The Garden Flat at Ullswater

Thanks for finding us... Please read reviews here but to book find our new listing on Airbnb, titled: Garden Flat, Ullswater: Fabulous views and reviews The flat is in a wonderfully peaceful spot with panoramic views of Ullswater, the fells, lake and sky. Take it all in from the bay window seat, sofa or even the bed, from the bench outside or the lawns of Wreay Mansions. This superbly-situated flat has already enjoyed some big changes – the start of a transformation to make it the perfect place to enjoy Ullswater. There is an open plan kitchen/dining area/lounge with new John Lewis oven, hob and dishwasher, new pans by Green Pan and a striking teal sofa by Gallery Hudson. In the bedroom we have a new Ercol Teramo double bed, and you can enjoy luxurious linen from Tielle Love Luxury – we discovered it at the fabulous Pig hotels chain. There's a new Sony Bravia TV with around 80 channels and radio stations available and if you have a Netflix account you can connect up. And you can listen to your own music using our Minirig speaker. The bathroom has underfloor heating, a bath and a shower. There is a lobby so you don't need to bring muddy boots or wet gear in to the flat. And a private parking bay is included. The flat has an impressive sandstone portico and a huge bay window where the views of Ullswater and the fells – including Helvellyn – are unforgettable. I use the flat for breaks with my partner and our daughters at Ullswater – a place I've known and loved for many years and am finally lucky enough to own a little piece of. But the entire flat is available to let for most of the year for short or long breaks. You're welcome to use the lawns to play or picnic on, or to just admire the views from. Much as we love dogs, the flat or lawns outside are not suitable for them...sorry! We're acutely aware that during the current Covid-19 crisis, cleanliness, common sense and measures to stay safe are crucial. The Garden Flat is a compact one-bedroom property, but Julie – who prepares it for each new guest – spends at least two hours cleaning it thoroughly between arrivals. Towels and linen were bought very recently, and are regularly boil washed at high temperatures. The key is stored in a secure box by the front door – we provide the code before you check in – so you can arrive, stay and then leave in isolation. It's important to follow Government advice and at the moment there is no ban on travel. I believe the Garden Flat is a great, safe space to get away, relax and enjoy great walks while cooking your own meals if you want to – all in a safe environment. Finally, I'm always available to give advice and, of course, in an emergency someone can be there in person too. Wreay Mansions is a cluster of apartments converted from a historic 19th century hunting lodge with elevated views of Ullswater – Wainwright's "loveliest of lakes" and the inspiration for Wordsworth's poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. The new Ullswater Way walking route is at the end of the drive. Just down the hill is the Brackenrigg Inn with more great views, food including Sunday lunch, its own microbrewery and – in winter – a big, roaring fire. Bustling Pooley Bridge – with its pubs, shops and tea rooms by the river – is less than two miles away. There is a new temporary footbridge and free car park to use until the new stainless steel crossing opens this spring to replace the 300-year-old one swept away by floods in 2015. From the flat you can easily reach attractions like Aira Force waterfall, owned by the National Trust, and the Ullswater Steamers. You can ride, cycle, fish, sail, paddleboard or even wild swim nearby at Another Place hotel, which has fine dining and great bar food. The Garden Flat is great base from which to explore the rest of the Lake District including Keswick, Windermere, Buttermere and Grasmere – all around a scenic 40 minute drive away. Other great places to eat include 1863 Bistro in Pooley Bridge or the famous Sharrow Bay hotel on the opposite shore. Historic houses Dalemain (5mins by car) and Lowther Castle (20mins) are close too. Penrith, the nearest town, has excellent shopping facilities and a great Tourist Information Centre. As well as a Sainsbury's and Morrisons, there are brilliant regional stores like Booths and Cranstons Cumbrian Foodhall. Before arriving you could also stock up at the renowned Tebay Services near Shap on the M6, a family-owned site with its own farm and butcher. The company also owns the petrol station and store at Rheged arts centre you'll pass as you head from Penrith to Watermillock. Fuel is competitive and there's great local food and drink on sale. A car is the best way to get around, and your booking includes a parking space. But we are around seven miles from Penrith rail station, so a taxi or 508 bus will get you to Watermillock in around half an hour. There are some changes on the roads while the new bridge is built at Pooley Bridge – from the major roads including the M6 and A66, follow the yellow signs for the Ullswater Steamers. If you're in the South East you can even fly to the Lake District now – Loganair runs a 1hr 25min Southend to Carlisle service three times a day from £44.99. I bought The Garden Flat in July 2019 and have made a few changes that were very necessary, based on my own preferences and on the really useful and honest feedback people gave publicly and privately. For a start it had a huge spring clean. The bedroom has been cleared, cleaned, decorated and re-carpeted. There is a new mattress and a new Ercol Teramo bed with new linen that I really hope you will like too. It's the same used by brilliant hotels like Claridge's and The Pig in the New Forest – if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us! Almost everything in the kitchen has been replaced by new John Lewis goods including a modern induction hob which is safer, cleaner and greener. New kitchenware includes pans by Green Pan and knives by Zyliss. If you do any cooking I hope it'll be a pleasure, not a chore! When you arrive you can enjoy a cuppa in a classic Cornishware tea pot and mugs – a great suggestion by a guest (keep them coming!). There's a lovely new sofa and an Arne Jacobsen-style egg chair which you can use to gaze out at the amazing views, whatever the weather. Guests since those changes have had a great experience so I hope you will too. The flat will also have beautiful things in it that I hope you'll enjoy as much as I do. In the lounge there is a fabulous painting His Wings Shadow by the Threadneedle Prize-winning Trisha Cain. And there's a small but beautiful oil painting Raw Weather, Grisedale by Richard Barrett in the bedroom, with more art to come. I plan to make more improvements over time. But even now it's a wonderful place that I think you'll enjoy and want to come back to.