Christian Holiday Cottage, Lake District — Backbarrow’s Ironworks Heritage
Kestrel Cottage is a genuine Christian holiday cottage, Lake District, break: a traditional stone-built terraced cottage in the quiet village of Backbarrow, with views over the Leven Valley to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite steam railway. Sleeping four to six across three floors, with a ground-floor double bedroom and two further bedrooms above, plus parking for two cars, it’s a comfortable base for exploring the wider Christian holidays in the North West and Lake District, just off the A590 near Newby Bridge at the southern tip of Lake Windermere. Solid-fuel central heating keeps it cosy year-round, and there’s plenty within easy reach for walking, sightseeing and simply slowing down.
Backbarrow itself has a history far weightier than its size suggests. A charcoal blast furnace was built here in 1711, one of the very first in this part of England, water-powered by the River Leven as it drains out of Windermere, and became one of the first cold-blast furnaces in the north of the country; the ironmaster John Wilkinson, later famous nationally, learned his trade here. The furnace ran, on and off, for over 250 years, closing only in 1967, and its remains are now recognised by Historic England as one of the best illustrations anywhere of how iron-smelting technology developed over two centuries.
Long before the ironworks, this stretch of the Leven Valley belonged to Furness Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1123 by Stephen, Count of Boulogne, later King of England, that grew into the second-wealthiest Cistercian house in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey, before its dissolution under Henry VIII in 1537. Its former lands still shape the landscape here: Fell Foot, at Windermere’s southern tip, was once the only crossing point between Kendal and the Abbey’s own estates, and even Backbarrow’s corn mills stood on land the Abbey had once owned. The ruins themselves, an hour’s drive south near Barrow-in-Furness, remain one of Cumbria’s most atmospheric medieval sites, arches still largely intact.
Fell Foot itself, now cared for by the National Trust, is two miles from the cottage and one of the few public lakeshore spots at Windermere’s southern end. Once a Victorian gentleman’s estate complete with its own miniature dockyard and arboretum, it’s now a family-friendly park of sweeping lawns, Gothic boathouses and gentle lakeside walks, with rowing boats for hire and easy access to the water for paddling, canoeing and picnics. It was the first country park in the Lake District, gifted to the National Trust in 1948, and remains one of very few places south of Bowness where the public can actually reach the water’s edge.
Closer to home, the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway runs restored steam trains along the shore towards Windermere, the Lakeland Motor Museum has plenty to keep car enthusiasts entertained, and Ulverston and Windermere both offer a proper supermarket shop when needed, since there are no shops in the immediate area. There’s no wifi at the cottage, which many guests find a genuine relief, and it’s offered at a fixed weekly rate specifically for clergy and church workers, making it a straightforward, unfussy base for a family week in the Lakes.
Perfect for:
- Clergy and church workers, with a dedicated fixed weekly rate
- Industrial history enthusiasts, with the Backbarrow Ironworks right in the village
- Families, with the steam railway, motor museum and Fell Foot Park all nearby
- Walkers and lake-lovers, two miles from lakeshore access at Fell Foot
- Those wanting a genuine break from screens, since there’s no wifi at the cottage
- Longer stays exploring the wider Lake District from a quiet, well-placed base
- History lovers wanting to trace Furness Abbey’s influence across the valley
Location
Kestrel Cottage, High Row, Backbarrow, Cumbria LA12 8QN
How to get here: Just off A590 near Newby Bridge
Nearest Town: Newby Bridge; Ulverston.
Facilities
Traditional stone built terraced cottage in quiet location within Lake District National Park Views over the Leven Valley to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway.
Good access for main attractions, walking and sight-seeing. Parking for two cars. Sleeps 4-6. Solid fuel central heating (log/ coal fire) and water heater.
Ground floor –bedroom with double bed; toilet and shower room; utility room containing freezer (some space available), tumble dryer and spin dryer.
1st Floor – open-plan lounge; dining-room and kitchen area including TV; DVD; CD player; electric cooker; microwave; fridge; toaster etc.
2nd Floor – double bedroom; twin-bedded room; bathroom/ toilet. Duvets, pillows and blankets provided; but not sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases and towels.
Also available: camp-bed; cot; travel cot; barbecue and some indoor games. Sorry no smoking. Sorry no wi-fi. Not ideal for disabled access.
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Costs
Energy Provision: Energy costs included.
Availability
Cottage available from April to October.
Arrival and Departure times: Arrival times negotiable
Booking arrangements: Booking usually Sat-Sat; but flexible outside school holiday periods.
Pets: Sorry no pets.
Contact the Owner
If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:
Name: Andrew & Eleanor Haslam
Phone Number: 0151-792-6201
Email Address: andrew.haslam@live.co.uk