Fair Rigg

4.4★

12 Guests
6 Bedrooms
5 Bathrooms
Pets No
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Sky TV
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

19 Customer Review(s)

Norman
May 2024

“Lovely cottage in a fantastic spot.”

Really enjoyed our stay

Really enjoyed our stay

- Norman, May 2024

Hi, we are so pleased you enjoyed your visit and all went well. We love Fair Rigg and are pleased we can let others enjoy all tt has to offer Property Owner
Andrew April 2024

“Another lovely extended family holiday stay, our third.”

We’re slowly getting used to the different ovens in the Aga. Special thanks go to Orion Property Services who answered our call at after 10pm when we had no hot water, we had a work around based on immersion heater override that worked, and they came the next morning and fixed it. Hope to be back again soon!

- Andrew, April 2024

Thank you for visiting once again, sorry you had an issue with hot water but now you know where the override is hopefully there would be no further issues Property Owner
Ben December 2023

“This was our second stay at Fair Rigg and it is a really lovely house with tasteful decor and a real home away from home feel.”

The house has been finished to a high standard and nothing beats sitting in the lounge with a coffee looking out at Windermere. All the bedrooms are comfortable with their own little personality. We stayed for Christmas and it was a lovely spot for us as a retreat over the festive period. The issue we have had with both stays at this property is a distinct lack of hot water (not enough for everyone to shower in the morning) and sporadic heating. It seemed to swing from one extreme to another, either extremely hot or no heating at all. Luckily it was very mild so didn’t cause much of an issue but still a bit frustrating to have the same issue 2 years on from our last stay. We would happily stay again, just with the hope we could ensure the hot water was better available throughout our stay. Definitely pop to Claife Viewing Station just a short stroll from the house and grab a coffee from Joey’s Cafe! They do great pasties and sausage rolls!

- Ben, December 2023
Richard August 2023

“Earlier this year we stayed at Fair Rigg for the third successive year but we will not be returning.”

As a premium property with a premium price it is only right to expect a corresponding level of customer service which this year was not the case. The general lack of cleanliness has been mentioned in other reviews and this year we saw it for ourselves (cobwebs on light fittings and an old newspaper and other bits under the sofa). But the main issue was a blocked shower drain that flooded making the shower unusable. Despite reporting this the owner made no attempt to fix the problem during our stay so bathroom facilities had to be shared. When we returned from holiday I took the matter up with the letting agents (Sykes) because I felt, not unreasonably, that compensation should be paid to us due to the loss of facilities. The owner refused to offer any compensation but did suggest a discount off a future stay at Fair Rigg. I declined this offer which I considered to be just a ploy to make us return. Sykes also refused to help saying they are only the booking agents. As renters we have to commit to a Housekeeping bond in case we don’t keep to our side of the contract yet this owner and, on this occasion Sykes, can get away with doing nothing when things go wrong. This is a very sad end to what had previously been some great family holidays at Fair Rigg.

- Richard, August 2023
Stephanie January 2023

“We stayed at Fair Rigg for 3 nights and we absolutely loved it.”

The house is amazing, very cosy, with an open fire and log burner.Beautiful grounds and a little tree swing which was great for us as we had a 7 and 4 year old with us. On arrival the property was very cold and we were unable to turn the heating up so had to contact maintenance who rang the owners. Thiss was rectified quickly and the house was lovely and warm after that. Just a couple of things that are not complaints but simply things to work on/think about. Check in is at 4pm and by the time we got in, read how to work the AGA and waited hours for it to heat up we were all very hungry and had to cook 8 pizzas in the combi oven which meant we could not all eat together. I would suggest someone turning the AGA on in the day so it is ready for arrivals at 4pm. Also, I noticed on previous comments they have mentioned the cobwebs. We found this had not be rectified and there were a lot of cobwebs especially on the lamps and the clock above the AGA looks like it’s never been cleaned, it was thick dust. However, the overall cleanliness was fine and we liked the decor. We have already recommended the house to friends and we are looking to book again for later in the year. Thanks.

