Row Head Farm with Middle Row Cottage is the last farm at the top of Wasdale before the road runs out. The farm, owned by the National Trust, is a traditional working farm with a flock of Herdwick sheep. The cottage was once a farm workers cottage and has recently been renovated and modernised to make it a warm and comfortable place to stay for up to six people.

Wasdale itself is a valley of extremes. It boasts England's deepest lake (Wastwater), highest mountain (Scafell), smallest church (St Olaf's) and the world’s biggest liar competition (each November, in the Santon Bridge Inn). It is the birthplace of British climbing, with excellent climbs of all grades, and a playground for local diving clubs. Local rumour has it that each club has a collection of gnomes on the lake bed, one of whom has a noose around his neck as a result of club rivalry.

Wasdale: Voted "Britain's Favourite View" in 2007 by the public
on Gryff Rhys Jones’s The Best View in Britain, on ITV

For more gentle exercise, there are hundreds of walks right from the door of the holiday cottage. Wastwater Lake is a couple of miles away, or you can go high up on the fells and mountains. There are many good swimming and picnic spots on the shores of the lake.

There are three pubs in the valley - Wasdale Head Inn is almost next door to the cottage, the Screes & the Strands face each other at the other end of the valley on the way to Gosforth village, where you will find shops selling groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, food to go, alcohol and newspapers.

Eskdale is another lovely valley, only 15 minutes drive away, with hundreds of river and mountain walks. It also houses a terminus for the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway - a popular miniature railway that travels seven scenic miles to the coastal fishing village of Ravenglass. Muncaster Castle, Gardens and Owl Centre is also 15 minutes away and has lots going on all year round, especially for children.

Please click here for internal photos of the cottage

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