Lakeland Retreats is a family run business based in the heart of Ambleside. We provide holiday makers with a choice of hand picked, self catering properties from where to enjoy the beautiful Lake District.
We pride ourselves in having a personal approach to ensure we build strong relationships with our guests and owners. We are very passionate about what we do and are excited about what the future holds. We are always looking to grow our portfolio of high quality cottages which we will manage personally.
Established in 2018, we are a truly local family business, having worked in the tourism industry all our lives. We’re passionate about sharing our wealth of experience, knowledge and love of our Lakeland home with new and existing owners.
Our mission is to be recognised as the best holiday letting agency in the Lake District, to be honest, and transparent in everything that we do, and to ensure that our owners receive nothing less than a positive and excellent experience whilst working alongside us and our dedicated team.
Ambleside has always been our home and our children have loved growing up here. Being extremely passionate about our local area, we will do everything we can to ensure our guests have a great holiday.
Our main prerogative is to ensure that all of our retreats are managed and maintained to a high standard, from small maintenance jobs to larger refurbishments. Michelle and I keep on top of the day to day running of the business to ensure we keep our services running to the highest standards.
Our local team have extensive knowledge of the area and our retreats. Whether you are climbing Helvellyn, taking a cruise on Lake Windermere or simply want to take a few days to relax and enjoy the scenery, we will do our best to find the right property for you.
For all enquiries the office is open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm on 015394 34011
We look forward to seeing you soon,
Michelle and Adam Wilkin
I have almost 20 years of experience in the self-catering cottage industry having worked in the sector since leaving school. I then set up a very successful cleaning business called Diamond Cleaning based in Ambleside and eventually combined my knowledge and experience with that of my husband, Adam, to set up Lakeland Retreats. I love living and working in the Lakes and sharing my passion with our lovely owners and holidaymakers.
I’ve had many years of experience working for a large holiday letting agency as a Maintenance Man and assisting Michelle in her cleaning company, Diamond Cleaning. In time, I set up my own Property Services company and eventually merged the two businesses to create Lakeland Retreats. As well as working behind the scenes at our Ambleside and Windermere offices, I enjoy assisting owners with project managing and carrying out renovation works at their cottages.
I love sharing the place my family has called home for 4 generations. From the quiet, picturesque landscape, to the adventurous peaks, there isn’t anything about my home here in the Lakes that I don’t love (even the rain?!). If you’re bringing your bike I have plenty of great trails I can recommend, from family saunters by the lakes to big mountains with techy drops, there’s something for all lovers of 2 wheels.
With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality sector, I am extremely excited to be continuing my work within the industry, just now from a slightly different perspective. Day to day, I manage the businesses accounts and assist with other administrative tasks that help Lakeland Retreats run a smooth operation. For the leisurely walkers that love a view, I recommend taking a stroll up Orrest Head.
Having worked in the self-catering cottage industry for 8 years, I am delighted to carry on my work here at Lakeland Retreats! I deal with administrative tasks and am here to make your stay as smooth and enjoyable as possible! I love to spend all of my spare time up the fells so can provide recommendations from a leisurely stroll for the whole family to walks that aren’t for the faint-hearted.
I’m an elite road runner from the North of England with a 10k personal best of 30.40mins, something I’m looking to break going forward. I have a love of the trails and have often raced cross-country. My attention to detail comes in handy, be it for a running training plan or maintaining the Lakeland Retreats high standards for our owners and holidaymakers.
I’m the longest serving member of the team here at Lakeland Retreats and at nearly 70 in dog years, I’m also the oldest! I’m getting on in years now so can’t run up and down the hills like I used to and have all but retired from my film career that featured me running around our beautiful retreats and showing off in front of the camera. These days, you can find me resting at home, curled up in front of the wood burner waiting for dinner time!
I’m a Great Dane and I still have a lot of growing to do. I’m a little clumsy due to my extra long limbs and am the size of a small horse but I’m very loving and like nothing better than to sit near you, next to you, or on you, literally! I enjoy going for walks with Stanley, I love putting my pyjamas on for bed and having lots of cuddles with my human family. I’m looking forward to developing my acting career and starring in a few more retreat videos.