Holidays in The Lake District, Self-Catering Cottages and Apartments

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. Click here to discover our holiday cottages in Cumbria on My Favourite Holiday Cottages.

A single storey stone cottage sits behind a low stone wall.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 4

Rowan Cottage is a superb and large rural holiday cottage near Newby Bridge, sleeping eight on the Bigland Hall Estate in the Lake District. It has fantastic rural views, a private hot tub and a large wrap-around patio courtyard garden on two levels with a lawn.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
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.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior  of a country house in the Lake District with a lake in the background.
  • Sleeps 18
  • Bedrooms 9

An elegant Georgian Manor House on the shores of Lake Windermere in the Lake District, Silverholme is a large, pet-friendly Cumbrian holiday cottage that sleeps 18 in 9 bedrooms (8 ensuite). It offers luxury accommodation with an indoor heated swimming pool and cinema room with surround sound!

A stone Penrith holiday home with a 1st floor Juliet Balcony overlook a paved courtyard.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Get swallowed up in the beauty of the remote North West Cumbrian countryside at the quieter end of The Lake District with a stay at the secluded Swallow’s Nest, a cosy, family-friendly, 5-Star Gold, barn conversion in Catterlen, near Penrith.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
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.

  • Countryside Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A Coniston holiday bungalow with a lawn and large tarmac space for guest's cars
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

With glorious views looking down onto Coniston Water, Underwood is a beautifully presented single-story Lake District holiday cottage with a private hot tub for families of friends wishing to spend time in this Cumbrian Walkers paradise. Sleeps 6. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

James Court Cottage is located on the idyllic grounds of the Irton Hall Estate, just outside the peaceful Cumbria village of Santon Bridge. This cosy Lake District holiday cottage sleeps 4 with oak flooring, a wood-burning stove and excellent walking and climbing on its doorstep. Pets welcome

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
1st floor exterior of a stone-built Kendal holiday cottage.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

In the Lake District charming town of Kendal, you’ll find this romantic cottage built for two nestled down a short alley just a few hundred yards from the surrounding town centre. With so much to offer in all seasons, you’ll fall in love with Wood Cottage in Cumbria.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
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.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Ulleswater holiday cottage with a full length balcony and front terrace.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 3

Wreay Mansions is a luxurious rural cottage in Watermillock with impressive views of Lake Ullswater and the hills of Cumbria. The former hunting lodge offers refinement and elegance and boasts a 30’ furnished balcony, a lawned garden, fresh air, contemporary comforts and the chance to escape in style.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
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.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A stone-built, slate-roofed Lake District holiday cottage surrounded by shrubs and small trees with hilly fields in the distance.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

In a secluded, peaceful rural location a mile outside Hawkshead, Hatter's Cottage is an 18th-century 2-bedroom holiday cottage in the Lake District. It is available all year round for stays of one week or more. It is a good base for those who like the outdoors. Children over 10 are welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
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.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages

Why Book a Holiday in the Lake District?

  • Self-catering holidays in the Lake District offer easy access to various outdoor activities, such as fell walking, rock climbing, mountain biking, long-distance cycling, golf, fishing, kayaking, sailing, and more.
  • The lakes and rivers 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.
  • 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.
  • There is also plenty of history to keep you interested while walking, with Roman remains, ancient stone circles and monuments to English literary greats.
  • You can take a ramble up the hills onto the fells from your holiday home, enjoying a refreshing walk across one of the famous peaks. You will be rewarded with breath-taking views.

 

Where Can You Explore From Your Lake District Holiday Home?

  • Keen walkers can take on the might of Scafell Pike - England’s highest mountain or traverse Striding Edge.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.  Enjoy, for example, a romantic visit to Dove Cottage or Hill Top, the delightful homes of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.