Overview
Dating back to the late 1700's, Summer Hill is a beautiful Grade II listed country house of classical Georgian design, set in extensive, landscaped gardens, with sweeping lawns and an ornamental fountain.
A much-loved private family home for over 200 years, the present owners, Brian and Rosemary, have carried out an exciting re-creation of the property, changing it into five super, privately owned apartments, retaining the grandness of the period architecture, but adding a contemporary modern twist to the project. This apartment is beautifully and thoughtfully put together reflecting the Visit England 5 Star Gold Award.
The house is tucked away on a gentle hill above Spark Bridge, just below Coniston Water. The location gives you easy access to the lakes and mountains lying to the north, along with the Grizedale Forest. To the south lies the Cartmel Peninsula with its pretty villages and rugged coastline of the Morecambe Bay, and east is Newby Bridge at the foot of Lake Windermere.
Apartment 4 occupies the upper floor, where from the outside front elevation, the three windows seen above the original grand entrance door, form the main living space.
Living Spaces
Access to the apartment is from the lower side entrance, where a communal grand staircase takes you up three levels, past gorgeous tall windows affording picture perfect views and on up to the top floor landing with is niche flanked by two grand fluted columns.
Enter into the hallway with its skylight allowing light to flood in and walk through to the main living space. Open plan, you have to one end a super modern kitchen and dining area offering all mod cons for easy living.
To the other end is the sitting room area, with a huge contemporary sofa and two armchairs, perfect to sit back and relax. The windows are filled with views of the grounds, and from the side elevation there is a wonderful view across to the Morecambe Bay and the distant Arnside fells.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Off the entrance hall are the two bedrooms. Both are large elegant rooms, comfortable in their furnishings and both with king sized beds. Bedroom one with views out to the main lawn and the bay, has an en-suite bathroom along with a huge shower cubicle, WC and basin. Whereas bedroom two with garden views, has a super en-suite shower room with WC and hand basin.
Garden Spaces
Outside each apartment has its own allocated private garden space, where the rest of the extensive grounds are there for all to enjoy.
In Summation - Summer Hill will afford guests a perfect holiday base or a super romantic retreat for weekends, anniversaries and honeymoons, where the local area gives you much to see and do, along with ease of exploring the wider Lake District National Park and its sublime landscape.
Out & About
The landscape is the backdrop for Arthur Ransome's famous children's novels, the Swallows and Amazon adventures, and is perfect for walking and cycling.
Spark Bridge lies west of Lake Windermere in the Crake Valley. To the north you have the Furness Fells which encompass the might Grizedale Forest with is many trails and forest art, along with Coniston Water, one of my favourite lakes, and the Coniston mountain range, dominated by the mighty Old Man overshadowing Coniston's village at the head of the lake.
A short walk from the apartment brings you to the Farmers Arms at Spark Bridge, a great old pub with friendly staff, or the Royal Oak for local ales and food. For variety, the Red Lion Inn lies a little further away at Lowick Bridge, again serving good local ales and hearty pub food, and visitors are welcome to join in the pubs events such as the weekly quiz nights - all great fun.
South you have the Cartmel Peninsula and the Morecambe Bay. As grand as any of the lakes, the bay offers walks out along the shoreline, giving you miles of silver sands, rocky bays to explore, and the wonder of the tidal bore, which rushes in twice daily.
On the peninsular are two delightful villages. Grange over Sands overlooks the bay and offers plenty of good local shops. Over the fell lies Cartmel, one of the prettiest villages in the lakes. A huge priory sits at is centre, where little streets radiate off the village square. As well as being famed for its architecture, the village has become a haven for great cuisine, with four pubs, and Simon Rogan's two establishments, Rogan and Company, a easy bistro style venue, and his world famous L'Enclume with its Michelin Star and voted the Good Food Guides number one restaurant for 2014.
To the west lies Ulverston, on the Furness peninsula. A pretty town with a maze of cobbled streets, alleys and ginnels it offers plenty of shops and cafes along with excellent pubs and restaurants and, on the edge of town, is Booths supermarket.
The town is most famous as the birthplace of Stan Laurel, but also for its festivals. There are festivals for walking, music, egg rolling, flag day and, perhaps most spectacular, the Lantern Festival to list but a few and it is worth checking what's on and when with the Tourist Information Centre. Along with the festivals the arts play a big part in the life of Ulverston, where there is a good cinema and the ‘Coronation Hall’, a fine theatre, offering plays, music and opera.
Just east is Newby Bridge at the foot of Windermere. Some excellent inns are to be found along with the Steamboat terminal at Lakeside offering trips up and down the lake.
Just above Newby Bridge, at Finsthwaite, is a fairly little know walk around the two waters of High and Low Dam. Easy to access they make for a perfect easy short walk, with time for a leisurely picnic by the water's edge.
North and to the Coniston fells. Bethacar Moor is crisscrossed with tracks and pathways, rewarding you with bracing walks and fine views. At the foot of Coniston you can explore the shoreline with its little bays, and running west from the lake lies the Grizedale Forest.
Coniston village sits at the head of the lake, sheltered in the lea of the Coniston mountain range. Radiating from the stone bridge, spanning Church Beck, the four main streets are a bustling community with a fine church, shops, a post office, cafes, a local brewery, and five good pubs.
This is a village with much to do, the location perfect for outdoor pursuits. Climbing, walking, cycling and water sport holidays are just some of the activities on offer. On all points of the compass there are trails, leafy forest paths, tracks and lake shores to explore, and you need travel very little to find a new and exciting landscape.
Please note there is a refundable £150 security deposit for this property payable closer to the start of your holiday.