Any cottages for this week?

[Guest]

Arrived at a cottage in Ambleside yesterday which is booked for the week. The whole place is damp with mildew on the carpets under the furniture. Any likelihood of finding a DRY cottage in the Keswick area for the rest of this week?

At least the phone line works.

Matthew

[forum administrator]

To Matthew

Sorry to hear about the cottage. I presume you have taken this up with the owner?

Anyway I suggest you give our local Tourist Information Centre a ring on 017687 72645, they have an accommodation booking desk and a list of current vacancies in the Keswick and North Lakes area. They should know of available cottages.

Good luck.

[Guest]

Many thanks for the quick reply. I will call the information center. The cottage owner lives in London, but the so called caretaker has offered to lend us a couple of fan heaters to dry the place out. It will take more than that.

We usually stay in Keswick but this year decided to try Ambleside for a change. Never again.

[Guest]

Thought I had better tell what happened as you were so helpful.

We were put onto a farmer near Keswick who had a mobile caravan available for the week. Not sure about this we drove up to see it before moving out of the cottage. It was warm, dry had more space than the cottage and had absolutely wonderful views. With no more ado we went back to Ambleside, collected our things and moved up to Keswick. On our arrival we found that the lady who owned the caravan had left half a dozen eggs, some sausage and bacon for us, which we soon had cooking for a splendid brunch.

We had a really good time there. The only thing missing was a phone point for my laptop - but I did not need it at all. The cost was less than half what we had already paid for the cottage. We will be asking for a full refund for the cottage and hope to spend next New Year in the same caravan.

And what super weather we had. The snow on the hills was wonderful, and I have taken a lot of phots to prove it.

Happy New Year.