Brunt How | Ambleside | The Lake District And Cumbria

4.4★

7 Guests
3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

28 Customer Review(s)

Mrs N
Aug 2024

“Another fantastic holiday at Brunt How.”

Lots of adventures in the Langdale valley and many walks from the doorstep. The senior members of the party explored the Wordsworth trail with visits Allen Bank and Rydal Mount and they enjoyed seeing the confluence of th Breathy and Rothay guarded by a very confident heron. We paid our respects to Joss Naylor at St Olafs church yard at Wasdale Head. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful home.

Lots of adventures in the Langdale valley and many walks from the doorstep. The senior members of the party explored the Wordsworth trail with visits Allen Bank and Rydal Mount and they enjoyed seeing the confluence of th Breathy and Rothay guarded by a very confident heron. We paid our respects to Joss Naylor at St Olafs church yard at Wasdale Head. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful home.

- Mrs N, Aug 2024
Mr A Aug 2024

“A lovely stay, made more enjoyable in 1 Brunt How!”

We’ve had fair weather compared with many and enjoyed both time spent inside the house and of course outdoors. We haven’t ever been to ’The Lakes’ before and was truly amazed at just how beautiful it is and this coupled with your comfortable home, made a very happy memorable stay.

- Mr A, Aug 2024
Mrs D Apr 2024

“A lovely stay in this beautiful house.”

The weather has been kind, lovely walks and adventures with the family and Barney. Stunning views! Thankyou

- Mrs D, Apr 2024
Mark March 2024

“A wonderful character-full house with huge rooms and fantastic views from the sitting room and main bedroom.”

Very well situated close to Ambleside with wonderful walks striaght out of the house. It's also very well placed to get to the more adventourous hills in the Langdale valley. We felt like welcome guests of the family who owns the property with their photos on the walls and a good supply of kitchen essentials. Kitchen just a little small in comparison to all the big rooms - but only a problem if you want to do lots of cooking!

- Mark, March 2024
Pauline March 2024

“This is an exceptional property.”

Comfortable, extremely clean and a well stocked kitchen ( a few more baking trays might be helpful ) beautiful views in a very quiet and secluded location. The elegant rooms are large with high ceilings and traditional details. When the week came to an end we were extremely sad to leave our home from home. A top class residence.

- Pauline, March 2024

Thank you so much for your feedback. So pleased you like the property as much as we do. Owner Property Owner
Mrs N Mar 2024

“Back at it again, another great stay at Brunt How.”

We enjoyed lots of great walks when there are breaks in the weather as well as making the most o the ins9ide space on rainy days. Also managed to fit in a decent run most days in training for the Lakeland 50. Good grub from Chesters. We love visiting Colwith Force and Skelwith Force in the winter months. Can’t wait to be back again.

- Mrs N, Mar 2024
Peter November 2023

“This is a great home we have returned to many times now.”

While the house and gardens are wonderful, the furnishings have become shabby. The quilt cover is stained in the main bedroom, lounge chairs have their stuffing escaping from torn arms, carpets in need of cleaning. Flys in bed 1 window casement that come into the room in their 100’s if you want to air the room. We love this house but would like to hear that the owners are planning to update the ageing furnishings. Just a suggestion, could the property provide a clothes horse so washing and damp coats could be dried without having to use the tumbler?

- Peter, November 2023

We are so glad you have enjoyed Brunt How over the years. We have addressed many of your concerns. Over the last couple of years we have made a number of refurbishments, including new upstairs carpets, a new ensuite bathroom and new boiler room (including new boiler). We have high standards for Brunt How ourselves, as we enjoy using it as much as our guests. Owner Property Owner
Mr Marrion Sep 2023

“A wonderful two weeks spent in this superb house.”

The views, location and peaceful surroundings all contributed to a fabulous stay. We expected all types of weather, and we were not disappointed. However on the whole, we were very lucky and walked for miles every day. Our four legged companion has been living her best labrador life - water and sticks galore! We have been visiting the Lakes for many many years and can honestly say this is one of the best properties we have rented, and would not hesitate to come back soon. With many thanks

- Mr Marrion, Sep 2023

It sounds as if you love Brunt How and the Lakes as much as we do! Property Owner
Mitchell August 2023

“Brunt How is a nice early 1900s cottage rental in walking distance from the lovely and secluded Loughrigg Tarn.”

