Cumbria, Jennywell Hall Holiday Cottages Review

Overall Rating

Authentic, beautiful accommodation, peaceful, friendly, well located for all attractions in the Lake District. Very good with kids and animals (like there's a difference :)

Surrounded by hills so no mobile reception in the village, No nightlife in the village, but that's what taxis are for. A herd of sheep is driven past the hall twice a day to graze on the nearby moors - but you soon get used to it, its not a real problem.

Jennywell Hall itself is magnificent at first sight. It's a few hundred years old and very picturesque. It is now divided into an antique shop/living area for the owners and several cottages. What we didn't realise was that there is a tiny arched entrance to pass through in order to get to the back of the hall and the car park. Our car was quite wide, so we all held our breath as we inched through. And I mean INCHED - there were a few inches either side of the wing mirrors in the narrowest part, but that is only a few brick deep. (A few days into the holiday we got used to it).

Some of those cottages were tiny though, we had to upgrade to the largest one (North Wing) for our family of 4 +1 dog because we wanted separate rooms for the kids, but the next size down would have been ok if the kids were able to share a room. This cottage was a good size capable of sleeping a 5-6. It was filled with antique furniture fitting for the age of the cottage. The main room has a beautiful open fireplace as well as electric heating. And yes, even though it was summer, we used the coal fire. It would have been very romantic if it wasn't for the kids J.

The garden is shared by all the cottages, but there is another area around the side of the hall which Mary, the owner, let the kids play in.

Crosby Ravensworth Is ideally located for all the tourist attractions in Cumbria. It is just down the hill from Shap (yes, it really is a hill), which is centrally sited between Kendal and Penrith with a major road leading to all parts of the Lake District.

But we used a route planner to find the village - and missed the turning. I therefore recommend heading for Shap, it's easier to find and there's a direct road between the 2 villages!!!

Things to see in the area:
Appleby Castle - not for the feint hearted. Narrow steps with little to hold on to that go on forever, Good view though. Annual fair in the town. Good shopping area.
Riverboats - all lakes have riverboat rides, some even have refreshments below deck.
Beatrix Potter museum.
Kirkstone Pass - very high mountain road, risky in our old banger, but we made it. Popular with walkers (they must be mad).
The Glass centre, Ulverston - Watch glass being made into beautiful collectables. I can't remember its real name, but it is almost right. Well worth a visit!
Rheged - visitors centre dedicated to the ancient Kingdom of the dark ages and the real King Arthur. Worth a visit for the massive cinema screen and shops. It wasn't finished when we were there, but it should be now.
Sellafield Visitors Centre - nuclear power plant with attractions for the kids.
Eden Ostrich World, Penrith.
Aquarium of the Lakes, Ulverston
There is so much to see that we couldnt fit it all in!!! Plenty of tourist leaflets in the cottage to help you choose.

Members' Comments onBossy.'s Review

• Diane Antone on 8th Aug 2003

  I agree with the reviewer having stayed at this cottage this spring. We found the proximity of the neighbouring farm quite interesting, as there was a herd of cows almost looking in our window, but that just added to the rustic atmosphere! Highly recommended, although the "finish" of the cottage we stayed in was basic - no fancy interior design here.