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Highfold, Ambleside

Guest Rating
Rating
4.8
out of 5
Guest Rating
Rating
4.8
out of 5
Sleeps up to 4
Hot Tub
Bedrooms: 2

Highfold is a reverse level cottage in Ambleside that sleeps four guests across two bedrooms. This Cumbrian property sits on the edge of the village and offers a peaceful base just five minutes' walk from the town centre.

The location puts you right at the heart of the Lake District. Ambleside offers shops and eateries within walking distance. You can start walks directly from the door and reach Waterhead in minutes.

The cottage features a king-size bedroom and a twin bedroom. The upper floor holds an open-plan living area with a wood burning stove. You'll find a well-equipped kitchen with a large fridge freezer and dishwasher. The property includes two bathrooms and a heated airer.

 

About Highfold

Highfold is a reverse level cottage in Ambleside that sleeps four guests across two bedrooms. This Cumbrian property sits on the edge of the village and offers a peaceful base just five minutes' walk from the town centre.

The location puts you right at the heart of the Lake District. Ambleside offers shops and eateries within walking distance. You can start walks directly from the door and reach Waterhead in minutes.

The cottage features a king-size bedroom and a twin bedroom. The upper floor holds an open-plan living area with a wood burning stove. You'll find a well-equipped kitchen with a large fridge freezer and dishwasher. The property includes two bathrooms and a heated airer. Outside there's a walled garden with raised patio and off-road parking for one car. A travel cot and highchair are available.

Stock Ghyll Force waterfall sits 0.8 miles away (4 minutes). Rydal Water is 1.5 miles distant (6 minutes). Grasmere village lies 3.5 miles north (10 minutes). Windermere town is 5 miles south (12 minutes).

Highfold works brilliantly for families and couples who want comfortable accommodation in a quiet spot. The reverse level layout maximises views and the private parking removes hassle.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

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Highfold Attractions & Days Out

Explore the wonderful attractions and activities surrounding Highfold during your stay. Find the best places to visit and things to do in the local area, all conveniently organised by distance and type. Charming villages to lively and exciting attractions - there's something for everyone to enjoy. Browse through our categories including attractions, walks & outdoor activities, shopping destinations and handy tips on getting around. Plan your perfect day out. Whether you're looking for family fun, romantic experiences, or pet-friendly adventures, this cottage provides an ideal base to explore Cumbria's fantastic days out. Click on any attraction for more detailed information including address, opening times and visitor tips.

Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall
Distance: 0.8 miles
LA22 9LU
Rydal Water
Distance: 1.5 miles
LA22 9LR
Grasmere Village
Distance: 3.5 miles
LA22 9SH
Loughrigg Fell
Distance: 1.2 miles
LA22 9NG
Wansfell Pike
Distance: 1.8 miles
LA22 0EF
Fairfield Horseshoe
Distance: 2.1 miles
LA22 9NN
Ambleside Town Centre
Distance: 0.3 miles
LA22 9BS
Booths Supermarket Windermere
Distance: 4.8 miles
LA23 1BA
Hawkshead Village Shops
Distance: 6.2 miles
LA22 0NT
Waterhead Pier
Distance: 0.6 miles
LA22 0EP
Ambleside Bus Station
Distance: 0.4 miles
LA22 9BT
Bridge House National Trust
Distance: 0.3 miles
LA22 9DT
Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall
Distance: 0.8 miles
LA22 9LU
Rydal Water
Distance: 1.5 miles
LA22 9LR
Grasmere Village
Distance: 3.5 miles
LA22 9SH
Loughrigg Fell
Distance: 1.2 miles
LA22 9NG
Wansfell Pike
Distance: 1.8 miles
LA22 0EF
Fairfield Horseshoe
Distance: 2.1 miles
LA22 9NN
Ambleside Town Centre
Distance: 0.3 miles
LA22 9BS
Booths Supermarket Windermere
Distance: 4.8 miles
LA23 1BA
Hawkshead Village Shops
Distance: 6.2 miles
LA22 0NT
Waterhead Pier
Distance: 0.6 miles
LA22 0EP
Ambleside Bus Station
Distance: 0.4 miles
LA22 9BT
Bridge House National Trust
Distance: 0.3 miles
LA22 9DT

Is Highfold Right For You?

