Lodges In The Lake District

Picture this. You've spent the morning on the fells above Ullswater, the cloud lifted just as you reached the top, and now you're back with the kettle on, boots drying by the door and the hot tub warming up on the verandah. That's the whole idea behind our Lake District lodges: mountains, lakes and good pubs all day, then a peaceful, private home from home to unwind in each night.

England's largest national park covers 912 square miles, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017 and welcomed around 17.7 million visitors in 2024. Plenty of room for everyone, then.

Below are the sites we'd book first, which valley suits which kind of trip, the days out worth planning for and a month-by-month guide.

Why choose Lake District lodges over a hotel?

Space, mostly. A holiday lodge gives you a proper kitchen, a cosy lounge where the kids can spread out and your own decking, so wet coats and muddy dogs aren't anyone else's problem. Many add a private hot tub too, which is exactly what tired legs want after a day on Helvellyn.

Then there's the location: hotels cluster in the towns, while lodge accommodation is usually tucked into woodland or set on a hillside looking over the water. You'll hear birds, not traffic.

Lodge holidays in the Lake District suit mixed groups well, too. Grandparents, toddlers and teenagers all get their own room, everyone still eats together, and nobody has to creep past a hotel reception at 10pm with a pushchair. For a special occasion, it's a romantic retreat with no one knocking to make up the room.

Holiday lodges in the Lake District we'd book first

Call them lodges or log cabins, there are plenty in Cumbria, but these six are live on our site right now and all of them are rated 4.5 or higher by guests. Drive times are from Grasmere, right in the middle of the Lakes.

Hartsop Fold, Ullswater

Driving Distance: About 16 minutes (9.6 miles) | Sleeps: Up to 4 | Pets: Yes

What to expect: Scandinavian-style lodges between Brotherswater and Ullswater, each with a big verandah and heated storage for muddy boots and wet coats. If you've been looking for a wood cabin in the Lake District with real fell views, this is about as close as it gets.

Who will love it? Couples, small families and dog owners. Red deer, red squirrels and ospreys live round here, and Aira Force is just a few minutes' drive.

Fallbarrow, Bowness

Driving Distance: About 19 minutes (8.9 miles) | Sleeps: Up to 9 | Pets: Yes

What to expect: A lively spot on the edge of town with its own marina, The Willow bar and restaurant, and The Barn deli and café for fresh bread and local treats. The biggest lodges sleep 9.

Who will love it? Families and larger groups. There's an adventure playground, an arcade and a multi-sports court for the children, and you can hire a boat without moving the car.

Crake Valley, Coniston

Driving Distance: About 25 minutes (15.1 miles) | Sleeps: Up to 4 | Pets: Yes

What to expect: Stylish, open plan luxury lodges set high above Coniston Water, with private verandahs facing the stunning Old Man of Coniston. There's a 7kW electric car charger on site too (charges apply).

Who will love it? Couples and pairs of friends who want a view to sit and stare at. It's a quieter base than the towns on the eastern side.

Avon Wood, South Lakes

Driving Distance: About 27 minutes (13.8 miles) | Sleeps: Up to 6 | Pets: No | Adults only

What to expect: A small, quiet site in natural woodland that slopes right down to the shore, with its own boat launching. Rated 4.9, it's the highest scoring choice on this page.

Who will love it? Adults who want to switch off completely. Shops and restaurants are 5 miles away when you fancy a meal out.

Bassenthwaite Lakeside Lodges, Bassenthwaite

Driving Distance: About 30 minutes (20.2 miles) | Sleeps: Up to 10 | Pets: Yes

What to expect: Lodges on the shore at the foot of Skiddaw, each with its own hot tub. The site holds a David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation, and you can walk, cycle or (with a licence) fish straight from the door.

Who will love it? Bigger families, since the largest lodges sleep 10. Keswick is 6 miles off. There's even a 25-acre wildlife attraction right next door!

Whitbarrow, near Penrith

Driving Distance: About 32 minutes (22.1 miles) | Sleeps: Up to 8 | Pets: Yes | Indoor pool

What to expect: A converted 18th century Cumbrian farm with cobbled lanes and stone buildings. The leisure building offers an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room and gym, and the Eden Café Bar looks out over the valley.

Who will love it? Families who want a pool for wet afternoons. Rookin House, with pony trekking, quad biking and archery, is within 4 miles, making it a great family friendly choice.

Want more choice? Browse every lodge with a hot tub on our site, or see all our lodges in North West England.

Which part of the Lakes suits your break?

Each valley has its own feel, and where you stay changes the whole holiday.

Windermere and Bowness: easy and popular

Windermere is 11 miles long, and Bowness sits halfway along its eastern shore with cruise piers, cafés and ice cream shops a few minutes apart. It's the perfect place for a first visit if you don't want to drive much, because Windermere Lake Cruises link its piers with Waterhead at the northern end and the steam railway at the southern tip. Our guide to lodges near Bowness-on-Windermere has more.

