The Old Croft House

The Old Croft House Guest House Accommodation in the Eden Valley

We are delighted to have received the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2026.This recognition means the world to us, ...
14/06/2026

We are delighted to have received the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2026.
This recognition means the world to us, as it reflects how much our guests have enjoyed their stay. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write a review, not only
this year, but all the way back to 2013 when we received our first Certificate of Excellence.
We truly love what we do and remain just as enthusiastic today as when we first started.
Waking up to a new review is still the icing on the cake, and yes, there is always cake…
Thank you for your continued support and for helping us achieve this award.


Tripadvisor









Today was a perfect reminder that Smardale is a beautiful walk in all weathers. There’s no reason to feel melancholy whe...
12/06/2026

Today was a perfect reminder that Smardale is a beautiful walk in all weathers. There’s no reason to feel melancholy when blue skies and sunshine give way to biblical rain. The fourteen arches of the Victorian viaduct always stand unchanged, but the flora and fauna don’t. They transform the valley every season and this summer the wild flowers are nothing short of spectacular…

Visit Eden Eden Viaducts

A 21‑mile walk from Shap on a particularly wet summer’s day is soon forgiven the moment you step through our front door ...
11/06/2026

A 21‑mile walk from Shap on a particularly wet summer’s day is soon forgiven the moment you step through our front door and dive in to a homemade chocolate cake delivered to your room with a pot of tea. While your soaked gear is whisked away, you sink into the kind of comfort that makes the rain feel like part of the adventure….

☀️

09/06/2026

Whilst sitting in the car, willing the heavy rain to turn to sunshine before setting off on our lunchtime run I discovered a new favourite word…
‘thunderplump’ - a sudden, drenching downpour that soaks you in minutes. We certainly got the full experience, but it's amazing how a wonderful word and the promise of sunshine can lift your spirits…

09/06/2026

Whilst sitting in the car, willing the heavy rain to turn to sunshine before setting off on our lunchtime run I discovered a new favourite word…
‘thunderplump’ - a sudden, drenching downpour that soaks you in minutes. We certainly got soaked but it’s amazing how a wonderful word and the promise of sunshine can lift your spirits…
It got better as arrived to Nick welcoming our first guests so I got to experience the professional drying service and a hot shower…

Our reputation for the ability to kill plants is well known amongst our family to the point that they buy art work to ma...
08/06/2026

Our reputation for the ability to kill plants is well known amongst our family to the point that they buy art work to mark our efforts. After years of trying to grow a lush welcome by the front door we have admitted defeat. This time it’s not us to blame but spider mites that have thwarted our efforts so after a visit to we found the perfect rustic flower sculptures to frame the front door, Ted is very pleased with his efforts and is more than finding his paws as head greeter…

The perfect Sunday, dramatic skies and dancing buttercups. It’s a privilege to watch the transformation of one the rares...
07/06/2026

The perfect Sunday, dramatic skies and dancing buttercups. It’s a privilege to watch the transformation of one the rarest and most threatened wildlife habitats in Cumbria, northern upland hay meadows thrive at Bowber Head. If you want to walk from our door there are also great examples overlooking the Wharton Oak…

Visit Eden Cumbria Wildlife Trust

05/06/2026

When you work out that you spend a week hoovering during the season (that’s 24 hours a day) please forgive the excitement of the arrival of The Shark after the sad demise of Danny Dyson. It was frankly love at first use especially as one of our favourite films is Jaws, with a little imagination a mundane task is no longer cleaning but patrolling the waters of Amity Island…





Today marks the start of 30 Days Wild, and it’s a gentle reminder that walking isn’t always about how far you can go. So...
01/06/2026

Today marks the start of 30 Days Wild, and it’s a gentle reminder that walking isn’t always about how far you can go. Sometimes it’s about slowing down, getting onto your hands and knees, and fully immersing yourself in the small, extraordinary details of nature. Take time to linger by a hay meadow where grass and buttercups dance lightly in the breeze. Notice a stone wall softened by pillows of moss, a simple dandelion glowing, or the delicate lacework of cow parsley along the path. Up close, the natural world reveals its astonishing structure, a quiet, intricate system that sustains us all….

Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Address

Market Street
Kirkby Stephen
CA174QW

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