Hart Head Barn, Rydal

Visited now many years it always feels like home from home

Hart Head Barn was just as described in the listing. Everywhere was clean and smelled fresh. The beds and linen were comfy and of good quality. A really good amount of matching glassware and plates in the kitchen. A beautifully furnished and decorated lounge. We very much enjoyed our short break, walking from the doorstep each day, enjoying wonderful views and good weather. Yes, the driveways are steep, but we had no problems going either up or down in a low slung sports car. Would we stay again? Yes, in a heartbeat.

Had a wonderful week at Hart Head Barn. Great location for walks from your doorstep. Great view from the large lounge window seats. Thanks to the owner who made contact with us to make us aware of the steep hill and driveway to get to the property.

Hart Head Barn was perfect for a family Christmas. The open fire and decorations were great. The kitchen was actually bigger than it looked in the Photos and was well equipped to cook Christmas dinner. It is a steep drivewalk up to the Barn but you dont really need to use the car as there are so many walks from the Barn.

What a beautiful house. The views from the living room are breathtaking and the windows seats were perfect for our morning coffee All the attention to detail didnt go unnoticed. The smell of the fresh bedding, wine on arrival and the place was spotless.. it very much appreciated. Location is perfect and you can walk into Ambleside 45 mins or take the bus from the bottom of the road. There is also a lovely local pub at the bottom of the hill thats worth a visit. There is a very steep hill up to the house but I would say it is worth it for the views. We will definitely return.

Loved this house. It's very nicely decorated and comfortable. Loved the extra touches like the shower gel, hand wash and body lotion. The 2 bottles of wine were appreciated. The location is amazing, right next door to wordsworth's house and the Coffin walk on the doorstep. The views from upstairs lounge are amazing. Local pub the Badgers bar ,just a short walk down the hill severed amazing food. It was our first visit to Lake district and we loved it

A great stay in a very comfortable cottage with a good layout, a relaxing feel and plenty of bathrooms! We loved it, and the location is also good overall. The only slight disadvantage is the two short but steep access slopes for nervous drivers andor those with limited mobility my elderly parents found them a challenge... but if this doesn't apply to your group we'd definitely recommend, with thanks to the owner for a lovely break.

A great stay in a very comfortable cottage with a good layout, a relaxing feel and plenty of bathrooms! We loved it, and the location is also good overall. The only slight disadvantage is the two short but steep access slopes for nervous drivers andor those with limited mobility my elderly parents found them a challenge... but if this doesn't apply to your group we'd definitely recommend, with thanks to the owner for a lovely break.

Superb cottage with an overall luxe feel and beautiful views. Really nice bathrooms and comfy beds. Well equipped kitchen. Great guides and suggestions. Excellent location for southern lakes and walks from the door. Hot tub was great. It is up two very steep slopes but parking not a problem. Is semi detached with a larger holiday property next door and you could hear some noise in the adjoining bedroom and in the garden. That property allows dogs. But we had no issues with the neighbours.

Perfect location, it feels like home from home, we have stayed twice & will book again.

A wonderful house in a perfect location at the foot of Nab Scar, the Fairfield Horseshoe and the Coffin Route The view from the living room is amazing!

A delightful property in a stunning location. This tastefully renovated house was beautifully dressed for Christmas, and provided a perfect setting for our family celebrations. The owner has shown great attention to detail in equipping this holiday home for extremely comfortable holiday stays.

Absolutely amazing cottage 2nd year being back and couldnt ask for any better we absolutely love it and hope to return next year. Everything is perfect and owner is really lovely and always has extra touches.

This was our second visit to your beautiful house and it didn't disappoint. We walked Loughrigg Fell, the coffin route and Alcock Tarn, Elterwater and Cathedral Caves and Skelwith Bridge to Elterwater. This place is perfect, and the hot tub is a great way to end a day of walking. We were lucky to see the northern lights put on a display on our last night. Thank you for such a fabulous base to enjoy this glorious part of the country that holds a very special place in our hearts. We visited a number of local restaurants and can recommend Matthew Bistro, The Badger Bar the Priest Hole and and the Swan for Sunday lunch.

We loved staying at Hart Head Barn it was wonderful. It's a very comfortable property, well equipped, super comfortable beds and loads of space to relax in the lounge which can be a challenge to find. The hot tub was a bonus. My sister and I enjoyed a long overdue catchup chatting and stargazing whilst the men in our lives relaxed in front of the TV. Just one thing really that would have made the experience perfect the mirror in the main bedroom is way too high up on the wall to use to drystyle your hair, put make up on etc not that we used much makeup!. There isn't a single mirror in the house where you can 'sit and style' apart from outside the bedroom in the hallway which isn't ideal. My sister and I took it in turns to sit on the floor. It's not a show stopper but would be a nice facility to have. Much as I loved the house, I'm still recovering from knee surgery following an accident in Dec 2022 and the walk back from the bus stop or the pub was an absolute killer for me. I dreaded it to be honest at the end of each day especially if you'd just had a nice relaxing meal to then have to 'climb a mountain' to get home was not how I wanted to end my evening. Personally, I also didn't like the access by car either it's way too steep for my comfort zone but I realise that this wouldn't faze most people and it's not something you can change of course. In summary, loved the house, loved the convenience, centrally located, loved the views from the property but didn't love the approach to the property and an accessible mirror would have been the icing on the cake. Thank you for contributing to a memorable stay, once again in the Lake District.