- Stephanie, January 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Fair Rigg. We are sorry to hear of the issues that you experienced with the AGA, and we take all your comments on board regarding the cobwebs. We look forward to welcoming you back. Property Owner
Dean December 2022

“We had a fabulous stay in Far Sawrey at the Fair Rigg.”

From the moment we walked in, it felt like a real home from home. The only downside was, this was Christmas and we had to go about putting up our own decorations, even if a small Christmas tree had been provided, that would have been fine. Comfortably furnished and very well equipped, the open plan kitchen, diner and sitting area with wood stove was excellent. We spent some time working out the operation of the Aga but that added to the fun. Two further sitting rooms were available, with one being utilised for the Christmas tree and present opening on the day. All the bedrooms and bathrooms were comfortably furnished, just one minor "niggle" – the walk-in shower floors were very slippery, perhaps a mat or ‘grab handle’ would assist. The house was very warm and clean with only one spider to act as an annoying pet. We had good mobile reception in the house and the wi-fi worked very well. A short walk brings you to the Cuckoo Brow Inn, with good food and beer, and there are plenty of longer walks direct from the house leading up to Hawkshead or down to Windermere by the car ferry. Overall, a great venue, with wonderful views, and all interiors finished to a high standard, we would definitely visit again.

- Dean, December 2022
Andrew September 2022

“A lovely spacious house in a great position with beautiful views, as advertised.”

But when a house looks perfect, as the payer\organiser, one is drawn towards its few negatives. An Aga that tries to save energy is sensible, but not when it takes 3 hours to reach its full heat, which is a bit of a shock when you get back in after a walk and need to cook a meal for 10. The only alternative is to use the combi oven \ microwave; the house needs a dedicated microwave. Also the second fridge is outside in the outhouse, it is best to tell people that. There were cobwebs or dust webs in every room. Biggest shame was the absence of a clothes airer and a laundry basket; many of our walking clothes can’t be tumble dried and I wouldn’t try to dry clothes outside in the Lakes without a basket or pegs. I texted the caretaker number on the second day but got no reply. But I would still go back to Fair Rigg if some of these were addressed.

- Andrew, September 2022

Thank you very much for your comments and for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. Customer feedback is very important to help us continually improve our standards. The description has been amended re freezer and the AGA. Other points raised have been passed to the owner re cleanliness and other facilities at the property. Thank you once again for bringing this to our attention. We hope to see you again in the near future. The Lakelovers team Property Owner
Steve August 2022

“Our overall stay at Fair Rigg was, once again, fabulous.”

There was only one issue worthy of mention. We stayed at the property in August 2020 and on arrival then everything was absolutely spotless. However, this time, there were cleanliness issues in virtually every room. There were cobwebs everywhere and if you moved items in the house we often found pockets of dust. Apart from the above issue everything else was brilliant and just as we remembered 2 years ago. We most certainly would come back to Fair Rigg again.

- Steve, August 2022

We are so pleased you would consider visiting Fair Rigg agin, I can only apologise for the cobwebs! Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Thank you Property Owner
Richard August 2022

“Having enjoyed a fantastic family holiday at Fair Rigg in 2021 we decided to return this year.”

Ten people over 3 generations aged from 1 to 71 had another memorable holiday. Fair Rigg is an exceptional property in a peaceful location just minutes from the shores of Lake Windermere yet the shops, bars, restaurants and other holiday attractions in Bowness-on-Windermere are only a short walk, cycle or drive away via the ferry. Will we return next year? I'm not ruling it out!

- Richard, August 2022

We are so happy you enjoyed your stay at Fair Rigg, we hope to welcome you again in the future. Property Owner
Amit July 2022

“The aga is a great feature however for us not the most practical.”

- Amit, July 2022

Thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Fair Rigg. We will take a look at the instructions for the AGA to ensure that they are clear. We hope to welcome you back again. Property Owner
Elizabeth June 2022

“The house is beautiful and well situated.”

