Guest Information

BBQ

· There is an outside brick-built BBQ for you to enjoy. Thank you for cleaning the grill after use (the grill comes in 2 parts and can go in the dishwasher) – coals not provided

CCTV

· You will see 4 CCTV cameras on the outside of the Property solely for the safety and security of the cottage. They are not positioned in any way to intrude on your privacy. The cameras are positioned:

1+2: Back door entrance facing in both directions along the private road

3: On to locked garden shed

4: Side of the cottage, facing outwards by the bins, between Ridgeway and Rivendell

· To confirm there are no cameras inside the property and none in the garden space.

· All exterior recorded footage is automatically deleted after 30 days.

Check Out

· We appreciate your adherence to the 11am departure time to enable us to get the property ready for the next guests.

o Keys – after locking up, please leave the bunch of 4 keys in the key safe. Please do not reset the 4-digit code

o Beds – to help the cleaning team, please strip your bed (duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases) and bag them up using the large cream linen bags provided and leave the laundry bags in the garage. Please also bag up any used towels, tea towels and bathmats and leave in the garage for collection

o Rubbish – Please leave all waste in the orange lidded bin by the side of Ridgeway’s garage.

o Side gate padlocked.

o All doors and window closed and locked, using window locks where available

Children

· There are 2 stairgates available plus a highchair with a floor splash mat, plus a baby changing mat. There is a travel cot in the main bedroom wardrobe (no linens)

Dogs

· We kindly ask you to closely adhere to the doggie dos and don’ts highlighted under the terms and conditions. There is a garden hose for muddy days. There are outside taps in the garage (by the entrance into the house) and under the garage window (outside in the garden). We kindly ask you to use a stairgate to keep your 4-legged friends’ downstairs.

Electric Car Charging

· There are numerous fast charging points in the Keswick/Bassenthwaite area including at Booths, Keswick and in the Central car park – the following website has detailed info https://www.zap-map.com/locations/keswick-charging-points/

· The cottage itself does not have a charging point. The circuit/3 pin plug points are not designed to withstand fast car charging loads so please use local facilities

Futon

· The futon (in dining room) does convert to a small double bed for occasional use (140cm x 190cm). To convert:

o Move well away from the wall and remove all furnishings

o Take the back section of the futon and push this section to double it down 90 degrees onto the seat section. You will hear a click

o Return the back section a full 180 degrees into its flatbed position

o Duvets, pillows, and bed linen will have been left out for you if requested use of the futon at the time of booking

o Please return the futon back to sofa position at the end of your stay

Garage Door

· The door is electrically operated either using a grey/blue fob (kept on the shelf above the washing machine), or the grey button inside the garage door. For the door to work, the power must be switched on (it is powered by the plugs by the heated boot racks)

Garden

· Although the garden is fully enclosed, you can see the fencing at the front is not high and dogs could easily jump into the next-door field. As there are sheep living in the field, please don’t leave your dog unattended in the garden.

· The side gate is padlocked but there is a key on the bunch of 4 keys for easy access. Please lock this padlock before leaving the property unattended and at the end of your stay

Heating/ Cooling

· As well as the wood burner, for additional heating there is a fan heater and an oil radiator available plus the timed central heating.

· The central heating has an adjustable HIVE thermostat in the hallway (to the far right of the front door on the wall) and the HIVE operating manual is in this pack

· For cooling there is an A/C cooling fan , and a regular fan in the upstairs bedrooms.

Heated book racks

· Available in the garage, they are not thermostatic so need to be turned on an off manually. They are designed for short term use, not overnight.

Keys

· You have a bunch of 4 keys – back door, front door, side gate (padlock), internal kitchen door. Please leave them back in the key safe on departure

Kitchen appliances

· All appliance manuals are in the kitchen drawer, including the coffee machine.

Local Shops

· There is a well-stocked village shop in Braithwaite. It opens 7 days a week 8am-6pm in winter and 8am-9pm in summer. www.braithwaitevillageshop.com.

Local Transport

· Taxi - Davies Taxi’s 017687 72676 or Derwent Taxi’s 07093 105175 – use Thornthwaite Gallery as landmark for Ridgeway if needs be.

