Beautiful retreat overlooking the Howgill Fells
Goodies Farmhouse is gorgeous! Full of warmth and character, this wonderful 17th century farmhouse is set in an acre of private garden and woodland and is utterly peaceful and private. With ancient oak beams and original oak floors, the beautiful interior is luxuriously furnished, enhanced with lovely objects d’art from Italy and France and exudes a feeling of luxurious comfort and relaxation. The surrounding scenery is glorious; a wooded valley, rushing river and high fells provide wonderful walks straight from the door or, for complete relaxation, the amazing scenery can be drowsily enjoyed from the blissfully comfortable sofas in the conservatory.
Bluebell is an idyllic, small cottage tucked away in its own private garden and even has its own lakeland waterfall. This pretty little cottage has a beautifully designed interior and really fits the description ‘away from it all’. Guests return again and again to Bluebell Cottage.
Combine Goodies Farmhouse and Bluebell Cottage, for a larger get together; although each property is completely private from the other, with no shared access, garden or parking areas, the two together make a fabulous holiday location for families or friends. The farmhouse dines 8 and is spacious enough for everyone to gather together, whilst Bluebell offers the opportunity for one or two guests to have some quiet time, too.
The scenery around the farmhouse is stunningly beautiful; a lovely Westmorland valley where little has changed over the centuries, with high fells, woodland, meadows and rushing river. Wild flowers flourish and wildlife abounds; deer, otters, peregrine falcons, and many other rare birds.
Wonderful walks, far from the crowds, start straight from the door - some gentle, some challenging - and upon which you will rarely meet anyone else. A handwritten guidebook, describes these walks and equally beautiful ones nearby.
One of the greatest delights of staying at Goodies Farmhouse is being able to lace up your walking boots and explore the glorious river which flows through this enchanting valley. Perfect for lazing away an idyllic afternoon, with rocky pools and shady glens, being gently lulled by the sound of tumbling water and glimpsing the flash of turquoise on the Kingfisher’s wing. In all weathers this is a lovely walk; lazy and soporific in the summer; exhilarating and brisk in the winter, gentle if you stay by the river, challenging if you make a day of it and walk up into the high fells.
The quaint nearby village of Sedbergh has several antique shops, a good pub and homemade bakery. Dent is a pretty village with cobbled streets and interesting art galleries, and Kirkby Lonsdale is just lovely; touristy but unspoilt, this beautiful, tiny market town has interesting shops, great places for lunch, cafe bars with pretty gardens, good restaurants, an attractive ancient church and riverside walks.
Windermere is 30 minutes away with all the activities of the Lake District to discover; lake sailing on Ullswater, rowing on Grasmere, easy climbing up Cat Bells by Derwentwater, GoApe Tree Top Adventure in Grisedale Forest, visiting Beatrice Potter's House, Wordsworth's Grasmere, coffee at Miller Howe (wonderful!), lunch at The Mason's Arms at Strawberry Bank (after an easy walk up Gummer's Howe overlooking Windermere) and also suggestions for some of the best walks in the Lake District, often with a country pub along the way; or a boat trip across Ullswater to Howtown with a wonderful walk back along the lake edge to Glenridding.
Quaint, pretty villages, the best of the country pubs, amazing Lakeland scenery, local farm visits and some 'off the beaten track' suggestions too; and always returning to the timeless tranquillity surrounding Goodies Farmhouse.