Although we had booked for 10 only 8 sets of towels were provided. We had to ring on Saturday morning to ask for a cafetière. In other cottages we have had ‘welcome packs’ with some basics in. There wasn’t one here and one with coffee pods would have been useful as a pod machine was provided.

- Elizabeth, June 2022

Thank you for your feedback and apologies there weren't enough towels. There should be 12 sets despite the number of guests. I will discuss with our management team. We always leave pods for the machine but haven't been there recently so other guests have clearly used and not replaced. We will look at ways to replenish. Property Owner
M April 2022

“Fair Rigg is a classy, spacious and well appointed property.”

The numerous bath/shower rooms and bedding combinations enabled my family, 6 adults 4 children, to fit in very comfortably. The kitchen facilities were excellent with every appliance and utensil that a modern kitchen may conceivably need - with many duplicated. A delightful garden led down to the quiet road which in turn gave easy access to paths to the lakeside a few minutes walk away.

- M, April 2022

We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay at Fair Rigg Property Owner
Ben December 2021

“Fair Rigg is a beautiful property and the owners have renovated to a high standard.”

Having visited The Lakes a number of times it was disappointing that some small details had been missed. This included not enough Prosecco glasses for the whole party (only 6 in the property for 10 guests) and no tea bags, salt, pepper or a few sachets of coffee to get us started on the first night. A little welcome pack with some of these items would have gone a long way for a property of this size when you have a larger number of guests. One final added extra would be some form of Christmas decoration for the festive period. Considering that the property is a premium let it would be nice to see this reflected with a simple tree or even a garland on the banister or over the sideboard. We really enjoyed our stay at Fair Rigg, especially evenings in the lounge on the big comfy sofas in front of the huge tv. We all commented on how comfy the beds were and using the aga on Christmas Day took all the usual stresses away with so many oven spaces to choose from. One day we had an issue with a lack of hot water when the baths were used and this meant cold water for the evening but didn’t seem to encounter this again on our stay. Perhaps, just bad timing. But if this is due to boiler timing it could be beneficial to mention in the house information folder. As reflected in the ratings above I think the house could benefit from a more thorough clean, especially the bathroom grouting (I cleaned this myself and it took seconds to do). It would really make all the difference for guests - especially during covid. We would stay at Fair Rigg again as we enjoyed the location and ability to head straight out the door for varied walks. There has clearly been lots of thought put into the renovation and it’s a beautiful home!

- Ben, December 2021

Thank you for all your comments, sorry there must have been recent breakages as the property did have plenty of champagne flutes when we last visited, we will ensure they are restocked. We have always been advised that decorations are a personal choice and so have taken the decision not to put them in the property. We are sorry the cleaning was inadequate and we will be discussing with the management team. The Owner. Property Owner
Andrew December 2021

“Loved the location and the property itself.”

Enough room for 10 people to easily feel comfortable and find their own space. Only small issue that we had was the batteries had run out on one of the TV remotes! Would look at booking again. Thanks for a great stay

- Andrew, December 2021

Thank you for taking the time to feedback after your recent stay. We are pleased to hear you had a great week and loved the property. Apologies regarding the batteries. The owner always try's to leave spares for customers to have as a back up but the stock must be out we will get the maintenance team to check these and re stock. We hope we can welcome you back again soon. Property Owner
Nigel October 2021

“We had a fabulous stay at Fair Rigg with my children and grand children.”

