Introduction
There are seven cottages at Near Howe, sleeping between 2 to 7 people. The cottages are a mix of single and two storey properties, all of which are non-smoking throughout.
We have tried to provide as much information as possible in this statement. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone, email or in person.
Our website is our primary source of information. Printed versions of all information (including this accessibility statement) are available on request. This includes large print, but unfortunately Braille formats are not available.
Booking
Bookings / enquiries can be made online via the website, email or by telephone. There are also a number of agencies who integrate with our central calendar and market the properties on our behalf.
Please note that anyone with any form of disability considering a stay at Near Howe should contact the owners to discuss the suitability of the accommodation and the facilities provided to ensure it is suitable.
Getting to Near Howe
Car: If using a sat nav, the best postcode to find us is CA11 0SZ. There is a large sign at the bottom of the driveway to Near Howe Cottages. We are at the top of a ¾ mile gravel driveway with a steep incline to reach the top of the hill.
Car parking is available for all cottages in a gravel car park. Guests are welcome to unload / load their cars very close to the outside of the entrance to each cottage, before parking in the car park.
Guests with limited mobility staying in Bannerdale can be dropped off / picked up on the flagged area immediately outside the cottage.
Assistance with luggage from and to the car is available by prior arrangement with the owners.
Train: The nearest train station is 12 miles away at Penrith. There are taxi numbers at the station.
Bus: The nearest bus stop is at the end of the Mungrisdale road on the A66. This is approximately 2 miles away and so arrival by bus is not recommended.
Laundry
There is a separate laundry accessed by a single step, with 2 washing machines and a dryer which are coin operated, taking £1 coins. There is a large outside drying area, which can be accessed via a ramp. Electric storage and convection heaters in the cottages should not be used to dry items as this is a fire risk.
If you need any assistance with accessing the laundry facilities, please contact the owners.
Rubbish and Recycling
2 general bins and 4 recycling bins are provided in a separate area to the left of the laundry. Items should be bagged and disposed of responsibly in the appropriate bins.
The bins are accessed by a single step. Given the limited space, wheelchair access to the recycling area is not advised – please contact the owners if you need any assistance emptying the bins.
Grounds and Gardens
Guests have the use of the fully enclosed two-acre garden and a four-acre enclosed field. Within the garden there are many level grassed areas and outdoor seating areas.
A swinging chair is available for guests to use; young children should be supervised on this at all times.
It should be noted that there are several external hazards (swinging chair, raised washing line, barbed wire fencing etc.); therefore, young children should be accompanied at all times.
Outside Lighting
The car park is lit during all hours of darkness. Outside lighting around the cottages is provided until midnight. Additional outside sensor lighting is provided during all hours of darkness.
A torch is provided in each cottage.
Disabled Accommodation Policy
We are always pleased to welcome visitors with disabilities. Detailed information about Bannerdale, a ground-floor apartment is available on the website as well as in later sections in this Access Statement.
We have successfully accommodated many physically impaired visitors accompanied by able-bodied friends / family in Bannerdale. We can arrange a viewing prior to booking if necessary, to ensure the cottage is suitable for you.
Cottage Information
The cottages have been designed, approved and constructed for permanent residential accommodation and all relevant building regulations were met at the time of construction.
The owners maintain a fire risk assessment and the following fire safety precautions are taken:
- Floor/ceiling separation between Bannerdale (downstairs) and Sharp Edge (upstairs) is of a 1-hour fire resistance material.
- All properties have an integrated ceiling mounted battery-operated smoke/heat fire detection and alarm systems, which are checked regularly.
- Sharp Edge has a separate evacuation route through the main farmhouse.
- Carbon monoxide detectors are included in Sharp Edge, Stable Barn and Saddleback Barn where the oil boilers are located.
- Fire extinguishers, notices and blankets are provided in each kitchen.
Entrance Accessibility
The access to each cottage varies. The table below provides a summary of the access to and within each cottage.
| Cottage | Sleeps | Entrance Access | Within Cottage |
| Sharp Edge | 2 | 1st floor flat, accessed via two flights of stairs | On one level |
| Bannerdale | 4 | Ground floor flat, level access to the cottage | On one level |
| Howe End | 4 | Level access to the cottage | On one level |
| Howe Top | 4 | 3 shallow steps to entrance | On one level |
| Grisdale View | 4 | 3 shallow steps to entrance | On one level |
| Stable Barn | 5 | 1 step over the entrance | On two levels, bedrooms are upstairs |
| Saddleback Barn | 7 | 1 step over the entrance | On two levels. Two bedrooms are downstairs and the third bedroom and living area is upstairs |
Heating and Hot Water
Hot water/central heating boilers are provided in Saddleback Barn Stable Barn, Bannerdale and Sharp Edge. Grisdale View, Howe Top and Howe End are heated by a combination of electric storage and convection heaters.
Timing/switch programmers for hot water and central heating for each cottage are provided and there is information on how to boost the hot water and heating if required.
Kitchens/Dining Areas
In all cottages, the kitchen/dining areas are integrated with the living room.
