Tips for having the perfect autumn break in the Lake District
With so much accommodation to choose from, how do you choose the perfect cosy cottage for an autumn break in the Lake District? What things should you consider when planning your autumnal stay in the Lakes. Read on for our tips on choosing the perfect autumn accommodation.
Should I look for a cottage with a log burning stove or a real fire?
Picture yourself; drink of choice in hand, with your most favourite person or people nearby, imposing mountains outside the window and a crackling log fire to cosy up in front of. Sound appealing? Then a cottage with a log burner or open fire is a must when choosing your holiday accommodation in the Lakes.
Does it make a difference whether it’s a log-burning stove or traditional open fire? Well, while log-burners are more efficient and throw out more heat for the logs you put on, some people feel that open fires have the edge in terms of creating a cosy atmosphere. But don’t worry if you’re not an expert fire starter – all Coppermines cottages, with or without log fires, are also fully heated. So you can choose to light the fire for the extra warmth or simply for some glowing, flickering ambience – lovely.
Should I book a cottage in the countryside or in a village?
There are benefits to both, depending on what you want from your Lake District cottage holiday.
Country cottages give that sense of true escapism in a wild but beautiful environment. You can enjoy autumn hikes through golden woodland or rust coloured fellsides straight from the front door. You can breathe in the peace and solitude of a remote Lakeland location untroubled by the stresses of the everyday. Cottages in Coppermines Valley for example, offer Lake District accommodation in a true mountainous environment offering an unrivalled sense of escapism.
On the other hand, a cottage in a village means you can quickly pop to the nearest shop for supplies or easily enjoy a fireside tipple or home-cooked meal in a local pub just a short stroll from your cottage.
Popular choices for Lake District holidays in villages include Bowness, Windermere, Hawkshead, Grasmere, Ambleside and Coniston.
But thankfully here in the Lakes it doesn’t have to be either or when choosing between town and country– you can have both! Villages such as Coniston have a wealth of shops and pubs, including the highly regarded Black Bull Inn, while also having access to the fells direct from the village centre – with no need to get in the car and drive anywhere else.
Even the mountain cottages in Coppermines Valley are, in reality, only a 20 minute walk from the village. So while you get the feeling of a dramatic & magnificent wilderness, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the everyday, civilisation is actually always close at hand.
Should I choose a Lake District Cottage or a Lake District Lodge?
If you dream of staying in a lovely stone cottage that’s been part of the history of the Lakes for tens, or sometimes even hundreds, of years then there are ample character filled holiday homes to choose from for your break in the Lakes.
If you long for a change of scenery but want to retain all the comforts of your own home, then choosing a cottage as your holiday accommodation is like having your very own home-from-home; fully equipped kitchens, bathrooms, Wi-Fi and all the mod-cons you enjoy at home but nestled within the incredible landscape of the Lake District National Park.
A lodge or shepherd’s hut on other other hand can be a convenient alternative to a cottage. Lodge holidays can sometimes offer more flexibility in terms of length or stay and check in and check out days. They can also be more budget-friendly than a traditional holiday cottage, but without the worry of leaky tents or campsite-clearing winds that can often come hand-in-hand with traditional camping.
Modern lodges such as the Coniston Shepherd Hut Lodges offer the everything a cottage does just on a smaller scale (except the beds as they are still king-size, and the shower as there’s plenty of room in there and the TV as that’s still a large flat screen, and the sofa, etc). And don’t worry about feeling the chill either. These fully-heated shepherd huts are super-insulated and very cosy so they can offer warm, comfy self-catering accommodation all year round.
Should I worry about the weather when booking a stay in the Lakes during autumn and winter?
It’s the Lake District – weather happens. The key is to be prepared. Pack for any and every weather possibility and make different plans for different weather eventualities, so you don’t go home feeling that the weather spoiled your holiday schedule.
And however the weather behaves; whether clear skies or cloudy, whether wind-swept or rain-soaked, the Lake District landscape always possesses an extraordinary beauty that will linger in your soul long after you’ve returned home.
And when you choose a cottage or lodge for your holiday or short break, whatever the weather outside you’ll be warm, dry and snug inside. So throw another log on the fire, pour another glass of wine and relax – you’re in the Lakes.
