Cottages in Kendal

What's available around Kendal

BritStays lists 157 cottages in the Kendal region of Cumbria, and every stay in this set is a cottage. They are spread across several areas rather than clustered in one place, so start by deciding which part of the region suits you:

• Kirkby Stephen: 37 cottages
• Kendal and Lakes Gateway: 25
• Appleby: 25
• Kirkby Lonsdale: 19
• Sedbergh and the Howgill Fells: 13
• Penrith: 11
• Alston: 10
• Great Strickland: 3

Kirkby Stephen has the widest choice. If you have your heart set on a particular area, such as Great Strickland, you'll have far fewer options to compare.

Coast or countryside?

None of the areas with the most cottages here is listed as coastal, so this is mainly a countryside choice. If a sea view matters to you, this set isn't the best place to look. If you want hills and open country, the area names point that way. Sedbergh and the Howgill Fells is the obvious one, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is among the region's landmarks.

Matching the cottage to your group

The example stays give a good idea of the range of sizes.

• Couples: Clarence Cottage in Appleby sleeps 2. Rose Cottage, also in Appleby, sleeps 3, which gives you a little extra room.
• Small families or two couples: sleeping 4 is the most common size among the examples. Smardale Cottages and Clifford Courtyard are in Kirkby Stephen. Holmescales Lodges - Tyan and Holmescales Lodges - Yan are in Kendal and Lakes Gateway. High Moor Cottage, Manor garden Suite and Cherry Barn are in Appleby, and Woodbine Cottage is in Kirkby Lonsdale.
• Larger groups: Westwood Barn in Kirkby Stephen sleeps 8 and The Black Bull in Appleby sleeps 9. Box Tree Escapes - The Roeburn and Box Tree Escapes - The Wenning, both in Carnforth, sleep 10 each.

If you have young children, note that only 2 cottages in the whole set list a playground. If you need step-free or adapted accommodation, only 2 list disabled access, so read the details carefully and contact the owner before you book. Hot tubs are just as rare, with 2 listings.

Bringing your dog

Dog owners should plan ahead. Only 5 of the 157 cottages are listed as Pet Friendly, and none of the example stays above mentions it. Filter for pet-friendly stays first, and check the owner's rules on numbers, size and where dogs can go inside.

Getting there and getting around

Public transport is a realistic option for some stays. 30 cottages are listed as Near a Train Station and 26 as Near a Bus Stop. Clarence Cottage, Manor garden Suite and The Black Bull in Appleby, along with the two Box Tree Escapes in Carnforth, all note a nearby station. Westwood Barn and Clifford Courtyard in Kirkby Stephen are near a bus stop.

If you drive an electric car, 50 cottages have EV Charging Nearby, including Westwood Barn, Clifford Courtyard, Clarence Cottage, Manor garden Suite and The Black Bull. Only 5 cottages list parking as a facility. That doesn't mean the rest have none, but it does mean you should ask rather than assume.

What to do once you're there

History lovers will find plenty here. The landmarks include Kendal Castle, Sizergh Castle, Appleby Castle, Howgill Castle and the site of Burton Castle. Levens Hall and Acorn Bank are the stately homes to look up.

For rainy days there are several museums and galleries:

• the Heritage Centre in Kendal
• Keswick Museum & Art Gallery and The Retro Zone in Keswick
• the Judges' Lodgings Museum and the Laurel and Hardy Museum in Morecambe
• Brantwood and Eskdale Mill in the Lake District

Families after something more active can try The Lakes Aqua Park in the Lake District. Check opening times and travel times before you set off, as these attractions are spread across a wide area.

When to book

The scarcer the feature you need, the earlier you should book. Pet-friendly cottages (5), hot tubs (2), playgrounds (2) and disabled access (2) make up a tiny share of the 157, so if any of these is essential, secure it well before you would book an ordinary cottage. The same applies to large groups, because places sleeping 8 to 10 are much less common than those sleeping 4. Couples and families of four have the most flexibility.

Before you pay, check three things with the owner: whether there's parking, how far the nearest station or bus stop really is, and the exact pet or accessibility arrangements.