Lyth Valley Cottages

Holiday with all of your senses in the charming Lyth Valley in the South Lake District. Sitting between Windermere and Kendal, it is a sheltered, mild valley off the main thoroughfare into the South Lakes, that is rich in pleasures sure to delight you, mind, body and soul. Our cottages in the Lyth Valley are some of the very best in the Lake District, in this highly sought-after location. Feast your eyes on picturesque, pastoral countryside flanked by the protective limestone ridges of Whitbarrow and Scout Scar. Gorge your senses with the heady fragrance of the white damson blossom for which this valley famed and feed your soul with some of the very best pubs and restaurants in the Lake District, that are dotted along this delightful valley. It is no wonder Lonely Planet readers have voted the Lyth Valley as one of the top most beautiful places in the world, number 200 to be precise.

Self-Catering in the Lyth Valley

Prepare for rich relaxation when staying in the Lyth Valley. Cottages in this area reflect the smouldering charm of this part of the Lake District. The panoramic views of rich, rolling countryside out towards Morecambe Bay are complimented by luxuriously fitted properties with all the mod cons needed to make for a super relaxing home from home.

In our Lyth Valley self-catering properties there’s state of the art kitchens with range cookers, American style fridge freezers and underfloor heating. Designer bathrooms are filled with indulgence; statement tubs, wet rooms and power showers. Luxurious soft furnishings and interior design that has been thoughtfully considered for maximum relaxation. After all, a window seat perfectly positioned to enjoy the magical views and soft lighting for romantic entertaining or cosy nights in are what makes your holiday one you’ll not forget.

Chic styling sits alongside traditional Lake District vernacular so the charm and warmth of the Lakes fills not only your Lyth Valley self-catering cottage but your holiday. Nowhere else in the UK do you get that special feeling from staying in the Lakes; from the unique sense of other worldliness that is so unique to this ice-carved landscape.

We have traditional stone cottages for romantic getaways in idyllic rural locations yet only a short stroll from a local gastro eatery. Chic barn conversions that impress the instant you walk inside are wrapped in traditional exteriors and surrounded by postcard pastoral countryside that the Lyth Valley is famed for.

A car is handy when self-catering in the Lyth and Winster Valley. Enjoy scenic day trips to some of the excellent country pubs as well as historic attractions such as Sizergh Castle and Levens Hall and gardens. Kendal has a convenient mixture of independent retailers as well as known high street shops and supermarkets for you to keep your cottage fridge and wine rack well stocked. The art scene in Kendal is thriving and the Brewery Arts Centre is worth a visit, even if just stopping for a coffee. The buzz easily has you feeling you are in a cosmopolitan European city.

A Little of Lyth Valley’s History

The limestone ridges of Whitbarrow and Scout Scar on either side of the Lyth valley dominate the landscape and also the area’s history, whereby the name of the valley ‘Lyth’ means ‘sloping hillside’ in Old Norse. Whilst there was substantial Roman occupancy across the Lake District, there is no such evidence in the Lyth Valley. Signs of 7th Century monks has been found in the village of Crosthwaite, and although nothing can be seen today, a limestone cross, made form stone from Whitbarrow, marks the site of the original cross.

Getting There

Enter the Lyth Valley from Junction 36 of the M6 – the ‘gateway of the English Lakes’ – signposted for the A590 Kendal. Follow the A590 on to the A5074, towards Bowness and Windermere. From here you can peel off into the Lyth Valley villages of Crosthwaite, Underbarrow and Bowland Bridge.

From the northern Lakes head down the east side of Windermere along the A591 from Ambleside. Pass through both Windermere and Bowness to join the A5074, passing through Winster to reach Lyth.

Less than 15 minutes from Junction 36 of the M6 you find yourself in the pastoral bliss of the Lyth Valley. Cottages here offer a rural retreat within easy reach of the hustle and bustle of Windermere and beyond.

Out and About in the Lyth Valley

From our Lyth Valley self-catering cottages, to get views of this unspoilt landscape head to Scout Scar. From this craggy limestone outcrop you can see the true beauty of this valley laid out before you – a blanket of damson orchards, marked out by dry stone walls. Broad-leafed woodland cascades from the side of the ridge. On a clear day, look north to views of High Street at the top of the Kentmere Valley and south down the valley to Morecambe Bay. Wainwright included Cunswick Scar as part of this rewarding walk and enjoy at picnic beneath ‘The Mushroom’ shelter at the summit of Scout Scar.

For a broader outlook of the Lyth Valley and beyond, including Langdale crags and Coniston fells, head up Whitbarrow Scar, or ‘white hill’, on the valley’s western side. A memorial to Canon G.A.K. Hervey, founder of the Lake District Naturalist Trust, can be found at the summit.

Heading down into the pastoral idyll, there’s lots to enjoy.

September is a superb time to visit as the famous Lyth Valley damsons have ripened in the orchards and the hedgerows are heavily laden. The riches of their bounty are sold from local shops, roadside stalls and fill local restaurant menus. Damson jam makes for a great holiday souvenir if you can manage not to eat I before getting home!

For walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Lyth Valley puts on a very unique display in Spring, when the billowy Damson flowers are in full bloom. And as the days lengthen and warm up over the Summer months, you can easily spend entire days out when staying in our Lyth Valley cottages, sheltered by the limestone ridges of Whitbarrow and Scout Scar. It is not only the damsons that enjoy this valley’s unique microclimate, but it also makes for a truly relaxing holiday in the Lake District.

Enjoy the manicured landscape, as well as the wildlife of the superb garden and estate at the National Trust, owned Sizergh Castle.

Part of the charm of this valley is its tranquillity. However, thanks to its location you can easily head west to the vibrant holiday towns of Windermere and Bowness, 15 minutes away, and you have the market town of Kendal only 5 miles east.

So you can easily enjoy trips out on Windermere Lakes Cruises, taking in Ambleside and the central fells, or hopping on the ferry to Beatrix Potter territory of Hawkshead and Sawrey.

Eating and Drinking, Wining and Dining

Along the 1.5 miles wide and 7-mile long valley there’s a surprising number of some of the best pubs and restaurants in Cumbria.

Enjoy a hearty yet sophisticated meal and refreshing drink in front of an open fire at The Maison Arms at the foot of Cartmel Fell, Bowland Bridge. Just remember to book a table at this very popular pub to avoid disappoint.

In neighbouring Winster, the Brown Horse 1850’s coaching inn is an almost self-sufficient restaurant and pub with an exciting regional menu whereby most of the vegetables and meat are grown and reared on the Brown Horse Estate. You can also be sure of a good pint here from their own microbrewery, Winster Valley Brewery.

For a fine dining experience, afternoon tea or upmarket cocktails, head to Lyth Valley Country Inn. The swish restaurant and bar is the ideal place for a celebratory meal or drinks.

Follow the windy roads and past the farmhouses and cottages of the Lyth Valley for more foodie delights. In the charming village of Crosthwaite, the Punch Bowl draws people from all around. Whether you’re after a foodie experience from award-winning chef, formerly of Albert Roux’s three-Micheline starred Le Gavroche, attentive service for a romantic or special occasion meal, or simply a bowl of soup after a morning stroll, this is one pub you’re sure to want to return to.

At only 82 miles from Manchester, 5 miles from the M6, 5 miles west of Kendal and 5 from Windermere the Lyth Valley is a secluded rural getaway which is easily accessible and convenient for a relaxing self-catering holiday.

Let your senses be delighted. Take them on a holiday to the Lyth Valley and return home with them rejuvenated.