All the kitchens are made of high-quality oak or laminate and have doors with knobs or handles. There are easy sliding drawers and / or cupboards under the laminated worktops and wall hung cupboards for crockery, glassware, etc. above the worktops.
Within each kitchen, the following are provided:
- Side opening built-in/free standing fridge-freezers
- Built-in electric ovens, four ring ceramic hob with extractor fan
- Sink with draining board and mixer tap
- Microwave oven, toaster, kettle, chopping boards, cooking utensils
- Cutlery, crockery and glassware for the maximum number of guests
Full-sized dishwashers are provided in Saddleback Barn, Stable Barn and Bannerdale. Slimline dishwashers are provided in Sharp Edge and Howe End.
Main lighting is by adjustable direction spot lighting and natural light from windows.
All cottages have dining tables with sufficient chairs for the maximum number of guests.
Living Rooms
In all cottages, the living room is integrated with the kitchen/dining areas.
All living rooms are well lit with separate reading lamps where necessary. The following are included in the living rooms:
- Flat screen TV and DVD player
- A fireplace with electric coal effect blow fire
- Settees or separate chairs, sufficient for the maximum number of guests
Bedrooms
All the entrance doors are standard sized, side hinged with lever/knob handles, with the exception of bedroom 1 in Bannerdale, which is wheelchair accessible.
All bedrooms have fully-fitted carpeting. The beds all have spring-interior mattresses and covered headboards, except for wooden headboards in Stable Barn.
The table shows the bed sizes in each cottage. Note the zip and link beds can either be made-up as singles or doubles. Unless otherwise stated, they will be made-up as doubles.
| Cottage | Sleeps | Bedroom | Bed Sizes |
| Sharp Edge | 2 | 1 | Zip and link 3-foot singles/ super king |
| Bannerdale | 4 | 1 | Zip and link 3-foot singles/ super king |
| 2 | Zip and link 2-foot 6-inch singles/king | ||
| Howe End | 4 | 1 | 5-foot double |
| 2 | 2 x 3-foot singles | ||
| Howe Top | 4 | 1 | 5-foot double |
| 2 | 2 x 2-foot 6-inch singles | ||
| Grisdale View | 4 | 1 | 5-foot double |
| 2 | 2 x 3-foot singles | ||
| Stable Barn | 5 | 1 | 5-foot 6-inch king |
| 2 | 5-foot double and 3-foot single | ||
| Saddleback Barn | 7 | 1 | Zip and link 3-foot singles/super king |
| 2 | Zip and link 3-foot singles/super king plus 3 foot single | ||
| 3 | 5-foot 6inch king |
All bedrooms have the following:
- Free-standing or integrated wardrobes
- Dressing tables
- Mirrors
- Bedside tables with free-standing or wall-mounted lights
- Chairs / stools (except in the main bedroom of Grisdale View)
Bathrooms
Saddleback Barn, Stable Barn, Bannerdale and Sharp Edge bedrooms all have en-suite facilities. Grisdale View, Howe Top and Howe End have shared bathroom facilities. In all the bathrooms there is non-slip vinyl flooring and toilet rolls and liquid soap is provided.
All the entrance doors are standard sized, side hinged with lever/knob handles, and fitted with locking systems. The only exception to this is the wet room in Bannerdale, which is wheelchair accessible.
Shared bathrooms (Grisdale View, Howe Top and Howe End)
The shared bathrooms have the following:
- A standard sized height bath (approximately 60cm high) with mid-length side-fixed metal hand grips for ease of access/exit, leaver taps at waste end and chain-linked rubber waste plugs
- An electric shower over the bath, which is switched on outside in the hallway. A water repellent shower curtain and removable rubber shower mats
- A ceramic pedestal mounted and wall-attached basin, with leaver taps and plunger operated plugs
- Wall mounted mirrors with electric pull-cord strip fan heater and shaver point
- Ceramic, standard sized toilet with fold down plastic seats/lids and flushed by push buttons
- Tiling, wall emulsion and door/skirting paints provide good colour contrasting
En-suite bathrooms (Sharp Edge, Bannerdale, Stable Barn, Saddleback Barn)
The en-suite bathrooms vary.
- There is a bath in the main bathrooms in Saddleback Barn, Stable Barn and Sharp Edge. The baths are mid-length, standard height (approximately 60cm high), with side-fixed metal hand grips for ease of access/exit, leaver taps at waste end and chain-linked rubber waste plugs
- Baths in the main bathrooms in Saddleback Barn, Stable Barn have showers over the baths, with water-repellent drawable curtaining and removable rubber shower mats.
- Other en-suites in Saddleback, Stable Barns and Bannerdale have shower cubicles with rubber shower mats and Sharp Edge bathroom has a separate shower cubicle with a removable rubber shower mat
- In Bannerdale there is a large wet room off the main bedroom with a removeable seat in the shower
- Wall mounted mirrors and shaver points are fixed above each basin
- A ceramic pedestal mounted and wall-attached basin, with leaver taps and plunger operated plugs
- Ceramic, standard sized toilet with fold down plastic seats/lids and flushed by push buttons