Best places to stay:
The Lake District is littered with big country house hotels, which makes the Samling – with just 12 rooms – perfect if you’re after something more personal.
Positioned on a hillside overlooking Windermere, and surrounded by a 67-acre estate of gardens, woodlands and grounds, it’s the epitome of low-key luxury. Rooms (all named after Lakeland lakes) are split between the main house and four sumptuous suites around the grounds. They’re elegantly appointed, and most offer stunning views over Windermere.
The hotel’s restaurant is another highlight, with panoramic glass windows overlooking the hotel grounds and the lake beyond.
The hotel’s secluded location, surrounded by extensive private grounds, make for a delightfully peaceful experience. You could while away the afternoon exploring the woodlands or landscaped gardens, or walk down to Lake Windermere and the bustling towns of Ambleside and Bowness.
The hotel also offers a range of guest experiences, from wine-tasting to wilderness adventures, and the new al fresco restaurant, The Gathering, makes an atmospheric place to dine when the sun shines.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Rydal, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[4.3 miles]
Wordsworth’s grand family home between Ambleside and Grasmere is an essential stop: it’s full of memorabilia, and offers an intriguing glimpse of the Wordsworth family’s daily life in the Lakes.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Grasmere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[6.1 miles]
Take a guided tour around Wordsworth’s charming cottage near Grasmere to get a fascinatingly personal insight into the poet’s life and times – and don’t miss the brilliant museum next door.
Best for ages: 180+ | £12
Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[7.1 miles]
Beatrix Potter’s cottage is every bit as pretty (and popular) as you’d expect – and, for fans of her books, offers the chance to see some of the places that inspired her illustrations.
Best for ages: 13+ | £15
Wasdale, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[17.4 miles]
Climb up to the highest point in England for a memorable view of the Wasdale fells – and a special sense of achievement. But don’t expect to be on your own if the weather’s fine
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | Full day
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Troutbeck, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[2.3 miles]
This traditional stone and slate farmhouse was home to local famers the Browne family for over 400 years. The house and family’s possessions have been preserved, showcasing rural life in the Lakes over the past centuries.
Best for ages: 18+ | £9 | 3 hours
Hawkshead, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[5.4 miles]
This small gallery in Hawkshead is located in the old office of Beatrix Potter’s husband, solicitor William Heelis. It holds regular exhibitions of her work, including her beautiful botanical paintings.
Best for ages: 10+ | £7 | 3 hours
Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[6.7 miles]
Sarah Nelson’s gingerbread is an institution in Grasmere: it’s been made to the same recipe since 1854. It’s wonderfully quaint – the frilly outfits worn by the shop staff are something from a bygone age.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 3 hours
Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[7 miles]
The region’s most picturesque and charming village. Grasmere is set on the shores of its eponymous lake and cradled by green fields and fells. William Wordsworth is buried in the churchyard of St Oswald’s – you can see the poet’s tombstone.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 3 hours
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)
Imposing mountains, wild landscapes, tranquil lakes and picturesque towns combine to make the Lake District uniquely beautiful, and one of the best places in Britain for walking, climbing, boating and biking.
