Gartmore House

Gartmore House runs residential craft courses, with great staff and facilities and first-class tutoring. Everyone is really friendly. I can't wait to come back.

A good, warm and comfortable place to stay for a craft course, with delightful staff and decent food. The building itself is starting to crumble a bit.

Learning new techniques in an art or craft you already love was great fun. Gartmore House is a hidden gem, with comfortable accommodation, quality meals, and attentive staff. What more could you ask for?

The grounds were lovely even in their natural, less-maintained state. We spotted rabbits, or maybe hares, on the driveway, and there seem to be at least two cats who mostly keep their distance. Heating was a real plus: the mechanical thermostats let us set the temperature, and the heat stayed on overnight even in early September. It was warmer and cosier than other places we stayed on the trip, though I’m not sure I’d trust those old windows in midwinter. We booked a regular two-night stay, not a workshop. The outside looks a bit run-down, but the interior was impressive once we got in. The Wi-Fi seems to have improved since other reviews, and worked well. The furniture was no longer in bad shape, but cleanliness could be better: we found hairs between the sheets and blanket, plus stains on the bathroom floor. Our room and bathroom were both very small. The tub was only about half-size and the shower head was fixed. The bathroom fan didn't work, though we found that annoyingly common on our Scotland trip. The room seemed set up for one person despite our double booking, with just one mug and one set of towels. We managed without asking for more, since it was a short stay, but it seemed odd. When we arrived there was nobody at reception, which gave the place a bit of a haunted-house feel. We found the key and invoice on the counter, and another guest gave us a quick introduction. The stair lights stayed on at night while the ground floor was dark, so going outside for a smoke after 10 pm felt a bit creepy. Nobody showed us the amenities, though signs pointed to the dining room and other shared spaces, and there was a WhatsApp number on the reception desk. Breakfast was included and average, but the serving window felt restrictive. We were told something like 8:15 to 9:00, though I don't remember the exact time.