The Cragg, Hawkshead

I loved this cottage so full of character and history. The delightful wood panelling and stone floors made our stay really special. It was just as described and perfect for our large family holiday. The setting is also ideal, close to the lovely town of Hawkshead and in wide open countryside. The garden is large and full of nooks and crannies for playing hide and seek. I'll add a few specific points to inform others rather than as criticisms, because they didn't detract from our holiday. Most important, we found absolutely nothing in the house, not even salt, soap or loo paper so bring everything yourself. Secondly, the plumbing is primitive and noisy and the old wood panelling means noise travels. Worth bearing in mind if quiet is important to you. Lastly, the waste situation is not ideal, with no composting or food waste and fortnightly collections meaning you could end up with having to dump your rubbish in the bins in town, if previous guests have failed to leave the bins out on the right Sunday.

Beautiful old house in a great location with easy access to some great sports around the lakes. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Noticed that quite a few reviews mentioned the property wasnt clean however it was perfectly clean for us. Aga was on when we arrived. The only thing that could be improved is for washing up liquid to be provided on site and soap in the bathrooms. For the cost of the stay small touches like that would make the stay even better. Would happily return

Beautiful location my second stay love the cottage Easy walk into Hawshead ... Beautiful location my second stay love the cottage Easy walk into Hawshead and plenty places short drive away Fabulous garden would be good to have a parasol and some cushions Dishwasher needs some maintenance as not cleaning dishes properly We will be going again next year

Eight family members stayed at The Cragg for a weekend. The property is quirky and rustic which suited our family but it is not pristine. Once we'd sussed out the heating it was lovely and warm but a starter pack for the wood burner would have been appreciated. The kitchen had everything we needed apart from sharp knives needed for the preparation of meals. We would stay again as we all really enjoyed the house and the lovely surrounding area.

Fantastic location unfortunately the cleanliness of the property left a lot to be desired. The ovens were filthy, the windows inside and outside were barely visible through and all sorts of debris under the settee cushions. Could be so much better with a little attention !

The cottage is very quirky and warm. It is a spacious and listed property so be aware of creaking floorboards and low beams that actually adds to the ambience of the cottage. Has all amenities and facilities within the property including a great log burner and ample car parking space. There are a couple of issues that need addressing toilet seat needs refixing in the bathroom and little nook and crannies need a better clean. The location whilst a 15 minute walk into Hawkshead the road leading into the village was flooded for a couple of days during our stay is still ideal for nearby fells.

Overall the property was great, it had real character and real history to it, which we loved. Generally the cleanliness was good. Bedding, carpets, floors, kitchen all good. But on a closer look there were lots of cobwebs and thick dust on the wood panels between the living room and kitchen and the 2 bedrooms. We appreciate how old the building is and how quickly it must get dusty but these are the attention to details that have stopped me from rating 5 stars. Also the heating would not work, which we read on another review while there. It was a wet weekend and the first night we didnt have any fire wood. The bedrooms and bathrooms were very cold. Had we know this prior to arrival we would have gone out of our way to have wood with us. The beds were really comfortable, good quality pillows, everyone slept well. One of the frying pans had to be cleaned before use, not necessarily dirty but a bit worn and black bits flaking off it. Overall we had a great stay. Just a couple of little niggles that are easily rectified. For a free weekend stay wed come back and deep clean it for you

The Cragg is a beautiful old cottage, very sympathetically decorated. It is spacious for a large party. Well equipped kitchen and very warm. The driveway is very steep which could be off putting for others. With the age of the property comes aged related issues, so wouldnt recommend if you want modern and contemporary. For us it was just lovely.

Hi, The accommodation suited our party of 4 anglers perfect. The only gripe is we tried to book the Cragg for the same dates next year and was gob smacked to find its gone up by 200.

There were 9 of us staying and the place was great, very quirky and in keeping with the age of the prosperity. We have an issue tho, one of our party left something behind and we reported this, I had a call saying they would get back to us the next day but no one has so I think this part of the service is VERY poor.

Lovely house in a great place. Very quirky in an old house sort of way. The wood panel walls with cracks you can see through are unusual but only an issue between the twin room and the adjacent double. Low doors and ceiling beams means youll bump your head a few times. Could do with having the settee in the sitting room fixed as its currently legless, and the arms need to be put on the garden furniture rather than being on the floor of the utility. It would also be useful to be able to control the central heating. No welcome goodies or starter pack for the fire. However, all in all, it was a good place to be.

It was a great place to relax and the perfect base in the Lake District. Loved it.

We loved the cottage and location. Ideal for walking into Hawkshead. It was perfect for our group of 4 adult couples.

It was great and absolutely essential that we were able to control the central heating, a stay in this really old and quaint house would have been impossible otherwise. Bed linen, towels clean, beds comfy. Cleaning of the house was perfunctory to say the least. Cobwebs in the shower room and every other room. Hair from previous guests in the shower.Dust on all the furniture, all the glasses and much of the cutlery sticky and had to be put through a wash before use. The washing machine was also unusable until I had cleaned out the rubber seal of mildew ing food stuff, I have taken a photo of this. Needed to wash empty on a 95 degree wash before it could be used. Mould on rubber seals in shower which washed off when shower was used, unpleasant. A mouse ran across the kitchen floor and disappeared down a crack by the kitchen units. The property renovated in 2004, i think, seems not have had any decoration or upgrading since. All is tired and worn looking. Table top in kitchen has quite a wobble and basic items in the kitchen were missing, eg potato masher. I live in an old cottage so I do appreciate that if a room is left empty for a week, spiders will make their homes, wildlife in the kit then is u desirable especially when there are no sealed bins to keep cereals, bus units etc in. The fridge in the kitchen is small, inadequate and missing a shelf, it also runs too warm. The fridgein the utility also runs too warm is also small. The freezer is iced up. All the maintenance issues could be over looked, but not the cleaning, what is also totally unacceptable is the Sykes were informed during our stay of the issues, we had an email to confirm it had been escalated and there has been no contact since. Shocking customer service especially during August when costs for this property are at their premium. It is also difficult to talk to anybody from Sykes, whoever they employ to clean are rubbish! I expect feedback from this review.

We stayed at The Cragg for a week, lovely old cottage set in the countryside but also close to Hawkshead village and others not too far away, the cottage is lovely, original beams and walls, nice space through and the kitchen is well stocked with everything you need, including a dishwasher, there's also a washing machine and dryer in the utility room, nice place and we all enjoyed our stay.

We had an absolutely amazing stay at The Cragg. I booked it for myself and my children to celebrate my eldest sons 30th birthday and couldn't be happier with the cottage, it was exactly what we wanted. It is so cozy and welcoming in the perfect location. The garden is stunning with amazing views. Location was perfect for exploring the Lake District.

Wonderful cottage and beautiful garden We were sad to leave Would definitely stay there again xxx

Staying in this cottage was nothing short of magical. From the moment I stepped inside, I felt as if I had been transported back in timealmost like stepping into an episode of Outlander. The attention to detail is remarkable. Every beam, stone, and creaky floorboard tells a story, and yet the place is so lovingly maintained that it feels both authentic and welcoming. The blend of rustic charm with thoughtful touches made my stay incredibly special. The candlelit ambiance, the antique furnishings, and the historic atmosphere created an immersive experience Ill never forget. I could almost picture 18thcentury life unfolding around me. Its rare to find a place that captures the soul of the past so vividly while still offering comfort and peace. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates history, storytelling, or just wants to feel like theyve stepped into another world. A truly unforgettable stay.