We often stay in YHAs but might try something different this year. Tried Ambleside backpackers, didnt really like.

Needs to be near beer / food facilities.

Any self catering big houses with bike storage with *natural* rides from door ?

This place is nice, and right at the bottom of a superb techy descent on Borrowdale Bash.

http://www.lakelandcampingbarns.co.uk/barnview.asp?ID=4

We had sole use of the place though. Not sure about bike storage – we put ours in the kitchen bit.

Just come back from here

Excellent food and drink on site. Pretty good location for accessing rides. Some rides straight from the site.

+1 TM

also consider:

http://www.amblesideselfcatering.co.uk

i stayed at Hillside cottage last year for £270 for the week (they’ll do part week out of season), we kept bikes in cottage (carefully) – but don’t tell the owners please! (perfect for blokes but the Mrs found it a bit “basic” when we stayed in their Stavely cottage.