September 2021 by George H
This must be the best place to stay for miles around. The B&B at Hethpool House has all the comforts of an Edwardian country house plus great cooking with fruit and veg straight from the garden.What made it really special for me was that the hosts know every inch of College Valley and were happy to show me places and point out paths that were not in the guides and maps and drop me off and pick me up further up the valley which enabled me to get much more form my weekend in this really special and beautiful landscape..
July 2021 by keiwq
This is a review for the cottage which is right next to the B&B and is also managed by Eildon. We had a lovely time here: the location was simply fantastic with lots of brilliant walks from the door and a waterfall-pool to swim in just 10-15 mins walk across the fields. Eildon was very welcoming, providing cake to greet us (very welcome after the long drive) and came round to see us at the beginning and end of our stay, giving advice on local walks, providing fresh fruit and vegetables, and also dealing with any queries we had during the week (a permit to be able to park further down the valley + a washing-up brush for the kitchen-sink). Eildon also had the garden chairs fixed very quickly after we suggested that they were a bit wobbly. The cottage was exactly as advertised in the pictures and blurb, and entirely comfortable for our stay. The quantities of hot water in the bath was very welcome after our walks - not like some places where it takes ages to fill a bath and then there's only enough for one between all. A note on the water (particularly given the below review): Eildon advised us when we arrived that, although she and her family drink it themselves, she had been told to tell visitors to boil it before drinking. This was a bit of a bore, but we didn't have any problems with it, and it didn't affect the enjoyment of our stay at all. Overall, we absolutely loved our break from the normal working world - the College Valley was the perfect retreat after this last year.
July 2021 by X9426QEcarls
Hethpool House is an Edwardian pearl at the entrance to the most beautiful valley in England. In previous years we have stayed in the main house, which has always delighted with its stately charm and Eildon's generous hospitality. On this trip, travelling with several children and a dog, we chose the seclusion of the cottage. It was as close to perfection as one could hope: spacious and quiet with soft, comfortable beds, ample room to spread or gather, all enclosed in a jewel box garden bursting with life and colour. The gentle sounds of the burn cascading through steep hills and swallows coursing overhead as we loitered over breakfast at the wooden table on the lawn will linger in my memory far into the future. Yes, Hethpool is willfully old fashioned, and will undoubtedly be modernised and improved before long, but it needs nothing. It is a place of quiet magic. With vases of delicate blossoms from the garden in every room and Eildon's delightful chocolate cake to hand, this is as close to perfection as you could hope to find. It is not a contemporary five-star hotel with sterile convenience in every detail, it is something far more. But if you believe paradise lies in the plumbing, you may be on the wrong island. This is a haven for those who can slow down and take the time to love the place. It is truly sublime. Thank you to all those who have created and sustained it through centuries.
June 2021 by leihsmot1988
I would like to start this review on a positive note. I stayed with family at the self catering cottage adjacent to the B&B and the setting is just perfect, with beautiful surroundings in a peaceful location. The bed was also very comfortable. The cottage itself is characterful, quirky and has many original fixtures and fittings that should be shown off to much greater effect.... .....sadly this is where the positives are brought to their abrupt end..... We were greeted with a very dated and tired interior and a badly equipped kitchen. In the 1960s it may have been acceptable but in 2021 it is simply inadequate. This is the worst bit....... We were left a note explaining that the tap water ?falls short of nearly perfect? and that the owners advise boiling the water before use. We then found 2x 1.5l refilled glass bottles of water in the fridge which looked like they had come straight out of a slimy old pond. The water was off in colour and contained a number of small spots that were then confirmed to be dead insects. What a complete joke!!! To not provide adequate tap water or a significant store of bottled alternative is nothing short of laughable, and probably illegal! The bathroom is another reason why this place can not be recommended. There?s a single bath for a premises that sleeps at least 6. It is stated on the B&B website that there is not space for a shower but on closer inspection this is simply lazy and untrue. It just desperately needs a rethink. The floor tiles are ancient and peeling away from the floor, and the wall above the bath taps also coming away from the wall. I?ve experienced better wash facilities at many a campsite. If this was cheap accommodation it could be considered ok, but not somewhere to return, but it wasn?t. At £550 for 3 nights it is simply daylight robbery. Avoid.
July 2020 by elisabethvY251KE
Nice big room, comfortable beds, lovely welcome as usual with tea and homemade cake. Excellent evening meal and breakfast with lots of homegrown products. Discovered the lake and " swimmimg pool" in the local river. Good walking for 3 days.
