We are really proud to be one of the very few Sawdays holiday cottages in the Lake District! (Sawdays specialises in high-end, quirky places with bags of personality and character!) Our guests just love The Mount - saying it is a 'home-from-home'. We hope you have the best holiday here - one made of good memories of relaxing by the open fire, aga-cooked dinners with friends and family in our beautiful dining room, coffees in the garden, sleeping well in the Egyptian cotton sheets, waking up to the beautiful views of the lake and mountains, good walks - in short, a relaxing and special time away from the hustle and bustle of usual life. The Mount is set in a very special place - one of the loveliest villages in the lakes. Portinscale village has it all - it is peaceful, right on the lake-shore, has wonderful cafes, an ideal place to start many great walks including Catbells, and two marines for canoeing, kayaking and sailing - and yet is a short walk to Keswick - full of pubs, restaurants and shops!

Some people say that the lakes 'feed the soul' - and it is true. We feel so lucky to live somewhere where we can jump in the lake after school, canoe to an island for a BBQ, go rock climbing with friends, or simply find a great lakes pub after a good walk. Lots of Swallows and Amazons adventures. After busy lives in Brighton and London, we find living here very rewarding. We both worked in universities and travelled extensively. Of all the places we have been - such as the US, Fiji, Kenya, Australia, Italy - we have chosen the Lake District as our home. It is beautiful every day - whatever the weather. And it attracts wonderful guests and visitors from all over the world- in search of the beauty and senerity of the lakes. We love our home and love sharing it with guests. In the school holidays we rent out our whole home (and leave in a little cottage behind The Mount or going camping!), for the rest of the year we do B&B. See our other site, called The Mount B&B, for B&B bookings.

The Lake District has recently received World Heritage status - in recognition of it's intense beauty and importance in inspiring centuries of artists, writers, poets, conservationists and walkers. It is not a place to miss - and Portinscale manages to maintain the essence of the lakes. The area is packed with things to do. Keswick has a number of festivals - from mountain festivals, to beer and jazz festivals. There is something for everyone - whatever your interests. It is great for families - perfect for a Swallows and Amazons adventure. The lake is 5 minutes walk - with opportunities to kayak, paddleboard, sail, canoe and swim. There are a number of places to go climbing nearby too - look up Honister Adventures - for some high octane adventures. If you would like something more relaxing - the Mountain Goat company will drive you around the best parts of the lakes, give you some history and ensure you see some spectacular scenery (without you needing to negotiate some challenging mountain passes!). There are also lots of museums and National Trust properties nearby to visit on rainy days - many are great for children, such as Wordsworth home and the Puzzle Museum.