A very nice review from Family Traveller
Gate House is a handsome Georgian property with meticulously furnished interiors. Namrata Bhawnani discovers it’s ideal for a family stay and as a base for the Old Man of Coniston climb.
After a long drive from London, my husband and I arrived in picturesque Coniston village to find a handsome Georgian property just a two-minute walk from the nearest pub. This delightful bonus aside, entering the Gate House was like stepping inside the Tardis – three gorgeously furnished living areas revealed themselves before we entered a large, well equipped kitchen.
The back garden of the property held a truly special surprise, for we discovered that we had our very own babbling brook in the backyard. There were sheep grazing out front, a pretty stream out back and we were officially in Jane Austen-land!
It was clear that the owners, Simon and Jane, had taken meticulous care in restoring and furnishing the self-catering property. With exquisite attention to detail, they had found the elusive balance between modern and homely, elegant and playful. The more my husband and I travel, the more we look for places with character, rather than an impersonal, eminently forgettable hotel room. And the Gate House’s warm and lovingly refurbished interiors made us feel right at home.
Historically, Gate House had early associations with the family who developed the 19th century Coppermines. It was the home to the famous lakes artist Alfred Heaton Cooper in the early 20th century who decided to call it ‘Sondheim’. Many works of the artist adorn the cottage walls in keeping with the history of Gate House. READ THE FULL REVIEW ON FAMILY TRAVELLER
