Lyndhurst Guest House

I chose this place for a weekend of hiking because it’s close to town, and it is, but it felt like a lot of money for very little service. The owner wasn’t there when we arrived because of a family crisis, so I collected the key. The room definitely needs TLC: ceiling wallpaper was coming away in places, the bathroom radiator was cracked, the main door was poorly fitted with a gap, and its lock didn’t work. The shower and window were grubby too. There was no welcome folder or information about what to do in a fire. I got a couple of text messages and a quick call from the owner. Google and a few websites still say they serve breakfast, but apparently they don’t now. You also have to ask for the room to be cleaned. There are definitely better places to stay in keswick.

The room was tiny, with a small shower and no space to open our bags, despite paying 100 pounds. We didn’t see any hosts, there was no reception, and the management couldn’t be contacted. The keys were simply left in a safe. I think there may have been breakfast and a reception area a few years ago, which might explain some of the positive reviews. I suspect the owners themselves may have written the reviews and ratings.

For £200 we got two nights in what felt like a boxroom. Check-in was at 16:00 and check-out at 10:00. The bathroom and toilet were so tiny I honestly wondered if I could fit inside. The bed was harder than a table, and I got about 3 hours of sleep each night.

Barbara was so kind and happy to help with anything. The room was spotless, with the usual tea, coffee and kettle, plus a mini fridge that was especially handy during the warm week.