Monk Coniston

The food was fabulous, and the staff were warm, helpful and working flat out. They were clearly short staffed, with everyone covering several jobs and no dedicated cleaning or maintenance team. That showed in the rest of the place: our room wasn't cleaned and the towels weren't changed during our five-night stay, shared areas were dirty, and the barn we used for yoga was filthy. A bathroom towel radiator leaked, and instead of fixing it someone took away my bathmat and left an old tea towel underneath. It’s a beautiful old house in a lovely setting, but badly needs renovation. The building feels tired and dated, the gardens are overgrown, the summer house is collapsing, and the paths and driveway have dangerous potholes. HF Holidays needs to put serious money into it before I’d consider returning. The problems aren't a reflection on the hard-working staff, who couldn't have been more helpful.

We really enjoyed our stay. The location is beautiful and the staff were fantastic. Since it’s a historic National Trust property, some issues are understandable, though the room maintenance could be better.

I had a very relaxing week with HF walking. The house has loads of character, and there are good walks right from the door, including an easy route through a sheep field down to the lake. The walled garden was lovely, and I saw deer in the garden and a red squirrel. From my room I had wonderful views of the fells, with more lovely views over Coniston water. The food was very good too. It’s a very old property and could do with some money spent on it, but I really enjoyed the stay.

Monk Coniston is a great place to head out on foot, with Brantwood, hi e of Rushkin, Tarn Howes, the Old Man and Coniston itself within reach. The grounds are extensive, and it was lovely to stay in such a well preserved building. Staff were always friendly and helpful, and meals were served remarkably quickly. I was glad to have vegan options at every meal. My room was comfortable, the bed was comfy, and there was plenty of hot water.