Ambleside and Grasmere: boots on

The village at the head of the lake is full of outdoor shops and pubs, and Grasmere is the village Wordsworth called home. Langdale, Loughrigg and Helm Crag are all close. See our pages on lodges near Grasmere and lodges near Ambleside.

Ullswater: steamers and waterfalls

Plenty of people think Ullswater is the most beautiful lake of all, and it's hard to argue once you're out on it. The Ullswater 'Steamers' sail 363 days a year between Pooley Bridge, Howtown and Glenridding, and the oldest boat, Lady of the Lake, was built in 1877. Walk one leg of the 20-mile Ullswater Way, then enjoy the sail back. Aira Force, a 70-foot waterfall cared for by the National Trust, is on the north shore, and our guide to lodges near Aira Force lists the closest places to stay.

Keswick and the north

A proper working market town, ringed by Skiddaw, Blencathra and Derwentwater. It's handy for Honister Slate Mine on a wet day and for one of the most loved short climbs anywhere, covered in our page on lodges near Catbells.

Coniston and Hawkshead: the quiet side

West of the big lake, everything slows down. Hawkshead has lovely whitewashed lanes, and Grizedale Forest sits nearby, just south of the village, with sculpture trails, bike routes and Go Ape. Have a look at lodges near Hawkshead for this side.

Days out worth planning ahead

A few of the most popular places take a bit of planning, mostly because parking goes fast.

Place	Area	Good to know
Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's house	Near Sawrey	The National Trust asks all visitors, members included, to book a timed ticket in advance. Spaces for cars are tight.
Aira Force	Ullswater	The National Trust says spaces usually fill by about 10am on sunny weekends and in school holidays. Members leave the car free.
Grizedale Forest	Coniston side	Pay on exit, dogs welcome, Go Ape and an observatory and planetarium that opened in 2025.
Lake cruises	Lake Windermere	A Freedom of the Lake ticket covers a full day, and rowing and electric boats can be hired.
Ullswater 'Steamers'	Pooley Bridge, Howtown, Glenridding	Sails 363 days a year, weather permitting.
Scafell Pike	Wasdale	England's highest mountain at 978 metres. A full day, so start early.

When the rain sets in (and it will, since Seathwaite in Borrowdale averages about 3,300mm a year), head indoors. Climb the Mine at Honister, the World of Beatrix Potter, Rheged with its giant cinema screen, the Lakes Aquarium at Newby Bridge and the Derwent Pencil Museum are all good bets.

Lake District holidays with your dog

Five of the six sites above take pets, and you'll find lakeshore walking paths, forest trails and dog friendly pubs in nearly every village. Grizedale lets dogs explore the whole forest. You can see each pet friendly lodge we list in one search.

One rule matters more than any other.

Sheep graze freely on the open fells, and from spring the Lake District's rangers ask owners to keep dogs under close control, ideally on a lead, as a frightened ewe can lose her lamb. Pick up after your dog as well, since it can make grazing livestock ill.

When is the best time for Lake District holidays?

There's no bad month, only different ones. May and June usually bring the driest weather and longest days, while winter is all about crisp mornings and evenings in the hot tub.

What to pack

The weather can change by the hour, so pack for all of it.

Coming with friends or family? Sharing one larger lodge between two households often works out better value than booking separately, and it's the easiest way to find cheap lodges in the Lake District without giving up the comfortable extras.

Lake District lodge FAQs

Are there lodges with hot tubs?

Yes. All six of the sites featured on this page have lodges with hot tubs, from Hartsop Fold by Ullswater to Bassenthwaite in the north.

Which area suits a first visit?

The Windermere side, as cruises, shops and attractions are all close together. If you'd like quieter lanes, try Coniston, Hawkshead or Ullswater.

Can I bring my dog?

At most of them, yes. Hartsop Fold, Fallbarrow, Crake Valley, Bassenthwaite and Whitbarrow all welcome pets. Avon Wood is adults only and doesn't list pets.

Can I get there without a car?

Partly. Trains run from Oxenholme to Windermere on the branch line, and Penrith is on the West Coast Main Line, 8 miles from Whitbarrow. Still, a car makes most lodges far easier to reach.

What can we do if it rains?

Honister Slate Mine, the World of Beatrix Potter, Rheged, the Lakes Aquarium and the Pencil Museum are all indoors. Whitbarrow guests have their own pool.

How can I find cheap lodges in the Lake District?

Go midweek, avoid school holidays and look at January to March or November. Sharing a bigger lodge between two families brings the cost per person right down.

However you like to spend your days, our Lake District lodges give you everything you need for exploring the fells and still have room to relax. Pick a favourite from the six above, or search all our holiday lodges across the UK to compare dates.