Country Retreat with Lake Views
Location: Windermere, Lake District, UK
Hotel Style: Traditional country manor house
Dining Style: Locally sourced British menu
Budget: £££
Approaching Holbeck Ghyll you’ll instantly be struck by the striking manor house, with ivy climbing up the walls and flowering wisteria above the windows, this country hotel looks like somewhere straight out of the world of Beatrix Potter. Known for the most iconic views of Lake Windermere and with sweeping views from most of the bedrooms and the dining room, you’ll spend more of your stay staring out of the window than at the loved ones you’ve come with!
Staying at Holbeck Ghyll
Holbeck Ghyll is one of those places that makes you feel like you’re coming home at the end of a long day exploring, even if you did spend most of it in the hot tub! All the rooms retain a cosy feel and all the staff are super helpful and friendly. Whether you spend your day walking around the Lakes or hiding from the British rain you’ll find comfort when you return to Holbeck.
Rooms at Holbeck Ghyll
Every room at Holbeck Ghyll has fantastic views either of the fells behind the hotel or the epic picture-perfect landscapes across Lake Windermere. The lake view rooms are slightly more expensive but 100% worth it, who doesn’t want to wake up to that view every morning!?
There are three main room types to choose from, each with their own charm and style. From the traditionally styled country house collection rooms located within the main house to the modern and stylish contemporary collection, and the lodge collection including a selection of rooms suitable for you and your muddy pawed canine companions.
We stayed in one of the lodge collection rooms, which are all delightfully named after Beatrix Potter characters; ours was Jemima Puddle-Duck, a lovely junior suite. In keeping with the rural retreat vibe, the décor is country chic with a neutral colour scheme and pretty floral and tartan patterns throughout. The junior suite comes complete with a fully equipped kitchenette, lounge seating area looking out over the view we just can’t stop going on about, and bathroom including both a bathtub and a shower.
On arrival guests are greeted to a lovely box of truffles and a miniature bottle of locally distilled damson gin waiting in your room (top tip: the gin is delicious with a bottle of lemon tonic!). Lovely personal touches like these continue throughout your stay with a torch thoughtfully provided for those darker winter evenings, and a turn down service before you arrive back from dinner with your curtains drawn and bed turned down ready to snuggle up in.
Facilities at Holbeck Ghyll
Making the most of their incredible location, the facilities on offer at Holbeck Ghyll focus on the view and amazing outdoors. The hotel offers guests the use of a bubbling outdoor hot tub, a fire pit/BBQ area for Summer months and a lovely garden set into the hill-side.
With the great outdoors on your doorstep most guests opt to spend the day out exploring. There are several popular walking routes nearby to tackle including Wansfell Pike and Jenkins Crag, starting and finishing directly at the door of your room. These, and several other walks, are detailed in the room guide for you to utilise during your stay.
Should you care for more of a leisurely meander you can take an easy 15 minute stroll down through the beautiful gardens to the edge of Lake Windermere. We witnessed some guests heading down for a bracing morning swim in the lake, but I’ll be honest, we didn’t fancy it!
To explore further afield it’s easiest with a car and you certainly won’t be short of wonderful places to visit as there’s much to more explore in the Lake District. Head to nearby Bowness, a quick 10 min drive, to explore The World of Beatrix Potter or hire a boat to take to the water.
If the weather’s against you, hide away from the rain at Holbeck Ghyll. Book yourself in for some me-time at the spa with a relaxing massage or aromatherapy treatment to let your stresses melt away. Or head to the main house and cosy up beside the fire with a glass of wine and a good book. Board games are also available should you wish to challenge your friends and family.
You can even pre-book a private half an hour session in the outdoor hot tub for the best of both worlds – relaxation and the view. Wander across from your room in your fluffy dressing gown and climb in amongst the bubbles looking out over the amazing view. Being British we‘re not strangers to rain and even braved the hot tub during a downpour, it’s actually quite fun!
Dining at Holbeck Ghyll
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served in the main dining room, a traditional wood panelled room evoking the heritage of the main house, with views out across Lake Windermere (remember to request one of the window seats!). Breakfast is included with all bookings at Holbeck Ghyll, and you can also choose to enjoy dinner during your stay.
If you’re dining at the restaurant in the evening I would advise against having the set lunch as some of the dishes are the same as those included on the evening menu, and as tasty as they are you’ll probably want some variety!
A condensed ‘snack’ menu is served out in the bar area for those looking for a more relaxed setting, and these dishes can also be ordered to your room. The menu includes a burger, salads, sandwiches and snacks all of which make a great evening meal if you arrive too late for dinner or a hearty lunch option if you haven’t ventured out exploring for the day.
Dinner at Holbeck Ghyll
Similarly to the rest of the hotel, the dining room at the Forest Side balances its gastronomic feel with a rustic charm that celebrates its surroundings in every detail of its design. From the wooden tables and matching leather chairs, to the glass-topped oak centrepiece, the restaurant has a casual rural character meaning guests can opt whether to dress up or dress down.
Holbeck Ghyll offers both a tasting menu, paired with a wonderful selection of old and new world wines, as well as a classic three course a la carte option. Despite previously losing its Michelin star, Holbeck Ghyll’s menu is a discovery of modern British cuisine, utilising the best of local seasonal ingredients throughout.
