Ambleside, Cumbria

Wray Castle House

Autumn at Wray Castle, Lake District, Cumbria

View over Lake Windermere from Wray, Cumbria

Check availability

M	T	W	T	F	S	S

Prices are shown for available check-in dates based on the number of nights selected. If your chosen date does not show a price, please select a different number of nights from the drop-down box.

A large lakehouse overlooking Windermere, in the grounds of Wray Castle.

Guests
10
Bedrooms
5
Acorn rating
4What's this?
Number of dogs welcome
2
Reference
009034
A large veranda wraps around the cottage, with views of Lake Windermere and the surrounding fells

Next to Wray Castle, a gothic-style house inspired by medieval castles

A comfortable cottage with accessible features throughout the ground floor, perfect for families or groups of friends

This 19th-century lakehouse is just a 10-minute walk from the western shore of Windermere, the largest lake in England. Most rooms and the cottage’s veranda look across farmland to the water, framed by fells rising in the distance. Enjoy a laid-back lakeside holiday or use Wray Castle House as a base for adventures into the wider Lake District.

Neo-gothic Wray Castle and its café are on your doorstep – perfect for grabbing breakfast. A level trail from the cottage leads past the castle and gently downhill to the lakeshore where you can launch your kayak or paddle board. If you don’t have your own watercraft, there are plenty of places to hire them in the local towns. It’s a short car ride to popular spots like Ambleside, Hawkshead, Grasmere and Coniston, all full of places to eat and shop. You can even take the seasonal passenger ferry from Wray’s jetty to the other side of the lake for a car-free day trip.

The local area is very special for the National Trust. One of the Trust’s founders, Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, met Beatrix Potter at Wray and went on to help her publish The Tale of Peter Rabbit. You’ll have free access to nearby Hill Top, Potter’s farmhouse retreat and many other National Trust places during your stay.

The rugged Langdales are about half-an-hour’s drive away, where hikers and climbers can tackle the peaks and search for waterfalls, but there are also family-friendly strolls with fantastic mountain views like the two-hour walk around Blea Tarn. There are routes for mountain bikers and road cyclists all around the Lake District, and plenty of places to take a boat trip. For a cruise on a heritage vessel, book onto the Historic Steam Yacht Gondola at Coniston, less than 8 miles away.

After a packed day out, return to Wray Castle House and take in the expansive views while kids and dogs play in the large garden. Wray can be busy during the day, but it feels like you have the whole parkland to yourself after visitors have gone home. Inside, the cottage has both a sitting room and a cosy snug to relax in. There’s an accessible bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor, while the kitchen sink and hob are on a height-adjustable worktop. Wray has an accessible trail, and there are all-terrain wheelchairs or mobility scooters available to hire here and at Tarn Hows, Fell Foot and Sizergh (check their webpages for booking information).

The Summer House (sleeps four) and Low Wray Campsite are also in the grounds at Wray, while Trees (sleeps four) is a little further south along the lakeshore and there are four more holiday cottages at Windermere.

We expect to have full photography for this cottage in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
Ground floor layout
Entrance hall. Utility and boot room with toilet. Accessible kitchen with height-adjustable worktop, door to back garden and small pantry. Dining room with door to veranda. Sitting room with everhot electric stove. Snug. Large accessible bedroom with super king-size bed (zip-and-link, can be made into a twin on request) and large patio doors with level access onto the veranda. Twin bedroom. Accessible bathroom with bath and step-free shower. Back hallway with external door.
First floor layout
Landing. King-size bedroom with en-suite shower room. King-size bedroom with ornamental fireplace. Twin bedroom. Bathroom with freestanding bath and walk-in shower. Toilet. 
Garden and outdoor space

Large veranda that wraps arounds the right of the house, with views of farmland, lake Windermere and the fells beyond. Large, enclosed front garden with lawn and outdoor table, benches and armchairs. Gravelled back garden with small table and chairs.
Garden, available
Fridge, available
Freezer, available
Microwave, available
Television, available
DVD, available
Washing machine, available
Dishwasher, available
Tumble dryer, available
Cot & high chair, available
Unplugged - no Wi-Fi, available
Near National Trust attraction, available
Close to water, available
Mountains, available
Trails, available
Watersports nearby, available
Near bike trails, available
This cottage has an induction hob.