We had a wonderful stay, with every thing we could need provided in the wellappointed Hart Head Barn. The photos are very accurate to the excellent condition of the cottage. After each day of walking we truly enjoyed a soak in the hot tub. The location is a perfect blend of rural quiet and very small village convenience. In the mornings we enjoyed walking to the nearby cafe at Rydal Hall overlooking a cascading stream, and in the evenings the food and drink at The Badger Bar pub just steps away, There are great hikes right from the cottage try the loop around to see Rydal Cave, Rydal Water, and Grasmere, returning via the Coffin Road. Ambleside is just 5 minutes drive away. This is a superb base for a family or group in the central lakes.

Lovely cottage, excellently located for walks and things to do.

Hart Head Barn is a beautiful property in a stunning location. There is a gorgeous sitting room with views across to Lake Windermere. You can walk out from the house towards Grasmere and Ambleside. All the facilities are well maintained and the beds are very comfortable. The hot tub was just the icing on the cake! We had a wonderful holiday here.

WHAT A PLACE! Fell in love with it from the moment we arrived. Its a stunning property with every amenity you could ask for. The beds are very comfy and we both had great nights sleep. The property is very spacious and cosy at the same time! The lounge, one word WOW! Beautifully decorated, comfy sofas, great open fire and that view!!! We had the best week and didnt want to leave. The location is perfect, we walked everywhere and didnt use the car once. Special mention to the owner Jenny, nothing was too much trouble and answered the few queries we had. Weve stayed at many properties in The Lakes and this is the best one yet! A very special place and the perfect place to relax & unwind!

Great place. Beautiful location. Top notch fixtures and fittings. Everything you could possibly need for a comfortable stay. No need to use the car, lots of walking straight from the door. Bus stop close by and run every hour. Great hot tub!

This is around our 6th stay at Hart Head Barn and we were delighted with the refresh, which makes it feel even more cosy and sofas very comfortable. Not only do you have all the home comforts, good showers and a hot tub to soak in but there are multiple walks from the door without having to get into the car. This is definitely a house for all seasons with it's relaxing coal fire in the winter and patioarea tables in the summer. In terms of access to shops it is very close to both Grasmere and Ambleside and there are easy walks around Rydal and Grasmere as well the Coffin Trail on your doorstep and higher climbs if you want it. Totally recommend this holiday home, it never lets you down.

Weve stayed in this house a few times and absolutely love it and the location. Perfect for walks from the door and its a wellequipped, cosy house. Only minor issue was the security light at the front of the house didnt appear to be working so we had a rather dark arrival.

Just back from the most lovely week in the Lake District. First time staying in Hart Head Barn. We spent ages researching properties in the area. Our efforts paid off. Stunning barn. Interesting upside down house with gorgeous cozy lounge with stunning views. Well equipped kitchen with everything you could wish for. Beds comfy and snugly bed linen. Hot tub was a marvelous treat after long days walking in the fells. Highly recommend.

A lovely property, really well appointed. Plenty of beautiful walks available from the doorstep. We loved the hot tub, and the back yard was great with the little shelter for if it was drizzling, and a heater and light for the evenings. The driveway up to the house was very steep and could be a problem for some cars, and also we felt the house could use a thorough clean between lettings. We had a really nice holiday at Hart Head barn and would love to come back.

We had a lovely week at Hart Head Barn. We found the accommodation very comfortable, wellequipped and extremely spacious. The views from the sitting room are stunning even on a rainy day you can enjoy watching the trees and hills and the changing patterns of light above distant Windermere. It's great to be so near such a variety of good walks. We loved the Coffin route above Rydal Water, which is scenic but not too challenging. We also climbed Nab Scar, and from Ambleside up to Sweden Crag past the tumbling waterfalls. You could easily spend a week at Hart Head Barn without getting into the car! Having said that, it's only a short drive to Ambleside we visited the jazz club and cinema, and sat out in the sun at the Giggling Goose tearoom, and not too far to Keswick the Pencil Museum and Puzzling Place are great plus the peaceful and incredibly beautiful walks beside Derwent Water. The Lakeland Wildlife Park is also well worth a visit. The hot tub was an incredible luxury an invigorating and relaxing way to start the day or wind down in the evening. Wonderful to have the outdoor lights and heater too. A real bonus at the end of our stay was seeing a badger outside the Badger Bar, which was delightful. They put food out for them every evening. Thank you it was such a refreshing endofsummer break, and we hope to be back soon.

Great holiday house very comfortable and smart. Everything you need. Lovely lounge, very comfortable beds, great location not far from Ambleside. Badger Inn is walkable and serves good food.

