Denise Mullen samples a luxury weekend at one of the lake district’s favourite privately owned boutique hotels

WE’RE both feeling a little ‘Alice in Wonderland’ as we are seated before an array of delightful mismatched bone China cups and saucers.

They add a splash of colour to the linen inside Broadoaks’ orangery.

I have builders taking a wrecking ball to my house and my companion has just bid her builders farewell, so we are both looking forward to some dust-free ‘all about me’ time.

Pulling up onto the gravelled driveway frontage to Broadoaks’ main house, complete with fountain, we’d parked and crunched over to reception to check-in.

As ‘ The Retreat’, where we’re staying, has two private parking spaces, our smiling escort told us, we might as well drive over and park right outside.

Once parked, we abandoned the bags to the car boot and embarked on a giddy exploration.

The Retreat is the latest addition to Broadoaks boutique country house hotels accommodation portfolio.

It is everything you’d expect from a venerable Lakeland house with a top pedigree – and some welcome modern quirks.

The tucked away log cabin accommodation is lighter, blonder with dark accents ... and utterly beguiling.

Blessed with Troutbeck’s panorama, the hotel’s grounds sit above a deep cut to a rushing watercourse, surrounded by wooded hills.

The trick with the cabin has been to create an interior to do it all justice.

Our two-doubles accommodation elicits a soft ‘ wow’ from my companion as we open the door onto a big open sitting room, flooded with light and blessed with a sleek, gleaming wood burner.

The space is all about style and comfort.

Cashmere, cottons, silks and wool make the space warm and tactile; the cosy L-shaped sofas frame a low coffee table above a thick plaid wool rug; a long window seat runs the entire length of one side of the dark wood- floored sitting room.

Another window backs the wood burner and a skylight ensures an airiness that lasts all day long. A little kitchen nook snuggles up against the entrance and there’s a thoughtfully provided cupboard labelled ‘big frocks’ which explains the bank of bar stools, plug points, wall-width mirror and the shelf underscoring it.

It would be perfect for any bridal party applying the finishing touches to face and hair.

Walking deeper into the cabin, we are delighted to discover an indoor – and outdoor – sunken spa bath. The bath out on the master deck conjures hot tub and fizz ambitions but we both suspect its indoor sister gets more use. Well, this is The Lake District. So well thought out is this luxe bathing duo that both manage to offer light and airy space combined with ultimate privacy, thanks to thick hedges and a small private garden that backs the cabin.

Arranged in a mirror image, they’re divided by a glass wall which adds to the spacey feel and both feature chromotherapy lighting for an extra dollop of indulgence.

Both double beds are darkly carved and host to an inviting mix of warm chocolatey throws and crisp white Egyptian cotton linen.

Each room has its own beautiful separate bathroom, both with twin pedestal basins and walk-in showers with huge rainfall shower heads.

So, while we are awaiting the arrival of our afternoon tea in the orangery, we’re delighted to welcome a gliding waiter who emerges with glasses of faintly blushing champagne. Laurent Perrier, we surmise, given the champagne marque sponsors Broadoaks’ orangery.

When afternoon tea arrives it’s time to wonder where the other four are who’ll help us out with it. The cake stand is laden with impossible-to-resist finger sandwiches and beautiful patisserie.

That mismatched crockery is put to good use – the hotel collects stray pieces from friends and guests and makes a donation to charity for every cup it receives.

Soon we’re surprised to find we’re done, and have laid waste to the cake stand.

Faced with the stark realisation that we have a three-course a-lacarte dinner to tackle, we head back down to The Retreat, which is fortunately downhill, to fortify ourselves with a glass of something and relax in one of the cabin veranda’s generously provided outdoor seating vantage points.

Showered and fresh, we’re enjoying the setting sun and a mooch around the grounds en route to dinner.

Like afternoon tea, but this time in the restaurant, the food is beautifully prepared and presented, accompanied by a wine list that offers plenty of opportunity for exploration.

Service is just the right balance of warm and friendly – attentive but not obtrusive – and we leave the table feeling relaxed, pampered and not a little bit spoiled.

Harder to leave are the beds next morning. However, we make it out and demolish a delicious Lakeland breakfast before a leisurely drive home.