enjoy our time here together. We will be returning. Thank you.

Fantastic place to hold a birthday party. Every room in this castle is beautiful and well thought out. This will always hold a very special place in all our memories! Thank you.

Stayed here for a family birthday celebration. There were 14 of us all together, so we used the hall and the barn, which worked perfectly. Both were of a very high standard, with everything you could wish for. The Wraiths that stayed in the barn called it a Hobbit home, which sums it up, a quirky layout with lots of interesting nooks and crannies. We were blessed with good weather and the autumnal colours from the living room were lovely. On the Saturday evening we had Lynn Hilditch Catering, to cook and serve a three course meal, which was delicious. We would highly recommend Lynn. Thanks must go to Jilly for all her help before and after out stay. We loved it do much, we all want to go back again soon

Spent a long weekend with a group of friends (12 people and one dog) we were absolutely thrilled at the standard of accommodation, cleanliness and location of the property. All the small considerations that can be a let down at some holiday lets were completely covered at Hause Hall e.g. sufficient good sized pans, enough places to hang walking clothes, enough seating, enough towels etc. etc. The overall impression was that whatever you needed was available and easily to hand. We never tired of the glorious views over the valley from the day-room, who needs TV when you have that amazing constantly changing panorama to watch over your tea (or glass of wine). As a group we get together once a year, every year and it’s really important, taking my turn as organiser, to be able to relax rather than worrying if everybody is comfortable and happy in the surroundings that you have selected. This year I never had to be concerned with anything other than relaxing and enjoying myself. I can't recommend Hause Hall enough as a base for enjoying this wonderful part of the Lakes, we left agreeing that we would make the same booking again for next year.

I organised the celebration for my husband's 50th birthday. Family were coming from different places and it was a fantastic place to meet. The house is lovely, perfectly equipped and in a perfect location. The staff who helped me to get organised took care of every small detail to make of the weekend a memorable event. Thanks Christine and Jilly, I have a very happy family after the weekend.

This house couldn't have been any better ! Lovely setting with amazing views and wonderful walking straight from the door. Lovely cosy sitting area with wood fire for cold days and a beautiful sun room with views and easy access to a patio and garden for warmer days. Well equipped throughout with every little detail attended to and beautifully furnished. Great kitchen for self-catering and lovely pub/hotel within walking distance. Easy access to the Ullswater ferries. Friendly helpful manager and spotlessly clean. Delicious "welcome hamper" too. I would highly recommend this farmhouse, stables and barn as for our party of 17 walking friends it was just perfect !

A gorgeous house with 4 bedrooms (3 large ensuing doubles, one smaller double with ensuing shower and twin room with adjacent bathroom) ,a huge kitchen with Aga and masses of everything one could want for staying and entertaining, crockery and glasses for 20 people , comfortable sitting room and stunning conservatory as well as outdoor seating and barbecues with charcoal provided. We were a group of 12 so 3 stayed in the Cruik Barn but all ate together. It's easy to walk out of the house and straight into the surrounding hills, and the views from the house and patio are incredible. We couldn't have been happier. The welcome hamper had a lovely selection of goodies including tea, coffee, biscuits and local fudge,and the meal we had catered by Lynn Hilditch as recommended when booking was fantastic, a real highlight of our stay. I'm pushing to make our visit an annual event as we came from Scotland, Hampshire and Cambridgeshire to meet and all agreed it was a perfect location.

We were a large party aged from 3 to 70. The venue and surroundings met our needs perfectly. The three buildings were spacious, warm and comfortable. Communications in advance of the stay were highly satisfactory. We all share very positive memories of the visit.

The property provided the perfect setting for my 60th birthday celebrations with my family. The booking process was friendly and efficient, the property was cosy, extremely well equipped and the location was stunning . Hause Hall is surrounded by magnificent scenery in a tranquil setting. I could not have wished for anything better so thanks to all concerned.

Myself and 11 other fabulous friends stayed at Hause Hall and Cruik Barn last weekend and it was the best accommodation we have ever found in our 25 years of meeting up twice yearly for our girly get-togethers. The house and barn were both furnished to a very high standard, bedrooms and bathrooms all beautifully decorated and modern, warm and comfortable. The views from the conservatory are stunning and all our walks started on the doorstep. Welcomed with a fully stocked hamper too which was very much appreciated. I would love to stay there again in the future and if I could choose from all the places we've stayed, I would choose this one; it was the best of the best. Thank you

Great location with easy access to the Lake District particularly the stunning Lake Ullswater only 15 minutes away and Lowther Castle which would highly recommend for a family day out! The accommodation was hugely spacious with all bedrooms ensuite and the kids had plenty of space to run around and play hide and seek! It was an ideal place for a large family or 2 families to stay and explore the North lakes. Will look to stay again in the future and would highly recommend.

As big birthdays and other celebrations come round, it's inevitable that you want to find a good location to share a great experience with your friends. About a decade ago, one of our friends booked Blencowe Hall for their birthday and invited us to come and stay - and we just and the best weekend ever with 20-30 friends spending the time together in this spectacular, well appointed venue. My own birthday followed a couple of years later and looked hard to find somewhere similar but nothing even came remotely close. Blencowe Hall has a lot of good things going for it - not least of which is the building and furnishings itself, but also the peaceful location and being so convenient for the Lake District. I think the only negative - if we could think any - was that sadly the local pub in Blencow closed a few years ago - although there is another great pub in the neighbouring village of Greystoke a short walk away, and let's be honest, when you've got a great place like this - why would you want to spend time in the pub?! So, ten years on, we keep looking for different venues to try and improve upon Blencowe Hall - but have so far all of us have failed to find anywhere better. For some of us, this is now the ninth or tenth visit. Top tip - if you're staying for a weekend or longer, make one night a fancy dress party - it's the one chance you get to dress up like a fool without having to travel far wearing you mad costume and having strangers give you funny looks! Next time, think we'll try adding the hot tub option they offer too.

We've stayed here before and yet again our expectations were surpassed at our weekend house party. We used the recommended caterers - Lynn - who turned out to be perfect. We had a meal for fourteen dropped off to heat up, breakfast cooked for us and also a banquet dinner served up on the Saturday night. Melmerby Hall accommodation was perfect, an ideal blend of grandeur and homeliness. Thank you Christine, Charlie and Jilly for keeping up standards. We will be back!

Melmerby Hall is incredible! We were a group of 10 adults and 8 children so having our own bathrooms in our beautiful bedrooms was brilliant and Jilly was very helpful by configuring the beds to suit our needs. The facilities in the house were fantastic. The kitchen was amazing with ample of everything you need to cater for large numbers and the welcome basket was very generous. We were blessed with incredible weather so we took full advantage of the stunning grounds, barbecue and outdoor furniture all weekend. When we were tired of sunbathing on the beautifully kept lawns the comfortable living spaces accommodated all of us in real luxury. Melmerby Hall provided the perfect place for our group of friends to be together and have the privacy of our own spacious rooms. Christine and Jilly were so helpful, making booking Melmerby very easy. I really cannot rate Melmerby Hall strongly enough and we can not wait to come back!

Beautiful cottage, absolutely spotless with amazing welcome hamper full of locally produced goodies. Couldn't fault the place, fantastic location for our wedding at Greystoke with lovely peaceful and beautifully kept gardens. We only live half an hour up the road but would come here for a week to get away for a break. We took over 2 of the cottages and the Hall for around 30 friends and family for the weekend....best find ever. Thank you Christine and Charles. We will definitely be back in a couple of years to celebrate Mum's 80th 😊👍🏻

Perfectly placed for the northern lakes, good local pubs and great views. We were greeted with a very generous welcome basket, comfortable bedrooms and a large supply of logs. There is detailed local information including walks, maps and Wainwright books, also TA and games for rainy days and a very well equipped kitchen. Our dogs were safe in the enclosed garden and well supplied with bags and a separate bin!

We’ve very much enjoyed our first visit to the Eden Valley and The Lakes. And its been lovely to have had Elk Cottage as our base. We’ve really appreciated all the information provided, pre-booking and at the cottage. Thank you too for the prompt action on the pillows! We’ve walked for miles and eaten well. Enjoyed the quiz at The Crown last night, although the round on ‘recognise the village where the pub is’ was a bit of a tester for us southerners as they were all local! Thank you. – Jane, Duncan, Steph and John. – November 2018

Our second stay at Elk Cottage and it was just as lovely as we remember! A real treat. Luxury, but homely. We’ve been lucky with the weather apart from Wednesday (on second thoughts the Ullswater Steamer in the rain was misguided and a bit ££ off season due to limited timetable) but cosy evenings by the log burner have been fantastic. We have recommended Elk Cottage to all of our friends as so lovely. Thank you. – The Lewis family – November 2018

This marks our hat-trick of stays at Elk Cottage. Brilliant as ever! – Fetherston Arms – Pie night, The Shepherds Inn, Melmerby – lovely atmosphere, Crown Inn – excellent fish and chips, Dog and Gun, Skelton – very good food. Thank you to all.

This is a splendid treasure. We were so fortunate to have found you … You have provided one of the most comfortable and complete homes away. Thank you.

A really lovely well-equipped cottage! We’ve had a fabulous holiday despite the rain, while the rest of the country basks in 30 degrees C. The welcome hamper was full of delicious goodies. We only wish we were here longer to do more walking. Your recommendations for places to eat and local walks were excellent! Thank you for such a comfortable cottage.

What can we say, it ticked all our boxes – superb! This is by far the best holiday rental we have stayed in to-date. The cottage is so well equipped, extremely comfortable and the welcome hamper is such a wonderful touch. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and we thank you all very much x

Our three days at Elk Cottage considered heat wave temperatures exceptional for Cumbria! Planned walks abandoned for good books, tennis, the World Cup and relaxing in the garden. We would like to thank Jilly and her team for such a spotlessly clean cottage. Everything to make our stay so comfortable. Love the bed linen.

Just a quick thank you for a lovely stay in amazing Elk Cottage, helped by superb weather and wonderful tranquillity. Had excellent meals at the Crown in Kirkoswald, the Shepherds Inn at Langwathby and the Horse and Farrier at Dacre. Dalemain House worth a visit, close to Aira Force. Thanks for the excellent hamper which was much appreciated.