Great stay in a well appointed and equipped cottage, everything we needed was at hand. The hot tub was also great after our long walks. We had the weather which also helped and enjoyed walking in to Ambleside for our evening meals. The suggestion list in the Cottage helped us find a few places to eat that we really enjoyed. Thanks.

We had a Fabulous stay in a lovely property which is beautifully furnished, clean and well equipped. This was our third visit and it gets better every year. Thank you

Lovely cottage, very comfortable, good facilities, in a lovely setting. Mentioning the steep hill to the cottage especially the final concrete dramp up to the cottage would have been good. The only thing we didn't like was the rather punitive tone of the instructions about how to use the hot tub. It was all so negative do this wrong and we'll charge you 100, make sure you have a shower first etc that we decided not to bother using the tub, which we had been looking forward to. Rewriting the instructions in a more positive and friendly way would be sensible.

We love our stay at Hart Head Barn. Its truly a home away from home. I cannnot fault the property it is perfect in every way. Theres everything you need for a wonderful, enjoyable and comfortable holiday. Kitchen is complete with everything you need to make a meal and more. The bedrooms are all very cosy and the bathrooms clean and warm. The cottage central heating is set so its warm every time we come home from our walks. The hot tub is a great bonus after a long day. I can only imagine how perfect it would be to stay in the summer with the outdoor bbq and lunch picnic area, the hot tub and the kitchen that opens up to the outdoor area. The lounge has everything you need to spend quality time with the family. The owner has really thought about everything you would want need for a lovely holiday. Complete witn fairy lights in the outdoor area for a star gazing night in the hot tub. The boot room with heating is so handy to dry our boots and coats after a wet day walking. And location wise this is perfect to walk everywhere around Rydal water, Loughrigg Fell, the Coffin Trail, and Grasmere and Ambleside. We did all the walks straight from the cottage and climbed the two fells nearby. We almost didnt use our car throughout our stay except for the day we went to Derwent water. It is ideally located next door but one to Rydal Hall and Rydal Mount which is loads to do there in itself . And you can walk to Grasmere for a days outt, and take the bus home so handy and no need to fight for parking. We just had a Perfect holiday in the Lakes, and thank you very much to Jenny for being the kindest host.

ThIs was our third visit to Hart Head Barn and we will rebook. Where to start, the location in the middle of Ambleside and Grassmere is perfect, and yet the property is privately located away from the hustle and bustle of town life. The views are amazing, and it's literally a few minutes walk part way through the coffin walk or down to Rydal water. The property is extremely well laid out , clean, comfortable, with all the extra thought put in to make it feel special. The beds are super comfy with quality bedding, the showers are hot and powerful, just what you need and the hot tub is private and wonderful after a.day walking. The kitchen is equipped with all that you need if you want to eat at home and the lounge is also super comfy. If you are looking for a comfortable , well located, gold standard rent , then this is it. I almost don't want to share this secret haven but that would not be fair. The property is located up a hill with ample parking which is great for views but a consideration of you have a disability .

Marvellous yet again lost count of our visits! Thank you to the owner for their attention to detail!

Enjoyed every minute of the stay at this lovely cottage the facilities are fantastic and it is in an ideal location to access all parts of the lakes a couple of small quibblessuggestions instructions on how to use the electric oven and dishwasher would be welcome as we don't have those at home so struggled to work out how they worked. Our car did slip a little, burning rubber in the process, on the two steep inclines leading up to the cottage when it was raining and the little lane that you turn left into needs some attention as there is a large pothole on the left hand edge. The hot tub was great and we used it every day but it seemed to murmur away quite often and start up at times when it was all covered over so we were not sure if we needed to twiddle some knobs or do something to shush it up. Spotted the all weather table tennis table in the next door garden and whished we had one to play with too. Wish I could repeat the holiday all over again and would happily return and may well do that next year.

The cottage is lovely, we had everything we needed to make our stay extremely comfortable. We were blessed with good weather and we're able to get out and enjoy the beautiful Lake District every day, but found plenty of board games available for rainy days, a lovely touch. This cottage is more suited to the fit and more able bodied, due to different levels within the house, steps down into the kitchen and the same in one of the bedrooms, as well as the steep access but otherwise I'd really recommend a stay here

Jenny was an amazing host and the property was beautiful. the surrounding area was amazing and it was a perfect setting for our first family holiday in 3 years. we will definitely come back

Enjoyed our stay, especially the hot tub during a very windy and wet week. The cottage is up a very steep road and drive which didn't worry us as we knew the terrain but may be a worry to others. It is warm, comfortable, well equipped and set in a lovely spot in Rydal with Rydal Hall and its waterfalls, and lovely walks straight from your doorstep, we also saw a red squirrel. Only issue was that we couldn't open and shut some doors and windows very easily but would happily stay again.

Coffee machine is needed

Our second visit to this wonderful barn and still as wonderful. Perfect location , clean, comfortable and a wonderful hot tub too finish off the days walking. Every little detail accounted for to make our stay one that wants us to come back again and again. Already booked for next year can't wait.