Testimonials

We had a fantastic stay at Riverain over New Year. The accommodation is very well appointed, cosy, comfortable and in a beautiful setting. The welcome hamper was exceptional and the little extras such as the local toiletries, doggy treats and dog towel were all a real bonus. We had such a great time that we have already booked again for next year!

Absolutely gorgeous, definitely has the wow factor, we had a couple of small problems but contacted the staff and they had people out to fix them in no time at all. Would definitely like to go back there again.

Wythburn Cottage is a beautiful oasis in a small and quiet area just outside Blencowe. The cottage is furnished to a high standard with everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing break in a quiet and delightful surrounding. We will definitely be back at some point to rediscover this area just outside of the lakeland national park.

Very peaceful setting in countryside, with fascinating Blencowe Hall next door. Glorious & generous Welcome Hamper. Especially well stocked kitchen & bathrooms. Very warm despite sub-zero outside. Welcoming attention to detail. Cosy & luxurious lounge with leather sofas & large stove. All appliances & lights worked. Owner & staff very accommadating in allowing us a tour of Blencowe Hall. Very timely responses to all queries via email.

We stayed at cazenovia hall for Christmas. Having stayed here before we were delighted to be back. It is a beautiful house. Everything is first class . Beautiful bedrooms all with en-suite bathrooms. The large kitchen with dinning area was great fir us all to gather round the large dinning table. After dinner you can retreat to the lovely lounge with a large fireplace. The welcome basket is the best one we have received in a rented property. Enjoyed it so much we have booked for next year😊

We rented wythburn cottage for Christmas this year. With a large family we rented cazenovia and wythburn. They are next to one another so perfect for coming back and forward. Lovely house with 3 en-suite bedrooms. Kitchen dinning area downstairs snd a beautiful lounge on the top floor. Both houses were spotless and well equipped with everything you could need. Views of surrounding countryside lovely. Only a short walk to the lovely village of Greystokes were you can have drinks and food in the friendly pub. We have stayed in several of Rowley estates properties and have never been disappointed. We thoroughly recommend them as a company. Christine and her team are always on hand and do a top job.

Great place to getaway for a large family, peaceful and not too far to drive for local sightseeing. Rooms are all spacious with en suites. We loved only having 1 TV!!! Kitchen is spacious and comfortably hosts 12 people + dogs who were also catered for! All of the small touches just added to a seamless, well organised & comfortable vacation. Lots of board games played and festive / New Year fun had! Christine and her team were excellent, answering our queries promptly and acting upon any small issues we had. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble!! Would highly recommend and we would book again… Thank you Rowley Estates you set the bar very high!

Hause hall is in the most beautiful & rather remote location in the Lakes! We love Ullswater & it was a great spot for quiet walks. Christine made us up the most spectacular hamper for our arrival! A kind & thoughtful Christmas treat. You would expect some small bits but it was a huge goodie basket & we’ve even brought some of it home with us! She was also kind enough to let us arrive earlier than check in & allowed my mum who has ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) to stay an hr after the usual check out time which was really kind. The house is incredibly well equipped & has things you would find in a home but rarely in an air bnb!! It was fantastic to have so many pots & pans, two dishwashers & electric oven with gas hob in addition to the Aga which was great when cooking for more than 10 people on Christmas Day. We had a wonderful time & we will remember our time at Martindale & talk about it fondly for many years to come! Thank you for making my son’s first Christmas a special one! X

We loved the property, it was perfect for a break with the family and we all said we would love to return.

The bedrooms were spacious and beds comfortable. The bathrooms were all stocked with lovely items from the local area. We were all really impressed.

To supply as many logs as you do is also very good, quite often in my experience you are given a basket of say, 6-8 logs to get you going and then you are expected to pay for any extra. The house was so warm that we didn’t really get through many as the fire wasn’t needed but definitely a nice touch!

The hamper too… we couldn’t believe it. We’ve stayed at a lot of holiday cottages in the uk and never have we received such a beautiful hamper filled with so many lovely local treats.

Your communication throughout has also been really appreciated, we’ve always known you’re on hand if we have any questions.

I think you and the team go above and beyond at Rowley estates and we would definitely love to come back soon.

We’ve just had 2 nights at Glassonby Old Hall - a lovely break in a beautiful and peaceful location. The property was perfect for a group of 6 old friends - plenty of space in the kitchen to cook and socialise, the dining hall made meals really special (as did taking the table top off and having fun playing snooker later) and the living room was perfect for cosy evenings together in front of the fire. The beds and bathrooms were all perfect too. Thank you for the lovely welcome pack which we worked our way through very happily. And for all the instructions and recommendations - we followed one of your recommended walks and really loved the area.

Lovely cottage it was very clean and was above and beyond our expectations . The welcome hamper was fantastic all basics and some extras included. They went above and beyond to make our stay both comfortable and enjoyable. Would definitely recommend and stay again.

Had an amazing time staying at Elk Cottage, was such an amazing place to visit and they made our dog feel very welcomed.
The hamper gift was such a lovely surprise and the wood burner added to a cosy feel in the cottage.
Just watch out for ceiling between the kitchen and hallway, cottages are not made for tall people :)

We visited Stag cottage in August for my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. We had a fabulous few days and the grounds were beautiful. I was surprised that we also didnt hear any noise from the adjoining Melmerby Hall which was also booked out at the same time. When looking to book the trip I really struggled to find anywhere affordable and high quality so, having stayed at different Rowley properties for both my hen party and the hen party of one of my bridesmaids, I contacted Christine directly to ask if she had anywhere that suited my party and our budget. I'm so glad I did. The cottage was beautiful and well kept and we had plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the "sports day" I organised. There were two dining tables that each fitted the six of us comfortably. I would definitely recommend a stay at either Stag cottage or any other Rowley property and I am sure we will find an excuse to visit again!

Great accommodation, great facilities, great location. Very well equipped and very spacious. Plenty of room to swallow up a big group. Friendly and helpful owners too.

We stayed here for the second time with a group of friends and everything was perfect. The hall was spotless, warm and had everything we needed including a very generous welcome pack. We had a meal delivery from the local bakery one night and ate at The Shepherds Rest on another night. All in all a wonderful place to stay.

Just spent six nights at Melmerby Hall with extended family celebrating an eightieth birthday. The hall and surroundings are magnificent. It easily accommodated 16 of us in very comfortable and excellently maintained accommodation. Our ages ranged from 8 to 80 years and we could all find plenty to do including play snooker, enjoy dining provided by a local caterer and there was always space for whatever we wanted to do. Would highly recommend for location, quality of accommodation and support provided by owners as regards places to visit etc.

Recent trip with 6 adults (and 2 dogs) for long weekend. Information provided prior to trip was great, info in property plentiful and barn was fantastic. Well equipped and spacious whilst still being homely. The AGA made sure the room was toasty after being out. All in all a great property and highly recommended.

Beautiful cottage, well-equipped and ideally situated for the Lakes and the Pennines. Really well cleaned and maintained. Christine went the extra mile to make everything perfect. We had a wonderful time together as a family - a holiday we'll never forget.

This is the third time we've stayed at a Rowley property, and it was as wonderful as expected. The cottage has everything you need and is furnished to a high standard. The team are excellent, with nothing being too much trouble. Can't wait to go back.

Fabulous property which is so well equipped (comfy beds, sharps knifes and all the kitchen gear needed to cook wonderful meals). Add to that the wonderful finishing touches from the hosts. We will return and can’t recommend enough.

Basic feedback is that Hause Hall is an excellent place for a family gathering. The fabric and decor are all in excellent condition; the kitchen is very well equipped and instructions for using all equipment clear and ready to hand. Nice touches worth a special mention are the welcome hamper, which contained a good supply of high-quality food and wine; the dining room table laid up on arrival; and the wood fire which lit first time with no fuss!

But overall you do a really excellent job of making this a great place to stay.

We stayed in the Elm Retreat Sheppards hut for a weeks break in October and it was the perfect cozy get away!

The host had layed out a welcome breakfast hamper of all local produce and a thankyou card on the breakfast table which was super cute. There was a binder full of all the information you needed from how to get the folding bed down to using the gas cooker to local walks and information for places to eat, see and explore!

The area the hut is in is very secluded, peaceful and quiet tucked away across a field into the woods next to a river. The host provides a little pull along carrier to help you transport your belongings to the hut.

Inside the hut is everything you would need. All the utensils to cook, cleaning products, towels and bedding, hand wash, shampoo and conditioner (no shower wash), even milk butter and eggs in the fridge. There is a bbq outside as well as a fire pit and the host has wood, coal and fire lighters for you too. I dont think there was anything we needed, the hosts have really thought of everything.

We found the hut on air bnb and the process of payment , directions , access and communication were all smooth and easy. Christine (the host) has thought of everything. I would recommend to a friend. We had a great time. Thanks Christine

We had a amazing time, the Hall was well equipped, clean and comfortable. We can’t praise the owners enough. The dishwasher broke and within a couple of hours a new one was installed, amazing service from lovely people

We stayed at Jenny’s Croft in Penrith for 3 nights and had a wonderful time! It was so cosy and the log burner was perfect! Would definitely recommend staying here we did not want to leave!!

Absolutely loved this place, perfect for our family weekend away! The communication from Christine was so helpful.

Absolutely loved this place, perfect for our family weekend away! The communication from Christine was so helpful.

We enjoyed a short autumn break at Riverain Coach House and would highly recommend a stay at the Rowley Estate. The location is great, with beautiful views and the lovely village of Greystoke nearby (we also recommend the Boot and Shoe for friendly staff and great food). The house has been renovated to a high standard while maintaining stunning original features. The Rowleys provide excellent service to make sure you enjoy your stay, and there was a lovely hamper left for our arrival with locally sourced products. Although the house is well heated, the log burner in the large living room also makes for a lovely cosy evening. We hope to return in the future.

Stayed at Blencowe Hall for my sister's hen party. The building and grounds are stunning and everyone was wowed - it's not every day you get to stay in a castle!
The little touches topped off our stay. A delicious and very generous hamper was left which was filled with local, great quality produce and the toiletries in the bathrooms made us feel like we were at a spa!
Christine has been amazing from beginning to end. From when we booked, last year, she has been on hand to answer my endless questions and always responds quickly and in a very friendly way!
All round amazing place and a fantastic stay.

What an amazing place! Amazing venue - toasty and warm, clean, lovely accommodation. Christine was very accommodating of our needs and responded to any question prior to and during our stay promptly. Thank you

This is the second time that we have stayed at Blencowe Hall and we’re still brimming with enthusiasm for this glorious house. Not only is it stunningly beautiful but huge care has been made to ensure that guests are as comfortable as possible. The kitchen is very well equipped, and the adjoining utility area gives plenty of space for dumping coats, wellies and alcohol supplies. Blencowe is attractively decorated and furnished but nothing feels too “precious” as the beds and chairs are sturdy and comfortable and our party really enjoyed our games around the billiard table. There was room for everyone in the main sitting room and we appreciated the fact that there were a couple of other snugs to tuck away in too. Credit too for the number of loos and bathrooms and the fact that despite its size the house feels warm. It’s an amazing place to stay.

