Enjoy your dream home for a week

Is your dream house a cottage by the water?

If so, you are not alone. New research shows that millions of Britons dream of a waterside view from their sitting room window - whether it be of a lake, river, canal or the sea. And estate agents report that waterside properties sell for almost 20% more than the same houses away from the water.

Such findings are fuelling the boom in waterside living. From the River Thames to the canals of Manchester, apartments with waterway views are more popular than ever before. But if this is out of your price range, Waterscape.com can give you the chance to live the dream for a week - by renting a beautiful waterside cottage.

Among the hundreds of cottages available for rent on Waterscape.com are many dream homes by the water. One of the most charming is an 18th century boat-house on the shores of Derwent Water, near Keswick. Built for the ferryman who carried people and goods to the idyllic islands dotted across the lake, the house maintains a boating tradition even today - with a rowing boat provided for holidaymakers and even moorings for your own sailing boat.

Activities like this are a major attraction for waterside holidaymakers. If you were to rent an immaculately furnished houseboat on the River Severn near Gloucester - another of the cottage holidays on offer - you could enjoy miles of comfortable cycling along the nearby Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, as well as walks along the Severn and into the Cotswolds. Or why not book a cottage at Symonds Yat, on the River Wye? This mecca for canoeists is also great walking country - and there’s a welcoming riverside pub, the Saracen’s Head, to retire to at the end of the day.

But if you’d prefer a quieter week away, Waterscape.com has an outstanding collection of cottages on the Norfolk Broads. Here, you can enjoy a peaceful boat trip for a day, taking in the varied wildlife and relaxing scenery. The properties range from a thatched cottage for two in the quiet village of Ludham, up to a half-timbered house for eight beside bustling Oulton Broad.

So if you haven’t booked your summer holiday yet, take a look through the hundreds of cottages featured on Waterscape.com and find the break that’s right for you.