Brandelhow cottage Keswick occupies an incredible position at the foot of Catbells, overlooking Derwentwater
Make the most of the lake by exploring Derwentwater by kayak or paddleboard
Exit the house from the front porch and follow the path down to the small seating area and fire pit
The beautiful cottage is nestled between the trees underneath Catbells
Breakfast with a view - enjoy your morning coffee outside on the warmer days
A proper Lakeland retreat at Brandelhow
Brandelhow is the ideal self catering property for a peaceful holiday away from the crowds of Keswick
Lake and mountain views from your doorstep
This idyllic cottage in Portinscale, Keswick, accommodates up to 7 people and is pet friendly
The rear entrance leads you into the farmhouse kitchen, which has lovely views across the lake
The kitchen is equipped with everything that you need to cook during your self catering holiday
Washing up won't feel like a chore at Brandelhow
Enjoy local food and drink in the farmhouse kitchen
Home cooks will love this kitchen overlooking Derwentwater and Bleaberry Fell
The log burning stove has a lovely slate surround
You'll be warm and cosy in the living room!
The master bedroom with king sized bed
The master bedroom features a wall mounted TV
Wake up to the most glorious views of Derwentwater
The master bedroom has an ensuite shower room
The modern shower room comprises of a walk in shower, WC and hand sink
The second bedroom is furnished with double bed and bedside tables, wardrobe and desk
A comfortable double bedroom
Throughout the property you will find beautiful photographs of the surrounding area
Sit and admire the views from the upstairs hallway, this would be the perfect place to prop up an easel for painting
The family bathroom comprises of a bath with overhead shower, WC, hand sink and heated towel rail
A nice warm bath is the best way to relax after a day walking up Catbells
The modern bathroom is spacious and light
A lovely bright double bedroom
The third bedroom features a double bed and space to hang clothes
This double bedroom has incredible views of the lake and surrounding fells
The upstairs hallway provides a peaceful space to read, draw or write
The single bedroom is cosy and peaceful
Look out to Bleaberry Fell, still beautiful even when the weather is bad!
A lovely sunny day at Brandelhow
This self catering property would be perfect for anyone interested in painting or photography
A gorgeous pet friendly Lakeland cottage, which can accommodate up to 7 people
You can enjoy the peace and quiet at Brandelhow
Your only neighbours at Brandelhow are the local birds and 'Teddy in the Window'!
Brandelhow Bay at the south end of Derwentwater
If you would rather leave the car at home then you can catch a boat from High Brandelhow launch (roughly 200m from the property)
Lakeside self catering cottage in Portinscale, Keswick
If you enjoy walking then Brandelhow is the perfect location for a Lakeland holiday
Escape the hustle and bustle of life at Brandelhow
This is the ultimate self catering holiday cottage for those that love the outdoors
Follow the path from the front door and explore the beautiful surroundings
Brandelhow - a pet friendly 4 bedroomed self catering cottage at the foot of Catbells, Keswick
Indulge and unwind in a hot tub - available to hire
Indulge and unwind in a hot tub - available to hire
Amazing views to enjoy
Map Gallery

Brandlehow

4.4 Based on 22 reviews
  • Portinscale
  • Sleeps 7
  • Bedrooms 4
  • Bathrooms 2.5

Overview

Escape the everyday with a stay in this extraordinary property set in the most scenic location on the edge of Derwentwater. Guests will have easy access to the best of what the area has to offer – stunning walks, cycling, water sports and sightseeing.

Features

Parking
Parking
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Pet Friendly
Pet Friendly
Great views
Great views
Bike Storage
Bike Storage
Central Heating
Central Heating
Log Burner/ Open Fire
Log Burner/ Open Fire
Linen Provided
Linen Provided
Non-Smoking
Non-Smoking
Towels
Towels
Being right on the waterÂ’s edge and amongst some of the most picturesque scenery this property is ideal for adventure lovers and all things outdoors

Description

If you’re seeking an extraordinary property for your holiday, then look no further than Brandlehow.

This private, unique cottage is positioned right on the edge of Derwentwater, with the surrounding woods and Catbells behind, and even has a famous neighbour, the much loved ‘Teddy in the Window'!

Right on the water’s edge, amongst some of the most picturesque scenery, this property is ideal for adventure lovers and relaxation alike! There is plenty of space in the property to store bikes, paddleboards and kayaks.

The journey to this cottage is a wonderful experience in itself, with stunning views en-route, followed by a private access road through the woods to lead you to your holiday home.

