YOUR STAY (some FAQs and the house manual)
Fancy staying?​
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The most straightforward way to book is through Airbnb. Booking this way comes with insurances and other benefits, so please use Airbnb if you can.
The nightly rate is £95, but if you're a returning guest or if you and I know each other, message me before you book and I'll apply a good discount to your dates on the Airbnb calendar. The listing is here.
​It's no problem if you don't have an account with Airbnb - just send me an email with your dates and I'll get back to you.
Perfect for two
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​At 500 square feet the apartment sleeps two people very comfortably. The bedroom has a new double bed with a new mattress, duvet, pillows and linens.​​ There's an open-plan living room and kitchen with a bar-style table for eating and working.
The two outside spaces are great in the summer months; the one overlooking the river has a table and two chairs.
Getting there
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Backbarrow is an easy 20 minute drive from junction 36 of the M6. Once you've left the motorway, head west on the A590. Along this route you'll be following signs for The Lake District Peninsulas, Newby Bridge and Ulverston.
After about 16 miles on the A590 you'll pass through Newby Bridge. One mile later you'll see a large green 'Welcome to Backbarrow' sign. Shortly after the green sign there's a turning onto a minor road on the right - leave the A590 here. Follow the lane down the hill and over the bridge. Carry on for another quarter mile and you'll see the Ironworks Building on the left.
The postcode for your satnav is LA12 8RF. The What Three Words location is Assorted.Riverside.Starfish
Getting around
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You will need a car! Backbarrow is a tiny place with no shop and no public transport (you're out in the countryside here!). In the summer months the Haverthwaite Steam Railway (the station is half a mile away) will take you to Lakeside on the shore of Windermere to connect with the passenger launches to Bowness and Ambleside, but for everything else you'll need a car.
Keys
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If you and I are colleagues or if we live near each other, I'll give you a key. Alternatively there's a key safe. The code for this changes regularly so I'll let you know the latest one before you arrive. ​
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You'll find the keys to the doors leading to the outside spaces in the cutlery drawer.
Parking
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The apartment has a numbered parking space which is yours for the duration of your stay. There are some visitor parking spaces too, but please note: if you park in a space that's owned by someone else, you might find that your car gets blown up in a controlled explosion.
Mobile & wifi
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There's a good 5G signal in most of the southern Lakes and fast, free wifi in the apartment. You'll find the wifi name and password on a sticker that's on the front of the router in the hall cupboard. Alternatively, the entire Ironworks building is a BT and EE wifi hotspot, so if you're a BT or EE customer just log in with your account details for a very fast, free connection.
Heating and hot water
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The electric heating system is controlled from a touch-screen outside the bathroom. I've made a YouTube video about it here and there's a user guide in the FAQ book in the living room, but if you need any help don't hesitate to give me a call. There's a couple of portable oil filled radiators too and in the summer months these are usually enough to keep the apartment warm.
Hot water comes via an electric boiler which heats the water on demand. Run any tap and the water will be very hot in about 30 seconds. Full disclosure: there is a bath, but I don't list it in the amenities because it takes ages to fill. The shower is best!
Locking the front door (I'm mentioning this because it took me a couple of goes to work it out!)
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From inside the apartment: Lift the door handle up in a clockwise direction and turn the lock.
​From outside the apartment: Lift the door handle up in an anti-clockwise direction and turn the key.
The cutlery drawer (yes, the cutlery drawer!)
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You could spend a week hunting for the cutlery drawer, but in fact it's easy to find when you know where to look. Open the large drawer next to the fridge and you'll see the craftily concealed 'drawer-within-a-drawer' at the top. So now you have access to the corkscrew and bottle opener - phew!
Dogs (and other pets)
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I love dogs, but unfortunately they have to stay at home as pets aren't allowed anywhere in the Ironworks Building... crazy, huh? I didn't make this rule... it'll change when I'm Prime Minister.
Everything is included
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The apartment has everything you're likely to need for a short break, from the bedlinen, towels and soaps to the pans, china, glassware and cutlery (see below for the full list of what's included). All you need to bring is your clothes.
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...and please help yourself to tea, coffee and all the basics in the fridge & cupboards - it's there to be used!
On departure
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To help the cleaners, empty the fridge of anything which will go out of date in the next two weeks and put all rubbish in the bins outside. There's no need to strip the bed, but please put the used towels and tea towels etc over the side of the bath.
Make sure the doors & windows are locked and close the blinds at the kitchen windows and in the bedroom.
Turn off each heater at the mains (including the heated towel rail in the bathroom!) and if you used the key safe, don't forget to put the key back - thank you!
More info
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I've written what I hope is a handy guide to everything you're likely to need during your stay. It's called 'FAQs and Other Useful Stuff'' - you'll find it in the living room, along with a collection of guide books and brochures from nearby attractions. From time to time I add new videos of things to see and do to the YouTube channel, so check that out for a bit of visualisation!
The legal stuff
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It's a sad fact of life that all holiday rental properties have to have various terms, conditions and disclaimers. I hate these as much as you do, so I've kept them to a minimum. Please read them though! They're on the Terms, Conditions and Privacy Policy page here. And of course, if you book through Airbnb, their Terms & Conditions apply too.
I'm contactable, 24/7
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This is a great place to stay and I want you to enjoy everything about it, so if you need any help or tips while you're here, don't hesitate to call me at any time. ​Ringing my mobile is the quickest way to get in touch.
INCLUDED IN YOUR STAY
The kitchen
​Bar-style dining table & stools
Full size fridge freezer
Induction hob
Electric oven
Dishwasher & detergent
Washing machine & detergent
Kettle & toaster
China, glassware & cutlery
Kitchen knives
Pans & utensils
Tea, coffee and the basics
Teapot & cafetiere
Corkscrew & bottle opener
Tea towels & dish cloths
Hand soap
Cleaning materials
Smoke alarm
Vacuum cleaner
The living room
Fast, free wifi
Basic free-to-air TV & radio
Sofa
Armchair
Coffee table
Board games
Guide books and brochures
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The bedroom
Double bed
Cotton bedding
Double duvet & 4 pillows
Wardrobes with hangers
Iron & ironing board
Hairdryer
Bedside tables & lighting
Two bath robes
Extra bedding & towels
The bathroom
Rain shower
Loo (of course!) & basin
Plenty of bath & hand towels
Heated towel rail
Mirrored cabinet
Hand soap & shower gel
Loo rolls & tissues
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Outside
Two terraces with lighting
One terrace overlooks the river
... the other overlooks a lawn
Outdoor table and two chairs
Dedicated parking space
Video entry phone
On-site bike garage
Double glazing throughout
Quiet, private road