River Lodge in Ambleside | Stunning Cumbria Group Cottage

About River Lodge

River Lodge is a substantial four-bedroom cottage in Ambleside, Lake District. This impressive three-storey house overlooks the River Rothay and once served as home to Queen Victoria's physician. The property sleeps eight guests and sits just a short riverside walk from Ambleside village centre. Four ensuite bedrooms make this ideal for multi-family groups wanting their own space.

The location puts you right in the heart of England's most famous national park. Ambleside offers easy access to Lake Windermere and surrounding fells.

Accommodation spreads across three levels with one king-size zip-link bedroom (ensuite with balcony), one double bedroom (ensuite) and two twin bedrooms (one ensuite). There are four bathrooms total including a ground-floor shower room. The kitchen features an electric cooker, gas hob, dishwasher and washer/dryer. A large farmhouse table seats everyone together while French doors open onto the patio.

Windermere Lake Cruises depart 4.7 miles away (12 minutes). Grasmere village sits 4.4 miles north (10 minutes). Keswick lies 16.7 miles away (30 minutes). Stock Ghyll Force waterfall is under two miles from your door.

Groups wanting private parking for 2-3 cars and riverside walks will love this historic property. River Lodge works brilliantly for families seeking Lake District adventure.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Gas central heating
✓Parking for 2-3 cars
✓Large farmhouse table, log-effect stove for display only, flat-screen tv and large bay window
✓40" tv (sky multiroom with movies and sport)
✓French doors to the patio, with space for 8 to sit out
✓Breakfast kitchen, electric cooker, gas hob, fridge & freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave
✓Cloakroom/shower room
✓Ground floor: bathroom with shower
✓First floor: double en-suite shower bedroom with balcony, charming twin bedroom, also en-suite shower room, both with pretty outlooks
✓Lower ground floor (stairs down from dining area)

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What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at River Lodge

Riverside Location

The property overlooks River Rothay with direct access to peaceful riverside walks right from your door into Ambleside village centre.

Four Ensuite Bedrooms

Three of four bedrooms have private ensuites giving families and groups proper privacy with a fourth bathroom available downstairs.

Historic Character Property

This sympathetically restored house once belonged to Queen Victoria's physician and retains period features across its three impressive levels.

Central Ambleside Position

Short walk into Ambleside puts restaurants, pubs, shops and the cinema within easy reach without needing to drive anywhere.

Spacious Group Dining

Large farmhouse table seats all eight guests together for proper family meals with French doors opening onto the outdoor patio.

Private Parking Spaces

Off-road parking for two to three vehicles means everyone can bring their car without fighting for roadside spaces.

Getting To River Lodge

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach River Lodge by car, head to Ambleside in the Lake District via the A591. The property is located on the riverside with private parking for 2-3 vehicles available on arrival.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Windermere, approximately 5 miles south of Ambleside. From Windermere station, take a taxi or local bus service directly to River Lodge in around 15 minutes.

Private parking for 2-3 cars

Windermere station (5 miles)

Riverside location in Ambleside

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Windermere Lake Cruises

Distance: 4.7 miles

LA23 1LB

Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall

Distance: 1.8 miles

LA22 0EF

Grasmere Village

Distance: 4.4 miles

LA22 9SH

Loughrigg Fell

Distance: 2.1 miles

LA22 9NG

Rydal Water Circular Walk

Distance: 2.5 miles

LA22 9LX

Fairfield Horseshoe

Distance: 3.2 miles

LA22 9NN

Ambleside Village Centre

Distance: 0.3 miles

LA22 9BT

Booths Supermarket Windermere

Distance: 4.9 miles

LA23 1BA

Hawkshead Village Shops

Distance: 6.8 miles

LA22 0NT

Ambleside Bus Station

Distance: 0.4 miles

LA22 9BS

Windermere Railway Station

Distance: 5.0 miles

LA23 1AR

Zeffirellis Cinema Ambleside

Distance: 0.3 miles

LA22 9AD

Windermere Lake Cruises

Distance: 4.7 miles

LA23 1LB

Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall

Distance: 1.8 miles

LA22 0EF

Grasmere Village

Distance: 4.4 miles

LA22 9SH

Loughrigg Fell

Distance: 2.1 miles

LA22 9NG

Rydal Water Circular Walk

Distance: 2.5 miles

LA22 9LX

Fairfield Horseshoe

Distance: 3.2 miles

LA22 9NN

Ambleside Village Centre

Distance: 0.3 miles

LA22 9BT

Booths Supermarket Windermere

Distance: 4.9 miles

LA23 1BA

Hawkshead Village Shops

Distance: 6.8 miles

LA22 0NT

Ambleside Bus Station

Distance: 0.4 miles

LA22 9BS

Windermere Railway Station

Distance: 5.0 miles

LA23 1AR

Zeffirellis Cinema Ambleside

Distance: 0.3 miles

LA22 9AD

Is River Lodge Right For Your Group

Discover why this cottage is the one for your party or family reunion...

