Escaping to the Lake District at Rothay Manor Hotel
There’s just something about the Lake District, isn’t there?
Big landscapes, amazing views, a rugged world far far away from daily commutes, traffic jams and technology. Bleak at times, impressive at others, and with the lure of warm cafes, cosy hotels and great food to boot.
Luckily, while it feels far away from the real world, trains or even the good old M6 make it more than manageable for a weekend break. The biggest issue is which part should you choose for your idyllic few days?
May I suggest Ambleside? It’s got everything you want from a Lake District break. Gorgeous views across Lake Windermere complete with its water-filled activities, plenty of walking, National Trust hidey holes dotted around, bucketloads of pubs, cafes and restaurants, and some stonking hotels where you can curl up and escape from the world.
They include Rothay Manor – a country house hotel that sits on the edge of Ambleside, a stone’s throw from lovely Lake Windermere and the perfect place to kick back and relax if you’re on a jaunt to the Lakes.
The Grade II listed building has 19 bedrooms and has been refurbished relatively recently, artfully mixing sumptuous with modern. Our room is plenty big enough for two, with a small seating area boasting two wingback chairs perfect for curling up with a book. Alongside all the plush stuff there are modern touches too, like the obligatory Nespresso machine.
The bathroom is the piece de resistance for me, with a rolltop bath that cries out to you plus large welcoming shower. Sadly a broken plug issue put the kibosh on my plan to wallow in a bath of bubbles but staff did try to do everything they could to help remedy it. Maybe next time!
The communal spaces are cosy and welcoming, with plenty of nooks to curl up with a glass of something nice and enjoy the Beatrix Potter books you can find in the lounge or get lost in the weekend’s papers.
The hotel is an easy walk to Windermere, as well as to the centre of Ambleside, and you also have use of a spa at another hotel in the town if you fancy pampering yourself for a few hours.
The food is one of the big draws at Rothay Manor. You can meander your way through a choice of tasting menus or a la carte dishes in the fine dining 3 AA rosette restaurant, or go slightly more casual with classic dishes in the Brathay Lounge.
We go all out, feasting on dishes like a starter of loin of wild Cumbrian rabbit with pancetta, Boudin Noir and pumpkin, followed by main of Herdwick hogget, complete with sweetbread as well as autumnal foraged ingredients like nettle and redcurrant. We may not have chosen a tasting menu but it certainly felt like we had by the time we were plied with numerous amuse bouches, palate cleansers, bread boards and the like.
While old-school French style might not work everywhere, it does when it comes to cheese and there’s nothing nicer than choosing your cheeseboard from an expansive trolley set alongside your table with all the accoutrements. A word to the wise – make sure if you do this you try Rothay Manor’s flight of port that gives you a tipple of four different types to accompany your cheese.
When restaurants feed you in such abundance, it’s always nice to be sleeping upstairs rather than having to stagger out into the cold.
After a good night’s sleep we found ourselves back in the impressive dining room for breakfast choosing from the usual buffet options or a selection of cooked options. If its a hearty lakeland brekkie you’re after, this might not quite be the thing for you, but you may well still be full from the night before, so I wouldn’t worry too much.
We leave relaxed, still full and as in love with the Lakes as ever. One night at Rothay Manor works wonders and I imagine a few more would be absolute bliss. If you want to escape from life, yet combine a cosy break with some fine dining food in sumptuous surroundings, this could be the place for you.
- Belle enjoyed a complimentary stay at Rothay Manor Hotel & Fine Dining, Rothay Bridge, Ambleside LA22 0EH