It should be clear(er) in the description that you're actually getting one third of the house. The other two thirds are separately rented out as "Brunt House" & "Tarn Cottage". It's important that, unusually, you cannot obtain the keys at the property but have to obtain & return them to managing agents "Heart of the Lakes" a drive away in Ambleside. We found that Tesco will not deliver directly to the property due to the step access road. Internally, Brunt How is nice, although 'tired'. There was a lot of live spiders in their webs all over the house. The kitchen, although well equipped, was not clean. We spent significant time cleaning it before use. The bedrooms & upstairs bathrooms were clean and well presented. All facilities required for a large family were there. The big selling points are the view facing South, towards the valley and the river Brathay, and the lovely, kempt multi-levelled gardens. If you're into birds, you'll find many species including Buzzards. The views of the night sky are excellent with the Milky Way visible on a clear night. If you rent Brunt How you get private access to all the gardens and the greenhouse. The greenhouse's Table Tennis table was so dirty the kids avoided it. Nonetheless, we felt the beauty of the gardens with nice outdoor furniture made up for it. On a bright summer's day, the views are really special & relaxing. Overall, it's a recommended stay for the secluded quiet, views, lovely garden, proximity to Windermere and Ambleside and abundant local walks. We had significant plumbing and electrical issues marring the comfort of the stay. These were well handled by polite Lake Lovers & Heart of the Lakes staff, albeit taking several days to remedy. Brunt How's in a lovely part of the Lake District and would make a good base for exploring the local towns and tarns. Despite issues, we'd still recommend stating there and would consider rebooking.

- Mitchell, August 2023

Thank you for your feedback. Your comments have been forwarded to the housekeeping team to look into your concerns regarding cleanliness, though had we known we would have rectified this on your arrival. We are glad that you did enjoy the property and were able to see the Milky Way. Lakelovers Owner Relations Property Owner
Maria July 2023

“A lovely property with spectacular views.”

Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues insofar as the garden in levelled. Beautiful location.

- Maria, July 2023
Heather July 2023

“A beautiful home in an amazing location.”

It was very clean, beds were comfortable and showers good. The kitchen had all the equipment we needed. We didn't use the table tennis table as the glass house was full of mosquitos but I'm not sure that could be helped. The garden was beautiful and the views stunning. We would definitely book again.

- Heather, July 2023
Soubhi June 2023

“Overall a great property, the views are incredible!”

However, one of the showers didn’t work the whole time we were there. We were in touch with Heart of the Lakes regularly. It was inconvenient. Some cobwebs around the ceiling that hadn’t been cleaned. Lock on the downstairs toilet needs fixing.

- Soubhi, June 2023

Thank you for your comments. We apologise for the issue that you experienced with the shower during your stay, and for the inconveince caused. We will ask our Maintenance team to check the lock. Thank you. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Mr Hough Jun 2023

“A truly wonderful place to stay on our honeymoon.”

We've enjoyed so many enchanting walks right from the doorstep - Loughrigg Fell, Loughrigg Tarn, Ambleside, Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater. Brunt How has also been the perfect base from which to set out on our longer hikes. We have visited many locations in the Langdale valley, North Lakes for a swim in Derwent Water and a venture up High Seat, Bleaberry Fell and the oh so pleasing Walla Crag. We've been blessed with fine weather and soaked up the beauty of the garden, making the most of any opportunity to dine al fresco. We've basked in the peace and quiet tranquillity of both the indoor and outdoor space, reading and enjoying the picturesque views. We've been fascinated watching a nest of tree creepers and the spotted fly catcher. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home. We hope to be back soon.

- Mr Hough, Jun 2023

We are really touched that you chose our property for your honeymoon. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Property Owner
Sarah May 2023

“Just got back from the most amazing week in the lakes.”

Perfect weather really helped, but the cottage was awesome. The property has very large rooms, tastefully furnished (super comfy beds!) and a small but well equipped kitchen. One of the bedrooms was small and didn’t have much natural light but we weren’t in there much! The garden is stunning, beautiful flowers and lawned areas. Would definitely recommend Brunt How, and would definitely love to return! Ps one little teeny tiny thing - the property would benefit from a clothes airer!!!

- Sarah, May 2023

Thank you for your comments. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay, and the facilities. We take your suggestion on board. We hope to welcome you again. The Heart of the Lakes Owner Relations Team Property Owner
Eirwen May 2023

“Amazing property, stunning views, lovely garden, in all a very enjoyable weeks break,without sat nav directions not that easy,could also do with having 2keys for the house.”

