This vacation home places you within a leisurely stroll of Dora's Field and Rydal Mount. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a balcony, and a refrigerator.
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal
A truly idyllic place to enjoy your holiday, Stableman's Cottage offers a lovely private 'home from home'…. comfortable accommodation, stunning views, fantastic walks straight from the door, an abundance of local wildlife, a myriad of local eateries, well located for visiting tourist attractions …. and much much more. This is a very special and conveniently located place to stay to fully embrace the sought-after Lake District holiday lifestyle. The area is renowned as one where famous Lakeland Poets lived and were inspired to write their romantic poetry. We even have the connection of Wordsworth's son once having lived at Stepping Stones House.
With its own private entrance from the garden, Stableman's is situated at the top of the historic Lakeland country house of Stepping Stones which overlooks the famous stepping stones across the River Rothay at the foot of Loughrigg Fell and surrounded by beautiful countryside. There are several holiday homes within the House so is unsuitable for loud groups as guests choose our location for its tranquility. This lovely location is amazingly within walking distance of the bustling village of Ambleside, a short drive to Grasmere and the popular tourist villages of Bowness and Windermere. Also a short stroll away is the pretty hamlet of Rydal where you will find the traditional Lakeland pub, the Badger Bar, and a tea room at Rydal Hall.
Combining characteristic features of exposed beams and vaulted ceilings with tasteful comfortable interiors, modern appliances and gas central heating, the apartment cottage is well-equipped for self-catering. With 3 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower rooms, the property layout is ideal for families (suitable for children from age 5+), groups of friends or two couples wishing to have separate private bathroom/shower facilities.
PROPERTY After parking and admiring our beautiful location looking down to the river and the fields and fells beyond, guests make their way UP STONE STEPS (14 to be precise) and follow a path at the side of the main garden to one more step that leads on to our private dining patio and front door. The front door leads into an open plan kitchen/dining area. This lovely fitted kitchen complete with electric oven, hob, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, microwave and washer/dryer is very well-equipped for self-catering. Two steps lead up into the lounge where the tastefully designed soft furnishings and comfortable seating provide a lovely relaxing place to unwind at the end of the day. There is a TV with Chromecast, DVD player, Sonos speaker and radio/CD player. From the lounge, one step accesses a hallway leading to the double bedroom with en-suite shower room to one side and in the opposite direction are the king size and single bedrooms and bathroom with shower over the bath. All the bedrooms have velux windows with blackout blinds and stunning views of the fells. There is some height restriction in the spacious bedrooms as they are built into the eaves. We provide bedlinen and towels. The bedroom configuration provides perfect accommodation for 2-5 people.
PLEASE NOTE Stableman’s is UNSUITABLE for guests with MOBILITY ISSUES because of the steps at the side of the house to reach our entrance, nor is it suitable for babies or children under 5 due to the garden being at a high level. We are sorry that pets are not allowed in the property under any circumstances.
AREA Ambleside is set in the heart of the Lake District National Park and is a 20 minute walk away. There are many restaurants, cafes, pubs, outdoor equipment and food shops. Close to England’s largest lake, Windermere, you can take a boat trip or hire rowing boats from Waterhead. Foodies will love the options of fine dining and Michelin Star restaurants in the area. Both within walking distance are Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage, both once homes of William Wordsworth, probably the most famous Lakeland poet. There is also Beatrix Potter’s house, Hill Top, in Near Sawrey and John Ruskin’s house, Brantwood, near Coniston.
There is a fantastic range of wonderful walks straight from our door ranging from short walks to full day hikes. These include a gentle stroll along the river to Ambleside, a walk up to nearby Rydal Caves by Rydal Water, Loughrigg Terrace towards Grasmere, pretty Loughrigg Tarn towards the Langdales and the fabulous 11 mile circuit of Fairfield Horseshoe.
There is also a great choice of other activities in this wonderful area whatever your age: sailing, cycling, canoeing, horse riding, 4 wheel driving, boat trips, visiting historic houses, attractions for children and families, quaint villages, enjoying the local tea shops or simply relaxing in our cottage. There are 3 cinemas in Ambleside showing recently released films, as well as live West End Shows, and there are theatres in Keswick, Windermere and Kendal.
