Thorney How in Grasmere | Stunning Cumbria Group Cottage

About Thorney How

Thorney How is a substantial stone-fronted holiday home sleeping 16 guests on the outskirts of Grasmere in the Lake District National Park. This former youth hostel was completely refurbished in 2021. Eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms make this perfect for multi-family gatherings. The property features wooden beams, fireplaces and a commercial-standard kitchen. Off-road parking for seven cars means everyone arrives without hassle.

The location is outstanding. Grasmere sits just 0.8 miles away. Fells rise directly behind the property. Woodland walks start from the large garden.

Accommodation spreads across two floors. Ground floor offers one superking zip/link, one king and one double bedroom, all ensuite with walk-in showers. First floor has four superking zip/link rooms, all ensuite, plus two twin rooms sharing facilities. The enormous drying room handles wet gear from 16 people. Living space includes open-plan dining for 16, two lounges with woodburning stoves and Smart TVs, plus a separate snug.

Wordsworth Grasmere sits 0.8 miles away (3 minutes). Allan Bank National Trust property is 1.2 miles (4 minutes). Ambleside offers shops and restaurants 5 miles away (12 minutes). Windermere Lake Cruises operates 9 miles away (20 minutes).

Thorney How delivers exceptional space for large groups. Those comfortable ensuite bedrooms and that professional kitchen make catering easy. Walkers step straight onto the fells. Families spread out without feeling cramped.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Biomass central heating with 2 x woodburning stoves
✓Electric range style oven with 5 ring electric hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, fridge and dishwasher
✓2 x smart tvs and wifi
✓Fuel, power included in rent
✓Bed linen and towels included in rent
✓Highchair available but no cot, guest need to bring their own
✓Off-road parking for 7 cars
✓Large garden with picnic tables and access to woodland walks some areas shared with property 1110309
✓One well behaved pet
✓Sorry, no smoking
✓Shop and pub 0.8 miles
✓Note: this property has a locked door leading to another property little how ref: 1110309
✓Please note: sorry no parties, stag or hen dos

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What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at Thorney How

Spacious ensuite bedrooms

Seven of eight bedrooms feature private ensuites with walk-in showers, providing comfort and privacy for larger family groups.

Professional kitchen equipment

Commercial appliances, large pans and ample crockery make catering for 16 guests straightforward and stress-free throughout your stay.

Enormous drying room

Walking boots and wet clothes dry overnight in this generous facility, essential for Lake District adventures in any weather.

Perfect Grasmere location

Walk into Grasmere village in 15 minutes or step directly onto fell walks from the garden without needing cars.

Separate living spaces

Two lounges plus snug mean groups can split up comfortably, whilst bedrooms sit away from social areas for peaceful sleep.

Parking for seven cars

Off-road spaces for seven vehicles remove parking stress when multiple families arrive for your Lake District gathering.

Getting To Thorney How

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

Thorney How is located on the outskirts of Grasmere in the Lake District National Park. From the M6, exit at Junction 36 and follow the A591 towards Windermere and Ambleside, continuing to Grasmere. The property offers off-road parking for seven cars.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Windermere, approximately 9 miles from Thorney How. Regular bus services operate between Windermere station and Grasmere, or taxis are readily available for the 20-minute journey.

Off-road parking for seven cars

Windermere station (9 miles)

Walking distance to Grasmere village

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Wordsworth Grasmere

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9SH

Allan Bank (National Trust)

Distance: 1.2 miles

LA22 9QB

Ambleside Town Centre

Distance: 5 miles

LA22 9BT

Helm Crag Walk

Distance: 0.5 miles

LA22 9QW

Grasmere Lake Circuit

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9SW

Easedale Tarn

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9QE

Grasmere Village Shops

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9SW

Ambleside Supermarkets

Distance: 5 miles

LA22 9BS

Windermere Town

Distance: 9 miles

LA23 1AF

Grasmere Bus Stop

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9TA

Windermere Railway Station

Distance: 9 miles

LA23 1AR

Ambleside Information Centre

Distance: 5 miles

LA22 9BS

Wordsworth Grasmere

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9SH

Allan Bank (National Trust)

