About Stepping Stones House

Stepping Stones House is an elegant period residence in the Rydal Vale near Ambleside. This 400-year-old property once belonged to William Wordsworth's son. The house sits beside the River Rothay with direct access to walks leading to Rydal Water and 3-Bedroom Cottage Sleeping 5 with Log Burner in Ambleside Fell.

The location puts you within walking distance of Ambleside. A private road follows the river into the village. Grasmere lies 4.4 miles away. Windermere is 4.7 miles distant. You can walk to Rydal Caves and tackle the Fairfield horseshoe from the doorstep.

The accommodation sleeps 10 across five bedrooms. Two king-size rooms have en-suites with baths and overhead showers. Another king-size room and one double with en-suite bath provide additional sleeping space. An attic twin bedroom suits children aged 5-11 only. A family shower room serves the main bedrooms.

Stock Ghyll Force waterfall (1.5 miles, 5 minutes) makes a quick outing. Bridge House in Ambleside (1.5 miles, 5 minutes) is a local landmark. Rydal Mount (2 miles, 6 minutes) was Wordsworth's home. Grasmere village (4.4 miles, 12 minutes) offers shops and cafes.

Grand rooms with high ceilings and large windows create an impressive base for multi-generation families. The landscaped garden and parking for three cars add practical benefits. Stepping Stones House welcomes two pets.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Gas central heating and feature fireplace
✓Range cooker, 2 gas ovens, gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, tvs, dvd, piano, wifi
✓Fuel and power included in rent
✓Bed linen and towels included in rent
✓Private parking for three cars
✓Landscaped garden, patio and furniture
✓Two pets welcome
✓Sorry, no smoking
✓Shop 1.5 miles, pub 0.5 miles
✓Note: the property is semi detached
✓Please note that due to the area of the property, the wifi signal is not always very strong in every room

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Stepping Stones House Attractions & Days Out

Explore the wonderful attractions and activities surrounding Stepping Stones House 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

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9PN

Bridge House Ambleside

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9DU

Rydal Mount

Distance: 2 miles

LA22 9LU

Rydal Water

Distance: 0.5 miles

LA22 9LX

3-Bedroom Cottage Sleeping 5 with Log Burner in Ambleside Fell

Distance: 1 mile

LA22 9NN

Rydal Caves

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9LR

Ambleside Village Centre

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9BS

Co-op Ambleside

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9BT

Grasmere Village Shops

Distance: 4.4 miles

LA22 9SW

Windermere Town

Distance: 4.7 miles

LA23 1AF

Grasmere Village

Distance: 4.4 miles

LA22 9SX

Keswick

Distance: 16.7 miles

CA12 5JR

Stock Ghyll Force

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9PN

Bridge House Ambleside

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9DU

Rydal Mount

Distance: 2 miles

LA22 9LU

Rydal Water

Distance: 0.5 miles

LA22 9LX

3-Bedroom Cottage Sleeping 5 with Log Burner in Ambleside Fell

Distance: 1 mile

LA22 9NN

Rydal Caves

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9LR

Ambleside Village Centre

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9BS

Co-op Ambleside

Distance: 1.5 miles

LA22 9BT

Grasmere Village Shops

Distance: 4.4 miles

LA22 9SW

Windermere Town

Distance: 4.7 miles

LA23 1AF

Grasmere Village

Distance: 4.4 miles

LA22 9SX

Keswick

Distance: 16.7 miles

CA12 5JR

Is Stepping Stones House Right For You?

Discover why this cottage is ideal for different types of visitors

For Families

Children aged 5-11 will love the attic twin bedroom with its steep stairs creating an adventure space. The snug provides a cosy area for games and puzzles. The riverside garden offers safe outdoor play with water views. Direct access to gentle walks along the River Rothay towards Rydal Water suits family outings. Ambleside's shops and Stock Ghyll Force waterfall make easy excursions.

For Couples

This property is not ideal for couples seeking an intimate retreat. The grand five-bedroom house with formal dining room and drawing room suits large family groups rather than romantic getaways. The scale and layout create too much space for two people. Couples would find smaller Lake District cottages more appropriate for romantic breaks.

Pet Friendly

Two dogs are welcome at Stepping Stones House. The landscaped garden provides secure outdoor space with river views. Direct footpath access from the property means you can walk to Rydal Water, 3-Bedroom Cottage Sleeping 5 with Log Burner in Ambleside Fell and along the River Rothay without car journeys. The 20-minute riverside walk into Ambleside suits daily exercise. Parking for three cars accommodates pet-owning families travelling together.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Stepping Stones House

The Drunken Duck Inn

Located 3.2 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 0NG

Zeffirellis Ambleside

Located 1.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9BZ

The Badger Bar Rydal

Located 0.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9LR

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Stepping Stones House

Does this cottage have a hot tub?

No, Stepping Stones House does not have a hot tub. The property focuses on its period character and riverside location instead.

Is it pet friendly?

Yes, Stepping Stones House welcomes two pets. The landscaped garden and direct access to riverside walks make it excellent for dogs.

How many people does Stepping Stones House sleep?

The property sleeps 10 guests across five bedrooms including two king-size en-suites, one king-size, one double en-suite and an attic twin. The attic bedroom suits only children aged 5-11 due to steep stairs.

What cooking facilities are available?

The kitchen has a range cooker with two gas ovens and gas hob, plus a microwave, dishwasher, fridge, freezer and Nespresso machine. Extensive cookware, crockery and glassware are provided for large groups.

How far is Ambleside from the property?

Ambleside is within walking distance via a private road alongside the river taking approximately 20 minutes on foot. By car the village is 1.5 miles away.

