Cottages in Keswick

Where the cottages are

BritStays lists 474 cottages in and around Keswick, and they are not spread evenly. Keswick itself has the most by far, with 208. Cockermouth and the North West Fells follows with 65. After that come Silloth and the Solway Coast (38), Bassenthwaite (31) and Caldbeck Fells (27). St Bees and Carlisle have 24 each, and Threlkeld and St Johns in the Vale has 16. So if you want plenty of choice, start your search in Keswick. If you'd rather a quieter base, or you've left it late, widen the search to the surrounding areas.

Matching the area to your trip

The area names give you a fair idea of what to expect.

• Fells and countryside: Cockermouth and the North West Fells, Caldbeck Fells, Bassenthwaite, and Threlkeld and St Johns in the Vale all suit you if you want hills on the doorstep.
• Coast: Silloth and the Solway Coast is the obvious choice if you want the sea rather than the fells.
• Plenty to do nearby: Keswick has the largest number of cottages, and several of the attractions listed below are there too.

For couples, the many cottages that sleep four are a good fit. Pickles Barn in Bassenthwaite, Newlands Beck Cottage in Braithwaite and Alvamere in Keswick are all examples. For families or groups, Keswick has several that sleep six, such as Saddleback Cottage, Oak Lea, Bianca Rose and Shorley Lodge. Falcon Crag sleeps eight. For a larger gathering, Chapel House in Cockermouth and the North West Fells sleeps ten, which is the largest among the examples here.

What the example stays tell you

Look at the facility data and one thing stands out: getting around without a car is very possible. Of the 474 cottages, 281 are listed as near a bus stop and 271 have EV charging nearby. Only 37 are near a train station, though. If you're planning to rely on public transport once you arrive, buses are likely to be more useful to you than trains.

The Keswick examples are a good illustration. Falcon Crag, Saddleback Cottage, Oak Lea, Bianca Rose, Shorley Lodge and Alvamere are all near a bus stop and have EV charging nearby. Catbells in St Bees has both too. Newlands Beck Cottage and Pickles Barn are listed as near a bus stop.

Some features are far rarer in the listings:

• Only 4 cottages are marked pet friendly.
• Only 4 have a hot tub.
• Only 2 have EV charging on site.

WiFi (9) and parking (6) also appear on very few listings. That may mean the information hasn't been recorded rather than that the facility is missing. If either matters to you, ask the owner directly before you book.

You'll also find a few cottages within holiday parks. Brigham Holiday Park - Tranquillity and Brigham Holiday Park - Graylings Rest both sleep four, in Cockermouth and the North West Fells. Little Meadow and The Old Byre, in the same area, also sleep four.

Bringing the dog

With only 4 cottages listed as pet friendly, dog owners have the least choice of anyone. Filter for pet-friendly stays first and book as early as you can. It's also worth checking the house rules for any limits on the number or size of dogs before you commit.

Things to do once you're there

Derwentwater is the lake most closely tied to Keswick, and there are several heritage houses to explore. These include The Lingholm House, Underscar and Isel Hall, along with Wordsworth House, which belongs to the National Trust.

On a rainy day, Keswick has a handful of indoor options:

• Keswick Museum & Art Gallery
• The Retro Zone
• West Cumberland Railway Museum

For families, Knox Wood Wildlife Centre in Keswick and The Lakes Aqua Park are both worth considering. Eskdale Mill is another museum you could add to a day out.

When to book

The scarcest stays will go first. That means:

• Dog-friendly cottages: only 4 are listed.
• Hot tubs: only 4 are listed.
• On-site EV charging: only 2 are listed.
• Large cottages: very few among the examples sleep more than six, such as Falcon Crag and Chapel House.

If you need any of these, book well ahead and be flexible with your dates. If you're happy with a typical two-to-six-person cottage, you'll have far more choice, especially in Keswick. If your first choice is taken, look next at Cockermouth and the North West Fells. Whatever you book, confirm parking, WiFi and how close the nearest bus stop is with the owner before you pay.