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WE hadn’t even arrived at the hotel and already we’d ticked off three Lake District staples – RAF jets, rain and stunning vistas.
The sun was shining when we arrived, winding our way down a country lane and popping out in a clearing to find our home for the next few days.
The Lindeth Howe hotel sits on the hillside above Lake Windermere for all to see, yet it felt as if we’d stumbled upon a beautiful little secret. Built in 1879, it once belonged to one of the Lake District’s most famous daughters, Beatrix Potter.
The current owners are celebrating their 20th anniversary at the hotel, and have invested more than £1million in creating a unique new “tea room” for conferences and weddings and refurbishing the building’s downstairs lounges and bar area.
We were staying in the Westmorland Suite, with grand views across the hotel’s gardens, lake and Cumbrian fells.
Lavishly appointed, we had our own fridge, luxury tea and coffee facilities and a fire to take the edge off the autumn evenings.
We booked ourselves in for an evening meal and took a stroll down towards the lake, through neatly manicured gardens.
It’s a good stretch of the legs to the lakeside and on to Bowness centre and we paused for a cocktail at an outside bar.
Back at the hotel for dinner, we ordered drinks in the drawing room and enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres while we perused the menu. Lindeth Howe has a formidable reputation for its food, thanks to head chef Christopher Davies’ menus. After our delicious dinner we could see why.
Next day we headed to Bowness to join a lake cruise. We boarded a boat heading for Lakeside, which boasts a steam train, an aquarium and a motor museum. The 40-minute trip cost £22.90 each, but included entry to the motor museum and a return journey on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway – excellent value.
Departing the ferry at Lakeside, we were lucky enough to find the steam engine waiting to take us to Haverthwaite, where there was an engine shed where you could get a closer look at the railway’s collection of steam and diesel locomotives before hopping back on the train to Lakeside.
From there, we took the free shuttle bus to the Lakeland Motor Museum, which has a stunning collection. Back at the hotel we ordered wine in the hotel bar and unwound. The perfect ending to a perfect Lakes day. ¬ÊROOMS at the Lindeth Howe Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere, start from £125 (room only), £135 (bed and breakfast) and £170 (dinner, bed and breakfast). See lindeth-howe.co.uk or call 01539 445759. ¬ÊWINDERMERE Lake Cruises has various cruises and ticket prices available, including combined cruise and attraction visits to save money. See windermerelake-cruises.co.uk for more information.