- Eirwen, May 2023

Thank you for your kind comments, we are pleased to hear that you had an enjoyable stay. We hope to welcome you back. The Heart of The Lakes Owner Relations Team. Property Owner
Mr Struthers Dec 2022

“A very welcoming house!”

There were seven of us here, two from the United States and I loved it. The views are beautiful!! Wish we had some more sunny days to explore. Overall we had a wonderful family holiday! Hope to return in the future.

- Mr Struthers, Dec 2022
Stephen October 2022

“Love the house!”

Elegant, well fitted out, with such lovely views and garden. So relaxing, lovely walks and food, we slept so well. Very restorative! It’s our second time here. First time was in the summer with fab BBQ’s is in the garden with recipes from the Nigella book in kitchen (which we have since bought!) This time candlelit suppers and log fires. Hope to be back. Thank you so much.

- Stephen, October 2022
Deborah August 2022

“This house is beautiful!”

We loved the gardens, the decor, how spacious it was and the level of comfort was amazing. It really helped us to have the perfect holiday. The location is quiet, but close to all attractions and I would stay here again happily. Some points to note. There was a smell of "wet dog" downstairs which we reported. I would suggest regular carpet washing and the option of plug-in air fresheners. The cleanliness of sinks, toilets, hoovering and mopping was as I would expect so the smell was not due to poor cleaning. The cleaner needs time for a deep clean every few weeks basically, as there were a few dirting skirtings downstairs, again due to muddy dogs from the looks of it. Prior information regarding the fire would have been helpful as we needed to buy coal, fire starters etc whilst we were there, so this is something worth knowing in advance as the property does get quite cold at night.

- Deborah, August 2022
Rebecca July 2022

“Lovely location and generally well appointed cottage.”

Good kitchen and dining area, and lovely large lounge (though a squeeze for 6). However, dishwasher was clearly not cleaning when we arrived, so we had to clear out all the filters to get it working properly (not a nice job when not done for so long), there is relatively limited larger glass wear and crockery (OK for 4, would not be for 6), and the inability to open the back door fully was tricky when coming in with wet walking gear.

- Rebecca, July 2022

We thank you for taking time to give us feedback following your recent stay at Brunt How. We are pleased you had a great stay and found the property well appointed. A member of our compliance team attended following your visit to ensure the seating area was well suited for a maximum 7 guests (as per the max occupancy) and found there is more than adequate seating and space in all areas. We have checked the crockery and glassware and did find a couple of glasses must have been damaged over the summer months - these will be replaced. Property Owner
Hannah June 2022

“Overall, a lovely property in a truly stunning setting.”

Highlights include the generous and beautifully furnished family room, as well as our daily walks to nearby Loughrigg Tarn (we will bring swimming costumes next time!) Constructive feedback- We slept in the (massive) yellow bedroom with our toddler and would have really appreciated blackout curtains/ blinds to help with bedtime. (We also did notice a fair bit of mould on the curtains that are present.) Hooks on the back of the bathroom/ bedroom door would be useful, as well as a full length mirror. I was also surprised that hand soap wasn’t supplied in the bathrooms and we had to buy some. It is worth noting that the garden is well maintained with the most incredible views, but the steps/ tiered layout mean it is not toddler friendly. Also, our dog easily jumped the low wall to the neighbouring property to make friends!

- Hannah, June 2022
The Tipper Family Apr 2022

“Seven gentle spring days of low level walking and minimal driving in the magical Langdale landscape.”

A very comfortable and convenient base to enjoy this unique place.

- The Tipper Family, Apr 2022
Mrs K Dyson Apr 2022

“Wonderful house, superb large rooms and comfy beds.”

Children, dog and adults all slept well. Beautiful views and we made the most of walking when the sun shined. Sadly it was a rather wet, cold week. We will need to come back in the summer! Thank you, a lovely family home.

- Mrs K Dyson, Apr 2022
Kevin August 2021

“House is amazing, garden sets it apart from other properties.”

Only downside is the small bedroom with 2 singles is cramped and beds not that comfortable for an adult to sleep on.

- Kevin, August 2021

Thank you for your feedback. The mattresses in this bedroom have now been replaced and I am sorry if you found the bedroom not as spacious as the other two but we feel the photographs on the website are an accurate representation. Property Owner
Aug 2021

“1 week in the Lake District.”

