WITH views over to the Kentmere Horseshoe, The Heaning Estate is known as a gateway to the Lakes.

Since 2017 the five-acre estate near Windermere has been owned by Deb and Gez Lyon and their company Lincoln Worsley Properties.

They spent three years painstakingly renovating the buildings - some of which date back to the 17th century - to bring them up to the standard expected by the luxury rental market.

Last year the business saw 1,110 guests stay and the whole estate was let for 1,531 nights across all the properties, which include two houses and five two-bedroomed cottages; their turnover was more than £332,000, exceeding their five-year plan for the business.

Yet despite its success as a holiday rental, for Deb and Gez it’s more about the passion of bringing beautiful buildings back to life.

The two main properties are often hired together by corporates together with a hub space with its own commercial kitchen and break out rooms.

Deb said: “Because I have a corporate background my instinct was that there would be potential for corporates to come here.

"Corporates often go away during the week for a couple of nights and in the quiet times we can accommodate them and it means our cash flow is less lumpy.”

Peninsula Business Services (owned by her father Peter Done) was one of the first to hire it.

The Westmorland Gazette:
“We’ve seen a lot of people booking the Big House and the Small House together. We’ve seen corporate 'awaycations' getting bigger and themed weekends. Another clear trend is activity holidays... a lot of people want to maximise their time in the Lakes,” said Deb.

The Cumbrian food scene is another attraction; on the estate all the guests can book a private dining experience.

Deb said: “We wanted something really special with the décor, with the finish... everything we like really. We call it a Scandi-Lakes vibe.

"A lot of people said not to do it as it would get ruined and we would be replacing things every year but I think people are fundamentally respectful."

Nielsen House in Staveley did the main designs for the houses and the Heaning team also work closely with Kendal-based builders BMR Group.

Gez’s daughter Yasmin is the head of design at Lincoln Worsley and masterminded the flexible hub space; she is now busy transforming their latest acquisition, a property in Grasmere. She is set to become a director of the company next month.