A family of four spent a week at 1 Cherry Tree Cottage near Millom, Cumbria, booking through Sykes Cottages, and found the property "amazing" despite crowded lakes and a deserted Barrow town centre.
Cottage exceeded expectations
The three-bedroom property felt huge for the family, with two sitting rooms, a spacious kitchen, a dining room, and three bedrooms, including a master bedroom with countryside views. The large sitting room offered the same panoramic views from leather sofas.
Inside, the cottage had central heating, wood-burning stoves, Wi-Fi, and a PlayStation. A welcome basket with wine and biscuits was waiting on arrival. The owners lived next door but left the family alone, though they were available if needed.
Barrow empty, Ulverston lively
A Sunday trip to Barrow was a mistake, the reviewer wrote, as the town was empty and shops were shut, with only two cars in the town centre car park. They quickly moved on to Ulverston, where they found signs of life and ate at The Sun Inn, which was under new management and offered decent pub food at a reasonable price.
Windermere and Coniston crowded
A visit to Lake Windermere at Fell Foot showed it was busier than St Tropez, so the family drove north to Ferry Nab Marina, where they enjoyed walking and paddling, and recommended Dan's Shack for coffee. Staff there said the previous Bank Holiday Monday was jammed. Coniston Water, once a quieter alternative, was also reported to be busy now.
The family also visited Haverigg beach, spending two days there despite never reaching the sea due to low tides, and Grizedale for the Room on the Broom trail, which was shaded by trees on the hottest day.
The roads around the lakes were scenic but twisty, which could be an issue for those prone to travel sickness. The reviewer concluded that a week only scratched the surface of what Windermere and its surrounds offer, and they plan to return north.
