The Lake District Does Romance Rather Well
There’s a reason the Romantic poets came here. Ullswater at sunset, fell tops breaking through low cloud, a real fire crackling in a stone cottage — the Lake District provides the backdrop and all you have to do is show up.
If you’re planning a romantic break for two, here’s how to do it properly from a base near Penrith.
Where to Stay
Rittson Cottage, Eamont Bridge
Rittson Cottage is our top pick for couples. It sleeps four across two bedrooms, so you’ll have a whole cottage to yourselves with room to spare. It’s a quirky place, right on the riverside in the tiny hamlet of Eamont Bridge. There’s something wonderfully peaceful about falling asleep to the sound of water.
The Beehive pub is a three-minute walk — close enough for a spontaneous evening drink without needing the car. The cottage itself has bags of character: this isn’t a generic rental, it’s a place with personality.
Maple Cottage, Great Strickland
If your idea of romance involves oak beams, open fireplaces, and a glass of wine in a conservatory, Maple Cottage delivers. It’s a 17th-century barn conversion that sleeps six, which means you’ll have far more space than you need — but spreading out in a beautiful old building is hardly a hardship. The Strickland Arms is 200 yards away for a pre-dinner pint.
Romantic Things to Do
Ullswater Steamer at Sunset
The evening sailings on the Ullswater Steamers are special. The lake changes colour as the sun drops behind the western fells, and by the time you reach Pooley Bridge the mountains are silhouetted against the sky. It’s about as romantic as England gets without trying too hard.
Maple Cottage with its fireplaces and beams is particularly good for a cosy evening in. Rittson Cottage with the river outside the window has a different kind of magic.
Book Your Romantic Break
Whether it’s an anniversary, a birthday, or just a much-needed escape for two, our cottages near Penrith give you the Lake District without the crowds. Book direct with Cottage Collection for the best rates and a personal touch that the big booking sites can’t match.