Lake District Cottages - Elterwater Village

Nestled in the mouth of Great Langdale valley, Elterwater village takes it’s name from Elter Water (Lake of Swans) which lies 1/2 a mile to the south. For several hundred years the main industries in the village have been quarrying and farming, many of the houses and Elterwater Cottages in the centre of the village were originally built as housing for the quarry workers and for the Victorian gunpowder works located on the site where Langdale Estate & spa now stand.Elterwater quarry is still a working quarry, now owned by Burlington Stone and producing the highly prized Elterwater slate which is a beautiful blue/green in colour.

During the past 50 years the economics of the village changed to become reliant on tourism with many of the properties becoming holiday homes for visitors (hence us being here). Due to the central location of Langdale within The Lake District, Elterwater has become very popular with walkers who wish to ‘walk from the door’.

Although a small village Elterwater has two great pubs. The Brittania Inn has been serving the community for over 150years (having started life as a ‘gentlemans farm house’ over 500 years ago) & is located right in the centre of the village.The Brit is very popular with anyone who enjoys a well kept ale & ample food portions at the end of a long day spent walking in the Lake District.

The Eltermere Inn is located on the outskirts of the village towards Little Langdale and Coniston. Also starting life as a farmhouse,  in 1756 the Eltermere was remodelled into a refined country residence  before being turned into a hotel in the 1950′s. Under new family ownership since 2008 it is well worth a visit for the fantastic food on offer and their superb range of ‘after diner’ spirits.Elterwater Bowling club welcomes visitors – keys to the green & clubhouse available in the Britannia Inn.

For walkers staying in one of our Lake District Cottages, Elterwater is a great place for those self catering in Langdale to start The Langdale round, Lingmoor Fell, Loughrigg & a host of low level walks towards Grasmere, Ambleside & Coniston.