Why choose between a rural retreat and a vibrant market town when you can have both? Standing proudly at the prow of Kirkby Lonsdale’s historic High Street, Fountain House combines the prestige of Georgian townhouse splendour with private parking, copious space for families and friends, alongside riverside walks, award-winning restaurants, independent shops and bakeries on the doorstep – and two of Britain’s most spectacular national parks within effortless reach. 

Rural retreat, market town magic 

Steeped in centuries of history, Fountain House dates back to before 1715, with its handsome Georgian façade added in 1830. Originally the town’s principal inn, it has since served as a private residence under the name of Fountain House.  

Lovingly restored by the current owners, every effort has been made to celebrate Fountain House’s remarkable heritage, from exposing original stonework and preserving centuries-old timber floors to using traditional materials in keeping with its Grade II listed status. The result is a home where Georgian elegance, earlier seventeenth-century character and the comforts of modern holiday living sit effortlessly side by side. 

Let the holiday begin… 

Once indoors, the holiday truly begins. Steeped in Georgian grandeur, yet instantly welcoming, original sash windows complete with working shutters, intricate cornicing, grand archways and an impressive leaded Westmorland window glimpsed ahead on the stairs offer the perfect introduction to the centuries of history waiting to be discovered throughout Fountain House. 

Drop your bags on the Minton tiles as the children eagerly dash upstairs in search of ‘the best bedroom’ (only to discover they’re all equally tempting) and discover the different downstairs spaces in which to stretch out and unwind. 

To the left, unwind in the drawing room; settle into the deep green sofas with a well-earned cup of tea, flick through the walking guides or simply watch the world pass by beyond the tall sash windows. Warmed by the ornate fireplace, and balancing elegant proportions with colourful contemporary styling, it’s a wonderfully relaxing retreat for coffee and conversation after a day exploring the Lakes and Dales. 

Across the hall, flagstone flooring features underfoot in the light and bright breakfast room, where a log-burning stove within a handsome surround counters the modern trio of pendant lights overhead. Pause in an armchair or within the window seats and admire Kirkby Lonsdale life passing by. Around the dining table there is ample space for all to gather for breakfast, lunch and evening meals. 

From the breakfast room, another handsome archway leads through to the kitchen, where the second of the two staircases descends from the first floor. Discreetly integrated behind bespoke cabinetry, a full-height fridge, separate freezer and generous larder provide all the storage needed for larger groups, making it easy to stock up for the week and spend less time shopping and more time enjoying your holiday. Warm, welcoming and wonderfully sociable, the kitchen is designed for holidays lived together. Whether making coffee from the instant boiling tap, preparing packed lunches for a day on the fells or grabbing breakfast on the go, there’s room for everyone, while thoughtful family touches, including highchairs, toys and a travel cot, ensure guests of every age are made to feel at home. The utility room has a deep Belfast sink for soaking out grass stains and spills, with a handy downstairs cloakroom with classic Crapper’s WC and washbasin, in keeping with the period also tucked conveniently away. 

Flowing effortlessly off the kitchen, the formal dining room offers ample seating for 12 to gather in front of the warmth of the log-burning stove in winter months, while in summer, throw open the Crittall style doors to the patio for al fresco dining in the open air.  

After dinner, reconnect with the entrance hallway and head through into the snug, a relaxed retreat tucked away to the rear of Fountain House. With its recently installed stained-glass feature window and quaint original safe, whether settling in for a family film on the large television, enjoying a game of chess or simply unwinding after a day of adventure, the snug is a cosy, characterful space in which to stretch out. 

Steps lead down from the hall to offer access into the cellar, where ample storage is available for cases, cots, bikes and wet suits in the lower ground floor laundry room. 

Returning to the entrance hallway, take the elegant staircase up to the first turn, where the impressive Gothic lancet-style window provides glorious views out over the walled garden, drawing abundant light indoors. 

On the first-floor landing, open and airy, where ornate cornicing traces the high ceiling, four bountiful bedrooms beckon. 

Overlooking the garden at the rear, the first of the dour double bedrooms features twin beds, wooden flooring and a dresser, ideal for children. 

