Lichen House
A stone-and-glass house right on the water in the Lake District, with a lakeside sauna and reeds for a soundtrack.
Lake water and reeds
€220
2
1
1
1
Coniston, 40 minutes from Kendal
Two-wheel drive, parking beside the house
Sauna and cold-water people
A place that asks nothing from you.
Lichen House stands a few steps from the shoreline, where the reed beds move all day and the fells change colour behind them. Big windows mean the weather is the entertainment.
The sauna is the ritual here: heat, then cold lake, then a blanket on the jetty. Guests tend to arrive with plans and abandon them by lunchtime.
- Stone and glass on the lake shore, sleeping two, with the main room built to face the water.
- The sauna is a separate cedar cabin on the jetty, with a cold-plunge ladder straight into the lake.
- Wifi is available for anyone who needs it, though the router sits in a drawer rather than on show.
- Rowing boat and dry bags included; wetsuits available on request for winter swims.
A private stretch of shoreline in the southern Lake District, with fell walks from the gate and Coniston a short drive for supplies.
Around 40 minutes from Kendal and the M6, so it's an easy Friday-evening arrival from the north of England.
On arrival
Light the sauna before you unpack — it needs an hour.
Evening
Heat, lake, blanket, repeat until you lose interest in your phone.
Morning
Swim before breakfast while the water is still flat.
Midday
A fell walk, or the jetty and a book. Both are correct.
Late
Dinner with the doors open, reeds moving in the dark.
From 15:00
By 10:30
1 night
- €220 per night
- 1 night
- Up to 2 guests
- Included in the nightly rate
- ✓Lakefront
- ✓Sauna
- ✓Lake access
- ✓Swimming spot
- ✓Kayak or paddle use
- ✓Waterside deck
- ✓Limited mobile signal
- ✓Offline reading library
- ✓Bed linens and towels
- ✓Hot water
- ✓Heating
- ✓Kitchen
- ✓Refrigerator
- ✓Cookware, dishes and cutlery
- ✓Coffee and tea
- ✓Outdoor seating
- ✓Free parking on site
- ✓Smoke detector
- ✓First aid kit
- ✓Essential toiletries
- Deep open water at the jetty — swim sensibly
- Wifi available but low-key
- Dogs welcome by arrangement