Windermere
Cottage Retreats

2026 Self-Catering Breaks in Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick & More!

Home
Cottages Latest Cottages Favourites Contact Us List Your Property
Home North of England Cumbria The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary Overview Reviews Photos Attractions

The Sanctuary, Windermere

Guest Rating
Rating
4.6
out of 5
Guest Rating
Rating
4.6
out of 5
Cumbria » Windermere
Sleeps up to 4
Bedrooms: 2

The Sanctuary is a converted Cumbrian slate cottage in Windermere, originally an old church school building. Located at the end of a private driveway off Ambleside Road, this two-bedroom property sits just 0. 3 miles from Windermere village centre and one mile from Bowness.

The Lake District location puts you within walking distance of shops, restaurants and pubs. Windermere Lake lies nearby for boat trips and watersports. Bus stops are moments away for exploring Ambleside (5 miles) and Kendal (8. 7 miles).

The cottage sleeps four across a king-size main bedroom with ample storage and a double second bedroom. The contemporary shower room features Villeroy & Boch fittings.

Read More
Check Prices & Availability »
At Sykes Cottages
Check Prices & Availability »
 

About The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is a converted Cumbrian slate cottage in Windermere, originally an old church school building. Located at the end of a private driveway off Ambleside Road, this two-bedroom property sits just 0.3 miles from Windermere village centre and one mile from Bowness.

The Lake District location puts you within walking distance of shops, restaurants and pubs. Windermere Lake lies nearby for boat trips and watersports. Bus stops are moments away for exploring Ambleside (5 miles) and Kendal (8.7 miles).

The cottage sleeps four across a king-size main bedroom with ample storage and a double second bedroom. The contemporary shower room features Villeroy & Boch fittings. Downstairs offers open-plan living with a William Ball kitchen, breakfast bar, two Stressless chairs and patio doors leading to a sunny patio. A separate cloakroom adds convenience.

Windermere village centre (2 minutes walk) provides supermarkets and transport links. Bowness-on-Windermere offers lake cruises and attractions. Private parking for two cars is included.

Perfect for couples or small families wanting a peaceful base near Lake District attractions. The Sanctuary combines period character with modern comfort.

Check Prices & Availability »
At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

More Cottages You May Like

Greystones >
WiFi Near Pub Open Fire

Greystones

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 4 2 Bedrooms

A welcoming Edwardian cottage based in a sought-after area of Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District. Woodburning stove. Ideal for families. WiFi.

View Cottage
The Blithe Hare >
WiFi Open Fire

The Blithe Hare

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 3 2 Bedrooms Pet Friendly

17th century Lakeland property sitting on a sleepy row in Troutbeck Bridge, set between Windermere and Ambleside. Cosy and comfortable, sleeps 3. Working fireplace. 1 pet welcome

View Cottage
March House >
WiFi Fishing

March House

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 6 3 Bedrooms Pet Friendly

March House comands breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and wonderful sunsets in the evening, the house is a dream come true for a family or small group.

View Cottage
2-Bedroom Apartment in Windermere >
WiFi Romantic Near Pub

2-Bedroom Apartment in Windermere

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 4 2 Bedrooms Pet Friendly

There are many miles of walks to be enjoyed using the apartment as your base. The walks are suitable for all fitness levels, including scenic lakeside strolls as well as more challenging hikes and...

View Cottage
Haystacks >
WiFi Romantic Fishing Near Pub

Haystacks

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 4 2 Bedrooms

Haystack is a delightful holiday cottage in Troutbeck, Cumbria with wonderful countryside views and a balcony. Windermere 3.8 miles; Ambleside 4.4 miles.

View Cottage
Pheasants Folly >
WiFi Fishing Open Fire Golf

Pheasants Folly

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 8 4 Bedrooms Pet Friendly

A stylish, detached Lakeland home sitting in an elevated position overlooking Lake Windermere near Windermere, Cumbria. Woodburning stove. Range cooker. Smart TV. Ambleside 10.5 miles; Kendal 11.7...