Grand and gracefully decorated in soft greige with a super-king-size bed, the first of the two en suite bedrooms looks out over the historic high street to the front through twin shuttered windows, with a traditional armoire. Resonating impeccably with the heritage of the home, a luxurious wet room en suite offers refreshment. 

Also to the front of Fountain House, a king-size bed offers comfort, with shuttered windows overlooking the high street and a handsome armoire. 

Tucked away along its own inner landing, the family bathroom provides wet room shower facilities for the two bedrooms on this floor without en suites. 

The largest of the en suite bedrooms is a private haven, accessed via an anteroom ideal for placing a travel cot. A twin wash basin accompanies the WC, heated towel ladder rail and walk-in, wet room shower in the en suite. 

With its exposed stone gable and ornamental fireplace, exposed beams and high vaulted ceiling, the principal bedroom on this level is flooded with light from windows to two sides. Armchairs feature alongside a king-size bed, with a chest of drawers offering storage. 

Just outside this bedroom suite, the secondary staircase leads back down to the ground floor, while a third staircase climbs to the second floor, where Fountain House reveals another chapter of its history. Once the servants’ quarters, this floor has a wonderfully characterful, almost barn-like feel, where exposed beams, original stonework and smaller windows hint at the building’s earlier origins, believed to have once formed part of a bakery before the two buildings were united. 

Up here, intimate cottage-style windows create a wonderfully cosy contrast to the elegant Georgian bedrooms below. Another family bathroom, complete with a roll-top bath, serves a twin bedroom with plenty of built-in storage, nestled beneath impressive A frame beams, while a second, spacious super-king bedroom enjoys its own wet-room en suite and views over the historic streets of Kirkby Lonsdale. 

With bedrooms arranged across two distinct upper floors, Fountain House offers the flexibility for generations, families and friends to holiday together in comfort, peace and privacy. 

Garden gathering 

Private parking for up to four cars sits to the side and rear of the home, a genuine rarity in the heart of Kirkby Lonsdale, allowing you to arrive, unpack and leave the car behind as you explore the town on foot.  

Beyond, the enclosed walled garden provides a perfectly private outdoor space in which to unwind after a day exploring the local area. Children have plenty of room to play on the lawn, while the patio is the perfect place for al fresco dining from breakfast ‘til supper. 

Looking back towards the handsome stonework and iconic window, savour the sense of retreat – although, when you’re ready to pick up the pace once more, just a few steps away discover bustling cafés, independent shops and mouthwatering restaurants; another reminder of just how special Fountain House’s location really is. 

Out and about 

Leave the car behind and discover Kirkby Lonsdale on foot, where independent cafés, welcoming pubs, stylish restaurants and boutique shops line the historic streets just moments from the front door. 

Begin the day with freshly baked pastries and coffee from Lunesdale Bakery before browsing the Thursday market or dipping into the eclectic collection of independent gift shops, galleries and antique stores.  

If relaxation is on the agenda, indulge in a massage or facial at Medi-Spa, just next door (with discount available to guests of Fountain House), while younger visitors can browse the mouthwatering window displays of the old-fashioned sweet shops. 

Stretch your legs with one of Kirkby Lonsdale’s most celebrated circular walks, following the banks of the River Lune to the iconic Devil’s Bridge before climbing to Ruskin’s View, described by the Victorian writer and art critic John Ruskin as one of England’s finest landscapes.  

The town itself is steeped in history, with handsome listed buildings, a thriving community spirit and a calendar of markets, cinema evenings and local events bringing the streets to life throughout the year. 

As evening falls, wander back into town to enjoy everything from relaxed pubs and cosy wine bars to excellent restaurants serving locally sourced produce, all within an easy stroll of Fountain House. 

Perfectly positioned between two of England’s most spectacular national parks, adventures stretch far beyond Kirkby Lonsdale itself. Spend one day exploring the lakes, mountains and villages of the Lake District, the next discovering the limestone scenery, waterfalls and walking trails of the Yorkshire Dales, before returning to the comfort of your historic townhouse in one of Cumbria’s most treasured market towns. 

Rich in history, full of character, yet with every modern comfort, Fountain House brings together the very best of town and country. Perfectly positioned, explore the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales and the timeless charm of Kirkby Lonsdale before returning to a holiday home that has it all.