Lake District religious retreat up for sale

The Lattendales residential centre for wellbeing offers a rare opportunity to develop a country hotel in the highly-desirable Lake District area of Cumbria.

The property, which has been used as a retreat by the Religious Society of Friends since 1972, has been put on the market through property agent Penrith Farmers' & Kidd's (PFK) with a guide price of around £700,000.

Lattendales is a Grade II-listed property that occupies two acres of land in the village of Greystoke on the northern edge of the Lake District National Park.

It is five miles from both Penrith and Ullswater.

The original house dates from the late 16th or early 17th century and features additions made in the Georgian and Victorian eras and in the 1930s.

It was owned by Dowson Estate until 1919 and was used as military hospital during First World War.

Along with 13 bedrooms, the main house includes a dining room, a kitchen with an original range, a meeting room, a guest lounge, an office, a larder, a store room, a staff room, a shower room and three bathrooms.

The outbuildings add two storerooms, two garages, a studio/workshop and a stable block, along with two staff flats. One incorporates a bedroom, kitchen/dining room and bathroom while the second is a bed/sitting room with en-suite shower room.

The owners are also selling 14 acres of grazing land to the rear of the property separately.

"This is a unique opportunity to acquire a large country property which could be used for a range of purposes include a country hotel, residential institution or possibly as a private residence," said Duncan Young of PFK.

Lattendales is being offered for sale by informal tender, with a closing date of 14 July for bids submitted in sealed envelopes. Contact PFK on 01768 862 135 for further details.

By Angela Frewin