There is a regular bus service with the nearest stop by Rydal Church just down the road. The bus route from Keswick to Kendal includes Windermere where there is a railway station which connects to Oxenholme, the mainline station for trains to/from London.
Waterhead near Ambleside is the closest base for cruises on Lake Windermere.
Guests have a true getting away from it all experience in beautiful and stunning scenery spectacularly located by River Rothay near Rydal Water.
There are 2 free parking places at Stepping Stones for guests staying at Stableman’s Cottage. The property is perfectly placed in the heart of the Lakes to discover the area by car yet also perfect for those wishing to walk from the doorstep without the use of the car.
Check in from 4pm on arrival date; check out by no later than 10am on departure date
Our exact location can be found on our Stepping Stones website.
Please note that if you have to cancel your accommodation, you must let us know as soon as possible. On receipt of such notice, we will use reasonable endeavours to re-let the accommodation. If we are successful, we will refund you your money (or part if we are only able to re-let the accommodation for part of your rental period or have to give a discount to sell it) less £50.00 per booking for our administration costs. If we are not able to re-let the accommodation, you will be liable to pay 100% of the total price.
It is always important to have general holiday/travel insurance for other unexpected circumstances.
The vacation home is heated and features a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a balcony or patio, and there's space to spread out with 3 bedrooms. Guests can expect to find free WiFi and a TV with a DVD player. Other standard amenities include a washer/dryer, an electric kettle, and an ironing board.
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
General
Garden
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
Please do NOT book nor contact us about pets nor children under 6 years old. These 'rules' are put in place for health and safety reasons. Thank you
Access methods
Private entrance
Pets
This property doesn't allow pets
Children and extra beds
Note from host: Suitable for children aged 6+
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 21
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Onsite safety features include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit.
Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:
There are no elevators.
Property is also known as
Beautiful Lakeland Stunning Location Perfect Base Heart Lakes
Beautiful Property Stunning Location Near Ambleside
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do within easy reach of this vacation home?
This vacation home is located in Ambleside, a short 11-minute walk from Rydal Mount and also 9 minutes on foot from Dora's Field. You'll also find Rydal Water and Rydal Hall Labyrinth less than a mile away.
Will I be able to park at Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal?
No, there isn't parking at this vacation home.
Is this vacation home associated with a casino?
No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.
Is there an indoor pool at this vacation home?
No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.
What do couples enjoy most about Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal?
At this historic vacation home, amenities that appeal to couples include a kitchen, a kitchen in some house, as well as a garden.
Are there hot tubs at Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal?
No, this vacation home doesn't have a spa tub.
Does this vacation home provide breakfast?
No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.
Does this vacation home allow pets to stay for free?
No, pets aren't allowed at this vacation home.
Are there connecting rooms at Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal?
No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this vacation home.
Can I book a room with a balcony at Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal?
Yes, every house at Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal comes with a patio.
Stablemans Cottage, perfect riverside location between Ambleside & Rydal Reviews
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 54 out of 57 reviews
10 - Excellent
54
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 57 reviews
8 - Good
2
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 57 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 57 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 57 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
9.8/10
Cleanliness
6.0/10
Amenities
8.0/10
Property conditions & facilities
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
samantha m.
Mar 31, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
Pristine clean, amazing location, really comfortable beds-we had a perfect three days.
samantha m.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
10/10 Excellent
Gary R.
Sep 9, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Charming, quaint, and contemporary when helpful all at the same time.
Great Wordsworth Anthology shared, adequate accomodation (except we couldn’t find any detergent for laundry), nice set up for the single room with a very cute lamb stuff animal, location is not ideal with closest restaurant twenty minutes walk away. Great trails close by though. Overall, would recommend for stay.
Margaret
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Darren M.
Jan 27, 2020
Liked: Cleanliness
awesome place
absolutely amazing place, we had a fantastic weekend and will return within the near future
Darren M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
10/10 Excellent
Kay J.
Jan 6, 2020
Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect get-away!
Great location, beautiful cottage - cosy, comfortable and stylish. Communications before and during our stay were excellent. Perfect!
