The cottage
The Roost was part of the original stone-built barn attached to Bowersyke Farm. Converted to a home around 20 years ago, it has been extensively refurbished in 2020 to create a welcoming, warm and relaxing place for our guests to enjoy.
Inside we offer a generous kitchen and breakfast area with dramatic views to the Howgill Fells, a large downstairs shower room, a separate dining room and a spacious full-height lounge with views across the rear garden and down the Lune Valley. Upstairs there is the house bathroom and a double bedroom with a feature window looking up into our woodland.
Both the kitchen and lounge have large windows, where the barn doors originally were, making those rooms particularly light and bright and offering extensive views. All windows are double-glazed and the house has central heating throughout.
Comprehensive refurbishments in 2020, including new showers, floors, decoration and furniture, give a fresh and comfortable feel to the whole house.
The setting
Outside, there is a garden area to the front with separate vehicle access and private parking, all looking across the Lune Valley to the Howgill Fells. Behind The Roost is a sheltered South-facing paved area enclosed by dry-stone walls, accessed from the lounge and leading to a private orchard garden with views across our fields and down the Lune Valley.
Above the Roost we have an area of woodland with a small stream running through it, with gentle paths leading up the hill including seats with spectacular views to the East over Middleton Fell and Baugh Fell and into the Yorkshire Dales.
One of the great joys of the setting is how the views in all directions constantly change with the seasons, the weather and the time of day. It’s very easy to ‘stand and stare’ here.
We are surrounded by farmland, mostly grazed by sheep, which has changed little for centuries. Our neighbours, some of whom also trust us with their animals to graze our fields, are helping us to understand and care for our piece of this protected landscape.
As we are surrounded by stock we are regrettably unable to accommodate dogs, however well-behaved.
Bowersyke
The Roost is part of the original buildings of Bowersyke (sometimes known as Bowersike or Bower Sike) Farm. The current house was, we believe, built in 1788 although there were occupied buildings on the site at least as far back as the 17th Century. For many years the house was the centre of a small farm and was part of the Ingmire Hall Estate, along with most land locally, until it was sold in the 1920s. It has not been an active farm since the 1930s, although we still have a few acres of grazing and woodland around the house.
For some years immediately before the Second World War it was run as a riding school for the local ‘gentry’ and pupils from further afield. There is a well-documented local story about two boys who learned to ride at Bowersyke in the late 1930s, the sons of the then-American Ambassador in London, and who in later life became Attorney-General of the United States and Senator for Massachusetts: Robert and Edward Kennedy. We love the idea of these two boys from a very ambitious family having a few carefree weeks riding and relaxing a world away from London life.
We are learning more all the time about the history of the riding school, and the house in general, which we are happy to share with interested guests.