Discover why this cottage is ideal for different types of visitors

For Families
Highfold welcomes families with a travel cot and highchair available. The walled garden with raised patio provides a safe outdoor space for children to play. Stock Ghyll Force waterfall is less than a mile away for an easy family walk. Ambleside offers plenty of child-friendly activities within walking distance. The reverse level layout means bedrooms are downstairs away from the main living area.
For Couples
The cottage creates a romantic atmosphere with its wood burning stove and cosy open-plan living space. You can walk hand-in-hand into Ambleside in five minutes for dinner at local restaurants. The quiet location on the village edge offers privacy and peace. Rydal Water sits just 1.5 miles away for scenic lakeside strolls. The comfortable king-size bed and quality furnishings throughout add to the relaxing experience.
Pet Friendly
Highfold does not accept pets. The property operates a strict no-pets policy so you cannot bring dogs or other animals during your stay. If you're travelling with pets you'll need to find alternative accommodation in the Ambleside area. Many other Lake District cottages do welcome pets but this particular property maintains its pet-free status for all bookings throughout the year.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Highfold

The Priest Hole

Located 0.3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9BU

Zeffirellis Restaurant

Located 0.4 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9BZ

The Apple Pie Cafe

Located 0.3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9BT

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Highfold

Does this cottage have a hot tub?
No, Highfold does not have a hot tub. The property does have a wood burning stove in the living area and a walled garden with raised patio for outdoor relaxation.
Is it pet friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at Highfold. The property maintains a strict no-pets policy so you'll need to make alternative arrangements for your animals during your stay.
How many people does Highfold sleep?
The cottage sleeps four guests across two bedrooms. There's one king-size bedroom and one twin bedroom, plus a travel cot is available if you're bringing a baby.
What parking is available?
There's off-road parking for one car included with the property. Additional parking is available nearby with a permit if you need space for a second vehicle during your stay.
How far is it to walk into Ambleside?
The cottage is a five minute walk from Ambleside town centre. You can easily walk to shops, pubs and restaurants without needing to move your car once you've arrived.
What's included in the kitchen?
The kitchen has a large fridge freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and quality cooking equipment. There's plenty of crockery, glasses and utensils plus all the appliances you'd expect for self-catering.
Can you walk from the cottage?
Yes, you can start walks directly from the door. Stock Ghyll Force is less than a mile away and the location gives easy access to numerous Lake District walking routes.
What's the layout of the cottage?
Highfold has reverse level accommodation with bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs. The upper floor contains the open-plan living area with kitchen, dining space and lounge plus the wood burning stove.

