Ambleside
Cottage Stays
2026 Self-Catering Breaks in Windermere, Grasmere, Coniston & More!
2026 Self-Catering Breaks in Windermere, Grasmere, Coniston & More!
Your specialists for self-catering holiday cottages in Ambleside and the Lake District
Welcome to Ambleside Cottage Stays. We connect families, couples and groups with self-catering cottages in Ambleside and across the Lake District National Park. Ambleside sits at the northern tip of Lake Windermere in the heart of Cumbria. It's a proper walking town with a year-round community, direct access to fells in every direction and the shores of England's largest natural lake minutes from most front doors.
We started with one aim: give holidaymakers a genuine choice of quality self-catering properties in Ambleside and the surrounding area. Grasmere is four miles up the road. Coniston Water is eight miles south-west. The Langdale Pikes, Fairfield Horseshoe and Helvellyn are all within striking distance. Everything that makes the Lake District worth visiting is on your doorstep when you stay here.
We take holiday accommodation seriously. These are the standards we hold every property to:
We list properties for couples, families and larger groups. Two-bedroom fell-view cottages. Four-bedroom lakeside houses. Properties sleeping 10 or more for reunions and celebrations. Whatever your group size, we have options that work.
Our properties sit close to Waterhead Pier on Windermere, the Cumbria Way long-distance footpath, Rydal Water and Grasmere village. Many are within walking distance of fells, pubs and independent shops. We won't list a property in an awkward location unless it genuinely justifies the setting.
Every property in our collection is checked before listing. Clean, well-maintained and accurately described. Self-catering means fully equipped kitchens, proper linen and reliable Wi-Fi. We hold properties to those basics without exception.
The price you see is the price you pay. No booking fees buried in the small print. No inflated cleaning charges added at checkout. Competitive rates for quality self-catering accommodation in the Lake District.
Self-catering holidays give you freedom. Walk when you want. Eat when you please. Bring the dog. Head out to Scafell Pike or spend a lazy afternoon on a Windermere cruise. We're not a hotel chain or a corporate agency. We're specialists in Ambleside and the surrounding Lake District fells who understand what makes a good self-catering break.
Ambleside is not a theme park or a resort. It's a real Cumbrian market town. The Thursday market has run here for centuries. Windermere Lake Cruises depart from Waterhead all year round. The path up Loughrigg Fell starts at the edge of town. Stock Ghyll Force waterfall is a 20-minute walk from the centre. That's the Ambleside experience. Our properties put you right in the middle of it.
Our collection spans Ambleside, Grasmere, Coniston, Hawkshead, Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere, Rydal and the Langdale Valley. Fell-view cottages with open fires. Lakeside houses sleeping eight. Farmhouses with private gardens set above the valley floor. Properties with enclosed gardens for children and dogs. Apartments for couples wanting a short winter break.
Larger properties sleeping 10 to 16 guests suit milestone birthdays, family reunions and walking groups travelling together. Many include private parking for multiple vehicles, log burners for autumn and winter stays and outdoor seating for long summer evenings. Browse the full collection to find what suits your party.
Ambleside is one of the finest bases in England for an active or relaxed holiday. It sits at the heart of the Lake District National Park, England's largest national park at 2,362 square kilometres. Grasmere is four miles north. Bowness-on-Windermere is five miles south. The Fairfield Horseshoe, a classic 10-mile ridge walk, starts in town. Wansfell Pike offers a shorter route with panoramic views over Windermere, Esthwaite Water and the surrounding fells.
Planning a break in the Lake District? We can help you find the right cottage for your trip. Our team knows the area well and gives practical advice based on your dates, group size and what you want to do while you're here.
Contact us at [email protected]. We're available Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm. Our office is at Lake District Business Park, Mint Bridge Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NH.
