Lake District hotel brought to market at £3m
Knight Frank LLP is handling the sale of a grade-two listed Georgian mansion house at the heart of the national park.
Complete with 15 acres and views over Derwentwater, the price tag for Barrow House has been set at £2.95m.
Located just outside Keswick, with a large private waterfall in the rear gardens, since 1961 the house has been used as a youth hostel with a capacity for 88 people.
It was originally built as a private country home in the late 18th century before being converted to a hotel in the early 1900s.
Ryan Lynn, partner with Knight Frank, said: “Now the hostel operation has come to an end Barrow House is being brought to the market and we feel it would make a fantastic hotel again.
“It truly is one of a kind and a blank canvas to be a really lovely, cool venue developed by a purchaser with the right vision to take on this incredible opportunity.
“The Lake District continues to attract visitors not just from across the UK but internationally and its location close to the thriving town of Keswick just adds to the appeal.”
Original features of the main house include ornate fireplaces and cornicing, and according to the agents was once visited by Queen Elizabeth II.
There is also an adjoining manager’s house and three detached wooden lodges on the grounds in addition to the main property.
Although planning permission has not yet been sought, the current owners say they have had plans drawn up for a contemporary extension which would almost double the size of the property.
John Snyder, who has owned the house since 2011, said: “We bought the property to safeguard the use of the building as an ongoing hostel because so many children and students experienced the adventure and excitement of the outdoors right in the midst of the mountains, lake, waterfalls, and forest surrounding Barrow House.
“Many return as adults, including our own daughters who each had their wedding celebrations on the high terrace and extensive lawn overlooking the lake.
“Barrow House is simply stunning. It is a fantastic location surrounded by nature, yet so close to vibrant Keswick – ‘The Adventure Capital’ of the Lake District.
“The estate now deserves the right owner who can appreciate the majesty of the location and the growth opportunity here in the Northern Lakes to develop the potential of this fantastic building and bring it back to life”.
