A holiday cottage overlooks a large lake in front of tall Lake District Fells.

Find My Favourite Holiday Cottages in Cumbria

This essentially wild and remote region of England is often regarded as one of the best counties in England for lovers of the great outdoors. Perhaps the best way to enjoy it is from a cosy stone-built Cumbrian self-catering holiday cottage tucked away in the heart of a Lakeland or Pennine hill village with a welcoming pub within easy walking distance. Cumbria is the home of the English Lake District National Park, a paradise for walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and those who like to mess around in a boat on the Lakes. Cumbria also appeals to literature lovers keen to follow in the footsteps of the poet William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, author of the Peter Rabbit children's books. Their homes are open to the public. You'll also discover more about the author of Mrs Tiggywinkle at The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness on Windemere.

Front exterior of a stone-built countryside house  and garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This beautiful, well-equipped, dog-friendly Lake District Holiday Cottage near Cunsey has views over Lake Windermere from its location on the 5000-acre Greythwaite country estate. Guests have access to a heated indoor swimming pool, gym, fishing, and a kids' play area. Hilltop sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms.

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A Large 3-storey Country House surrounded by lawns and woodland.
Sleeps
18
Bedrooms
9

Melmerby Hall is a large Grade-II listed manor house on 25 acres in Melmerby in Cumbria. The grand, pet-friendly rural cottage enjoys fantastic views from its spacious grounds and retains many original features, including its stone façade, Georgian shutters and sandstone terrace.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
5

Underwoods Dairy is a beautifully converted Barn in the small hamlet of Tatham on the western edge of the Pennines near Kirkby Lonsdale. This pet friendly, large holiday cottage in Lancashire offers stunning rural views. It sleeps 11 and welcomes famlies or groups of friends.

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Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

 

Birkdale House is a Victorian property near Lake Windermere in the Matson Ground Estate. It has been refurbished to a high standard and features a cinema room and games room.

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A garden table with a parasol sits outside a stone-built barn conversion in Cumbria.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Onsite owners greet you with a welcome package, just the first of many outstanding touches you’ll find with a stay at Woodside Barn, a remote, child-friendly holiday cottage in the secluded hamlet of Pennington on the Cumbrian coast near Ulverston and the Lake District. Sleeps 4.

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Exterior of a 3-storey house with a large covered balcony.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The River Crake lies at the end of the garden at Sawmill Cottage, a large and charming 18th-century rural holiday cottage near Low Nibthwaite in the South Lakes. The pet-friendly cottage spoils guests with beautiful views, a generous garden, an open fire, a games room and modern comforts blended with old-world charm.

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The Gable end of a single-storey barn conversion overlooks a country garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Fellside Barn is a gorgeous rural barn conversion offering panoramic views of the hills of Cumbria. The light and airy pet-friendly property in Broughton Beck boasts generous gardens with a large furnished deck and an interior blending reminders of yesteryear with open-plan, contemporary comforts.

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Front exterior of a stone-built barn conversion in Cumbria with a small, paved courtyard.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Hill Side Barn is a spacious Lake District barn conversion with a hot tub that sleeps six guests seeking a high-quality rural retreat in a quiet rural corner of Cumbria that’s not too far from the best bits of the Southern Lake District and the Cumbrian coast.

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A 2-storey holiday cottage in Ulverston in a converted stone barn surrounded by a low stone wall.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A cosy romantic holiday cottage in the Lake District for couples near Ulverston, Thimble Cottage is a Cumbrian barn conversion featuring a galleried double bedroom and open plan living area; the cottage lies in a secluded area, close to Ulverston, Coniston, and Furness Coast beaches.

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Everybody has their favourite lake; for some, it is Windemere, on which 'the novel Swallows and Amazons is reputedly based. You can take to the lake by hiring a rowing boat or view it from the decks of a genteel Victorian pleasure steamer. For others, it is Grasmere or Coniston Water in the south or Bassenthwaite or Buttermere in the north. Each lake has its own character, so pick one, and you'll find a suitable holiday cottage offering magnificent views of the fells close to hand.

Sharing the border with Northumberland, between England and Scotland, Cumbria draws you into its fantastic coastline, from the Solway to St.Bees, where you feel the whole world is yours to enjoy. To the north of the County, find the western end of Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans in the 2nd century and Castle Park, known as the "Castle of the Kings". Carlisle, with its own castle and cathedral, is also home to the Museum and Art Gallery at Tullie House; check out its extensive displays of art, human history and natural sciences.

Cumbria also boasts an attractive coastline along which towns grew up during the Industrial Revolution. The coastline now offers a faded grandeur to visitors who are choosing to enjoy the impressive coastal walks along the shorelines. Visit the harbour and the Haig Colliery mining museum in Whitehaven or ride the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway, which travels through the stunning countryside in Eskdale. You'll find plenty of industrial heritage worth exploring in addition to extensive and often deserted beaches.

And if lakes, beaches and visitor attractions aren't enough, don't forget the Fells - a Mecca for walkers at any time of year, made famous by the books of Alfred Wainwright. England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, can be found here. You don't need to be a mountaineer - just the owner of a good pair of boots, sensible clothing, and a map. With an eye on the weather, the hills and fells are yours for the day. So, spend the day in the open air in a county that offers splendid activities for all ages, then return to your holiday cottage to share a dinner of locally produced food before clambering into your comfortable cottage bed - sleep is guaranteed!