Unsure what words to use to describe Blencowe Hall. Amazing, outstanding, marvellous, astounding, astonishing, mind blowing, the list could go on for a long time. But, in a nutshell, this venue is beyond belief, from arriving at the door and being the first to wander round I was in awe of both the interior and exterior of the property. It truly is a 5*, 10/10 property.
All 12 bedrooms are wonderfully furnished, the kitchen is a wonderful place to both cook and socialise and the rest, well, is equally as amazing.
Communication with the host and her team was speedy and I was kept well informed at all times and nothing was too much trouble.
This property should certainly be the one you choose if you are reading this review, you will not be disappointed.
Thankyou Blencowe team for making the most amazing memories for us all.

Christine was absolutely amazing- was on hand to help us 24/7 and the cabin was wonderful. Thankyou so so much!

We would highly recommend this perfect stay. The location was brilliant for a peaceful stay whilst close enough to scenic hikes, amazing views and towns with everything needed. The cabin had everything we needed for a short stay and would definitely return.

A wonderful weekend at Cazenovia Hall with family and friends. It is not often that you visit a holiday home that is so well equipped - from candles and tea lights to almost every kitchen gadget, serving plates, vases, etc. we couldn’t want for more. Loved our first experience with an Aga! The views from every window are stunning. Bedrooms were lovely and the Lakes products provided are a lovely touch. A very quiet and peaceful area - we didn’t hear either neighbouring cottages. A lovely 30 minutes walk to the Boot & Shoe in Greystoke for a delicious lunch. All in all we would highly recommend. Christine was wonderful to communicate with and couldn’t do enough for us.

Fabulous place to make memories. Nice village with lovely people and a great pub with superb food. Everyone in our party of 16 felt relaxed and at home and left with batteries fully recharged. Thank you once again

Beautifully Clean , well stocked , welcome breakfast hamper , large comfy bed and the softest linen . Huge fluffy towels , heating was on when we arrived (oct) but its a cosy warm hut without it anyway . The location is stunning !!! . Christine is the best host, communication and special touches in the hut ....highly recommended .

We have been lucky enough to stay in a number of Rowley Estates properties, the most recent before this was in May at Blencowe Hall. We have just returned from a week staying in Elk Cottage and what a wonderful week we had. Elk is beautiful, perfectly maintained with lovely gardens and in a very quiet position, at night you could be looking at a photograph it is so quiet which allows you to hear all the owls calling to each other which I loved.
We were treated to wildlife for the week having been led in by a hare, an owl who refused to move out of the road until it was ready, a red squirrel nearby and a pair of badgers.
Elk is typical of Rowley Estates, it is personal from booking to the housekeeping, the personal touches are the difference here and dealing with Christine and her team is always a joy.
If you want somewhere cozy, but surprisingly roomy, where everything is thought of from amazing beds to great showers then I cannot recommend Elk Cottage highly enough. Oh and our two dogs had a fantastic holiday as well, they were exhausted at night 😁
Steve and Vicki Shaw

We absolutely loved our stay and wedding at Blencowe Hall! The hall had everything we needed and the grounds were the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony. Christine and Joanna were amazing from booking to the big day, always on hand if we needed anything. Our families loved the weekend in the castle and we’ll never forget our stay there.

We also highly recommend Lynn Hilditch Catering if you need a caterer whilst staying at the hall. The food was AMAZING and her team fabulous. Couldn't do enough to make sure the meal was perfect and left the kitchen spotless!

Had the most wonderful vow Renewal weekend here with our friends and family. Christine was a vital and very much valued point of contact in the run up to and during our stay. We cannot wait to return. Every room was superb, beds so comfortable it made it difficult to get out of them in the morning and a kitchen so well stocked with the complimentary gift basket that we needed to bring in little for the weekend.

We enjoyed every minute of our short break at Vale Croft. This immaculately presented detached cottage has far reaching views from the private patio over the Eden Valley towards the mountains of the Lake District.
The cottage was spotlessly clean and the owners provided a wonderful welcome hamper containing a range of locally sourced products. Locally made toiletries were also provided.
The kitchen area was well equipped and included basic items such as coffee, tea, sugar, olive oil etc. Logs and kindling were available for the very efficient wood burner.
We found Vale Croft to be the perfect place for two, to enjoy a relaxing holiday in the beautiful Eden Valley.

We stayed at Todd Hills Hall Farm with other families. We had a wonderful 3 days. The house is beautiful, it a stunning location, comfortable (especially the beds!) , the kitchen is very well equipped and we loved the welcome basket of goodies. We would return and would recommend to anyone

Fantastic property. Beautifully presented. Fantastic welcome basket on arrival. Highly recommended.

Beautiful cottage. Very well equipped and impeccably clean. Recommend a trip to Lowther Castle for visitors - lovely day out.

Wonderful cottage with everything that you could possibly need - the welcome hamper was particularly appreciated.
We were a party of 4 including 2 late Octogenarians and everyone enjoyed every minute - even our 2 collies who loved the grounds and woods.
The surrounding countryside is stunning with both the Lakes and Dales close by for day trips. A different local pub for dinner each evening - what more could you need .
Thank you for making us so welcome and hopefully we can return soon.

A great location for a large family holiday. Lots of local things to do, walks, the Lakes and the beautiful Eden Valley, plus a great large garden, ideal for children's games and 'exploring'.

We have recently returned from an excellent week at Melmerby Hall. We went for a family celebration and found Melmerby to be a great place to stay. The hall and grounds are amazing and we would have no hesitation in booking Melmerby again.

Fabulous, spacious property in a beautiful location and wonderfully well equipped

We loved every minute of our stay at Vale Croft. Even before we arrived we were impressed by the website and the ease of booking on line. The information provided about all aspects of the cottage and the area was comprehensive and very helpful. And when we actually arrived, Vale Croft exceeded all our expectations! From the ‘welcome hamper’ to the comfortable bed and furniture; the efficient, crackling wood burner to the powerful shower; the well equipped kitchen to the beautiful views, Vale Croft is a wonderful place to enjoy a peaceful holiday.
The owners of the cottage made every effort to ensure we had an enjoyable and comfortable stay. When we discovered we had left our wash bag behind at the end of our holiday they immediately packaged it up and returned it (free of charge) in the post!

Blencowe is a magical place. We had our wedding there and it was a wonderfully intimate venue. We hired the cottages too which were all beautiful. Our guests, young and older, found the venue enchanting. Joanna from the Rowley Estates team was very helpful with supplier contacts and support. Highly recommended for any special event!

Cazenovia Hall was hired along with Blencowe Hall for our wedding. Our guests felt they had landed in luxury. Aside from being beautiful, the Hall had everything they needed, a real home from home including a lovely welcome basket of goodies. A gem to return to one day.

A stunning cottage, a real luxurious home from home. Was hired for a wedding at Blencowe Hall for guests, and we had great feedback. Beautiful welcome basket with goodies. Highly recommended.

Riverain was hired as part of our wedding at Blencowe Hall. The cottage is beautifully styled and is a luxurious home from home. Our guests loved staying here. There was a beautiful welcome basket with delicious goodies. Highly recommended.

I would like to start with one word- Fantastic!!!!
We stayed at the Glassonby Hall for 6 days at the end of August 2022.
We were 4 adults and 3 kids. The venue was absolutely amazing and comfortable for everyone.
Every little detail in the venue was with great thought and understanding of the guests needs, especially the quality self catering experience. The welcoming basket was a kind tribute we all enjoyed. After 5 nights, we didn't want to leave... My kids called it "our new home" as they were so comfortable there. I highly recommend the venue and hope that we will be back in Glassonby Hall or any other Rowley estates venues soon.
Thanks to Christine & All at The Rowley Estates.

Sorry for the late review, we couldn't of pick a better time for weather if we tried but the lodge was perfect exactly what you need, waking up with the sound of the river and the trees was unreal not to mention the welcome basket. The jam wow, if you are thinking of booking this do it now 👏

Amazing location surrounded by nature, very well decorated and equipped shepherd’s hut. Very reasonably priced and an excellent welcome pack. Can’t wait to stay again

Wonderful, extremely spacious accommodation, facilities and location. Perfect for a large gathering of any sort. I would definitely recommend and would love to go again.

A short stay for my birthday, my husband got in touch with Christine beforehand to plan for decorations as a surprise - they were amazing! The cabin is lovely, very cosy with a comfortable bed. Little hamper of supplies on arrival was a treat. Great location, nothing better than sitting on the deck with a cup of tea, listening to nothing but the river, relatively short drive for Keswick and Whinlatter. Would absolutely stay again!

This was our second stay at a Rowley Estates property. Both times the experience was fantastic. The properties are simply magical, extremely well supplied, they think of everything. Christine is so helpful, you feel like you are special, not simply a run of the mill guest as at some rentals. We had several family members join us, all were awed by Hause Hall , ( and previously by Melmerby Hall) and by Christine. We have stayed in many rental properties around the world. Rowley Estates is absolutely The Best.

Glassonby Old Hall is beautiful, pictures don’t do it justice. It’s a fantastic space for hosting (there were 8 of us). It’s really well kept with a luxury feel. We loved the welcome hamper provided! Added bonus… the snooker table! It’s situated in a great location, with Ullswater lake just 40mins drive away. There’s also plenty of walks nearby, we made use of the various walks listed in the folder provided.

What a gem of a place, away from all the hustle and bustle and yet only a mere drive to some really great areas. House was perfect for a large family of adults, kids and dog, all rooms were of a high standard with the added bonus all of all rooms being en-suite, finished to a very high standard. Welcome hamper was really well thought out and again of a high standard. Great for taking the dog as there is a enclosed garden that allows the dog to run about, however if you have a small dog they could get through the gate, therefore be careful. Overall one of the best houses and locations that I have booked for a long time.

Amazing place! Just what we wanted.

What a find! We thoroughly enjoyed our family holiday at Todd Hills Hall Farm. It has absolutely everything you could possibly need for a comfortable stay in Cumbria. Comfy beds, large communal areas, great outdoor space, very equipped kitchen and loads more. Location suited us well in order to visit friends and family as well as explore the lakes. Christine is an excellent host - no question was ever too much and she was very helpful in providing detailed instructions to help us find the property, thanks to a road closure in Langwathby - thankfully it re-opened during our stay, making the trip into the centre of Penrith easy. The welcome hamper is truly amazing and detailed information packs provided were very handed. Really liked the added touches of the local toiletries, recycled toilet paper, toys and books. Thank you for having us.

…..Melmerby Hall absolutely ‘ticks all the boxes’ when it comes to accomodating a large family get together. We have just had a very agreeable 4-day gathering of the Clan (16no. adults and children) and have already booked for the same time in 2023.

What’s so good about it?

1.Terrific space: 3 sitting rooms with obvious advantages when fractious moments occur, marvellous spacious Aga kitchen and pantries adjoining the two winter/summer dining areas, in turn leading to French doors accessing the outside pre dinner drinks area and the large garden and vast lawn areas, where several games of cricket/football were played. Good sized and charming ensuite bedrooms with the option of twin beds in some. The full-sized snooker table for wet afternoons.

2. Location:. Melmerby is perfectly positioned for accessing both the Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales.

3. Local pub and the Village bakery for excellent last morning breakfasts.

4. Value for money: If you can find such spotlessly clean accommodation in Dorset, Devon or Cornwall, it will be at twice the cost, at least; and if you don’t know the Lakes you should ! but not in August, coz that’s when we go !.....

Had an amazing stay at Hawthorn Retreat, the shepherd's hut is very secluded on the river bank and you can hear the gentle flow of the river, so relaxing. The shepherd's hut has everything you need, was a treat to have kitchen roll, washing up liquid etc all provided and a lovely welcome hamper, which we enjoyed too..thank you! Beautiful area, nice local pub in Greystoke for evening meals. Short drive to Keswick and aira force, we did gowbarrow fell.We would definitely recommend Hawthorn Retreat and would love to return soon.

