Cottage vacation rentals in Portinscale

We spent 5 nights here at the end of March and start of April 2025. We were really fortunate with the weather and took full advantage of the wonderful location: scaling Slight Side and Scafell on one day, riding to Coniston via the bridleway on another and 'bagging' most of the Coniston fells on another day via Wrynose Pass. We ate in on a couple of nights and also went to the Wainwright's for some pub grub, as well as Stoves for their evening menu. Simon and Belinda's place is very well situated in Great Langdale for all kinds of walks and rides, food and decent pints. The house itself is a lovely place to return to in the evening with easy parking outside for our van and once inside, everything is spotless, well equipped and cosy. We really appreciated all the helpful information on bike routes and walking routes and spent the late evenings by the fire pouring over the Wainwright books planning the next day's adventures. 100% recommended.

Charming cottage well renovated, with everything you need, fantastic location for walks/cycling and a short drive to other attractions, would definitely come back, the views alone make you feel lucky to be here.

Booked this cottage as a getaway to propose to my partner. She said yes, which was great, and the cottage is fantastic. The photos really don't do it justice, the bathroom is massive, bed really comfy and the hot tub is incredible and feels really private (pack flip flops for getting to and from the hottub). The gate to the river is lovely but it's steep so make sure you've got some hiking boots with you. If not, just leave via the front door and turn left to get to the same place. 20 minute drive to Carlisle and about 10 mins to Gretna. Plenty to see and do but you will need to drive, couldn't find a taxi service that was open. Had a really relaxing time here and can't recommend it enough. ps. avoid the cows in the field next to the river walk (the public footpath going to st Michael's well) - they will chase you.

Lovely cottage in a beautiful location, well equipped with lots of homely touches and even lots of things left out for the dog on arrival (towels, treats, ball, dog bags). Plenty of fields for long walks and a huge luxurious hot tub in the Spa room. The host Kathryn was very informative leading up to our stay with lots of activities and places to go, and she was extremely quick to reply when we had questions during our time there. I’d highly recommend this cottage as a place to stay and would love to go back in the future.

beautiful surroundings and comfortable stay - loved the log fire and hot tub additions.

Just wow. What a beautiful place, and even more wonderful hosts, Mark and Ruth. Staying here felt like stepping back in time, bringing back nostalgic memories of summer trips to the Lakes as a child. It’s a warm, traditional, and welcoming place, perfect for families or couples looking for a peaceful getaway. The hot tub and sauna were fantastic, properly heated and well-maintained, a cut above the lukewarm versions we’ve experienced elsewhere. The grounds are truly stunning: expansive gardens, a forest and stream for kids to explore, and even a private stretch of beach on a secluded part of Lake Windermere. It’s just far enough from Bowness to enjoy the tranquility, but close enough for an easy drive or quick taxi ride into town. Truly a special place. We couldn’t recommend it more!

Our stay was fantastic. Daniel was very helpful with recommendations of local things to do, which was very helpful with a toddler and to catch-up with the in-laws. Beautiful property that was comfortable. All the little details have been thought of from setting up a bed for our toddler to the care package of tasty local food. Daniel was helpful and answered questions about where to go to entertain the family in all weather's. Thank you. We look forward to staying again!

We had an absolutely lovely time staying at High Swinside. Diana was an amazing host and went out of her way to make us all feel comfortable. I would highly recommend any of her cottages.

We have just spent a couple of wonderful days walking up penyghent. Moira's cottage was wonderful. Really clean and cosy and stocked with everything we needed. The walk up to pen-y-ghent starts literally right outside the doorstep which is very handy and a comfortable bed is exactly what we needed after the long walk. Thank you Mouira for your hospitality.

My husband and I stayed at Tethera for the long Easter weekend and we loved the cottage. It had everything we needed. Emma really has thought of everything and more. From a binder full of helpful information, well stocked kitchen with some welcome goodies, cozy living room, perfectly fluffy linen to towels for our dog, Yoda. The shower has great water pressure too! We live in London and really liked how peaceful and private it was. Yoda loved all the new scents and the animals around too! We locked ourselves out one day and Emma responded within minutes. We loved the fresh eggs her hens lay and got some back home as well. I would recommend the place to everyone. It’s spotless, extremely comfortable and perfectly placed for all the nice hikes and pretty towns of Lake District to be easily accessible. Perfect cottage with an equally perfect host.

My friends and I came to hike Scafell Pike and this was the ideal location with it being around a 30 minute drive away. The cottage is peaceful and cosy. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would recommend to others ☺️

wardhall cottages is a perfect peaceful retreat. Great fire, laid and ready to light on arrival. Huge bath beautiful countryside with easy walks to a woodland with the dogs. Near to Cockermouth for shops and cafes and close to Allonby for beautiful beach walks and sunsets.