We will certainly be staying there again in the future. I only have one criticism - I called the management company 48 hours before arrival to ask if there was a high chair and cot and I was told there would be. On arrival I could not find either on an initial search of the property. I called the management company and they drove to Fair Rigg with a high chair and play pen! The management company then said to look in what I thought was a locked room (sticky door) on the ground floor - it contained a lovely wooden high chair and we eventually found the cot in the corner of a downstairs bedroom. To make life a little less stressful for guests requiring a high chair and cot I would suggest that the high chair is placed in the kitchen prior to arrival and the cot in a position where it can easily be found. Kind regards, Dr Nigel Burton

- Nigel, October 2021

Thank you very much for your comments Dr Burton and for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. Customer feedback is very important to help us continually improve our standards. Your comments have been forwarded to the Lakelovers housekeeping team to ask the cleaners to remember to leave the highchairs out for guests to use. Once again thank you for bringing this to our attention and we hope to see you again in the near future. Property Owner
Angrla October 2021

“Brilliant property with fantastic facilities and fabulous views.”

Only issue was the AGA, couldn’t cook on the first night as it took so long to heat up. The smaller electric cooker was just too small for a house sleeping 12.

- Angrla, October 2021

Thank you for taking the time to provide additional feedback following your stay. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the fabulous views the cottage has to offer and the facilities. We would like to offer our apologies as the Aga should have been ready for use on arrival. I have spoke to our cleaners about this error and will ensure there if no repeat of this for future guests. We do hope you had a wonderful time exploring the Lake District and hope to welcome you back in the not too distant future. Property Owner
Andrew June 2021

“A lovely house with great facilities, the electric oven was a god send.”

Super location. The bedroom directly at the bottom of the stairs had a slightly foisty smell - not sure why. The range cooker is a bit difficult to operate if you aren't used to them. Interesting to see the enormous hike in prices! Glad we booked when we did!

- Andrew, June 2021

Thank you for your feedback after your stay with us at Fair Rigg. We are so pleased that you found the property to be in an excellent location with great facilities. We really appreciate the positive comments. We are sorry to hear you had a few issues at Fair Rigg. The smell in the bedroom has now been investigated and a deep clean was carried out. Since then, there have been no other reports so thank you for bringing this to our attention. The owners will review the instructions for the Aga to make these clearer for future guests. With regards to the price, the rates were set at market value to reflect a major refurbishment undertaken at the property. The property is a far superior holiday home than it once was and we believe the new pricing reflects this. Once again, thank you for your comments and we hope you choose to stay with us again. Property Owner
Walker party Nov 2019

“Fair Rigg is pure comfort and luxury combined.”

Everything has been thoughtfully designed and included, from plush comfortable seating to the latest TV & sound technology. The kitchen is the heart of the property with its beautiful aga warning the space while family and friends eat and play games at the dining table and granny & grandad relax in the comfortable snug. Upstairs and downstairs the beds and bedrooms are five star plus, luxury - you'd struggle to have a better nights sleep and to find better views to wake up to. The new patio area is perfect for alfresco dining whilst enjoying the sound of the babbling stream and enjoying watching the boats sail by on lake Windermere. It is by far my favourite retreat and the renovations have surpassed all expectations. We'll definitely be back. Thank you Fair Rigg.

- Walker party, Nov 2019
Morgan party Oct 2019

“We recently had a brilliant stay in Fair Rigg.”

The house is beautiful and so well equipped with everything we needed. The newly renovated kitchen was incredible, with so much room making it the social hub of the house. It also has a great range of utensils and has a nice warm aga to help warm us up after a trip to the lake! The bedrooms are so comfortable and spacious and each with their own bathroom with plenty of hot water. Our group especially enjoyed the big TVs to watch the rugby World Cup too! Thank you for such a lovely stay, very excited to return at some point.

