Thinking about a winter break in the Lake District for a group? Our large houses in Windermere sleep 12 to 16 and are built for cold weather: open fires, smart heating, cellar cinemas, and hot tubs that stay open all winter at the five Terrace houses. Logs are supplied from October to April.
Winter in the Lakes. It’s Better Than You Think.
Let’s be honest. The Lakes in winter has a reputation. Grey skies. Drizzle. The kind of weather that has you questioning your life choices by lunchtime.
But here’s the thing. We built our houses for exactly this.
Come in from the cold
Step through the front door and the outside world becomes someone else’s problem. Open fires crackling. Chesterfield sofas you’ll need a search party to escape from. At Bannerrigg, there’s a three-oven AGA in the kitchen. Nothing warms a January morning like a slow-cooked Sunday roast in your dressing gown.
Films. All of them.
When it’s tipping it down — and sometimes it will — head downstairs. Every house has its own cinema. Proper seats, 75-inch screen, enough room for the whole group. Pick something long. Nobody’s going anywhere.
The hot tub debate
You’re warm inside. You nip out. It’s cold — properly cold, maybe even a frost. You lower yourself in. The water is 38 degrees. You look up. Stars. That’s the whole argument. All five Terrace houses have hot tubs. They don’t close for winter. They just get better.
Walks that feel earned
The Orrest Head walk starts just across the road from our Orrest Head properties. Twenty minutes up. Panoramic views over Windermere — the kind Wainwright couldn’t stop writing about. Do it. Then come back and sit by the fire. You’ve earned it.
Breakfast at Homeground
Windermere village is two minutes from most of our houses. Homeground does the best breakfast in the Lakes. Go. It’ll set you up for whatever you’ve got planned — or planned to avoid.
Big groups, big weekends
Our houses sleep 12 to 16 people. Winter weekends are often better value, easier to book, and frankly more fun. The Lake District is the UK’s adventure playground. But in winter, it’s also the UK’s best excuse to do absolutely nothing, in very good company, in a brilliant house.
Book direct at theterracewindermere.co.uk
Andy and Barbara (owners)
Frequently asked questions
Are the cinemas Smart TVs and do we use our own logins?
Yes — the TV screens in the cinema and all our lounges are Smart TVs. You can log in to all of the major streaming services — Netflix, Prime, Apple TV — using your own login. Please remember to sign out after use; if you leave your subscription open, the next guest may be able to use it.
Are your hot tubs under cover or open to the elements?
Alice Howe and Bannerrigg’s hot tubs are in outbuildings. White Moss, Number One and Boston House have theirs outdoors.
Are the hot tubs private?
Yes — the hot tubs are exclusively for the house you’ve booked; they’re all located in the rear courtyard for privacy.
Do you supply logs for the fires and woodburners in winter?
Yes — we supply one bag of logs per fire, plus some kindling, firelighters and matches, from October to the end of April. You may want to bring extra logs with you.
If we run out of logs, where can we pick up more?
Booths, just below the houses, usually sells bags of logs — otherwise most of the local garages sell them too.
Are the roads difficult in winter?
Because The Terrace is situated just off the main A591, access is rarely restricted — it’s the main road into the Lakes, so it’s gritted regularly and one of the first roads to be cleared if it snows.
Do you supply grit and snow shovels?
Yes — we provide a bag of grit and a shovel, so you can clear the step and a path out of the property if it snows.
Will the property be warm enough in winter?
We’ve invested in a smart heating system designed especially for holiday lets — it knows you’re coming and warms the property up ahead of your arrival. We keep the houses nice and warm for our guests, but you can always boost the system to make it a little warmer.
Related posts: Why Winter Is the Best Time to Book · The Lake District at Christmas and New Year · 7 Things to Do in Windermere for Large Groups