The Lake District in Winter Is Underrated
Most people think of the Lake District as a summer destination. They’re missing out. Winter here has a quality that the busy months can’t match: frost on the fells at sunrise, empty paths, log fires that you actually need rather than just want, and that particular stillness you only get on a cold, clear day in the mountains.
And yes, it rains. It rains in summer too. At least in winter you’re expected to come back to a warm cottage and not feel guilty about spending the afternoon in front of the fire.
Why a Winter Cottage Break Works
Hotels are fine, but a self-catering cottage in winter has something a hotel room doesn’t: a proper living space to spread out in. You can come back from a frosty walk, make a pot of tea, dry your boots by the fire, and actually relax. There’s no dining room schedule to hit and no one judging your muddy trousers.
Maple Cottage is particularly good for a winter break. It’s a 17th-century barn conversion with open fireplaces and oak beams, and on a cold evening with the fire going and the curtains drawn, it feels like exactly the sort of place you want to be. The conservatory catches whatever winter sun is going, and the thick stone walls keep things warm.
Rittson Cottage in Eamont Bridge has a different winter charm — the river rushing past outside, the quiet of the hamlet, and The Beehive pub three minutes’ walk away for evenings when you don’t feel like cooking.
Winter Walks
The walks don’t stop in winter — they just get quieter and often more beautiful.
- Ullswater lakeshore — Ullswater in winter mist is extraordinary. The steamers run a reduced timetable but the lakeside paths are open year-round.
- Aira Force — the waterfall is at its most powerful after winter rain. The woodland path can be icy, so good boots are essential.
- Hallin Fell — on a clear winter day, the summit views stretch for miles. You might have the top entirely to yourself.
- Village walks from Great Strickland — the three-mile circuits from Fern Cottage are fine year-round. Muddy in places, but that’s what wellies are for.
Festive Season in Cumbria
November and December
- Penrith Christmas market — the town puts on a good market through December, with local food, crafts, and mulled wine.
- Keswick Christmas market — one of the bigger ones in the region. Worth the 30-minute drive.
- Lowther Castle sometimes hosts winter events — check their programme.
- Rheged Centre (near Penrith) has Christmas shopping events and a cinema for wet afternoons.
New Year
Spending New Year in a Lake District cottage is a particular pleasure. Cook a proper meal, open something good, walk off the excess on New Year’s Day with a bracing fell walk. Several of the local pubs do special menus for the season.
What to Bring
Winter in Cumbria requires a bit of kit:
- Waterproof boots (not fashion wellies — proper ones)
- Layers. Lots of layers. The temperature can vary wildly in a single walk.
- A head torch if you’re planning any late afternoon walks — it gets dark by 4pm in December.
- Board games. You will need them. This is a good thing.
Winter Evening Plans
The pubs near our cottages are at their best in winter. The Strickland Arms (200 yards from Fern and Maple Cottages) with a real fire and a local ale after a cold walk is hard to beat. The Beehive at Eamont Bridge is equally welcoming.
For a special dinner, the Michelin-starred Dog & Gun in Keswick makes a winter evening memorable. Book well in advance for the festive season.
Book a Winter Break
Winter rates are lower, the roads are quieter, and the Lake District shows a completely different face. Maple Cottage with its fireplaces is the ultimate winter retreat, while Rittson Cottage by the river offers something more intimate. Book direct with Cottage Collection — best rates, no booking fees, and we’ll make sure the fire’s laid before you arrive.