PuddleduckCott - quirky, quiet village, ducks &pub

*Noon checkout Sundays after 2 night wend *No charge for a dog Switch off, relax & unwind in quiet Bassenthwaite village with stream, walks for all abilities from the door, in peaceful valley between lake & Skiddaw mountain, 15 mins from popular market town Keswick - Enjoy chunky wood beams, mountain views, our puddle ducks, village pub - If you want the quieter lakes & villages or the busier locations, all within easy reach - Hosted by local family with great guest reviews for many years The space Ideal getaway where you can walk, climb, sightsee or just chill out in winter, or by the stream in summer. In the heart of Bassenthwaite Village, a small hamlet 15 mins drive from Keswick. Recharge your batteries here! Lovely walks for all abilities from the door down country lanes and (bucket fulls of fresh air) including to Bassenthwaite Lake, Dash Waterfalls or climb Skiddaw mountain behind us or some of Wainwrights other northern fells. All of the Lake district within easy reach. On a clear night, see the stars and moon shining with our dark skies. Enter Rebecca Puddle Duck Cottage, this quirky reverse-style barn conversion at ground level where there is a spacious double-bedroom with a view over the village rooftops to Skiddaw Mountain in the distance - 4th highest in the Lake District. Space for a cot if required. Upstairs is open plan living space with lovely chunky wood beams throughout. On the right there is a dining area with a window with views to the Skiddaw mountain range over the village rooftops. The dining area leads to a lounge area with wood fire effect electric stove, comfy armchair, chaise sofa, TV and DVD player and DVDs and lots of books and leaflets of walks and things to do. The lounge window has views to mountain tops in the distance. On the left hand side of the open plan upstairs area is the kitchen which leads to the door to the full, separate bathroom with shower over the bath. Note, due to the oak beams, tall guests will need to duck slightly when entering the dining/living area. Situated next to the farmyard of this sheep farm (most of our farming now takes place elsewhere in the village), this property is in the courtyard next to the farmhouse where we live and 2 other cottages. Guests enjoy watching the puddle ducks waddle through the yard to & from the stream, or just relax by the stream with a book or a drink and watch the world go by in the public seating by the stream. The village pub, Sun Inn Bassenthwaite is only 2 minutes stroll along the stream (booking essential esp at weekends and school holidays). The lakes of Loweswater, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Ennerdale, Grasmere and Rydal, Thirlmere, Ullswater and Windermere are between 25-40 mins drive (depending on traffic), as well as the closer lakes of Bassenthwaite (5 mins) and Keswick/Derwentwater (15 mins). Plenty to do and many places to eat nearby in this quieter part of the Lake District, avoiding the towns and busier villages in the Lakes if you prefer. As well as Keswick and its lake Derwentwater, the following are within 5-20 mins drive: several nearby village pubs and restaurants, refurbished Bassenthwaite Lake Station where you can breakfast, lunch or snack on the grand train from the Orient Express film, the 'locals' town of Cockermouth with many independent shops, the award winning Armathwaite Hall spa, the Lake District Wildlife Park, most of Wainwrights northern fells, Dodd Wood mountain forest and cafe, Mirehouse country house (check opening times), grounds and adventure playground, the ancient church of St Bega on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake (always check opening days/times of places). The castle city of Carlise, Hadrian's Wall, and the Solway coast ideal for dog walking, bird watching or having a picnic, are 30 - 60 mins drive. Guest access Guests will have total private use of the property though note the exterior entrance porch before entering the property is shared with access to the laundry room which is closed 9pm to 9am to protect you from any noise and the owner and it is generally very quiet. Situated next to the farmyard of this former sheep farm, this cottage is in the courtyard next to the farmhouse (where we live) and 2 other cottages where our puddle ducks pass through. The stream, which is a minute from the cottage is public ground, but fairly quiet. The courtyard for parking and access is used by me and guests from 2 other cottages. There is parking for one space next to the cottage and another car can be accommodated in the former farm yard or barn - please let me know in advance if you're bringing two cars. Other things to note We know many dogs 🐕 like a holiday too and we welcome 1 dog provided you follow our doggy rules for the benefit of all guests. Your dog: - is clean when entering the cottage (bringing an old towel for muddy paws 🐾 is ideal) - preferably sleeps in a crate or you bring the dog’s bed, doesn't go on the furniture and isn't left in the cottage alone - gets on well with other dogs and is mainly on a lead 🐕‍🦺 when in the courtyard and parking area outside the property due to our free range ducks and other guests and their dogs If you have any queries, let us know. If you want to bring a pet other than a dog, please enquire and agree with us before booking. Towels, sheets, tea towels, initial toilet rolls provided. Central laundry room with washing machines and dryers shared with the other guests is available at a small additional charge next to the cottage. No shop in the village - Many guests order an online shop from Tesco, Sainsburys or Asda or click and collect available from Booths in Keswick. In Cockermouth, 15-20 mins drive, there is a Sainsburys, Aldi and Lidl. In Keswick, there is Booths (like Waitrose of the North!) and a medium-sized Co-op. Only the final 1/4 mile of the journey is on a country lane, so we're easy to access even in winter. Charging of electric vehicles from the cottage is not allowed. Sunday check out after a 2 night weekend is 12 noon. For other stays it is 10am. Check in is between 4 and ideally 10pm. We say 10pm in case you happen to need any assistance finding the property as we are not available after 10pm