Blencowe Hall is a luxurious and unique property. It is set in a wonderful location and certainly has the wow factor. The toiletries provided and the bed linen was high end and reflected the sumptuous property. Christine, the owner, answers any query almost instantly, and the cost is so reasonable when you consider you are renting a castle that has been modernised so creatively. Not surprising it has won so many awards. If you are looking for a place of this size to rent, in this area, then look no more - nothing could beat this. Don’t let me start in the beautifully kept garden, the views and the generous welcome pack of high end locally sourced produce!

My family and I, including Prudence the Boxer, have just returned from two weeks away staying, at the Riverain Coach House and it was wonderful. The communication was perfect from start to finish. The arrival hamper was a really lovely touch and the Coach House was beautiful and so cool in the hot weather we had.

Christine and her team are amazing, absolutely exceptional service by everyone, especially Heather and would highly recommend their beautiful coach house to anyone. We will be returning again when we can.

Thank you for a wonderful two weeks.

I heard about the Hawthorn Retreat through my aunt who lives locally, and I'm so glad she suggested it because we didn't find anything nearly as nice on any of the sites we were looking at.
My partner and I love secluded cabins and have stayed in a few places like this in the highlands, but the Hawthorn Retreat really is a cut above the rest and we really appreciated how much thought and care had gone into everything. My partner is an architect and we were marvelling at all the details and how well built everything is. The kitchen is very well equipped, and we were delighted to find loads of wood and charcoal ready for us. Everything was perfect and we really didn't want to leave. It is such a gem of a place and we will definitely recommend it to friends.

Our family had such a great stay at Blencowe! We stayed in two houses, Cazenovia Hall and Riverain. Riverain was perfect for our group of 5 (and would accommodate 6 very comfortably). Each bedroom had its own bathroom. The three bedrooms were comfortable, and the bathrooms were perfect (great water pressure to wake you up!). The kitchen and living room were well-appointed. The grounds were beautiful, and the property was centrally located for day trips to Ullswater as well as a tour of Hadrian's wall. And, the welcome hamper made it easy to settle in on our first day. Highly recommend a stay at Riverain - don't hesitate!

Our family had such a great stay at Blencowe! We stayed in two houses, Cazenovia Hall and Riverain. Cazenovia was perfect for our group of 7 (and would accommodate 8 very comfortably). Each bedroom had its own bathroom. The four bedrooms were comfortable, and the bathrooms were perfect (great water pressure to wake you up!). The kitchen and living room were well-appointed. The grounds were beautiful, and the property was centrally located for day trips to Ullswater as well as a tour of Hadrian's wall. And, the welcome hamper made it easy to settle in on our first day. Highly recommend a stay at Cazenovia Hall - don't hesitate!

Great hosts, amazing location and perfect accommodation 10/10

Amazing communication from Christine from the start of our booking, updated all the way to day of arrival. Very easy location to find and within half an hour of everywhere we wanted to visit in the Lake District. The accommodation was very clean, great layout and a beautiful private setting next to the river. 10/10 We loved it, thanks once again!

Thank you so much for providing such a cosy place to stay everything was excellent.

This is a great house in a great location and everything is prefect. We love the generous welcome package you get as well We will continue to go back

My wife and I spent a fantastic week in Jenny Croft. The property has a lovely position in a village with panoramic views, although a car is essential to visit the area. Its very peaceful and great for dog walking. The cottage itself had a welcome hamper with local produce upon arrival. The furniture is in keeping with the period features of the cottage and the hosts are very quick to respond to any needs. I would recommend this cottage for a peaceful and relaxing holiday.

This was a lovely place to stay. The shepherd's hut was perfect. A lovely bed and a great shower! For such a small place it had everything we needed. They'd thought things through very carefully! Our welcome hamper was lovely. The eggs, jam and bread were yummy so we had a delicious breakfast with the bacon we'd brought. We had a great time despite one issue with the fridge that was quickly resolved. We were a bit warm at night but that was our only negative. Other than that it was perfect. We'd have loved to make use of the firepit but the weather didn't play ball. The hut was incredibly well supplied for a great stay: logs, kindling, firelighters, citronella insence, tea, coffee, shampoo, conditioner and hamper goodies. We definitely recommend. Thanks, we'll book again.

The Elm Retreat is the most beautiful place to stay!! It is well designed, exceptionally clean and there is everything you could need. The surrounding area is stunning and the people make you feel like a local within minutes. Christine was a brilliant host and made sure we had everything we needed. The welcome hamper was a nice touch as well. We will definitely be returning and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Absolutely loved our time here. No TV or WiFi, so total digital detox. So beautiful and peaceful. The bed is super comfy, best sleep in ages! Will definitely come again.

We really enjoyed our stay, weather was beautiful, the shepherds hut was cosy and very quiet. The location is very private and we really enjoyed the fire pit area near the stream. We would 100% stay again, and will recommend to our friends and family. The Hut is very well equipped and very eco friendly. Everything we needed to know was made available to us and we couldn’t rate our stay higher. Thankyou

A stunning location and fantastic accommodation. Completely off the grid and peaceful. A 15 minute walk or so takes you into the tiny village of Greystoke - a lovely little village.

We had an lovely weekend stay at Hawthorn Retreat recently for our friends’ wedding. The hamper in the hut when we arrived was incredible, especially the Rowley jam (that and the loaf of bread barely lasted two days)! We had plenty of charcoal and wood for the barbecue and fire pit, and really enjoyed sitting outside for our dinner listening to the sound of the river in the gully below us. Super relaxing evening (only comment is that it would have been handy to have some tongs for the bbq, but we just used the spatula and literally EVERYTHING else we thought of or needed was there so no complaints here!). The cows in the field across from us deciding we needed a 4am dawn chorus on one of the days was particularly funny. We’d absolutely return if we’re back in the area. Can’t fault our stay at all!

A lovely cottage in a quiet village setting. Plentiful space for a family and a great rear garden to play in for the kids. A beautiful hamper was awaiting us on our arrival - which was consumed greatly over the week ! Thank you for the team for making it a lovely , relaxing and peaceful stay. Lovely walks all within reach and a bakery and pub nearby.

Our family of 12adults, 2 kids and a baby have enjoyed a super comfortable weekend at Todd Hills Farm and the adjoining Vale Croft Cottage. The properties are in a beautiful rural setting, with a pretty and well maintained garden, looking over to the mountains of The Lakes in the distance. Melmerby village is a short walk away. We had a lovely pub meal there on our first night.
The houses are spotlessly clean, and furnished to a very high standard. We all slept really well, and enjoyed the superb showers in the morning. The kitchen is amazing- spacious, clean and well equipped, complete with Welcome Pack. We all wanted to take it the kitchen home with us! I would thoroughly recommend these properties and would have no hesitation in going back.

We spent 4 days at Melmerby Hall in July 2022 to celebrate our Golden Wedding anniversary with our family.
We were a party of 17 and the hall was an ideal location. It is truly palatial with so much space both indoors and in the beautiful grounds.
Although it is steeped in history it has all the advantages of modern facilities. The bedrooms are all en-suite and beautifully furnished.
Everything is provided to make the stay comfortable from the luxurious welcome hamper to the fully equipped kitchen (complete with Aga) and two barbecues.
The grounds are extensive and there are masses of room for children to play safely.
We used Lynn Hilditch to provide us with a wonderful fully catered and served dinner on one evening. The nearby village has a lovely bakery and super pub.
I cannot praise this property highly enough and fully recommend it for a short break or longer in any season.
Many thanks to Christine for making the celebration so memorable.

Fantastic stay at Kirkbride Hall, booking, communication and instructions all excellent. Welcome basket when we arrived was amazing and everything was thought of to make our stay extremely relaxing and enjoyable. Definitely check out the village bakery and pub!, Would highly recommend staying at Kirkbride Hall 😊

We have just had a really brilliant few days at Kirkbride Hall, every aspect of it was fabulous. The welcome, the communication, the hamper, the facilities, the house, the garden, the beds, the attitude towards guests, all wonderful and we highly recommend Kirkbride Hall.

This is a superb property for a relaxing week away. It’s in a beautiful setting, the facilities are first class and the organisation around making our stay stress free was so appreciated. The welcome hamper topped it off. Thank you.

Stunning location in the heart of Melmerby. The Eden valley is gorgeous and much quieter than the neighbouring Lake District but still within easy access of Ullswater and the central lakes. Stag Cottage is set within beautiful grounds and there are lots of walks from the doorstep. The cottage itself is characterful and functional with everything you need for a relaxing stay: the bathrooms are really luxurious and the kitchen is spacious and well-equipped. A perfect base for exploring. Our group included my 92 year old grandma and my 3 year old son and the cottage was great for both of them as well as us! It's really nice to find bowls and cutlery for children provided, made meal times much easier - thank you. The welcome hamper was a delight.

Just back from a wonderful week at this beautiful cottage in the Lake District. Lovely location, beautiful setting, really well equipped and super clean. Already planning our next stay.

We recently spent six nights at Stag Cottage with our daughter and two young grandchildren and we had a wonderful time. The cottage was comfortably furnished, well equipped and in a lovely village. The welcome hamper is full of wonderful treats - love the homemade raspberry jam! The gardens and grounds provided wonderful space to explore and burn off energy. This was our third booking with The Rowley Estates and we find they always exceed our expectations!

Had a fantastic long weekend with Family. Hause Hall, Cruik Barn and Stables are Beautiful well equipped accommodation with ample space. Set in a peaceful location with absolutely wonderful views. Thank you Christine and Rowley staff

Secluded, quiet, and perfect for a relaxing getaway! The Shepherd’s Hut was very well equipped for a smaller space, and the welcome pack left for us on arrival was lovely. Thank you to Christine and everyone at The Rowley Estates!

Absolutely fantastic place to stay , everything about it is lovely from the cottage itself which is beautiful it has everything you need and wish for a totally 5 star experience that you will love ,to the scenery and landscaped gardens everything is special, wish we could have stayed a lot longer.

A rare and special place. Wonderful 5 star accommodation - a combination of historic grandeur and modern facilities. The perfect venue for a special birthday house party (especially if you book Lynn Hilditch for catering!). Highly recommended.

A wonderful holiday from start to finish. Clear and helpful communication from the owners throughout and a lovely welcome hamper on our arrival. The pure lakes toiletries were also great. The cottage is in a lovely location, very quiet but close to the A66 for getting around the Lakes. A few more Wainwrights ticked off the list, we came home feeling very refreshed from our stay. Highly recommended.

This is a really lovely place to go to get away from it all. It seems a little out of the way on the map but we found it genuinely easy to drive around the lake district from here.
The hut had all we needed and was very cozy, comfy and clean. The welcome hamper kept us well looked after with excellent, locally made, bits and bobs (especially the bread and jam!) and the WiFi worked great. It's all solar powered and felt like a genuine escape to get off the grid for a long weekend.
The support and communication from the owners was excellent throughout and they provided details of local events in the area for during our visit, which let us pick up some great little things we'd have missed on a Google search! They also had a folder filled with things like walk recommendations and local necessities like the nearest not-extortionately-priced petrol station.
We'd definitely be looking to book here again (or one of their other huts) for another lake district trip.

Amazing stay in a beautiful place! Highly recommended.

