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Date Stayed: July 2025
Location: Gilcrux, Cumbria
Accommodation: Salkeld Cottage (Barn Conversion – 1 of 6 units)
Cost: £164 per night
Ideal for: Waterfall chasing, paddleboarding, quiet escapes

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✨ First Impressions

I stayed at Salkeld Cottage, tucked away in the quiet village of Gilcrux. It’s part of a barn conversion split into 6 apartments. The cottage was clean, with a traditional, slightly dated interior that suited the rustic vibe. All the basics were there — kettle, fridge, cooker, comfy bed — but at £164 a night, I’d expected a bit more polish in the finish.

👋 The Host

Joanne was a standout — met me on arrival, gave a full walkthrough, and even checked in the next day to make sure everything was okay. Couldn’t have been more welcoming.

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🛁 Hot Tub & Amenities

• The “private” hot tub is technically shared between all 6 apartments.
• Slots are limited to 3 evening time slots, must be booked a day in advance, and cost £15 for 45 minutes.
• Personally, for the price point, I’d expect either more availability or exclusive access.
• Electricity: Metered. Enough was preloaded for the first night, but it ran out while I was out the next day — another hidden cost to factor in.
• Wi-Fi: Poor, and Vodafone signal was basically nonexistent. But I didn’t mind too much — it’s nice to switch off.

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🛏️ Comfort & Sleep

The bed was a dream — hands down one of the comfiest I’ve stayed in, hotel or Airbnb. The place was warm, and while I didn’t use the log fire, logs could be bought for £15 (or just bring your own).

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📍 Location

• Perfect base for exploring waterfalls and lakes.
• Plenty of parking, some of it even covered.
• Pub within a 10-minute walk, but no local shop nearby.
• Closest decent shopping is in Keswick (35 mins), though there may be closer spots.

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🤔 Would I Stay Again?

Maybe. The location was spot on, the host was fantastic, and the bed alone made it hard to leave. But the extra costs, limited hot tub access, and basic amenities make me think twice at this price.

Rating:

• 🛏️ Comfort: 8.5/10
• 📍 Location: 9/10
• 💷 Value for money: 6/10
• 📶 Connectivity: 4/10
• 🔥 Amenities: 5.5/10
• 💬 Host: 10/10

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💡Tip: Bring your own logs, plan ahead for hot tub use, and pre-load your devices — you’ll likely have limited signal and Wi-Fi.