Luxury wilderness cottages in Cumbria

Evenings in the wilderness: between cups of tea and bites of oatcakes, you'll balance on the sofa’s edge to remove Jenga blocks in the lull of a late-night radio show. Later, you'll dash between the hot tub and sauna, wrapped by the winds of a forested valley, and be glad you escaped from the city. Including one of Windermere’s most coveted spots, our luxury wilderness cottages in Cumbria pack a paradisiacal punch. These are places that carefully balance the great outdoors with the great indoors; meaning, there's secret gardens for morning yoga amid the wildflowers, acres of trails from your doorstep, and only singing birds and regal stags for neighbours.

Taking a break from urban living may well calm the mind and soothe the soul, but its greatest accolade is how it helps us return to our most wholesome selves. Hike up Lakeland fells with your city-fatigued dogs, take the children blackberry-picking, or gather in the garden to char s’mores over the fire pit’s flickering flames. Now's the time to assemble your coterie and make for the wilds, trying a slice of expeditionary life on home soil. These cosy private homes in Cumbria are made for storytelling by starlight, morning coffee among libraries lined with books, and warm crumble made from orchard apples. Solitude is beckoning; how far will you go for your wilderness escape?