Kay J.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
10/10 Excellent
Tara W.
Nov 6, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Location
We were two couples enjoying a weekend in the Lake District. The Stableman’s Cottage was very comfortable in a great location. We walked to pubs and hikes but still felt like we had a country experience. Julia and the accommodations were perfect!
Tara W.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
10/10 Excellent
Helen S.
Oct 19, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing!
My friend and I have just spent 4 nights staying in Stableman’s Cottage and we loved it! For us the location was a perfect base to explore the Lake District. The cottage is beautiful, spacious but homely, and we really appreciated that Julia and Andy had provided lots of information about the Lake District, including some local walks which we did. A brilliant week and we’re looking forward to coming back. Thank you Julia and Andy!
Helen S.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2019
10/10 Excellent
SarAh S.
Aug 19, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely cottage and location
Spacious, clean property as described with everything we needed and more. Lovely location, ideal for getting to lots of places with plenty of lovely walks right on the doorstep and no need to drive. As described in listing there are quite a few steps / slope up to the property so if you don’t want / can’t do steps then it’s not the property for you. Otherwise would definitely recommend, we would definitely consider if in the area again.
SarAh S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
10/10 Excellent
Marion C.
Jul 7, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing at Rydal
We loved Stableman's Cottage for its comfort and homely feel and most of all for its position at Rydal: the ability to sit outside and look up at the fells. Also, very good position for access to other parts of the Lakes. It made two octogenarians very happy!
Marion C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer S.
May 31, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
A wonderful cottage!
We loved staying here as a family of four in the half term. It was beautiful and comfortable (fantastic beds!) and we used it as a base for local walks as well as exploring further afield. Kids adored the stepping stones. Can’t fault it.
Jennifer S.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019
10/10 Excellent
Jean F.
May 28, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
An Idyllic vacation cottage.
Stableman's cottage is very well appointed in a beautiful area of the Lake District close to Ambleside. Walking Trails are right outside the front of the cottage and we enjoyed wonderful walks in the countryside. There is also a pub in walking distance. May is my favorite time to visit the UK to enjoy a vacation with my sister. The cottage had a good selection of DVD's, games and books and the WiFi was also very good. This property was very clean and had nice bed linens and a very well equipped kitchen. The property owner was very attentive to our needs. We loved hearing the lambs bleating and enjoyed the beautiful garden of Stableman's. This property has a number of steps leading up to it but all in all I would highly recommend this property
Jean F.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019
10/10 Excellent
Violet W.
May 6, 2019
Bliss, perfect location and cosy beautiful accomodation
Couldn’t recommend enough. Everything you need is included and the place is immaculate. For sightseeing the cottage is a perfect location and great for a walk to the nearest pub or restaurant for a meal. We spend some much needed time chilling in this wonderful setting. Thank you so much xx
Violet W.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019
2/10 Terrible
patricia H.
May 5, 2019
Very disappointed in the cottage not as shown on website 3 bedrooms with no windows only skylight
The cottage was very cold during the day. Heating intermittent at night one bedroom has no heating the 3 bedrooms had no windows only skylights which did not open so rooms were airless one small window in lounge room which looked into a roof next door small windows in kitchen looking into
Next door when we arrived there was about a quarter of a toilet roll in bathrooms one soap capsule for the dishwasher so had to immediately go shopping the web site is very deceiving this “cottage “was just added onto the front house but the web site showed the beautiful stone house in the front with views the only pluses were that the beds were comfortable and the bathroom was good with a bath and shower The en-suite bedroom had no dressing table or drawers to store clothing there was actually an old wardrobe with doors that did not close but the wardrobe had lots of stuff in it blankets and hairdryer forgot to add there was no heater in the lounge no wood burner or fireplace had decide to vacate and lose the money but as it was Easter there was nowhere else available my family and I have stayed many times in the lake district and have stayed in some gorgeous welcoming cottages and I have always left glowing reports in the reviews so we could not believe the unwelcoming cottage here I am sorry to leave such a review but felt in fairness to people booking here I felt it right to give my true impressions
patricia H.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2019
10/10 Excellent
Nell S.
