Overview
Town End Cottage is the country retreat of owners Daniel and Alyson. Set in the beautiful and popular village of Cartmel, about six miles south of Lake Windermere, Town End lies on the edge of the village overlooking a small green, a two minutes' walk from the village square where you will find a clutch of excellent inns, cafes and restaurants, including the two Michelin star awarded L'Enclume, along with a fine selection of shops. Closer by, set around the green, is The Pig & Whistle pub, a small grocer and a baker.
For me this cottage is just perfect for both families and couples, where I am sure you will enjoy the property as much as the village along with all the wider Lake District National Park has to offer.
The Living Spaces
Park up in the parking area in front of the garage and Studio Annex Suite and enter into The Cottage from the garden back door. You step into a small hall off which is the kitchen, a very useful large boot room with laundry facilities and a downstairs WC.
The kitchen is a good size, L shaped room, well equipped with shaker style painted units and includes a fine range cooker with double oven and gas hobs.
From the kitchen you go through to the central hall. The sitting room is to the front of the house. A bright sunny room it is decorated in muted colours and fabrics. The two plump sofas, along with the large floor cushions are perfect for relaxing, watch a block buster on the wide screen or gather together and play one of the many board games. Come autumn and winter, the room is given a nice cosy atmosphere by the gas log effect fire.
The dining room lies to the rear of the cottage, where French doors allow you to spill out into the garden. To one end is a fine hand painted dining table, perfect for long dinners into the night and romantic suppers.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Stairs from the main hall wind up to the three house bedrooms and the house bathroom. The master double has a comfortable French style king size bed. Delightfully furnished and decorated with calm colours, it lies at the front of the house where the sun streams through the two windows looking out to the little green.
The pink double lies at the back of the cottage, again with a French style double bed, complimentary furniture and a view down to the garden.
The twin is a small simple room, with double aspect windows to both the garden and little green, suitable for adults or children.
The house bathroom is all modern and sleek with floor to ceiling tiles, with a bath and overhead shower, basin and WC.
The Studio Annex Suite
Set above the garage, the Studio Annex Suite is my favourite, a wonderful modern space, set under a pitched ceiling and with views of Hampsfell.
Accessed by the side door of the garage the lower level has a small shower room with basin and WC. Stairs lead up and open into the large open plan space. To one end you have a sofa and armchair set around a coffee table along with a wide screen TV, to the other is the king size double bed.
Garden Spaces
The grounds wrap around the cottage, beginning with the garage and parking area. The garden is a happy mix of dry stone walling, lawn and stone flagged patio, along with raised beds, bursting with shrubs and small trees, giving colour from spring through to autumn and is perfect for grown-ups to relax and children to play.
Out & About
Possibly the most picture perfect places in the Lake District, Cartmel has grown into a chic little village, wrapped up in the most delightful architecture of traditional lime washed and stone built houses, shops and pubs.
Centred on the village square, overlooked by the huge Normal Priory, the village is a maze of little lanes and bridges crossing a sweet little river, cruised by fleets of ducks and swans.
For those who like to step out and wine and dine the village has much to offer. Home of the famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, it has moved up the gastronomic scale to become a place of pilgrimage for foodies and celebrities. A clutch of cafes compliment the four excellent pubs, with cherry on the Cartmel Cake, or should I say Pudding, being Simon Rogan's two establishments, Rogan & Company, an easy-going bistro and the famed two Michelin star awarded L'Enclume, voted the 2015 Good Food Guide's No1 UK restaurant.
There are plenty of easy walks from the village. A favourite is to climb high up onto Hampsfell with its panoramic views across the Morecambe Bay, then descend down to Grange Over Sands or explore the tracks running through Eggerslack Woods.
A great day out is to take a Segway off road tour. The offices are by the village car park and the reviews so far from our guest make this a must for a bit of fun.
Please note there is a refundable £200 security deposit for this property payable closer to the start of your holiday.