Wink to the Past

Stay awhile at this stunning Grade II Listed 18th Century residence, located on the main road between the Lake District National Park's villages of Staveley and Ings – and just a five-minute drive from Lake Windemere. Before you've even set foot through the majestic fifteen-panelled entrance door, you know this isn't your average holiday home. Eyes immediately draw to the stunning sweeping oak staircase, with two panoramic windows revealing a wooded garden that beckons for you to relax in. Inside, this exquisite home comes with all the period trimmings – original feature alcoves, parquet wooden flooring, sash windows, panelled walls, and antique furnishings galore. Upstairs, discover two immaculately presented bedrooms where five-star hotel standard king-size beds await, while a double-ended slipper bath brings a touch of decadence to the bathrooms. Back downstairs, the well-equipped kitchen with stylish black AGA and Belfast sink makes preparing mealtimes a joy, and with two large reception rooms, there's space for you to all spill out here. When it's time to spread your wings, Staveley is a leisurely ten-minute stroll away, where you'll find a traditional pub, quirky cafes, a bakery, gelato bar, a microbrewery, bike hire, and so the list goes on. And of course, there's Lake Windermere – how could we forget.

Home truths:
*Your hosts live in the smaller annexe next door – they’ll welcome you, then leave you to enjoy your holiday *There's off-road parking for four cars on the driveway *There is wi-fi here, but due to the rural location, it’s not the fastest *The 599 open-top bus is just a 10-minute walk down the road in Ings – it goes to Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside and Grasmere *There’s no freezer in the kitchen, but your host Gillian always has ice at the ready for a cheeky G&T *The hosts feel this home is unsuitable for children due to the gas AGA and the large staircase that has no gates, though you can contact them if this isn't a concern *There's a welcome gift including milk, butter, and artisan bread *You can hear noise from the road outside