A wonderful location, walkable to Greystoke, which hosts a great pub, with brilliant child play area in the beer garden behind, and outdoor Lido and play area. Great dog walks around and nice and peaceful. Very convenient to get to the outskirts of Penrith for shops.
The property is very well equipped and comfortable throughout. With private terrace and bbq, we, as a family and with some fortunate weather, had a really relaxed time.

We have enjoyed a delightful stay at Wythburn cottage and I highly recommend it should you be looking for a peaceful retreat in a beautiful part of the country.

The cottage is beautifully decorated, the beds are comfortable and the kitchen well equipped. There was a thoughtful basket of food left which included some of the tastiest jam I think I can remember.

Amazing, incredibly comfortable and well-equipped shepherds huts in a secluded spot in the Lake District. Great location and exceptional service

Absolutely amazing stay at Jenny's Croft with 3 adults and 2 dogs .Plenty space for everyone very comfortable,clean,well equipped and beautifully furnished.Everything well thought out a beautiful welcome basket awaited us when we arrived full of local produce, even treats for the dogs,the Fudge was amazing.Locally lots of beautiful walks Lacey's cave is worth a visit also not too far from Lake District for the hills . Idyllic and peace itself would highly recommend Jenny's Croft .The owner kept us up to date with booking and things to do ,any questions were answered promptly,nothing was a bother .Hope to return at some point

Fantastic stay at Rowan Retreat - very relaxing, very well equipped, beautiful location and loved the fact that there was no wifi or phone signal . Would highly recommend

Amazing castle. Beautiful outdoor lighting, stunning grounds. The whole castle was wonderfully clean and well presented. We all felt like kings and queens.

Simply Outstanding! Our American friend was in the UK for the Jubilee and Ascot and to stay in a 'Barn' was on her wish list. Hence our visit to Cumbria. Gill Beck Barn was perfect for many reasons. An extremely clean and very well equipped kitchen (with sensible pans, cutlery, crockery, kitchen towels and cleaning products) and a wonderful welcoming hamper was a delight with artisan bread and homemade raspberry jam.The large sitting / dining area is perfect for relaxing and entertaining and the dining table was already set ready for our arrival with white napkins. A lovely touch! The Aga was a joy to use. All the facilities in the barn were well thought out and very practical. The towels were fluffy and bathroom toiletries very pleasant. Beds and bedding were all comfortable and a good nights sleep was enjoyed by us all. Decor is simple, uncluttered and tasteful. A variety of books gave plenty of choice for all readers and the information folders were very useful. Only a scant collection of DVDs but this is not a complaint as there is much to do in this beautiful area. Our corgis had plenty of running space outdoors in the enclosed field and a dog waste bins were provided. Easy outdoor seating is provided with a large enough table to accommodate plenty of food/people. Parking is easy and safe, the road is not busy and the pretty garden a joy. The Village Bakery was wonderful and a visit is a must. Our stay at this barn was indeed a wonderful experience and we look forward to returning. All communication from Christine was friendly, very helpful and accommodating to all our personal needs. Highly recommended indeed. Do not hesitate to stay here!

Such a beautiful setting, In the cutest of villages, perfect for a wedding or just a base to stay whilst exploring the local area

We celebrated our Diamond Wedding at Melmerby Hall and Stag Cottage with our large family group. The accommodation was luxurious and the quality and space made it perfect for our differing interests, and the equipment available was comprehensive and in good order. The large garden was well tended, leading to a woodland walk.

Beautiful property and the hosts have thought of everything! We were greeted with a welcome basket that was overflowing with delicious treats. The house was clean and fully stocked with everything we needed. Christine was very responsive and even accommodated a late check out on our last day. Our group had a great time!

We have just returned from a magical stay at Hause Hall having celebrated our wedding there. We couldn’t have wished for anything more. The accommodation was superb and the location is stunning. We couldn’t recommend it highly enough all the staff were very helpful and friendly and responded to our questions very quickly. Our families had a wonderful time and we will hopefully return one day.

Stayed here in April with our children and grandchildren, this was our third visit. Lovely house and amenities, very clean and lovely bedrooms. Fantastic location, perfect for walking, didn’t need to use the cars after arrival. Fabulous views from the house. Would definitely recommend and we look forward to returning again.

We have just returned from our second stay at Hause Hall and have already made plans to go back next year. The location is amazing and the house is out of this world. Tastefully decorated and furnished to the highest standard. I would recommend Hause Hall to everyone, simply could not fault it. Many thanks Rowley Estates.

Probably the best weekend I've ever had tbh! A great venue for my 50th. So much fun a laughter all weekend and all in my favourite place - the Lakes. The location was PERFECT! Remote, beautiful yet not short on all the creature comforts. Will be back again very soon!

By far the most relaxing, tranquil and beautiful staycation I’ve ever had! The hut is beautiful inside with brilliant facilities and an equally beautiful outdoor setting. It is so private while also being a short drive away from Ullswater and Keswick. It really was the most special holiday and I loved every second I spent there. I honestly couldn’t recommend a stay at Rowley Estates more and I will be returning hopefully in the not too distant future!

Without a doubt the best location to just get away from it all, a little off the grid but still central to easily get to Penrith and Keswick and everything in between. The booking process was excellent, first rate, everything seemed to have been considered and this carried through to Elm Retreat itself, it is gorgeous, a perfect little place with literally everything you need to get away from it all. Great little touches , we wanted for nothing. We will definitely be back for another stay soon.

Fantastic place to stay, great communication from the owners prior to booking and staying, very clean hut with everything you could need during your stay, would highly recommend for a peaceful weekend away.

Fantastic stay at the Rowen Retreat shepards hut, Christine was on hand when needed and great communication all round. The breakfast hamper was a nice touch and very well received with fresh bread and homemade jam- very thoughtful. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi did not reach our hut (the last one) and we had no signal whilst in the hut- although amazing for a digital detox! Would stay again and have recommended to friends and family :)

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Rowan Retreat. Totally quiet and peaceful. Enjoyed watching the local wildlife and listening to the sound of the small river. The facilities were great with everything we needed during our stay. This was a definite improvement on a previous stay in a shepherds hut in Wales. Would stay again without question.

luxury well equipped cottage in beautiful scenery. we loved the gardens, as well as the bathrooms which were clean, well sized and had plenty of hot water. the kitchen was well equipped enough for us to have a professional chef in one night. I had been nervous of staying 'outside' the national park but the area was beautiful and the roads to key sights were quick. and the dog and gun in Skelton is a fabulous Michelin star pub down the road. the 2 dogs loved the local walks. thank you

Great location and a beautiful house, restored to a very high standard with good quality accommodation throughout. Kitchen very well stocked, with every utensil you might need. And it was great to have an Aga. Great attention to detail from the hosts, from the toiletries in the bathrooms to the generous collection of umbrellas in the boot room. Would certainly love to make a return visit.

We have stayed in many self catering cottages in the Lakes but keep returning to Rowley Estates, which includes Wythburn Cottage. Both the properties of theirs that we have stayed in are well presented, comfortable, clean, well equipped and located in beautiful surroundings. The 'welcome pack' is particularly generous. There is no doubt that we will stay in one of their properties again.

We had a great stay at Hawthorn Retreat over the weekend. It was in a beautiful setting, so peaceful and quiet.
The shepherd's hut was lovely inside and stocked with everything we could possibly need, the BBQ and fire pit were a great bonus.
We definitely recommend a visit and hope to go back there some time!

Beautiful property with amazing views! The kitchen was very well kitted out and we loved sitting outside watching the sun go down around the fire pit. The location is great for exploring Penrith and Ullswater. Would absolutely stay again!

Fantastic place to holiday with beautiful long distance views. High quality throughout. Very spacious with every bedroom en-suite a boon. Everyone in our family loved our stay. Highly recommended.

From our first point of contact to getting home this afternoon, I have been nothing short of incredibly well impressed with everything about our stay at Todd Hills Hall Farm. It was a belated 40th for our son Jonny and with 11 adults, a 4 and 3 year old and a 13 week and 10 week baby in the group, our stay was nothing short of remarkable. The accommodation was as good as it gets, the location excellent with a short walk into the village and a lovely little walk up past the sawmill. We had lunch in the Old Village Bakery and that was superb, absolutely first class and Sunday dinner at the pub which was even better. We spent our time either in the hot tub or at either table in the kitchen and dining room-it was so good as a family to be able to chill and spend quality time together. Every query I had leading up to our visit was handled with great professionalism by Christine Rowley and she replied instantly to every one. Nothing was too much bother and I cannot recommend the Rowley Estates highly enough.

Absolutely fabulous!!! Spent a long weekend with the whole family here as an early Christmas - 12 adults and three children. There was nothing we needed even to cook a full Christmas dinner - it was so well equipped. Bedrooms were fabulous, and there was so much space to enjoy each others company - especially all eating together round one table. First time for us - but will not be our last!!!

We booked Todd Hills Hall Farm for a family celebration (80th Birthday) and it was brilliant. The accommodation absolutely exceeded expectations, it was spotlessly clean and furnished to a high standard. The kitchen was really well equipped - not a single thing we needed that wasn’t there. Christine and her team were so helpful before our visit. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and we really hope to be back there soon.

First class accommodation

We stayed as a large group of 16 in Todd hills hall at the beginning of February 2022. The house and grounds are absolutely beautiful, there are 2 additional properties on the grounds which you can also rent out. We rented Todd hills hall and Vale Croft, a 1 bed cottage style property which had everything needed. The main house has 6 double rooms all with en-suites, wardrobes, hairdryers, bath products, towels, additional bed blankets and lovely heavy black out curtains. The kitchen is fully stocked with every single item you need for cooking and eating we were extremely impressed with the amount of pans, cutlery, glasses, utensils, bowls, cooking’s trays. Etc. Upon arrival there was a lovely welcome basket in the kitchen with local produce, this was such a wonderful touch and we are definitely a group who supports small local businesses. Communication with Christine Rowley from the initial enquiry until after we had checked out was superb, never felt more than an email or call if we needed to speak to her. A small group of us have already started planning our next visit to Cumbria to stay in another Rowley property and we cannot wait! Highly highly recommended! Thank you Christine and the team at Rowley Estates xx

Stayed here for a family holiday, absolutely beautiful house and surroundings. It has everything you could need and more- the welcome basket full of local foods was a lovely treat.

We visited Todd’s Hill Farm for a belated hen do and it was definitely worth the wait. The welcome hamper on arrival was amazing and the house was absolutely beautiful. The scenery was stunning and it was a short walk into the village where there was a lovely coffee shop, bakery and village pub. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Todd’s Hill and Christine and her team couldn’t have been more helpful. Thank you

Fabulous accommodation. Could not fault anything. We had a great celebration with 2 other families. First class in every respect.

We have just returned from Todd Hills Hall Farm from a family event first booked before lockdown! We booked the Hall, Gill Beck Barn and Vale Croft for a group of 19 and had a great time…all three houses are really welcoming, well-equipped and comfortable. The Farm is in an amazing location, with wonderful views all around. Thoroughly recommended.

Fantastic stay at Todd Hills farm & vale croft last weekend. There were 14 of us altogether for a hen do. The house was beautiful and so well equipped. We rented a hot tub too and spent a lot of time in the hot tub enjoying the views from the property. There is a good cafe and pub in the nearby village, and great walks around the area from the house. Excellent stay, would recommend!

Excellent property, very clean and extremely comfortable. The kitchen has everything you need and more, and the Aga was fabulous. It kept the kitchen/lounge warm, which was great to come back to when you've been out in the cold all day. Would definitely recommend this property.

