Why Beautiful Wasdale is Known as a Place of Extremes - Wasdale is one of the most remote parts of the Lake District, yet thousands make their way here every year to visit this place of extremes where the rugged landscape boasts the widest valley, deepest lake and highest peak in England. A holiday in the Wasdale valley will leave you with life-long memories of unique sights and experiences. Hardy Cumbrian sheep thrive in fields separated by ancient dry stone walls, and the pace of the rural community follows the seasons. Visitors who appreciate period properties with bags of character will love the choice of Wasdale cottages to rent, many of which are tucked away on family-run farms with views that have changed little over the last millennia. Read more
In a truly spectacular position with views over Wast Water, this holiday apartment is ideal for lovers of the 'great outdoors' and provides a comfortable retreat from which to explore the Lake District's many attractions. Superb for walkers and those who want to relax amongst stunning Lakeland scenery.
A comfortable holiday home in Greendale within the spectacular Wasdale Valley in the Lake District National Park. Ideal for those who enjoy outdoor activities with fabulous walking and Wastwater just half a mile away.
A spacious farmhouse providing holiday accommodation in spectacular Wasdale within the Lake District National Park. An ideal self-catering base from which to explore the quiet Western Fells and lakes, and perfect for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to be out and about amongst stunning scenery.
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. This cute pod is situated on a working sheep farm, surrounded by stunning picture postcard countryside and fells. Springtime is a special time of year to visit when the lambs are a joy to watch! Threlkeld village, with its country pubs, cricket...
"Courtyard Hideaway Cottage" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Courtyard Hideaway is a fantastic cottage in Clappersgate, only a short walk along the river to Ambleside. Set over one level with only a few steps to the beautifully tiled wet room with walk-in shower. The cottage has an open plan...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. This bespoke luxury cabin is nestled in a valley with stunning views across to Blencathra. It sits on a working farm with direct access to the Threlkeld to Keswick old railway line, a 3 mile long footpath and cycleway. You can head for...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Nestled in the Lake District s peaceful Wasdale Valley, this rural retreat is enveloped by picture postcard scenery. England s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, is just 4.5 miles away while the country s deepest lake, Wastwater, is only 2 miles...
"Ramblers Rest" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips...
"House in Cumbria" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Stylish single storey property located on a country estate sleeping four guests, enjoy a stunning position on the eastern side of Coniston Water, just over one mile from the village of Coniston. Perfect for couples, families with up to two...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. This charming converted farmhouse is situated, on a working sheep farm, surrounded by the Northern Fells, with fabulous views towards Blencathra. The location may feel rural, but you are only a mile away from Threlkeld village which boasts...
"Barn in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Make your romantic getaway to this enchanting stone haven for two, in idyllic surroundings, about 1 mile from the small village of Patterdale and picturesque Ullswater. Tucked away in the Grisedale Valley, it is located after the farm road...
"Dale End Loggia" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Dale End Loggia is a beautiful retreat for 2 people overlooking Grasmere Lake. Originally a cow byre, it is now a compact modern property with open plan accommodation. In the heart of the Lake District it is ideal for exploring the many places...
"Cringol Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 3 guests in Cumbria. Ambleside, located at the northernmost point of England's largest lake, Lake Windermere, is a great starting point for exploring the rest of the middle Lakes, including neighbouring Grasmere and the Langdale Valley. Cruises, boat rides, and...
"Waterside" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 3 guests in Cumbria. Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips...
"Log Cabin in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Just 4 miles from the bustling town of Keswick, you can walk or bike from here on the path which runs along the old railway's line. This area offers a great base to get out and explore the Northern Lakes and Fells. Threlkeld village is set at...
"Riverside" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. Nestling at the head of Coniston Water, the pretty village of Coniston is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the Lake District National Park and makes a superb base for touring, with Hawkshead, Ambleside and Windermere just a...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. This charming luxurious cottage, which can accommodate up to four guests, is located in the heart of the bustling market town of Keswick. Within 300 metres, you'll find a range of shops, eateries, and bars. You can also walk to the town's famed...
"How Head Cottage" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips...
"Old Oak Cottage" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips...