What walks can you do from the house?

You can walk directly to Rydal Water, Rydal Caves, 3-Bedroom Cottage Sleeping 5 with Log Burner in Ambleside Fell and access the Fairfield horseshoe from the doorstep. Grasmere is reachable on foot at 4.4 miles.

Is there parking at Stepping Stones House?

Yes, private off-road parking for three cars is available. This is particularly useful for multi-generation family groups arriving in separate vehicles.

What living spaces does the property have?

The house includes an elegant drawing room, formal dining room, character kitchen, cosy snug and a pantry. High ceilings and large windows feature throughout the grand period rooms.

Stepping Stones House Reviews

The property was wonderful and very well equipped. The furnishings and appliances were all of a very high standard. The welcome pack was a lovely addition and a really nice touch. The location was perfect for walks around 3-Bedroom Cottage Sleeping 5 with Log Burner in Ambleside and the AmblesideRydal area.

We recently stayed at the Stepping Stones property just outside Ambleside in Cumbria. This was my second holiday using a Sykes promoted property after a fairly disastrous holiday at a supposedly 5star property in Northumberland. This time, however, my fears of a repeat of the same or similar problems were allayed. The Stepping Stones property is a beautiful 400yearold property in a magical location about a mile outside Ambleside and overlooking the river Rothay and the famous Stepping Stones. Entry is through what looked like a newly constructed or refurbished porch. Once inside, the rooms inside are extremely spacious, comfortably furnished and well maintained, given the age of the property. The kitchen almost its best feature assuming a selfcatering holiday is fantastically well equipped with huge amounts of crockery, cutlery, modern cooking equipment and plenty of sharp knives, which a small point to some was totally absent at the last property we stayed at. The lounge, dining room and all the bedrooms have views of either the magnificent landscape or the wellmaintained garden. All the bedrooms on the ground floor and first floor had ensuite or accessible wellequipped bathrooms. We dined in the kitchen but the dining room seats probably another 8 but you apparently can extend the table further if you wish. It was raining quite a bit while we stayed at Stepping stones, which we had anticipated ourselves, but the owners had provided plenty of alternative activities in the way of games, puzzles, DVDs, a music system and there was also an upright piano too, if you play. There was also seating in the garden, which we did take advantage of during a warm, surprisingly sunny spell one afternoon. There was only one concern I had, which was that the heating seemed a bit hit and miss with some radiators working and some stone cold. Overall, it seems a warm house and the temperatures outside during our holiday were not cold, so it wasnt really tested. There is, however, also a wood burner in the lounge should temperatures really drop. The location of the property puts you about 25minutes walk from Ambleside along the safe road leading to the Ambleside town park. I wouldnt recommend walking along the A591. If you want to walk to Grasmere, its a bit longer either using a relatively easy walk around Rydal and Grasmere about an hour and a half or 2 hours depending on how fast you walk or via the steeper Coffin Walk. Great property in a great location.

Super week. Lovely large house in a beautiful setting. The gardens and the stepping stones in the river were a great attraction for the children. The house itself is lovely with beautiful White Company towels, bedding and complimentary bathroom cosmetics. Kitchen housed an absolute abundance of Portmeirion crockery and everything provided from a picnic bag to a fishing net! We will certainly be returning.

Beautiful house as described. We had a wonderful time as 2 families with 2 kids. The kids loved the attic room to sleep in and loved having the stepping stones to just go across and run all over the field. The house was comfortable, kitchen super well equipped. Only negatives are speed of internet the wifi didn't really work and the BBQ had a whole in the bottom of it but this really didn't impact our holiday phone signal was actually good and managed to use our phones for internet instead

Stepping stones is a fabulous house in an amazing setting it is however in need of significant upgrade work none of the sockets in the living room and some in the kitchen worked over the first weekend . Eventually after many phone calls an electrician sorted for us on the Sunday after a 2nd visit. The bath in the blue room is unusable as the plug doesnt fit and the shower over the bath has no screen or curtain meaning any water splashed on the floor makes its way through the dining room ceiling not good

Catherine

We loved the house, the location and views. All the rooms were lovely and comfortable, with all that you need in a home, and more. Great walking nearby and lakes to go on. A large table for family meals and another for the holiday puzzle. We would highly recommend.

This house and location are perfect, and as a result weve stayed here several times and will continue to do so. However, there was an unfortunate issue. We were due to take over the property at 4 p.m. on the Friday as per our booking. We received a telephone message at 115 p.m. advising us of pipelaying to the front of the property and that there was an issue with access. We were told we would be offered alternative accommodation if we decided we didnt want to take the property. We went to the property and the front was a real mess. In short, after several difficult phone calls, we decided to take the property as it was exactly what we wanted. There were clearly mitigating circumstances regarding the work, and the owner himself was very helpful. Our main gripe was with Lakelovers who, in fairness, were trying their best, but we felt we werent informed of the works until less than three hours before we arrived. We made the most of it despite the awkward access and would thoroughly recommend it.

The listing is ambiguous. It suggests 4 double bedrooms and a twin. In fact, the twin is in the attic, not on a stated second floor. We spent some time looking for a second floor. The attic is stated as unsuitable for adults, so it is a four doublebedroom house sleeping 8, plus a fourbed attic suitable for ages 515 perhaps. Needs clarifying. We managed, but two people ended up sleeping on the floor. As we were in jolly spirits and only there for the weekend, that was fine. Others may think otherwise. The house overall is fabulous and easily accommodates a large group.

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Stepping Stones House, Ambleside

About Stepping Stones House