Distance: 1.2 miles

LA22 9QB

Ambleside Town Centre

Distance: 5 miles

LA22 9BT

Helm Crag Walk

Distance: 0.5 miles

LA22 9QW

Grasmere Lake Circuit

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9SW

Easedale Tarn

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9QE

Grasmere Village Shops

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9SW

Ambleside Supermarkets

Distance: 5 miles

LA22 9BS

Windermere Town

Distance: 9 miles

LA23 1AF

Grasmere Bus Stop

Distance: 0.8 miles

LA22 9TA

Windermere Railway Station

Distance: 9 miles

LA23 1AR

Ambleside Information Centre

Distance: 5 miles

LA22 9BS

Is Thorney How Right For Your Group

Discover why this cottage is the one for your party or family reunion...

For Families

Thorney How offers excellent facilities for children in larger family groups. The enclosed garden provides safe outdoor space for play. Board games are available for entertainment. Two Smart TVs allow different age groups to watch separately. The snug creates a dedicated space where teenagers can retreat. Ground floor bedrooms suit families with younger children who need quick bathroom access. The spacious layout means children can play without disturbing others.

Groups Will Love...

The commercial-standard kitchen at Thorney How transforms group catering from chore to pleasure. Large pans handle cooking for 16 people. Two fridges plus a separate fridge-freezer provide ample storage. The five-ring electric hob accommodates multiple dishes simultaneously. Extensive crockery and cutlery mean no washing up between meals. An air fryer and slow cooker add cooking flexibility. The dining table seats all 16 guests together for memorable shared meals.

Pet Friendly

Thorney How welcomes one well-behaved dog. The large enclosed garden offers safe space for exercise and play. Woodland walks accessible from the garden provide excellent opportunities for longer outings. Thoughtful extras including dog bowls are provided. The property's location near Grasmere means access to dog-friendly pubs and cafes. Multiple ensuite bedrooms ensure pet owners have private facilities. The drying room handles muddy paws and wet coats effectively.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Thorney How

The Travellers Rest

Located 0.6 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9RR

Grasmere Tea Gardens

Located 0.8 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9SW

The Jumble Room

Located 0.9 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9SU

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Thorney How

How many people does Thorney How sleep?

Thorney How sleeps 16 guests across eight bedrooms with seven bathrooms. The flexible layout includes superking zip/link beds that convert to twins for different group configurations.

Is Thorney How pet friendly?

Yes, one well-behaved pet is welcome at Thorney How. The property features an enclosed garden and thoughtful extras are provided for dogs.

What kitchen facilities are available for large groups?

The commercial-standard kitchen includes a range-style electric oven, five-ring hob, large pans, two fridges, dishwasher and extensive crockery. An air fryer and slow cooker are also provided for convenient group catering.

How far is Thorney How from Grasmere village?

Thorney How sits 0.8 miles from Grasmere, a comfortable 15-minute walk. The Travellers Rest pub is also within walking distance for evening meals.

What are the bedroom arrangements?

Ground floor has three ensuite bedrooms (one superking zip/link, one king, one double). First floor offers four ensuite superking zip/link rooms plus two twin rooms sharing bathroom facilities.

Is there parking at the property?

Off-road parking accommodates seven cars. This generous provision suits multiple families arriving separately for group holidays.

What heating does Thorney How have?

The property features biomass central heating throughout. Two woodburning stoves in the living areas provide additional warmth and atmosphere for cosy evenings.

Are there facilities for walkers?

The enormous drying room handles wet gear for 16 people, with walking boots drying overnight. Fell walks start directly from the garden, whilst Grasmere provides access to numerous Lake District routes.

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Bowness-on-Windermere

Thorney How Reviews

We are a walking group of 12 15 wellaged, well experienced, straight men from Devon to The Highlands who meet up once a year in the Lake District in January for some serious walking. Thorney Howe is the best property we have ever used. Finding a property that caters for that demographic is extremely difficult, but this one does just that. It even has a drying room.....

Really great base for a big weekend away easy walk into Grasmere for cafesgalleries on a rainy morning and then right at the foot of Helm Crag for a hike. We loved the space and large dining area.

