Fornside Farm
St Johns-in-the-Vale, Keswick CA12 4TS England
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About
#1 of 7 cottages in Keswick
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Fornside Farm Cottages enjoy a stunning location at the foot of the Helvellyn range surrounded by dramatic Lakeland scenery. We have 4 cottages beautifully converted from stone barns alongside the traditional farmhouse. They provide spacious accommodation of a very high standard retaining many original features. Well equipped, warm and welcoming with underfloor heating and a wood burning stove downstairs and radiators upstairs. Fornside Farm is a typical 17th century Lakeland hill farm, set back from the road with direct, private access to the fells. We have 54 acres of beautiful countryside with spectacular views. The farm is predominantly for sheep but we have free range hens and also keep ducks. We have a private farm trail to help you enjoy our woods, fields, streams, wildlife and fantastic views. We do not accept bookings of 3 or more cottages without prior agreement.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Hiking
Kids stay free
Highchairs available
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Wifi
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Self-serve laundry
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Iron
Private bathrooms
Dishwasher
Microwave
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Electric kettle
Kitchenware
Hair dryer
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Room types
Mountain view
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, French
Location
St Johns-in-the-Vale, Keswick CA12 4TS England
Getting there
Car HireSee all Keswick car hire
98Reviews0Q+A13Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Excellent stay at Fornside Farm, only issue was that we had sadly booked just one night. We stayed in Rigg Barn which was spotlessly clean and thoughtfully appointed. Check-in was easy with a quick hello to Joanna right on property, and we appreciated the fresh milk and eggs she left for us. What a special enclave in a beautiful part of the world - highlights included the cozy fire, mountain views out the window, sizable kitchen to cook dinner in, and waking up throughout to the windy gusts - so cozy! My fiance and I cannot wait to come back and explore more of this part of the world. Fornside would be our number one pick.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 6 days ago
Thank you for your lovely review, we're delighted that you enjoyed your brief stay here and look forward to welcoming you for a return visit before too long!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We've enjoyed another great stay at Fornside Farm, this time in Rigg Barn. The cottage is lovely and cosy, great to return to at the end of a day out on the fells. One great thing about Fornside is the location. We've stayed many times and each time we've covered different areas that are all easily accessible, a short drive away. This time we did Lonscale Fell, Stone Arthur and Alcock Tarn and Silver How. All within 15 minutes drive of the cottages. We spent the evenings relaxing by the log burner, planning the next day's adventures. We are already planning our next trip in the new year, taking advantage of the quieter periods with a short break before the busy season starts again.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Shorter stays at very reasonable prices are available in the winter months before the busy season...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 2 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review! Glad you had another great stay and we look forward to welcoming you back before too long.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rigg Barn on Fornside Farm is a characterful cottage, but completely modern and beautifully decorated inside. The cottage itself had absolutely everything we needed and was spotlessly clean. We all slept incredibly well as the cottage is set on a farm and the beds were very comfortable- even my children commented on this! The log fire made for cosy family evenings after days outside exploring the beautiful Lake District. Matt and Joanna were helpful hosts and made us feel welcome. We had a wonderful short break that was both active and restorative. The combination of being outdoors with the opportunity to retreat to a cosy warm environment is just what our family needed! Thank you!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hello! We are so glad you had an active and restorative family break - that is just the environment we strive to provide for our guests. We do hope to welcome you back sometime soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What a great place. Perfect location for exploring all the lakes has to offer and within easy reach of Keswick. Set in a beautiful location. The cottage was really well equipped, well thought out and roomy for the 4 of us with young 2 young children. Joanna and Matt were the perfect hosts, and the home grown eggs and sausages amazing! Thank you
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 5 weeks ago
Glad the eggs and sausages were a hit as well as the cottage! Thank you for your thoughtful review, hope you'll be back soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Spotlessly clean, great location, well equipped, great beds (and I’m fussy about beds) loads of character, masses to do straight from the cottage assuming you’re into walking. It’s all you could want for a break in the Lakes. If only they could programme the weather….🥴
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 25 Oct 2023
So glad you liked the beds! We were very careful to buy good beds and mattresses. Hmm, programming the weather might be a stretch! Thanks for taking the time to write a review for us.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We (a family of 3) stayed in the Rigg Barn for about 1 week in September. It is a really peaceful place, very quite and private, with a wonderful view on a green field with sheep and a couple chicken from the living room window. Easy access to the town (Keswick) and so many drives, walks, hikes in the area. The cottage (Rigg Barn) looks authentic from the outside, and with clean and modern comfort inside. Some fresh eggs and a bottle of milk are already in the apartment when we arrived. We also bought sausages and spare ribs from the owners, they are excellent! All facilities for a no-hassle enjoyable vacation are available in the premise. Our overall impression is that the owners are putting great effort into keeping the property authentic and to provide a relaxing and comfortable staying place for people visiting the Lake District. …
