Cottage holiday rentals in Alston

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.

Had a great stay here! Place was out of the way, peaceful with nice views from the hot tub, loved the neighbourly horses beside us! Would definitely recommend staying here for a relaxing getaway ☺️

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.

Really great hosts, very helpful and friendly, a joy to deal with.

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.

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.

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.

The Hemmel was a really nice cottage to stay in. It's probably one of the best airbnb's we've been to. Kate was very nice and helpful. The photos don't do it justice as it's even better in the flesh. We were a family of 4 including a baby and it was super comfortable. The cottage is very private and peaceful. The lambs were out when we were there and we saw the red squirrel in garden each day. We'd would definitely return.

This is a beautiful cottage with everything you need for a relaxing stay. It’s in a great location to explore Northumberland but very quiet & private. We self catered but there were plenty of places to eat out in walking distance if you want. We self catered and every piece of equipment you need is in the kitchen, including an air fryer. Our only disappointment was not getting to use the log burner as it wasn’t cold enough !!

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.

What can I say... Absolutely fantastic place. You couldn't ask for anything more. Really peaceful location with fantastic views of the hills etc. We had a strange issue but this was sorted out very swiftly by Malcolm 👍 We will definitely be looking to book again and have another peaceful time just watching the world go by. Thanks Bob & Chris

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.

We had a wonderful 3-night stay at this lovely cozy cottage. It was clean, well maintained, and felt just like home from the moment we arrived. The place is equipped with everything you could possibly need, and the peaceful, scenic surroundings made it even more special! Sean and Jane were very helpful and responsive, making the whole experience smooth and welcoming. Highly recommend for a relaxing getaway!

Great cottage, beautifully decorated in a really sweet village

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 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!

The cottage is beautiful, peacefully located in the farm yet very easily approachable. It has everything you'll need for your stay. Best part of the cottage is many windows, the are numerous windows and each one is giving beautiful view of outside farm, courtyard or sky. Rach is lovely and very helpful, would definitely recommend this to everyone.

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.