THE LAKE DISTRICT - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 624

VERY EXPENSIVE
Armathwaite Hall Country House & Spa A country hotel with a rich
history, it began as a house for Benedictine nuns in the 14th century, and was added
to by a series of wealthy landowners until the mid-19th century. Today it is a luxury
hotel surrounded by dense woodland bordering Bassenthwaite Lake. Guests arrive via
a magnificent entrance hall lined with rich wood paneling. The bedrooms are hand-
somely furnished, with padded headboards crowning comfortable beds fitted with
fine linen. Four-poster and family rooms are available. The restaurant serves flam-
béed signature dishes.
Bassenthwaite Lake (on the B5291, 7 miles northwest of Keswick, 1 1 ⁄ 2 miles west of Bassenthwaite),
Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4RE. www.armathwaite-hall.com. & 01768/776551. Fax [phone]
units. £310-£330 double; £370-£420 suite. Rates include English breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities: Restaurant; bar; babysitting; health club; indoor heated pool; tennis court. In room: TV, hair
dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
EXPENSIVE
Borrowdale Gates Hotel This 1860 Victorian country house is set in one of
the most favored spots of Alfred Wainwright (renowned writer of pictorial guides to
the fells). Rooms range from medium to large and are decorated with rich Victorian
colors and period reproductions. The cozy public areas, with their antiques and open-
log fires, include four lounges, a bar, a restaurant, and dining area, all with garden
views. The restaurant serves Cumbrian meats, but usually has a fish option too (£37
dinner for non-guests).
Grange-in-Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5UQ (from Keswick, take the B5289 4 miles south to
Grange; go over the bridge, and the inn sits on the right, just beyond the curve in the road). www.
borrowdale-gates.com. & 0845/833-2524. Fax [phone] units. Sun-Thurs £120-£200 dou-
ble. Rates include English breakfast. Dinner £30 extra per person. AE, MC, V. Free parking.. Amenities:
Restaurant; bar. In room: TV, hair dryer.
Highfield Hotel Originally constructed in the late 1880s, two former pri-
vate residences have been skillfully converted into an ample hotel with mountain and
lake views. All rooms are a good size and handsomely outfitted, many with bay win-
dows where you can soak up the view. The most magnificent is the spacious and
elegant Woodford Room, with a four-poster bed and raised seating area. The elegant
and award-winning restaurant has daily-changing menus that use the best local
products, such as Cumbrian lamb.
The Heads, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5ER. www.highfieldkeswick.co.uk. & 01768/772508. Fax
01768/780634. 19 units. £170-£220 double. Rates include breakfast and dinner. AE, MC, V. Free parking.
Closed mid-Nov-mid-Feb. Amenities: Restaurant; bar. In room: TV.
Lodore Falls Hotel This hotel overlooks Derwentwater and the nearby moun-
tains. Built in traditional Lakeland slate over 200 years ago, its tradition of good
rooms, food, and service continue today. The interior has been completely modern-
ized, and the well-furnished bedrooms vary in size; it's worth opting for one of the
larger ones. With a spa and beauty salon, lounge, cafe, and restaurant, the hotel is the
perfect retreat after a day's walking.
Borrowdale Rd. (B5289), Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5UX (on the B5289 3 1 ⁄ 2 miles south of
Keswick). www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls. & 01768/777285. Fax [phone] units.
£172-£250 double; £362-£484 suite. 2-night minimum stay Sat-Sun. Rates include breakfast. MC, V.
Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; children's playground; exercise room; 2 heated pools (1
indoor, 1 outdoor); room service; sauna; spa; tennis court. In room: TV, hair dryer.

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