BEST HOTELS IN THE LAKE DISTRICT: LUXURY, VIEWS & ADVENTURE

Emma Love

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Known as much for its lakes and spectacular landscapes as Scafell Pike, its highest mountain, the Lake District is England’s largest national park. An excellent destination for hikers wanting to explore the fells, outdoor sports enthusiasts and foodies (Cumbria has the most Michelin star restaurants outside of London), it also has plenty of pretty villages to explore. Here is our pick of the best hotels to stay in and around Lake Windermere.

Gilpin Hotel, Windermere

A foodie favourite thanks to its flagship Michelin-star restaurant SOURCE (which is overseen by executive chef Ollie Bridgwater, previously at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck), this luxury hotel in the Lake District sits on 21 acres of land near Windermere. Many rooms in the Gilpin Hotel, an Edwardian country house, have their own cedarwood hot tub; spa suites also come with a private sauna, steam room and infrared lounge bed. You can also book in for Espa treatments, relax in the bar and lounge while enjoying pre-dinner cocktails, and sit down for a casual supper in pan-Asian restaurant Gilpin Spice where chefs in the open kitchen knock up mains such as Goan-style tiger king prawns and tomato pumpkin seed curry. It’s worth strolling the grounds, eyes peeled for the resident llamas and alpacas too. A mile down the road, six-room Gilpin Lake House is a rustic boutique hotel alternative, housed in a rebuilt fishing lodge with its own private lake, communal sauna, hot tubs and pool.

Linthwaite House, Windermere

Perched on a hill overlooking Windermere, Linthwaite House is a luxury hotel brilliantly positioned for hikers wanting to explore the fells (many walking routes start from Ambleside in the north of the lake). As you’d expect, the best rooms come with lake views and a hot tub on the terrace (the Fell Suites are in a separate low-level, wood-clad building). Food is a big draw with celebrated chef Simon Rogan in charge at Henrock Restaurant (choose from three-courses or a set tasting menu), which are driven by produce from his regenerative farm in the Cartmel Valley. There’s also all-day dining and cocktails at The Bar & Conservatory; a private tarn with rowing boats; and games of boules on the lawn in summer. A few minutes’ drive north, the popular town of Bowness-on-Windermere is a great place to join a cruise of the lake

Brimstone Hotel and Spa, Great Langdale

From the train station transfer in a Land Rover Defender to the Reading Room, a cosy living space stocked with complimentary local ales, wine and homemade snacks, this boutique hotel and spa offers plenty of extra touches. Part of the 35-acre Langdale Estate at the foot of the Langdale Valley (the site was once a gunpowder works), Brimstone Hotel and Spa has 16 contemporary rooms and suites, all with folding glass doors that open onto a private balcony; the best also come with a log burning fire and rolltop freestanding bath. Before setting out, borrow walking gear from the Epicentre Bootroom and ask staff (called ‘hosts’) for their tips on the local area – from the Cathedral Caves to Loughrigg Fell and Blea Tarn. You can also use the fitness facilities at the Langdale Hotel, ease aching muscles by completing a thermal circuit of the spa (it includes an indoor-outdoor pool, Himalayan salt room and herbal sauna) and refuel at the Stove restaurant and bar.

Lakeside Hotel & Spa, Windermere

This luxury spa hotel lives up to its name, with grounds stretching right to the southern shore of Windermere. Lake views take centre stage – whether from the rooms (restful ground floor Lake terrace doubles, for instance, each have their own outdoor space while the two-suite Lodge feels like a private retreat on the water’s edge) or the lunch patio where you can spy Gummer’s How in the distance. There’s also a conservatory, for all-day dining, and the classic grill restaurant where steaks are cooked on a charcoal barbecue. After a swim in the pool, an indulgent treatment and relaxing under the warmth of the heat domes, embrace the chill with an invigorating stroll down to the water – then end the day with a glass of Champagne alfresco, soaking up those panoramic vistas.

Hillthwaite, Windermere

A family home turned boutique hotel with dramatic views over the Langdale Pikes, Crinkle Crags and Coniston Old Man, Hillthwaite is within walking distance of the charming towns of Windermere and Bowness. Kickstart the day with a full English breakfast in the light-filled dining room (nab a table by the window if you can) and enjoy coffee in the conservatory or on the terrace before setting out to explore. Knowledgeable staff are happy to offer advice on everything from booking a private mountain guide for hikes to chartering your own boat on the lake. There’s also the Poets Bar for negronis before supper, where the international menu includes dishes such as tandoori chicken burger, seared sea bream and wild mushroom risotto. Rooms at Hillthwaite Hotel range from cosy, compact doubles to Occasion Rooms (some are in Tendal Howe, in the garden – ideal for those wanting more privacy), and the signature room 15, which has its own balcony.