Leavens Farmstead a Rural Lake District Retreat with Hot Tub - Ridgestone

Location is central

We recently stayed at this property as a group of six for what was meant to be a relaxing reunion. While the house itself has clear potential—the setting is lovely, with a pleasant garden and outlook that would be ideal on a summer’s day—our overall experience was disappointing. The main issue was the standard of cleanliness and general upkeep, which fell well below what we would expect from a property advertised as “luxury” and suitable for families and pets. On arrival, we felt compelled to spend around an hour cleaning the kitchen before we could comfortably use it. Many surfaces were sticky or stained, cookware and utensils were greasy, and there were visible food splashes that had not been properly cleaned. Beyond this, several maintenance issues gave the impression of neglect. These included a loose oven seal, a broken dishwasher shelf, a smashed freezer drawer, and flickering or non-functioning kitchen lights. In the bathrooms, there was a loose tile and a broken toilet seat. The front door handle was also difficult to operate. The exterior areas were particularly disappointing. The outdoor bin appeared not to have been emptied for a long time, with rubbish scattered nearby. The BBQ was dirty and left uncovered, and the outdoor cushions were mouldy and unusable until we requested replacements. The garden itself needed attention, including weeding, and there was a partially finished building area with materials left out, which did not feel safe—especially for children. In addition, the house was not adequately equipped for the number of guests it accommodates. With only minimal and mismatched cutlery, limited glassware (including just one pint glass), and insufficient kitchen equipment overall, it made self-catering unnecessarily difficult. We also found the information provided lacking—for example, instructions for the heating system were unclear, and despite our efforts to adjust it, it continued to come on and made the house uncomfortably warm.

The property was perfect loved the location being on a farm with fantastic views of the countryside

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Nice interior and comfortable rooms. The location was good and the size of the property was good for 6 people.

The kitchen was not that well equipped, it would benefit from more plates and bowls. The bathroom on the first floor was very difficult to use as the ceiling was very low and slanted. The bedroom downstairs with the ensuite was very creaky and the bolts could be tightened. The pictures of the property give the impression that the house is detached but it is attached to a another building which is occupied. The garden could be tidied and the outdoor furniture could be cleaned.

Beautiful views , lovely farmhouse

Not fully secure when bringing your dog , gaps in fence for them to get out

Well presented, clean and cosy. The sofa and beds were very comfortable and property was well located. Property as described and good value for money. Would definitely love to stay again.

A welcome pack would have been nice as there were some things we were struggling with (heating system, outdoor lights etc). Upstairs bathroom quite unusual and not really useable. It would have been nice if some kindling was provided as heating was off.

The location is really good and really easy to get to. Amazing views, especially from the hot tub. The cottage itself is really social and very well finished. And very comfortable. You’re given almost everything you need

There was a fly problem in the upstairs velux windows that meant I had to hoover and push them out of the window. The main bathroom doesn’t drain very well and meant you couldn’t shower properly otherwise it’d flood. The upstairs bathroom was in the ceiling and you couldn’t stand up in it. One side of the oven didn’t work. But considering how nice the rest of the cottage was it was not really an issue in the end. Just some minor points