What's provided in a National Trust holiday cottage?
Ground floor bedroom
Ground floor bathroom
Ground floor shower room
Step free shower
Level access to front door
Zip and link bed
Doors wider than 32 inches
Shower chair
Grab rails in the shower/bath
Grab rails by the toilet
Height adjustable hob
Height adjustable kitchen sink
Gravelled parking area with stone slabs next to one parking space. Level access to veranda. There is a step at the front door, but level access to the cottage for wheelchairs between the veranda and accessible bedroom. Level floors throughout the ground floor. Carpet in bedrooms, sitting room and snug. Height-adjustable worktop in the kitchen with induction hob and sink. Two slide-and-hide ovens with pull out shelves below that allow for hot pots to slide from the oven directly to the worktop. Cupboards with pull-out interiors in kitchen. Super king-size bedroom on ground floor that can be made into a twin on request, with wardrobes with pull down railings for lower access, and level access to the veranda. Accessible bathroom with step-free shower with foldable rails and shower seat, a bath with handrails, grab rails by the toilet, basin at an accessible level and room for a wheelchair to complete a full 360-degree turn. Sockets, switches and thermostats at accessible heights. We are waiting for a full accessibility guide and photos for this cottage. Accessibility questions? Email holiday.enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk or call us on 0344 800 2070.
Access and parking: Access is via narrow country roads.

There is a gravelled parking area for up to four cars at the front of the cottage. If using a wheelchair from a car, the parking space next to the house has stone slabs that lead to the veranda, so gravel can be avoided.

Induction hob: Please note there is an induction hob at this cottage.

Heating: Electric heating.

Stairgates: Stairgates are not provided in this cottage.

Please note: The cottage is near the vehicle access route to Wray. While the garden is enclosed, the gate leads to the road. Please supervise children and dogs.

There are some low door frames in the cottage.

Wray can be busy and there may be some noise from visitors and traffic during opening hours. Royal Air Force planes sometimes fly quite low overhead, which can be noisy.

The cottage is surrounded by working farmland with livestock in the fields. Please stick to footpaths and don’t take dogs into the fields. There may sometimes be livestock on the roads around the cottage.

Gardeners may tend to the garden during your stay. You can let us know if you would prefer for them not to visit during your holiday.

During warm weather, blue green algae blooms in the shallower water in Windermere, which is dangerous for dogs and people.

Outdoor paving: Our Brand licensee, Westminster Stone, have kindly provided the paving outside the cottage. You can explore the full National Trust range on their website.

Offers: You’ll have free entry to National Trust places during opening times while staying with us. Exclusions apply, please see the list in our FAQs.

Having a celebration? We're pleased that you would like to use one of our cottages for a celebration. If you're planning to invite more than two day guests, please complete this enquiry form before booking, so that we can ensure the cottage is right for you.

Book together

The Summer House

A cosy house in the old kitchen garden of Wray Castle with views of stunning scenery all around.

Low Wray Campsite

By Windermere, England’s largest lake, surrounded by things to do and places to visit.

Trees

A 1930s log and stone cabin high above Lake Windermere with a sun terrace and great views.

Other places to stay at Lake Windermere

There are seven cottages and one campsite along the western shore of the lake. Image: High Strawberry Gardens and Low Strawberry Gardens

The exterior of Low Strawberry Gardens, Windermere, Cumbria

Exploring the area

Find more places to visit

Wray

Parkland and castle on the west shore of Windermere.

Hill Top and Hawkshead

Beatrix Potter's farmhouse retreat: the inspiration for her little books.

Hill Top house in spring, with a winding garden path bordered by flowering plants and greenery.

The Langdales

An adventure playground of meandering trails, rugged slopes, craggy summits

Walker looking down over a green valley with a stream and stone path

Sizergh

Beautiful medieval house with rich gardens and estate

Accessible places nearby

Enjoy accessible trails at National Trust places with powered mobility scooters or all-terrain push wheelchairs available to hire or borrow. Please check how to book before arriving. There are lots of other places in the lake district you can access with your own scooter or wheelchair.

Find accessible walks in the Lake District

Areas A-Z

Things to do

Place types

Wray Castle House