We had a lovely couple of days at Brandybuck cottage. Superb location in the heart of Kirkby Stephen with the high street a minute walk away and some gorgeous walks around the local area straight from the cottage. The cottage itself is a real home from home with a well equipped kitchen,comfy beds and a decent shower. There was plenty of space for our family of 4 with 2 older children(who appreciated the TV in each bedroom). Communication from the host was excellent with directions and check in details clearly explained so arrival and check in was a smooth process. Parking is on a road to the rear of the property which again was clearly explained and Marks directions took us to the exact place to park with further clear directions from there to access the rear of the cottage. Tea,coffee,sugar,milk and a packet of biscuits was provided upon arrival which was a nice touch and much appreciated. We booked this cottage as a last minute break and it is a real gem of a find.

My daughter and I had a lovely stay at lynn’s . She was kind of, warm and friendly. The goats were lovely and I so enjoyed feeding them with the food Lynn and supplied to us. Free fresh eggs too! Soya milk , and extra dress duck eggs. So grateful to wake up early to watch the sun rise and listen to the birds as I meditated . Lots of local walks with my daughter and a great time to just be at peace. Returning home each day was lovely . Thankyou to you making our stay so lovely . I plan to come back either my husband and Sascha my friend energetic GSD . We will walk miles together in these gorgeous surroundings x

A wonderful cottage in a fabulous location. Fizz, fresh bread and homemade jam to greet us. Lovely warm and surprisingly large cottage with a gorgeous view of the ford. Great walks straight from the door with wildlife aplenty (sadly no red squirrels but our host did point us to a hotel where we managed to see them). All in all, a cracking place to stay.

We were originally going to stay one night but felt so at home and comfortabke as soon as we arrived and we decided to stay an extra night. Helen was super accommodating and even provided us with extra fire wood and minor essentials. Would certainly stop by again.

This is a lovely cottage for a family holiday. It is spacious and well appointed, Lynn has put a lot of thought into ensuring that each room is attractive and comfortable .There are lovely walks to take directly from the house and further afield . The area is beautiful with a variety of things to do including museums and activities for children. Lynn is excellent at communicating and answering queries speedily.

Catherine is an excellent host, great communication and keen that everything is ok, quick response to queries raised. lovely welcome touch, of milk, cereal, bread, pastries, fruit juice jam, butter and apples and a supply of tea and coffee. Lovely compact cottage with a good kitchen, with a dishwasher and microwave. peaceful and quiet, away from everything but only a short drive in to Kendal

We had the most enjoyable experience staying at Sara’s beautiful & cosy cottage. It was in the perfect location with easy walking distance into Town and only a short drive to Windermere & Ambleside. Peaceful cottage in a central location. Everything we needed for a comfortable stay was provided by the host and Sara was available to answer our questions promptly. We would definitely stay again. Thank you for a lovely stay and for the biscuits and mint chocs too. My daughter loved it too x

We had a truly wonderful stay at Anthony’s spectacular home in Windermere. The house itself is beautifully maintained with all the amenities a family could need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. One of our favorite features was the garden and the lovely conservatory — perfect for morning coffee or winding down in the evening. Located within a private community, the property felt very safe and serene, giving us a real sense of comfort throughout our stay. It’s just a short 4-minute drive to the charming town of Bowness, where we enjoyed exploring the shops and dining at some great restaurants. Plus, it’s conveniently located for day trips to many of the Lake District’s top attractions. Anthony was a fantastic host — very communicative and accommodating, especially with a flexible check-in that really helped us out. We highly recommend this place and are already looking forward to coming back again!

Joan was an excellent host, and we had a delightful stay! The cottage is well-placed for exploring the Lake District. We loved coming back to a cozy cottage with a nice fire, which Joan kindly lit for us. Wish we could have stayed longer!

We love staying at April’s cottage, its truly a home from home. Location is perfect for a visit to the lakes with everything on your doorstep from great walks to cafes, restaurants, pubs and supermarkets. To top it off you have a fantastic sunny terrace to relax in after a day of exploring! Thanks again

Perfect spot for long weekend , cosy & comfortable accommodation and food in the adjoining Pheasant Inn was outstanding. Peter was fab dealing with any issues and great communication throughout. We appreciated the breakfast goodies of milk, juice, tea , coffee and cereals . Some noise from the pub in the evening but that was expected and certainly didn’t affect our enjoyment of staying!

This was a beautiful spot, nice & private & accessible to the lake for a beautiful sunset pic opportunity. Very clean & tidy on arrival & we tried our best to leave it as we found it.