Traditional country hotel offering the best of Cumbrian Hospitality. Excellent breakfast, good beer, comfortable accommodation and luxurious toiletries. We were made extremely welcome and the food was perfect.

www.the-royal-dockray.co.uk
Dockray, Matterdale, Penrith, CA11 0JY
+44(0)17684 82356
Google map: bit.ly/NTVIar

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Perfectly understated and calmly organised, The Samling remains intimate even on its busiest days. Where larger luxury hotels are loudly decked with people, The Samling seems to swallow its guests into every nook and cranny of a carefully managed estate.

Once in its grasp, this estate holds you close and loses you to subtly changing views and timeless simplicity. There you can sit frozen, forgetting what it was drove you through The Samling's gates until eventually you stir and shift towards the dining room and where the best food is served by the best people.

The hotel also has some tenuous link to Wordsworth but frankly, who cares?

Just off the road to Waterhead and Ambleside.

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This excellent small hotel used to be Beatrix Potter's holiday home. It is just down the road from Hill Top and overlooks Esthwaite water. There are lovely lounges to relax in or many walks to do from the door. Richard, the owner, is the chef and he produces superb, innovative meals.

Near Sawrey, Ambleside
Cumbria LA22 0JZ
On the B5285 between Hawkshead and the Windermere Ferry.
www.eeswyke.co.uk

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The Inn On The Lake has the most spectacular views of Lake Ullswater and never fails to induce a sharp intake of breath on arrival. This place is all about the location and it really is worth spending a few extra pounds for a lake view room.

Lake Ullswater, Glenridding CA11 0PE
Tel: 017684 82444
www.innonthelakeullswater.com

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Peaceful and relaxing, the hotel oozes old-fashioned quirky charm. Helpful staff are down-to-earth and there’s a splendid 6-course silver-service dinner in the evenings. A touch expensive but well worth it. The bonus is that it nestles on the SE edge of Derwentwater in one of the most beautiful Cumbrian valleys of all - perfect for the soul to help you recover from everyday life.

Borrowdale Valley, near Keswick
017687 77224 www.theborrowdalehotel.co.uk

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Fantastic pub for lunch after a hard morning's hike - the ploughman's lunch plus a pint of Black Sheep or Riggwelter, both glorious darker ales from the Masham brewery, sets you up for the rest of the day. The bar is to be found in the converted stables, the white-washed walls and horse brasses don't attempt to hide the humble beginnings of the place, far from it, the bar is a cosy and even on busy weekends, often a fairly quiet spot to have a meal or just a drink. Dog friendly too, we've taken ours into the bar without problems, or there are tables outside if your pooch is wary of other people. Decidely a locals' pub, it is nonetheless a friendly place to escape from the hordes of tourists around Beatrix Potter's house in near Sawrey. Having never stayed in the hotel I can't comment but if the bar is anything to go by it should be great!

Far Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0LQ
Telephone: 01539 443425
www.sawreyhotel.co.uk/

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