- Morgan party, Oct 2019

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Summary

Set over three floors
Six bedrooms: 1 x ground floor super king-size bedroom with en-suite shower room with basin and WC, 1 x ground floor king-size bedroom with en-suite wet room with shower, basin and WC (and patio doors to garden), 1 x first floor super king-size bedroom with en-suite with bath, seperate shower, basin and WC, 1 x first floor king-size bedroom with en-suite shower room with basin and WC, 1 x super king-size bed (with en-suite bathroom with bath, seperate shower, basin and WC) leading to 1 x twin room (with 2ft 6 single beds, ideal for children)
Open plan living area with kitchen, dining area for 6 people and sitting area with woodburning stove
Formal sitting room
Seperate snug sitting room with open fire.
Oil central heating with underfloor heating to kitchen and all en-suite bathrooms, and woodburning stove and open fire
Electric 5 oven AGA with two hotplates, combination microwave/oven, 2 x fridge/freezer (second freezer located in the outhouse), washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, Nespresso coffee machine (will take the majority of pods), ice maker, Smart TVs with basic Sky package, WiFi
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot and highchair available
Off road parking for 4 cars
Secure storage
Extensive lawned garden with patios, sun terrace and furniture (care required with small children near the shallow stream)
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Pub 12 mins walk
Shop 3.5 miles.

The property

We are delighted to welcome Fair Rigg back to the rental market following significant upgrades to the décor, furnishings and layout of the property both inside and out.

Fair Rigg is an outstanding detached Gold Star Lakeland residence with breath-taking views over Lake Windermere and the surrounding area.

The shores of Lake Windermere are but a few minutes stroll away, with direct access to the water, perfect for canoeing or a host of waterborne activities.

There is vehicular access to the edge of the lake too, with free parking on the road running along the lakeshore below the property.

This charismatic property provides a unique retreat no matter how active, relaxed or sophisticated your gathering. The five scenic bedroom suites are so special they're individually named: Bowness, Windermere, Claife, Sawrey and Beckside.

You only need stock up the kitchen (Tesco offer the best delivery options for the area) and you'll enjoy endless quality time right here in the house; cook up a storm on the Aga and relax by the log burner, unwind in the snug with open fire, chill in the living room admiring the view through the bay window or catching up on the latest sporting events or films on the large screen TV with full Sky package, or escape to the gorgeous furnished gardens.

Plan your days from the property, yet don't forget how close Lake Windermere is. == Accommodation in detail Fair Rigg is arranged over three floors.

Stained glass decorates the entry to the hall, with a boot room and ample storage for walking boots and outdoor wear, with a separate cloakroom.

Superb living room with bay window with unrivalled views of the lake, comfortable furnishings, large screen TV.

The ‘Snug' is a second quieter living room with comfortable chairs and tables to work or play games, there’s an open fire and further views of lake Windermere and access to the extensive furnished patio, with relaxing lake views.

The new kitchen/living room has a state of the art, 5 oven total Control electric AGA with 2 traditional AGA hotplates and additional easy control electric hob, there’s a large dining table, log burner and comfortable seating area with TV, patio doors lead out to the patio area to the side of the property.

The bedrooms are found on the lower ground and first floors of the property.

Downstairs you will find ‘Bowness’, a super king bedroom with en-suite shower room and ‘Sawrey’, a new king size bedroom, with en-suite wet room, this room has patio doors leading out to the gardens at the front of the property.

Both downstairs rooms have amazing views over the lake below.

Upstairs you will find 'Windermere' a super king bedroom with an en-suite containing both a bath and walk-in shower, unsurprisingly this room enjoys the best views of Lake Windermere.

'Claife' is a king size bedroom with en-suite shower room and views of both the lake and Claife Heights where deer can often be seen grazing in the fields.

'Beckside' is an ideal family suite with an en-suite bathroom containing both a bath and walk-in shower, the main room is super king with an adjoining twin room annex (the single beds are a standard 2 foot 6, ideal for children.

Had these been 3 foot,the property would have easily achieved a Visit England 5* Gold rating) .

There is ample parking on the gated drive for a number of vehicles and external storage for bikes, dinghies, canoes etc. Location A luxury Lake District holiday home won't always be found in such a fabulous location.

This large property with views overlooking Lake Windermere, and only a short walk down the lane, to the shores of Lake Windermere or the passenger and car ferry taking you across to the more lively side of the lake, providing access to shops, restaurants, hire boats and Lake District family attractions in Bowness - including the Royalty Cinema, Old Laundry Theatre and the famous World of Beatrix Potter attraction.

