Entire home

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

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

A wooden structure with a balcony, a stone wall, and a reflection in the water.
A wooden deck with wicker furniture overlooking a lake, stone walls, and a view of distant hills.
A bathroom with a freestanding bathtub, a window, and a wooden ceiling structure.
A cozy living room with a fireplace, wooden beams, a sofa, and a coffee table.
A cozy living room with a blue sofa, wooden coffee table, and a large window with a view of the countryside.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Ullswater

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Refrigerator
  • Onsite parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Non-smoking
  • Microwave

Explore the area

View map
Ullswater, Cumbria
  • Place, Ullswater
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Lowther Castle and Gardens
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Place, Whinfell Forest
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom #1

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom #1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

The Main White Cross Bay reception area
A beautiful Cabin on the 5 star White Cross Bay in a quiet area of the park -
Windermere
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Parking available
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (203 reviews)
A beautiful Cabin on the 5 star White Cross Bay in a quiet area of the park -

About the area

Penrith

Located in Penrith, this cottage is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Ullswater and Yorkshire Dales National Park, while Penrith & Eden Museum and Keswick Museum and Art Gallery are cultural highlights. Penrith Leisure Centre and Rookin House Activity Centre are also worth visiting.
View more Cottages in PenrithOpens in a new window
Map
Ullswater, Cumbria

What's nearby

  • Ullswater - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Lowther Castle and Gardens - 18 min drive - 23.7 km
  • Whinfell Forest - 20 min drive - 25.1 km
  • Lodore Falls - 42 min drive - 41.0 km
  • Lake Windermere - 49 min drive - 63.1 km

Getting around

  • Penrith Station - 11 min drive
  • Durham (MME-Teesside Intl.) - 105 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Arturo Lounge - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪George & Dragon - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Pooley Bridge Inn - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions. pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions.?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Luxury, romantic boathouse on the shores of Lake Ullswater, perfect for special occasions. located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is steps from Ullswater and within 3 mi (5 km) of Dalemain and Dalemain Country Park. Rheged and Gowbarrow Fall are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 53 out of 70 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 70 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 70 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 70 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 70 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful location

A lovely boathouse with stunning views over Ullswater. Very comfortable and well furnished. Great place to just chill.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Sept 2026
Thank you for a lovely review of your stay at the Boathouse, the views are stunning. We hope we can welcome you back again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
A unique and beautiful boathouse. Stunning scenery to enjoy from the veranda. Property delivered to an exceptional standard. Fabulous location for the lake, local walks, villages, pubs, and restaurants. We booked for a special occasion, and certainly were not disappointed. Thank you ❤️
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
From a partner site

8/10 Good

A lovely place

We had a lovely night in the boathouse! I know this time of year it is hard to keep on top of but there were cobwebs everywhere! Also the bottom lock on the door to the balcony doesn’t work so doesn’t feel as secure as it could be but overall the boat house is amazing!
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Aug 2026
Thank you for your review, we are sorry it did not meet 5* which we strive to achieve for all of our guests. The cobwebs are a constant battle at this time of year, being close to the water and the stones used to build the boathouse do make for the perfect combination for spiders. Our caretaker does address these each changeover but we do know as soon as she has departed the cobwebs reappear. Thanks for letting us know about the bolt, we will get that addressed, but it would be extremely difficult for anyone to get onto the balcony and into the boathouse, especially if the top bolt is locked.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Break cut short

The boathouse is a lovely idea and the pictures of which there are many are of a fairy tale boathouse on a beautiful lake, this is not what it seems, if you stand on the balcony and look the other way the main road around the lake is twenty yards away so there is constant road noise from a busy road which destroys the idiotic concept.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Best property in the lake district

We have been coming to the lakes for many years, and thie Duke of portland is by far our favourite place to stay....and it's just not down to it's location alown, it's the attention to detail, it's the Decor inside...its absolutely stunning....the owners should be extremely proud of what they have achieved with his property......
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar 2026
Thank you for a fantastic 5* review. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay at the Boathouse and we look forward to welcoming you back again.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Last Minute Getaway

What a stunning spot. I have always wanted to stay here and this week my wish came true. Exceptional accommodation everything is beautiful and well thought out. Location is stunning and we got perfect weather. Watching the moon and stars then the sunrise from the balcony heaven. Hopefully we will be able to stay again some day.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar 2026
Thank you for a lovely 5* review, the Boathouse is fantastic no matter what the weather is doing but at this time of year the sunshine is always a bonus. We hope to welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Romantic Stay

A beautiful romantic place to stay, perfect for us to get engaged. A great chance to stay in such an iconic building. Beautiful soft furnishings, very clean and an ideal bottle of champagne waiting for our arrival.
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Oct 2025
Congratulations on your engagement, wishing you both many happy years together. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope we can welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Stunning!

The Duke of Portland’s loss was our gain! Perfect location, perfect views, in fact, perfect in every way - from the roll top bath with the stunning views to the well equipped kitchen, cosy lounge with log burner and lulled to sleep by the gentle waves. A short walk to catch the Ullswater steamer and then into Pooley bridge for great restaurant choices. We’ll be back!
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Apr 2026
Thank you for a perfect 5* review, we are pleased you enjoyed the Boathouse, it is a special place and we can't wait to welcome you back again.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful break

This is such a special place. We had an unforgettable stay at the Duke of Portland Boathouse. Just incredible views, paddle boarding and swimming from the doorstep and wonderful walks and food in pooley bridge. Would 100% recommend for a really unique stay
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct 2025
Thank you for a lovely review, it sounds like you made the most of having the lake on your doorstep. We hope to welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Duke of Portland boathouse.

