Top-rated for its fully equipped kitchen, perfect for every meal.
Cue up the fun
One of the few properties with an on-site pool table.
A quiet escape
Guests like the location for the peace and quiet.
Discover nearby landmarks
Close to Yorkshire Dales National Park
Sleeps 4•2 bedrooms•2 beds
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Garden
Internet access
Dryer
Explore the area
Penrith, Cumbria
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Place, Yorkshire Dales National Park
1 min walk
Orton Community Park
Place, Orton Community Park
9 min walk
Ullswater
Place, Ullswater
33 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
About this property
Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds
Nell Gwyn Cottage is located in a wing of Orton Hall, a Jacobean Mansion in Orton, Cumbria. It is approached via an automatic gate along a tree lined drive in seven acres of private grounds. It is a couple of minutes from the village and is conveniently located for holiday activities in the Lakes, the Dales and the Eden Valley, whilst also being easy of access via the M6 motoway or the trans Pennine A66 route.
Nell Gwyn has been renovated to a high specification and enlarged to form a well proportioned dwelling in which the charm of an old cottage blends with modern facilities. It has two large bedrooms, one upstairs and one on the ground floor off the dining hall. Both have dedicated bathrooms. There is a comfortable and spacious lounge with TV, VCR, DVD and CD Stereo System, a dining hall and a fully fitted traditional kitchen with oak units, dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, ceramic hob and microwave oven. The cottage offers a secluded holiday location which is nevertheless close to village amenities and convenient of access being just minutes from the M6 motorway. Whether you are looking for an active holiday or just a quiet place to unwind, Nell Gwyn is the perfect base, offering easy access to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley.
Orton Hall is a grade II listed mansion dating from the 1660's with additions made in the late 19th century.
It is approached along a private drive through well established grounds of about seven acres, in which there are mature trees, extensive lawns and plenty of space to relax. Facilities for communal use include an elegant oak panelled great hall with pool table and piano, a coin op laundry and storage space suitable for bicycles.
Described by A W Wainwright as "one of Westmorland's loveliest villages" Orton gained the Cumbria Best of Countryside Award in 2002 and Cumbria Village of the Year 2004. There is a shop cum post office, a pub which serves meals, and two tearooms, one listed in the Les Routiers guide. For those with a sweet tooth, a further attraction will be Kennedy's hand made chocolate factory, with its associated shop. Orton is also a popular stop off point for Coast to Coast walkers.
Orton boasts one of the original Farmers Markets featuring produce from local farmers and growers. This is a regular sell out event, taking place on the second Saturday of each month.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Penrith
Located in Penrith, this cottage is in a rural area. Shap Abbey and Appleby Castle are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Riverside Public Golf Course and Lakeland Climbing Centre. Travelling with kids? Consider Kennedys Fine Chocolates, or check out an event or a game at Parkside Road. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours, cycling and mountain climbing nearby.
Yorkshire Dales National Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Orton Community Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
Lowther Castle and Gardens - 22 min drive - 27.3 km
Whinfell Forest - 32 min drive - 42.1 km
Ullswater - 33 min drive - 47.4 km
Getting around
Kirkby Stephen Station - 13 min drive
Manchester Airport (MAN) - 98 min drive
Restaurants
Kings Arms Hotel - 9 min drive
The Greyhound Hotel - 8 min drive
The George Hotel - 8 min walk
Crown Inn - 9 min drive
Shap Chippy - 11 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds?
As of 4 Aug 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds on 8 Aug 2026 start from £328, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Beautifully appointed cottage in extensive grounds located?
This family-friendly Penrith cottage is located in a rural location, within 2 mi (3 km) of Orton Community Park and Kennedys Fine Chocolates. Yorkshire Dales National Park is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Lovely spot in a quiet village to enjoy Westmoreland
Paul O.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Sergei B.
14 Jul 2026
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
The property has several problems.Camper vans and motorhomes are parked directly in front of the windows. The apartment windows are also located right next to the basement door, which is left open all the time. There is a terrible smell of mold, dampness, and mustiness coming from the basement.When we arrived, neither of the two toilets had been cleaned. There was also spoiled food stuck to the inside walls of the microwave.The bed linen is very old and covered with pilling. The furniture in the living room is heavily worn, and the armrests are dirty and dark from use.
Sergei B.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2026
I am sorry you did not enjoy your stay at our cottage. You will appreciate that I am unable to control what vehicles guests arrive in so cannot accept your statement “camper vans and motorhomes are parked directly in front of the windows”. I have checked and there was one camper van but the only other vehicle was the cleaner’s van, which was not there every day.
Nell Gwyn Cottage shares a cellar with Orton Hall, the entrance of which is close to our front door. It is over 300 years old, not designed to modern standards. It can be cold and damp but this does not affect the cottage itself. The door was occasionally opened to permit work access, but I agree this should not happen whilst guests are in the cottage. This will be addressed.
I am curious concerning your comments regarding cleanliness. You contacted me with questions before arrival which I welcomed, and also following check in to clarify a point concerning hot water. However, you chose not to communicate on the cleanliness matters which would seem to be oversights which could easily be corrected. You declined my offer to arrange a clean mid way through your visit.
I do not accept your comment regarding our furniture which is always in clean and good condition.
