Hatters Cottage at Hawkshead near Lake Windermere

Find My Favourite Holiday Cottages in The Lake District

The dramatic landscape of the Lake District is like nowhere else in the UK. The hills and valleys directly result from the glaciers that ravaged the land millions of years ago. The long mystical lakes, lush green forests and rich moorland provide acres of wilderness to explore. The Lakes range in size (and popularity) from the largest, Windermere and Ullswater, to little gems like Buttermere and Grasmere. The Lakes are also a walkers' paradise, whether for gentle lakeside rambles or trekking across the Fells and mountain tops such as Scafell Pike, Skiddaw and Helvellyn. There is also plenty of history to keep you interested while walking, with Roman remains, ancient stone circles and monuments to English literary greats. Enjoy, for example, a romantic visit to Dove Cottage or Hill Top, the delightful homes of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

A 3-storey, stone-built holiday apartment in KEndal in a tree-lined courtyard.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

9 Camden Building is a quaint apartment boasting original stone features and is set right in the heart of Kendal in Cumbria and The Lake District. Exposed beams and traditional character permeate the cottage, which sleeps five and promises open-plan design, sophistication and access to the market town.

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A stone-built, vine-clad barn conversion behind a low stone wall
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

A large and impressively furnished stone barn conversion in Hawkshead, Bull Pen is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage that sleeps ten on the rural Greythwaite Estate. Guests enjoy access to the Estate's heated indoor swimming pool, gym, and children's play area.

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Exterior of a stone-built holiday cottage in the Lake District.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Enjoy a peaceful, relaxing Lake District holiday in Mill Cottage, a dog-friendly home just a few minutes walk to Lake Windermere on the 5000-acre Graythwaite country estate. This cosy, well-equipped cottage sleeps 4. Shared use of the indoor heated pool and other leisure facilities.

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Stone built Cumbrian holiday cottage with a front garden behind a low stone wall.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

This waterside Lake District holiday cottage sits on a peaceful riverbank in the Cumbria village of Cark-in-Cartmel, close to cosy pubs and independent shops. Riverside View is a coastal cottage that sleeps 7, with stunning countryside views within the Lake District National Park. Pets welcome.

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Exterior of a large 2-story house surrounded by a lawn on the shores of a large lake
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Hullet Hall is a beautiful Lake District holiday cottage on Lake Windermere's shores within the Graythwaite Country Estate. The cottage has its own private boating jetty and sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. Guests enjoy complimentary use of the Estate's heated indoor swimming pool, trout fishing lake and fitness suite.

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Large slate-roofed, Lake District lodges with front lawns overlooking a shingled courtyard.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

Amidst the beauty of the Lake District is the lovely holiday cottage Hazel, part of the Woodland Cottages resort on the eastern shores of Lake Windermere near the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, a child-friendly cottage featuring a hot tub, wood-burning stove and five bedrooms.

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Exterior of a holiday cottage in Cark-in-Cartmell overlooking a small patio and lawn.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Lovely 18th-century holiday home near Cartmel village in the South Lakes. Off-road location, log fire, free Wi-Fi. Short breaks from £240.

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A modern house with a vine covered 1st floor balcony overlooks a shrub-filled front garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Nutwood is a delightful detached cottage perched near Lake Windermere in Lakeside. The pet-friendly cottage is well-positioned for a holiday in Cumbria and the Lake District. It features a spacious furnished deck, lovely grounds, an interior with modern furnishings, an open fire and ample light.

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Exterior of a large country house surrounded by lawned gardens.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Kirkbridge Hall is located on a 20-acre mixed woodland estate in Cumbria called Melmerby Hall. This pet-friendly stone cottage is next to St. John's Church. The cottage offers stunning views and peaceful surroundings. It has a lovely orchard and solid oak floors, along with antique furniture and a cozy log fire.

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Self-catering holidays in The Lake District offer easy access to various outdoor activities - fell walking, rock climbing, mountain biking, long-distance cycling, golf, fishing, kayaking, sailing and more. The bodies of water that make up the Lake District offer a wealth of water sports, whether boating on Windermere or sailing for hours on end across the calm waters of the many lakes.

From your Lake District holiday home, take a ramble up the hills and onto the fells, enjoying a refreshing walk across one of the famous peaks and being rewarded with breathtaking views. The more serious walkers can take on the might of Scafell Pike - England’s highest mountain or traverse Striding Edge.

For those whose days of sauntering across mountaintops exist only in memory, explore the homes of literary greats such as Wordsworth or Beatrix Potter, which are open to the public, or enjoy a relaxing pleasure cruise on many of the lakes. 

After long days on the fells, some recuperation is in order: there’s nowhere better to ease the aches and pains than in Lake District holiday cottages with a hot tub. Usable at any time of the year, they can also be great places for star-gazing in the clear night skies above Cumbria.

The Lake District is also host to some charming little towns like Keswick, Ambleside and Grasmere as well clusters of grey-stone villages such as Coniston, Santon Bridge and Hawkshead, which have grown up along the shores of the Lakes.