A visitor who has regularly stayed at a much-loved National Trust property in the Lake District, that was featured in a book by the novelist Ian McEwan, says she is shocked and appalled at the speed with which the charity has moved to close it.
Sue Lane, of Cheshire stayed at Bird How in Holmrook in Eskdale in March.
It is described as a ‘dolls-house-like cottage’ and marketed as truly off grid with no TV or phone signal available. As well as Sue, the property has also hosted the writer Ian McEwan who signed the property’s visitors’ book in 2022.
At the end of the month it will close to visitors, something which has dismayed Sue, who has stayed at the retreat twice a year for seven years.
She said: “I only found out it was closing because I tried to book again after our stay there in March and found I couldn’t. When I emailed holiday bookings they said that ‘sadly it had closed’.”
Further queries suggested Bird How was among 100 National Trust properties across the country that would no longer be open to visitors.
A National Trust member for over 30 years, Sue contacted the charity to ask why the decision was made without letting members know and why it had ‘rushed to close so quickly.’
The charity’s membership team wrote to Sue saying a review of the future sustainability of holiday accommodation had been carried out and confirmed Bird How would be closing adding the decision was made with the National Trust’s long term financial stability in mind.
Cumbria Crack approached the National Trust in Cumbria on April 2 for interview or to offer more information.
We specifically asked what would happen to the property, clarifying how many more would be closed and whether Bird How would be sold.
With bookings bringing much-needed revenue into the charity, we also asked how this income would be replaced and what will happen to the staff and contract staff who manage the properties affected.
The trust told us: “As part of the National Trust’s commitment to securing a sustainable future for the charity, we have carefully reviewed our national holidays portfolio.
“This included looking at the income generated by our cottages, bothies and campsites, and how they contribute to our vital conservation work across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“In Cumbria six holiday cottages will close, four of which will go onto the rental market through Assured Shorthold Tenancies, adding to the local housing available for communities, where they will deliver a greater financial return for the organisation.
“Future uses for the remaining two, which are Bird How in Eskdale and Thrang in the Duddon Valley, are still being assessed by the local team.”
But the decision has angered Sue, who has contacted the Restore Trust campaign group to highlight the issue.
She said: “I think that closing Bird How is like ‘killing’ something precious as it is steeped in so much cultural history.
“If you read the old visitors’ book it goes back to visitors in the 1960s.
“It is so different from any other place and everyone will agree to this – it is not being sentimental it is how the place makes visitors feel when they are staying there because it is very special indeed.
“We were shocked because they have kept the closure quiet and I think that other people who have regularly visited each year will be truly upset about this.
“I have even written to Ian McEwan as I know he wrote in the visitors’ book a couple of years ago and I think he would be dismayed at the trust’s outrageous behaviour towards its loyal visitors and members.”
The news follows a decision by the charity asking boat owners at Fell Foot on Windermere to remove their vessels later this year.
An offer of an interview with the National Trust about this has so far been declined and we await a response to questions raised about the decision.
