Pengennett - Capplerigg - Kentmere - Kentmere Valley

Pengennett - Capplerigg
Kentmere - Kentmere Valley

Pengennett - Capplerigg | Kentmere - Kentmere Valley

Sleeps 2 | Friday Changeover | No Pets | VE 4 Star Gold Award
Please Note Property Not Suited For Children Or Babies

See Also - The Mews - Capplerigg

Pengennett

This beautiful, traditional lakeland country house is set against a backdrop of high fell, at the far head of the Kentmere Valley.Running 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 setting is idyllic, with views down the valley that hold your gaze, and gardens that meander, exploding with colour during spring and summer. It is easy to see why many guests refuse to venture out, but simply stay and relax in and around the house.

Capplerigg has been roughly divided into two separate accommodations, with some areas left for the owners private use, and offers its guests a choice between The Mews and Pengennett, each a perfect and quiet retreat for couples.

The house has been roughly divided into two separate accommodations, with some areas left for the owners private use, and offers its guests a choice between Pengennett and The Mews, each a perfect and quite retreat for couples.

The house is approached by a sweeping drive, where you enter Pengennett from the south wing private entrance.You step into a large lobby, off which is the old dairy, with its slate shelving and stone floors, perfect for storing all your provisions, boots and bits.

The main living space is one large room. Here you have a comfy, high backed sofa and arm chair, a dining table, an eclectic mix of ornament and soft lighting, all centered on the AGA cooker and with views out to the garden and valley.

From the main area you go through to a grand hall and staircase to the upper floor. Here is the large and beautifully furnished double bedroom, with views out to the valley. Fine furniture and a huge king sized brass bed, along with delightful decor will ensure the sweetest of dreams.

The bathroom is pure luxury. Large, spacious and beautifully fitted and furnished, here you can truly relax and soak in a bubble heaven after a day on the fells. Adjoining the main bathroom is a separate shower room, so need for a queue!

The grounds are extensive and quite stunning with plenty to share, where you can dine on the terrace overlooking the valley, or wander off on to grassy banks and find a shady spot to relax.

Both The Mews and Pengennett are two of my favorite properties, offering comfort, a warm welcome and true retreat to relax and revive.

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 splendidcollection 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

http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/travel/Lake-District-cottages/gallery

"Clare, Thanks for the tips. We loved the cottage and had a marvellous mellow time in the area. I am recomending the place to everyone I know!"

Yours, Gerard

"A beautiful house ina stunning location. The perfect place for a wonderfully relaxing holiday."
Justin & Tamzin, Oxfordshire.

"We have just had the best week, its been amazing! The Vally is beautiful and peceful just like the house. Please sell it to us when you are ready!!"
Jakie & Mark, Sheffield.

"We have had such a lovely time in this beautiful house in such brilliant surroundings. The ideal place to start marriage."
Nick & Jenny, Leyland.

"Peace and tranquility, incredible views. We have had a lovely time in this house, thank you!"
Nick & Maria, Bristol.

"What an exquisite corner of the world, thank you for sharing it with us."
Bev & steve.

"A wonderful week of walking, fishing in the tarn and hourse riding all with the thought of coming back to this superb house."
Simon & Becky, Somerset.

"It has been a lovely break away from the busy city life. We both love this cosy cottage. All the little touches in each room has made this place very special, The view from the back garden is our favourite of all."
Iris & Andy, Lincolnshire.

"It was a joy to walk into this exquisite place the first night of our arrival, and the joy hasnt left us for one moment! this ius a deeply peaceful place created with such thought to detail. Ones eye is forever drawn to something beautiful, and as for the garden....!!"
C&J, London.

"We are so sad to be leaving. Its been a wonderful week of relaxation. We loved waking up to the deer in the garden!"
Nicola & Matt, Bristol.

"A charming cottage set amongst a truly picturesque landscape. This certainly is the scene to romance the soul!"
R & M, London.

"This house is perfect in every way!"
Tom & Julia, Cambridge.

"This home has a majical touch that makes it a special place in every detail."
Amilia & pablo, Spain.

"A little bit of heaven on earth! We have delighted in each room and the treasures they unfold..."
Dawn & John.

"Where to begin?! Words seem to fail me. I saw this beautiful house on the internet and fell in love with it and then the love of my life booked it for my birthday. The cottage, the views, the tranquility. My slice of heaven wrapped in green velvet."
Fiona & Martin, Norkolk.