View Cottage
Waterhead Cottage >
WiFi Fishing

Waterhead Cottage

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 2 1 Bedrooms

Charming, semi-detached cottage located near the village of Troutbeck Bridge, in the Lake District. 5-acre shared grounds. WiFi. Off-road parking. Private patio, private lake access. Pub 5 mins...

View Cottage
The Curious Orange >
WiFi Romantic Near Pub Open Fire

The Curious Orange

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 2 1 Bedrooms Pet Friendly

A charming cottage in the pretty village of Troutbeck surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Troutbeck Valley.

View Cottage
Addylea Cottage >
WiFi Near Beach

Addylea Cottage

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 4 2 Bedrooms Pet Friendly

Addylea Cottage is a delightful abode in Cartmel Fell near Windermere, Cumbria. Within Lake District National Park. Close to a lake. Countryside views. Windermere 6.8 miles.; Ambleside 10.9 miles;...

View Cottage
Fairhaven >
WiFi Near Pub

Fairhaven

North of England, Cumbria

Sleeps 6 3 Bedrooms

Fairhaven is a practical house resting in Bowness, Cumbria, within Lake District National Park, featuring an enclosed garden and seasonal lake views. Windermere Train Station 1.5 miles: Ambleside...

View Cottage

The Sanctuary Attractions & Days Out

Explore the wonderful attractions and activities surrounding The Sanctuary during your stay. Find the best places to visit and things to do in the local area, all conveniently organised by distance and type. Charming villages to lively and exciting attractions - there's something for everyone to enjoy. Browse through our categories including attractions, walks & outdoor activities, shopping destinations and handy tips on getting around. Plan your perfect day out. Whether you're looking for family fun, romantic experiences, or pet-friendly adventures, this cottage provides an ideal base to explore Cumbria's fantastic days out. Click on any attraction for more detailed information including address, opening times and visitor tips.

Orrest Head
Distance: 0.6 miles (4 min drive)
LA23 1AP
Ice house
Distance: 6.3 miles (16 min drive)
LA22 9LX
Lakes Aquarium
Distance: 10.2 miles (19 min drive)
LA12 8AS
Brockhole on Windermere
Distance: 2.2 miles (5 min drive)
LA23 1LJ
School Knott
Distance: 1.6 miles (6 min drive)
LA23 2DS
Dales Way
Distance: 1.6 miles (7 min drive)
Booths
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1QA
Moore & Co
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1DT
One-Art
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1AB
Windermere Station
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1AH
Kendal Bus Station
Distance: 8.3 miles (13 min drive)
LA9 4BT
Windermere Jetty (Museum)
Distance: 1.7 miles (4 min drive)
LA23 3DS
Orrest Head
Distance: 0.6 miles (4 min drive)
LA23 1AP
Ice house
Distance: 6.3 miles (16 min drive)
LA22 9LX
Lakes Aquarium
Distance: 10.2 miles (19 min drive)
LA12 8AS
Brockhole on Windermere
Distance: 2.2 miles (5 min drive)
LA23 1LJ
School Knott
Distance: 1.6 miles (6 min drive)
LA23 2DS
Dales Way
Distance: 1.6 miles (7 min drive)
Booths
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1QA
Moore & Co
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1DT
One-Art
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1AB
Windermere Station
Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)
LA23 1AH
Kendal Bus Station
Distance: 8.3 miles (13 min drive)
LA9 4BT
Windermere Jetty (Museum)
Distance: 1.7 miles (4 min drive)
LA23 3DS

Is The Sanctuary Right For You?