Thank you for a very comfortable and tranquil stay at Elk Cottage, where we have had a wonderful few days catching up with dear friends. The weather has been good, but still a bit chilly – beautiful this morning as we prepare to leave! We have so enjoyed this unfamiliar part of ‘The Lakes’ and observing nature at its most new and fresh – loved the lambs and the wild flowers as we explored the area. Thank you too for the full and very much appreciated welcome hamper

We were very lucky with the weather for the first few days, even managing to eat breakfast outside. A very comfortable and cosy stay. We wanted for nothing, everything catered for. Beautiful local walks and stunning scenery as you venture further afield. Great location. Thoroughly enjoyed the tranquillity here. Having sheep with their new born lambs was an added bonus as our neighbours. Thank you for restoring the wi-fi so promptly. The welcome pack was greatly appreciated. Would certainly be recommending this property.

Once again, another wonderful stay for us at Elk Cottage. The unseasonable snow even enhanced our visit – have never enjoyed being snowed in more! As always, fantastic facilities and excellent communication with Jilly and Christine. Roll on visit number 5!

We had a mixed bag of weather, but nothing like as wet as we prepared for – what a home from home this cottage was – a great ‘jumping off’ point for local walks and for further afield – we did 2 of the walks set out in the ‘Walks, Hikes and Drives’ file in one and can recommend them. We found it very easy to get to The Lakes for walks too. So far have done Crummock Water, Buttermere, Ullswater and plan to do a circuit od Derwent Water tomorrow with the promise of the best weather so far. Well stocked kitchen and a nice hamper of little luxuries…

Thank you for a perfect stay. The cottage is beautiful, very comfortable, with everything you could possibly wish for. It is the perfect ‘bolt hole’ to get away from it all! The walk to Lacy’s Caves was fab! Hope to be back soon!

Booked this with Glassonby old hall and Jenny's cottage for a big family 60th birthday celebration and couldn't have wished for a better place. Accomodation in all three was stunning and there was something for everyone: walks for the walkers, drives for the drivers and a fantastic place to rest for the rest! The complimentary hampers were an amazing treat too - almost more than could be consumed in a weekend, 'doggy-bags' needed. The place was everything we were hoping for and more - will definitely be back! Thanks

My elderly parents and I spent the most relaxing week at Elk Cottage. Our whole experience, from initial booking direct to the end of our holiday was fantastic - everyone involved was so friendly and helpful. We wanted for nothing during our stay, the cottage was so well equipped (even down to a full herb and spice rack). We've never seen a welcome hamper like it before, we felt very spoilt. The cottage was comfort throughout with beds we didn't want to get out of and it was spotlessly clean. A perfect place to relax and unwind - thank you to all concerned.

This is one of the loveliest accommodations I have ever had the privilege to stay. Every need of the visitor is anticipated and every amenity provided. From the welcome hamper on arrival to the stunning views, it is the quintessential English home. I wish our stay had been longer. It is centrally located for walks and fishing and opportunities to visit from Long Meg to the Lake District. We so very much appreciate all done for us.

This is my fifth visit to Glassonby, previously stayed in Elk Cottage. We needed peace and seclusion which we certainly found in this wonderful Croft. Husband also insists on a further return, in fact already booked into Elk (daughter included!) for 1st March. Looking forward to it already. Everything perfect, as always. Thank you.

Thank you for a lovely stay in a beautiful rural retreat.

Fabulous cottage, lovely weather, a perfect weekend and the raspberry jam was delicious. Thank you.

Having usually stayed at Riverain, this was a nice change of scenery. As ever, beautifully presented and we all had a great few days, including Bailey the Lab. See you at Xmas!!

Really super cottage in a lovely area. Attention to detail goes a long way! Thank you, will return.

Thanks, had a lovely break. Nice walks from the door. Weather good. Lovely cottage to relax in. Thanks for amazing hamper etc.

We booked this cottage at random and what a fantastic surprise as we came through the door – 5 star perfection, both inside and out!! We tried out several pubs and walks as recommended. The muddy climb up the hill at The Shepherds Inn at Melmerby through 3 fords is a great way to work up an appetite for Sunday lunch. One other recommendation – The Bridge Bistro just outside Appleby is classy and open all day. A hugely memorable weeks holiday. Thank you so much!

The owner has provided everything we needed and things we wouldn’t have thought of. Love the views of the surroundings. Lots of local walks. We will return.

A wonderful cottage with amazing inclusions and a delightful hamper. The area added super memories for our journey around the UK .

Our second stay here an it was like coming home! Again, the cottage was cosy, perfectly equipped and waiting for us to enjoy it! And we did! Thank you for organising the birthday flowers! My compliments to your florist! The hamper was delicious! The hot tub was a delight! Going home tomorrow! It feels like the time has flown by! Til next time!

Came for complete rest: perfect. Everything beautifully presented and perfectly catered for. Thank you, going home refreshed.

Came for our Anniversary and Paul’s Birthday. We don’t want to go home! Love this house. Thank you so much. We will be back soon x Home from home x

We love holidays in the Lake District and Eden Valley. Rowley Estates offer a very high standard of accommodation in great rural locations. We've stayed in several of their properties in recent years and need look no further for what we want. Very well maintained, high spec with attentive owners. Also great is flexibility over booking dates rather than the standard seven or fourteen day holiday.

We had another great weekend, staying at Jenny's Croft. We stayed in Jenny's Croft a few years ago, but the interior fit out did not look like it had aged, everything was still in pristine condition and well looked after. The external areas around the property have really matured and it really is a peaceful setting. I would recommend to anyone to visit. Thanks to the Rowley Estates.

Our party stayed at both Jenny's Croft & Glassonby Hall during our recent trip to the lake district. I cannot speak highly enough of both properties which are both amazing. Jenny's Croft was beautifully appointed and in its own grounds with plentiful parking. The decor is perfect offering comfort & style and is fully equipped with everything you need - home from home. The welcome basket was most generous & provided lots of quality local produce which was a lovely touch & very much appreciated. The communication with the owner's was second to none which made the whole experience so easy, pleasant and reassuring, they had thought of everything. This lovely cottage wuth stunning views provides a perfect base for a lovely 'get away from it all' break. I can only hope to return one day soon.

A lovely, lovely house. Wonderful time had by all. First class accommodation.

Brilliant venue for a family get-together.

Seven lovely ladies on our annual get together, this year celebrating a special birthday. Wonderful house which was so comfortable for our get together. Lots of evenings around a roaring fire. Fantastic times, fantastic friends.

What a fantastic place! We had perfect weather for autumn walks and cooked feasts. A great way to celebrate a significant birthday .

A fantastic holiday in a great location. The very well-equipped and roomy house catered perfectly for all our big families. Great walk recommendations: walks along the Eden River became firm favourites. We also drove out to Ullswater and Hartside Top. We can recommend two pubs: The Crown Inn in Kirkoswald and The Shepherds Inn in Melmerby. Thank you for a brilliant and memorable week.

A fantastically appointed property and very well equipped. We’ve all had a lovely time and it’s definitely somewhere we’d visit again. Surrounding scenery and the Eden Valley are fabulous! Thanks!

Second Visit to The Rowley Estates. Loved it. House and standard fabulous. Beautiful location. Thank you xx

Fabulous stay in this lovely house – great party Saturday night. Huge bed – loved the spooky well bathroom. Loved everything. Even the weather was amazing. Will return x

Fabulous house, even better than we expected. Quality of fitting, finish, furniture is superb – thank you!

Absolutely perfect venue, catering for walkers, drivers, sitters and gazers! Everyone had a fantastic time and we couldn’t have found a better place, thanks!

We had an absolutely fantastic time this weekend. The house is amazing. We loved spending time here and we are already planning our next stay here.

Our visit to Elk Cottage was idyllic; the cottage itself deserved its 5 Star rating as everything was perfect and the attention to detail was superb! The location was ideal for a quiet retreat and the information on the recommended walks etc was extremely helpful.

Elk Cottage is in the most peaceful of rural locations. So well placed for country walks. Exceptionally clean, fully and well equipped. The welcome hamper is wonderful, a thoughtful mix of practical and luxury treats! Communication is friendly and could not be more helpful. We are already planning our next visit - simply cannot keep away from this idyllic country retreat. Highly recommended.

Fantastic accommodation and welcome pack. Scenery outstanding and tranquil apart from a few noisy sheep! Would love to spend Christmas here – bliss!!

What a lovely stay we had in this beautiful cottage in stunning surroundings! The welcome pack was gratefully received and there is nothing you could do to improve our time here. We were recommended a couple of local eateries; the beer was good! We hope to return – thank you.

This is our second Christmas break with The Rowley Estates. We stayed in Jenny's Croft last Christmas and at Elk Cottage this year. These two cottages are side by side in the quaint little village of Glassonby in the Lake District. If you like peace, relaxation and a level of luxury then this is the place for you. The cottage is kept to a very high standard. It is very clean and well furnished. It is so well equipped from a sewing kit to freeview and wifi. There was a Christmas wreath on the door, Christmas tree in the hall and a fantastic luxury hamper waiting in the spacious kitchen. There was bread, butter, milk, cereals, fruit juice and their own locally made jam. Oh the Jam! It was delicious but the single jar did not last long. Be warned! The Dining room comfortably accommodates 4 adults for Christmas dinner. The lounge is also well equipped and very comfortable. The wood burning fire is amazing with an ample supply of chopped logs available. The two bedrooms are ensuite. One with a bath and the other with a shower cubicle. The beds are very comfortable and give a great nights sleep. The cottage is dog friendly and has bowls, poo bags etc provided if needed. There are a few nice walks that can be taken with information available in the cottage. It is about 8 miles to Penrith where there are several large supermarkets as well as a nice Town centre. The Rowley Estates offer luxury accommodation that takes some beating! There is always someone on hand either a phone call or email away. I have only spoken with Jilly and Christine who will go out of their way to make your visit special.

