A holiday cottage overlooks a large lake in front of tall Lake District Fells. Lakeside Holiday Cottages in Cumbria

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.

Entrance to a stone-built Cumbrian coottage with a porch and small lawn.
Sleeps
Bedrooms
1

Enjoy a romantic holiday amidst the splendour of Northern England with a stay at Cow Byre, a stone-built small holiday cottage in the Cumbrian hamlet of Barras. It is situated within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, featuring a split-level open-plan living area, a feature wall, and a loft bedroom with a four-poster bed.

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Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Two Tweenways, near the Lake District village of Ambleside, is the perfect romantic holiday cottage for couples in Cumbria. It is complete with a fitted kitchen, dining area, small patio with garden furniture, and access to magnificent Lake Windermere and its nearby attractions.

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Stone built front exterior of a traditional Cumbrian cottage overlooking a quiet road.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Glen Bank won the Visit England's 5* Gold Award in 2019. Fields and woodland surround this Cumbrian property in Appleby-in-Westmoreland. The pet-friendly cottage boasts outdoor entertaining areas with sweeping views and offers a light-filled orangery, two wood burners, exposed beams, and a dog shower.

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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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An extended 2-storey Scottish barn conversion with one wall lined by roses
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Knott View sits within a 17th-century Grade II listed barn conversion on a working farm near Sedburgh in Cumbria. It lies between the Yorkshire Dales and The Lake District, offering guests outstanding views and tranquillity within a remote rural location. Sleeps 4.

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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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Exteriorof a large stone-built hall in Cumbria with a large lawn and parking spaces.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

This Cumbrian longhouse, which has been listed as Grade II, was not used for domestic purposes for several centuries until it was recently restored and won a 5-Star Gold Award. Its historical significance is reflected in its thick sandstone walls, ships beams, timbers, and traditional oak window shutters.

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A large barn conversion in KEndal overlooks a  lawn surrounded by mature shrubs and bushes.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Book a luxury rural retreat for two at Hollins Farm Barn in New Hutton, near the idyllic town of Kendal, Gateway to the Lake District. Gothic-style bedrooms with crook beams and exposed stonework await the lucky couple coming for a honeymoon or a romantic weekend/week-long holiday.

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A large Coniston holiday home at the head of a hedge-lined tarmac drive with a mature woodland background.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Browside is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage with stunning fell views down to Coniston Water welcomes large families or groups of friends. Sleeping 14, this large, warm, cosy house in a walker's paradise includes a hot tub for relaxing after a day in the fells.

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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 amazing 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, and 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!