· Bus – a good service (X5 Workington to/from Penrith) supporting Thornthwaite to/from Keswick and Cockermouth and throughout the surrounding area. Timetables are seasonal so for latest times head to www.keswick.org/gettingaround

· Keswick launch – jetties and timetable available at https://keswick-launch.co.uk/cruises.

Maps and local walking

· There are maps, Wainwrights’, and local walking books for all levels available in the lounge sideboard – feel free to take them out walking with you but thanks for returning them afterwards.

Non-Slip rubber mats

· Available in both bathrooms.

Parking

· The 3 houses don’t have fixed parking spaces allocated to them in the private road, so with all 3 properties occupied please just take a common sense and considerate approach to the 2 other properties to ensure access is always available. If available, it’s fine to leave your car between Ridgeway and Rivendell

Pubs

· There are 3 pubs in Braithwaite – all are dog friendly.

· The closest “Middle Ruddings” has recently been refurbished. It’s the closest on the road to Braithwaite less than 1 mile away.

· The Coledale Inn is highly recommended.

Refuse

· All rubbish goes into the single green bin with the orange lid bin kept alongside Ridgeway’s garage – no need to separate any recycling, this is done by the council

· This bin is collected on a Wednesday morning - they collect it from the side of the garage so no need to move it.

Smoking/ Vaping

· Thank you for adhering to there being strictly no smoking/vaping inside the Property.

· Smoking/Vaping is permitted outside but please use the ashtrays provided and dispose of your cigarette butts in the refuse at the end of your stay.

Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide alarm

· Smoke Alarm’s in hallway and on the landing. Carbon monoxide alarm in lounge.

St Mary’s Church – Thornthwaite

· The church itself is a beautiful building and worth a short stroll to visit. It’s unlocked throughout the year

· Church of England services take place alternate Sundays at 10.15am. Services take place in Braithwaite or Newlands when not in Thornthwaite. There is no set rotation - call 01768 778243 for service times and locations.

· For details of other denomination churches and services visit www.keswick.org/visitor-information/religious-service

Supermarkets

· The closest (to save going into Keswick) is a good-sized Spar at the Shell garage, High Hill on the outskirts of town, 2 miles from here. They sell logs, papers, and a good range of provisions- 2 miles away.

· Booths and Co-op in Keswick – 3 miles away

· Sainsburys, Aldi, Lidl in Cockermouth (Sainsburys, Asda and Tesco deliver to Thornthwaite) – 10 miles

· Booths, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Aldi in Penrith – 17 miles

Thornthwaite Gallery

· Just along the road and open 10-4pm 6 days a week (closed Mon), throughout most of the year- www.thornthwaitegalleries.co.uk

· Serving vegetarian/vegan only lunches and good homemade cake!

TV (Lounge) and PlayStation 4

· TV: if it has been last used with the PlayStation revert to source as “Antenna”

· The TV is a SMART TV so can access Netflix etc. Login using your own login details and don’t forget to clear them/log out on departure

· To use PlayStation (for DVD’s and Games), turn it on using controllers or at the console itself (if the controllers are not charged, then plug them into PlayStation directly).

· PlayStation is found at HDMI1 (source on TV remote).

Tumble Dryer and Washing machine

· Instruction booklets are on the shelf above the appliances.

WIFI (Fibre)

· Router: vodafone713ABD

· Passcode: nHmRyz7TMygXJLgd

Wood Burning Stove

· The stove is suitable only to burn logs.

· There is a cream metal bucket available in the garage to empty hot ashes into. Once ashes are completely cold, they can go into a black bin bag and into the black general refuse bin. There is an outside brick-built BBQ for you to enjoy. Thank you for cleaning the grill after use.

Things To Do Locally

There is so much to do in the local area, so we recommend looking at www.keswick.org/what-to-do as the best local guide.

Outdoor Activities

· Walking – you are surrounded by stunning walks: flat, hilly, short, or long. There are numerous paths directly from the cottage including up to Whinlatter forest, down to Bassenthwaite lake or through the woods to Braithwaite. For a wide selection of walks go to www.keswick.org/what-to-do/walking-routes or feel free to use the maps and books available in the cottage.

