Take care of your tranquil side with a Lake District cabin

Home to England’s largest lake and tallest mountain, the serene Lake District has inspired writers, artists and outdoor enthusiasts for centuries. Here are some ideas for where to book Lake District holiday rentals with hot tubs that you might find inspiring, whether your aim is bird watching or water sports.

Your Lake District cabin with a hot tub is just what the doctor ordered

After a few days of holiday fun, tramping up Scafell Pike or windsurfing away across Windermere Lake, you can be forgiven for having sore feet and a need for extreme relaxation. What better way to rest up from all that sightseeing than with a leisurely soak in your private hot tub. Holiday lettings in the Lake District range from cosy cottages and traditionally rustic log cabins to more modern spots with sleek interiors. All can guarantee gobs of stunning scenery.

Wonderful Windermere has holiday rentals for every wanderer

Lake Windermere is the largest natural lake in England and the hub of the district. You can spend your morning hiking through the woods, your afternoons sailing and windsurfing, and your evenings relaxing in a log cabin with a bubbling hot tub. You’ll find rentals in every price range, from cheap to chic, and plenty to keep romantic couples or busy families occupied. Bowness-on-Windermere is especially bustling, with boats large and small coming in and out of the marina all day and several Beatrix Potter–themed attractions to delight fans of the children’s book author.

Shake out your stiff legs at your cabin in Ambleside

There’s no better name for Ambleside. This town near Windermere Lake was made for ambling, rambling – really, any type of perambulation – thanks to its picturesque pier and the tree-carpeted mountain slopes all around you. You can saunter over to Stock Ghyll Force, a 21-metre waterfall, or toddle to the Bridge House, a 17th-century stone building built over a mountain stream. Alternatively, you might want to consider strolling over to Rydal Mount, the home of the poet William Wordsworth from 1813 to his death in 1850.

Keswick lets Lake District roamers explore their artistic sides

If there are any artists in your holiday party – whether they’re aspiring children or seasoned pros – quaint Keswick might just provide you with the perfect mix of Lake District beauty and family fun. Surrounded by mountains (or fells, as they’re known) like Skiddaw and the Scafells, Keswick is hugely popular with hikers and nature lovers. If your boots weren’t made for walkin’, you can opt to check out the local museum and art gallery in town. Little ones might have particular interest in the Cumberland Pencil Museum. You can help them see what it’s like to write the old-fashioned way.

Ravenglass rentals are ideal for history buffs and train travellers

The Lake District’s only coastal hamlet, Ravenglass, lies at the estuary of the Esk, Mite and Irt rivers. This historic area was once an important naval base for the Romans in the 2nd century. There’s an ancient fort that lies in ruins, but they’re pretty cool ruins, with a bathhouse that’s one of the largest surviving Roman structures in all of England. Staying in a cabin with a hot tub in Ravenglass, however, will be appealing to more than just the history buffs in your group. For younger visitors, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway might also prove to be plenty of fun. Once a means to transport iron ore in the 19th century, it now transports visitors, photographers and giddy youngsters over 7 miles of spectacular scenery.

Find your personal paradise in Penrith’s Eden Valley

Set on the northern edge of the Lake District, Penrith is an ideal little village for walking, picnicking and castle spotting. It’s both a gateway to the Lakes and to the comely Eden Valley, but it’s also a charming destination on its own, with sophisticated shops, cosy pubs and historic sites. The 14th-century Penrith Castle lies mostly in picturesque ruins, which you can scramble over before lounging on your picnic blanket in the surrounding meadow. You’ll be especially grateful to come back to your Lake District cabin with a hot tub if you’ve been strolling the grounds in autumn or winter.