Shap Wells Hotel

Hotels
•
Independent
8.2 (134 reviews)
Shap, Cumbria, Penrith, England, CA10 3QU , Penrith , GB
44-1931-716628

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Pets allowed

Facilities

Meeting rooms
Fitness facilities
Newspapers in lobby (surcharge)
Arcade/game room
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Garden
Luggage storage
Picnic area
Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Lovely location
Character of the building
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Food quality concerns
Inconvenience with room arrangements

Categories

Cleanliness
7.09
Reviews frequently mentioned dirty towels and rooms, indicating cleanliness issues.
Service
9.56
Positive feedback on staff friendliness and helpfulness throughout the reviews.
Location
9.6
Consistently referred to as a lovely and beautiful location, enhancing guest experience.
Room Quality
8.05
Mentioned varying room sizes and some comfort issues, leading to a mixed review.
Amenities
8.58
Standard hotel amenities were present, but some review notes suggest they need improvement.
Value for Money
7.54
Guests felt the price was not commensurate with the service and quality offered.
Food and Beverage
6.59
Food consistently criticized as bland and often cold, leading to disappointment.
Overall Experience
8.56
Mixed experiences noted, with some positive highlights but significant drawbacks.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 23:45

Property Description

Recreation Amenities & Views
Indulge in the fitness center or relax in the garden while taking in the scenic views.

Dining & Drinks
Savor a meal at the restaurant, opt for room service, and enjoy beverages at the bar/lounge.

Additional Amenities
Make use of free Wi-Fi, gaming facilities, and a picnic area. Benefit from services like dry cleaning, 24-hour reception, and luggage storage.

Stay at Shap Wells Hotel in Penrith for a memorable retreat near Yorkshire Dales National Park and Orton Community Park. Book now for an unforgettable experience.

Important information:

  • Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section).
  • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.
  • Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: MME

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Service animals are exempt from fees/restrictions

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • General

    Cashless transactions are available

  • Guest type

    Essential workers only - NO

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 134 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.09
Service: 9.56
Location: 9.6
Room Quality: 8.05
Amenities: 8.58
Value for Money: 7.54
Food and Beverage: 6.59
Overall Experience: 8.56
J
julie • extended_group • gb
8
Beautiful, quiet location , ornate features in art deco style, friendly staff.
Pros:

Location was a pleasant surprise, it was down a mile long single track lane, near a river in a beautiful area.

Cons:

Didn’t like the fire alarm that went off at 3am so all guests had to be outside, this included a small baby and elderly guests. No management came to offer an explanation or Marshall the incident.
It was only because we asked the next morning that we were told it was someone in a room had been smoking.

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
T
Terence • solo_traveller • gb
7
Hotel clean food good staff very obliging
Pros:

Surroundings

Cons:

The fire alarm went off at 3am best to avoid when the Appleby horse fair is on as many travellers were staying at the hotel who caused the problems

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
C
Charlotte • family_with_children • gb
1
Rocky horror show .. AVOID at all costs
Pros:

The location is beautiful, however the track to the hotel itself is so dangerous and is highly likely to cause significant damage to your car due to the size of the pot holes... Which are like 4foot wide and 3 foot deep. If you don't have a big car .. expect a big bill to get your car fixed, even with an off roader, we where driving at 2pmh to just survive getting to the hotel.

Cons:

The hotel is dated, the beds are the most uncomfortable thing I have ever slept it, the rooms are not clean, the amenities are poor. The shower did not work, so we could not get a wash, the place is actually horrible and you do not get a good nights sleep. I considered sleeping on the floor, but didn't , due to how mucky the carpets are.

There are also significant safety issues with how the place is ran, the fire alarm went of at 3am for the second night in a row, the night before was 6am. You had to evacuate, but no staff where present of visible to tell you what was going on, the stairs used to evacuate had very low lit lighting and there where 60 plus people going down to leave the hotel. After 30 minutes of the alarm going off and no staff to be seen the alarm stopped going of and people went back to there rooms, not once did any staff update us or make an announcement to say what was going on. The alarm went of due to someone smoking in the room, I found this out from other guests the next morning. The place is ran very poorly and God forbid it was a real fire it would result in the death of people due to the poor coordination and the lack of any kind of authority to ensure people understand what is going on and taken to safety.

