The top Lake District cottages for 2025

To help you plan your perfect Lake District getaway for 2025, we have taken a look at which cottages were viewed the most times on the Sally’s Cottages website this year.

Keswick has proved to be the most popular spot in 2024 with several of the top ten holiday cottages located in and around the handsome market town. Peaceful cottages with mountain and lake views are top choices for Lake District holidays and properties on the list range from sleeping two guests through to 18 people and three dogs.

Take a look at our most viewed properties in 2024 and find your perfect base for Lake District adventures in the new year.

Bowderbeck, Buttermere

• Characterful cottage that dates back to 1787
• Close to Buttermere with paddleboards available for guests to take onto the water
• Enjoy stunning mountain and lake views from the idyllic location

This historic Lake District cottage was originally built as a farm smallholding and has a wonderfully secluded spot in the Buttermere Valley with a view out over the water. A mountain stream runs through the large garden at Bowderbeck which is surrounded by traditional drystone walls and comes with a large picnic table for outdoor dining.

You’ll find an assortment of Buttermere walks to try directly from the front door and a village pub is just 500 metres away. Keswick is a 20-minute drive where you’ll find plenty of provisions for family meals around the dining table. There is no TV signal at the property so it’s perfect for a digital detox with plenty of board games available for evenings together in front of the fire in the spacious living room.

Hazelwood, Keswick

• Large property for up to 18 people that’s just 1 mile from Keswick
• The holiday home comes with a wood-fired hot tub, a wood burner and a children’s playground
• There's a ground-floor bedroom and a wet room, and sociable spaces to fit the whole party

This impressive holiday home near Keswick has plenty of space for multi-generational family gatherings and meeting up for a reunion with old friends, especially as it comes with enough parking for up to nine cars. The dining table has enough room for everyone to sit down for meals together and a large kitchen leads on to an orangery which is a sociable space to relax and unwind. 

Hazelwood is set within half an acre of grounds. The garden, which includes a wood-fired hot tub and patio with BBQ, leads to a copse where children can have fun making dens. Follow pathways along the nearby River Greta and up into the nearby fells to enjoy the best of the Lake District countryside. There are also plenty of family-friendly things to do in Keswick to keep everyone happy during a getaway.

Victoria Cottage - Keswick

• Contemporary holiday for two in the heart of Keswick
• Derwentwater is just a 10-minute walk from the cottage
• Traditional Lakeland stone-fronted cottage with open-plan living space

Tucked down a peaceful side street close to the centre of Keswick, this cosy dog-friendly cottage for two makes a great base for exploring mountains and lakes with plenty of pubs that you can call in for refreshments. The open-plan accommodation is small but perfectly formed with a living area, kitchen and breakfast bar. Upstairs, there’s a double bedroom and bathroom on the mezzanine floor.

Scenic walks that are close to the cottage include Catbells, Great Wood and Walla Crag and you can take a boat trip across nearby Derwentwater on the Keswick Launch before heading back for an evening’s entertainment at Theatre By The Lake in Keswick.

The Thatched Hideaway, Brampton

• Quintessential chocolate-box thatched cottage
• Beautiful garden that’s part of the National Garden Scheme and has won two Cumbria in Bloom Gold Awards
• Vaulted ceilings add to the character and charm of this romantic retreat

If you’re looking to book a classic country cottage for your next couple’s getaway, look no further than this pretty-as-a-picture thatched cottage on the edge of the Lake District. French-style interiors and vaulted ceilings in the living room and bedroom add to the romantic feel of The Thatched Hideaway and the gorgeous garden is simply stunning.

Sit and relax amongst the flowers as you listen to the sound of birdsong and enjoy views out over open fields near Brampton. Dark skies here are great for stargazing, and you can try canoeing and wild swimming at the nearby Talkin’ Tarn Country Park.

Butterfly Cottage - Keswick

• Cosy hideaway for two in Keswick
• The living room is warmed by a characterful wood burner
• Dog-friendly pubs just a short walk from the cottage

If you’re looking for a hiking holiday with somewhere cosy to return to each day, Butterfly Cottage ticks all the boxes. The dog-friendly retreat is a traditional Lakeland cottage with country-style interiors and it's tucked down a quiet lane in Keswick with plenty of pubs, cafes and shops on your doorstep.