Glassonby Hall was booked for my birthday and Christmas. The Hall was everything and more we could have wished for. Great attention to detail and a welcome hamper to die for! The Hall was beautifully decorated for Christmas. The immense great hall was a perfect location for Christmas Dinner and the birthday party. The surprise billiard table was a bonus! What stands out for The Rowley Estate property was the fact that we wanted for nothing. The kitchen was exceptionally well stocked well with quality cutlery and dinnerware. Pots and pans were more than able to cope with catering for 12. Bed linen was Egyptian cotton and toiletries were Molten Brown. The supply of logs and kindling was endless. Hot water ran constantly and we had WiFi!!! It felt more like staying in a luxury hotel than a self catering house! We would definitely book again for a special occasion - The large hall for a wedding would be fantastic 😊

Blencowe Hall is beautiful. The property has been brilliantly refurbished and made for a brilliant and special Christmas for our family. There is ample space and the bedrooms are all a good size - most are en-suite. The South Tower bedrooms in particular are really nice. We would definitely stay at Blencowe Hall again, and would 100% recommend it for parties, events, family vacations etc. It would be particularly nice in the summer to be able to open the external doors in the South Tower out into the gardens. Blencowe Hall is only 10 minutes from the M6 but in a really peaceful and quiet location. There are some nice walks to be had and plenty of wildlife. There is a nice local pub around a 20 minute walk away in Greystoke. A special thank you to Christine who was really helpful during the booking process, the run up to our stay and during our stay. Even over the Christmas period she was always on hand to answer any questions or help in any way.

What a stay! Having stayed in many self catering places over the years, UK and abroad, Cazenovia comes up top. The communication before hand, advice, help and details given was excellent. The house itself was gorgeous, with lovely styling and furniture. Our welcome hamper was a lovely gesture and the place was a perfect setting for my mother's 60th birthday with the family. I am now looking for a bigger event to have so we can use Blencowe Hall. What a treat, thank you so much for a wonderful stay.

Our sincere thanks to Christine and the Rowley Family for our time in this gorgeous house. It was perfect - everything we could have hoped for - and such a lovely place to spend a weekend catching up with friends. Excellent pre-arrival help and information, a beautiful welcome basket, and stunning surroundings. We loved every minute, and were so sorry to leave. We'll be back as soon as we can!! Thank you so much for the genuinely friendly service.

The location of this property is amazing, beautiful gardens , great family friendly huge place for everyone to enjoy, its the ideal property to kick back and relax. Would highly recommend a visit for a long weekend break.

What a delight! From the welcome basket to the games made available. Beautiful peaceful surroundings and wonderful views of the mountains of the Lake District. A well appointed place to stay. We shall be back! Thank you!

Absolutely superb! 3rd time of staying. Immaculate and well equipped. Quiet and peaceful with a great pub 20 minute walk away. 4 en-suite rooms. Will be back! Thanks

It was our second time at Glassonby for a family get together. The layout is super for giving everyone space, the large kitchen table is brilliantly sociable, and the kids loved the pool table. The welcome pack is an added bonus with lots of lovely treats. Lots to do in the area, we ate at the Shepherds Inn in Melmerby which was fantastic. Would highly recommend.

This was our second long weekend in this beautiful house, which we had in combination with Stag cottage and Kirkbride Hall. It is in a Peaceful, scenic location ideal for exploring the northern lakes but with easy transport links. The spacious and light conservatory just off a well equipped kitchen with a dining table for 20 meant the family could all be together while cooking and eating. If you prefer to eat in style, the impressive dining room is a magnificent room with a fireplace from the 1600’s. There are three further large sitting rooms, each with a distinctive style, one is very elegant with an open fire, the others less formal but still very comfortable. All the bedrooms are large and tastefully furnished with antique furniture, beautiful views and each with a lovely en suite bathroom with quality toiletries and white fluffy towels on the heated towel rails. In addition to the kitchen, there is a large utility room with large extra fridge and dishwasher and plenty of storage in cupboards and work surfaces and all the equipment you need to self cater to a high standard. However the atmosphere of a comfortable family home is maintained and it does not feel stuffy or precious . The artisan bakery cafe and gift shop three minutes walk away is an added bonus to the stay, and the welcome hamper is generous and full of Lake District treats and Rowley estate jams. There are many activities close by for the family to enjoy; we had a trip on the Lakeland steamer, Clay pigeon shooting, quad biking, cycling and a run up an adjacent fell. The support team was available immediately when needed to answer any questions or iron out minor problems and we are very grateful for all their care and hard work in looking after the houses of the Melmerby estate . We will certainly be back. It is far superior to all other locations we have had as a family and we can not recommend it highly enough.

This was our third stay at Jennys Croft, having also previously stayed at the neighbouring Elk Cottage twice as well. It is a fabulous cottage. The log fire situated in the large open plan living area keeps the cottage so cosy and the large kitchen/utility area is well stocked, including the best welcome basket ever (including wine, biscuits, fudge, fruit, cereal, milk, orange juice, bread, eggs and cheese, and even treats for the dogs!). It is in a great location close to Penrith and Ullswater is the closest of the lakes. We love walking round Ullswater and the surrounding mountains. The nearby Lowther estate has great walks as well and there’s also the walks around nearby Aira Force. A little further afield and you are also near Keswick (a lovely town) with great walks nearby (see photos) and the lovely Derwent water. After a long day out walking it is so lovely to return to such comfortable and luxurious surroundings at Jennys Croft (or Elk) and we will be returning again, as usual.

Fabulous accommodation, every need catered for ..even for dogs. Well equipped kitchen and beautiful complimentary hamper with local produce on arrival. Stunning views would highly recommend.

A great place to stay, perfect location to see the Lake District. Beautiful property with everything you could want and more. Very cosy and clean, suited all our needs. The hamper is a great welcoming touch. Bedrooms all have en suites and are of a good size. Large lounge with feature wood burning fire, very cosy particularly in the evening. Snooker table kept the men happy! Great idea. Thank you, we will be back to stay again.

Took me a while to write this review - apologies! But I just had to find the time to rate our stay over the middle of October! There were quite a few of us for a product launch and the property is beautiful. Everything is faultless and just stunning - and Christine is a pleasure to deal with and goes above and beyond, assisting in the set up. I cannot thank her and her staff enough - this event would not have been a success without it. Upon arrival we received perfect little gift hampers and everything was just spotless. I would recommend this place to anyone - we even have our clients asking how they can get to use the space again. All guests were in awe of how beautiful it all is. totally unique with a completely seamless service! Thank you again

Another great time at melmerby , everything about it is fabulous . A great sociable kitchen for large groups , we will definitely be back , thankyou .

The cottage was everything we expected and more. The heating was on and the fire laid for our arrival, the welcome basket was exceptional, home made raspberry jam delicious. The cottage is equipped to a very high standard. We will be back.

We booked Blencowe Hall and one of the cottages to celebrate a big birthday and it couldn’t have gone better. Christine is incredibly responsive and even with a couple of hiccups (heating wasn’t working) she responded immediately and had it fixed within the hour. The beds were very comfortable and the bed linen top notch; each and every one of our guests said how well they’d slept. Each room is individual and of course the South Tower Master is stunning! Most rooms have baths which the ladies loved. The kitchen is very well equipped and I soon got used to the Aga. With 30 people in the kitchen it certainly got cosy but we obviously had our guests from the cottage in for breakfast as well. I actually took kettles to put in each bedroom because some rooms, as you’d expect, are a long way from the kitchen. We had Lynn Hilditch Catering for all lunches and dinners and she was exceptional! The food was locally sourced and utterly delicious. Lynn went over and above to provide perfect meals and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her. It was a squeeze to get 30 people in the dining room and we had to use one of the garden tables along with the two existing tables, but it did work, it was just a little difficult serving food. Obviously if you only had 24 people it’s fine, but with a bigger dining room I think the Hall would also appeal to those who wanted an event for bigger numbers. The sitting room is a fantastic size easily accommodating 30 people and with the fire lit, was beautifully cosy. We also had Salsa dancing in the room one night which was brilliant; the best activity we did all weekend. The Hall is completely different to any other venue and of course has the ‘Wow’ factor surrounded by outstanding beauty. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this property along with Christine and her team - fantastic!

We have been visiting the Lakes for many, many years. This was a family gathering at Hause Hall for a special birthday - and we were delighted. We have stayed at several of the properties owned by Rewley Estates and all have been excellent. Walks from the door of Hause Hall were breathtaking - and the views from the house were also wonderful. The quality of the accommodation is top notch, as was the service. Christine kindly helped us find a great caterer for our birthday celebration and even responded constructively to my enquiry about renting a table tennis table! Hope to be back in the Lakes again soon!

Absolutely perfect for 8 adults, one three year old and 3 dogs!! The house is outstanding – luxurious, clean and cosy. It was exactly what we needed! The standard of the accommodation is amazing, and the hamper om arrival was such a lovely surprise. The information about walks and eating out/shopping was fantastic too. No doubt we will be back again.

THANK YOU!!

We love your wonderful house. Brilliant design to accommodate all ages/ interests! Thank you for making us so welcome – we feel very fortunate to have found Glassonby Old Hall. Hope to return…..
Storey family, October 2018

Wonderful time in your great house! Thank you for the welcome pack. We all felt so at home. Would certainly recommend. Visited Penrith, Keswick, Grasmere, Bowness and lots of walks, laughter and fun.

Thanks for a lovely stay in a fantastic building. Everything was superb. Did two of your suggested walks and pubs!

The perfect weekend retreat.

Thank you, superb first class accommodation, beautiful countryside, lots to see. We enjoyed the nice hamper – very generous.

Very cosy cottage to return to after busy day exploring the Penines, Lakes, Hadrian’s Wall and local sites. Two pubs in Kirkoswald were good. Long Meg walk a lovely start to our week. Highly recommended place to stay, lovely welcome hamper and a treat to have the fire laid too. Thank you. We’ll return soon!!

Fantastic cottage and lovely location. Very comfortable and well equipped. Christine is a delight and there was nothing that was too much trouble. We had lovely weather too!! Very much appreciated and we’ll be back!

