As the Ullswater steamer gently chugs away, the sun glistening on its scarlet funnel, tranquillity returns to a beloved corner of the lake shore. Only the sound of birdsong breaks the otherwise silent morning in early summer ahead of the main holiday season.
Sitting on one of the four terraces of Waternook, it is easy to see why it has been a popular spot for both owners and holidaymakers over the years.
The property, part of a 26-acre estate in the Lake District National Park, is a whole house rental with ten bedrooms making it ideal for large gatherings of family or friends.
Its origins, however, date back to a 17th century farm with some of the original barns now providing additional accommodation to the main house. Now on the market for £6 million with Savills, it is set up for business or as a multi-generational family that loves the outdoors and can make the most of the spectacular location.
Waternook is at Howtown, favoured by Outward Bound and school groups for its sheltered and relatively secluded bay, almost at the end of the road about half-way along the eastern shore of Ullswater.
Hallin Fell looms behind providing the perfect harmony of hill and water of the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui (if you are into these things this kind of location is said to bring good luck in money, relationships and health).
It is unlikely the 17th century farmer was led by such a concept but they certainly did make the most of the shelter afforded by the fells and the view of the lake, which is uninterrupted and long, both to the north and west. It has to be one of the best vistas in Lakeland.
It has certainly brought success for its owners Dominic Gordon and his father Paul who bought it in 2012. The vision was to create one of the most exclusive destinations in the UK where families and friends could come together to escape, relax and indulge.
Waternook went on to attract multiple accolades, including a Visit England five-star gold award, a ROSE award for service excellence and a Condé Nast Johansens award for excellence.
At the 2017 national final of the 2017 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, MrGordon, said: “At Waternook we always strive to deliver the very highest standards of excellence for our discerning guests, ensuring every stay is bespoke to their needs.
He also joined British Airways and Harrods to sign VisitEngland’s GREAT China Welcome, an initiative which aimed to make Britain the most welcoming destination in Europe for Chinese visitors. He translated his website into Chinese and set up Weibo and WeChat to make his business ‘China ready’ in a bid to help boost Lake District tourism from the country.
In 2016, The Sunday Times selected Waternook among its top 12 holiday cottages in Britain and a year later named it in its ultimate A-list hideaway of the top 12 party pads in Britain. The property also won Best Self Catering in the 2016 Cumbria Tourism Awards 2016.
Waternook allows for lake experiences both far and near since the estate has more than 800 metres of lake shore with a boat house to launch from and a jetty to swim off.
Sheep currently graze in the meadows around the house and there is woodland.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the refurbishment of the property over the years has been done to make the most of the views.
The extension that houses the kitchen is very much 21st century but has a country feel thanks to the exposed A frame and trusses. A dining table for 12 fits easily yet is dwarfed by an enormous central island with hob and preparation basin, although the view of the lake is likely to distract from any onion chopping.
A glazed, sliding internal wall separates it from a central hallway that leads down oak steps into the open plan living space, which is neatly divided into two, with a stove, slate fireplace and exposed stone wall to one side and a TV lounge to the other. Family film nights take place in the dedicated cinema room next door, supported by an integrated SONOS media system.
Any family that has ever gone on a wet, group walk will appreciate the scale of the boot room that is big enough for an entire football team with coat hooks and boot storage for everyone, as well as a Belfast sink unit for washing off. Underfloor heating throughout the ground floor ensures floors are not wet for long.
The first of the en suite bedrooms named after local fells and dales, Bonscale, comes next before the level changes again up to the leisure area comprising an indoor bar, a shower and outdoor hot tub on a dedicated terrace.
A second staircase provides an alternative route to the first floor where the first bedroom, Boredale, has a balcony with steps leading down to the ‘leisure terrace’. Exposed beams and a shower room on a lower level add to its character.
After Martindale comes bijou Hallin with its wet room before Fusedale excels with its high ceiling and bay window providing a panoramic view across to the western lake shore.
The final master suite, Pikeawassa, is the piece de resistance, its double doors opening to a free-standing bath on a raised platform. To the left is a wet room, to the right the large, dual aspect bedroom with two bay windows looking out towards the ferry jetty and north up the lake.
The generous number of terraces and outdoor spaces on different levels offer a range of perspectives through 360 degrees depending upon your mood, the time of day or if you want to chase the sun or indeed the dramatic weather of these parts.
Down the drive from the main house, the Great Barn is a mix of old and new cleverly brought together with the addition of a wall here, a piece of roof there and a glass insert to blend buildings with the emphasis again on the views.
Entry is into the dining room first which has bifold doors to bring the outside in. Next is the kitchen with a glass door opening onto a small terrace and a serving hatch that works as a bar area within the huge open plan living space. It is divided into two living areas with two TVs and a large gas fire. There is additional family space on a mezzanine above.
Floorings were from Kendal Quality Carpets as part of an interior design scheme by Whitemore & Thwaytes, of Penrith.
Back on the ground floor, two private bedrooms are tucked away – sunny Butterwick, which has arrow slit stone windows and skylights, and Ravenhowe, where an original opening has been filled with an extra wide glass door that frames the scenery outside and provides access to another terrace.
Returning to the dining room, off here is Loadpot, a ground floor bedroom at the bottom of a impressive Eden valley sandstone spiral staircase that leads up to Cockpit, a fourth double bedroom in the eaves that is cleverly arranged around a substantial ceiling beam.
Whether holiday let or family home, it is easy to see how Waternook has been a perfect party house, especially in summer when its choice of terraces and outdoor kitchen come into their own.
Equally, surrounded by fields and fells with some of the best views of Ullswater, it is just as tempting to keep this quiet corner all for yourself.
search.savills.com/property-detail/gbyoruyor230106
