Magical Off Grid Historical,Secluded Western Lakes

Plenty of windows and 8 foot ceilings lend themselves to a feeling of openness, whilst its location in a small group of houses on a private courtyard amongst woodland, with a multifuel stove (i.e. not the instant 'flick for heat' of central heating, but the satisfaction of a fire well built and tended!), make for a welcoming retreat in Summer or Winter.

It's a unique and quirky cottage; and we've included lots of detail about it to help give a really good overview...

What our family, friends and Guests love:

"Unique, tranquil, cozy sofas, board games, no wifi, log burner, big bath, comfy beds, amazing shower, morning mountain views, lots of books, imaginative decor, a house with a personality, great information folder with clear instructions."


KEEPING WARM

In addition to the multifuel stove in the living room, we also have freestanding oil heaters in each room, and we have a large immersion heater to take care of hot water provision in the kitchen and bathroom should you be too worn out after your Lake District explorations to make a fire on any given evening!


'OFF GRID'

The 'off grid-ness' relates to all the ways that matter; and all the ways that don't: it's a wonderfully workable home.

Off grid refers to...

* The lack of wifi in the cottage, and the reduced/non existent mobile phone reception inside the house (there's a secret windowsill where you can pick it up, and which we'll gladly tell you: but, interestingly, no one's ever asked for!).

* There's no traditional central heating (although keeping warm is straightforward with the multifuel stove plus other heating sources in the cottage), no live TV, a range oven which uses calor gas rather than mains gas (although you'd never know it), a septic tank, an unadopted track for access - with a few hearty potholes;

...and generally just off-grid from the speed and pressures of everyday life.

Mainly it's a fun, restorative way in which to reconnect to the Lakeland landscape and each other; and we get a lot of guests thanking us for not having wifi in place; but books and board games instead.

It's a working home, rather than a show home: somewhere could always do with a lick of paint, and the moles sometimes pop through the lawn! It means it's wonderfully practical for muddy wellies, pooches and families; with nothing too precious, where relaxing is the order of the day.


REMOTENESS

The cottage is remote enough that your nearest chain supermarket is half an hour's drive away, but well serviced and connected, with local shops, pubs, restaurants and a good road system.


LAYOUT OF COTTAGE

We have three good sized double bedrooms, one of which occupies the whole of the top floor, and has four Velux windows, so is very light, bright and airy; it is accessed via a private staircase with a curtain which provides privacy, although the bedroom itself doesn't have a door.

The two other double bedrooms are on the middle floor, along with the family bathroom and a large landing area.

We have an additional single folding floor mattress which helps with configurations for larger families.

We have one family bathroom with a long, deep, free-standing dream of a bath and a lovely rain shower; complete with dimmable lighting for relaxing soaks.


PARKING

There is parking for up to two cars in the private, off road courtyard; with a short, characterful (in terms of the potholes!) dirt track that approaches it. Our house is at one end of the track, our local pub is at the other.


ORIGINAL FEATURES & ECCENTRICITIES!

Our ground floor has the original cobbles and troughs of the coach house. This means practicality in spades for dog paws and muddy wellies; but a potential trip hazard too. You easily get used to it, and it's an amazing feature, but it's worth bearing in mind.

Our sofas are really great for slouching; and are made up of old flags which we have collected over the years. They have a unique, worn, character which we love; but aren't your typical sofa covering.

There is a TV that connects to a DVD player for playing DVDs and music: i.e. no live TV and no wifi, for off grid bliss. We have an eclectic assortment of films and music at the cottage, or you're welcome to bring your own!

About the location

Neighbourhoods don't come much better than this if you like a lack of street lights and a pub at the end of the track!

Our cottage is the middle of three, off a private courtyard, with parking for up to two cars.

The courtyard in turn accesses a private dirt track, which winds down to the river, and fields and footpaths galore...


LITERARY REFERENCES

The cottage was originally part of the stables for Holmrook Hall, which was home to the Lutwidge family, aka Lewis Carroll's (of Alice in Wonderland fame) Uncle; and, as you exit the cottage straight onto tracks and fields, it's not hard to imagine where the inspiration for timekeeping hares and lazy caterpillars came from!


HOLMROOK VILLAGE

Holmrook the village has the life essentials. In no particular order, but I know what our priorities are!: children's playground, our local pub, small wildflower meadow/village ecology garden, mechanic's garage, agricultural feed store, post office, and petrol station come comprehensive grocery store stocking local goods.


LOCAL TOWNS

Drigg, Santon Bridge, Gosforth and Seascale (all around ten minutes drive from the cottage) have another good two handfuls of pubs, a Co-op, convenience store, takeaways, and small gift shops.


MUCKING ABOUT ON THE WATER

Seascale has a beautiful beach, with spectacular sunsets across the Irish Sea towards the aisle of Man, and Ravenglass is The Lakes' only costal village, with a beautiful estuary for 'mucking about on the water' Swallows and Amazons style, or just watching the sun set over the dunes from the pub. Coniston Water, the setting for Swallows and Amazons, is about an hour's drive away.


EXPERIENCE THE 'REAL' LAKE DISTRICT

The Western Lakes are a privilege to discover. Away from the well trodden tourist trails, Volcano is less than 2 miles from the beach, and less than two miles from the Lake District National Park, with Scafell Pike route at Wasdale Head a beautiful 10 mile drive away. As the road to this route up Scafell follows the contours of Wastwater, it inevitably makes it a slower drive than the ten miles suggests, as the views are so stunning!

Ambleside and Windermere are an hour and a half drive, Lancaster around two hours, and Carlisle a similar distance in the opposite direction.

The Cumbrian Coast Mainland Railway is one of the most beautiful railway journeys in England, and it delivers you to within a half hour walk from our door. The Cumbrian Coast line, and L'al Ratty (Cumbrian for: Little Railway) have featured in a BBC programme entitled Britain's Greatest Railway journeys, hosted by Michael Portillo.

Muncaster Castle is also just a five minute drive away and its Owl Sanctuary, falconry show and incredible views (not to mention, haunted bedroom!) make it one of the Lake District's hidden tourist gems. The local grapevine also has it that the new look Top Gear was filming locally recently.


BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE VIEW WINNER

The recent winner of "Britain's Favourite View", Wastwater is 7 miles from our small village of Holmrook; which manages to squeeze in a post office come agricultural feed store, a petrol station come village store, and, the all important pub - a 4 minute walk (& only because of the lack of street lights!) directly from our front door to theirs.


COTTAGE OF HISTORIC INTEREST

During the the Second World War the cottage was part of a Royal Navy land base at Holmrook Hall, and was named HMS Volcano. It was the home of the bomb and munitions training school between 1943 and 1946, with a primary purpose of teaching munitions and explosive demolition to Royal Navy personnel and to special forces including many Norwegians. It was a top secret establishment and the locals were told that the hall had been requisitioned as a recuperation hospital for those who had suffered shipwrecks; a version of events many believe to this day. We have compiled a folder of local history for Guests at the cottage, which makes for fascinating reading!

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