The majority of the guests are 70 plus, so the hotel likely reminds them of there younger years and there eye sight probably means they don't see the filthy it is. How the place has not been closed down, just on health and safety grounds is beyond me. I cannot understand how it's good the positive reviews it has, I honestly think it must be due to the age of the guests and them maybe feeling it has a feeling of there younger years. Location wise , is the only other reason I could think.

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN DO NOT STAY... I would feel terrible to think any child was crawling around on the carpets and had to be evacuated in such a highly choacatic and poorly ran manner, it would be terrifying for them.

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
A
Asma • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
J
jane • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

The food was nice

Cons:

Couldn't go in the bar area with the dogs even though it was dog friendly

2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
J
Janet • couple • gb
9
Comfortable hotel in nice location
Pros:

Beautiful grounds dog friendly lovely food

Cons:

A little expensive

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
J
James • couple • gb
5
Good place to break your journey from M6
Pros:

Breakfast was nice, would have liked some fresh fruit.
The receiption staff were friendly.
Bed was comfortable and spacious.
Quiet, as it was in the middle of countryside, we couldn't hear the M6.
Scenic, the drive was a mile long, good for walking enthusiasts.

Cons:

On the day of departure, well before departure time, the chamber maid opened our room door with a key while we were undressed (knocking while she opened the door not before and not waiting for a reply). I shouted "stop! stop! stop! " held my hand out agaist the door to stop her as I was luckily coming out of the bathroom at the time.
The pet friendliness meant there was a dog waiting outside a room in the corridor at one point.

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
C
Caroline • couple • gb
7
Would stop again if travelling through.
Pros:

We used this property to break up our journey to the NE of Scotland. We were looking for something modestly priced and this ticked all our boxes for a visit with our dog. Road to get to it off the motorway was a pothole challenge but doable.

Cons:

Nothing we didn’t like.
Bathroom was basic but cleanliness was not an issue.

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
7
2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
B
Barrie • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-31 • via Nuitee
A
Alex Pom • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-05-31 • via Nuitee
S
Sandra • couple • gb
9
It was nice, quite and comfortable one night stay 🙂 the location and the river,was most peaceful 😌
Pros:

Location. View. And river next to Hotel.

Cons:

Like everything

2026-05-30 • via Nuitee
D
Dennis • couple • gb
7
Comfortable but don’t rely on table bookings being honoured.
Pros:

Nice old fashioned hotel. Very comfortable and serves an excellent breakfast.

Cons:

I booked a table for 6pm and the booking was confirmed.
When I booked booked in I was informed that the booking was cancelled because a coach party was coming and they had priority. I was disgusted that they could confirm a booking and disregard it in such an off hand manner. The experience left my wife and I feeling like second class customers

2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • extended_group • gb
9
Excellent stop for our Coast to Coast Walk.
Pros:

Prompt attention and friendly staff

Cons:

Wedidntsee the red squirrels!! He He!

2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
S
Stephen • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
A
Anthony • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Lovely hotel. Great gardens.

Cons:

O.

2026-05-28 • via Nuitee
P
Paula • couple • gb
7
Comfortable enjoyed the area
Pros:

Area surroundings where beautiful

Cons:

This could be a beautiful building , but in very need of a re vamp

2026-05-28 • via Nuitee
S
Sara • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Unusual location and a friendly atmosphere

2026-05-28 • via Nuitee
C
cameron • couple • au
8
Out of the way but highly recommended
Pros:

Setting is remote but very lovely

Lovely old building, and the public areas are very flash

Cons:

No fridge - that’s it

2026-05-27 • via Nuitee
M
Mary C W • extended_group • gb
6
If u need to stay in the area, this is the place
Pros:

Location , 1930s telephone , art deco styling on ceiling of dining room, warm rooms

Cons:

WiFi signal non existent

2026-05-26 • via Nuitee