Snaptrip says
Simcas House is a spacious and well-positioned cottage in Stainton, praised for its peaceful location and proximity to local amenities. Guests have enjoyed the property's comfortable beds, powerful showers, and the added touches such as a welcome pack and board games. The large lounge and conservatory offer pleasant living spaces, and the local pub is a highlight for dining. While some guests noted issues with cleanliness and maintenance, these seem to be addressed promptly, ensuring a relaxing and enjoyable stay.
Guests that stayed at this property said
Reviews on cleanliness are mixed, with some guests finding the property spotless and others noting dust and cobwebs. Issues seem to have been addressed in more recent reviews, indicating an improvement in this area.
The location is highly praised for its tranquillity and convenience, with easy access to the Northern Lake District and a welcoming local pub just a short walk away.
Comfort is generally well-regarded, with guests appreciating the spacious rooms and comfortable beds. However, some guests mentioned hard mattresses and thin pillows, slightly affecting the overall comfort level.
Facilities are appreciated for being well-equipped, though some guests reported issues with kitchen equipment and maintenance problems like non-working extractor fans and heating issues. These seem to be isolated incidents rather than the norm.
The property's thoughtfulness is evident through the provision of welcome packs and extra touches like board games. While these gifts are warmly received, they are a kind gesture and may vary with each stay.
About this property
Simcas House is a modern, Lakeland home, with a real wow factor. It was built into the hillside as an upside-down house with the living space on the upper floor and the bedrooms on the lower floor ensuring spacious living accommodation and three equally sized bedrooms.
Stepping through the front door the hallway provides plenty of space for boots, outdoor gear. The spacious living room is bright and airy with big picture windows allowing the light to flood in. Patio doors open to a small patio area and at the other end glazed doors open to the large dining conservatory. Comfortable sofas and a feature fireplace with welcoming log burning stove and, a large screen Smart TV. The conservatory dining room takes an elevated position overlooking the garden and the patio - great room to relax in over a social family dinner. From here doors open onto a balcony where guests can sit and relax over drinks in an evening, right next to a babbling brook passing by below. The stylish kitchen features a breakfast bar and all you will need for your stay. Leading off the hallway is a cloakroom WC with washing machine and tumble drier and additional storage for outdoor gear in the adjacent storeroom. Stairs lead down to the 3 bedrooms on the lower level of the house. The master bedroom is presented with a comfortable king-size bed and en-suite shower room. Two further bedrooms, one king-size bed and one with a choice of super king or twin beds (please specify when booking). Both are complemented by the family bathroom with bath, shower cubicle, basin and WC. All three bedrooms feature their own Smart TV too. Head outside to a spacious patio with outdoor dining furniture and a sloping lawned garden. Parents should be aware that there is a small stream that runs behind the wall at the side of the patio.
Stainton is a small hamlet close to popular village of Pooley Bridge at the northernmost tip of Ullswater. The village has a selection of village pubs, cafes and shops for the visitors and is popular all year round. The area has a huge selection of footpaths and bridleways and there are walks for all and is a popular area for mountain biking. Travelling from the central Lakes over the stunning Kirkstone Pass you will drop down into the beautiful glacial carved landscapes surrounding the Lake itself, with many quaint villages along its shoreline. The areas around the lake provide the perfect place for a restful and relaxed self-catering holiday, with plenty of opportunity for walking, exploring and getting out on the Lake. At the southern end of the Lake you will find Glenridding, a popular little village and an excellent base to explore plentiful challenging peaks but especially Helvellyn and Striding Edge.
Stainton is a small village just one mile from the market town of Barnard Castle and 4 miles from the village of Copley located in the unspoilt countryside of Teesdale, in County Durham. Consisting of a small group of traditional cottages and boasting lovely views of the surrounding Dales countryside, Stainton is a great rural base for this part of the northern Dales. Barnard Castle stands on the site of an ancient Roman ford which crosses the river. The medieval ruins of the castle still tower over the river and are well worth a visit. Known affectionately as 'Barney' by residents and visitors alike, the town boasts cobbled streets, yards and back lanes which were first laid out in the 12th century. Beautiful walking country is right on the doorstep with The Pennine and Teesdale Ways, the River Tees and magnificent waterfalls at High Force are all within easy reach.
Accommodation
Bedroom accommodation to the lower floor.
Three bedrooms: 2 x king-size (one with en-suite shower room with basin and WC), 1 x super king-size (zip/link can be split into 2 x twins on request).
Bathroom with bath, separate shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen with breakfast bar seating for 2.
Sitting room.
Conservatory dining room.
Cloakroom with basin and WC.
Complimentary leisure club membership.
Gas Central heating with wood burning stove.
Electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, additional freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV, TVs in all bedrooms, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Cot and highchair available.
Patio with garden furniture.
Balcony with furniture.
Off road parking for 3 cars.
Two well-behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Pub 1 min walk.
Shop 1 mile.
Pooley Bridge and Ullswater 4.2 miles.
Note: Complimentary leisure club membership is provided
Nearby points of interest
- Coalhouse Fort
- Appleby Castle
- High Cup Nick
- Rutter Force
- Derwent Pencil Museum
Reviews (9)
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Rebekah
Beds were very comfortable and showers were powerful. I'd definitely return in the summer to make use of the outdoor space. The only problem we encounted was the WIFI did not work. I needed it to do some work. We spent most of our first night trying to sort this, we even rang two numbers out of the book and left a voicemail but nobody got back to us - very dissapointed by the lack of communication. Luckily there was a dog friendly pub down the road which I could walk to. The only improvements I would say, is two small gates on either side of the property would be useful to make it an enclosed garden for dogs.
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Rita
The house is well-positioned, spacious and well-furnished with a lovely lounge and outside seating/eating area. Beds were comfortable. Crockery and cooking utensils could do with an overhaul. Overall, we had a great stay and loved the village location with pub and restaurant minutes away by foot. We were disappointed that the information about the free use of the hotel pool was not more prominent when we booked. A lot of the information in the welcome pack is very generic and not relevant.
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Johnathon
The kitchen was very ill equipped, with no sharp knives, only one chopping board, no sieve etc. Bedrooms are very good size with the shower in the ensuite a comfortable size as well. The water pressure is excellent making for a pleasant shower. The mattress is rock hard and the pillows thin leading to an uncomfortable night's sleep.