Cowan Bridge, self-catering holiday cottages, barns, rural retreats and lodges to rent in Lancashire, England

Cowan Bridge Has Everything You Need for a good self-catering break

The small Lancashire village of Cowan Bridge is a terrific base for holidaymakers wanting to discover the southern Lake District, the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales. Families can enjoy riverside walks, fell walking and seeing the countryside from cycling paths or alternatively relax in a country cottage.

self-catering cottages in Lancashire

What Cowan Bridge offers for Self-Catering Breaks

Fans of the Bronte sisters and their novels may already know of Cowan Bridge’s association with the Yorkshire born writers. Both Emily and Charlotte (and Maria and Elizabeth Bronte) attended the Clergy Daughters’ School there, an infamous institution at the time that Charlotte fictionalised in Jane Eyre.
    
Thanks to a group of volunteers who run Spot On Rural Touring, it’s possible to see some professional entertainment for the family. This organisation presents plays, musical performances, cabaret shows, dance and children’s shows at Fraser Hall in the village, which can hold around a hundred people. Their mission is to bring entertainment to remote rural communities across Lancashire.

Cowan Bridge is only two miles from the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, so there are opportunities to browse the market and shops and take in the historic buildings. However, the kids will be more interested in The Enchanted Chocolate Mine. Located at the Chocolat chocolate shop, an underground ‘mine’ is where you’ll find faeries, whose job it is to bring up all the delicious chocolate that they can find.

A drive to Docker Park Farm Visitor Centre makes for an entertaining day out, especially for the younger children. It’s a busy day, with go-karts for adults and the kids, tractor rides, donkey rides, a soft play area in a barn, an outdoor playground, a café and gift shop. In addition, there are the farm animals plus the alpacas and eight pairs of owls. The farm is in a lovely setting and visitors are welcome to walk round the two lakes.

Cowan Bridge is just five miles from the village of Ingleton, which opens up a world of natural attractions such as caves and waterfalls. White Scar Cave is the longest show cave in Britain and beautiful waterfalls reward those following The Waterfalls Walk. You can also hop on a steam train and experience the famous Settle-Carlisle railway. For anyone wanting the challenge of The Three Peaks, Ingleborough (2,372 feet) is a good place to start and access from Ingleton is one of the easier routes.

Cowan Bridge is such a good choice of location and has so much to offer in the vicinity, you will need to make a return visit!

Begin by finding self-catering cottages near Cowan Bridge for a self-catering holiday that takes in the Lakes and Dales. Possible accommodation is displayed below, you may also wish to consider the following pages of self-catering cottages:

Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Cowan Bridge, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Lancashire.