The hotel sits perched on a hill with views over Windermere, woods and peaks. Smartly-dressed staff greet you as you park your car and take you through newly-planted gardens to the front door of this Arts and Crafts house. Service is on wheels here.Chef Ritu Dalmia is in charge of the kitchen and her passion for Italian food is evident, only made better by such good local ingredients. Visit the Lakes Library to plan your days: boat trips, steam trains, walks near and far, visits to Cartmel, Hilltop or Grasmere. You don’t really need to lift a finger, it can all be organised for you.There are mountain bikes to borrow, wellies to put on; fishing can be sorted either in the hotel’s own tarn or further away – one-to-one fly fishing lessons too. The gardens will be stunning when they have become more established, the terrace is a dreamy place to sit with a drink and in the autumn the spa will be completed. This is an indulgent sort of place that people like to return to year after year.
