Our accommodation guides are grouped by area — pick the one closest to where you're staying.
The Windermere heartland
The largest cluster of hotels and self-catering parks in the national park — Langdale Chase, Low Wood Bay, Storrs Hall, Cedar Manor, Applegarth Villa, Fallbarrow, White Cross Bay and Limefitt.
See this area's guidesThe most central base in the Lakes
A proper working town where five valleys meet — Rothay Manor, the woodland park at Skelwith Fold, and the Langdale Estate at the mouth of Great Langdale.
See this area's guidesWordsworth country
A small, literary village on its own lake — Rothay Garden and The Daffodil Hotel & Spa, both a short walk from Dove Cottage.
See this area's guidesBeatrix Potter's own country
Hill Top, Tarn Hows, Ruskin's Brantwood and Wordsworth's schoolroom — the quiet side of the district, and the most literary.
See this area's guidesThe quiet market town of the north
Derwentwater, Borrowdale and Bassenthwaite — a working market town rather than a resort, with the big northern fells behind it.
See this area's guidesThe quiet eastern lake
Wordsworth's daffodils, the Steamers, and a lake many locals would pick over Windermere — with a fair drive between it and the central Lakes.
See this area's guidesThe quiet end of the lake
Newby Bridge, Cartmel and Grange-over-Sands — Windermere without the queues, a cluster of family attractions, and Holker Hall close by.
See this area's guidesThe gateway town — and our own base
Just outside the national park: better value, easier parking, the Oxenholme main line, and Levens Hall and Sizergh Castle on the doorstep. Hotels, cottages and the Lyth Valley damson country.
See this area's guidesMost visitors stay in one of the many small hotels and guesthouses across Windermere and Bowness. This guide is written for all of them.
Any hotel or guesthouse, either town
The difference between the two towns, which pickup point is nearest to you, the boats, the parking traps, and how to shape the week.
Read the guideThis one isn't tied to a single area — it's for any self-catering stay, wherever you've booked.
For every cottage, anywhere in the Lakes
The week-planner: changeover-day tips, supplies, car-free days out, and how to weave one or two guided days through your stay.
“We booked our tour the same week we booked the hotel, and it was the best decision of the trip — everything else just fell into place around it.”
Depart from three main pickup points — Windermere railway station, Bowness Pier 1 and Ambleside library — so most guests can join within a short walk or a few minutes' taxi of where they're staying. Our Ultimate (The 10 Lakes Full-day Tour) also collects at Oxenholme. Never more than seven guests, priced per person, booked instantly online. The simplest way to reach the places a car (or a bus timetable) won't take you.
Your party only, your pace, your interests — and we can usually collect you directly from your accommodation, whether that's a hotel in Bowness or a cottage up a valley. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on private tours and travel safely in the crates our vehicles carry. Limited evening dates are also available in season, subject to availability.
Our tours are made for adults and older children — the pace and storytelling suit curious minds of about seven and up. If you're travelling as a multi-generation group, a private day is often the most comfortable fit, shaped around everyone's legs and interests.
As soon as your stay is confirmed. Seven seats fill quickly — summer departures often two to three weeks ahead — and booking early lets you place tour days early in your stay, keeping flexibility for weather.
Already written and ready to use — our arrival guides cover trains, buses, luggage and the honest truth about parking.
Our scheduled small-group tours depart from Windermere railway station, Bowness Pier 1 and Ambleside library, so most guests in Windermere and Bowness are within a short walk or a few minutes' taxi ride of one of them. Selected full-day tours also collect at Oxenholme. On private tours we can usually collect you directly from your hotel — just ask when booking.
Comfortably, if you base yourself around Windermere, Bowness or Ambleside. Trains reach Windermere station directly, lake cruises and local buses cover the central villages, and a guided tour day covers the spectacular high passes and further valleys no bus can reach.
As soon as your stay is confirmed. With a maximum of seven guests, departures genuinely do fill — summer and holiday dates often two to three weeks ahead. Booking early also lets you place tour days early in your stay, leaving room to adjust plans around the weather.
On private tours, yes — well-behaved dogs are welcome and travel safely in the dog crates our vehicles carry. Dogs cannot join scheduled small-group departures.
Our tours are designed for adults and older children — the pace, walking and storytelling suit curious minds of about seven and up. Our Beatrix Potter tours are not suitable for children under seven.