Another Place offers a tranquil Lakes capsule experience without the hassle. You can and should comfortably spend a weekend in its 14-acre grounds, as it has all the Lake District essentials right here: deep cold lake and cute boats in the foreground, and steep meadow rambles framed by those stark grey mountains out back. I am a Lake District skeptic: on previous trips I’ve found it ramajammed with tourists, or raining, or both. Also, I can’t forget a horrific George Monbiot article which explained that its iconic bald hills are basically a desert, gnawed to the quick by centuries of sheep. Cute lambs? Nightmare. So being in a fairly eco-conscious and generously proportioned estate is - very pleasant and welcome. Loads of hotels seek to replicate the bygone English Country House experience. This one does so very nicely, albeit in the upper middle class spirit of rambling cottages, fresh air, cold water bathing and helpful local servants - definitely more Arthur Ransome than PG Wodehouse.
What’s the vibe?
The vibe is quietly luxe Swallows and Amazons - especially in the daintily decorated and solidly built shepherds huts in the grounds which feel romantic and adventurous, as well as being exceptionally well appointed with firepits, fuel, fridges, binoculars for bird watching and thoughtfully curated bookshelves.
You can mooch off on walks or while away the afternoon playing ping pong or swinging by the lake but there are also outstandingly well-run activities. This boutique hotel chain always makes parents’ lives easier and this, like its sister hotel in Cornwall, has Ofsted-registered drop-in care. It also has brilliant local experts who teach archery (fantastic) and wild swimming in the lake. Lake swimming is frigid and awesome, and bold guests can make the most of the dark skies and go with a guide for a starlit night swim. (There is a heated indoor infinity pool if you’re too chicken.)
Indoors, we appreciated the quiet and comfortable library, with fatly stuffed sofas, warm fires and shelves of soothing nature books - plus rapid table service if you fancy a sundowner or a snack.
I’m hungry!
We loved the simpler in-house dining option of pizzas (and wine, cocktail, salad and pudding) in the Victorian-style glasshouse overlooking the lake. The pizzas are chewy and crusty and very good, and the setting is elegant, dazzling and helpfully toasty on a cold afternoon. The posher option is Rampsbeck Restaurant, also pretty good and quite ambitious - with a wider range of fish and veg-based dishes.
Who should stay here? Time-poor weekenders, convalescents, knackered young families, romantics and fresh air lovers. Just about anyone, really.