· Cycling – the area covers lots of family friendly cycling (including the reopened Keswick to Threlked railway path) and a wide variety of cycle routes at Whinlatter. The forest is home to the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Lake District. Bike hire is available at Whinlatter (Cyclewise) and in Keswick (Cyclewise or Keswick Bikes Ltd)

· Running – 2 free weekly Parkruns take place each Saturday at 9am in Keswick and at Whinlatter. Whinlatter has the greatest elevation gain of any UK Parkrun, and the views are stunning. A run through Manesty woods and along the west shore of Derwent is a favourite

· Other sports: Keswick offers paddleboarding, bowls, golf, tennis, yoga, and numerous water sports at the Derwentwater marina (Nichol End). Rookin House offers archery, clay pigeon shooting, human bowling, escorted quad bike trekking, off-road vehicles, and paintballing. Newlands Adventure Centre is Keswick’s largest provider of outdoor activities including ghyll scrambling, high ropes, canoeing and kayaking. The Via Ferrata at Honister slate mine isn’t for the faint hearted!

· Discover the Lakes from the air at www.lakedistrictgyroplanes.co.uk

Other Local Activities

· Lake District Wildlife Park is 6 miles away at Bassenthwaite and is a hidden gem with over 100 species and bird of prey flying displays, reptile encounters and a rare breed farm animal collection.

· Lakes Distillery is 5 miles away at Setmurthy, Cockermouth CA13 9SJ

· Spa – the Lodore Falls Spa and Oxleys at Underscar are both less than 6 miles away

· Cockermouth is close by and a pretty small market town, much less touristy if Keswick is busy, especially in the summer months.

Places to Eat

Some local recommendations covering all tastes and prices are included here.

· The Coledale Inn, Braithwaite - dog and family friendly pub with beer garden

· The Bistro at the Lakes Distillery – informal modern bistro in old cattle parlour

· Jasper’s coffee shop in Braithwaite (and Keswick)

· Bassenthwaite Lake Station – recently restored local station. A lovely walk from the cottage (follow the Old Coach Road to avoid A66) with 2 cafes – one café at the station and the other inside the replica steam train used in the 2017 Murder On The Orient Express movie. Gorgeous food and setting but booking for the train is essential

· The Pheasant, Bassenthwaite – 2 AA rosette informal restaurant and bistro

· The Courtyard Restaurant, Cocktail Bar and Brasserie, Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite – 2 AA rosette fine dining in stunning setting with lake view

· The Cottage in The Wood, Braithwaite – fine dining in informal 17^th century restaurant with focus on local produce

· Lyzzick Hall hotel, Underskiddaw – focusing on local produce. Excellent afternoon tea

· Square Orange Café, Keswick – casual café, open late, serving tapas and pizza

· Lingholm Kitchen and Walled Garden – sits within the beautiful Lingholm estate

· Merienda – delicious for brunch in Keswick

· The Fellpack/The Round – highly recommend both in Keswick town centre

· Mizu - Pan Asian restaurant at the Lodore Falls Spa and Hotel

· The Dark Cafe at George Fisher – café run by the owners of The Fellpack/The Round

· The Inn on the Square in Keswick

· The best coffee in Keswick is from Java and the Moon & Sixpence (Cockermouth and Keswick)

· The closet coffee shop to the cottage is in Thornthwaite Galleries

Keswick Entertainment

· Alhambra Cinema: www.keswickalhambra.co.uk – a gorgeous recently restored local family run cinema. Worth a visit for the experience

· Theatre by the Lake: www. theatrebythelake.com

· Keswick museum: www.keswickmuseum.org.uk

· Keswick climbing wall and outdoor activity centre: www.keswickclimbingwall.co.uk

· Keswick Craft Beer and Brewery Tour and shop: www.keswickbrewery.co.uk

· Puzzling Place: www.puzzlingplace.co.uk

· Honister slate mine: www.honister.com

· Cookery and Crafts courses: www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk

For details of the latest festivals and events that are taking place visit, www.keswick.org/whats-on/events-in-and-around-keswick