HOTEL OF THE WEEK
THE RO Lake District
WHERE AND WHY: Overlooking Lake Windermere, The Ro is perfectly situated in the heart of beautiful Bowness, a small town on its shores that has enough to do for a weekend visit or to be used as a base for exploration.
The hotel is run by people who have a long love affair with the Lake District and their passion for the place shines through.
Our room, a super lake view balcony room, was spacious and modern. The balcony was a great spot to sit for a morning coffee or late afternoon drinks where you can watch life pass by gently, with the lake often a hive of activity for boats.
ON THE MENU: The Lacu restaurant at The Ro offers a taste of the Lake District. The menu has a local flavour and focuses on doing a few dishes very well rather than overloading diners with choices.
I opted for the chicken wings to start and my partner had nachos. I had the Cumbrian lamb shank as a main, which almost fell off the bone and tasted delicious, while my partner had the flavoursome Lakeland chicken. The sticky toffee pudding for dessert topped off a wonderful meal.
The menu has an extensive wine list and the restaurant enjoys minimalist decoration, with seating indoors and some seats also available on the terrace for those balmy evenings.
Starters from £6.50, mains from £17.50, desserts from £6.50.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE: We took a Lakes cruise for a trip around the islands with a well-informed guide who regaled us with wonderful local stories. The boats can also be used as transport to the towns of Windermere and Ambleside.
WAKE-UP CALL: Rooms £150 a night. therohotel.com
■ By Tyrone Marshall