A beautiful cosy piece of heaven. Fantastic accommodation with stunning views. Time has totally stood still (you forget about time or what time it is) 100% relaxed as soon as walk through the door. Would highly recommend staying at this location and property.
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Dec 2025
Thank you for a lovely review, we are pleased you were able to relax and disconnect from the world for your stay and hope to welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful property in perfect location

Beautiful location,charming property ,near a small village with lovely pubs and coffee shops ,highly recommended
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Oct 2024
Thank you for your lovely review, we are pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope to welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

2 nights at the Duke of portland boathouse

Lovely comfortable relaxing stay, fab location and views. A very special place to stay as a birthday treat.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Fantastic

Celebrating our Ruby Wedding Anniversary in the most amazing setting. Great views, ducks for company too, beautiful boathouse inside- what more could you want for a romantic getaway. Would thoroughly recommend and definitely stay again .
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Oct 2025
Congratulations on your Ruby Wedding Anniversary and thank you for celebrating in our Boathouse. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope to welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful location

Gorgeous location even in the rain!! Very comfortable - stayed in to eat both nights! Only suggestion for improvement might be better quality blankets for sitting out or a patio heater for Autumn/Winter. A small music speaker also would be nice.
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Dec 2025
Thank you for your review, we will pass your recommendations on to the owner for their consideration. We hope we can welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

A unique and beautiful place to stay with stunning views and a peaceful ambience.

We had an amazing time at the boathouse. A unique and beautiful place to stay with stunning views and a peaceful ambience. We were impressed with the cleanliness and the duck food was a lovely touch! Highly recommended, we would love to stay again.
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Mar 2024
Thank you for a lovely review. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you back.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

A beautiful accommodation in an idealic location.

A really wonderful place to stay. Beautifully presented, comfortable and cosy. A very much needed break from our crazy every day life. We will definitely return.
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Feb 2024
We are so pleased you found the boathouse the perfect base from which to explore your 'crazy every day life' and hope we can welcome you back again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A piece of heaven

A beautiful 4 day stay in a gorgeous location. Very relaxing with stunning scenery. Easy to book and excellent clear arrival details. The boathouse is so unique with care paid to every detail to make our stay so enjoyable. We will recommend to friends and family.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2023
Thank you for your lovely review and we are pleased you enjoyed your stay. We hope to be able to welcome you back in the summer months.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Duke of Portland Boathouse

Beautiful, unique property in the most stunning location. Stayed for two nights in this lovely home. Tastefully and sympathetically restored with the most gorgeous furnishings. Looking out over the lake was just amazing! Will definitely be back!
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Mar 2025
We are pleased you enjoyed your stay. The view is breathtaking, the balcony is our favourite place for recharging batteries and we are pleased you enjoyed it also.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

February Break

Absolutely beautiful building and location on Ullswater, spotlessly clean. Complimentary bottle off fizz on arrival was a nice touch. Road noise can be a slight issue but does die down of an evening and can’t really be heard from inside. Generator only runs for a short while sporadically and again isn’t a real problem. Would highly recommend at the time of year we went -views are fantastic. I would definitely return!
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Feb 2026
We are pleased you have enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you back again in the future.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Original and stylish property

The boathouse is certainly a unique place to stay and it is decorated and furnished with care and style. The balcony is a wonderful place to sit and admire the view, particularly in the morning and evening. The boathouse is easy to find - we reversed into the drive, which made getting out again easier and perhaps deterred any potential unwanted visitors! It is true that the balcony can be easily seen from the road and that people might like to take photos - this didn't bother us, but it might do if you are at all self-conscious. It's a beautiful location but not a particularly quiet one, due to the proximity to the road. The generator does create a background hum, but is typically only on for a short amount of time. We were prepared for both and loved the waterside location, but on balance, I'd probably choose a different property if I was looking for a peaceful break.
Response from VrboOwner on 8 June 2026
Thank you for your review of your recent stay at The Duke of Portland Boathouse, we are sorry it did not meet our normal 5* standard. We do accurately show on our website where the boathouse is located and the proximity to the road. Its unique location also means it is powered by a generator which does only run for a few hours at a time. We hope we can welcome you back to one of our cottages again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Unique memorable experience

I really enjoyed my stay, I especially appreciated that their is no multiple days minimum requirement, as it's not cost prohibitive and achievable for everybody to enjoy a night in a near million pounds property, that to my knowledge is the best scenically located and novel rental in all of Cumbria.
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug 2025
We are pleased you enjoyed your stay in the Boathouse, it really is something everyone should experience at least once. We hope we can welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

So much more....

We stayed at the boathouse as a base for cycling, walking and exploring but it really was so much more... We swam from the slipway, fished from the jetty and watched the birds and the fish and the lake and the view. We really were Duke and Duchess for our short but memorable stay.
Response from VrboOwner on 31 July 2025
We are pleased you have enjoyed your stay at the Boathouse, it really is one of those places where adventure begins. We hope we can welcome you back again in the future.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Perfect

Fabulous location. Very cosy and the views are awesome. We managed to sit out on the balcony sipping the complimentary bubbles even in February!!!!
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Dreamy

Our stay here was truly dreamy, a real escape with every home comfort. The boathouse is an incredibly unique bolt hole, feels totally secluded from the real world and yet is a 1
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback