Follow the unpromising-looking lane around the back of the pub in tiny but popular Elterwater in Langdale and you find this tucked-away cottage. In typical Lakeland style – a former quarryman’s cottage – with slate walls, four-square sash windows and pretty trellis porch it looks charmingly traditional. Step inside, however, and not only is it staggeringly smart and stylish – huge sofa, original artworks, expensive diffusers – but, somehow, bigger. The living space comfortably fits a chunky dining table, while there are two spacious bathrooms for the two double bedrooms.
A clever designer’s eye has been at work: that of London-based Katharine Pooley, as much in demand in the Middle East and southern France as the UK for her elegantly sumptuousness style. This is certainly sumptuous for a humble cottage – indulgent marble bathrooms, for instance – but it’s also practical, warm and welcoming with lots of natural materials such as wood, wool and leather. It’s the attention to detail that’s a giveaway. Weary walkers (and dog-owners) will appreciate the underfloor-heated utility room, and there’s a phenomenally well-equipped kitchen for creative cooks. With its central location in the Lake District National Park, it's perfect for exploring local fell-walks, jolly Ambleside, Wordsworth’s Grasmere and Windermere’s lake cruises, then return to soak in the hot tub.
Highs
- In the heart of the Lake District National Park it’s ideally placed for bagging a few Wainwright fells, exploring colourful towns and discovering the eponymous lakes
- Classy, immaculate, high-end design with luxurious touches and excellent attention to detail that nevertheless feels welcoming and restful
- A superbly equipped kitchen; even the fussiest cook will feel at home
- Feeling of privacy despite being in a popular, touristy village, and with a garden that’s scarcely overlooked
Lows
- Only one room for eating, relaxing and chatting so everyone needs to be a) tolerant and b) tidy
- The bedrooms, while beautiful, are bijoux
- Children need to be well-behaved or constantly monitored; plenty of lovely objects just waiting to be knocked over
- The hefty damages deposit may add a slight tension to your holiday, particularly if you’re accident-prone
Best time to go
Weather in the Lake District is never guaranteed, apart from the rain (always pack waterproofs). Having said that, spring can be surprisingly mild and, Easter aside, less crowded. Summer, whatever the weather, is always busy; expect slow-moving traffic and full car parks. Autumn’s colours are ravishing and a good bet if you enjoy walking. Although winter can be wet and muddy – snowy, too – the area has a bleak beauty, and the cottage’s log-burning stove comes into its own.
Our top tips
Chances are it will rain at some point during your stay, or you’ll fancy a change from walking. Luckily, across the road from the cottage is the Langdale Estate – large wooded grounds with timeshare chalets and two hotels (more attractive than it sounds) – whose leisure centre is open to day visitors (for a charge). As well as a 20-metre pool, sauna and steam room, there’s a spa pool and fitness room; towels provided.
- Boutique Cottage
- 1 cottage for 4-5
- Self-catering, restaurants nearby
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
Rooms
Step straight into the beamed living area; practical, comfortable and stylish with L-shaped sofa, chunky dining table, a dinky window seat, and wood-burning stove. Creamy colours, with splashes of cherry-red and tawny-brown, keep it bright while natural materials – wool, wood, exposed stone – remind you you’re in the country.
An open doorway leads to the kitchen while carpeted stairs twist up to two light bedrooms (one twin or king, one four-poster), both immaculately designed to provide maximum storage and interest in minimal space – a wall of Panama hats, for example. Tidiness required; no space to chuck clothes on a chair; no chair. The two bathrooms are marble indulgence, one with a rolltop bath, and both with warm towel rails and underfloor heating. Original art and sculptural objets are scattered (artfully) throughout the cottage – bold blue-and-white ceramic dishes hanging on the staircase wall are particularly striking.
A rear lawned garden offers al fresco dining, a hot tub and fell views, while an underfloor-heated outhouse vies for the world’s smartest utility room.
Features include:
- Central heating
- Coffee / tea making
- Satellite TV
- Toiletries
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- WiFi
- Wood-burner
Eating
Packed into a small space, the kitchen is a thing of wonder. It’s preposterously well-equipped, from the juicer and Magimix to the nutmeg grater and ricer; even a knife drawer. There are pans, mixing bowls, casserole dishes for every conceivable occasion, while basics include a whole spice cupboard, tea and coffee, as well as a welcome hamper (for booking through i-escape). The dining table, in the living room, seats four, as does the garden table.
Langdale Co-operative in Chapel Stile, a 10-minute walk, has an astonishing range for a village store: artisan breads to local preserves; pizzas to puddings. Otherwise, there are supermarkets in Ambleside (6.5k). Alternatively, Chesters, a vegetarian café and bakery, at Skelwith Bridge (2.5k) makes a good walk-and-lunch-stop.
Feeling too lazy to cook? Stroll five minutes to Stove for modern European dishes. One evening, we took a moonlit walk to Wainwright’s Inn (10 minutes) for decent ales and hearty home-cooking. For fancier, one-Michelin-starred dining, try The Old Stamp House, a subterranean venue in Ambleside.
Features include:
- Barbecue
- Coffee maker
- Dishwasher
- Food blender
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Microwave
- Oven
- Restaurants nearby
- Toaster
Activities
- Enjoy walks from the doorstep, such as the pootle past tiny Elterwater (the lake) to Skelwith Bridge and lunch at Chesters By The River; or up to Loughrigg Tarn for stunning views; or into Little Langdale to discover the caves at Cathedral Quarry and lunch at the Three Shires Inn
- For challenging walking, drive up Langdale (6.5k) and tackle the Langdale Pikes, Crinkle Crags or Bowfell; all classic Lakeland fells between 700 and 900 metres
- Relax on a cruise around Lake Windermere, England’s longest lake, from the jetty at Ambleside (6.5k)
- Potter around Windermere with its crazy golf, gift and outdoors shops, pubs and cafes (try the Copper Pot), plus art house cinema for wet days
- Explore poet William Wordsworth’s home, Dove Cottage, in pretty Grasmere (13k), followed by a home-made treat from the Gingerbread Shop
- Chill in the garden – with views of the fells from the hot tub, or from around the fire pit, or over an alfresco lunch
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Mountain biking
- Plantlife / flora
- Shopping / markets
- Walking
- Waterfalls
- Wildlife
Kids
All ages welcome, but if bringing an infant you will need to have your own baby cot. We don't think it's suitable for toddlers/younger kids as there are too many objects just waiting to be knocked or picked up and dropped. And there’s not enough space – apart from the garden – for playing games. Any child needs to be well-behaved and, preferably, not accident-prone.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The second bedroom can be made up as a twin, and there's space for a baby cot.
Kids Activities on site:
- Garden
- Some books and toys
Kids Activities nearby:
- Walks on fells and by the lakes
- Beatrix Potter's home, Hill Top House
- Horse riding on Lakeland Fell ponies (Windermere)
- Boat trips
Distances:
- Shops: 3 mins (by car)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Elterwater Hideaway is tucked behind Elterwater’s village green and pub. It's on a no-through lane, away from the crowds of this popular small village in the Langdale Valley, in the heart of the Lake District. The valley road branches off from tourist hub Ambleside, 6.5km away.
By Car:
Most will self-drive here. London is 5.5 hours, Manchester is 2 hours, and Edinburgh is 3.5 hours.
By Public Transport:
The nearest railway station is Windermere (connections to the west coast line to London Euston - 3h15m), which is 13.5km (25 minutes) by taxi. There is a bus service from Ambleside.
By Air:
The nearest airports are Carlisle Lake District, Manchester and Newcastle.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Manchester Airport 154.0 km MAN
Other:
- Beach 37.0 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km