For Families

River Lodge works well for families with children wanting Lake District adventures. Stock Ghyll Force waterfall sits 1.8 miles away for an easy family walk. Windermere Lake Cruises operate 4.7 miles south offering boat trips children enjoy. Ambleside village has Zeffirellis cinema just 0.3 miles away. The riverside location provides safe walking routes and the patio gives outdoor space for kids to play.

Groups Will Love...

The large farmhouse table at River Lodge seats all eight guests together for proper group dining. French doors open from the dining area onto the patio creating an indoor-outdoor space for summer meals. The kitchen's dishwasher and full cooking facilities make catering for groups straightforward. Three levels of living space mean groups can spread out when needed but gather easily in the communal areas.

Pet Friendly

River Lodge welcomes dogs making it suitable for groups travelling with pets. The riverside location provides immediate access to walks along the River Rothay into Ambleside. Loughrigg Fell sits 2.1 miles away offering excellent dog walking terrain. The patio gives outdoor space for dogs and private parking means easy car access for pet supplies. Ambleside has several dog-friendly pubs within walking distance.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at River Lodge

The Priest Hole at Ambleside

Located 0.4 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9BU

Zeffirellis Restaurant Ambleside

Located 0.3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9AD

The Golden Rule Pub

Located 0.2 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: LA22 9BT

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about River Lodge

Is River Lodge pet friendly?

Yes, River Lodge welcomes pets so your dog can join the Lake District adventure. The riverside location and nearby walks make this an excellent base for groups travelling with dogs.

How many people does River Lodge sleep?

River Lodge sleeps eight guests across four bedrooms including one king-size zip-link, one double and two twin rooms. Three bedrooms have private ensuite bathrooms with a fourth bathroom on the ground floor.

What kitchen facilities are available?

The kitchen has an electric cooker, gas hob, fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer. A large farmhouse table in the dining area seats all eight guests comfortably for group meals together.

Is there parking at the property?

Private off-road parking accommodates two to three cars at River Lodge. This makes it convenient for multi-family groups who need to bring multiple vehicles to the Lake District.

How far is River Lodge from Ambleside centre?

River Lodge sits just a short riverside walk from Ambleside village centre along the River Rothay. You can easily walk into town for restaurants, shops and pubs without needing the car.

What sleeping arrangements work for families?

The king-size bedroom has zip-link beds that convert to twins if needed. Two twin bedrooms suit children or friends sharing whilst the double bedroom works for couples wanting their own space.

Does River Lodge have a garden or outdoor space?

The property has a patio area with furniture for eight guests and French doors opening from the dining room. The riverside setting provides immediate access to walks along the River Rothay into Ambleside.

What attractions are close to River Lodge?

Windermere Lake Cruises operate 4.7 miles away whilst Grasmere village is 4.4 miles north. Stock Ghyll Force waterfall sits under two miles away and Keswick is 16.7 miles for a longer day trip.

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Bowness-on-Windermere

River Lodge Reviews

We have stayed in numerous houses in the lakesthis our first time with lake lovers. Much better experience all round compared to your counterparts. No hidden extras and lovely little touches. Thank you Lakelovers & we'll be back!

Rebecca

Lovely property in a fabulous location. Have stayed before as it is so nice. A couple of issues during this stay Christmas tree was still up and decorated to a degree, dust on bedsheets and dustdirt in bay windows, remnants of fairy liquid left, and when my daughter had a shower water started pouring from a hole in the ceiling, showing the leak is an ongoing problem. Having said that, when I phoned Sykes to report the leak, someone was out to reseal the shower within 2 hours we were impressed with the fast response. I cant actually comment on the result though as my daughter dont want to use the shower again and used a different one. Overall though, a thoroughly enjoyable few days spent in a lovely house, in a wonderful location.

Nicola

We loved our stay at River Lodge as it was a good location and a nice spacious and comfortable house. The kitchen was well equipped to cook our Christmas lunch. We appreciated the gas fire in the kitchendining area as we found the heating not satisfactory as the week got colder. Unfortunately the heating in the two bedrooms and bathroom wasnt on all the time we stayed at River Lodge. We didnt think we would get anyone around to fix it due to the Xmas break and the living area was warm enough. We enjoyed our daily walks into Ambleside and the mountain walks from the house plus our visit to the local pub nearby. We would definitely go back if the heating was sorted out.

Lovely house. Great setting. Great comfort. I'd like to live there. No towels in one of the downstairs bedrooms. Oversight?? Slight mould growing in downstairs bathroom. Could become dangerous.

Elisabeth

This was a perfect location for our cousins reunion. Gorgeous walks just along the lane. Great space and very well equipped kitchen. Excellent showers and hot water too. We had one electrical emergency but got a very quick response from the Sykes line and Steve got everything working again so quickly. Once we realized that the Wifi signal in the area is a bit weak, and requires some patience, we managed ok. All in all, a beautiful spot and good setup for a family gathering.

