BESSIESTOWN COUNTRY GUESTHOUSE, Carlisle (Cumbria)

Bessiestown Country Guesthouse sits in a tranquil rural setting within the Eden Valley, 10 minutes from the M6 motorway and 15 minutes from Carlisle. The property is 27 km from Carlisle Castle and 32 km from Thirlwall Castle, placing it within easy reach of Hadrian's Wall and Gretna Green. Guests use the guesthouse as a base for cycling and hiking routes across Northern England, with the Lake District under an hour away.

The guesthouse serves a full English breakfast cooked to order, with vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options prepared separately upon request. Breakfast includes locally sourced ingredients, homemade jams, fresh fruit, cereals, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Guests can use the shared lounge and sunroom, which have a microwave, plates, glasses, and cutlery for bringing back their own evening meals.

The Dove Cote honeymoon suite offers a spacious self-contained apartment with kitchen facilities, while standard Double Rooms and Twin Rooms include a fridge with fresh milk, tea and coffee stations, and en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower combinations. Rooms are cleaned daily with fresh milk restocked each day, and the property has accessible parking and facilities for disabled guests. The guesthouse provides family rooms and a Triple Room, with the ground-floor Apartment suitable for guests who prefer single-level access.

Families receive upgrades to self-contained apartments when available, and staff have arranged special experiences such as visits to a local farm to see sheep. The guesthouse has a large garden with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, plus a shared lounge with a TV and outdoor furniture. The property does not host pets, and the owners provide local knowledge about nearby attractions and walking routes suitable for children.

The family-run guesthouse is set on a traditional steading and shares local history narratives with guests, including stories from their long history in the business. Owners Margaret and John, along with staff Anne and Jackie, provide local recommendations and have arranged early check-in and late checkout upon request. The property has won multiple awards for its breakfast and consistently receives 10/10 ratings from guests on Booking.com, with many returning for repeat stays.

Location: 15 minutes from Carlisle, under an hour from the Lake District, near Hadrian's Wall

Rooms: Dove Cote honeymoon suite with self-contained apartment, ground-floor apartment, family rooms

Dining: Award-winning full English breakfast with gluten-free and vegetarian options, homemade jams

Facilities: Free parking, accessible parking, shared lounge with microwave, garden with panoramic views

Experiences: Farm visits, local history narratives, daily housekeeping with fresh milk in rooms

Family: Early check-in, late checkout, complimentary room upgrades for families with children