Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Southeast of Windermere, the
Punch Bowl,
off the A5074 in Crosthwaithe
(
&
01539/568234;
www.the-punchbowl.co.uk), is a 16th-century pub with a cen-
tral room featuring a high-beamed ceiling with minstrel galleries. Outdoors, a stepped
terrace on the hillside offers a tranquil retreat. Regional ales are available on tap.
Where to Stay
VERY EXPENSIVE
Cedar Manor Hotel
Cedar Manor might have been the 19th-century summer
getaway for a wealthy industrialist, but today it is a luxury hotel. Each bedroom is
spacious, well-furnished, and individually designed; some have canopied or four-
poster beds. The award-winning
Cedar Manor Restaurant,
the perfect place for a
candlelit dinner, caters to diners who like rib-eye steak and slow-cooked pork belly as
well as for those with an acquired taste for game. Children aged 10 and younger are
not allowed in the restaurant for dinner.
Ambleside Rd. (A591), Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1AX. www.cedarmanor.co.uk.
&
01539/443192.
Fax 01539/445970. 11 units. £120-£210 double; £180-£250 suite. Rates include breakfast. 2-night mini-
mum Sat-Sun. Restaurant £38 per person set menu. AE, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant;
lounge.
In room:
TV/DVD (in some), fridge (in some), hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Gilpin Lodge
Set in 40 hectares (100 acres) of grounds with a croquet
lawn and llama paddock, this hotel exudes classical elegance, contemporary style, and
an unimposing personal service. Whether you stay in the main house guest rooms or
one of the suites, you'll find accommodations individually and tastefully styled. Some
suites have private gardens with hot tubs, while the Lake House, opened in 2010, is
an individually staffed boutique hotel with just six suites, an indoor pool, and a spa,
providing the ultimate luxury retreat. And you don't need to stray far from the hotel
as you can
dine
in style, too—after an aperitif in the champagne bar!
Crook Rd., B5284 nr. Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3NE. www.gilpinlodge.co.uk.
&
01539/488818.
Main
House, Orchard, and Garden wings 20 units; Lake House 6 units. Main House £190-£260 double;
£280-£360 suite. Lake House £390-£410 per suite. Rates include English breakfast. Lake House also
includes afternoon tea and chauffeur to/from Gilpin in the evening. Dinner £40 per person if booked
with room. 2-night minimum on weekends. AE, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; lounge, bar.
In room:
TV, hair dryer, spa tubs (some), Wi-Fi (free).
Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel
A tranquil oasis overlooking Lake
Windermere, this 19th-century former hunting lodge has a high price tag but exudes
luxury. Its
restaurant
serves some of the finest cuisine in the area, and rooms are
individually designed, most with lake views. All have luxury beds, often crowned by a
canopy, while the honeymoon room has a four-poster bed and a bathroom with a
double spa tub. A separate lodge contains the hotel's six finest units, all with balcony
or patio areas overlooking the lake.
Note:
Children 7 and under are prohibited in the
restaurant.
Holbeck Lane (on the A591, 3
1
⁄
2
miles northwest of town center), Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1LU. www.
holbeckghyll.com.
&
01539/432375.
Fax 01539/434743. 21 units. £250-£370 double; £315-£450 suite.
Rates include English breakfast and dinner. Restaurant: Dinner £60 per person if not booked with room
or for non-guests. Children 16 and under stay half-price in parent's room. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; gym; spa; tennis court, room service.
In room:
TV, hair dryer, kitchenette (in
4 units).
Linthwaite House Hotel
This hotel, built in 1900, is surrounded by wood-
lands and gardens, with a panoramic view of Lake Windermere. As befits its former
role as an Edwardian gentleman's residence, it has individually decorated bedrooms,
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