Getting Here

By Road

By road – Stair Cottage is just a few minutes from the A66 trunk road, which runs west from the M6 at junction 40, through the national park and on to the Cumbrian coast. At the Penrith junction 40 on the M6, turn west onto the A66 for the Lake District. After about 15 miles pass all three of the turn offs for Keswick and take the next left turn signposted ‘Portinscale and Newlands Valley’. Follow this road through the village of Portinscale then for 1.5 miles following the signposts and directions for Stair and passing the Swinside Inn on your right. Continuing on, after nearly half a mile you will reach a road junction. Follow the road around to the right and the Newlands Adventure Centre will be on your left. Cross the pack horse bridge turning immediately to the left once over it. Stair Cottage is the slate cottage approximately 100m up the road, second house on your left (attached to the cream house). Once close to the cottage, turn right onto the gravelled parking area. Park forward of the small wooden garage on the right, close to the hedge on the left and towards the trees and stream in front of you.

There is another road into the Newlands Valley from the A66. The second is at Braithwaite, at the foot of Whinlatter Pass, a mile or so further west than the Portinscale turn-off. If coming via Braithwaite, cross the bridge in the heart of the village and turn left for Newlands Valley immediately in front of the Braithwaite Stores village shop on the corner. Follow this road for two miles exactly. When you reach the B&B on your left, called Ellas Crag, you will see a very sharply angled left turn signposted for Stair. Turn left here (there is a turning circle 200m up the road if you feel the turning is too tight for your vehicle). Follow the road downhill and around the corner to the right. Stair Cottage is the first house on your right. Parking is opposite as above.

Public Transport

There are frequent trains from both south and north to Penrith, on the West Coast Main Line which runs from London Euston to Glasgow. Buses from Penrith leave hourly for Keswick from outside the station.

From March to October, Stagecoach’s Ride-and-Stride Honister Rambler bus runs from Keswick down the western shore of Derwentwater and passes within a mile of Stair Cottage. The journey takes about 12 minutes. Get off at the Catbells bus stop. From here walk up the road to Skelgill Farm, through the gate, then downhill to the right into Stair. This bus route is circular in both directions, so you can take a beautiful tour around some of the Lakes’ finest scenery if you wish. The total tour takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes and takes in several villages, including Buttermere, along the way.

The Keswick Launch ferry service runs quite frequently from Keswick (near Theatre by the Lake) to the nearest landing to Stair, at Hawes End. It normally runs all year, except January, but is more frequent in high summer. It’s a lovely way to get to Keswick to go shopping and visit the museums or have something to eat and drink. From Hawse End, walk through the woodland to the road. Turn uphill for Catbells and on to Skelgill, then turn downhill at Skelgill farm for Stair, as above. You can also take the ferry around the whole of Derwentwater to see the fantastic Newlands and Borrowdale scenery, returning to either Hawse End or Keswick. The launch makes up to six stops around the Lake so it is possible to travel to the other side of the Lake and walk to Grange, or the Bowder Stone, or just to take a trip around the whole lake.

Nearest Airports

Newcastle is the nearest major airport, with frequent services from many European and UK cities, plus Dubai. About 90 miles (150kms) and less than two hours’ drive.

Manchester has frequent services from major world cities. About 125 miles (204kms) and two-and-a-quarter hours’ drive.

Durham Tees Valley has services from Amsterdam and a number of UK destinations and is only 85 miles (135kms) and less than two hours’ drive from Stair.

Glasgow and Edinburgh airports have many international flights, especially from European airports. Both airports are approximately 125 miles from Stair and just over two hours’ drive.

Carlisle Lake District Airport is not currently (July 2021) offering any scheduled passenger services.