Highfold Reviews

We have lost count of how many times we have stayed at Highfold, Ambleside. The property suits or requirements perfectly. It is ideally located a short walk from the town centre, there are numerous superb walks that can be started from the cottage, good offroad parking, a very comfortable & wellequipped place to stay. Looking forward to a return soon. Chris & Suzanne West Yorkshire
Sharon
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Highfold, one of the best places we have stayed in the Lakes. A beautiful cottage, with everything you could possibly need, and very clean and comfortable and in a great location. Only a 5 minute walk into town but still super quiet. The private parking space was a bonus.
What a find! Highfold is a beautiful, clean, cosy cottage, with everything you need in a holiday cottage. We have stayed in numerous Sykes cottages all over the country but I think this has to be one of the best. Just a short walk into Ambleside with plenty of shops, pubs and eateries. Easy access to the rest of the Lake District, whether you want to drive or sit back and take the bus. This is definitely one to return to!!
Highfold is perfectly located on the edge of the village. Its spacious, well laid out and well equipped and furnished and is very comfortable to stay in. The only feedback point is that the shower in the main bedroom could do with updating and is showing signs of ageing. Weve stayed here twice and are highly likely to return.
Charlotte
Good position for Ambleside, nice decor and a great base for a stay in the Lake District. Would happily stay again in this property.
Richard
Fabulous location and beautiful house even better than the pics! . Love the lounge and the kitchen area. Great to relax in after a days walking in hills or up to Ambleside or down to Windermere
What an absolute gem! Such a cosy, welcoming Lakeland cottage. We loved our few days staying at Highfold & are already planning our return trip! Thank you for a great holiday, we really enjoyed it.
Veronica
Lovely stay at highfold again ! Very convenient for a lot of wonderful places! Its very spacious and comfortable, beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. Comfortable bed and efficient bathrooms downstairs. Well equipped kitchen and nice homely touches thanks for the welcome pack too We will be back !
David Francis
Clean comfortable and spacious. Had a bit of trouble trying to get keys out of box but got there I the end. Two things, not complaints, suggestions, there was only one bath mat, one for each bathroom would be nice , we bought another one, and somewhere to dry laundry in garden, we came on train so couldnt bring enough clothes for two weeks, the electric dryer takes all day. Highfold is a lovely cottage, lots of buses, Ambleside a short walk away, we would highly recommend.
Lovely to be back we stayed the same week last year. House spotlessly clean thank you fantastic cleaners Lots of kitchen equipment and a huge thank you again for the heated airer so helpful last week. Beds very comfortable, comfy sofas and armchairs just lovely. Large entrance to kick off boots and hang coats up. Walked from the house all week and didn't need the car once. Kids completed the Fairfield Horseshoe, Wansfell and Loughrigg. Will be booking again.
The property si one of the best cottages we have stayed in. Everythign done to a high standard, so quality washing machine, dishwasher , large fridge freezer. Lovely living room and the most comfortable of beds. Layout of the cottage brilliant. We were most impressed with the provision of plenty of crockery and glasses which were of a decent quality . It felt like a home not a rental. We really appreciated the walk guides left. The position of the cottage is great as it is but quiet but close to Ambleside centre
Andrew
Really enjoyed our stay. Brilliantly located and didnt use the car half as much as wed expected, with some lovely walks straight from the door. Cottage was bigger than wed expected and had everything we needed the only tiny gripe was the water pressure on the ensuite shower. Would definitely stay again.
Beautiful cottage. Perfect location. Ideal for a romantic getaway, particularly away from the big tourist months. Gorgeous easy walking from the cottage.
We have lost count how many visits we have had to Highfold in Ambleside. For all these holidays we have thoroughly enjoyed the position, comfort & excellent facilities that the property provides. On this occasion we extended our stay from the original 7 nights booked, to 10 nights, due to availability over the following weekend. Didnt want to go home.. Chris & Suzanne
A beautiful property in a great location, we had a lovely stay, thank you! The house was dressed for Christmas which was nice. The rooms were very comfortable and there was plenty of space for four adults and one baby. The parking right outside is definitely only for one car, but there was plenty of other parking available and we bought a 3 day pass so we could use all the local car parks during our stay.
The cottage was immaculately clean on arrival. In terms of accommodation we loved the spacious open plan layout upstairs the kitchen is really well equipped and all appliances are good quality. Both bathrooms are smart and clean. We loved the overall feel which is much more spacious than the photos are able to show. The woodburner could do with a quick bit of maintenance as the rope seal is becoming detached and one of the air intakes seems to be partially stuck, but this is a tiny thing overall. We would most definitely come back here again