Just returned from a fabulous holiday at Kirkbride hall. Location is good, in a small village with a local bakery and public house, both with very good standard food. The property is at a very high standard with everything you would require for your stay being provided. The gardens are ideal for a dog and there's plenty of walks that are detailed in a folder within the property. I would highly recommend any of the properties that are part of the Rowley Estates without question after our time and service we received from our stay.

Great place to stay with many places just a short drive, property is well maintained and was very clean with a generous welcome basket . Recommend the Rowley Estates. Many great walks for all abilities and outdoor activities in the local area . Plenty of Historic things to see and some nice scenic view points Loads of places to eat within a short drive but the village has a very nice bakery that doubles as a shop and a pub with nice food and drink open Wednesday to Sunday.

We enjoyed our week in the spacious house and garden of Kirkbride Hall. Very comfortable accommodation in a quiet village that provides a good base for trips to the Lakes and easy access to the North Pennines.

Our stay at Kirkbride hall was everything we had wished for and more. The cottage is beautiful and very well equipped. The management team could not have been more helpful in accommodating our needs and that of our 2 year grandson. Would definitely recommend. Look forward to our next visit

Beautiful house. Our stay was perfect.

Had a fantastic stay at Kirkbride Hall. The house and garden are wonderful. It just had a lovely feel as soon as we arrived. The only reason we aren’t giving 5 stars is that we have dogs and the weather was awful (didn’t spoil anything though) so the dogs were very muddy even just nipping in the garden. There are no doors downstairs and we found it stressful keeping the dogs from going Into the living room and dirtying the sofas etc. The living room could very easily have doors and we think it would really benefit both clients but also the owners as it would be easier to keep muddy dogs out 🐾 I would also like to say we had Lynn Hilditch come over and cooked a meal for us. She’s on the Rowley Estate website. She was fantastic and the experience really added to our stay.

We had a fantastic stay at Kirkbride Hall. The accommodation is wonderful. Everything is very high quality, with thoughtful touches such as the welcome hamper and the useful folders with lots of helpful information. The hall is in a great location, close to both the Lake District and North Pennines, and with a local pub and cafe within walking distance.

An excellent midweek break started with a lovely welcome hamper A real treat and locally made raspberry jam superb at breakfast next day. Comfortable and tasteful rooms. Touches of luxury - Egyptian cotton sheets. Housekeeper Gail was amazingly efficient and sorted out a problem with microwave minutes after phone call. Setting of historic buildings, manicured grounds and walks through woodland made for a relaxing holiday . Our third visit to a Rowley Estate property . We are already planning the next.

Stag Cottage is the third property we have booked through The Rowley Estates. We found the cottage very comfortable and in a nice location. Our dealings with Rowley Estates has always been extremely easy and efficient and I would not hesitate in recommending them.

A very comfortable house, well furnished and equipped. We had a very enjoyable few days in this great location. Christine takes much trouble to get the details spot on, we would happily come back again another time.

Spent the most wonderful birthday weekend here with friends. Everything from start to finish was of the highest standard to ensure luxury & comfort. On arrival, waiting for us was a fabulous ,luxury welcome hamper containing all daily food essentials complete with bottle of wine. Most of contents supported local businesses which made it even more meaningful. Stag Cottage was very well equipped, maintaining similar high quality in connection with all the furnishings in each of the rooms. Each bedroom was extremely comfortable with en-suites containing a wide selection of toiletries, again supporting Cumbrian suppliers...Liked them so much that when out and about I purchased some to take home. If you like to explore there are endless lovely walks accessible from the cottage, with access to beautiful countryside and some on the Estate itself. At the end of the day you can curl up in front of a large log burner in the sitting room of the cottage ,visit the local pub or relax with coffee and cake in the village bakery. It really is the perfect place to kick back and relax and I can not recommend it highly enough. I certainly would not hesitate to go back again or even try some of the other properties Rowley has to offer. Thank you so much to all the Rowley team for making our stay so enjoyable

Just got back from a great weekend at Melmerby Hall and Stag Cottage, this is the second time we have stayed at a Rowley Estates property and I can't recommend them highly enough. We were originally due to go in October 2020 but had to rearrange due to the mess that is Covid, Rowley Estates were great to deal with and made rearranging a doddle. Stag Cottage is very well equipped and in a great setting. It has a direct indoor link to Blencowe Hall if you need more space. There is plenty of space in the grounds as well to stretch your legs and work off a few of the calories you're bound to have indulged in. The village of Melmerby is a delight, the Shepherds Inn in the village is superb for any meals you want and the owner is very helpful in getting larger parties sorted, with a bit of pre organisation our party of 17 were fed and watered with very few issues, he even opened especially for us on the Friday afternoon. The staff there were friendly and sorted us out easily. The village bakery is great for those wanting a naughty snack and also does breakfasts, they fit 17 of us in before we left on the Monday morning and it was good stuff, no skinny bacon or a manky sausage in sight, all good. We got a delivery from Tesco and Sainsbury on the Friday of snacks and beer, it saved anyone having to travel to Penrith for supplies. Another great property from Rowley Estates...well done...PS...also check out Melmerby Hall and Blencowe Hall if you have a larger party, they are owned by the same people, truly stunning properties that we've been lucky enough to stay at as well

A really good weekend spent at Melmerby Hall. It had everything we needed and more and we'll certainly be visiting again. The food from the Bakery and meal at the Shepherds Inn were both excellent.

My family and friends have stayed at Melmerby many times over the years. It is an amazing Hall whether for a big occasion or a family gathering. The quality of the furnishings and amenities are top notch,! we will definitely be back

What an amazing place to celebrate a ruby wedding anniversary and a 70th birthday. Melmerby Hall offered everything for an extended family party which included children and adults. The bedrooms were very comfortable and what luxury to have a bathroom each! The public rooms were well appointed and each had its own character. The kitchen was well-equipped and there was plenty of space for two dogs to roam to their heart’s content. The hall was spotless and the extensive grounds provided endless opportunities for fun and adventure! The Hall is ideally suited for visiting the Lakes, the Dales or the Northern Pennines. It’s much easier to travel around here and it’s much better than getting trapped on the busy Lake District Park roads. Rowley Estates is a highly professional but friendly set up. Christine provides plenty of information for activities in the area and interesting places to visit. Queries are always responded to promptly. This is our third stay at a Rowley property and we will be back.

Melmerby Hall formed the truly magnificent venue to our recent celebrations of some very special family occasions. It could hardly be called a background as the beautiful Hall was central to the great enjoyment of our very special family celebration. Even in the very difficult time of the Coronavirus restrictions Melmerby Hall was beautifully and safely prepared. Every detail for our comfort and safety had been considered. The Hall and private grounds were immaculate and the walk through the woods to the lovely Melmerby Village was a pleasure. This is the second time we have stayed in one of the Rowley Estate lovely properties and enjoyed easy access to the many special attractions of the Lake District and we hope there will.be many more visits.

A wonderful and welcoming property surrounded by nature and beautiful walks.

There were 17 members of our family who needed a special venue for a very special get together. Melmerby Hall exceeded all expectations and I cannot recommend highly enough. Both the grounds and house are spectacular and the welcome pack was very welcome indeed. We would love to go back to Melmerby again next year if all is well.

Fantastic place. Stayed up here for a work away day and the house is amazing. Really enjoyed the surrounding area and the catering service was delicious.

A great venue for a reunion with University friends and partners. All rooms en suite. Lovely kitchen and informal dining area, but also a formal dining room for a special meal. (We had a caterer in for that.) A variety of living rooms downstairs- even a snooker table on the top floor. Nice bakery and pub in the village

Beautiful old building, maintained to a high standard with excellent facilities for a large group. Very large grounds and gardens to explore and in the heart of a small village with an excellent bakery/cafe and a pub.

We stayed at Melmerby Hall for our Company team weekend in September. The house is beautiful and located in an idyllic spot in Cumbria. We stayed for 4 nights and still didn't get to use all of the rooms! Would highly recommend. Gill & the whole team at There Be Giants.

Sheldrake-Myers

 27 weeks ago

Our Wedding at Melmerby We had the most amazing wedding stay at Melmerby Hall and literally couldn't rate it more highly. From my first contact with Cristine it has been the most wonderful experience. Joanna was our wedding organiser and talked us through every step required and recommended the most brilliant suppliers who we referred to as the A Team. We stayed four nights at the Hall getting married on day three. The Hall is stunning, full of character, charm and elegance whilst also feeling so homely, the grounds are amazing and are a fantastic backdrop for a wedding. We hired the Hall and Stag Cottage and they were so well equipped - brought a whole new concept to self catering. The wedding was magical and I want to say a massive thank you to lynn Hilditch who did our stunning wedding breakfast as well as drop off food and stone baked pizzas during our stay, Alison from Yewbarrow Flower farm who grew and created the most wonderful wedding flowers and Debbie Walker who did our hair and make-up, I honestly have never felt more special. Breakfast from the Old Village bakery. Thank you all for creating the most special day for Mark and I. We will be back xxx

A magnificent place for our family weekend away! The hall, grounds and surrounding area are beautiful and attention to detail is second to none. Loads of room for everyone (although finding our way round was challenging 😂) and the luxurious bedding made a brilliant night's sleep. The cupboards and drawers are crammed with everything you could possibly need and The Billiard room a triumph! We had the most fantastic stay at Melmerby Hall and will recommend to anyone 👌

Fabulous stay at Melmerby Hall - house and grounds lovely - just right for our big family celebration. Thank you to everyone at Rowley Estates.

Excellent location for a family get together in an old wonderful building which has been updated to the highest standards. Allowed us to have a brilliant weekend away and everyone could do their own thing or have fantastic evenings together

Just got back from a great weekend at Melmerby Hall and Stag Cottage, this is the second time we have stayed at a Rowley Estates property and I can't recommend them highly enough. We were originally due to go in October 2020 but had to rearrange due to the mess that is Covid, Rowley Estates were great to deal with and made rearranging a doddle. The property is huge inside and very well equipped, there's even a snooker table for those that feel the need to show how good the professionals really are. There is plenty of room outside and plenty of seating is provided as well as a couple of BBQs and a fire pit. There is plenty of space in the grounds as well to stretch your legs and work off a few of the calories you're bound to have indulged in. The village of Melmerby is a delight, the Shepherds Inn in the village is superb for any meals you want and the owner is very helpful in getting larger parties sorted, with a bit of pre organisation our party of 17 were fed and watered with very few issues, he even opened especially for us on the Friday afternoon. The staff there were friendly and sorted us out easily. The village bakery is great for those wanting a naughty snack and also does breakfasts, they fit 17 of us in before we left on the Monday morning and it was good stuff, no skinny bacon or a manky sausage in sight, all good. We got a delivery from Tesco and Sainsbury on the Friday of snacks and beer, it saved anyone having to travel to Penrith for supplies. Another great property from Rowley Estates...well done...PS...also check out Blencowe Hall owned by the same people, a little more isolated but a truly stunning property, we've been lucky enough to stay there as well

Perfect venue for family celebration for Golden Wedding. Beautiful building, sensitively restored and very comfortable. Peaceful setting with lovely views. Lovely welcome basket and modern, well equipped kitchen. A really enjoyable and restful weekend in a lovely historic setting.