'We had a lovely relaxing stay at Elk Cottage. A really cosy and lovely place. Every little thing has been thought of and provided. We will be back!'

'Great weekend, lovely cottage- would come again, especially as this one was too short.'

‘We discovered Elk Cottage when our American friends, Pat and John stayed here in August. We liked it when we visited them then and came back to celebrate Susan’s birthday. Despite some very wet and stormy weather on Fri/Sat, we were warm and snug (and dry!) here with everything we needed. Sunday was dry and Monday glorious after a frosty and misty start. Sunday lunch at the Highland Drove was lovely and Monday’s birthday lunch at the Sharrow Bay was very special. Many thanks to Christine for making us so welcome and thinking of everything! We hope to be back…'

The houses were warm, comfortable and perfect for our purposes. We spent a lot of time eating gourmet, home cooked food and drinking excellent wines around the ‘great table’ and imbibing cocktails and making our own music in the fabulous lounge – but the piece de resistance was spending hours admiring the exquisite Lake District scenery. We shall return anon. We depart reluctantly, with superb memories, with photographs galore and Lynne Chapman’s lovely art. Love the gorgeous Herdwicks.

We lived locally until 1996 and knew Hause Hall as a farmhouse. In the years since, we have come for a walk around Hallin Fell whenever we could. We never thought we would actually be staying here at Hause Hall. We have all enjoyed our stay in what is still our favourite part of the country. The weather has been good to us, raining only in the evenings or at night! We have been having self catering holidays for 30+ years and this is definitely the best house we have ever stayed at. We hope to return some day. Thank you for the welcome hamper and to Jilly for answering our questions before we arrived.

We had a truly wonderful time with our family. The walks were spectacular and will always remain with us forever. Very well equipped kitchen, very comfortable beds. We had a wonderful time and would fully recommend it to everyone. Very many thanks.

Having enjoyed ourselves so much last year, we converged once again to this Idyllic place. Subtle changes made our stay even more comfortable- there are now two dishwashers in the main property and new dinining chairs meant that all 17 of us sat easily around the large table late into the night. Some of us walked in driving rain up Beda Fell and around to Place Fell, returning to the cosy house where the less adventurous members of our group had prepared cakes to enjoy in front of the roaring fire. Thanks to Christine and team for helping to make our holiday so enjoyable.

A beautifully restored cottage equipped with everything you could possibly need and the fact that our dogs were welcomed was a huge bonus. The grounds and surrounding area were also fabulous with our very own woodland walk within the grounds. A great location for exploring the beautiful Lake District and walking. We will definitely be returning and will be sharing this little gem of a place with our friends.

We stayed in Jenny’s Croft for four days with our two daughters (14 and 12 years) and puppy. From the moment I contacted Christine it was a five star service. She gave me personalised itineraries and ideas about what to do even before we booked. The cottage was just perfect and we loved every minute. The treats left were so gorgeous and Christine even thought of the puppy- who had the most amazing first holiday. We were so impressed with every aspect: the cottage was immaculate with fabulous facilities down to every last touch. Even the fire was ready to light! It was so cosy but also plenty of space to settle in. There was a washing machine and dryer and even somewhere to hose down the puppy! The setting was superb and we enjoyed a short walk around Glassonby. The maps and instructions were so detailed too. We ventured out to Aira Force and the Ullswater steam boat which was fabulous and so dog friendly. We didn’t feel the need to go out for meals as the kitchen was so well equipped and Tesco had no problem finding us! We can not fault the holiday- so thank you to Christine and all the team.

This is the second time I have stayed in this fabulous place and was so glad to return with my family to celebrate my 50th birthday and my sisters 20th Wedding Anniversary. The whole family loved every minute of our time here and also ordered a hot tub from Leigh at Cumbria Hot tub Hire which was such a treat. We received excellent service from Christine and her team, nothing was too much trouble and every query or question was responded too extremely quickly. The hall is fantastic, everything You could possibly need is available for you, as well as receiving a fabulous welcome hamper when we arrived. Can't recommend this place enough and is perfect for a family gathering. We are already looking to see when we can return.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful few days. The cottage was just perfect and we loved every minute. The treats you left were so gorgeous and you even thought of the puppy- who had the most amazing first holiday. We were so impressed with every aspect: the cottage was immaculate with fabulous facilities down to every last touch. Even the fire was ready to light! The setting was superb and we enjoyed the short walk around Glassonby. The maps and instructions were so detailed too. We didn’t feel the need to go out for meals as the kitchen was so well equipped and Tesco had no problem finding us! We can not fault the holiday- so thank you.

I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed staying at Riverain and Wythburn Cottage last weekend.  We had such a lovely time and the accommodation was excellent – so warm and comfortable – and the surrounding countryside is so beautiful.

A great success!

Many thanks

'I just want to say a great big thank you for our lovely stay at Hause Hall Farm, Cruik Barn and Stables. All our guests loved their stay and were very excited, when they got there, at the beautiful setting, their rooms and and the views. Our time there was perfect from start to finish. We loved the lovely warm rooms, cloud like beds and bedding, and spotless bathrooms. We made good use of the thoughtfully planned and exceptionally well equipped kitchen and dining room. My mam and dad were very comfortable in their downstairs bedroom with the specialist equipment you made available. Your generous welcome basket of provisions and food basics was much appreciated. It was great not to have to bring basics like washing up liquid, t-towels, kitchen roll, dishwasher tablets etc with us. Providing t-lights and holders was a lovely touch. The piece de resistance was the day lounge with that utterly captivating view. We all had endless pleasure watching the view appear, disappear then reappear through the mist and clouds. We were entranced by the changing colours of the hillside and sky when the sun came out. We appreciated the magic of the endless stars, planets and milky way when we had clear nights. It is so great that you don't actually have to go out of the house to appreciate the fantastic scenery you are in. We found the situation of the farm glorious and enjoyed the 15 minute walk down to the lake, Hotel snug and cafe and the pier for taking the steamer to Pooley Bridge too.'

'We have just celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary at Blencowe Hall with 3 generations of our family present. It was a truly amazing and memorable weekend. The children had a wonderful time playing outside in the grounds and also inside at " Hide and Seek ". The hall is very well equipped if you choose to do all of your own catering. Lynn Hilditch cooked dinner for us for two nights and 3 breakfasts and we were delighted with her cooking. She was very obliging, efficient and accommodating. Our daughter's dog adored her! Most of us went to Brockhole, near Windermere, on Sunday and adults and children alike had great fun at Treetop Nets and on the Tree Top Mini Trek. Our family all loved Blencowe Hall and the children didn't want to go home. For us, special memories are to be treasured and our stay at Blencowe Hall will be with us for ever.'

We stayed at Elk Cottage for three nights - not long enough though! Everything was thought of here. We made our reservation directly with Rowley Estates - Christine was extremely helpful. She responded to emails promptly and the booking procedure was simple. Once we had booked, we were sent a couple of emails telling us that there were 'where to walk'/ tried and tested 'pubs/restaurants'/drives etc. We took our dog with us and there was a list of places to eat that were 'dog friendly'. When we arrived there was a lovely hamper waiting for us with lots of goodies in it - plenty for a snack that evening and breakfast the following morning. My only wish was that we could have stayed longer. But, we know we will definitely be returning.

6 of us had a brilliant 4 days at Wythburn Cottage we needed for nothing, it's a lovely cottage and the scenery is breathtaking. We visited Keswick on market day too! Christine kept in touch with us up until our arrival explaining everything! Thank you

We had a fantastic stay at Glassonby Old Hall. The property was really well equipped. Lots of wood for both fires, and everything you could need in the kitchen. I was really impressed with all the information provided - lots of options for dining out and walking in the area. There's a couple of great walks right from the property (would recommend the one to Lacy's Caves and Long Meg and Her Daughters). It's only 30 minutes drive to Ullswater for the Ullswater Steamers. And from Glenridding we did the walk up Helvellyn and striding edge - highly recommend this if you're feeling adventurous. There was a lovely cafe near the information centre (Fellbites I think). We went out for dinner a couple of evenings - the Shepherd's Inn in Melmerby and the Fetherston Arms in Kirkoswald (amazing pies!). Both were only 5 minutes drive and really good. Would definitely recommend getting the hottub - the views from outside the property are great.

We were a family party, 3 generations, celebrating my 90th birthday. Blencowe Hall must be unique; what had been a derelict fortified pele tower has come to life again without loss of character, and furnishings and fittings are all sympathetic to the building and fully meet the exacting 5* standard. We did a mixture of self-catering - the big kitchen is admirably equipped - and indulged in Lynn Hilditch's delicious food for two important meals. Any celebration in my family has to involve a mountain ascent: Saddleback and High Pike are close at hand, and the less energetic enjoyed lower hills and ancient woodland at Howtown on Ullswater. We had fine weather, but there is indeed plenty to do, rain or shine. We had the great advantage that I had been able to visit some months ago to work out how we would fit in, and ensure that I was physically able to get round the Hall, which has lots of internal and sometimes uneven steps. Disabled visitors would need assistants, especially as the main sitting room is on the 1st floor, and some stairs have no handrail. I would love to think we might come again.

‘This is a splendid treasure. We were so fortunate to have found you…I found myself at home. You have provided one of the most comfortable and complete homes away. Thank you.’
Pat and John 11/08/2018

‘What a fantastic and cosy cottage, it has everything a young family requires and a great launching spot into the Lakes. Thank you to all the Rowley Estates team, we will be back.'

‘Great weekend, lovely cottage – would come again especially as this one was too short.’

‘We had an amazing week, with unexpectantly warm weather. Everything (meals and probably quite a lot of the crockery and cutlery!) shared with the rest of the family next door in the Hall. Also had excellent meals at The Crown, Kirkoswald and The Shepherds Inn, Melmerby (and you have to see the view from Hartside summit, 3.5 miles up the hill from there – breathtaking views of the Lakes!) Lacy’s Caves and generally walking along the idyllic Eden are highly recommended. The house is lovely and very well equipped (apart from a sieve) – as the weather was so great, we would have appreciated some way of leaving the outer doors back, they tend to blow shut. Otherwise we were very happy and comfortable. Thank you for a wonderful week.'