We saw some amazing things - Striding Edge and the Old Man of Coniston. We saw great birds, paddled on Windermere and swam every day in the tarn. The house is really cool - we like the high ceilings, thick walls and solid feel. We would gladly come back and hope that you all have a fantastic time in this beautiful place. We have been privileged and lucky.

- , Aug 2021
Helen July 2021

“Had a great stay at Brunt How.”

What a lovely house which was spacious, comfortable and well equipped with all we needed for a week’s stay. The view from the house was spectacular and it was a great base for some lovely walks.

- Helen, July 2021
Robin June 2021

“I think that this property needs more investment to justify the price.”

The legs of two of the chairs in the dining room have been strengthened with raw bits of plywood, with the edges left rough. The oil cloth on the dining room table looks old, and is not what you expect for a property of this standard. The wifi on the first floor is patchy to non-existent. There may be a knack to making the TV work, but we never found it – the picture was good for a few minutes, then there was a warning about the aerial. On our first night the sheets were too small, and did not tuck into the mattresses, but at least the managing agent replaced them the next day. The bed in the main bedroom was uncomfortable, and another bed had a broken slat (not unusual, according to the cleaner). On the last day our son was trapped in his bedroom by a defective catch, but eventually we managed to release him by dint of running a piece of plastic between the door and frame. Otherwise, we would have called the Fire Brigade. It would be useful to have more crockery. The boiler settings are low. To begin with, we were only given one set of keys. The property has good views, but sitting outside you hear a fair amount of traffic noise from lower down the valley.

- Robin, June 2021

Thank you for taking the time to provide additional feedback following your stay at Brunt Howe, albeit we were sorry to read you did not enjoy your stay as much as our previous guests. We can only apologise that one of the dining chairs needed an urgent repair on the day of your arrival. To ensure the property was ready for you in time and not to disrupt your holiday, the repair carried out whilst not aesthetically pleasing, was practical. A full repair has now been carried out for the benefit of future guests. The oil cloth placed on the dining table for protection is provided for families with children who would feel more comfortable using this and can be removed should any guests not wish to use it. We can only apologise if you found the Wi-Fi to be patchy on the first floor. Brunt How is situated a beautiful location with amazing views overlooking the hills. As a 19th century building, built with thick stone walls, sometimes this does mean Wi-Fi speeds can be intermittent in certain parts of the property, however we do not usually receive negative feedback regarding the Wi-Fi speed. We do have instructions in the cottage regarding using the television, and these instructions have worked for our team following your feedback. The master bed and mattress were brand new for your visit, so it is disappointing to read it was not to your personal preference, however we appreciate everyone is different. The slat in the second bedroom had slipped out of place and has now been rectified. We are unsure how the bedroom door handle failed on your last day but since then and as a precaution this has been replaced. We feel that the property has amazing views, and it is rare to hear traffic noise from the property from down in Langdale Valley, however, appreciate this can be down to the time of year you visited. Property Owner
Alison May 2021

“Such a well needed break in a beautiful location.”

Really appreciate that we could bring our dog to such a lovely house. Going to re-book.

- Alison, May 2021
Mrs Gough Dec 2019

“Fantastic property with stunning views.”

- Mrs Gough, Dec 2019

Show less

Summary

Highly Commended Four Star property
Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size with en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC, 1 x family room with 1x Super King size zip link bed and 1x single bed with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x twin
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC
Utility/cloakroom with basin and WC
Kitchen/diner
Dining room
Sitting room with woodburner
Oil fired central heating with 1 x log burners
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, HiFi System with IPod docking station, TV with Blu-ray Player, WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Travel cot and highchair available upon request
Off-road parking for two cars
Enclosed front patio and sloping lawned gardens to the rear with outdoor seating area
Use of the greenhouse with table tennis
One well-behaved dog welcome
Sorry, no smoking
No stag or hen parties

The property

Always a popular holiday venue Brunt How is a charming 19thC property standing in an elevated positon with beautuful views across the river Brathay towards Black Fell and Wetherlam. Set at the entrance to the Langdale Valley, Brunt How is ideally placed for a walking holiday or famiy escape n the central lakes.

Loughrigg Fell rises behind the house and there are many walks in the immediate area as well as easy access to the main tops of Great Langdale, Silver How, Pike o'Blisco and on to the highest peaks of the central fells.

With Ambleside only two miles away you are well placed for shopping and eating out.