Discover why this cottage is ideal for different types of visitors

For Families
The Sanctuary works for families with older children who can appreciate quieter activities. Windermere Lake Cruises (1.2 miles) offers boat trips. The World of Beatrix Potter attraction (1 mile) entertains younger visitors. Bowness has arcades and ice cream shops. The cottage has no garden for play and steep stairs require supervision. Smart TV and DVD player provide indoor entertainment.
For Couples
This converted slate cottage offers couples a peaceful retreat with two Stressless recliners for relaxing evenings. The sunny patio provides private outdoor space for morning coffee. Walk to Windermere restaurants and cosy pubs within minutes. The king-size bedroom has ample storage. Contemporary shower room features premium fittings. Private driveway location ensures quiet nights while remaining close to Lake District walks and attractions.
Pet Friendly
The Sanctuary does not accept pets under any circumstances. The property operates a strict no-pets policy for all bookings. If you're travelling with dogs, you'll need to find alternative Lake District accommodation that welcomes animals. Many other Lakelovers properties do accept pets, so contact them directly to discuss pet-friendly options in the Windermere area.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at The Sanctuary

The Crafty Baa

Located 0.3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA23 1AF

Francine's Restaurant & Champagne Bar

Located 0.4 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA23 1DX

The Lamplighter Dining Rooms

Located 0.3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA23 1AF

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about The Sanctuary

Does The Sanctuary have a hot tub?
No, this property does not have a hot tub. The cottage features a contemporary shower room with walk-in shower and Villeroy & Boch fittings instead.
Is The Sanctuary pet friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property. The cottage operates a strict no-pets policy for all guests.
How far is The Sanctuary from Windermere village centre?
The cottage is 0.3 miles from Windermere village centre, which is approximately a two-minute walk. Bowness-on-Windermere is one mile away.
What parking is available at The Sanctuary?
Private off-road parking for two cars is provided at the property. The parking spaces are located directly at the cottage on the private driveway.
How many people can sleep at The Sanctuary?
The cottage sleeps four guests across two bedrooms. The main bedroom has a king-size bed and the second bedroom has a double bed.
What kitchen facilities are included?
The William Ball kitchen includes an electric oven, halogen hob, microwave, fridge, freezer and washer-dryer. A dishwasher and stylish breakfast bar are also provided.
Is there WiFi at The Sanctuary?
Yes, broadband WiFi is available throughout the cottage. A Smart TV and DVD player are also provided in the living area.
What outdoor space does the cottage have?
A small sunny patio with outdoor dining furniture is accessible through patio doors from the living room. Note that drying clothes outside is not permitted due to land covenants.

