Shepherds Nook - Kentmere - Kentmere Valley

Shepherds Nook
Kentmere - Kentmere Valley

Shepherds Nook | Kentmere - Kentmere Valley

Sleeps 2 | Saturday Changeover | No Pets | VE 3 Star
Please Note Property Not Suited For Children Or Babies

Shepherds Nook

If your idea of the perfect Lake District holiday is to have a true retreat set against a backdrop of high fell, then Shepherds Nook in the Kentmere Valley may well be for you. The setting is idyllic, with views down the valley that hold your gaze, and it is easy to see why many guests choose not to venture out, but simply stay and relax in and around the cottage, taking one of the trails from the doorstep.

Shepherds Nook adjoins Nook House. You enter into a small kitchen area, all very nicely furnished and equipped.

From here you step into your main living area. A very cosy space, with sofa and armchair, dining table, small flat screen TV and the main point of focus, the AGA, on which to rustle up your favourite recipe and warm your toes in winter. With quite the best unspoiled views, all you need do is add a little candle light and you have the perfect romantic retreat to relax after a day exploring the surrounding fells and trails.

Upstairs is the bedroom, with a big plump double bed, sofa and TV. Finally you have the shower room with shower, basin and WC.

With the views, the cosy comfort and superb walking all around, this little cottage will make a perfect romantic retreat for for couples seeking something a little different and a little special.

The Location

The Kentmere valley runs north from the village of Staveley, parallel to the Troutbeck valley. It is a most protected and unspoiled area of natural beauty, and though popular with true walkers, remains peaceful. The river Kent flows through the valley floor with fells rising up from either side. At the head of the valley is the hamlet of Kentmere with track that lead to a splendid collection of mountain tops including Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick, High Street, Mardale Ill Bell and Harter Fell and form the Kentmere Horseshoe. For the very hardy you can walk al the way to Hawswater, one the most remote of the lakes.

At the mouth of the valley, about three miles from the cottage is the village of Staveley. The houses and buildings are typical lakeland stone built and are nestled between the Rivers Kent and Gowan. At the heart of the village is St James church built in 1865 and shows off a stained glass east window designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and made by William Morris and Co. The original church was St Margaret's, built in 1388 where today only the tower remains.

There are plenty of shops and a few inns, the best the Eagle and Child, serving decent food and beer. At The Mill yard you will find a host of retail shops and businesses. Here there is Wheelbase a huge cycle company for top end bikes and hire bikes. Artesian shops include More Bakery, The Hawskhead Brewery, Starlys Spice Company and Fairground Coffee. Hawkshead Brewery have a super modern Beer Hall where you can relax and sample their excellent beers along with a plate of tapas. Wilf's Cafe is an old and popular favourite where you will find good food, along with art exhibitions. Mainly a day time affair, Wilf's do have speciality evenings and well worth checking out their notice board or website.

From Staveley you head on into the lakes where a three mile drive brings you to the linked towns of Bowness and Windermere set on east of Lake Windermere, where Bowness is at the waters edge, with the town of Windermere set about a half mile away above the lake.

Each is a busy community of shops, cafes, restaurants and attractions, serving both the local community and our visitors to the Lake District. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the bay at Bowness, a sweeping crescent of waterfront and adjoining parkland, where you can enjoy a walk by the shore or find a quite place to picnic. At the bay you will find the piers and the famous Windermere steamers, which offer boat trips up and down the ten - mile reach of the lake. Here you can also hire rowing boats and motor powered boats, which can be taken by the hour to explore the lake and it islands for yourself.

Other popular attractions are the World of Beatrix Potter, the Windermere Steam Boat Museum and a little south of Bowness the Blackwell Arts and Crafts house, one of the most important surviving houses from the turn of the 20th century. The house is a superb example of the Arts and Crafts movement architecture, where it occupies a stunning position overlooking Windermere and is open to the public as a gallery for craft and applied arts. North of Windermere is Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Center. Set on the lakeshores the main house is surrounded by beautiful gardens where you will find a huge adventure playground, café, shop and exhibitions along with a host of information about the National Park.

For visual entertainment you have the Royalty Cinema in Windermere, and the Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness, staging a lively annual season of music, theatre, comedy and film.

There are plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants, where for me the best is by far Jericho’s in Windermere. Owned and run by Jo and Chris Blaydes, the welcome is always warm, the setting perfect and the cuisine delicious. For a good country pub atmosphere there is the Queens Head at Troutbeck, about 2 miles from the main village the inn offers fine beers, good food and roaring fires in winter months.

From Windermere the road leads on into the heart of South Lakes where you have Ambleside at the northern head of the lake, Rydal Water a little further on, and to the west Coniston Water, perhaps the most friendly of the large lakes.

Last but not least head east a few miles to Kendal, south lakes main town, offering a variety of good shopping with stores, supermarkets and farmers markets, along with dining and a good cultural scene with art galleries, theatre and cinema all adding up for a good day out.

Guest Reviews

"We've had a fantastic week at Shepherds's Nook. Walked every day from the door and enjoyed the views and the changeable weather - snow and sunshine. We felt instantly at home. Also thank you to Annis and our neighbour for a warm welcome."
Bev and Si - Manchester

"Fantastic cottage, Fantastic area, Fantastic weather, Fantastic holiday! Such a lovely cottage, couldn't have been better - especially the AGA of course! Many thanks - we'll be back."
Neil & Rachel - East Yorkshire

"The perfect place to spend our honeymoon! I now want an AGA of my own! The cottage and views where perfect in every way. Thanks."
Rich & Kate - Bath, Somerset

"Great location for walking & wildlife. Lovely cosy rooms always warm & dry - very useful for the Lakes in October! Had a lovely quiet relaxing break."
Jonny & Adele - Leeds

"Thank you Annis for a wonderful cottage, everything we wanted and more. Will definitely be back."
Michael & Colette - Jarrow

"Fantastic week in little snug cottage. Fantastic views, lots of walking - Kentmere round recommended. Eagle & Child pub in Staveley excellent food although difficult to drag ourselves away from the AGA."
Jennie & Robin - Islington

"Lovely to arrive at such a cosy haven after a fraught trip on the main roads. The 4 mile moonlight walk to the Eagle & Child on New Years Eve well worth it! A beautiful retreat - will recommend to others."
Richard & Rachel - Leeds

"Have been coming to the lakes for about 20 years, this is one one of our top five places to stay, weather great, cottage great, Kentmere great we will come again for sure."
June & Alan - Fillangley

"The cottage and scenery was spot on and we loved the fact we could get up and go for the most amazing walks without getting out of the car."
Jennie & Steven - Bucks