‘This was our second experience of a Rowley Estates property. Not disappointed! Stories and photos of renovation are amazing. Standards of the properties are excellent. The attention to detail is superb. A lovely relaxing week and already trying to decide which property to try next. Many thanks to the excellent housekeeping team in prepping the cottage.’

‘A lovely break in a lovely place! Talk about chilling out… Listen to that sound of nothing! Enjoy! Thank you for delivering what you said on the packet…110%’

‘This is our return visit to Rowley Estates, beautiful property and great facilities. We all had a wonderful few days, thank you.’

‘Fantastic weekend, the Hall is amazing, well equipped, fantastic for family celebrations. We will be back!’

‘We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Glassonby Old Hall. The house was well equipped with any object you needed and the guest books were fantastic to plan meals out and walks. The hamper was a lovely surprise! Thank you so much , will think about coming again!'

‘Typical Rowley Estates property – beautifully appointed and wanting for nothing’

‘A fantastically appointed property and very well equipped. We’ve all had a lovely time and it’s definitely somewhere we’d visit again. Surrounding scenery and the Eden Valley are fabulous. Thanks!

My daughter's wedding took place on Saturday 8th October, and we hired Blencowe Hall from Friday through to Monday so we could enjoy a full weekend with family and friends.  We had an intimate gathering of just 19 people, including the bride and groom, and the weekend was planned to be fun but also relaxing.  The Hall was absolutely perfect for the occasion !!!

There were enough different rooms for us to set up Virtual Reality games in one, the computer game Rock Band in another, the billiards room was well used, and anyone that wanted to chill out and chat could use the Solar.  The kitchen is so warm and comfortable there were always people chatting in there.  The bedrooms were amazing, particularly the master suite in the South Tower where my daughters and I got ready on the morning of the wedding - we got some stunning photographs.

The attention to detail by the owners/managers of the hall is outstanding.  The antique furniture adds to the historic feel of the Hall but every bathroom is modern and fully equipped.  There was nothing we needed - everything was provided for us.  We contacted Christine about a few blown lightbulbs and she was there straight away, changing every dead lightbulb in every room !!!

We had a fabulous weekend at Blencowe Hall - the only bad thing about it was having to leave !!!!!

A lovely cottage, very clean and well equipped. In a lovely village too. We all enjoy our stay! Would love to come back again.

 A wonderful cottage in a beautiful place. We thoroughly enjoyed our family weekend. Would love to come back but as the family grows….! Thank you for a lovely house which was equipped with everything we needed.

Stag cottage is a beautiful 17th century luxury cottage located in the quintessential village of Melmerby, near Penrith. The cottage is set amidst the beautiful grounds of Rowley Hall where one could in fact spend the entire day sipping earl grey tea by the fireplace or alternatively stroll into the village which has a superb bakery providing an outstanding service all throughout the day, highly recommended is the full english breakfast. The village also has a small but well equipped grocery store and a pub. The cottage is impeccable, extremely cosy and stylish yet boasts state of the art en-suite bathrooms. The facilities provided by the property are to the highest of standards and we wished we could have stayed longer.

We held our wedding at Blencowe Hall on 1 September 18 and it was the most magical weekend we could have ever wished for. We booked the Hall itself and one of the accompanying cottages to accommodate 30 guests for a long weekend. (including our family dog!) The hall is licensed for weddings and so we were able to get married within Blencowe. I can't thank everyone enough for all they did to make our stay a pleasant one. Nothing was too much trouble for them.

A wonderful welcome hamper through to a preference of bedding for our guests, and not to mention the wonderful Heather who came to the Hall for the wedding to look after the registrars on the big day and organise where i needed to be! The hall is steeped in history and our guests were fascinated by the documents within the hall detailing all the renovations that had taken place. It has the most amazing atmosphere and we had so much fun exploring. It is well equipped, with a huge kitchen area, lots of facilities and space for storage. Every one of us had a fabulous weekend, we've made so many memories that will last a lifetime and i even had a few tears when we had to leave. We will be back! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this magical place and the amazing staff that support it.

We were in a lovely quiet location but within easy reach of all the amenities the Lake District has to offer. The holiday cottage is superb, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus all the space required for a family of 6. The cottage is kept lovely and clean. The hamper is a bonus and really a treat on arrival. The gardens are superb and we enjoyed a couple of barbeques outside on the patio. We were able easily to drive into the tourist areas and enjoy the Lake District but were glad to return in the early evening to our comfortable cottage. Our 6 month old Grandchild had all the space to roll around and was excited to see the sheep every morning. There are so many lovely walks around Penrith. The town itself has plenty of food shops although we only shopped for food at Booths. I would definitely recommend Riverain for a relaxing holiday in a beautiful cottage in superb surroundings. Christine is very helpful with suggestions on things to do to enable you to plan your holiday and Jilly is helpful with any things in the cottage, including how to put up the travel cot! A great holiday was had by all of us. Many thanks to Christine, Charles and Jilly. Patricia

My daughter's wedding took place on Saturday 6th October, and we hired Blencowe Hall from Friday through to Monday so we could enjoy a full weekend with family and friends. We had an intimate gathering of just 19 people, including the bride and groom, and the weekend was planned to be fun but also relaxing. The Hall was absolutely perfect for the occasion !!!

There were enough different rooms for us to set up Virtual Reality games in one, the computer game Rock Band in another, the billiards room was well used, and anyone that wanted to chill out and chat could use the Solar. The kitchen is so warm and comfortable there were always people chatting in there. The bedrooms were amazing, particularly the master suite in the South Tower where my daughters and I got ready on the morning of the wedding - we got some stunning photographs.

The attention to detail by the owners/managers of the hall is outstanding. The antique furniture adds to the historic feel of the Hall but every bathroom is modern and fully equipped. There was nothing we needed - everything was provided for us. We contacted Christine about a few blown lightbulbs and she was there straight away, changing every dead lightbulb in every room

We had a fabulous weekend at Blencowe Hall - the only bad thing about it was having to leave !!!!!

This place is absolutely gorgeous. I would thoroughly recommend it. The surprise hamper added to our Christmas celebrations as 2 families came together before their son and daughter went to Sydney for 2 years. The aga takes some getting used to but added to the experience as did having a snooker table.

We had a wonderful week at Hause Hall, Cruik Barn and the Stables with a family gathering of 14 and one dog. Booking was easy and the communications excellent. Arriving at the property we were treated to stunning views of the Martindale and Boredale valleys from the elevated position of the house. Fresh bread, eggs, biscuits and an enormous bowl of fresh fruit greeted us inside in the beautifully appointed main house. The kitchen, with its aga was fully equipped with all that was needed to cater for a small army, the enormous dining table seated the entire family and the wonderful conservatory was just perfect to watch the sunset over the hills behind Ullswater. All the bedrooms are beautifully decorated, the beds comfy and the whole place spotlessly clean. It is an ideal location to set out on numerous good quality walks without the need to get into a car. We cycled, swam in the lake and walked the fells. This is a wonderful place to stay, our week went by too quickly so we have booked again for next year.

The property itself is utterly beautifull, in a great location and easily accessible (for us anyway!) for a weekend break There is literally NOTHING that the owners haven’t thought of to make your stay (& even your dogs, assuming you take one) run smoothly. I would happily give more stars. Return visit already planned

This is one of the loveliest accommodations I have ever had the privilege to stay. Every need of the visitor is anticipated and every amenity provided. From the welcome hamper on arrival to the stunning views, it is the quintessential English home. I wish our stay had been longer. It is centrally located for walks and fishing and opportunities to visit from Long Meg to the Lake District. We so very much appreciate all done for us.

From the moment we contacted Rowley Estates to make our booking they went above and beyond to ensure our stay was amazing. The second you arrive at Blencowe Hall it really is a dream come true, the entire family were literally blown away by the magical presence of the castle. The rooms are just beautiful and the views stunning. Celebrating my birthday is something the whole family will always remember and we have the most special memories of 3 generations at Blencowe. We thank the team and highly recommend the Hall for any event or stay.

The property has many things to keep you occupied and also great advice on local pubs, restaurants, walks, activities

Booked a three night stay for my husband's 70th. Although we live locally, we could not accommodate everyone at home, so twenty one of us stayed at Blencowe Hall. Everyone was very impressed with the hall itself, the splendour of the rooms, the comfort of the beds and the fact that everything you needed to prepare meals for a large group was provided. There is plenty of fridge/freezer space and two dish washers. We were delighted with the generous hamper and food we found on arrival as well as all the basics needed for day to day living. One of the recommended caterers, Lynn Hilditch, provided a superb three course meal the first night and returned to cook amazing wood fired pizzas for lunch on the Sunday. We cooked our own breakfasts, but as we had a full itinary during the day, had a lady recommended by Rowley Estates to clear up for us- she would have done babysitting too if required. The management was helpful and accomodating, even allowing us to look round a couple of times before the visit. All in all a very enjoyable weekend that friends and relatives are still raving about!

We rented Kirkbride Hall as overspill accommodation for a large family gathering in Melmerby and found it a wonderfully relaxing place. The house sleeps 8 in 4 spacious rooms, most en suite (we were only 5 as rest of the party were in the big Hall

The amenities were first class with fully equipped kitchen stocked with more than sufficient crockery cutlery and glassware for a full eight person stay.
spacious garden with outside space for barbecues an dining, plus plenty of room for the dog to run around.

we found the owners and their staff most helpful and Melmerby to be a lovely village with nice team rooms and a lovely Pub.
Would definitely return to stay here

I booked this cottage for a trip with my sister and our 3 children (age 8 - 11). It was perfect. Everywhere was immaculate and clean. The welcome hamper was full of lovely goodies. The kitchen was very well big a spacious and had all the equipment you'd need. You could very easily fit two families in the cottage. The information pack was brilliant gave lots of relevant information about the local area. Thank you for a great stay we will be back.

Ideally located for exploration of the lakes and the Dales. The house has everything required to make the stay as comfortable as possible so you probably only need to bring food (or arrange for shopping to be delivered from the local national supermarket).