Lovely comfortable home in a gorgeous location. A great place to relax in after a busy day out. We loved it there.
Cottage excellent, very clean and superbly equipped. Cosy as well as practical, having a parking space in Ambleside is a tremendous asset. Had a problem with a blind which was fixed the same day so that was brilliant serv. The only issue we had was I had a couple of questions before we arrived, but there is no direct way to contact Sykes, phones cut off and messages take a long time to be answered. Would definitely recommend the cottage, but would hesitate to use Sykes again myself because of poor communication beforehand. Oddly, maintenance was sorted straight away so I suspect it would not take much to improve this.
Great location for exploring. Our young family had a fabulous time on our adventures and coming back to the childfeindly, comfortable homely cottage. Very well equiped. Thank you for a lovely stay.
Wonderful comfortable and well equipped cottage, very clean and amazing location didn't use the car once as so much to do around Ambleside. Our son found that the prong from his charging adapter has broken off and he thinks it is in the plug socket by the door in the small bedroom. Upon Google this is not a risk but electricity should be turned off before extracting with pliers. We are really sorry about this.
Veronica
Excellent weeks holiday in this wonderful cottage ! Well equipped, comfortable, warm and spotlessly clean I mean spotlessly ! Close to the town and easy walk to the lakeside. We used it as a base to visit places like the car museum, steam railway, jetty museum and also had some lovely walks from the door which were in the welcome book eg over to Grasmere. We were fortunate on some days with the weather but when you have such a welcoming place, the rain doesnt matter so much ! Thank you very much for providing a special holiday home !
What an absolutely fantastic cottage. So very clean and well equipped. We really appreciated the heated drier and slow cooker never had these in other holiday cottages what a bonus. So many small touches like the hand soap, games, cupcake trays, lots of crockery and books, really make you feel welcomed as a guest. Please pass on our thanks to the cleaner, the cottage was spotless really appreciate this when travelling with children and their susceptibility to tummy bugs! Sofas and beds really comfortable. We had a lovely week at Highfold.
Highfold is a beautiful property, clean, bright & more spacious than the photos give credit for. A very comfortable property & we would definitely stay there again. Easy walk into Ambleside & Waterhead & bus stops. The owner had kindly left welcome packs, a lovely thought. Though the listing says parking for 2 cars, we found it suitable for 1 car as there is a notice saying access needed to another property. There is a private garden, but we couldnt use it on occasions as there were builders standing on the wall working on next door, which we werent told to expect.
Russell
As we recycle at home its disappointing not to have the facilities to do this ... As we recycle at home its disappointing not to have the facilities to do this while we are away and its not always convenient to take the recycling to the council depot apart from this minor issue another great holiday with good weather
Robert
Spacious, well equipped, clean and comfortable accomodation. Pefectly placed for walking into Ambleside or down to Lake Windermere. Will definitely try and book Highfold when we next come back to Ambleside.
We really enjoyed our holiday, cottage lovely, everything we needed perfect location
Eleanor
What a fab holiday cottage! We have stayed in numerous cottages in Ambleside over the years and this one is definitely one of the best. We travelled with our 15 month old Son and found the property to be really child friendly, with a high chair and cot if we wanted one provided. The bedrooms were both spacious, meaning our baby could either be in the main room with us or in the spare bedroom. The bathroom and en suite were both lovely, and the kitchen and living areas really clean, comfortable and homely, with everything we could have needed. To make it perfect, Id suggest providing hand soap for the toilets and kitchen areas. Ive never visited a cottage that didnt have hand soap before. Also a bottle of milk on arrival would have been nice. Again this is something weve gotten used to over the years in holiday accommodation. There was also not enough loo roll or washing up liquid to last more than a day. Small things that were easily purchased in Ambleside, but would have made it a little easier upon arrival. We would absolutely recommend this cottage. Perfect location, parking which is a real bonus, and overall a real home away from home.
Carolyn
Second time we have stayed in this cottagewill defo use again. Beautiful cottage exceptionally clean and very comfortable. Fantastic location with easy walkable access to Ambleside and restaurants.
Had a lovely week at Highfold,loved all the amenities and kitchen very well equipped for home cooking. Good quality of all fittings,Sky tv a bonus on a rainy evening,very clean on arrival and lovely and warm in snowy February. Look forward to returning. Chris and Chrissy
Christine
We absolutely loved our stay in your gorgeous cottage. It was perfectchristmas decorations were the icing on the cake.Would totally recommend !
