Built in the 1700’s Cissy’s Cottage is a delightful little stone built cottage of quiet outstanding character that never fails to embrace you as you walk through the door. A traditional dales cottage that still retains the best of its original 18th century features. With its open fire and beamed ceilings, a warm and cosy atmosphere welcomes you.
Originally built as a shepherds cottage, its’ charm is quiet unique. In the main downstairs room with its flagged floors you’ll find the open fire, that together with the storage heaters provide the warmth that is held in by the thick cottage walls and low ceilings. In this room is a sitting area with comfortable sofas, kick off your boots and relax. Beneath the side window is your dining table, eat your breakfast as you look out across the pasture and up the hill side, planning your days walk.
From the sitting room you will find a quiet unusual semi-circular kitchen which was added onto the cottage at some point. The flag floor continues into the kitchen and stone has also been used to make the crescent shaped shelves and worktops to fit the curving walls of the kitchen. Washing up in the Belfast sink, if you choose not to use the dishwasher, isn’t such a task as you look out of the window for another view of the fell. There is also a drier just in case you get caught in one of those dales showers!
Upstairs in the two bedrooms you can see the beauty of the old pine walls and sit in the deep window sills, watching the world go by. Any tall people visiting will soon realise that the ceiling height upstairs is just a little over 6 feet.
The double room has an iron and brass bedstead, while the other room sleeps two in single beds. There is also a travel cot if one is needed. All linen is provided except for the cot, with extra blankets in the wardrobe in case they are needed.
The country style bathroom is clean and simple with plenty of hot water for a relaxing bath after a day’s walking or sightseeing.
Outside there is a small garden at the front, raised up from the road, with a sun trap sitting area to grab the last of the evening sun. To the side of the garden is the coal shed with its grass covered roof, (please don’t climb on this, a cow once did and had to be let out through the door a little shocked!) A door in the wall will lead you through to the long back garden/paddock and the base of the hills.
Whether it’s walking straight from the cottage door through the fields, along the rivers or up the hill and onto the moors with just the grouse and sheep, or exploring the dale, looking at the spectacular scenery, stopping off at various tea rooms on the way. For the fishermen amongst us there is also the chance to spend an hour or two trying to catch the elusive monster of the River Ure! as the cottage comes with the right to fly fish on several of the local waters, please ask for a permit.
Cissy’s Cottage is an ideal place to relax and unwind, take in the slower life of the dales.