There are many helpful tips in the documentation in the house that cover the majority of the lakes.

The people in the local community were welcoming and friendly and the local pub served great food with fine ales on offer.

My family and I stayed at Kirkbride Hall in the summer holidays and we had such an amazing time. The house is beautiful inside and out with a lovely open outlook onto the fells. Melmerby itself is a delightful village, a large village green with a gorgeous stream running through it and swings for the children. The local pub was superb. The Hall was immaculately clean and the owners have thought of everything down to the last detail. We received a welcome hamper upon arrival which was full of local produce and the information folders contained lots of local information for all the family. This really was a wonderful holiday and we would highly recommend Kirkbride Hall to anyone looking for a luxury holiday cottage. This was such a great find and we cannot wait to return!

What a fantastic place to stay. The finish of all the rooms is great. Such good quality. The bed and bedding are so comfy. The kitchen is fully kitted out with every thing you could need. The village bakery is lovely and the pub does great meals and has log fires. The information in the hall is packed with walks and things to do. It's definitely one of the best places that we have ever stayed and hope to be back soon

The place was booked for a professional event (lab retreat). Both housing and service were excellent. Highly recommended.

This is my second visit back to Kirkbride (rented along side The Stag and Melmerby Hall). I rented the property to host a yoga retreat and on behalf of myself and guests I can say we were overwhelmed with the weekend. Luxury Accommodation, Beautiful Location, all round perfect venue and much appreciated help when we needed it from the owner/estate manager. Already booked another weekend here and have several more in the pipeline.

We stayed at Kirkbride Hall in the tiny village of Melmerby outside of Penrith and close to the Lake District. I was absolutely blown away by this place, it sits adjacent to the most amazing little church, so it is so quiet and quaint. Its easy walking distance to the little village with quaint little shops and a close drive to Penrith if you need anything. The house itself was perfect and some really great touches (your dinner table turns into a billiard table, our kids just loved that!) the backyard is perfect and the bedrooms and kitchen and bathrooms are modern and impeccable. The quintessential country escape, it was great.

This is a real find! The property itself is ultra luxurious with enough space for our family to relax in.

8 of us stayed in the hall, 4 in Elk Cottage next door but we spent all but bedtimes together and there was enough room for everyone.

The website is very full with videos of every room but in reality it is much more impressive. The whole place is very tastefully decorated and incredibly well equipped, even down to the barbeque tools.

We loved the peace and quiet of the surrounding countryside. A real contrast to the one day we ventured into the Lakes. The children enjoyed the park nearby and the teatime visit from the cows across the road.

The Featherston Arms was popular with everyone, super food and a beer garden for the kids to play in. We went there often!

We also went to the bakery at Melmerby, a good choice of breads nice gift shop and coffee shop.

We had a morning in Penrith, busy but a nice change.

We did a few walks round the area, all well documented on the website.

We had a great holiday!

I am blessed to live just 200 metres from Glassonby Old Hall, so am familiar with the stunning views and peaceful location.

I've had the pleasure of staying here quite a few times now, for various occasions, and each time I'm left feeling so impressed by the attention to detail not only in the building itself but the special personal touches.

Regardless of the time of year, this building provides a fabulous bubble to stay in when you're gathered with friends. The only real problem is if you can ever draw yourself away from sitting by the Aga. So easy for days to disappear just having a constant picnic around the wonderful farmhouse table!

Our guests never fail to be impressed by the magic and magnificence of Glassonby Old Hall. Indeed, on my most recent visit, I stepped inside and was overwhelmed by the feeling that this place only has positive memories for me. I look forward to having many, many more long weekends here. Thank you.

Perfect venue for a 60th birthday family gathering. Walks for the walkers, drives for the drivers and rest for the rest!

Wow, where to start, the place was fantastic from the moment we pulled into the driveway. The hall is pristine condition, with fantastic amenities. All the lounge/dining areas were brilliant, it was warm, cosy and everything I wanted. They even include little hampers which really come in handy and the home made Jam and bread was especially nice. I celebrating my birthday there, and in addition you can arrange for external caters to come and cook for you which was a real treat. I pre-arranged this with Lynn Hilditch catering. The food was fantastic and made the night extra special not having to cook. We also booked a hot tub with Cumbria hot tum hire. Rookin house nearby was great fun too as we did go karting. I will most certainly look to book another get away with the Rowley estates group again. TOP CLASS. It made my birthday one to remember thats for sure!!

My Daughter booked this accommodation for her 30th Birthday for a group of both Family and friends. It was simply perfect. The Catering Company Lynn Hilditch Catering did a fantastic 3 course dinner on the Saturday night for 14. guests. I could not fault it. l would recommend this property to anyone. The old and new married up in a beautiful barn conversion with all modern bathrooms and a fabulous kitchen. Loved our stay and made some wonderful memories.

From opening the front door we were blown away by this beautiful house, so warm and welcoming, The standard and attention to detail that has gone into this house is exceptional, the bed linen, towels, very well equipped kitchen, everything about this house is amazing, every room we went in was fabulous, every person in our party (8 of us) were over the moon that we had found this GEM. We cannot wait until we visit again.

We stayed here for Christmas week and honestly had a perfect family time. The Hall is spacious but cosy with big log fires, comfy beds and seats and every possible kitchen/eating thing you can think of. Christine and Jilly couldn't have been more helpful before we arrived and also whilst we were there.
There are so many ideas of what to do nearby but also lots of games provided when the weather's bad- including the amazing snooker table!
We also hired a hot tub which was great after a long walk but also lovely to sit in when it was snowing.
Go and stay there!

I can't praise our stay at Glassonby Hall highly enough - the house itself is majestic. Spacious, warm and beautifully renovated, in keeping with its Grade II heritage status (this roaring open fires, an Aga, Egyptian cotton bed linen, cloud-like duvets - this place is fit for a queen)! The welcome note card and hamper - which is generously stocked with local foodie goodies and wine - makes a lovely gesture and there's a fully-stocked kitchen utensils-wise, so we actually did lots of cooking at home. Christine and Jilly were so helpful in the weeks running up to our visit with suggestions of where to go and what to do in the area (which, by the way, felt like we were on the set of All Creatures Great and Small with lush rolling countryside and lambs and calves playing in the fields outside).

We made the most of Icon Beauty who came to the house to treat myself and mum to a massage and manicure - they were also first class and a lovely way to pamper mum on her 70th birthday. Only minor disappointment was that I didn't book one of the local caterers early enough to come and cater for mum's birthday dinner - so be organised as they're obviously in-demand! We did however, have a spiffing meal at the George and Dragon - with a pick up and drop off service from Sean, the local taxi driver (so we could all have a drink).

There are lots of lovely little villages within walking distance, plus a Druid stone circle! We drive to Loather Castle as well which is a great day trip - especially for kids as it has a first-class adventure playground which is so much fun, even us adults couldn't resist having a shot on the zipwire!

I'm already hatching a plan of when I can go back to Glassonby!

We had a lovely week at Glassonby Old Hall. The house is spacious and comfortable, the kitchen well stocked and we had fun cooking on the Aga. There is also an electric cooker if you prefer to use this. We found the house to be plenty warm enough but the addition of log fires (logs included) means that even in winter it would be warm and cosy. There was a welcome hamper waiting for us on arrival which included some tasty Lake District treats. Other basic essentials were also provided. We also made good use of the snooker table. The combination of the comfort of the house and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Lake District meant we left after a week much more relaxed than when we arrived.

What an outstanding property in such a wonderful setting. Each & every room is beautifully appointed to a very high standard. Upon walking through the door it is clear that this is no ordinary property. Luxury, grandeur & quirkiness await - a sunken well in the ground floor bathroom was certainly a surprise! Some lovely touches included a handwritten note from the owners, the Molton Brown products & a very generous welcome hamper comprising a selection of quality items, some of which were local produce. The communication with both Christine & Jilly was friendly, prompt & informative, they could not have been more helpful. Our only disappointment was departing this amazing property & wishing we had booked for longer. Would love to return.

There were 8 of us staying at this property and although it wasn't the first time in the Lakes it was the first time in this area. we found the house and its specification exactly how it was described to us. We did however have a few problems with hot water for the showers and the general problem that everyone seems to experience at this time of the year and that is the flies, but once the various deterrents were in place this problem rapidly diminished. We all very much liked the house and the area and we will definitely come back again

Couldn't be better, we were delighted with our stay at Stag cottage. Accommodation was excellent - very comfy bed and linen. Wifi, t.v, radio all worked well. As for welcome pack... i've never seen anything quite like it... bread, butter, cereal, juice, toffee, wine, milk etc etc... Also the kitchen supplies were excellent - herbs and spices, tea towels, washing up liq, dishwasher tabs etc.. Local pub very welcoming although we didn't eat there. Had breakfast at the village bakery - highly recommended.

60th birthday stay We had a wonderful time at stag cottage...lovely location..village very friendly and a brill pub... beautiful cottage..this cottage is excellent...very clean... welcome hamper on arrival... plenty of reading matter and board games...basics are provided...lovely wood burner...when we stayed it was snowing and blowing a blizzard but the cottage was very warm..plenty of wood for the fire..beds very comfy...lovely bathrooms..would differently stay again...this is the second time we have stayed at a Rowley estate cottage and I would highly recommend it...

Girls weekend in the country Just got back from a fantastic weekend at Stag Cottage with my friends. Booked as an Easter weekend break for us. The location is absolutely beautiful. Rural but within an easy drive of Penrith if you need anything. The cottage has everything you could need for 6 people! The kitchen is more well stocked than my own home! The 3 ensuite bathrooms made it perfect so that no one was waiting around to get showered, washed etc. This is the third time I've stayed in one of Rowley Estates cottages and as with the other two it is the perfect break away from everything. Contact with Jilly and Christine was consistent and they answered all the questions I had within a couple of hours. The fact that it is dog friendly just takes it to the next level. A secure garden so I could let her out to have a run around without having to be on lead was such a plus and what so many cottages lack. Can't wait to book again 

Beautiful location Stag Cottage, Melmerby is a beautiful character cottage, lots of atmosphere with modern kitchen. Lovely private garden. Situated in village with tasty cafe/bakery and friendly pub serving excellent food. Walks nearby. Welcome hamper with all local produce was really appreciated. Would definitely stay here again. This property has an internal adjoining door to Melmerby Hall so ideal if your party has a larger number of guests.