We have stayed at Highfold numerous times before & love the location & facilities that the property provides. On this occasion we arrived on Saturday 2nd December, a day when there had been heavy sudden snowfall & massive transport disruption to the local area. The final 10 miles took approximately 6 hours to complete due to buses & abandoned cars on the snow laden roads between Ings Windermere Ambleside. We arrived at Highfold approximately 10.30 pm to find it had its usual warm, clean & welcoming appeal. There had obviously been some earlier disruption to the cleaning services as dirty towels & stripped bed linen remained in the property. There were no clean supplies...... Makeshift arrangements, by washing this dirty laundry ourselves were undertaken in the circumstances. We informed the local office early on Monday & the situation was quickly resolved. A lovely relaxing break & looking forward to returning in the New Year. Chris & Suzanne
My wife and I have stayed at Highfold 3 times in recent years in November 2023, in 2022 and 2021. Although the time staying at Highfold has been nice, this time we have noticed that it is starting to require some 'modernisation and upgrades' to keep it's appeal, there is still an issue that we reported last year when we came, and it is still there and has not been resolved. Last year we mentioned that both of the electric extraction vents in the main bathroom and the ensuite seemed to be blocked and were not working, it looked as though both of the 'fans' in the unit were stuffed with tissue type material, which I assume is to stop a 'back draught' through the piping, but because of this the heat steam water condensation has no where to go, and is now causing issues as there is 'black mould' on the rear of the bath taps sealant and also 'black mould' on the edge of the wall in the ensuite where the glass panel meets the tiled wall, very unsightly. The television in living room needs replacing, it says it is a 'smart tv' but not really with modern standards. You have to use both the 'Sky remote' and the 'Sony remote' to operate the television, this is outdated. The television cannot accept 'BBC iplayer, ITVX, All 4 TV or My5, which is no good if you want to watch a catch up programme. The TV needs to be replaced with a more 'up to date' smart TV. A TV on the bedroom wall would be a nice touch, there to use if you want to, but kept turned off if you don't want to. The cushions under the living room bay windows are very tired and very faded, these too need new ones to replace. Overall....it is a nice place to stay but starting to show age and needs updating in places...and a little welcome pack Wine Biscuits Cake would be a nice touch for your new customers. Kevin & Juliet Yorkshire.
Highfold is a beautiful cottage and this was our 3rd stay. The new bed is very comfy and we slept very well. The only thing we are not so keen on is the door that is in the bedroom has a see through glass panel that we had to cover it with kitchenroll for privacy but would not stop us from coming here as it is the best cottage we have ever stayed in and have rebooked for next year.
Highfold was a lovely property and well furnished. Unfortunately during the whole of our stay the property next door was having building works done, which had been going on for a number of weeks, however we were not contacted in advance about this. The noise started at around 8.15am and finished about 4.30pm MonFri, with workmen standing on the next door roof and were able to look right into our living room area. We visited the Lakelovers office, which is located 50m from the property, to talk to them about this, they said they were not aware and would go and look in case they needed to let other people coming to the property know. There was no concern for us, even though we explained that we had our daughter with us who was trying to revise for GCSE mock exams. Lakelovers did not come back to us at all after our complaint. It was an unfortunate situation as the cottage is really very nice, but you should not be charging these prices with building work going on right next door it is not how people should be treated.
This is our 4th stay at Highfold and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The location is perfect and the property is like home from home for us. It caters for all our needs in both comfort and facilities. It is good to know that the sweaky floorboards in the lounge have been fixed so anyone sleeping downstairs no longer get disturbed. The only issues we found with the property were the front door sticking making it tricky to open and the lounge doors virtually impossible to open as they drag on the carpet. Apart from this we love the property and we look forward to coming back again. Mark
Front door is difficult to open it's sticking on the bottom of the door frame
Victoria
Our second wonderful stay at the wonderful Highfold. High quality fixtures, fittings and furniture a real gem in Ambleside. The perfect cottage in the perfect location.
Caroline
A beautifully equipped home, right in the centre of Ambleside. It was sparkling clean and presented with home from home comforts!
Really nice cottage. Was so spacious and comfortable, with lots of kitchen and cooking things. Wasn't that sunny when visited but when it was, the outside was great for sitting in the sun. Good location between the centre of Ambleside and Waterhead
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Millans Park, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9AG