(Please check the times of return ferries). The Cuckoo Brow is the nearest country pub offering great food and can be reached by taking the footpath just above the house.

It’s advisable to book, as all food is homemade and produced to order. The ferry (both car and passenger ferries – please check timetables) is a short stroll away and it’s worth paying a visit to the Claife viewing station en route which offers breath-taking views along the lake.

There are lovely walks along the lakeshore in both directions.

Wray Castle is a popular destination. Beatrix Potter's footsteps can be traced right from the doorstep of Fair Rigg, in this prime location for walking and exploring.

The close-by hamlet of Near Sawrey was the author's home, and her traditional Lakeland cottage can be visited at Hill Top.

Esthwaite Water is a must-see during your stay; declared by Beatrix Potter as 'the most beautiful of lakes'.

Moss Eccles tarn was another of her favourite places and it’s a lovely walk over Claife Heights.

Near Sawrey's Tower Bank Arms is a renowned Lake District country pub and featured in Beatrix Potter's books. Hawkshead village is also only a short drive away.

With its car-free cobbled streets, local shops, tea rooms and tempting delicatessens you'll find a leisurely day is well spent.

Drive a little further and you'll reach Ambleside; a cosmopolitan Lake District village with sophisticated shops, cafes and acclaimed Lake District restaurants such as The Glass House.

From Ambleside, you can also stroll to Waterhead Pier to take a cruise on Lake Windermere or follow the A591 to Rydal Water and historic Grasmere.

Please note there is an open access to a very shallow stream from the outside seating area, please take care with young children.

Please note the AGA cooker takes approx 30 mins or so to heat up

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £500.

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About the location

SAWREY

Hawkshead 2 miles.

The village of Sawrey is situated two miles from Hawkshead down the eastern side of Esthwaite Water, overlooked by the woods and tarns of Claife Heights. Sawrey consists of two separate hamlets - Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey - both with a cluster of picturesque cottages, tea rooms and pubs. Near Sawrey is famous for Hill Top, the 17th century farmhouse where Beatrix Potter wrote her acclaimed children's stories. Now a museum, owned and run by the National Trust, Hill Top is one of the most visited houses in the Lake District. Far Sawrey is the hamlet furthest away from Hawkshead and the nearest to the ferry point on Windermere. It offers a church and pub/restaurant with a beer garden. There are good walks in the area, including those to Claife Heights and in Grizedale Forest. It's also a great base for enjoying a wide variety of typical Lakeland pursuits - with watersports close at hand on Lake Windermere, fishing on nearby Esthwaite Water and, of course, fell walking.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Hawkshead, Cumbria & The Lake District (Ref. 1041802)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Lovely cottage in a fantastic spot.”

“Another lovely extended family holiday stay, our third.”

“This was our second stay at Fair Rigg and it is a really lovely house with tasteful decor and a real home away from home feel.”

“Earlier this year we stayed at Fair Rigg for the third successive year but we will not be returning.”

“We stayed at Fair Rigg for 3 nights and we absolutely loved it.”

“We had a fabulous stay in Far Sawrey at the Fair Rigg.”

“A lovely spacious house in a great position with beautiful views, as advertised.”

“Our overall stay at Fair Rigg was, once again, fabulous.”

“Having enjoyed a fantastic family holiday at Fair Rigg in 2021 we decided to return this year.”

“The aga is a great feature however for us not the most practical.”

“The house is beautiful and well situated.”

“Fair Rigg is a classy, spacious and well appointed property.”

“Fair Rigg is a beautiful property and the owners have renovated to a high standard.”

“Loved the location and the property itself.”

“We had a fabulous stay at Fair Rigg with my children and grand children.”

“Brilliant property with fantastic facilities and fabulous views.”

“A lovely house with great facilities, the electric oven was a god send.”

“Fair Rigg is pure comfort and luxury combined.”

“We recently had a brilliant stay in Fair Rigg.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

SAWREY