We've just spent 3 nights at Elk Cottage and had a blissful stay. The cottage is kitted out with everything you could ever possibly need. The bed linen, towels and bath products are wonderfully luxurious. The woodburner is lovely and was laid ready to go on arrival. We didn't get to use the outside spaces as it was snowing but the patio directly outside the kitchen had the sun most of the day and I imagine would be a real sun trap in the summer. The hamper on arrival is packed full of delicious locally sourced treats. We took our Labrador and the utility area gave us an option for her when she was drying off from the very snowy walks! Honestly could not recommend highly enough, we will be back..!

We have just returned from a holiday in Elk Cottage, a wonderful holiday staying in a perfect cottage. Very quiet, equipped with all that you need. The wood burner the perfect spot for the dogs to lie in front after a long walk. Highly recommend the Rowley Estate Cottages, the little extras like a superb welcome pack and use of a range of luxury toiletries make all the difference. Thank you to Christine and the team.

An exceptionally warm, comfy, clean and very well equipped cottage. A real home from home. The location is great for exploring Carlisle and Hadrians wall, the Pennines and the eastern Lake District. There are good pubs nearby for food and Penrith is just 20 minutes away for provisions. Some good local walking too near the River Eden and the Long Meg stone circle. Can highly recommend the Rowley Estate properties and especially Elk Cottage.

Extremely comfortable well, appointed cottage. Lovely walks from the cottage and dog friendly area.

We've stayed at several of the Rowley Estate properties and Elk Cottage did not disappoint. More so because we'd had a bad AirBnB experience in Ambleside and Christine and the team accommodated us at short notice. Many thanks for rescuing our precious time away and we will be back to enjoy a longer stay next year. Kind regards - Kirsty

Love this place, as rental cottages goes this is up there amongst the very best. Excellent standard of accommodation, with the team at Rowley Estates as helpful as they come. Great access to Penrith and surrounding villages and of course the Lakes.

Absolutely Fantastic Property, Kept at the highest standard. The Cottage made us feel very at home and the welcome hamper was delicious!

High standard of self catering accommodation in a quiet rural setting. Great local walks are available and the Lake District is just down the road if you would like to explore what it has to offer

Very well equipped cottage in a quiet village location, but lots to do within easy reach. We had a great week and look forward to coming back.

Elk cottage is immaculately clean, comfortable and warm. It has all the essentials and more, a fantastic location, lovely garden with great views and everything is good quality. I don't think the photos do it justice. Christine was very communicative so the stay ran like clockwork. We will definitely stay at a Rowley Estates property again.

A very well appointed, spacious and comfortable cottage set in an attractive garden in a quiet village. A great location for exploring north Cumbria and the Eden Valley, particularly the local walks in the adjoining countryside. The welcome hamper was very generous and helped us to settle-in on arrival. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Jenny’s Croft and would certainly wish to return in the future. The booking and housekeeping procedures were very well managed by the Rowley Estates team. As a suggestion, a few cushions on the out door seats would improve the enjoyment of the patio on sunny days. Overall, an excellent property for a quiet and relaxing holiday.

Lovely cottage, very well equipped and spacious. It was especially nice to be able to make a cup of tea after our long journey from the well thought welcome pack provided. We really enjoyed our stay. Thank you.

The Cottage was really 1st Class. Super comfortable, brilliant amenities, great organisation and attention to detail. The welcome pack on arrival was a brilliant surprise and the quality of items excellent. I would have no hesitation in visiting again

Stayed there for the weekend with friends and my little dog. Apart for the weather everything was perfect and the welcoming hamper even included dog treats. I would recommend it 100% and The communication with Christine was great. We can’t wait to stay there again!

We had a fabulous time at Jenny's croft and would highly recommend it.

We had a great weekend at Jenny's croft. The cottage is very well equipped and the furniture and fittings are of a high standard. It is spacious yet feels cozy thanks to the big wood burner and good stock of logs. A lovely scenic and peaceful location. The welcome hamper was superb!

We had an amazing stay at Jenny’s Croft. Our second stay at The Rowley Estates - and it didn’t disappoint. Very high standard, well equipped cottage and beautiful location. Great communication from the outset, and plenty of information provided on walks/activities to do locally. Thanks again. Hannah & Ross

Great 4 night stay, lovely property all mod cons. Coal fire with logs. Near small villagers with pubs and cafes. Christine very quick to respond if you have a query. This is our fourth stay in Rowley estates. And we will be back

Excellent as always. A wonderful cottage with a home from home feel.

A beautiful luxury holiday cottage. Very spacious, everything was of a very high standard and there was everything you could possibly need. Owners are very responsive and helpful. Wonderful welcome hamper. Will definitely return.

Well-appointed, spacious cottage for four and a dog! We had a relaxing few days on our first break since lockdown. Everything is of high quality and all you need is provided. We'll be back!

Great place to stay very clean and comfortable, would definitely recommend it

Me and my family / friends loved staying at Glassonby Hall and adjacent properties. Christine and team at Rowley Estates were perfect hosts. My guests could not believe the quality of the accommodation and didn't want to leave. 100% recommended.

The Rowley Estates are a highly professional business offering quality self catering experience. I recently stayed at Glassonby Hall and this accommodation catered for every single need for myself and my guests during our stay. I highly recommend the venue and would encourage everyone to visit their website to see for themselves. Thanks to Christine & All at The Rowley Estates.

An amazing place in a fantastic location. Our stay was brilliant, such an impressive well organised and comfortable place to spend time.

Our family had a really happy time at Glassonby Old Hall and Jenny's Croft for Christmas. Enjoyed cooking Christmas lunch in the Aga and eating in the magnificent setting of the hall. Lovely walking in beautiful countryside and comfy beds made for a memorable end to 2021.

We originally booked Glassonby Old Hall as bridal party accommodation for our daughter’s wedding. When we had to change the date due to COVID, Christine could not have been more helpful. Unfortunately it was not available for the new wedding date so, instead, we decided to have a weekend away with friends - and what a fantastic weekend! The Hall is beautifully decorated and equipped with everything needed to make the weekend perfect. The location is great for a nice country walk or a walk to the pub for Sunday lunch. All information/directions/instructions were welcome and straightforward without making anything too complicated or too much work and the welcome pack was a lovely gesture. We’ll definitely be back.

Recently had a stay at Glassonby old hall . This is our 3rd time to one of Christine’s properties. Fabulous house in a lovely location. Nice walks on the door step. If you want to go over to lakes you are only a 20 min drive. House was great. Everything you need. Lovely big sitting room to all retire to on an evening. Beautiful bedrooms and house was immaculate on arrival.

Booked via the Rural Retreats website. As a regular visitor to the area for motorcycling, I convinced the family to take a break, we could not have asked for a better place to stay or area to stay in. Really peaceful yet close enough to the villages for a bite to eat or a beer. The amenities at Glassonby Hall were spot on and we made full use of the BBQ, billiards table and large family table in the kitchen. With an age range from 24-76 everybody really relaxed and enjoyed themselves especially with the livestock to watch across the road sipping a wine as the sun sank.. Needless to say we WILL be back in the not to distant future, A1, first class, we loved it (we have no association with the owners just feel that if its great it should be shouted about!!!) The Giggs

Beautiful house set in wonderful location. Character house which is well equipped. Lovey welcome basket of local produce. Excellent communication from the owner. Would definitely recommend staying in this wonderful house.

Absolutely wonderful cottage in a gorgeous location. Truly authentic, a wonderful home from home, and great value for the amazing quality that you get.

18 of us stayed at Melmerby Hall for my husband's 60th birthday in Apri 2022 for 3 nights. The Hall is immaculate in every way, beautiful bedrooms all individually decorated and all ensuite. The downstairs rooms are all beautifully decorated and provided ample space for us all to mix together and there is a games/snooker room on the 2nd floor which proved very popular. The grounds and walks from the door are amazing. The welcome pack was well received and consisted of local and English treats including wine and the Rowley Estate's own raspberry jam, delicious! The Hall was warm and immaculately clean on our arrival with the formal dining room set out ready for use. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed our stay and I would not hesitate to recommend The Rowley Estate, especially Melmerby Hall to anyone, we will be back as they have so many lovely properties to rent including shepherd's huts which I am already considering for our 35th anniversary in August. Lastly most of the properties are dog friendly an added bonus as three dogs were able to come with us for what was a very memorable, special weekend. Made all the more special by the attention to every detail from initial booking to the completing of our weekend by all the staff at The Rowley Estate's. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

From the moment we drove through the archway, we were in another blissful world with our nearest and dearest, to celebrate our marriage at the stunning Melmerby Hall. Christine and Joanna answered all our questions quickly and insightfully right from our first contact with them; recommending the very best suppliers for our needs and supporting us right through to the ceremony. Details like the thoughtful welcome pack were lovely, it really helped to know we didn’t need to buy milk, butter, eggs etc. and the homemade Rowley Estates raspberry jam was delightful! All the bedrooms are individually designed and have en-suite bathrooms – it was a pleasure to show all our guests to their rooms, they felt very spoiled as did we in the stunning master suite – the bathroom was especially impressive. The billiards room went down very well but I’m glad to say the weather was kind to us so the outdoor seating & firepit were a big bonus for us. We’d like to give special praise to Lynn Hilditch; an accomplished chef who uses local ingredients some of which she’s grown herself, Lynn is insightful and knew what we wanted before we did! We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding breakfast, the beef wellington was the star of the show and resulted in complete silence whilst we appreciated every mouthful – it was truly delicious & cooked to perfection. She returned the following night with her pizza oven which she set up alongside our cricket match on the lawn. Delicious pizza in the stunning grounds rounded off our stay perfectly. Our photographer Peter Ostrowski put us all at ease from the moment he arrived. He got the best out of even the most camera shy amongst us. He even gave us a gift and sent a beautiful video of our day within hours of leaving us. Debbie Walker of DLW Hair & Beauty set up camp in the Orangery at 9am on the morning of our wedding and worked her magic. She understood exactly what I wanted and effortlessly transformed me whilst the hustle and bustle of the busy day carried on around us. Alison from Yewbarrow Flower Farm delivered the prettiest, most natural bouquet and displays for us – all grown by her and freshly picked and arranged that morning. We enjoyed breakfast barms which were delivered to the Hall by The Village Bakery. Delicious & best quality bacon, eggs, sausages and twice the size we were expecting. So now we’re home & it feels like a dream; we’re all trying to keep it alive by sharing photos and videos and remembering all the little details. What a wonderful time we all had, thank you to everyone involved.

We have just returned from Blencowe where we celebrated my (early!) 60th birthday, the party was made up of 4 generations aged from 1 to 83. We first saw Blencowe 10 years ago and since then have been lucky to stay in several of The Rowley Estates properties but have always wanted to stay at Blencowe. We were not disappointed! For everyone apart from us the venue was a surprise right until the moment we arrived. It was beautifully presented, immaculately clean and was even more stunning than we dared dream. The service from Christine from booking to leaving was personal, you feel that you matter to them and quite honestly I wouldn't use anyone else for holidays in Cumbria, in fact we return to Elk Cottage later this year and stayed at Todd Hills in October last year. Dinner on Saturday night was provided by the amazing Lynn Hilditch and we cannot recommend her highly enough, everyone loved it. This was the most amazing weekend ever, thank you all so much.

A magical escape in an amazing place. Definitely a boomerang holiday, we will be back! I recommend visiting Hutton in the Forest. We called on our way home, a lovely end to the holiday.

We stayed at Wythburn over New Year 2021 and found it a beautiful, welcoming, barn conversion. 5 Star amenities meant no worries about missing kitchen or bathroom products just a chance to relax in the ground floor shared space with pool table or the cozy balcony living room. The bedroom space is generous with well appointed ensuites and plenty of storage space. The local area provides plenty of walking and watering holes to choose from as well as easy access to the Lakes. We intend to return soon!

