Group Cottage Locations in Lancashire

Seaside, Bowland and the Southern Lakes: Group Cottages in Lancashire

Lancashire runs from the big seaside resorts of the Fylde coast to the empty fells of the Forest of Bowland and the limestone shores of Morecambe Bay. Until 1974, the county also stretched north across the bay to Coniston, Hawkshead and the Furness peninsula. Many of the houses on this site are in that old "Lancashire north of the sands", now in Cumbria.

So you get the coast, the hills and the Lakes in one area.

The location pages above list our group cottages in Lancashire and the southern Lakes by town, with the large houses in each place first and others within about 15 miles below. Here's what each area offers a big group.

Prefer to search by size? Browse all our large holiday houses, or go straight to cottages sleeping 8 or more, 10 or more or 12 or more. Every card shows how many each house sleeps.

The Lancashire Coast

Blackpool

Blackpool is Britain's best-known seaside resort. Blackpool Tower, opened in 1894, has a ballroom, circus and viewing platform. The Pleasure Beach has some of the biggest rollercoasters in the country, and the seven miles of promenade are served by heritage trams. From late summer into the autumn, the Blackpool Illuminations light up the seafront every night. It's ideal for hen and stag weekends, big birthdays and families with teenagers.

Lytham St Annes

Lytham St Annes, just south, is much calmer. Lytham has a white windmill on the green, independent shops and Lytham Hall. St Annes has a long sandy beach and dunes. Royal Lytham & St Annes, one of the Open Championship golf courses, is here, with several other links courses nearby. That makes it a popular base for golf groups.

Morecambe and the bay

Morecambe looks out over one of the largest areas of tidal sands in Britain, with sunsets over the Lakeland fells. The statue of Eric Morecambe stands on the promenade. Never walk out onto the sands alone, as the tide comes in fast and there are quicksands. Instead, join one of the official cross-bay walks led by the King's Guide to the Sands, which a whole group can do together in summer.

Lancaster, the Ribble Valley and Bowland

Lancaster

Lancaster is a small, hilly city with a castle that was a working prison until 2011, now open for guided tours. Williamson Park, above the city, has the Ashton Memorial and views across the bay. Nearby Middleton and Wennington, in the Lune valley, make quiet country bases with Lancaster close by.

Clitheroe and the Forest of Bowland

Clitheroe is a market town with a small Norman castle on a limestone hill. It's the gateway to the Ribble Valley, known for its food, and to the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. Despite the name, Bowland is mostly open moorland, with hardly any trees. The Trough of Bowland road crosses it. Pendle Hill, to the south, is linked to the trial of the Pendle witches in 1612, and walking up it is a local tradition.

Preston

Preston is the county's main city and its transport hub, with fast trains to London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. A house nearby is practical for groups coming from different parts of the country.

The Southern Lakes

The Lake District villages on this site are all within about an hour of Lancaster.

• Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere: lake cruises, rowing boats and the busiest choice of restaurants in the Lakes.
• Ambleside and Grasmere: walking villages, with Wordsworth's Dove Cottage in Grasmere.
• Hawkshead, Outgate and Graythwaite: quiet villages between Windermere and Coniston, near Grizedale Forest's trails and Beatrix Potter's Hill Top.
• Coniston: the Old Man of Coniston above, and boat trips on the lake below.
• Grange-over-Sands and Dalton-in-Furness: Edwardian promenades, Morecambe Bay views and the South Lakes Safari Zoo near Dalton.

The Lune Valley and the Dales Edge

East of Lancaster, the River Lune leads up to Kirkby Lonsdale, with its medieval Devil's Bridge and Ruskin's View. Just over the border, Ingleton is the start of the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, and the Three Peaks of Yorkshire rise behind it. Sedbergh, England's Book Town, sits under the Howgill Fells. All three suit walking groups who want big hills without the Lake District crowds.

Which Area Suits Your Group?

What to Look For in a Large House

Houses range from Victorian seaside villas to stone farmhouses and converted barns in the hills. Check the details:

• Bedrooms and bathrooms. "Sleeps 20" may include bunk rooms. Count the proper bedrooms.
• Party rules. Many owners don't allow hen or stag parties. Tell them your plans before you book.
• A drying room for walking groups heading into the fells.
• Dogs. Use the pet-friendly filter, and keep dogs on leads near sheep.
• Hot tubs and games rooms. Use the filters on the cottage pages to find them.

When to Go

Summer is best for the coast and the Lakes, but they're busy, so book large houses early. The Blackpool Illuminations draw big crowds on autumn weekends. Spring is lambing season in Bowland and a great time for walking. In winter, a fireside house in the Ribble Valley or the Lakes is perfect for Christmas or New Year with family and friends.

Getting There

The M6 runs north to south through the county, with the M55 branching west to Blackpool. Trains on the West Coast Main Line stop at Preston and Lancaster, with branches to Blackpool, Morecambe and Windermere. For Bowland, the Lune Valley and the Lakes villages, plan on travelling by car.