"Kelsick Heights" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Ambleside is a true Lake District village with facilities and amenities for all, there is a large selection of shops ranging from walking and climbing to antiques and art galleries. Numerous restaurants, tea rooms and bars provide a welcoming...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. This property is a great base for walkers, nature lovers, climbers and cyclists exploring some of the Lake District s most beautiful spots, with Derwentwater (1 mile), Buttermere (7.5 miles), Crummock Water (9.5 miles), Bassenthwaite Lake (8.5...
"Holly Cottage" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Gosforth is a charming and historic village with several pubs and a restaurant, and is a fantastic base for exploring a spellbinding corner of Cumbria. A wealth of trails and bridleways offers miles of stunning walks, with the beautiful...
"Fell View" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips...
"Cottage in Cumbria" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 3 guests in Cumbria. The village of Kirkland is located in wonderful walking and cycling country yet remains within 15 miles of other Lake District highlights including Cockermouth, Loweswater, Buttermere and the Cumbrian coastline. Ennerdale Lake and valley...
"House in Cumbria" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 5 guests in Cumbria. This cosy property located in the Lake District National Park 1 mile from the village of Ennerdale Bridge, where you will find lovely country pubs and a coffee shop. Ennerdale Water, the most westerly lake is within 5 miles, is, even in high...
"Fair Cop" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. The picturesque village of Hawkshead still retains the charm and character that so endeared it to its most famous residents - William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Visitors can wander the wealth of tiny alleyways, thoroughfares, archways and...
Popular towns in and around The Lake District:
AmblesideBowness-on-WindermereCartmelCockermouthConistonGrasmereGrizebeckHawksheadKendalKeswickKirkby StephenPenrithUllswaterUlverstonWasdaleWindermereSome local suggestions:
Dog friendly Lake District cottagesLake District cottages with a hot tubRomantic Lake District cottagesOr search further afield:
Search within North West England
Walking in the Wasdale Valley - The scenery in the Wasdale Valley is incredibly dramatic. As visitors arrive via the single road that leads into the village, they are greeted by the sight of Yewbarrow and Kirk Fell, which are 628 metres and 802 metres above sea level respectively. Pair these behemoths with the plummeting depths of Wastwater, which is England’s deepest lake at 74 metres, and you are about as far removed from the gentle side of Cumbria as you can imagine. This land is rugged and unforgiving, yet immeasurably beautiful.
As the nearest community to England’s highest peak, many visitors come to Wasdale to scale Scafell Pike. This challenging climb is not for the inexperienced climber, but there are plenty of other paths that cater for all abilities. From Wasdale Head, it is possible to reach Yewbarrow via Dore Head and Mossdale Beck, or to Hollow Stones and Mickledore via Lingmell Gill and Brown Tongue. The peaks around here can be covered with snow from as early as November to as late as April.
Climbing in the Wasdale Valley - Visitors who crave more excitement than the beaten path can offer can always climb their way to the top. The Wasdale Valley stakes a claim as being the birthplace of rock climbing in England. The Wasdale Head Inn was a favourite pub for Victorian mountaineers including Walter Parry Haskett Smith, and it is still widely regarded for the atmosphere as much as for the quality of the food.
Wastwater Activities - The fells and mountains are only part of the appeal of staying in Wasdale. Wastwater’s smooth surface beckons with West Lake Adventures providing equipment and tuition for those who want to go canoeing, kayaking, canyoning and paddle-boarding. They also offer guided rock climbing and mountain bike rides. There is a beautiful walk through Low Wood to the lakeshore where there are benches, picnic spots and breathtaking views.
Day Trips from Wasdale - Although Wasdale is away from the well-trodden Lake District tourist route, it does not mean that visitors can’t still explore the national park to their heart’s content. Within easy reach for a day trip are places like Eskdale, which is the closest town and where you can stock up on food for the duration of your stay, as well as the Duddon Valley and the lovely coastal area of Ravenglass. St Bee’s Heritage Coast is a beautiful spot on a sunny day, and Cockermouth is always interesting. Closer to home is St Olaf’s, one of the tiniest churches in England with seats for fewer than 40 worshippers. The name of the church is not the only nod to the Scandinavian settlers that arrived in the valley as the beams are said to be wood salvaged from Viking longboats.
Wasdale is the perfect place for people who want to get up with the sun, spend a full day in pristine surroundings then retire to a cosy seat to enjoy a spectacular night sky with more stars than you could ever hope to count. On the west side of the Lake District, it is close to the coast, with a community of people who recognise and appreciate the unique and beautiful place in which they live.
