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.

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 small country house in Cumbria surrounded by trees and parkland
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

A secluded holiday home just outside the Lake District National Park, Udford House sits along the River Eamont near the historic market town of Penrith, Cumbria. It is a child-friendly countryside cottage featuring ground-floor underfloor heating, an open fire, and original beams throughout.

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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
10
Bedrooms
5

Hammerhole is a unique rural cottage on Lake Windemere's shores on the Graythwaite Estate near Hawkshead. The large, pet-friendly cottage features enviable views, extensive grounds, a private jetty, access to a swimming pool and sauna, and the beautiful region of Cumbria.

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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 holiaday home in Penrith overlooking  a spacious lawn surrounded by a wooden fence.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Chimney Gill is a modern rural retreat near Sebergham in Cumbria and The Lake District. The large and beautiful holiday cottage on a working farm blends contemporary style with a country character, including exposed beams and a farmhouse kitchen. Guests enjoy complimentary access to a leisure club.

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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 detached period housewith a pillared portico entrance is surrounded by a mature garden.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Situated amidst the splendour of the Lake District on the outskirts of a Cumbrian lakeside village. Sandown is a child-friendly cottage in Bowness-on-Windermere, perfect for up to seven guests, a two-storey holiday home with four en-suite ground-floor bedrooms and spacious first-floor living areas.

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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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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!