Why book a big house in the Lake District in winter? Our Windermere houses sleep 12 to 16 and come into their own when it’s cold: open fires, AGAs, cellar cinemas, and hot tubs kept at 38°C all year at the five Terrace houses. Heating is included, logs are supplied from October to April, and winter weekends are often better value.
Let’s be honest. The Lakes in winter has a reputation. Grey skies. Drizzle. The kind of weather that has you questioning all your life choices by lunchtime.
But here’s the thing. We built our big 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 so big you’ll need to set a search party if anyone gets too comfortable. The kind of warmth that hits you in the chest.
This is what these houses are made for.
At Bannerrigg, you’ve got an AGA in the kitchen. A proper one. Three ovens, a permanent low hum of warmth, and the best slow-cooked Sunday roast you’ll ever pull off in your dressing gown. There’s nothing like an AGA on a cold January day. Nothing.
Films. All of them.
When it’s tipping it down outside — and let’s be honest, sometimes it will — head for the cinema. Every Terrace property has its own. We’re talking proper cinema seats, a 75-inch screen, and enough space for the whole group. Pick something long. Nobody’s going anywhere.
Bannerrigg goes up to 18 seats. Number One, Alice Howe and Boston House seat 15. White Moss seats 12. Grab the snacks. Log into Netflix. The night is yours.
The hot tub debate.
Here’s our case for hot tubbing in winter. You’re warm inside. You nip outside. It’s cold — properly cold, maybe even a bit of frost. You lower yourself in. The water is 38 degrees. You look up. Stars.
That’s it. That’s the whole argument.
All five Terrace houses have hot tubs. They don’t close for winter. They just get better.
(And yes — the floor can be a bit slippery if it’s icy. Watch your step. You’ve been warned.)
Walks that actually feel earned
The Lake District in winter is extraordinary. Fewer people. Sharper light. The kind of views that make your phone camera give up trying.
The Orrest Head walk starts right across the road from The Terrace, and right at the gate if you’re staying at Orrest Head House. Twenty minutes uphill and you’re looking out over Windermere with a view that Wainwright himself couldn’t stop writing about. Do it. Then come back and sit by the fire for the rest of the day. You’ve earned it.
Homeground. Non-negotiable.
Windermere village is two minutes from most of our properties. And Homeground does the best breakfast in the Lakes. Go. Eat well. It’ll set you up for whatever you’ve got planned — or planned to avoid.
Big groups, big weekends
Our houses sleep anywhere from 12 to 16 people. That’s a big birthday party. A family reunion. A group of mates who’ve been saying “we should do something” for three years. Winter weekends are often better value, easier to book, and — we’d argue — 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 one. Do it properly. You’ll be talking about it until at least next Christmas.
Andy and Barbara (owners)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the houses warm enough in winter? Yes. Every house has central heating, and gas and electricity are included in the price, so there’s no need to ration the heating. Several houses also have open fires or wood-burning stoves for proper cosy evenings.
Which houses have open fires or wood-burning stoves? Bannerrigg and Alice Howe have open fires in the lounge. Alice Howe also has a wood-burning stove in the kitchen. White Moss has wood-burning stoves in the lounge and dining room. Orrest Head House has wood-burning stoves in the lounge and the bar. Number One has a living flame fire in the lounge.
Are logs provided? Yes. Houses with an open fire or wood-burning stove get a basket of logs between October and April. More logs are available locally if you get through them.
Which houses have an AGA? Three of them. Number One has a 4-oven AGA, Bannerrigg has a 3-oven AGA and White Moss has a 2-oven AGA. All three also have a range cooker.
Are the hot tubs open in winter? Yes. All five Terrace houses have a 7-seat hot tub, kept at 38°C all year round. It’s dark by late afternoon in winter, so there’s plenty of time for a starlit soak before the hot tubs close at 10pm. Sessions are 20 minutes at a time, and the floor can be slippery when it’s icy, so take care. Orrest Head House doesn’t have a hot tub.
Which houses have a cinema room? All five Terrace houses. Bannerrigg seats 18. Number One, Alice Howe and Boston House seat 15. White Moss seats 12. Each has a 75-inch Smart TV. Bring your own Netflix or Prime login.
What is there to do in the Lake District in winter? Plenty, or nothing at all. The Orrest Head walk starts across the road from The Terrace. It’s about twenty minutes up to one of the best views in the Lakes. Windermere village has cafés, pubs and restaurants two minutes away. And when the weather turns, there’s the cinema, the fire and the hot tub.
Can we use the barbecue in winter? No. The barbecues are put away from the end of October to the beginning of April.
Is there anything we should bring for a winter stay? Warm layers and walking boots. If you want to sit outside with a blanket, bring your own, as we don’t supply blankets for outdoor use.
What if the weather is bad when we’re due to travel? Our houses are on the A591, the main road into the Lake District. It’s kept open as much as humanly possible, it’s gritted, and it’s the first road to be ploughed after a snowstorm. Windermere station is also a couple of minutes’ walk from The Terrace, so the train is a good backup.
Can we bring the dog on a winter break? Yes. We welcome up to four dogs, at £30 per dog. They stay on the ground floor and off the furniture.
Related posts: The Lake District at Christmas and New Year · The Lakes in Winter: Our Best-Kept Secret · 7 Things to Do in Windermere for Large Groups