Delightful stay - great location for exploring Cumbria and Lakes - comfortable beds which is always a must - masses of information on walks and food locations that no research necessary before you arrive - owner Christine full of help and info

We were there for October Half Term and while the weather was typically Cumbrian we needed a great cottage to recover. Wythburn Cottage was just what we needed and with everything to cater to a teenager family and in particular the billiards table. All of the bedrooms were en-suite and the cottage was a luxury compared to home. If you want to spend time in Northern Lakes then this is hard to beat.

Lovely stay at fantastic cottage. Process to book with Christine at the Rowley Estates was very efficient and information was very good. Arrived to find fantastic cottage, lovely and clean, very well equipped. The cottage was even nicer than we thought. All rooms en-suite and lovely furnishings. Fantastic welcome hamper, the best I’ve ever had and we’ve stayed in many cottages. Even the dogs had treats left for them too. We hired in a hot tub too which added to the stay. Everything we needed in the kitchen too. We will definitely stay with the Rowley Estates again. Thanks for our stay.

We just completed a Blencow hattrick by spending a lovely family Christmas in Riverain Coach House last month (having got married in Blencow Hall and also having tried out the Shepherds Huts), and couldn't recommend the place more. Just like all the Rowley properties Riverain has been restored with great grace and care, yet to a very high standard for aesthetics and comfort. Equipped with everything you might need from the Wainwright guides, well stocked kitchen, luxurious linens, log store for the fire and even a thoughtful and practical welcome hamper, any of the Blencow cottages make a great base for a stay on the edge of the Lakes.

Stayed with Rowley Estates before and always enjoyed it, Riverain Coach house was exceptional, lovely and clean in a lovely area. Gorgeous log fire with plenty of logs for the fire. Bedrooms and bathrooms really nice as was the kitchen and lounge. The welcome hamper was really well stocked. TV had amazon prime video which was great. Christine and Jilly are lovely and very helpful. Would recommend staying here and with Rowley Estates

We had a wonderful stay at Riverain over the festive season, it was such a cosy space and every little detail had been thought of to make it a welcoming trip, from binders full of local information to a lovely hamper. Great location for exploring Ullswater and Keswick.

We had a wonderful stay at Riverain, it is a very comfortable, clean and beautifully furnished cottage in a fantastic location. The grounds are lovely with very well kept and pretty gardens. The cottage is within easy reach of everything we wanted to see and do in the Northern Lakes and the whole family loved our holiday. We have also stayed at Cazenovia Hall on the same site which was just as nice. Christine is the perfect host and the welcome hamper was very generous. We hope to be able to visit again soon!

A lovely clean luxury cottage near Penrith, great views and gardens, and within walking distance of a good pub. Christine and team do their very best to provide everything needed for a safe, restful break. The welcome hamper was particularly appreciated. We took advantage of the local hot tub hire facility too. Great place.

I booked Riverain, originally in June, to take my elderly Mum somewhere a little special for a break. In the event Covid intervened and her holiday was delayed until 1st week in October so sadly the weather was not conducive to al fresco dining in the lovely garden! Despite all this both she and we enjoyed our stay very much, especially the huge log fires and comfy beds! I would certainly recommend to others this very comfortable, well equipped and luxurious "home" in beautiful surroundings.

Awesome place. House is fully loaded. Love the fire place. Beautiful location will love to visit again. Amazing

An amazing place to stay. We had a wonderful holiday. Everything was to a very high standard. Christine was very responsive throughout the whole booking experience. Nothing was too much bother. The welcome basket was very much appreciated. We will certainly come back in the future.

Excellent, wonderful facilities, plenty space, very comfortable beds. We had a fabulous stay

We had a lovely stay at Cazenovia, the staff responded quickly to queries and made us feel welcome and comfortable. As well as a welcome hamper they left the place well stocked with cleaning products, washing powder etc and a travel cot and two high chairs which was very much appreciated with four under 5's. The home and garden is great for kids. We used the local walks binder, and arranged hot tub hire. Covid information we clearly communicated prior to the trip too.

We had a lovely stay at Cazenovia Hall. There was great communication prior to our stay. The property was clean and well stocked on arrival. The rooms are all a good size with plenty of storage space. The sofas are comfy and the patio is a great little suntrap. The location and surrounding area is absolutely beautiful. Our boys enjoyed playing in the little stream in the garden and we were able to do a great circular walk with a stop in the pub in Greystoke for lunch. Well located for Lowther Castle and horseriding at Bank House Equestrian, but I think, far enough away form the main hubs so it's pretty quiet for the Lakes. We'd definitely stay here again next time we're in the Lake District. Thanks very much!!

A beautiful place to stay. We have been here twice, as well as to other Rowley Estate properties. The attention to detail, the quality of the accommodation, the service- all is faultless. Highly recommended

We went to Cazenovia Hall for Christmas. I can't tell you how helpful how Christine was in the unprecedented circumstances. We were still able to visit and felt completely safe whilst there for our 5 days stay. The welcome hamper was absolutely amazing as was the beautiful Christmas tree. We had everything needed for our stay so much so, that we're already planning another visit, which will be our third stay! I can't recommend The Rowley Estates enough, it's just like home from home! I can't wait to return. Many thanks Christine and your team.

Lovely house , we all enjoyed . Highlights are , ensuite bathroom to each bedroom , fabulous quality bed linen and towels provided , welcoming and relaxing lounge , very spacious and well equipped kitchen/dining area. Host is very professional , friendly and efficient , every detail is thought of .

Easter 2022 my family and I stayed at Blencowe hall to celebrate my 60th birthday a year late due to covid. We had the most fantastic 4 days and only left Blencowe hall for just 1 afternoon to go on a boat trip at Ullswater. I also hired 2 hot tubs from the Cumbria hot tub hire and would highly recommend the company. Just sitting in the hot tubs looking at all the views from Blencowe was so relaxing. My husband and I stayed in the huge south tower master bedroom which had beautiful views from the balcony. All my family, the grandchildren and not forgetting the dogs had such a memorable stay. Blencowe hall is just amazing. Thank you.

Blencowe Hall and Cazenovia Hall were perfect venues for our large Family gathering. Impressive and high quality buildings of character and nice furnishings made it a pleasure to be in. Both Halls were spotlessly clean and warm and in a quiet location which made it ideal for all generations of the family. The kitchens were very well equipped and the welcome hamper wonderfully stuffed with lots of high quality goodies. All essentials were provided and toiletries lovely. The service from Christine was exceptional who was very responsive to my requests and nothing was too much bother. Communication was quick, friendly and very informative. The location is ideal for exploring the Lake District and Penrith area with its abundance of things to do and it’s beauty. I would recommend Blencowe Hall Estate without hesitation to anyone wanting a memorable gathering. Thank you so much Christine, all of our family really loved our stay and were impressed, your venue made our long awaited family reunion extra special X

Fabulous venue for a large family get together or even a wedding venue. 31 of our extended family for 6 nights. Lots of happy memories made ❤️🇫🇷🇺🇸🇬🇧

Perfect place for our family celebration! Fabulous house and the owners were so lovely to deal with at booking and throughout. Will be booking again in the future.

I called Christine at The Rowley Estates very last minute to see if she could accommodate our very short notice wedding, Christine was so so helpful and accommodating, by pure luck she managed to fit myself and now husband in, I was over the moon. I cannot recommend Blencowe Hall enough, it was an absolutely stunning venue, it was perfect for us. All the staff were so helpful and just lovely to talk too. I will be forever grateful to The Rowley Estates for making our very short notice wedding happen. Massive hugs to all the team.

44 of us stayed ay Blencowe in mid December 2021 for a 50tth birthday celebration and it was without doubt the most wonderful place we have ever stayed. All of our guests thought it was a fantastic venue and could not believe how well every room had been refurbished. It is somewhere I would highly recommend

Just spent an extended family Christmas at blencowe hall. A fabulous location in an amazing building. Can’t recommend Lynn enough if you’re looking for a catered option, the food was delicious and Lynn catered to all our varied needs. The accomadation was comfortable and spacious. Thanks to Christine and her team for making our Christmas very special

I cannot recommend Blencowe Hall highly enough! 24 of us stayed for 3 days for a Hen Weekend and it was absolutely perfect. Christine was fantastic throughout the booking process, despite 3 date moves due to Covid, the flexibility, professionalism and care was superb. Blencowe Hall itself is just unbelievably amazing. It is HUGE, with so much space, beautiful furnishing and a real sense of luxury. It was the perfect place to make many happy memories! I look forward to more bookings with the Rowley Estates and would love to return to Blencowe in the future!

What an amazing place . This is such an experience . Such a high standard of accommodation in beautiful grounds. The building has been so tastefully renovated leaving all the original features. Simply stunning

Blencowe Hall was the most perfect venue for a wedding! The hall is fabulous, spacious and beautifully restored and equipped to a very high standard. Responses to any queries were very prompt, the gardens were lovely and we all want to go back!

Such an amazing place, stunning inside and out. Christine and the team where so helpful throughout the booking process and couldn't do enough to make a special weekend happen. I will definitely be re-booking Blencowe Hall again in the near future!

We had a fantastic stay at Rowans Retreat. Perfect little tranquil oasis and excellent base for exploring. The hut was well stocked with everything you could need and extremely comfortable. Beautiful little welcome hamper was a lovely touch too. Would highly recommend.

If you are looking for a place with space to be with friends and family, to have lots of laughs and have your breath taken away by the views, then Hause Hall is the place you need to be. I had my 50th there and it was 100% perfect, there's nothing I'd change.

My husband David and I have just returned from a 3 night stay at Melmerby Hall for his 60th birthday with 16 of our close family and friends from Friday 22.04.2022 to Sunday 24.04.2022 inclusive. This place blew us all away, from the history, to the amazing attention to detail in every room and the grounds, the restoration and to all the special touches in between, including the welcome hamper etc. Absolutely nothing is overlooked here and our stay has been truly memorable for all of us! Nothing was too much trouble from the time we booked to the time we checked out for anyone at the Rowley Estates, I can assure you we will be back. Thank you to everyone involved in making the hall so ready for our arrival.

Amazing little place, exactly how it is on the pictures!☺️ Fantastic facilities, and beautiful location! thank you again!

What a wonderful place to spend time with friends and family. Amazing facilities and views. Lots of space for everyone to relax.

We had a lovely stay in the Shepherds Hut over the Easter weekend. All communication was great and check-in/check-out was super easy and well explained. The hut was perfect for a few days away and a quiet retreat by the Lakes. Everything needed for a few days away was provided within the hut. Would definitely stay again and recommend to others. Thank you for a lovely stay!

We’ve had an absolutely wonderful stay and will definitely be back as there is so much more to explore.  Elk Cottage is wonderful - very comfortable and well appointed and absolutely everything has been though about.  The hamper was amazing!

I just wanted to drop you a note to say what a fantastic cottage Gill Beck Barn was. We had a really lovely time, arriving in warm sunshine and departing in snow! Nevertheless everything was perfect, and we look forward to bringing friends and enjoying a different cottage or hall with you sometime soon!

