Nokka

This slate-flagged stone cottage dates to the 1700s, when it served first as a farmhouse and later as an inn. Nokka retains the character of that era: original beamed ceilings run through the rooms, a sandstone fireplace anchors the living space, and a court cupboard carved in 1705 still stands in place. The poet Thomas Gray noted the property during his lakes tour in 1769, and it appears in A Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk guide. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms accommodate up to nine guests across two floors, with three living areas offering space to spread out.

The ground floor holds a bedroom with a single bed, a shower room with washing machine and tumble dryer, and two separate sitting rooms. Upstairs, three further bedrooms include two doubles and one with three singles. The kitchen has what you need to cook—electric cooker, dishwasher, microwave and full-size fridge-freezer—while electricity, heating, bed linen and towels are covered. Wi-Fi is available. A private car park sits on site, and the village pub lies within a mile.

Rosthwaite sits at the foot of Borrowdale valley surrounded by fells, firmly in walking country. The cottage has steep spiral stairs and a balustrade lower than standard height with wider than usual gaps between spindles, so families with very small children should note this. No smoking throughout. Cots and a highchair are available on request.