You ignore my quick replies, the convenient location and the Hall’s beautiful grounds
You have not submitted a review, simply criticism, unjustified in my opinion. I refer you to our 90 reviews, the majority being 5 star. Our VRBO rating is “exceptional”
We were very impressed with the instructions and ease of getting to and finding the location and keys. The bed rooms were large and spacious. The kitchen well stocked with utensils. The location peaceful and quiet. The amenities adequate and the location perfect to both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
Myself, my sister & niece took a 5 day break to the Lake District staying at Orton Hall as our base.
We stayed in the Nell Gwynn cottage. The accommodation was spacious with a well stocked kitchen of crockery/utensils etc, beds were super comfy and in the lounge were books, dvds etc. The owner had thought of everything you may need during your stay. Beautiful accommodation, we would definitely stay again.
Julie G.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Aug 2024
Thank you for your kind comments. I hope we will have the pleasure of hosting you again in the future
We had a week’s stay at Orton Hall in Nell Gwyn Cottage. The front room and bedroom were comfortable and the kitchen was well equipped, but it all felt a bit dated. The grounds were lovely, but unfortunately it rained every day we stayed there, so we couldn’t really explore them. However, we did discover a chocolate factory in the village which we very much enjoyed, as well as a very tasty cafe for a full English breakfast nearby. It’s centrally located for visits to both the Yorkshire Dales and the lakes, and we visited both while we stayed here. We enjoyed our stay, but a little bit of modernisation would make all the difference.
We did love our stay here only a couple of things that I would like to point out.
Double bed the springs where sticking into us
Sofas very uncomfortable also only seats for 3 people but it’s a 4 person rental home.
CD player does not work
If all the above were rectified this would be a fantastic break,shame it was a little uncomfortable as we did love the area and the local pub
Marc G.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
We are pleased to note that you enjoyed your visit to Nell Gwyn Cottage and since we do not live locally we are grateful for your comments. We have always endeavoured to maintain the cottage to a very high standard. The mattress and the CD player will be replaced as soon as possible. We do, however, need to point out that the sofa is large and together with the armchair provided definitely permits seating for 4 people. We have never had complaints on this issue. Also, the sofa was reupholstered and the springs replaced recently at great cost, so we are rather surprised by your comments.
Although the cottage has nice finishes, it was inconvenient at almost every turn. Initially numerous power up actions were required.
4 steps up, 1 down from living room to kitchen was a bit tiring.
Bathroom 2 shower was unusable; main bathroom shower ran out of hot water..
Washer was in a distant laundry and was coin operated. Dryer not working.
phil s.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Nov 2024
Your grading of two stars is grossly unfair and based on inaccuracies, so let’s deal in facts. Our start up instructions have been easily understood by scores of guests over many years and are simple to carry out. After your written contact with me on arrival, not only did I explain further, but I organised for practical, hands on help for you which you fail to mention.
I am sorry if steps are not to your liking, but their presence can hardly form a contribution to a poor rating.
Bathroom 2 shower is perfectly serviceable. I have used it since your visit and it is functioning normally. Bathroom 1 shower does not run out of hot water. You were there for five nights. Are you seriously saying you had no hot water for that period?
The laundry is in the main building of Orton Hall, about thirty feet from our front door, hardly a “distant” laundry. Yes, it is coin operated and this is clearly mentioned on the description of the cottage on the website.
Yes, the tumble drier had broken down in the period immediately preceding your arrival and was yet to be repaired, but you were offered and accepted an alternative, which again you fail to acknowledge.
In summary, we have bent over backward to accommodate your perceived difficulties, but with no acknowledgement or appreciation from your side.
I refer you to our other guest reviews which are almost exclusively 5 star, and offer my opinion that difficulties experienced by you are entirely of you own making.
Although the property and position are lovely, apart from the ground floor bedroom which was nice and warm the rest of the accommodation was very cold. Even with the blankets from the bedroom round us we were so cold that we had to go home a day early.
Very good.Peacful location.extreemly clean and well appointed.There is one pub in the village which serves good quality but not too expensive food and a cafe for breakfast on the outskirts of the village also very good.Will definatly stay again.
We spent 2 nights at Neil Gwyn Cottage at Orton Hall. It's a lovely quiet spot with beautiful grounds. The cottage was very clean and comfortable. We toured the Lake District during our days and enjoyed returning to the cottage to relax in the evenings. Looking forward to
visiting again. Thank you Peter!
Saubere und gemütliche Unterkunft in einem für die Gegend typischen kleinen Örtchen. Ausstattung detailverliebt und perfekt - wir haben nichts vermisst! Die Wandergebiete ins Lake District waren mit dem Auto gut erreichbar. Wir hatten einen sehr schönen und erholsamen Urlaub!
We are a family of four. Had a three night stay but wish we could have stayed longer. The property was very clean and well equipped. The hall with the piano was a cherry on the top as we all play and had a fantastic evening playing chess, billiards and the piano.
Excellent value for money. It provided what we needed for a comfortable relaxing base from which to walk the lovely surrounding countryside or visit NT houses. The rooms were spotless but perhaps in need of updating and there is no WiFi. but everything else you needed provided with clear instructions. Walking distance to a village shop and its setting in lovely grounds were a bonus. We hope to visit again in spring
Glennis C.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
About the host
Hosted by Mr Peter Bush
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests