Pâté and Parfaits

Our self-catering kitchens are beautifully designed and outstandingly fitted for sharing delicious food over the festive period. Keep bubbles chilled, ready to pop once the pressie wrapping starts.

We can almost smell sprouts bubbling away, and the crackle of a three bird roast in the oven as guests enjoy bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages and canapés as they wait.

Our luxurious lounge spaces are designed for families, friends and couples to share a warm mince pie and sherry or port. TV entertainment packages have Christmas movies at your fingertips and hot tubs provide that extra element of occasion and celebration to you Christmas cottage, especially with a warming mulled wine and the fresh winter Lake District air and scenery around you.

Peace For All

Whilst we’re dusting off our Christmas jumpers ready to raise some festive cheer this year, there are many Christmas fairs across the Lake District selling crafts and local produce to raise money for local charities. Our hand-picked Christmas holiday cottages are all ideally placed to best enjoy these. In the north Lake District, the Keswick Victorian Fayre welcomes 30 not-for-profit organisations and you’ll be able to pick up some truly unique gifts and enjoy some special festive food and entertainment.

The Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Lake District have beautiful ranges of Christmas cards and 2018 calendars that can be picked up in shops across the region. They feature stunning photography celebrating the region’s delightful wildlife and landscapes. What better way to spread ‘Season’s Greetings’ than with a photo of snow-capped Skiddaw or a cheeky red squirrel?

For the person who has everything, why not dedicate a tree this Christmas with the Woodland Trust. How Tun Woods, in Barrow in Furness just outside the south Lake District, is a newly planted woodland of oak, ash and birch, overlooking Walney Island and Morcambe Bay, and you can buy a tree or acre of woodland as a gift. If you decide to visit, this is a particularly nice spot to walk your dog.

Advent is the beginning of the church’s year and reminds us to slow down and appreciate all that we have as we look forward to the coming celebrations of Christmas and New Year. This Christmas, why not visit the Wordsworth family church, St. Oswald’s Church, in Grasmere or one of Wordworth’s much-loved churches, St Michael and All Angels Church in Hawkshead, and enjoy some time to reflect and rejoice in the family and friends around us.

Lakelovers Christmas holiday cottages are ideally located to enjoy a peaceful Christmas in the Lake District and we look forward to welcoming you with a “ho, ho, ho”.

‘Tis The Season

A Boxing Day or New Year’s Day walk from your Christmas cottage is a much-loved tradition in the Lake District and for many includes a stop at a local pub to spread tidings of good will. The illuminated Lake District towns and villages twinkle against the wintry starry skies and are a magical place to be during the Christmas holidays.

Windermere, Keswick, Kendal and Ambleside are the places to go for magical Christmas light displays and the illuminated windows of Keswick Live Advent is a great way to get into the seasonal spirit.

When walking off the Christmas pud, be wise this season and come prepared with waterproofs, maps and torches. If you need to stock up, head to Ambleside or Keswick for the best selection of shops selling outdoor gear.

Pocket Tourist Map is a great app that will help you to easily navigate the Lake District fells – just remember to charge your phone before setting off.

Whilst it is rare that major lakes freeze over in the Lake District, the best snow conditions in the region are in the north at the Lake District Ski Club, next to Helvellyn. These wintry conditions make Keswick and Derwentwater a particularly beautiful place to visit over the winter months. Across the region, however, frost and snow on the high fell tops turns the Lake District into a natural winter wonderland like no other and is a great time to get out walking, with care.

In case frosty the snowman doesn’t deliver that sprinkling of snow during your stay, enjoy a winter wonderland in one of the Lake District’s top attractions. You can meet huskies at Brockhole on Windermere, visit ‘Santa in the Forest’ at Rheged, in Penrith. There’s ‘Snow Play’ theatrics this year at Keswick’s famous Theatre by the Lake, a ‘Jingle Bell Jog’ in Bowness and Hayes Garden World in Ambleside is an interactive, fun world of snowballs and woodland animals that all will love.

Alternatively, step back in time and enjoy an enchanted traditional Christmas at Sizergh Castle, Kendal. Also in the south Lakes, and offering Dickensian style festivities is the Ulverston Christmas Festival, where Victorian costumes, horse-drawn carriages and carol signers set the scene perfectly. The Lake District certainly ‘tis the place to be jolly this Christmas.

Holly, Jolly Holiday

The Lake District’s famous friendly country pubs are filled with Christmas spirit over the festive holidays. Our 3-5 star self-catering cottages for Christmas and the New Year are a great way to get into the heart of country life and soak up some of the region’s heart-warming ambience and cheer throughout the festive period.

Self-catering gives you the flexibility of coming and going as you please, sampling the very best of the region’s gastro wonders at your leisure.

Eat, drink and be merry after a visit to a Cumbrian farmer’s market, of which there are many and you’ll pick up a stocking-load of Christmas delights.

From the people who know a thing about puddings, try a very special Christmas Pudding from the world-famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding company. Whilst in Cartmel, stock up at the Unsworth’s Yard Christmas Food Market for some of the finest food from the region’s specialty producers.

Christmas is all wrapped up at Booths supermarket, Windermere, which is open across the season (closed Christmas Day only). This high quality supermarket is brimming with Christmas treats and deliver across the region. From farm assured turkeys to everything you need for the ultimate ‘Northern Christmas Dinner’, Booths will deliver.

Tummies enjoying a self-catering holiday in the Lakes are very well looked after indeed.

Why not mix it up and indulge in some dining out at the Lakes Distillery, Bassenthwaite, this Christmas, where carols and the cheer of spirits past, future and present will hit the spot. On Derwentwater, Keswick, Christmas trees will be on sale at The Lingholm Estate, and the newly opened and award-winning kitchen and octagonal walled garden are offering exclusive festive dining’s options too.

Follow the Lakelovers blog for a more detailed guide to Christmas in the Lake District, including the region’s famous Santa Express at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and top Santa’s Grottos.

Christmas Giving

Christmas is the season of peace, love, joy and of course giving. Hopefully you’ll have a boot filled with the crinkling and sparkle of Christmas wrap, in preparation for meeting loved ones and exchanging gifts. Bed linen and towels are free with Lakelovers, as we’re sure you’ll be pleased of the extra car space. We all know that a dog is not just for Christmas, so please bring pooch along for free with Lakelovers. Look out for the paw print and choose from over 160 dog friendly cottages that welcome up to 3 dogs.

We hope you enjoy browsing our collection of cottages available for Christmas and New Year. Get in touch if you don’t find what you are looking for or if your dates are not available. Our excellent customer service team are available Monday to Saturday on 015394 88855 or email bookings@lakelovers.co.uk to help get your festive escape started.