Some properties ask for more than restoration – they ask for imagination, patience and a deep respect for the land around them. For Mark and Kim, Mirefoot was one of those rare places. Set on the quiet edge of the Lake District, it offered not just a project, but the chance to create something deeply personal: a retreat shaped by landscape, lifestyle and a slower way of living.
“We first saw Mirefoot for sale when idly browsing the property listings whilst abroad,” Mark and Kim recall. “We were captivated by the beauty of its location and its charm, but it was out of our reach at the time.”
Nearly a year later, the opportunity returned and this time, they were ready. “About a year later, it came back onto the market and this time everything clicked into place. We both love Cumbria and had been living here for several years. We knew we’d taken on a big project as it needed a complete rebuild and renovation, but we knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The magic of Mirefoot lies in its balance, a place where wild beauty meets quiet seclusion. “Mirefoot is on the edge of the Lake District National Park with miles of Lakeland fells and lakes on the doorstep, yet it’s completely tucked away from the tourist trail,” they explain. “It’s ideal for walkers, runners, mountain bikers, but also within a 15-minute drive of Windermere with its boutique shops and cafés.”
Days here can unfold in countless ways: long walks across the fells, mornings by the water, or evenings spent indulging in the region’s celebrated food scene. “Some of our guests come to experience one of the many Michelin-starred restaurants in the area and then walk it off the next day,” Mark and Kim say. Yet the true luxury of Mirefoot lies in returning – stepping back into warmth, comfort and stillness. With a luxurious indoor pool and spa set within the grounds, guests can retreat inward as easily as they venture out.
From the beginning, the couple set out to create something they felt was missing. “We aimed to create the kind of place that we would want to stay in,” they explain. “We wanted to enjoy walking or cycling on the fells as a family and then come back to somewhere really comfortable and spacious where we could also take our dog.”
At the time, they found that dog-friendly options often lacked care or quality. “The few dog-friendly cottages that you could find were a little sad and run-down,” they say. Instead, Mirefoot was designed to feel generous and considered in every detail – “space to spread out, wood-burning fires, comfortable sofas, well-equipped kitchens, private terraces and a pool and spa to relax in at the end of the day that you can book out exclusively to yourself.” Thoughtful touches, from private chefs to in-house treatments, elevate the experience further. And sometimes, the setting itself is enough. “Some of our guests come to Mirefoot planning many adventures but then don’t even want to leave the cottage.”
Each of the five cottages carries its own quiet personality, shaped by the original farm buildings they inhabit. The Old Grain Store, with its expansive glass frontage and cool blue-grey tones, feels almost like a waterside retreat, while Kirkstone draws on classic Lakeland textures – slate, timber and stone – grounding it firmly in its surroundings.
Elsewhere, Shepherd’s View wraps guests in warmth with sheepskin rugs and timber-clad walls, opening onto a small balcony where the night sky feels close enough to touch. Twitcher’s Cottage leans into romance, with soft pink and sage tones, a roll-top bath in the bedroom and playful patterned tiles. The Shippon Cottage offers a more contemporary contrast – sleek, spacious and quietly indulgent.
Beyond the cottages themselves, Mirefoot unfolds into gardens, water and wildness. The grounds are home to a pond, an arboretum and a growing wildflower meadow, carefully nurtured to encourage both wildlife and wandering guests. “We were keen to blend the cottages seamlessly into the landscape,” Mark and Kim explain. “We’re always working to increase the wildlife… so that all you can hear at Mirefoot on a quiet morning is the birds.”
That sense of stillness is perhaps Mirefoot’s greatest luxury – a place where time softens, where mornings begin with birdsong and evenings end beside the fire. It’s this feeling the couple hope guests carry with them long after they leave. “We hope they feel immensely relaxed and restored, and that they enjoy this intimate place to reconnect with friends and family,” they say.
Ultimately, Mirefoot was always intended to feel like a home – somewhere familiar yet special, where guests would want to return. And increasingly, they do. “With a return rate of 40%, we hope we’ve managed it,” Mark and Kim add.
At Mirefoot, the Lake District reveals a quieter side of itself – one defined not by crowds or checklists, but by space, stillness and the simple pleasure of being immersed in nature.
If you have any questions about any of our cottages or if you’d like some help with your booking, you are very welcome to get in touch with us.
We are always happy to help and go out of our way to tailor your perfect UK holiday.
Pudleston, Herefordshire
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