I had two glorious weeks at Whillan Beck cottage, which is every bit as pretty as the pictures show. The spacious back garden, with the beck running along its edge, was a pleasant surprise, perfect for relaxing after a day on the fells and to enjoy your morning breakfast in. New as I was to the Lake District area, I found the cottage was perfectly situated for visitors that want to have immediate access to both fell walking as well as village life with several nice pubs within walking distance.
The service given by the manager and the rest of the staff at Select Cottages was above and beyond what I expected, and they made me feel both welcomed and well taken care of throughout my stay. Their suggestions on where to walk and what to see & do in the Eskdale area were particularly appreciated by me.
The cottage itself was so cute, nicely heated and the choice of furniture and textiles gives it a luxurious but still cosy feel on both floors. The soothing sound of the beck right outside the bedroom window enhanced the pleasant indoor experience. It was great to be able to step out the bedroom door in the mornings, sit in the doorway and wake up to the sight and sound of the old Mill situated across the lovely old stone bridge. Although a car might make it easier to get around Eskdale, I was able to travel all the way to Boot by train. The Ravenglass to Dalegarth railway also made it easy to explore the area beyond walking distance from Boot, when you need a day's rest from walking. Eskdale and Boot is a wonderful place to be and even after a two week stay, I still want to come back and see much more of it.