Apr 3, 2019
Charming getaway with beautiful views!
The Stableman’s Cottage was an absolutely darling getaway for our family’s holiday. The location was perfect for access to several little towns like Ambleside and Grasmere, but still had stunning views to wake up to and was easily accessible to surrounding hikes (we did Helvellyn). Julia was a very hospitable and thoughtful host as well, anticipating everything that would make our stay enjoyable. We will definitely be back!
Nell S.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2019
10/10 Excellent
John S.
Feb 4, 2019
Fabulous few days in this lovely location
The property is well kept and clean and is in a lovely secluded area. Everything was supplied wi-fi etc all worked fine. The beds were very comfortable with great views of the sky at night.
The entire experience was very positive and we would not hesitate to re-book
John S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019
10/10 Excellent
Lorna B., Kent, UK
Oct 19, 2018
Peaceful, beautiful.
Well equipped cottage with gorgeous beds. Warm & cosy. Fab walks to Grasmere, Ambleside, Fairfield Horseshoe etc.
Lorna B.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018
10/10 Excellent
Guy S.
Feb 19, 2018
Spotless cottage in heart of lake district
A lovely old cottage beautifully renovated with loads of walks on the doorstep. The house was spotless and very warm.
Guy S.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018
10/10 Excellent
Jean F.
Jan 20, 2018
Lovely comfortable warm cottage with lots of character. Very clean. Well equipped.
We took lots of walks right from the door, both flat and hilly. (The young ones in the party took to the hills, the older ones stayed mostly on the flatter paths). Good choice of eating places nearby from Michelin Star to pizza delivered to the door. Lovely warm bathroom where clothes can be dried, though main bedroom could have been a little warmer. We sometimes took the car to explore and walk in other parts of the Lakes. Nice and handy to Ambleside for food basics. Would thoroughly recommend.
Jean F.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2018
10/10 Excellent
Richard H.
Jan 9, 2018
A fantastic location and perfectly equipped cottage just outside Ambleside
We had a wonderful winter break in the Lakes and this cottage is in an idyllic and quiet location overlooking a stream with the hills beyond. The cottage is very well equipped and warm.
Thanks for having us!
Richard H.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2018
8/10 Good
Stuart F.
May 17, 2017
Lovely cottage - Great location
My wife, daughter & I enjoyed a wonderful stay at Stableman's Cottage earlier this month.
The property was impeccably clean and worked extremely well as a self-catering holiday let.
Its central location within the Lake District served as a good base in which to explore in all directions. There were also plenty of walks direct from cottage, up onto Loughrigg Fell, or down to Rydall Water & Grasmere.
Most evenings we enjoyed a leisurely walk into Ambleside which only took 25 minutes.
The walk is on a quiet road that follows the path of the River Rothay. We did it a number of times and never saw any cars, just a few other holiday makers, joggers & cyclists.
Julia (the owner) was extremely helpful, professional and a pleasure to deal with.
I would certainly recommend to anyone who is looking for a few nights away.
Stuart F.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2017
10/10 Excellent
Dev P., Rhyl, Wales
Apr 21, 2017
I loved it completely and would be back to the same place whenever I can.
From the booking experience to the day of departure everything was perfect and as described. Thanks to Julia for her full support towards my first self catering cottage trip and look forward for many more to come. The place is beautiful, warm and cozy where you can even spend the whole time reading numerous books, take a stroll down the street to hidden streams, parks and hill trails. You can walk to Waterhead in 40 min where one can take the steamers to any part of the lake easily. Overall 5 stars experience and hundred percent would come back to the same place in future.
Dev P.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2017
10/10 Excellent
Derek W.
Apr 15, 2017
Excellent
This was a lovely cottage. Ideally located within easy reach of the main centre of Ambleside.
Walking from the door of the cottage was limitless.
Derek W.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2017
10/10 Excellent
H.M.K. K.
Aug 7, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Lief huisje in een paradijselijke omgeving
Een prachtig vakantiehuis in een geweldige omgeving. Vanuit huis wandelen. Dichtbij stad maar toch vrij. Lieflijk gelegen. Heerlijke bedden.