Kicking off with a selection of amuse bouches including the obligatory delicious home-baked sourdough as well as a goats cheese cornet with an apple cider vinegar. The highlight of these divine mouthfuls was a purple potato, served alongside truffle, cream and exquisite crispy onions (YUM). Potatoes are rarely truly celebrated in fine dining restaurants, often relegated to the supporting cast, so this homage to the modest vegetable was a delightful way to start.
Moving onto an array of different starters to follow, a caramelised onion broth served first, a perfectly executed version of the dish. With superb sharp pickled silverskin onions on top which cut through the sweetness of the broth, making it a dish we almost licked the bowl clean for!
However, the absolute champion of the starters was the scallop, sourced from the Isle of Mull and totally delicious. Notoriously difficult to cook (something we always struggle with!), this was a perfectly executed version, including a sliver of Italian style lardo served on top, giving a delightful salty kick to the dish, and accompanied by a charred asparagus spear for some crunch.
After a number of fairly fresh Spring-inspired dishes, the main event moved into much richer territory. The chicken was served alongside the awesomely named “hen of the woods”, a mushroom the grows naturally at the base of oak trees, and a rich red wine jus, a much earthier dish to prior courses. Equally full-flavoured and yummy, the beef, both sirloin and brisket, is also served with mushrooms (shitake this time) and quickly disappeared!
Alongside sweets of lemon and treacle, the standout dessert was undoubtedly a delicious celebration of England’s favourite fruit – the strawberry. Despite being early season, the Holbeck Ghyll team had foraged these wild strawberries from the area around the hotel to serve an outstanding dish. Served with meringue, a strawberry white chocolate “aero” and strawberry sorbet, it was like eating a mouthful of British summertime.
Breakfast at Holbeck Ghyll
Breakfast at Holbeck Ghyll is quite an experience, and you certainly won’t be needing lunch afterwards. With several options to start including a fruit, yoghurt and pastry buffet or a platter of delicious cheese and hams; followed by a multitude of hot options you’ll need to budget some time, and an extra inch of waistband to fit it all in!
You can opt to enjoy breakfast in your room if you want a relaxing start to the day. Simply leave your order out the night before and await your feast. In our opinion, however, the best location to enjoy your breakfast is outdoors in the sunshine. Request to have your breakfast served on the terrace so you can enjoy the warm sunshine on your face, a view of the lake and a delicious brekkie, the perfect start to any day!
Key Information about Holbeck Ghyll
How much does it cost to stay at Holbeck Ghyll?
All rooms at Holbeck Ghyll can be booked on a bed and breakfast, or dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Including dinner, a three course a la carte meal for two, into your package costs an extra £120 per room, saving £24 should you choose to add this on during your stay. You can also opt to upgrade this to the tasting menu for an additional £20 per person. Lake view rooms cost a little more than those with a view of the fells, but trust us they’re worth it!
There are many different rooms to choose from to suit your style and/or budget. Traditionally furnished rooms in the main house range from £170 (B&B rate), for the cosy fell view rooms, to £290, for the lake view junior suite complete with your own balcony to enjoy the view. The more modern rooms in a separate building range from £220, for the cosy lake view room, to £290, for the spacious lake view suite. With the dog-friendly lodges ranging from £190, for a fell view room, to £390 for the most luxurious suite with your very own hot tub.
What is the best way of getting to Holbeck Ghyll?
Located in the midst of the Lake District, the easiest way to get to Holbeck Ghyll is by car, with the added bonus that you’ll be able to explore more of the Lakes during your visit. Near to the village of Troutbeck, Holbeck Ghyll is relatively easy to get to off the M6, under 2 hours’ drive from Manchester or Liverpool.
If you’re coming from further afield, it’s worth checking out the train routes. From London the Virgin Pendolino service takes a mere 2 and a half hours to Oxenholme (the main Lake District station), whereas the drive is usually around 6 hours. On arrival at Oxenholme station, Holbeck Ghyll can arrange a taxi to take you straight to the hotel, around a half an hour scenic drive.
What is there to do in the surrounding area?
Located between Ambleside and Windermere, and only a short walk from the edge of Lake Windermere, there’s plenty to explore nearby. From walks up crags to boating on the lake, and exploring quaint towns to adrenaline filled mine climbs you can easily spend several days experiencing the best of the Lake District. We recommend a 3-4 night stay to explore the best of the Lakes.
Our final thoughts on... Holbeck Ghyll
At first glance, Holbeck Ghyll’s selling point is undoubtedly its location with unrivalled views across Windermere. However, you’d be naive to think this is all it has to offer, with a wonderful group of staff, one of the best dinner menus in the area and, of course, who could forget that hot tub! If you’re looking for a truly classic escape to the Lakes, immersing yourself in the age old world of Miss Tiggywinkle and Jemima Puddleduck, don’t look any further than Holbeck Ghyll.
Find Out More…
Holbeck Ghyll – https://www.holbeckghyll.com/
Explore more from Cumbria and the UK. Looking for another amazing restaurant with rooms, check out The Forest Side.
Many thanks to Holbeck Ghyll for hosting us during our time in the Lake District. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
