Sage Hare Cottage

Reviewed by Eran 16th August 2026

We stayed here as two parents with a seven year old and the cottage answered every single one of our needs. Cleanliness first, because it is the thing that makes or breaks a self catering stay. This place is spotlessly clean, down to the smallest details. The bed linen smelled fresh and the whole cottage is properly ventilated, with none of the Read moremusty or damp smell you so often get in older country properties. The kitchen is fitted out with equipment that is all brand new, and you will not find yourself missing anything you need to cook whatever you like. Worth mentioning that although there is a washer dryer, there is no dishwasher. That was not a problem for us as we are a small family, but it is the sort of thing you want to know in advance. The garden is tidy and well looked after, and on a warm summer day it is a real pleasure to eat breakfast or dinner out there. The neighbours on both sides are lovely and friendly. We got talking to them whenever we happened to be outside at the same time and they gave us a great many tips and suggestions about places to see and eat in the area. It almost goes without saying that the cottage looks exactly as it does in the photographs, and it is obvious that real thought has gone into both the design and the comfort of the place. Everything has been renovated recently and to a very high standard by our judgement, which makes it very good value indeed for the price. There is parking directly opposite the entrance, so it is extremely convenient and only a few steps to the door. Although the cottage sits about five metres from the road, as you can see on the map, it is very quiet at night and you need not worry if you are a light sleeper. Two honest points that I think are worth knowing. Personally I found the pillows very basic and not particularly comfortable, and I would recommend bringing a good pillow from home, because it can significantly improve your night. Also, the toilet and shower room are on the ground floor and the first floor contains only the two bedrooms. Slightly awkward, but not something that would stop us coming back. One more practical thing. The location is quite isolated. The nearest grocery shop is a five minute drive, and there are no cafes or restaurants in the immediate area at all, so you have to drive to one of the towns. I would recommend either bringing the things you like from home or doing one big shop in one of the local towns before you arrive. That said, the location is superb as a base. It sits very centrally for a whole range of natural sites and walks in the western Lakes, and it was an excellent base for anyone looking to explore that side of the national park. Below are some family recommendations from the places we actually walked, all of them easy going and suitable for families. Day one. Park at Bleach Green Car Park, Ennerdale Water, and walk slowly along to Char Dub Pools. In summer you can get into the shallow water, and you can picnic either there or at one of the small beaches along the lake. This is not a circular route, so you return the same way. It would suit mountain bikes too, with stops along the way. Day two. St Bees Beach seafront. We went out at midday and came back in the evening. A very clean spot with plenty of parking. Our son caught small shrimp and swam in the water. There is an excellent cafe there with tasty ice cream at very reasonable prices. We bought fresh sandwiches to take onto the beach and picked up ice cream before we left. It was not overly touristy and we enjoyed it enormously. On the way back we stopped for another two hours walking around Longlands Lake Country Park to explore the area a little. Bring proper duck food and a pair of binoculars. Day three. Lanthwaite Wood Beach. A wonderful place to picnic and spend a whole day. You can enjoy the beach and also walk out to see Scale Force waterfall. Bring an inflatable paddleboard or an inflatable boat for the children. It is a hidden and very quiet beach. There is a large car park about ten minutes walk from the shore, and I would strongly recommend walking along the river on the way down rather than taking the surfaced track. Day four. Wast Water. You can swim from one of the small beaches and have a picnic. Again, an inflatable paddleboard or boat is worth bringing for the children. Afterwards we carried on to one of the most beautiful and most hidden places in the Lake District, the Wasdale Emerald Pool, also known as the Wasdale Fairy Pool. Park a little before the Wasdale Head Inn and then read the Google reviews for directions on the walk in. We used the free version of the AllTrails app for the map. You can swim in the pools and this was without any doubt the best day of the entire holiday. Day five. We parked at the National Trust Maggie's Bridge car park at Loweswater and walked around the lake, taking in Holme Force waterfall as well. You can easily spend a whole day here too and picnic by the water. Overall, highly recommended for anyone looking for some quiet away from the August tourist crush. The entire western side of the Lake District stays remarkably peaceful. We wholeheartedly recommend booking this place, and you can book with real peace of mind, particularly because the customer service team behind the site is based here in England and they go above and beyond in a way we are not very used to receiving these days. Hide