Shaun’s 60th celebration. Thank you for a relaxing stay, the cottage is beautiful and we enjoyed long walks on the estate and grounds. It was lovely to come back to the log fire after being out all day. Once again thank you! P.S. Birthday balloons and banner a lovely touch. X 

A great 5 days at Stag Cottage. Weather couldn’t have been better for this time of year and the cottage couldn’t have been cosier after a day in the fresh air. Our return visit after 7 years did not disappoint.

Lovely few days break for the New Year. Cottage was amazing – spotlessly clean with ever facility we required. First class service from Christine & Jilly too. Our first time here but definitely not our last. Thanks so much.  

Lovely stay, gorgeous woodland, fabulous service from Christine and Jilly, lovely welcome hamper. Looking forward to the next stay! 

A wonderful cottage in a beautiful place. We thoroughly enjoyed our family weekend. Would love to come back but as the family grows….! Thank you for a lovely home which was equipped with everything we needed.  

Stunning Cottage in beautiful grounds. A wonderful place to spend a special birthday. Would definitely come back. X 

Excellent location, high on comfort and quality. Great location as you can walk to a lovely cafe, grocery shop and pub. Wonderful cycling area on quiet roads and pretty villages. House itself has everything to make for a very comfortable and relaxing stay. The dogs were chilled too. Thank you for a comprehensive welcome hamper too. Thanks to the Rowley Estate team 

Everyone knows Penrith is amazing, and this is by far the best property I have experienced in the area. 

Modern, well equipped and well maintained property. Fully deserved of a 5 star rating. We hope to return at some point and would definitely recommended Kirkbride Hall to friends 

We rented Kirkbride Hall as overspill accommodation for a large family gathering in Melmerby and found it a wonderfully relaxing place. The house sleeps 8 in 4 spacious rooms, most en suite (we were only 5 as rest of the party were in the big Hall The amenities were first class with fully equipped kitchen stocked with more than sufficient crockery cutlery and glassware for a full eight person stay. spacious garden with outside space for barbecues and dining, plus plenty of room for the dog to run around. we found the owners and their staff most helpful and Melmerby to be a lovely village with nice team rooms and a lovely Pub. Would definitely return to stay her. 

Amazing cottages which and everything we needed and more. I booked this cottage for a trip with my sister and our 3 children (age 8 - 11). It was perfect. Everywhere was immaculate and clean. The welcome hamper was full of lovely goodies. The kitchen was very well big a spacious and had all the equipment you'd need. You could very easily fit two families in the cottage. The information pack was brilliant gave lots of relevant information about the local area. Thank you for a great stay we will be back.

The cottage was beautifully appointed. We enjoyed the snooker / dining table and the short walk to the pub and village bakery. :-) . It was easy to get the Lake District from here and we loved the local walks. 

What a fantastic place to stay. The finish of all the rooms is great. Such good quality. The bed and bedding are so comfy. The kitchen is fully kitted out with every thing you could need. The village bakery is lovely and the pub does great meals and has log fires. The information in the hall is packed with walks and things to do. It's definitely one of the best places that we have ever stayed and hope to be back soon.

The place was booked for a professional event (lab retreat). Both housing and service were excellent. Highly recommended.

This is my second visit back to Kirkbride (rented along side The Stag and Melmerby Hall). I rented the property to host a yoga retreat and on behalf of myself and guests I can say we were overwhelmed with the weekend. Luxury Accommodation, Beautiful Location, all round perfect venue and much appreciated help when we needed it from the owner/estate manager. Already booked another weekend here and have several more in the pipeline. 

We stayed at Kirkbride Hall in the tiny village of Melmerby outside of Penrith and close to the Lake District. I was absolutely blown away by this place, it sits adjacent to the most amazing little church, so it is so quiet and quaint. Its easy walking distance to the little village with quaint little shops and a close drive to Penrith if you need anything. The house itself was perfect and some really great touches (your dinner table turns into a billiard table, our kids just loved that!) the backyard is perfect and the bedrooms and kitchen and bathrooms are modern and impeccable. The quintessential country escape, it was great. 

A comfortable well-furnished house, excellently equipped kitchen, lots of dining space, all bedrooms en-suite. We had a large group of friends and it worked very well. 

What a gorgeous property! I thoroughly enjoyed my recent stay in Melmerby Hall in the luxurious Chinese Room. The room and ensuite were well-styled and extremely comfortable, with all necessities already thought of and provided. I particularly love the provided books in case you find yourself wanting to read before bed. It is always a delight to meet the Rowley family and other staff in the property. They are all exceptionally welcoming and surpass your expectations and needs. It's such a pleasure to stay in such a stunning building and I hope to return! 

Fabulous house with great bedrooms, beautiful grounds, friendly helpful housekeeper Jilly, who gave us lots of useful info. Loved the welcome hamper with lots of nice goodies, including wine, bread, butter, cheese, milk, nice coffee, biscuits etc. Nice walks from the house, lovely pub and cafe in the village. Really well equipped - we barbequed for 24 people with the 3 Weber BBQ's and charcoal provided. 

Wow, what a special, really wonderful place. The house is spacious, lots of room for roaming, all the rooms are immaculate yet homely, every detail attended to, everything exceptionally well maintained, and the kitchen has everything you might need for cooking, eating and drinking. The garden and grounds are also stunning. Although it's in the village, the grounds feel completely private and there's the woods for roaming - carpeted with bluebells when we were there which was the icing on a very large, delicious cake.

A wonderful spot to gather the Parry family for Alun’s 70th. Enjoyed lovely walks, some time at the pub and the beautiful spaces of Melmerby Hall. Wonderful weekend! Brilliant place. Thank you.

A fantastic place to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary with all our family. We have enjoyed an amazing few days here. Thank you.  

Words cannot express how much you all have made our wedding ideal! Both our family and friends travelled near and far (Canada, Florida, Australia, California & London). Thank you for providing everything we needed. This has been the best weekend ever!

Thanks for everything, what a wonderful place

A beautiful weekend away celebrating Si’s 60th Birthday. Can't imagine anywhere better to have celebrated with family. Fantastic hamper, amazing attention to detail. Fantastic place! Fantastic weekend! 

Celebrating the wedding of the Harringtons and it’s been simply…..amazing. 

Thank you for a wonderful holiday. We have had an amazing time here together, enjoying the countryside and the stunning Lakes and views around.

Thank you for the amazing hamper. We had a wonderful stay, we will definitely be back soon!!

You have thought of everything. Beautiful location and property. Can recommend George and Dragon for everything!

Had amazing stay at Wythburn Cottage, we would definitely recommend to family and friends. Beautiful cottage!!

Beautiful cottage. LOVED the hamper. We had a fantastic holiday and the pool table went down a treat. Thank you

Wonderful stay, everything you could wish for and more!!

We have had an amazing stay here at Wythburn Cottage. Every amenity has been thought of and the welcome hamper the best we have ever had! Thank you. Max enjoyed the snow especially building a snowman with his Daddy. We ate some fabulous meals namely at the Boot and Shoe, the Bridge (on the A66) and Dockray Hall. We can especially recommend the Bridge and it's twice baked cheese souffle!! Thank you for a wonderful holiday - we will definitely be back!!

What a fabulous stay at your amazing cottage! Everything proved for a perfect holiday and what a well-stocked welcome hamper. The only regret was we didn't book for longer but we will definitely be back!!

Can't say enough how much we have enjoyed our stay in this fabulous place! Booked as a 30th birthday surprise for us and has been amazing! Thank you so much!!

Lovely comfortable cottage, very well equipped kitchen which was very welcome. Thank you for letting us visit our ancestral home.

Super welcome basket.lovely comfy bed. The perfect place to recover from jet lag.

House superbly presented and equipped

Great house, good location, warm and clean. Fantastic welcome hamper

Fabulous property in a beautiful location.Well equipped and enjoyed by all 6 of us particularly as we visited during the heavy snow. Cosy open fires and goodies in the hamper made the birthday celebration extra special. Would love to return and definitely recommend!

Fantastic cottage exactly as advertised, welcome back was superb, while holiday fabulous will definitely return, Many Thanks

Wonderful cottage in a very peaceful location with great views. Warm and welcoming, dog friendly. One of the best ever!

Stunning property. Well-equipped, clean and tidy - immaculate throughout. Outside space delightful with well maintained garden.

Lovely accommodation, beautiful views and very peaceful, Would highly recommend

We loved very homely Elk Cottage, it was a delight to come back to at the end of a day exploring the area. The cottage is particularly well equipped, the beds were really comfortable and we all slept really well. Our dog loved the gardens which were a delight with an abundance of flowers. There were lots of birds around and it would have been nice to see a few bird feeders in the gardens. It is the first time we have stayed in a cottage in such a small hamlet and for us the only reason I have given it 4 and not 5 stars is because it was just a bit too quiet and we missed having a village pub. If you really want to get away from it all and have total peace and quiet, away from street lights etc., then this is the place to be and we could not fault the cottage for comfort. The food hamper we received is by far the best ever received, we loved everything in it.

Great, well equipped cottage. Nice and peaceful. A few nice local walks and an easy hop into the Lakes for everything else.

Beautiful cottage, very well equipped, very comfortable, grest location

Hause Hall Farm is an enchanting place. Magical and beautiful views all round, we were torn between chasing sheep and choosing gorgeous bedrooms. Location that demanded exploring of the third kind. Galactic views to your heart's desire. Décor to satisfy any taste, mixing modern with a touch of class. Now to rate it stars, just look up to the clear skies and you decide how many you want to pluck.....I as one , would pick the whole Milky Way (not the chocolate). Hause Hall Farm - all stars place. Number one for chillax place. The aga made us feel home from home. Thanks for all your help Jilly and Christine.

Fantastic house, amazing place. All you need for a great time. Thank you for making it special. We will be back.

Thank you for a wonderful holiday! One of the best homes we've stayed in for over 25 years. Wonderful views and secluded tranquility. (Hot tub best feature especially for relaxing the weary legs after a hard days walk). Can't wait to come again next year.

Absolutely stunning accommodation in an amazing location. We walked everyday, enjoying the valleys, fells and of course, Ullswater Lake. This must be the best equipped accommodation we have ever stayed in. It goes without saying that we've enjoyed every second.

Hause Hall Farm was the perfect venue for our wedding and a fantastic place to stay with our closest family and friends for a long weekend. Highlights included an excellent meal and overnight stay at Sharrow Bay, a lovely trip on Ullswater Steamer to Glenridding followed by a tasty lunch at Lowther Tea Rooms and the weather has also been amazing. Gillian and The Rowley Estates team have really helped to make our wedding celebrations relaxed and memorable; thank you for your help and for creating such a stunning place to stay.

Fantastic time again! Weather amazing . Love this place making great memories and videos.

Superb place for a family party!! Adults and children and the former behaved like the latter. Magical time. Thank you Jilly

A Magical place to celebrate my 60th, will be back!

It's been a fun few days. Lovely place. Thank you.

Fantastic family get together in a beautiful setting. Great setting, great party, not even Cromwell could have spoilt it!

Not enough superlatives. It provided everything we could have asked for to celebrate this milestone. Thank you.

I would like to thank you for providing the assistance aids for my Mum. Thank you.

Beautiful venue, stunning setting & location. Excellent catering (Lynn Hilditch). Memories to cherish always & forever, thank you.

My family and I had a magical time in the "castle" for my 60th, with warmest thanks

Absolutely a fabulous place and setting. A great time had by all, not a dry old do!

A long weekend just isn't long enough when you have such lovely accommodation and surroundings. With the log fire burning, the beef roasting in the Aga, and the stunning view from the day room across the hills, who would ever need to step outside? But it is truly too tempting not to explore the fells and dales, so bring your walking boots! Ten guests left with some great memories. Thank you all for a wonderful break. We all hope to be back one day

Martindale is very tranquil, Hause Hall has beautiful views to the hills. Steamer on Ullswater to be recommended and lovely walks from the house. Very good information about local attractions provided. Extremely comfortable, well appointed, and a generous welcome pack. A great choice for the Lake District.

We booked this accomodation to celebrate our Silver Wedding with our children and grandchildren. It was perfect. The location and scenery was fantastic. Gorgeous views all around, especially from the conservatory. Hause Hall and Cruik Barn both decorated to a high standard. The kitchen was very well appointed and stocked with plenty of crockery and utensils. The welcome pack was a lovely addition and much appreciated. This was our first experience of self catering accomodation and it would now be very hard to improve on it. We had no need to use our cars, great walking straight from the door. We are already planning a return visit.

9 friends each had there own luxurious room with ensuite to rest in luxury. Meanwhile we gathered in the spacious dining room and view sitting areas when not out hiking the beautiful country side. This is a fully equipped, self catering, gorgeous facility for the outdoor focussed group looking to pamper themselves in the down time.

A beautiful property set in amazing scenery. Luxurious whilst retaining some rustic charm. Easily accommodated 18 in dining room and on terrace. Provided with everything we could want. Excellent walking/cycling from the doorstep. Looking for an excuse to book again!

We had another great weekend, staying at Jenny's Croft. We stayed in Jenny's Croft a few years ago, but the interior fit out did not look like it had aged, everything was still in pristine condition and well looked after. The external areas around the property have really matured and it really is a peaceful setting. I would recommend to anyone to visit. Thanks to the Rowley Estates.

Our visit to Elk Cottage was idyllic; the cottage itself deserved its 5 Star rating as everything was perfect and the attention to detail was superb! The location was ideal for a quiet retreat and the information on the recommended walks etc was extremely helpful.

Staying at the Rowley Estates is always a pleasure. Jenny’s Croft is particularly wonderful as it has such a unique layout downstairs with the dual aspect log burner and is set in such tranquil surroundings in the unspoilt village of Glassonby. Stepping out the front door and catching sight of the stunning view with the rolling countryside to breathe in is just superb. We used the helpful walking guides provided to wonder up to Long Meg and her Daughters Stone Circle via the quaint local Addingham Church where the Rowley name is present. And a drive out over the Kirkstone Pass is always a favourite, this time taking us to Ambleside by way of Pooley Bridge. Incredibly dramatic scenery on such a crisp blue winter’s day. From enquiry through to our stay the process is swift and convenient. Christine and Jilly are so considerate making sure you have everything you need to make your stay perfect. I can’t recommend any of their properties highly enough. Give it a try - you’ll not regret it.

Jenny's Croft is a great cottage that is dog friendly with lovely gardens. The housekeeping team are very helpful.

We stayed here for Christmas week and honestly had a perfect family time. The Hall is spacious but cosy with big log fires, comfy beds and seats and every possible kitchen/eating thing you can think of. Christine and Jilly couldn't have been more helpful before we arrived and also whilst we were there. There are so many ideas of what to do nearby but also lots of games provided when the weather's bad- including the amazing snooker table! We also hired a hot tub which was great after a long walk but also lovely to sit in when it was snowing. Go and stay there!

We love holidays in the Lake District and Eden Valley. Rowley Estates offer a very high standard of accommodation in great rural locations. We've stayed in several of their properties in recent years and need look no further for what we want. Very well maintained, high spec with attentive owners. Also great is flexibility over booking dates rather than the standard seven or fourteen day holiday.

Elk Cottage is in the most peaceful of rural locations. So well placed for country walks. Exceptionally clean, fully and well equipped. The welcome hamper is wonderful, a thoughtful mix of practical and luxury treats! Communication is friendly and could not be more helpful. We are already planning our next visit - simply cannot keep away from this idyllic country retreat. Highly recommended.

We have stayed either at Elk cottage or the neighbouring cottage, Jenny’s Croft, 4 times now. Once again, this most recent stay did not disappoint. Elk cottage is so comfortable and homely. It is so easy to relax there from the moment you arrive. It is very well equipped and the welcome basket is always so helpful. Never been anywhere else that tops the range of supplies you get, including a bottle of wine! The outdoor space (although in parts not fully enclosed) is great for our dogs. They love it. Perfect location for the Pennines and Ullswater region of the Lakes. Always lovely to come back from a long walk, make up the fire, and relax!

A wonderful cosy cottage with fantastic facilities, a large well-stocked kitchen, big open-space lounge with wood burning stove and two ensuite bedrooms. There is a patio outside with terraced garden. Very friendly owners with lots of tips on where to go and the best pubs and restaurants of which there are many. This is our second, slightly longer visit and we will definitely be back.

This was our second visit to Jenny's Croft and will be visiting again very soon. We would highly recommend the cottage which is decorated to a high standard and fully equipped. The owner and housekeeping staff are excellent in communicating and assisting with your stay. The cottage is situated in a lovely location within driving distance to some nice days out, restaurants and shopping.

Our party stayed at both Jenny's Croft & Glassonby Hall during our recent trip to the lake district. I cannot speak highly enough of both properties which are both amazing. Jenny's Croft was beautifully appointed and in its own grounds with plentiful parking. The decor is perfect offering comfort & style and is fully equipped with everything you need - home from home. The welcome basket was most generous & provided lots of quality local produce which was a lovely touch & very much appreciated. The communication with the owner's was second to none which made the whole experience so easy, pleasant and reassuring, they had thought of everything. This lovely cottage with stunning views provides a perfect base for a lovely 'get away from it all' break. I can only hope to return one day soon.

I can't praise our stay at Glassonby Hall highly enough - the house itself is majestic. Spacious, warm and beautifully renovated, in keeping with its Grade II heritage status (this roaring open fires, an Aga, Egyptian cotton bed linen, cloud-like duvets - this place is fit for a queen)! The welcome note card and hamper - which is generously stocked with local foodie goodies and wine - makes a lovely gesture and there's a fully-stocked kitchen utensils-wise, so we actually did lots of cooking at home. Christine and Jilly were so helpful in the weeks running up to our visit with suggestions of where to go and what to do in the area (which, by the way, felt like we were on the set of All Creatures Great and Small with lush rolling countryside and lambs and calves playing in the fields outside). We made the most of Icon Beauty who came to the house to treat myself and mum to a massage and manicure - they were also first class and a lovely way to pamper mum on her 70th birthday. Only minor disappointment was that I didn't book one of the local caterers early enough to come and cater for mum's birthday dinner - so be organised as they're obviously in-demand! We did however, have a spiffing meal at the George and Dragon - with a pick up and drop off service from Sean, the local taxi driver (so we could all have a drink). There are lots of lovely little villages within walking distance, plus a Druid stone circle! We drive to Loather Castle as well which is a great day trip - especially for kids as it has a first-class adventure playground which is so much fun, even us adults couldn't resist having a shot on the zipwire! I'm already hatching a plan of when I can go back to Glassonby!

We had a lovely week at Glassonby Old Hall. The house is spacious and comfortable, the kitchen well stocked and we had fun cooking on the Aga. There is also an electric cooker if you prefer to use this. We found the house to be plenty warm enough but the addition of log fires (logs included) means that even in winter it would be warm and cosy. There was a welcome hamper waiting for us on arrival which included some tasty Lake District treats. Other basic essentials were also provided. We also made good use of the snooker table. The combination of the comfort of the house and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Lake District meant we left after a week much more relaxed than when we arrived.

Louise C
Manchester, United Kingdom
Amazing 5* property

Left on May 18, 2018 for a stay in May 2018
What an outstanding property in such a wonderful setting. Each & every room is beautifully appointed to a very high standard. Upon walking through the door it is clear that this is no ordinary property. Luxury, grandeur & quirkiness await - a sunken well in the ground floor bathroom was certainly a surprise! Some lovely touches included a handwritten note from the owners, the Molton Brown products & a very generous welcome hamper comprising a selection of quality items, some of which were local produce. The communication with both Christine & Jilly was friendly, prompt & informative, they could not have been more helpful. Our only disappointment was departing this amazing property & wishing we had booked for longer. Would love to return.

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