We booked Thorney How to accommodate some of our wedding guests for the weekend. The location next to The Lancrigg was perfect, and everything about it was just ideal. A massive living and dining space, a kitchen with everything you could ever need to cook anything you wanted to, cosy rooms, a drying room for wet gearclothes, and fantastic heating throughout making you forget the cold November day outside. It was an excellent place to stay, and I hope to book it again one day with friends for a reunion.

Lovely accommodation and perfect for our group. Wonderful area, with lots of outdoor adventures had during a week of mixed Lakeland weather. Kitchen was great for catering for a group of 16, and there were plenty of everything mugs, glasses, plates, etc, along with a great array of kitchen equipment. Beds were really comfortable. Drying room was well used and very efficient. Would definitely recommend and would look forward to returning. A few improvements to make it even better please note these were minor and didnt interfere with our enjoyment of the accommodation. A couple more tea towels would be good. We only had two. One of the upstairs showers was leaking through to the ground floor we reported this and someone arrived to look into it on the same day great response! The fridge in the kitchen was leaking water onto the floor we mopped it several times a day but still got wet socks if we werent careful. A lockable bike store would be appreciated. The sofas could do with an upgrade.

Michael

It was the perfect house for our groups needs. Fantastic. We will be returning to this property hopefully next year.

Madeleine

We stayed in Thorney Howe in early September. The accommodation was perfect for our group with clean rooms and all the amenities we required including great kitchen facilities to allow us to cater for our big group. We had a fantastic walk and dip in Easedale tarn and enjoyed the proximity to the village. Some of the group making early coffees one morning were pleasantly surprised by some young Deer right outside the cottage where the cars were parked.

Alison

A wonderful holiday in a fabulous house in a wonderful location. Would rebook without hesitation.

Jacqueline

A beautiful house set in a stunning location. Great place for the 16 members of our family to meet.

Lovely property. Mark was very helpful when we had any issues. Amazing property along with Little How for a large family gathering.

Daniel

Lovely house in perfect location. Great for large families and people with a dog as has enclosed garden. Also had 2 guests whom were slightly disabled so the downstairs bedrooms were perfect

Really enjoyed our family holiday celebrating my 80th bday. The property was comfortable n spacious so we felt we were not on top of each other! Also very well equipped with crockery n kitchen utensils. Only criticism would be that there was no BBQ, not that the weather was good enough for one . Sorry weather did not allow us to use the fire pit.

Zephirine

Really great property, much bigger than anticipated. All the bedrooms were so nice and spacious, which made for a very comfortable stay. Such a beautiful location, and so convenient for walks, pubs and swims. 1010 place!

Great place for a group to stay, plenty of space, well equipped, warm and comfortable.

There were only three kitchen hand towels and NO tea towels, so this was an inadequacy which could easily be resolved. It would have been nice to have been warned about lack of coat hangers in the rooms. In general, we were pleased with the equipment and accommodation, and enjoyed our week there.

Pauline

Hi, this is our third family stay at Thorney How. We absolutely love the property. I would however like to give some constructive feedback. This visit we were disappointed with the cleanliness of the second fridge freezer we needed to clean it before use and the shower base in one of the ground floor bedrooms was dirty again we needed to clean before use and all of the shower heads need to be cleaned. I have suggested on a previous stay that bath mats and soap holders in the ground floor showers would help the elderly disabled members of the family. Maybe the owner could consider the suggestion again. All of the feedback is given in good faith. We love the property and will certainly book Thorney How again. Thank you

Olivia

I really cant recommend Thorney How enough. It is the most beautiful property and the views are unbelievable. The kitchen is the best equipped we have ever seen and has everything you need. The beds felt luxurious. The pictures just dont do this place justice! Thank you for a wonderful stay.

We've been renting winter accommodation in the Lake District for the last 25 years for up to 15 straight blokes, for an annual fairly serious walking weekend. Thorney Howe is the best we've ever had. Clean, comfortable and everything catered for. Thank you

Nicholas

Everyone was very comfortable and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thank you.

