Eight Amazing Lake District Hotels to Escape To
This is the perfect time of year to escape to the Lakes
Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa
In brief: A luxury hotel on the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake.
Insider guide: In the secluded splendour of 400 acres beside the lake and framed by the dramatic Skiddaw Mountain and Lake District Fells, choose from 44 individually designed bedrooms here, including opulent garden suites and spacious family-friendly rooms, eat in the elegant Lake View Restaurant or the more informal Grill for bistro-style classics, and relax in the award-winning spa with its extensive treatment menu, 16-metre infinity pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool, thermal suite, gym, and Tranquility Terrace.
Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4RE
017687 76551
armathwaite-hall.com
Borrowdale Hotel
In brief: A superb, family-owned, dog-friendly hotel in the Borrowdale valley.
Insider guide: Comfortable and welcoming, this lakeland hotel at the foot of Shepherd’s Crag is all about open fires and cosy corners, with a focus on genuine hospitality. The 40 rooms range from standard to prestige, and walks start almost on the doorstep, leading through some of Cumbria’s most dramatic scenery. After a day on the fells, it’s the kind of place you want to come back to for a quiet pint in the cosy bar and some hearty food (accompanied by an extensive wine list) and board games by the fire. Guests can also enjoy access to the award-winning Falls Spa at nearby sister hotel Lodore Falls.
Borrowdale, Keswick CA12 5UY
0330 0564 884
lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House
In brief: A luxurious hotel with spa and Michelin-starred dining.
Insider guide: There are 30 rooms at Gilpin, 22 of which have their own hot tub. The spa suites, bedrooms which float over the ponds, have spa rooms complete with sauna, steam room, infrared lounge bed and massage chair. Michelin-starred restaurant SOURCE is headed by Ollie Bridgwater, while the more casual two-AA Rosette Gilpin Spice offers pan-Asian dishes prepared in an open kitchen. For ultimate privacy, stay at the Lake House, a tranquil haven with just six bedrooms, set in 100 acres of land and centred around a private lake.
Crook Road, Windermere LA23 3NE
01539 488818
thegilpin.co.uk
Borrowdale Gates Hotel
In brief: An idyllic country house hotel at the head of Derwentwater, with simply stunning views.
Insider guide: With a well-earned reputation for its warm hospitality, fine dining, and tranquil setting within its own three acres of woodland there’s plenty of choice when it comes to rooms here. From the cosy Classic to the vast Garden Suites with private patio and seating area, Borrowdale Gates Hotel is the perfect place for a luxurious lakeland retreat. In the two AA Rosette dining room, where picture windows frame the fell views, dishes are created by head chef Christopher Standhaven and his team, using the best local produce, in archetypal country house cooking, with a light, modern interpretation.
Grange-in-Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5UQ
01768 777204
borrowdale-gates.com
The Samling
In brief: A luxury hotel with panoramic views of Windermere.
Insider guide: With a reputation for exceptional hospitality and comfort, there are 12 individually-designed bedrooms, suites and cottages all in soothing dove greys and greens to reflect the hotel’s lakeside location. Award-winning fine dining under the watchful eye of executive head chef Robby Jenks is enhanced by a renowned wine list. Foodies should book The Chef’s Table, an immersive experience in an intimate and unique setting for up to six guests.
Ambleside Road, Windermere LA23 1LR
0153 9431922
thesamlinghotel.co.uk
Another Place
In brief: A cool, contemporary hotel on the shores of Ullswater.
Insider guide: Choose a room or suite in the original Georgian house, or the more contemporary wing, and there are also six shepherd’s huts, a large treehouse and family cottages in the grounds. There are three good restaurants to choose from, and the Swim Club is the hotel’s take on a spa, with a 20-metre indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, sauna and treatment rooms. Unsurprisingly it’s all about the outdoors here: you can book stand-up paddleboarding, swimming and kayaking with expert instructors, or borrow a wetsuit and join a wild swim session.
Watermillock, Ullswater CA11 0LP
01768 486442
another.place
Langdale Chase
In brief: A laidback, luxurious lakeside retreat with its own boat.
Insider guide: This revamped Victorian mansion is now home to country-chic interiors with plenty of cosy fireside corners, a contemporary AA Rosette lakeside dining room, a busy bar, wraparound terrace, and its own boat for tours of the lake from the hotel’s private pier. All the rooms and suites are stunning, but book the Langdale Pikes Suite for the lake views from its balcony, or push the boat out and stay in the secluded Victorian Boathouse, directly over the lake, with its own private jetty.
Ambleside Road, Ecclerigg, Windermere LA23 1LW
01539 432201
langdalechase.co.uk
Lindeth Fell Country House
In brief: A five star country house perched above Lake Windermere.
Insider guide: This Arts and Craft house has 14 bedrooms, all with either lake or garden views. The light-filled dining room looks out over the cascading garden terraces to the mountains beyond where you can enjoy breakfast, a light lunch, afternoon tea or an early three-course dinner (until 7pm) which focuses on the best local ingredients.
Lyth Valley Road, Windermere LA23 3JP
015394 43286
lindethfell.com