Your local pub at Skelwith Bridge is about half a mile distant as is the well known Chesters overlooking the river. This large property has a wonderfully spacious feel retaining Arts and Craft features typical of the period, the mullioned windows with panelled reveals and a rose architrave being particularly notable. Accommodation: A steep drive leads to the elevated terraced area in front of the property.

Front door entrance into the roomy dining hall with beamed ceiling, period fireplace and large table for family meals.

The spacious luxury sitting room is a real feature with fine views from the dual aspect floor to ceiling windows (woodburner, flat screen TV, Blu-ray DVD, iPod/Hi-Fi, Wi-Fi).

Good sized recently fitted kitchen with breakfast table and chairs, as well as a very useful drying room, downstairs wc and basin.

Back door. Stairs from the dining hall access the three bedrooms.

The master to the front has fine views which you can admire whilst sitting up in your king-sized sleigh bed (new en-suite bath with shower over, basin and wc).

A second spacious bedroom is a super king zip link bed and one single bed.

The third bedroom is a smaller twin having use of the adjacent family bathroom (bath with shower over, basin and wc). Furnishings are very comfortable with a traditional feel and the house has fitted carpets throughout. Outside: Mature sloping gardens with pathways, steps and an elevated terraced lawn feature large rhododendrons, azaleas and towering firs, offering a riot of Spring colour.

Front patio area where you can relax on sunny days and admire the views.

Use of Victorian greenhouse with table tennis.

There is also a small seasonal stream serving a little pond that nestles below the rocky outcrop near the entrance.

Parking for two cars.

Pub and cafe half a mile.

Ambleside village 2 miles. Note:The property is fed by natural spring water.

Please note, no hen or stag parties allowed

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.

View on map

About the location

AMBLESIDE

Grasmere 4.4 miles; Windermere 4.7 miles; Keswick 16.7 miles.

Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips and watersports on Lake Windermere itself and numerous shops, restaurants and pubs in the village to suit all tastes. On the lakeside at Waterhead, the parkland offers lovely views down the lake and a short stretch of beach, whilst a walk in the other direction, following Stock Ghyll through woodland, will bring you to the entrancing waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force. Along with the Lake and the great walking on offer, Ambleside is also famous for its annual rushbearing ceremony and the diminutive 17th century “Bridge House” - one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District and now the National Trust Information Centre.

Please Note: This property takes a £250 refundable Good Housekeeping Bond

We are very conscious of the environmental impact and cost of heating at Brunt How. Heating is set at 20 for morning and evening, 18 during the day and 16 overnight. Whilst this is controlled remotely by the owner / Heart of the Lakes, guests can adjust the temperature using a pad on the wall. This lasts an hour, so for longer changes contact HOTL. The log burner in the sitting room makes this room very cosy.
If extensive increase is required to these temperatures or the property is heated above 21, an additional charge will be made of £30 per day. (Applicable November to March inclusive)
The heating system records the house temperature and temperature set. Please note that tampering with the system will result in forfeit of deposit.

Your selection:

Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Another fantastic holiday at Brunt How.”

“A lovely stay, made more enjoyable in 1 Brunt How!”

“A lovely stay in this beautiful house.”

“A wonderful character-full house with huge rooms and fantastic views from the sitting room and main bedroom.”

“This is an exceptional property.”

“Back at it again, another great stay at Brunt How.”

“This is a great home we have returned to many times now.”

“A wonderful two weeks spent in this superb house.”

“Brunt How is a nice early 1900s cottage rental in walking distance from the lovely and secluded Loughrigg Tarn.”

“A lovely property with spectacular views.”

“A beautiful home in an amazing location.”

“Overall a great property, the views are incredible!”

“A truly wonderful place to stay on our honeymoon.”

“Just got back from the most amazing week in the lakes.”

“Amazing property, stunning views, lovely garden, in all a very enjoyable weeks break,without sat nav directions not that easy,could also do with having 2keys for the house.”

“A very welcoming house!”

“Love the house!”

“This house is beautiful!”

“Lovely location and generally well appointed cottage.”

“Overall, a lovely property in a truly stunning setting.”

“Seven gentle spring days of low level walking and minimal driving in the magical Langdale landscape.”

“Wonderful house, superb large rooms and comfy beds.”

“House is amazing, garden sets it apart from other properties.”

“1 week in the Lake District.”

“Had a great stay at Brunt How.”

“I think that this property needs more investment to justify the price.”

“Such a well needed break in a beautiful location.”

“Fantastic property with stunning views.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

AMBLESIDE