Entire home

Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions.

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February 2025

Photo gallery for Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions.

Exterior
Outdoor dining
1 bedroom, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, dishwasher

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 235 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

Map
Ullswater, Cumbria
  • Ullswater
    1 min walk
  • Granny Dowbekins
    11 min walk
  • Penrith Station
    11 min drive
  • Carlisle (CAX)
    43 min drive

Room options

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions.

This unique, iconic, luxury Lake District Cottage is an 'ideal honeymoon cottage in a location to die for', stunning views of Lake Ullswater and the fells can be viewed whilst relaxing on the balcony of this traditional boathouse or from the bedroom through the patio doors.

Unsurprisingly, the Duke of Portland Boathouse has been voted "the best waterside retreat" by BBC Countryfile Magazine! It's location at the top of Ullswater gives it superb, unparalleled views across this beautiful lake.

It is one of the most iconic and most photographed buildings in the Lake District. The boathouse originally belonged to the 3rd Duke of Portland in the 18th century but he had to sell it along with his Cumberland estates to pay his legal bills. His loss is our gain!

Park beside the boathouse and climb the steps to enter a unique, romantic and cosy interior that provides everything needed for a perfect stay at every time of the year. Shades of Farrow and Ball are mixed with sumptuous furnishings and luxury fabrics.

The boathouse has an open plan layout with magnificent cruick beams and underfloor heating beneath a rustic oak floor and comprises:-

The bespoke painted kitchen with granite work tops provides all you need with a generous breakfast bar and comfortable stools for intimate dining a deux. There is an LPG oven and hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, coffee machine (accepts vertuo nespresso coffee pods, not provided.) After dining you can sit back and relax on the sofa in front of the wood burning stove. Smart TV and Bluetooth sound system are all provided for your entertainment. Unwind in the luxurious slate shower room with overhead shower, WC and hand basin. Fluffy towels and bathrobes are provided together with a range of toiletries. Enjoy the views down the length of the lake from the romantic bedroom. You can gaze out at a starlit sky from the comfortable king size bed with luxurious Egyptian Cotton bedding or relax in the slipper bath sipping a glass of champagne! Double doors open onto the balcony from which you can truly experience the breathtaking views! An amazing place to enjoy breakfast or just sit and contemplate the beautiful surroundings and its wildlife. Cosy rugs are provided for chillier evenings! The boathouse also has its own private jetty and owns a quarter of a mile of lakeshore with fishing rights.

If you are tempted out of the boathouse, the renowned Another Place Hotel is a short drive down the lakeside for fine dining. Alternatively there are traditional Cumbrian pubs in nearby Pooley Bridge.

PLEASE NOTE: Dogs are not accepted at this property.
During your stay at this cottage, you're just a quick walk from Ullswater. The cottage includes amenities such as free WiFi and a kitchen.
  • The cottage offers a kitchen, a fireplace, and a balcony
  • Free WiFi
  • Steps from Ullswater and a 3-minute drive from Dalemain
This cottage offers its guests a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

This Penrith cottage is smoke free.

Property manager

Gail

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Bedrooms

  • 1 bedroom
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Garden

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Service animals only (pets not allowed)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the lake

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 376.7 sq ft (35 sq m)
  • Property does not allow children

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • This property does not allow children.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

527731
Vrbo Property

Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions. Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 43 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 43 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 43 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 43 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 43 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Amelia J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Evening by the Lake
Lovely little spot. Very cozy and beautiful setting. I can imagine its even more special in the summers months
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Duke of Portland
Incredible place to stay. Absolutely perfect!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peter R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Outstanding Location
The Boathouse is amazing & in such a beautiful location. It’s furnished to the highest standard although we did think that a little more effort could have been put into the cleaning of the property prior to our arrival - especially during the CoVid-19 crisis - especially so in the shower room where dirty water stains could easily be seen on the wall next to the shower cubicle. Also, please note that the postcode for the property when put into our sat nav took us to Pooley Bridge village & not the Boathouse itself & with the bridge being under construction the detour was frustrating. I don’t know why the correspondence that we received before our stay didn’t make reference to this. We arrived late on the Friday - around 10.30 & 11.00 - so decided to phone the “emergency” phone numbers quoted in the correspondence, neither of which were answered! My partner sent a text message and didn’t receive a reply until the next morning! I accept that the reason for our call may not have been a genuine emergency, but what if it had been? Our overall experience was a really good one - the property is amazing - we just felt a little let down with the administrative support which, for a property which charges premium prices, we both felt could have been better.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

keith p.

Liked: Cleanliness
amazing location
the property was beautiful and we will remember our time there as long as we live

10/10 Excellent

Olivia G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing
The most beautiful stay ever!! We had the most amazing stay!! Absolutely loved it, from start to finish - didn’t want it to end! We will definitely be back. The most perfect hideaway!! Thank you x
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jackson E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Magical lakehouse
As soon as my partner and I pulled around the corner and saw the boathouse, we were in total awe. Upon opening the front door we almost couldn't contain our excitment. The house was breathtaking. Everything clean and decorated beautifully, with rose petals sprinkled on the bed for that extra touch of romance. We truly enjoyed everything about our stay here, and I dont think we could ever imagine anywhere more perfect. Dave was also polite and easy to get in contact with when needed. Thank you so much.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Luke F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful spot!
Loved the place, quiet beautiful spot which was a great place to spend the first few days of married life!

10/10 Excellent

Brenda K., Greensboro, NC

Peaceful
Lovely location! So quiet and peaceful on the lake. Enjoyed walking into Pooley Bridge for dinner and drinks.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Laura C.

An absolutely stunning location with modern interiors and charming character too x
We wished to have a peaceful but unique few days away from London and the Boathouse was just that . It was a perfect mixture of modernity , style but all in keeping with the incredible landscape . Every morning we had coffee on the balcony with the 3 ducks who have clearly learnt we may share a few crumbs with them! We slept beautifully and watched the Super Wolf moon over the lake . We couldn’t have wished for more .. thank you so much .
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Brian T.

Fantastic luxury retreat
Ideal location, very high standard and just gorgeous
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018