Sockbridge Mill Bed and Breakfast

Debby and Gary can suggest walks, trips, pubs and restaurants, and there are paths to explore from the mill itself. A river runs nearby, with a pony trekking centre just a few hundred metres away. Their artist studios are tucked into the large gardens, which guests can wander through. The house is set down a winding path, away from roads, so it's a wonderfully quiet spot for a break. We had a lovely week at Sockbridge Mill. The hosts were welcoming and made us feel at home in this spacious converted watermill. Wooden beams and features like the mill wheel give it real character, while the warm decor makes it cosy. Our clean, comfortable room had plenty of bedding and storage. The shower had great pressure and everything worked properly. After a cup of tea by the log fire, we were set for the night. Breakfast was organic, hearty and delicious, with homemade bread. It's well placed for a short drive to Lake Ullswater, as well as trips to Kendall, Windermere and Wordsworth’s Cottage. For the quality and location, it felt like great value. I'd love to come back!

Sockbridge Mill is clean and well restored, with modern decor, but our experience with the landlord was insulting and disrespectful. There are a few house rules and inconveniences, including taking shoes off at the door and not being able to pay by card or cheque. The customer service is why I can't recommend it to anyone who values being treated well. A tap handle snapped in our en suite bathroom. Debbie, the land lady, acknowledged at the time that it wasn't our fault. My wife and I had managed taps for a combined 60 years without this happening, and I'm no incredible hulk. Debbie offered us another bathroom for the night, but it was still a real hassle. We had our 12 week old baby with us and chose the B&B partly so we'd have hot and cold water without crossing the landing repeatedly overnight. Instead, we had to fill a flask with warm water for frequent changes, use baby wipes to wash our hands, and hold our baby in the shower for a bath. It made the stay unpleasant. When we paid the next day, we thought a small reduction might be fair, perhaps the difference between an en suite and standard room since the en suite couldn't be used. No reduction was offered, so we brought it up ourselves. Gary, the landlord, then suggested I'd broken the tap and said I should be glad we weren't charged for it. We paid the balance in cash as requested, but he accused us of not paying in full until we pointed out that we'd already sent a deposit by paypal. We didn't get what we'd paid for, and we left feeling insulted and disrespected.

The place had character and was in a very quiet spot, and the family were nice. Still, we felt a bit like intruders. For what we paid, we expected a more hotel-like level of service and a more generous breakfast, so I don't feel keen to go back.

The owners are a delight, accommodating and happy to help without being intrusive. It's a beautiful, restful place, and the services were excellent, including a lovely English breakfast.