Duke of Portland Boathouse

England · Cumbria · Penrith

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Beautiful 18th century boathouse with a balcony overlooking Ullswater in the Lake District, a romantic lakeside retreat.

Sleeps 2
1 bedroom
1 bathroom

SAVE TO WISHLIST

£450-550 per night

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Highlights

Beautiful stone building set right on the banks of Ullswater Lake with its own private jetty and a quarter of a mile of lakeshore and fishing rights.
Open plan interior, beautifully furnished with oak floors, underfloor heating and exposed wooden beams overhead.
The bedroom features a roll top bathtub and double doors leading out to the balcony which protrudes over the lake, offering spectacular and unique views of Ullswater with mountains to the south and rolling hills to the north.
The location makes a great base for exploring more of the Lake District, with Keswick and Derwentwater to the west and lively Ambleside and Windermere to the South. Any keen walkers looking for a challenge might want to tackle Helvellyn, just to the south west of the lake.

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You should know

Not suitable for pets.

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The Duke of Portland Boathouse, set right on the edge of Ullswater Lake and once owned by a Prime Minister in the 18th century, is one of the iconic buildings of the Lake District. This beautiful stone building emerges from the trees on the banks of the lake and a balcony from the first floor protrudes over the water. Along with its wooden jetty and the fabulous views of Ullswater and the surrounding fells in the background, it’s not surprising that this is one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District.

You can park right next to the boathouse and step inside your cosy lakeside hideaway. It has been beautifully furnished with Farrow and Ball colours and luxurious fabrics which have been tastefully chosen to work with the original features of the building, such as the beautiful exposed wooden beams overhead. Beneath the oak floors, you’ll also notice the underfloor heating, keeping the boathouse cosy all year round.

The interior has an open plan design, creating a relaxed feel and allowing glimpses of the lake right through to the bespoke kitchen at the other end of the boathouse. The kitchen has beautiful granite work surfaces which extend to create a breakfast bar. You’ll find everything you’ll need to cook up all of your favourites, including a dishwasher to take care of the washing up. After a long walk along the shores of Ullswater, curl up in the living room on the luxurious leather sofa in front of the wood-burning stove in the evening.

Move through to the bedroom which features a sumptuous king size bed with Egyptian Cotton bedding. There’s also a beautiful roll top bathtub in the bedroom, set beneath the window so you can enjoy views of the lake while you relax in the bath. Double doors lead out to the balcony which offers one of the best views in the Lake District. Sit out with your morning coffee while the dawn breaks over the lake, watch the sunset with a nice drink or even wrap up warm for a spot of stargazing.

If you can tear yourself away from your gorgeous lakeside retreat, there’s plenty to do in the local area. Ullswater makes a great base for exploring the Lake District, slightly removed from the crowds around Windermere and Ambleside but still surrounded by beautiful scenery and plenty of activities. Of course, there are endless walking opportunities in the area. You could tackle all or part of the Ullswater Way, a 20 mile route around the lake. There are stopping points for boats and buses along the way so you can take a shortcut or two by road or by water. Make sure you stop to see the spectacular Aira Falls, a 21 metre waterfall with several bridges offering great viewing points of the cascading water. If you’re looking for a place for dinner, Another Place Hotel and Sharrow Bay are both nearby and renowned for fine dining. For a more relaxed atmosphere, there are plenty of traditional Cumbrian pubs in the area.