The beauty in the Lake District is its tranquillity, its popularity sometimes makes that a little difficult to find, and that’s where staying at The Lingholm Estate on the western shore of Derwentwater comes in so handy.
This unique estate lies at the heart of the Northern Lake District with the Lakeland Fells of Skiddaw and Grizedale Pike to the North, Blen Cathra, Castlerigg and High Seat to the East and the Borrowdale Fells and the Newlands Round to the South and West. Across The Lingholm Estate are 12 holiday properties, ranging from the luxurious and romantic Boathouse to several two-bedroom apartments in the main house to six bedrooms in our houses and cottages. Half of them are dog friendly.
The estate itself is surrounded by fells with incredible views, as well as having private lake frontage, beautiful gardens, woods, a children’s adventure playground, and walks direct from your holiday cottage door leading to Catbells, one of the most famous Lakeland walks, or round the lake, and even directly into Keswick. Lingholm is also home to a herd of cute alpacas, which you can book to walk around the estate.
To say the location is idyllic is an understatement – this place is magical and quiet, truly a place to relax, rewind, and reconnect with friends, family and nature.
Silver Hill Cottage, The Lingholm Estate
Most of the pet-friendly accommodation caters for larger parties, sleeping 8 to 12 people, or are in the main house without a private or enclosed garden, so we opted for Silver Hill, which has room for six people and is surrounded by Beech hedges.
While it may be one of the smaller properties, it still has plenty of space, boasting a large open plan living, kitchen and dining area, and three bedrooms, one king and two that can be either twin or king and two ensuite shower rooms and one bathroom.
There is also space directly outside the cottage for two cars, and a private garden, as well as outdoor seating and a built-in barbeque that would be lovely in the summer. For the winter months, there is a log burner inside with the estate providing one bag of logs, which we never put on because it was strangely quite warm.
Food on the estate
Silver Hill is plenty big enough for a weekend or even a week-long staycation. There is a fully equipped Kitchen with all mod cons, including an oven, hob, fridge, dishwasher and washer-dryer. Meaning you can cook in if you prefer, but you can also order food to be delivered from The Lingholm Kitchen, head into Kewswick and grab fish and chips or have a meal at one of the many country pubs nearby. Keswick also has a great Chinese and Thai if you fancy a takeaway.
Also, if you are travelling a long distance and don’t want to cart all your food for the trip, you can organise a supermarket delivery. The estate states that Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s all deliver. Just put the property name in the delivery notes.
Plus, don’t worry about breakfast. You only need to walk 5 minutes over to The Lingholm Kitchen where they have an amazing cafe – see more here. Trust me you will need to try the Eggy Bread and their lemon curd.
For romance in the Lake District
If you are looking for a romantic break with your partner, without the dog, I would suggest The Boathouse. This is a stunning-looking property situated on the shore of Derwentwater with one of the most spectacular views you can get across the lake.
This property is a luxury one-bedroom apartment, complete with a kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom, and in the warmer months a balcony with comfy chairs to soak in the panoramic views and watch the ducks glide by on the water.
Seriously this place looks luxurious and would be perfect for an anniversary, a special birthday, or just because you can!!!
Things to do in the Lake District
Lingholm Estate really does make the perfect base for a walking holiday to visit the sights of the Lake District – with Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere all within a 40-minute drive, while Cockermouth with its stunning architecture and antique shops is just 20-minutes away, it is also home to Wordsworth House and Garden that’s worth a visit.
But the closest attraction has to be Keswick. It is a 5-minute drive or a 40-minute walk. There is also a water taxi stop not far away from the estate if you fancy hitching a ride back on the lake. The town has plenty of independent shops and cafes, and you can take a boat trip on the lake, and yes, you can take your dog, as well as wander through the park. In the summer, Keswick also hosts various markets.
If I have one tip – head to Friars, It is the most amazing chocolate and sweetie shop. They’ve been making chocolate for nearly 100 years, so they know what they are doing.
Also, if you can, try and visit Castlerigg Stone Circle, described as “one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain”. It really is spectacular. Plus, the view of the surrounding fells is a sight to see. From within the circle, it is possible to see some of the highest peaks in Cumbria, including Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Grasmoor and Blencathra.