On entering the property, you’ll be greeted by the farmhouse-style kitchen with plenty of worktop space, fridge-freezer, double sinks, and stove. There is a dishwasher, however, you may find yourself volunteering to do the washing up just to admire the amazing views over Derwentwater! The large dining table makes this the perfect space to gather together with family and friends to socialise and dine. The utility room off the kitchen provides plenty of space for boots and coats, and has a washing machine and dryer.

Pass through the spacious hallway, where there is access to the garden, to find yourself in the homely living room with leather sofas, wall-mounted TV and cosy log-burning stove.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms: two king bedrooms, one double and one single bedroom, all well-furnished with solid furniture, quality Lake District artwork, and with beds dressed in luxury crisp linen. The master bedroom has the added bonus of a wall-mounted TV and en-suite shower room.

The modern family bathroom is conveniently positioned between the bedrooms and has a bath with shower over.

There are two areas upstairs on the landings with seating, one of which also has a desk, where you can escape to take a quiet moment and admire the views, or use as your 'work-from-home-from-home' hub.

As lovely as the interior is, you're likely to fall in love with the enclosed garden, complete with fire pit. The views and scenery are breath-taking (even on a dull day) and it would be difficult to find a more idyllic location! Private parking for two cars.

Fancy an extra treat for your holiday? Hot tub hire is available (add on extras page).

There is a Keswick Launch jetty nearby for easy access to attractions including Nichol End, Lingholm, and central Keswick.
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Keswick is a short walk away via the suspension bridge over the River Greta and a stroll down the Howrah’s footpath, where there is an abundance of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Please be aware the access road may flood during the rainy season. If this occurs, the house can be accessed via a footpath at the rear.

Location

Adventure icon Adventure
Family Activities icon Family Activities
Pubs, Restaurants and Cafes icon Pubs, Restaurants and Cafes
Rainy Day Activities icon Rainy Day Activities
Shopping icon Shopping
What's On icon What's On

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Reviews

28th July 2026

5

4N July 2026
Had a fantastic stay at Brandlehow. The location is unbeatable, with stunning views over Derwentwater and direct access to the lake. The cottage was comfortable and well-equipped, with everything we needed for a relaxing family break. We especially loved spending time in the garden taking in the incredible scenery. Highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Lake District.

Hi there! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re absolutely delighted to hear you had a fantastic stay at Brandlehow. The location really is something special, and it’s lovely to know you made the most of the stunning views across Derwentwater and the direct access to the lakeshore. There aren’t many places where you can enjoy such a spectacular setting right from the doorstep. We’re also pleased to hear you found the cottage comfortable and well equipped for your family break. It sounds like you made the most of the garden too — sitting out and taking in those incredible views is one of our favourite things about Brandlehow. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. We’re so pleased you had such a relaxing stay and would be absolutely delighted to welcome you back to Brandlehow in the future. Best wishes, Keswick Cottages

