Wray Castle House

• 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 a vegetarian café (not National Trust) are on your doorstep. 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 non-powered 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 and accessible features on the ground floor. These include the kitchen sink and hob on a height-adjustable worktop, wardrobes with pull down railings in the super king-size bedroom and an accessible bathroom with both bath and step-free shower. 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.