We were an extended family of 17 enjoying a long weekend for my belated 50th birthday, ageing from 16 - 78. We all loved Melmerby Hall, there is nothing that hasn't been thought of. Every kitchen drawer, cupboard etc is crammed with everything you will ever need. There are books and games and a television for entertainment, the boys particularly enjoyed the billiards room.  If you need a quiet moment there are several options of rooms to sit and read. The rooms are furnished beautifully and well equipped, the bed linen was really luxurious. The grounds are beautiful as is the village, The Shepherds Inn was magnificent and service, food and even the locals were excellent, very welcoming and friendly!

“Hi Christine, thank you for an amazing stay, mum (and especially the dogs!) absolutely loved it and the activity guides and hamper were a fantastic touch. We didn’t get chance to do the Melmerby walk but the other local walks and lakes walks recommended were perfect.

Thank you so much for a lovely stay at Melmerby Hall, it really is an amazing house. We had such a fantastic weekend!

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful property. We had an absolutely fabulous weekend - the gorgeousness of the cottage started the whole weekend on the right foot!

Thank you Christine, we had the most fantastic & relaxing time in your house. It is s very special location and we will hopefully return.

The house is in a beautiful setting with lovely views and spending just four days at the house has relaxed and recharged us. The decor, cosy feel is fantastic and we can’t wait to come back again.

To Christine and Charles,  We had a great time with all our children and grandchildren. Thank you.

Thank you for the stay. Brilliant.

To Christine and Charles, Thank you for a lovely stay in Blencowe Hall. I have really enjoyed it with my family. Thanks.

Thank you so much for a brilliant holiday home. We've had a great time.

Hi Christine and Staff, Thank you for a fantastic stay in your lovely holiday house. We have had a brilliant time with the family.

We were thrilled with the whole thing- it is a beautiful house in a stunning location and suited our needs perfectly. Thanks so much!

Hi Christine, what a fabulous weekend we have had, just what we all needed. beautiful house, beautiful location. Just perfect. Thank you so much for your help and hospitality.

What a fantastic weekend we have had, amazing house, beautiful location and stunning views. We genuinely did not want to leave. Great host would absolutely stay again!

We've had the most amazing stay at Melmerby Hall, it's  truly magnificent.

We had a gorgeous stay here. The house has everything you could need and every single room is gorgeous. The views are stunning and the village is a very easy 15 minute walk where we had a lovely Sunday dinner at the local pub. Would come again!

Just to say that we had a great time with you and found everything to be perfect.

We were looking for a venue to meet up with our children – four of whom live in and around Edinburgh, one in Newcastle and one in Norwich.

The size of the place was perfect, the bedrooms were more than big enough for the little people who came with us as well and everything we could possibly need was there.

We were celebrating Christmas together for the first time in over 10 years! That meant cooking a full Christmas Dinner for 12 adults and three infants – it was no problem at all. And to sit all together round one table was an absolute joy.

Having Vale Croft as well meant we had a spill-out space if it got too much – myself and my wife stayed there and were the only ones to use it!

Although we are only there from Friday night to Monday morning, we used the swings in Langworthy twice and also went to the Soft Play area at Rheged with the little ones whilst others shopped thanks to your information.

It was our first time there, but I suspect that it might not be our last!

Thanks for all you did for us whilst we were there – really couldn’t fault anything.

This house is so lovely and the hosts are lovely too! The welcome hamper was amazing and the house was absolutely immaculate. Would definitely recommend!

We had a great long weekend with three couples and three infants staying at Gill Beck Barn. The house was beautifully appointed, very well-equipped and the open plan kitchen/living space was perfect for socialising all together. The bedrooms and en-suites were really lovely too. Christine was informative, easy to deal with and really helpful in answering my queries ahead of our stay. Thanks for a great weekend!

We loved our stay at Elk Cottage. Our daughter hadn't seen her grandparents for over a year and this was the perfect place to spend some much needed family time. The cottage is beautiful with everything you could need. The welcome hamper was excellent. We particularly liked that the produce was local and that you even thought of our dogs! We only have positive feedback about the cottage, yourselves and the location.

This trip was amazing from start to finish, after a gruelling 9 hour drive, our check in time was kindly brought forward. The hut was so remote, hidden, and beautiful. It has its own private bit of the river below, a bbq area and extra seating on the balcony area. Inside each little thing has been thought out, from a very welcome bed through to the kitchen which has everything you need to a bathroom provided with shampoo, conditioner, sprays and cleaning products. A basket with eggs, milk, home made jam, bread, coffee, tea and cereal and orange juice was on the side. It was so homely and so nice how much things had really been thought about. The location was ideal, with things only a short distance around. No signal in the Sheppard's hut - but that was what i needed as i was trying to detox from work and have a romantic weekend with my partner. Will 100% book again and likely for longer next time as two nights was just not long enough. BOOK NOW and trust me you will not regret it.

This is just a quick email to say a massive thanks for the lovely stay we had at Rowan Retreat last week Thursday and Friday. Everything from the location to the absolutely stunning little hut and the delicious local produce that was provided was amazing. We could not fault a single thing and it made our stay super nice and relaxing. We will most definitelybe back.

Can I just say how much we all enjoyed our stay at your amazing house. Hard to imagine a better venue for a large family gathering. There's already a suggestion of a return visit.

+ We were very impressed by the cleanliness of the place when we arrived.  Your team did a good job.

+ the dining room and two bedrooms above were spectacular, having the double glass doors.

+ all the other bedrooms were absolutely in keeping with a period building.

+ the lounge was very comfortable with all the leather sofas, and allowed for different activities within the one room.

The Americans in our party were awestruck, and could just not believe what they were seeing.

I should mention that we think there might be a ghost (unless someone was playing a trick).  The couple in the bedroom at the top of the south tower heard someone coming up the stone stairs to their room, but when no-one appeared they went to look.  There was no-one on the stairs and no-one in their bathroom either.  Spooky!

We had a fabulous time thank you. Everything about the castle is first class.  The beds, pillows and bedding - luxury. Everybody in the group commented.  The dining room was so welcoming although we spent a lot of time in the kitchen.  The welcome basket was great, especially the fudge and biscuits.  I honestly couldn't find anything negative to say we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would come back in a heartbeat

Just wanted to say thanks for an amazing stay  at Hawthorn for the last few days. The hut is great- everything you need is there.  The peaceful surroundings made for a perfect holiday helped by the glorious weather .

Beautiful location! Can’t recommend enough, fantastic peaceful weekend! We did the Aira Force waterfall walk near Ullswater the views were amazing! We will definitely be back!

Amazing!! Worth every penny! So romantic. Perfect location! Such a cute experience and would come again 100%! Would highly recommend!

FYI we had a lovely week at Gill Beck Farm.  The accommodation delivered on every aspect : large spacious rooms with comfortable beds and fantastic showers.  The kitchen was extremely well appointed and experimenting with cooking on the Aga was fun.  The garden surpassed our expectations with beautiful views over wonderful landscapes and enclosed with loads of space for the dogs. My only comment re garden was the table and chairs are tired (chairs are especially wobbly and feel like they may collapse) and a garden umbrella for some shade would have been nice. The hot tub we ordered was set up and ready to use when we arrived and Mark (the supplier)  was super helpful on ringing with instructions etc so I can highly recommend them as a linked preferred supplier to Rowley.  We booked via Rural Retreats but frankly I found you via Google searches. We have though already recommended you to loads of our friends.  The treats and basket of items you left for our arrival were lovely and actually if we had known they were there we would have ordered less off the Tesco delivery J  The location was perfect to relax in peace and quiet and watching the farmers cut the fields and the sheep antagonise the dogs J but within striking distance to The Lakes and Pennines etc. to see lots of the countryside and landmarks.  We lucked out with perfect week on the weather too.  All in all it was a 10 out of 10 stay for us and more then lived up to our expectations and would definitely book with you again.

I had a wonderful time It so peaceful and relaxing  and even enjoyed my two pheasant visitors. I absolutely love the shepherds hut, very comfortable and cozy Wished I could have stayed for longer

Fantastic holiday house. We had a great time. The house is in the perfect location, secluded but in easy reach of lots of activities, restaurants and shops. The house is presented beautifully and has everything you need. It was incredibly clean and had great bed linen. We also really appreciated the thoughtful touches, such as the delicious welcome hamper and information packs about the local area.

We just wanted to say, a huge thank you to you and everyone involved in preparing Melmerby Hall and Stag Cottage for our stay. The effort and thought put in to making it a fantastic experience is thoroughly appreciated. We had the best time creating memories that will be with us forever. My Mum couldn't of enjoyed her 70th more. Thank you so much.

Hello Christine,

Wow, Wow, Wow,

Just wanted to let you know what a fantastic time we had this week in our Shephards Hut. Absolutely stunning location and beautiful Hut. Compliments to everyone. The Hut was perfectly set out, with everything we needed, from the welcome hamper to the fire pit and   very comfortable bed.
The best place we have ever stayed in, over 30 years of holidaying in the U.K.
An amazing place you have created.

Also a massive thank you to Jill and the other ladies who on our departure showed us round the Hall. What an incredible building, please pass on our thanks, they were so nice and we chatted for ages.

A truly lovely holiday in a stunning place.

Thank you
Andy

We loved staying in this luxiurious shepherd's hut, which was kitted out with everything we needed and had such a comfortable bed. We loved the total privacy of Elm Retreat, set back from the road with only pheasants as our immediate neighbours. We had a couple of days of sunshine during our stay so seized the opportunity to use the Weber barbeque and firepit down by the river. Although it rained towards the end of our stay we didn't mind hunkering down with our books in this cosy shepherd's hut.

Just wanted to say thank you for letting us stay at Rowans Retreat we had a wonderful time you should be very proud of your accommodation it was 1st class and the quiet spot by the river perfect  your communications  and standards are a benchmark for other operators of holiday lets to aspire to,we are looking now when we can come back

I just wanted to day a massive thankyou for an amazing get away. Your shepards huts are beautiful and we felt so welcomed. Thankyou again and we look forwards to coming back !

We would like to thank you and your team for making our stay at your cottage, Jenny’s Croft such a wonderful experience.

The cottage was really cosy and a pleasure to come back to after some fabulous walks taking in the beautiful scenery. We made good use of your well informed folders of suggested walks. These made life really easy as we didn’t need to pore over the internet finding our own. The cottage was well equipped and we were pleasantly surprised that you provided so much for our four legged friends by way of towels, bowls etc. Our vizsla, Haji particularly liked reclining in front of the log burner after a long walk in the hills!

I must mention the welcome pack too!... all the essentials like tea, coffee, milk etc with some really naughty goodies too and all beautifully presented. At first I thought we would never eat so many biscuits and chocolate but after hours of walking and two teenagers in the house, it soon went! The champagne was a lovely, thoughtful addition too.

I would also like to comment on your communication Christine which was absolutely outstanding. Your timing and positivity was excellent in what has been and continues to be uncertain times. You offered a high level of engagement which gave us trust and confidence that our holiday would go ahead. Thank you for also being so flexible.

We will certainly book another holiday with you ( when we are free to do so) and would love to experience another property. We will also not hesitate in recommending Rowley Estates to our friends and families.

Many thanks once more,

We had a lovely stay in Jenny’s Croft over half-term.  It was warm and comfortable with plenty of space and a very practical laundry room and kitchen; good for boots, or drying wet rain jackets.  There is nicely kept outside space for guests to use as well.  Downstairs is a huge open plan living room and dining room with plenty of little nooks for a chair or two in addition to a big family seating area.  The cottage was very clean and attractive with a generous hamper waiting for us.  We particularly enjoyed the homemade raspberry jam.  It was perfect for our family of four to get away for some hiking during half term.  

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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