DAY 1 we arrived at the cottage which was full of cobwebs and flies and the dish washer was full of soiled dishes. Day 2 The dishwasher , fridge and the gas burner along with other appliances stopped working. We had bought groceries worth 250 pounds out of which most of it got wasted. After repeated mails finally one gentleman arrived who checked and said there was a problem with electric supply. Later on we found out he was a plumber not an electrician. We had to move the kettle and the toaster to the living room for us to have some form of breakfast in the morning. We had to throw all the perishable like meat , yoghurt . Cold cuts cheese etc in the bin as even the freezer ice had melted. Day 3 We repeatedly were sending mails for the problem to get fixed but nothing happened. The problem still remained. No appliances in the kitchen were working for the 2 days now. Finally we gave up and did what we had to do for the rest of our holiday. We didnt fly 8000 KMS for this. A refund of 100 pounds was offered to us which we refused. I believe we are entitled to a full refund. Thanks

Basement was freezing when we arrived. Heating didn't work, had to change the batteries in the thermostat, but still didn't work after that Hive system thermostats didn't connect to the hub. Had to bring our own heaters. Heating system in general was incomprehensible. Wifi internet was a joke. No potato peeler. Brush under the kitchen sink was knackered and had old food on it. Downstairs bathroom was not clean toilet area. Other than that, lovely.

Charlotte

We had a wonderful stay at the cottage during February with friends. There were a few maintenance issues that we reported as we left. Nothing hindered our stay and most was normal wear and tear related, such as a dropping door on the freezer, a small leak from a radiator, the outdoor light being wired incorrectly, and we struggled to open the door of the washing machine. This cottage has beautiful character and was really comfortable once we realised the heating controls were related to the WiFi and it needed a reset. We simply walked from the cottage each day, with no need to use our cars. It is also only a short walk to Ambleside for all food and essentials. We would definitely stay again and recommend it to friends.

This was our second stay at River Lodge, and we'll definitely be back next year. Minor points to improve 1 Bin area at bottom of drive has lots of lose trash and litter around the bins, which is a shame as it's a first impression when walking up recommend housekeeping police that area as well 2 WiFi is really poor and unusable if more than a couple logon's exasperated as River Cottage is in a Cell Signal Dead Zone 3 A new Smart TV would be really great connect to WiFi, watch content. Please note that I see these as improvements, not faults as it's a great property that we really enjoy.

Rebecca

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Beautiful property and fabulous location. Loved the scenery from the bay window and did not want to leave at the end of our stay!

Michele

Beautiful house and a wonderful location, we really enjoyed our week away. I agree with the other reviews, the decor is a little tired and the fridge really needs replacing. Having read the reviews we knew it wasn't going to be perfect. But its still a stunning property with fabulous views. Very special indeed.

River Lodge was delightful. It was well equipped with modern facilities. A perfect location, secluded, but not too far from the shops. We would highly recommend River Lodge as an ideal place to enjoy the Lake District in comfort. Thank you all.

Heather

Overall a great property and excellent location. The house was clean and comfortable and was always warm with an abundance of hot water. We very much enjoyed our visit. We were disappointed that there was no washing up liquid, only one toilet roll per toilet and only two bin bags available on arrival. I would not expect to have to bringbuy washing up liquid and bin bags and there should be at least one spare toilet roll per toilet for a one week stay. The provision of drinking glasses was random and insufficient. Some of the lamps did not work importantly the reading lamp in the window of the kitchendiner. No bedside lamp on the left side of the large downstairs double bedroom.The light switch in one of the bedrooms did not work but Lakelovers responded very quickly to fix this, which was excellent.

Hannah

The setting of the property is super with sheep and the river just over the lane and the position, an enjoyable 25 minute stroll into Ambleside, was a plus. The property is very spacious and worked well for a group with a spot to sit and enjoy the view from the kitchen diner in addition to the large living room. As mentioned in previous reviews, the property could do with updating. For example the little balcony, which should be a feature of the property, was uninviting with peeling paintwork, leaves blown in and scattered furniture with a green tinge to it. Nothing that a lick of paint, a good clean and some dressing couldnt fix. In its prime this was a beautiful, spacious Lakeland house thoughtfully presented, decorated with farrow & ball throughout. The biggest issue also mentioned in other reviews was the boiler. The noise, intermittently through the night, was intolerable from the main upstairs bedroom. We will not return to this property.

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River Lodge, Ambleside

About River Lodge

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

Riverside Location

Four Ensuite Bedrooms

Historic Character Property

Central Ambleside Position

Spacious Group Dining

Private Parking Spaces

Getting To River Lodge

By Car

By Train

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Is River Lodge Right For Your Group

For Families

Groups Will Love...

Pet Friendly

Dining & Cafes

The Priest Hole at Ambleside

Zeffirellis Restaurant Ambleside

The Golden Rule Pub

Frequently Asked Questions

Location Name

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

River Lodge Reviews