A little while ago now, my husband and I decided we needed a weekend away, from the stresses of everyday living. So he found Armathwaite Hall Hotel, using the AA Website, and we booked in for a few nights.
The hotel is a Four Star establishment.The Hotel is set in the heart of Cumbria, not far form Keswick, and overlooks a lake called Bassenthwaite Lake. The surroundings are superb. There are extensive grounds to walk around, tennis courts, woodlands walks, gardens, everything for a relaxing weekend. We even saw an albino pea-hen in the grounds, and there were plenty of peacocks out for their Sunday stroll. The gardens are a haven for animals and birds.
The hotel can organise activities such as clay pigeon shooting, which we enjoy, or fishing. There is also an animal park close by. The village of Keswick is within easy reach.
The bedrooms were amazing. We were on the first floor, reached by a magnificent staircase (sorry I sounds like I am writing a Danielle Steele novel there). The door to the bedroom must was about 2 inches thick, extremely heavy, and with a traditional heavyweight lock and key. This feeling of quality continued into the room. We had a room with four poster bed, traditional furniture, including comfy sofas, and a huge window, overlooking the lake. There was a beautiful en suite bathroom, in keeping with the rest of the accommodation.
There were roaring fires in the lounges downstairs, and the smell of burning wood could be smelt right the way through the house. It was a wonderful warm friendly atmosphere.The hotel has a Spa, pool and Beauty salon. This was refitted about four years ago. The Beauty Salon uses Espa products, of which I particularly like their shower gel.
There is a fabulous restaurant, with AA rosettes. It serves wonderful food, and is typically six courses. This was about £32.We paid about £100 per night for our room and breakfast. We did go in low season, in late January. Armathwaite's website quotes that are double that. (I have looked back several times, to see if I could afford to go back!!). It is probably worth phoning to see what offers are on at the time of your trip.
We stayed over until Monday morning, and because it was low season, we were the only guests in the hotel. They lit the fire in the lounge just for us, and we were outnumbered by staff to the rate of about 5 to one!!There are also lodges in the grounds, if you want to go self catering. These can be let by the week.
And finally, I was watching Coronation Street fairly recently, when Alma was dying and Mike went to her Lake District Hotel to see her. I recognised the grounds and the hotel, and sure enough it was Armathwaite Hall!!
06.10.2005 22:40
great comment - i found the hotels website this week. It's my fiancee's 30th birthday next weekend and I wanted to take her away somewhere special. Its not cheap but it looks amazing and the surroundings are beautiful. Champagne on ice and roses when we arrive...i hope she likes it!
08.01.2005 01:47
Sounds lovely, just been looking at the website, this is NOT a cheap hotel :( Sue
12.11.2001 14:37
Wow! What a claim to fame! I love hearing about quiant hotels in the country....now all I need is for my bloke to read about this! :-( Excellent op - sounds lovely!