Guide · By the Log Cabin Holidays team ·
Log cabin holidays in the Lake District: where to stay
Windermere or Keswick? Busy lakes or quiet valleys? How to choose the right base for a cabin break in the Lake District.
Mist lifting off the water at first light, the fells turning from grey to green as the sun gets up. The Lake District is England’s favourite walking country, and a cabin here puts you right in the middle of it.
The national park is bigger than it looks on a map, and the roads are slow, so where you stay shapes your whole trip.
The south: Windermere and Ambleside
The busiest corner, with lake cruises, cafés, the Beatrix Potter attraction and plenty of rainy-day options. Good for families and a first visit. Book well ahead for school holidays.
The north: Keswick and Derwentwater
Keswick is a proper market town with outdoor shops on every corner, and fells like Catbells and Skiddaw rise straight from its edges. It is the best base if walking is the main event.
The west: Wasdale and the coast
Wild, quiet and dramatic. Wast Water and Scafell Pike are here, as are empty beaches on the Cumbrian coast. Expect fewer facilities and longer drives – and far fewer people.
The east: Ullswater and the Eden Valley
Ullswater is many people’s favourite lake, with the steamers and the Aira Force waterfall. Just outside the park, the Eden Valley is gentle, quiet and often better value.
Practical tips
- Pack for rain whatever the forecast.
- Parking at popular lakes fills by mid-morning in summer – start early or use the buses and boats.
- A hot tub is worth its weight after a day on the fells.
See every log cabin in Cumbria, or go straight to cabins with hot tubs in Cumbria.