Thorney How was the perfect place to base my womens leadership retreat. Nestled at the foot of Helm Crag it is ideally and idyllically situated with limitless opportunities for hiking from the house and surrounded by stunning views. The house itself was spacious, beautifully designed with a clean and comfortable aesthetic mixing cosy cottage with contemporary living seamlessly. Bedrooms were spacious and comfortable, the shared living spaces was ample and the presence of both a big porch and drying room made for super easy transitions in and out the door to and from the fells. We also had catering provided through Thorney How which was nothing short of superb. Jack provided nutritious, homecooked, beautiful and utterly delicious meals and snacks throughout our stay, removing the stress of having to think about food and providing a level of care that enhanced my retreat enormously. All in all this house quickly became a home for our group and provided the warmth and comfort for us to be able to enjoy every element of our retreat with. Couldnt recommend highly enough and will definitely be using again!

What a fantastic cottage, just a short walk out of Grasmere. There is so much space for a large group there were 12 of us with the separate snug plus large open plan living and dining area. Useful features included an enormous drying room, a very well equipped functional kitchen, with large pans etc for volume cooking for large groups. Lots of crockery, china etc that ment we never ran out or thought we could do with. One great thing that wasnt mentioned in the details is that the bedrooms are all well away from the living areas, separated by the front hall and so anyone wanting an afternoon nap, early night or lie in was not disturbed by noise from the social areas bliss for a light sleeper! Many thanks! Helen

Gwynneth

Beautiful surroundings The kitchen was easy to use and stocked with everything you could possibly need even very large slow cooker and air fryer The drying room was very useful as was the snug. We were short of freezer space as we had brought several meals ready frozen and there is only one very small freezer but plenty of fridge space. We couldnt find a local contact number when we couldnt get heating on in one of the bedrooms and it remained cold all week

Lesley

Wonderful property, a repeat visit as our 3 generation family love it. Nice bedrooms with elegant furniture and excellent beds, great having en suites plenty of comfy sitting spaces really functional kitchen and a table for 16 and plenty of crockery and glasses AND, as we walk and cycle in all weathers and paddle board, the drying room makes the holiday so easy.

Patricia

Beautiful position. Perfect for large family groups.Very clean Comfortable beds Plentiful bathrooms We would return

We had a lovely stay at Thorney How. Great location. Ideal property for a large family group plenty of room for everyone.Would highly recommend and will definitely be booking again. Thank you

Andrew

We really enjoyed our time at Thorney How, a well laidout house and a wellequipped kitchen. The drying room was particularly useful. It did not feel crowded for 16 and we appreciated that the snug allowed people to get some peace and privacy. Very well located on the outskirts of Grasmere easy to get into the town by foot or by car, and very well placed for heading up the valley into the hills. We'd be very happy to come back. The builders mentioned in some earlier reviews were not a problem.

Elizabeth

I recently organised a big family get together in Thorney Howe. There were 16 of us altogether, from Australia , S. Ireland, Scotland , Wales and England. Our ages ranged from 12 to 87! We had a great week ! The house was perfect, well equipped, comfortable and welcoming! Everything we needed been provided .On the two occasions that I needed to phone the owner, Mark, he was most helpful and I enjoyed meeting him . Thank you Elizabeth Mclelland

Caitlin

Great accommodation for our family reunion! Suited all ages. Lots of great walks. Accommodation perfect with enough space for us to chill out personally. Loved it

Jeanette

We had 3 toddlers and 2 babies with us. They had so many accidents on the paving slab stairs and the hollow behind the door to the sitting room. This place is definitely not suitable for small children. The back garden is tiny and misrepresented in the photos. At the bottom of it the area is full of wild plants and a sheer drop. We couldn't use the garden for the little ones it was just too dangerous. The beds were comfortable and the showers amazing. It would have been nice to have drawers in the bedrooms as we had to live out of our suitcases. Spent a long time cleaning on the last morning to make sure it was adequate for the owners.

Laurence

We loved our week in Thorney How and Little How. We wanted to book it straightaway for next year, but sadly, the week we need to get all the family together had already gone. Great location, excellent facilities, well looked after. Would recommend to anyone. A couple of minor things, just to show that we aren't relatives of the owners! The oven doesn't work very efficiently, and the main fridge leaks, even if you do try assiduously to make sure the door is closed. and some of the towels are a bit thin for a property this price. But these don't detract from our 5 start rating.

