Windermere cottages

A guide to holidays in Windermere

One of the Lake District’s most unmissable lakes is Lake Windermere, which is also the largest lake in the UK, measuring ten and a half miles long, and our Lake Windermere cottages are perfect for exploring its shores.

Its size means that it even commands its own tide, and makes it an extremely popular spot for watersports of all kinds. At the Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre, water activities for all abilities are available, including boat rentals, stand up paddleboarding, waterskiing, kayaking and sailing. If you’d rather sit back and enjoy the views, there’s plenty of boat rides on offer. Traditional steamers depart from Bowness and Ambleside, while the Windermere ferry takes you between the western and eastern sides of the lake in just 15 minutes.

Make the most of your time at Lake Windermere by paying a visit to Brockhole, the National Park’s official centre. Not only can you grab some information, a bite to eat and some souvenirs to take home here, but there’s also several hands-on family-friendly activities which range from a treetop trek assault course to mini golf and archery. It’s the perfect place to pay a visit to on your first day staying at our Lake Windermere cottages.

Lake Windermere is perfect for a walking holiday, with the 45-mile-long Windermere Way surrounding the entire perimeter of the lake. Along the way, you can see the beauty of the lake from all angles, as the route also takes you up onto some of the surrounding hills. Serious walkers can attempt the entire route, though it has also been split into smaller and more manageable sections for more casual strolls.

Many people visit the Lake not only to behold its spectacular beauty, but also to visit the charming and quintessentially English towns and villages found around its shores. On the eastern edge, you will find the twin towns of Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere, with a wide choice of shops and restaurants as well as attractions including the Beatrix Potter Experience and the headquarters of popular kitchenware brand Lakeland. Meanwhile, on the western side, you will find some quieter villages as well as many National Trust-owned properties. In Hawkshead and Near and Far Sawrey, you can learn more about the life and works of Beatrix Potter, who lived in both places, while Wray Castle is a stunning country house with striking architecture and gorgeous grounds to explore.

Holiday cottages to rent in Windermere

If you’ve been inspired to base your next holiday in the Lake District near the picturesque shores of Lake Windermere, take a look at our full collection of Lake Windermere holiday cottages and accommodation on this page. We have a variety of Windermere self-catering accommodation amongst our places to stay, with everything from luxury cottages, holiday lodges and log cabins with hot tubs to luxury self-catering apartments to rent. Whether you’re looking for just a short break over the weekend or a longer getaway, you’ll find the perfect holiday in Windermere. Check out our pet-friendly range too!