The king-sized bedroom comes with an en-suite shower room and there’s a patio where you can enjoy your morning cuppa and plan adventures in the surrounding Lake District countryside. Head to nearby Friar’s Crag to enjoy one of the best views over Derwentwater and put your hiking boots on to explore outdoor attractions such as Castlerigg Stone Circle.   

Scaw Fell Cottage, Wasdale

• Exposed beams and stone walls give lots of character to this country cottage
• Peaceful location in a small hamlet with uninterrupted views of the Wasdale Fells
• Walks from the front door including those to the nearby Cumbrian coast

Scaw Fell Cottage is a warm and welcoming holiday home with lots of original features that’s located at the western edge of the Lake District National Park in the peaceful hamlet of Santon. It’s an ideal base for exploring both the Wasdale Fells and Cumbrian coast with the clear waters of Wastwater also just 7 miles away.

Gather around a Victorian fireplace for cosy evenings in front of the open fire together and head into the beamed kitchen/diner for a family meal together. If you don’t fancy cooking, there’s a pub within a mile of the cottage and the dog-friendly property also comes with an enclosed garden to keep four-legged friends safe.

Winder Hall, Lorton

• Grand country house for celebrating special occasions
• The property is mentioned in the Domesday Book and has entertained royalty
• Private riverside walk for the sole use of guests at Winder Hall

This magnificent stately home for up to 14 guests is nestled in the Lake District’s Lorton Vale and comes with formal gardens that have a sweeping lawn, a central fountain and views of the surrounding mountains. You can also take a stroll along a half-mile stretch of the River Cocker which is private to the property.

Inside Winder Hall, you’ll find a wood-panelled dining room with a grand piano, window seats where you can sit and watch the world go by and several bedrooms that feature period fireplaces and four-poster beds. You really will feel like Lord or Lady of the manor!  

Field View - Underskiddaw

• Located close to Dodd Wood where you can spot red squirrels
• Wonderful field and fell views from the master bedroom
• The rear garden is surrounded by lakeside scenery and comes with a large lawn and picnic area

Located on the edge of Bassenthwaite, close to Dodd Wood and Skiddaw, this cosy cottage for three is just right for couples and small families looking for an escape to the Lake District countryside with the dog. The classic country cottage features original beams throughout and a living/dining room where you can sit down to a meal after scenic walks or even a hike up a nearby mountain.

Outside the property is a large lawned garden with stunning lakeside views and plenty of space for kids and dogs to run around and let off steam. Field View is also just 3 miles from Keswick where you’ll find an array of pubs, restaurants and things to do.

Dalegarth Hall, Eskdale

• Former manor house located near Stanley Ghyll waterfall
• Close to Boot Station on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
• Remote location with fell views and extensive grounds and gardens to explore

This historic manor house has a history dating back to the 11^th century and is tucked away down a peaceful country lane close to Blea Tarn and Scafell Pike at the western edge of the Lake District National Park. Uncover tumbling waterfalls and crystal-clear pools on a hike or cycle ride from Dalegarth Hall, which has a handy utility room to store muddy boots and bikes on your return.

The classic country interiors include a farmhouse kitchen with an AGA, an elegant dining room for formal dinners and a welcoming living room with exposed stone walls and chunky oak beams that are warmed by a wood burner in a feature fireplace.

The Ullswater Retreat, Ullswater

• A romantic retreat for two with a king-sized bedroom and a sumptuous slipper bath
• Traditional miner’s cottage with underfloor heating and a wood burner
• Just half a mile from Ullswater with views out over the water

This period property near Ullswater has been beautifully transformed into a romantic couple’s retreat with lots of characterful original features including an inglenook fireplace and exposed beams in the living room, slate flooring and a Belfast sink in the kitchen.

The Ullswater Retreat is surrounded by tranquil woodland and you can sit and watch red squirrels and birds at a variety of feeders as you sit with a morning cuppa outside the cottage. You can also take a walk to nearby Aira Force waterfall and take a romantic steamer trip across the waters of Ullswater.

Plan your Lake District getaway for 2025  

Hopefully, this lovely selection of holiday cottages has inspired you to visit the Lake District in 2025 and get out exploring lovely locations like Keswick, Buttermere and Ullswater. This is just a small selection of the properties available to book through Sally’s Cottages; browse our site to discover many more romantic, family and dog-friendly holiday homes for your next Lake District adventures.