COWMIRE HALL BOTHY Winster Valley, the Lake District a Holiday Flat for 2 (+2) on a Working Farm in a Quiet, Wooded Valley

COWMIRE HALL BOTHY Winster Valley, The Lake District A holiday flat for 2 (+2) on a working farm in a quiet, wooded valley.

Accommodation: A delightful, first-floor holiday flat in a converted loft, consisting of a hall, shower-room (with electric shower), twin-bedroom, and large living-room / kitchen, open to the roof-space, with a gallery or sleeping-platform above the kitchen area. The kitchen is well-equipped, with an oil-fired Raeburn cooker that also provides hot water and central heating. There is also a wood stove (with a supply of dry logs), a television set, and good quality furniture (but no telephone, though ours may be used in emergencies, if you have no mobile).

The flat is suitable for two people to sleep, but is equipped for six people to eat. (There are also two beds on the gallery, with ladder access, which may be used at your own risk for children over eight, or for your occasional athletic guests.)

There is a utility room on the ground floor (separate entrance) with a sink, washing•machine, tumble-drier and iron; and space for boots, bicycles etc. (The rest of the ground floor is taken up by the cellar where Cowmire Hall Damson Gin is made.) There is a small outside sitting area with table and barbecue.

The flat looks out to the south over a farm-yard to Cowmire Hall - a C16th pele tower extended in the late C17th, where the owners, Oliver and Victoria Barratt, live - its garden and the Winster Valley. To the north the view is of a rocky field. There is not normally any live-stock in this farm-yard, though tractors may come and go. Guests may park cars here.

Local facilities: Damson Dene Hotel (2 miles) with small swimming-pool and gymnasium (family membership included); an excellent village shop and post office, and the Hare & Hounds Inn in Bowland Bridge (1 mile); two other good pubs within walking distance; gourmet food at the Old Vicarage, Witherslack (4 miles); St Anthony's Church, Cartmel Fell (Sunday service 09.30 except 5th. Sunday in month); a network of lovely lanes and footpaths, including walks over Whitbarrow Scar. Riding is available at Witherslack Equestrian Centre (2 miles).

The surrounding area: Cowmire Hall lies in the Winster Valley, one of the Lake District's most peaceful valleys, about equidistant (7 miles) from Kendal, Windermere and Grange- over-Sands. There is a variety of good shops in all three towns, two supermarkets outside Kendal, and local farmers' markets. This is not the place to list all the attractions of the Lake District, but the National Trust hire out rowing boats at Fell Foot on Windermere (4 miles), where there is also a restaurant. Three great country houses with fine gardens are nearby - Sizergh Castle (NT), Levens Hall and Holker Hall, as well as the art galleries at Blackwell and Abbot Hall.

Terms : Lets are normally by the week, from Saturday to Saturday, but weekend or mid-week lets may be available off season, or at short notice. Electricity, heating oil, logs, bed linen, towels and VAT are included. November to March* £200 per week April, May, October £250 per week June to September £350 per week *Christmas & New Year £350 per week PTO There is a deposit of £l00, payable on booking, which, in the event of cancellation, will be returned, minus £10, only if the week is re-let. The balance is payable on arrival. Guests are expected to leave the flat as clean and tidy as they found it. Please ring to arrange dates, then send deposit to confirm your booking to Mr & Mrs Oliver Barratt, Cowmire Hall, Crosthwaite, Kendal, LA8 8JJ .The farm is VAT-registered so, if you are staying on business, please ask for a VAT receipt. We are members of Cumbria Tourist Board and the Cumbria and Lakeland Self -Caterers' Association.

How to find us : From the north or the south, leave the M6 at Junction 36, which is also the end of the A65 from Yorkshire. Zero your milometer and head west on the A590, following signs for BARROW. (All distances cumulative from J36.)At 3.3 miles the A590 forks left off the apparently main route to Kendal (A591); keep on A590 for BARROW. At 6.2 miles turn right at Gilpin Bridge (note Inn) to A5074 for BOWNESS & WINDERMERE. Follow A5074 past Lyth Valley Hotel (9.5 miles) and turn left at next crossroads (10.6 miles) for CARTMEL. Follow lane to T-junction at 11.6 miles, turn right and Cowmire Hall is just on the left; a three-storey house with round chimneys.

Cowmire Hall is marked on OS Landranger map 97, ref SD 427887.

Oxenholme Station (8 miles, taxis available) is served by extensive train services from as far afield as Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Glasgow, London, Manchester Airport and Penzance.