Stanley House

Eskdale is a magical part of the Lakes, with walking, cycling, the steam train and Hardknott Roman Fort nearby. We hired the whole place for a large group and would happily stay again. Stanley Ghyll isn’t a luxury B&B, but it has lovely gardens, shared spaces and a well-equipped kitchen. The beds were comfortable, the showers powerful, and the location excellent. The table football and pool/cinema room were a nice bonus, and we ate very well at the Woolpack Inn too.

We enjoyed the area so much we added another night. There’s plenty to do nearby, from a swim at Tongue Pot and the Eskdale Railway to Hardknott Pass, the Roman Fort, the Woolpack Inn and beautiful Wasdale. Hardknott Pass is fun, but not for the faint-hearted. Our large room had a very big, comfortable bed, and the character property has gorgeous gardens and a stream. The shower was powerful and hot, the WiFi fast, and it was handy having an ice maker in the shared kitchen fridge. Thanks for the towels, that was a nice surprise. A few things to know: there was no toilet roll, one part of the bath was stained though everything seemed clean, and neither the TV remote nor the DVD player built into the TV worked. It wasn’t the end of the world.

We thoroughly enjoyed our three-night stay. The house has extensive grounds, a great shared kitchen and dining room, and lounges. It’s in a beautiful spot, with the Ravenglass and Eskdale steam railway passing almost by the door and Dalesgarth station no more than a ten-minute walk away. My husband thought it was a hotel, but it’s actually a set of self-catering rooms in a large house. I’ve given service a low score because there’s no staff on site. You can call the sister hotel, the Woolpack Inn up the valley, and they can answer questions or send someone to help.

Lovely surroundings and a good place for families, couples or groups of friends to rest after a hike. There are shared books and games, and spaces to spend time together, as well as a kitchen with all the equipment you need. The train stop is at the house.