Corporate retreats in the Lake District: a complete planning guide

Corporate retreats in the Lake District immerse teams in the outdoors: the perfect setting for shared adventures and real conversations.

But planning a corporate retreat can be hard work because there are so many things to consider like accommodation, activities, and travel.

Luckily for you, we’re here to make it simple. Our article shows you where to stay when hosting a corporate retreat, what to do for the retreat itself, and other activities to book while you’re in the area.

5-step guide to planning corporate retreats in the Lake District

Booking corporate retreats means thinking about where to stay, what activities to plan, and how to get everyone there. Here are five steps to help you plan the perfect corporate retreat.

1. Settle on a purpose for your retreat

The purpose of your corporate retreat determines the venue and activities you book. So, the first thing to do is think about why you’re planning a retreat.

Is it a short break away for your team to relax?
Is it a strategy session for members of the leadership team?
Are you looking to raise team morale or help staff get to know one another better?

All of these corporate retreat ideas have different planning requirements.

A corporate wellness retreat suits a peaceful, rural location with minimal agenda. Meanwhile, corporate team-building retreats benefit from close access to group activities. If the latter is what you’re after, look into Lake District adventures like raft building or ghyll scrambling.

2. Pick a venue that suits your needs

Corporate retreat accommodation needs to be big enough to host the entire team and close to everything you want to do.

Many organisations choose hotels for corporate retreats. There are enough rooms for everyone to stay comfortably. Plus, most hotels have function rooms available for meetings and strategy sessions.

Large holiday cottages are also a great option. Here are the reasons why:

Shared kitchens and dining tables encourage the team to cook meals and eat together. This brings about genuine conversations and bonding moments.
Typical UK retreat budgets run £150–£500 per person per day (or roughly £600 to £1,100 for a standard 2-to-3-day residential trip), covering venue, food, and activities. Exclusive-use cottages keep costs lower, freeing up the budget to spend on activities.
You can arrange your own schedule or adapt easily if the itinerary changes. At a hotel, you have to abide by strict times for meals, check-in, and check-out.
Your group has total privacy, compared to other accommodation options like hotels where you’re surrounded by other guests.

Plus, in group accommodation and larger properties, you get the perfect balance between communal and private spaces.

If you want everyone under one roof, opt for interlinking mountain properties, which make it easy for the team to quickly get together, but retreat somewhere quieter at the end of the day.

Need a bit more space? Book neighbouring cottages like Dixon Ground Farm, which sleeps up to 24 people. This is a great way to keep the team close but separate.

3. Book nearby activities

Corporate retreat activities are a key part of the planning process. In the Lake District, choose from plenty of outdoor excursions like kayaking, hiking, and canoeing.

Let’s take a look at some of the best activities for your retreat:

Canoe or kayak across iconic lakes like Coniston Water and Lake Windermere.
Build rafts in groups and then race them across the water for some healthy competition.
Ghyll scramble through rocky mountain streams like Stickle Ghyll or Church Beck.
Wild swim in calm rivers, waterfall pools, and quiet tarns like Loughrigg Tarn.
Hike famous fells like the Old Man of Coniston, Loughrigg Fell, and Wansfell Pike.

If you have team members who prefer less-adventurous activities, mix the above with more inclusive plans. Why not take a lake cruise on a heritage boat? Or, venture out to the village pub for a nice, hearty dinner?

There are several local outdoor providers that run private sessions and group packages. If you’re visiting during peak season, we recommend booking early. Large groups might get split into smaller groups, requiring more than one instructor. And instructors are in short supply over summer.

4. Make time for rest and relaxation

Even if work is on the agenda, most corporate wellness retreats incorporate rest and relaxation to support employee wellbeing. A jam-packed itinerary means everyone leaves feeling more tired than when they arrived.

In the Lakes, you only have to step outside the door to breathe in fresh mountain air. The patchy phone signal in rural settings lets you disconnect properly. And cold water dips are linked to improved sleep, better mood, and reduced stress.

If you’re leaning towards luxury corporate retreats, pick a holiday cottage with a hot tub. It’s the perfect way to unwind and soak sore muscles after long walks. And if you get lucky with the weather, clear skies promise excellent stargazing conditions.

5. Plan travel and other logistics

The final stage of corporate retreat planning is to sort travel and other logistics like food.

Travel varies, depending on where you’re coming from and where you’re staying – the Lakes is a big area after all. Here’s an example of how to get from major cities to Coniston:

Preston: 1h 10m
Liverpool: 2h 15m
Manchester: 2h
Leeds: 2h 40m

If you’re travelling by train, it can be easier to go to Oxenholme and then book a minibus to take you to your accommodation. Saying that, there is a train that runs between Oxenholme and Windermere, stopping at Kendal, Burneside, and Staveley.

Buses in the Lakes also go fairly regularly and they’re pretty cheap. The Stagecoach 505 runs hourly between Ambleside and Coniston, and a few direct trips run direct to Kendal each day.

In terms of food, a Lake District holiday cottage gives you the freedom to eat what and when you want. Stay in and cook up a tasty feast one night. Then the next night, grab a bite to eat at local pubs and restaurants.

Choose Coppermines Cottages for your corporate retreat

Corporate retreats in the Lake District put you right beside mountains and lakes, making them perfect for bonding, connecting, and relaxing. A large holiday cottage gives you exclusive access to the property. Plus, there are tons of activities like kayaking and hiking on your doorstep.

CTA: Explore Lake District cottages.