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 25 Sept 2023
We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Fornside and had lots of adventures exploring the local area. Thank you for taking the time to write this review. It was lovely to meet you and we hope to welcome you back one day.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Absolutely brilliant place to spend holidays in Lake District. Plenty of things for kids to do at the farm and we all enjoyed our stay. Joanna and Matt were the excellent host and guided us to many activities and attractions which made our holiday full of fun and kept us busy. Loved the layout of cottage and everything needed was available there. Definitely will be going again. Five stars for Fornside cottage and for the hosts.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 5 Sept 2023
That's brilliant, glad you had so much fun and we look forward to welcoming you back. Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We spent a delightful 2-week holiday at Fornside Farm in July 2023 (2 adults, 2 teens and 1 dog). It was our second stay at Fornside Farm, and we enjoyed it as much as the first one. The Old Byre Cottage was superbly renovated, fully equipped and really comfortable. We received a warm welcome from the owners Matt and Joanna, with lots of attention to small details (e.g. milk and eggs waiting for us on arrival, a comfy dog bed for our dog). Despite the rainy weather, we managed a wide range of activities: lovely hikes directly from the Farm (the Riggs, Gread Dodd, Castle Rock, Sint John's Church...) and elsewhere in the area (Catbells, Buttermere...), via ferrata at Honister pass (stunning views!!), shopping in Keswick, a trip to the coast with a lovely drive from Maryport to Silloth and even hike along Hadrian's wall, only one hour's drive away from Fornside. For dog owners: dogs are welcome at Fornside, but they need to be kept on a lead because of the sheep (this is also the case for many of the walks in the area). …
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 29 Aug 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. You certainly packed a lot into your stay in the Lake District, and we are glad that Fornside made a great base for your holiday.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Just back from another wonderful stay at Fornside - our 14th year! Our girls have grown up knowing the farm and love it as much as we do. The farm itself is blessed with fantastic views across to High Rigg and we will never tire of waking up to the sound of the waterfall flowing down Great Dodd behind. The location is perfect - conveniently situated between Keswick / the Northern Lakes and Grasmere / Ambleside / Langdale etc. St. John’s in Vale itself is a lovely little peaceful valley. A walk over the road to Low Bridge End farm tearoom for a coffee, cake or ice cream is a must! Joanna and Matt are always very friendly and helpful. The coffee, milk, eggs and biscuits on arrival were appreciated! Of course there is so much to do in the wider Lake District, and we find most areas are within easy reach from Fornside, so we had lovely trips to Buttermere (obligatory!), Crummock Water, Newlands, Ullswater and a longer trip to the coast and over to Wastwater was also perfectly doable. …
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 29 Aug 2023
We're delighted you had another great stay at Fornside, and that you explored so much of the Lake District again using Fornside as your base. We hope you'll be back next summer!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We chose to stay at Fornside based on the positive Tripadvisor reviews and were very satisfied with our decision. As other reviewers have mentioned, the setting is drop-dead gorgeous - you wake up every day with an amazing mountain view on either side. We stayed in Herdwick Fold, the middle cottage. The kitchen and bathroom were updated and stylishly designed, and the beds were comfortable. Cleanliness was excellent. Laundry machines were shared and a bit older, but they worked well. The farm is about a 12 minute drive to Keswick and a 30 minute drive to Glenridding, so you are pretty well-positioned to see both Derwentwater and Ullswater if you stay at the farm. The farm is also only about 15 minutes to Grasmere if you are interested in seeing the Wordsworth-related attractions or getting gingerbread at Grasmere Gingerbead House. The price is very reasonable for the quality. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent and welcoming hosts, Matt and Joanna, who live on the house at the end of the building with the cottages. They provide farm fresh eggs upon arrival and you can buy more eggs as well as meat from them. We particularly are grateful to them for forwarding some critical documents and items that we mistakenly left on the day of checkout. All in all, we would highly recommend Fornside as an excellent base to explore the Lake District. …
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Joanna Butler, Owner at Fornside Farm
Responded 4 Jul 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write this review, it is much appreciated (and I've shared it with my small but hard-working cleaning team who always take pride in making the cottages gleam). Matt and I are delighted that you enjoyed your stay and would love to welcome you back next time you are in the UK.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandCumbriaLake DistrictKeswick
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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Frequently Asked Questions about Fornside Farm
Which popular attractions are close to Fornside Farm?
Nearby attractions include Alpacaly Ever After (4.2 miles), Keswick Alhambra Cinema (3.7 miles), and Surprise View (3.4 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Fornside Farm?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free parking, free internet access, and self serve laundry.
Which room amenities are available at Fornside Farm?
Top room amenities include a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and blackout curtains.
What food & drink options are available at Fornside Farm?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Fornside Farm?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Keswick Kitchen, Lake Road Brunch, and Fellpack.
Are pets allowed at Fornside Farm?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Fornside Farm?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and French.
Are there any historical sites close to Fornside Farm?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Castlerigg Stone Circle (2.6 miles), Watendlath (3.8 miles), and Crosthwaite Parish Church (4.0 miles).