Enjoyable stay for all 15 ranging in ages from 13 to 77. A few minor pieces of I hope constructive criticism 1 some female members of the party would have preferred to have a shower with a head that could have been lifted off rather than fixed in ceiling 2 The shower doors in loughrigg need to be mounted securely on their runners 3 The listing describing the twin bedrooms is a little misleading it should just read one of the twin bedrooms doors not have en suite facilities obviously they can choose whichever other bedroom they want share facilities with, but as currently described it gives the impression there is some special facility between the two rooms. And finally this feedback is for Sykes but doesnt seem to be separate box for this When viewing properties one sees a pop up saying reserve this property for 20 This is deceptive its more than 20 isnt it?

The refuse bin was not emptied and contained ours and the previous owners rubbish. Maybe a word to the council.

My wife and I booked Thorney Howe to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary along with our children and grandchildren. We were grossly disappointed finding ourselves in the middle of a building site with builders vans parked on the property every day, construction traffic constantly running past the property and often finding the road blocked with concrete trucks. When asked to respect our privacy and move the vans I was faced with verbal abuse from the builders. Sykes were very good at helping to resolve the problem with the parking and the vans were moved. The very next day we were faced with the same problem, and was faced with the same abuse from the builders. Then the water supply was turned off and we were unable to shower or flush toilets.I feel sorry for anyone who will be staying at Thorny Howe over the summer as the building works are set to continue for the next twelve months!!! Paul and Liz

Stuart

Fabulous property. Very clean upon arrival. Fabulous for large family holidays, ample space for all ages, no one felt like they were on top of each other at any point. Drying Room was an amazing and welcomed addition. Bedrooms well appointed, but limited to zero storage for clothes no cupboards, wardrobes or chest of drawers ?! Lounge and dining area comfortable. Excellent to have ample fridge space. Kitchen cooker took a long long while to reach temperature and meant we needed to plan early for our meals. Lots of car parking spaces. Overall this is one of the best large houses we have stayed in the Lake District, and a great location within walking distance to Grasmere and some excellent walks.

Thorney How was a super venue for a family gathering. The facilities were great and the drying room a massive help as we had rain every day we were there. We had assumed, incorrectly, that the two twin bedrooms had an interconnected bathroom which was not the case. The 8th bedroom had no facilities and a long way to go for a loo in the night if needed! The living areas were spacious and the bedrooms comfortable. A great stay in a lovely area. The fire doors were a bit of a nuisance!

The property was fantastic for our family group and the thoughtful extras supplied for our dogs were very much appreciated. Beds were very comfortable with crisp, fresh bedding. The towels could have been larger and not big enough to wrap around some of the larger adults. The kitchen was well equipped but it was a bit annoying going in and out of the heavy kitchen door to get dishes and cutlery. These were just small observations because we really enjoyed our stay and would love to return when the weather is better.

Just had an amazing Christmas in this property, pictures do not do it justice. Kitchen was well equipped, large living space. Beds really comfortable. Will be definitely returning Thank you Thorney How

A large group of us have been coming to The Lakes in December for almost 30 years. Our requirements are for 78 bedrooms preferably all ensuite, pub in walking distance, nearby walks so we dont have to drive and kitchendining large enough so that we can eat together. I have to say Thornley How meet this brief in every respect. The accommodation is spacious, beautifully decorated , warm and well equipped with plenty of parking. In terms of location it is only a 15min walk into Grasmere or the Travellers Rest recommended . There are also lots of walk options both short and long. Will definitely be returning.

Would highly recommend. Really lovely property in perfect location. Quick walk into Grasmere and stunning Silverhow walk from property. Well stocked kitchen for mass catering and beautifully clean.

Leave a Review

Thorney How, Grasmere

About Thorney How

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

Spacious ensuite bedrooms

Professional kitchen equipment

Enormous drying room

Perfect Grasmere location

Separate living spaces

Parking for seven cars

Getting To Thorney How

By Car

By Train

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Is Thorney How Right For Your Group

For Families

Groups Will Love...

Pet Friendly

Dining & Cafes

The Travellers Rest

Grasmere Tea Gardens

The Jumble Room

Frequently Asked Questions

Location Name

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Thorney How Reviews