Keswick Cottages , July 2026

30th June 2026

2.7
Over priced and under-loved property
Following our stay in the above cottage, we feel that our feedback to yourselves would be advantageous. Whilst the location of the cottage is superb, many – if not most – features were sadly of a poor standard, and not what ought to be expected at such a premium price point. We feel that the price of this accommodation is in the higher price bracket and that this was not reflected in what was offered. Positives: 1. Location 2. The information app that was provided 3. Quality and amount of kitchen appliances 4. WiFi Negatives: 1. Although the cottage was not wholly unclean, there were some areas that had not been cleaned properly and required additional attention on arrival. Quite simply, many walls and surfaces could have been cleaned better; with some looking as though they hadn't been given attention for some time. All the window sills on arrival were dusty/dirty, which should not be expected. These are areas that are obvious and give a final impression of any property, and ought to have been cleaned along with the numerous and unnecessary plastic plants. The freezer drawers also needed a clean. Surely areas such as this ought to be on the regular cleaning schedule. 2. The plastic plants were almost comical – especially those placed in the dilapidated attached greenhouse. To the best of our knowledge, they did not grow whilst we were in attendance. Considering the flora and fauna of Borrowdale, and its reputation as one of the wettest valleys in England, plastic plants from Ikea were neither in keeping or positive. In truth, they came across as a cheap afterthought. 3. The boot room aka the bat room was unusable at night time due to bats. This meant the downstairs toilet, tumble dryer and storage for bikes etc were inaccessible at this time. 4. The seating in the lounge was cheap, shabby and uncomfortable. The cushions were likewise shabby and cheap. with at least one torn cushion. We were subsequently accused of doing this, or our none existent dog was. If we had caused any damage we would have been honest enough to admit it. Quite frankly, having rented properties all over Europe, the lounge was not even up to a 1 star rating. The seating was not suitable for the room, and it did not allow relaxed interaction. Once again, it came across as a cheap afterthought from a second hand store. In a similar vein, the carpet was also not of the standard to be expected. 4. We appreciate that this is an old/quirky house, but perhaps the number of indoor steps/stairs should have been highlighted for people with mobility issues. One member of our group has mobility issues and this did cause some concern and problems. 5. Three of the bedrooms did not have mirrors, the lampshades in one double bedroom did not fit correctly and that room also had a torn cushion. We had exceptionally good weather, yet the limited garden furniture was not sufficient for all of us to sit comfortably - 2 people had to use cheap folding camping seats. There was a small table and no parasol or sun canopy, despite the regular beating down of the sun – which Borrowdale is ironically noted for – I lived here 35 years ago, and can vouch for this. 6. A clothes rail dryer would have been useful, rather than using the tumble dryer in the bat/boot room. The carpets in the house could have been cleaned with a detergent, as there were numerous stains on them. 7. Approximately half of the window at the kitchen sink had internal condensation which made it difficult to admire the scenic views whilst washing up. There was also a leak under the kitchen sink which had a bucket to catch the drips, perhaps a fix is in order. 8. A recycling bin would have been useful rather than having to take our recycling to a car park in Keswick. 9. Each person was given only 1 mid-size towel, and if lucky a hand towel. I'd advise guests to diet in advance of attending, if you expect a bath towel to wrap yourself in. In all honesty, to be asked to pay extra for the towels that ought to be allocated is a joke and something we have never before experienced. 10. The shower fitting in the over-bath area was clearly broken. Any attempt to move and adjust the height resulted in the need to fix the fitting and hope that it would stay in place. 11. The welcome pack - considering this property had cost £2.5k – was none existent... unless of course we paid extra. Quite frankly, if you can't be bothered to provide something welcoming within that budget, I'd rather go to M & S myself. Am I genuinely supposed to be impressed that I can pay extra and select a welcome pack? That's not a welcome pack – it's a shopping delivery! We feel that if we were asked to give a rating for the house it would only be 2.5 stars. Although the location was superb, the property sadly failed to live up to the location, purely due to what seemed to be a lack of care and attention. Quite frankly, we got the impression that it was owned by somebody who lived a distance away, and had no idea how to set out a rental property in this price bracket. The truly sad point in all of this is that, having stayed in Borrowdale over the past 40 years, the cottage has so much potential. It is simply unloved and treated as a cash generator, with no attention – or money – given over to making it a pleasant and stylish interior. It is sad to say this, when the cottage has so much potential, but it is simply true –– we will not return, nor recommend the cottage to anyone else in its current state. Maybe some of the fees being charged ought to be properly invested into ensuring that the condition, upkeep and styling match the aesthetic beauty of the cottage in this location.

31st May 2026

5
Amazing family break
We booked this cottage quite last minute, and were amazed to see that it was still available, and I continue to be amazed that it was still available, because it was absolutely perfect. The location was like like something from a dreamlandÂ… So many walkers commented on it and I was reluctant to tell them the truth that it was just a holiday rental, as it was really a property to be in or of an unfortunate I couldn't claim I live there! Absolutely stunning, the kids had a blast in and out of the water, walks from your doorstep on steroids, what's not to love?
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23rd May 2026

5

Reviewed On
Airbnb

Dealing with Keswick Cottages was easy and Brandlehow was in a fabulous location with stunning views out over Derwent Water and provided an ideal break.

28th March 2025

5

Reviewed On
Google.com

Outstanding property on the very shore of Derwent Water, with views and easy access to walks galore, but especially a dip in the lake ... and you can add a hot tub to recover some warmth! The Keswick Cottages team were superb from initial contact & booking through to arrival and the occasional request for advice during our stay ... well done to all!

16th March 2024

5

Reviewed On
tripadvisor.com

We had a great week at Brandlehow … lakeside location is just stunning, and being at the foot of Cat Bells provides an awesome backdrop and temptation for walking. The problem is … the cottage is soooo comfy and has multiple nooks & spaces for chilling, reading, dozing. We loved it!!
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