Cottages near Windermere
Pinewood Cottage is a holiday cottage near Windermere, down on the quiet south shore at Low Stott Park. It sleeps six, welcomes up to two dogs, and Lakeside pier is a short walk along the lane.
Our corner of the lake
Most people who ask about staying near Windermere want two things: to get down to the water easily, and somewhere to park without a fight. The south end of the lake gives you both. Lakeside pier is about 0.6 miles (1 km), a 12 to 15 minute walk from our door, and there is room on the drive for three cars.
We are on the lane between Finsthwaite and Lakeside, next to Stott Park Bobbin Mill, so evenings are quiet and the woods are on the doorstep. If you want shops and restaurants outside your front door, Windermere town or Bowness will suit you better, and we say so below.
Inside, the cottage sleeps six in three bedrooms (two doubles and a king) and has one bathroom, a wood burner and full fibre wifi. The kitchen has a dishwasher and a table that seats six, there is a washing machine in the house and a tumble dryer in the garage, and bed linen and towels are all provided. The minimum stay is three nights, you can arrive on any day, and check-in is from 4pm.
We take up to two dogs at £20 per dog per stay, and the dog-friendly guide has the walks and house rules. If you are bringing children, the family guide is honest about the single bathroom.
Prices and dates are on the stay page, and the location page has directions.
Self-catering, with the lake nearby
The whole cottage is yours: hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher, a fridge and table-top freezer, and a welcome pack waiting for you. A cot and highchair are available if you ask when you book.
You can cook when you want to and walk down to Lakeside when you would rather eat out, with cafés at the pier in season and the Swan at Newby Bridge a short drive away. We also have a 7 kW VoltShare charger on the drive, which is handy if you are touring the Lakes in an electric car.
The wood burner comes with wood and firelighters, which matters more than a lake view on a wet week. The thick stone walls also keep the cottage pleasantly cool in a heatwave, which guests have been glad of.
Windermere town, Bowness and us
Windermere town, with its station and shops, sits on the east shore of the lake, and Bowness is just along from it. From us, Bowness is about 8 miles (13 km) by road and the town is a little further, so allow around forty minutes in busy traffic. Staying there puts you among the promenade, the restaurants and the busiest car parks.
The nicest way to see Bowness from here is by boat. Windermere Lake Cruises leave from Lakeside pier, and the yellow route runs north toward Bowness in about forty minutes. Plenty of our guests drive in once, then leave the car at the cottage and take the boat the next time.
A cottage on this shore suits people who want cruises, the steam railway and a quiet evening, and who are happy to drive or sail for a few hours in town. Our Lakeside guide covers the pier and the aquarium, and the Newby Bridge guide covers the village and the Swan.
Walks, cruises and the railway
High Dam and Great Knott Wood are the two Greenwood Trail walks you can start from the front door. High Dam is the shorter circuit, about 2.7 miles (4.4 km) with a modest climb, and Great Knott Wood is the longer one, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km), with the climb up to Finsthwaite Tower.
Stott Park Bobbin Mill is next door, and English Heritage runs guided tours on selected days, so book ahead. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway starts at the pier, and combined boat and train tickets are the usual way to spend a day without moving the car. The Lakes Aquarium is the indoor option when the weather turns.
Cartmel is about fifteen minutes by car, and Grizedale Forest about twenty-five. The A590 takes you to the M6 in around twenty-five minutes.
Our six spa passes for the Swan Hotel are good for a swim after a wet walk. If you have a question about dates, dogs or the drive, get in touch.