The Sanctuary Reviews

Very nice apartment ideally located for exploring Windermere and for travel around the wider Lake District. The accommodation is immaculate inside and is just as images viewed online. My only observation is the back garden Outside sitting area would benefit from a tidy up to remove weeds etc. Would definitely return to this property.
Lovely comfortable cottage.
Property was in a first class condition located within minutes from main town facilities. Would highly recommend this property which is located in a quiet area yet local to all you would need for a lovely break. Would happily revisit this property.
We had a lovely stay and very much enjoyed the cottage.
Deborah
The Sanctuary is a comfortable cottage well located in Windermere for all the shops, amenities and public transport, yet quiet and peaceful. The new shower room is an improvement on the previous one. Just one suggestion, the cottage would benefit from a new cooker, the grill pan was missing and the shelves in the oven were unstable. We had a great week and would be happy to return again in the future.
Lovely cottage in a quiet setting but only a 5 minute walk to the centre of Windermere
Lovely cottage in a quiet setting but only a 5 minute walk to the centre of Windermere
A lovely cottage fantastically situated 5 mins from the centre of Windermere. Peaceful and very relaxing. We used it as a base to visit all the local villages and towns. Our only comment is that the cottage was incredibly dusty with several large cobwebs in most of the rooms,other than that it was very clean and incredibly comfortable. Some instructions on rubbish etc would be useful in the welcome book also
About our 6th stay. . it's a lovely cottage and very peaceful, but close to amenities. Very clean and comfortable. Good parking. Thank you.
Cheryl
Our second stay at this lovely cottage. We enjoyed wonderful weather and the property was well situated for access to shops in Windemere and local walks to the lake and Orrest Head. Very clean and comfortable. The addition of the Stressless chairs was a real plus. All the furnishings were good quality and the cottage was a very high standard throughout. If you book this cottage you will not be disappointed.
Susann
Had a lovely stay at The Sanctuary at New Year. Everything was perfect. Would definitely stay again. Thank you for the complimentary Prosecco. Regards Sue
Had a lovely stay at The Sanctuary at New Year. Everything was perfect. Would definitely stay again. Thank you for the complimentary Prosecco. Regards Sue
Lovely cottage really convenient for everything, car not required, will definitely stay here again.
Carole
We had a lovely week at the Sanctuary. The cottage was more spacious than the photos indicated and everything was immaculately clean. Location was great a short stroll into Windermere and the bus station. We went most places on the bus and left our car in the parking spaces provided.
Christine
We stopped here last September really enjoyed it so decided to stay for four ... We stopped here last September really enjoyed it so decided to stay for four nights for my birthday Again we had a lovely time, we even did things we didn't do before The sanctuary is very handy for the bus into Keswick Ambleside, and Grasmere and bowness but also a lovely walk into bowness It's handy for some lovely cafes, bars,restaurants and shops We wouldn't hesitate to book the sanctuary again sometime as it's a clean comfy and well equipped property and tastefully furnished
Lovely comfortable cottage. .
Louise
Impressed with standard of accommodation, photos don't do it justice. Open plan downstairs so does take a while to warm up, complete opposite upstairs. Location great, shops and restaurants short walk around the corner but nice and quiet at the cottage. We also walked down to Bowness and back, took about 25 mins each way. We went bank holiday weekend, very busy and car parks rammed everywhere. Would recommend The Sanctuary.
All very good
Great property good location ml
Arrived to find heating not working and radiator valves turned off. Tried to contact Sykes the only number available but no answer. Eventually contacted Lakelovers on Sunday morning with prompt response by engineer. Fault was low water pressure. Suggest heating should have been checked prior to arrival.
Samantha
Our second stay at the Sanctuary, in our opinion the best location in Windermere, just round the corner from Windermere village and a mile or so from Bowness and in a quiet spot The cottage is lovely and really is a home from home, the new bathroom is fantastic! The recliner chairs also a big hit after a long day walking, the private parking spot is amazing to get at the lakes, makes such a difference, thanks for another great stay
Excellent cottage in a good location.
Wonderful Cottage in a perfect location. Luckily for us The Sanctuary was available for the only week we had off in June. Situated in a quiet area of Windermere Village but only two minute walk into the center. The cottage has everything you could possible need to make it your home for the duration of your stay. Would definitely rebook if we ever come back to the lakes.
Lovely clean comfortable cottage. Good location.
Superb cottage. Excellent location and wonderfully quiet. This was our second visit to the Sanctuary and we hope to return. Very Minor point some smaller glasses tumblers would be useful.
Quite a narrow driveway for large carsSUVs but manageable with care, the luxury of 2 parking spaces is a real bonus. Set back in a quiet residential area and just a short walk into Windermere a lovely location and a well equipped, comfortable and spacious property.
This is an excellent property. It has everything needed for a comfortable self catering holiday. The cooking facillities fulfilled everything that we needed. The property is well decorated in neutral colours and the tv, dvd, wifi are all a good standard. Lovely large shower no bath but we do not use one. The patio at the rear is perfectly adequate for relaxation, with a dining table and four chairs. Our weather was a bit cool but we could imagine eating out there on a warm evening. The location is good, being only a 1015 minutes walk to Windermere town, where there is a Sainsburys, Coop as well as Booths which has a large car park. Due to Covid we were not able to eat out at the time that we were there but restaurantscafes a short walk away. Highly recommended
Super cottage, clean and well appointed. Excellent location. I think the booking fee charged is excessive. Humans do very little when booking online. You already make money from the owners.
Leave a Review
Been to The Sanctuary? Please leave a review and share your holiday experiences.
Name
Month of stay
Year of stay
Review

Related Categories

Holiday Cottages in Windermere With ParkingLuxury Accommodation WindermereSykes Cottages Windermere
Popular Cottages
Useful pages
Follow Us
Subscribe
Join our newsletter and get fantastic deals on UK cottages you won't find anywhere else. We respect your privacy and adhere to strict no-spam policies.
Copyright © 2026 - Windermere Cottage Retreats
Lake District Business Park, Mint Bridge Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 7RG