Waterhead Hotel, Lake District

Waterhead Hotel is a gorgeous townhouse hotel overlooking Lake Windermere

English Lakes

The water was calm and shimmery, the trees were gold and red, and the pavement glistened in the November rain, reflecting the lights from the Waterhead Hotel. Wrapped in winter coats and hats, my beloved and I walked arm in arm along the lake, stopping every once in a while to remark on how lucky we were to be staying in such a lovely place.

I’m not making this up. The Waterhead Hotel in Ambleside is gorgeous. Just gorgeous. A large Lakeland-style townhouse hotel overlooking Lake Windermere, it’s leafy, elegant, refined and immaculately presented.

Bedroom overlooking the lake at the Waterhead Hotel
English Lakes

Our room was located at the front, overlooking the lake with a double balcony boasting ornate table and chairs and plentiful foliage, onto which the net curtain flapped alluringly in the autumn breeze. Our bed was enormous and sumptuous. So much so that we were loath to do much but stay in it for most of the weekend.

Luckily, the Waterside had bargained on that and to watch on the massive-screen TV (we don’t have one at home – it’s a rare treat) has a well-stocked library of free-to-borrow DVDs which we made our way through. The décor is minimalist but not cold, with super-modern bathroom fittings (spiral radiator, anyone?) and pared-down colours but expert lighting, making it homely and comfortable and a pleasure to spend time in, rather than a base from which to explore.

Waterhead Hotel's Bay Restaurant offers delicious meals
English Lakes

We dined in the hotel’s Bay Restaurant on the first night, wherein I pigged out on the soup of the day (mushroom, perfect) and my partner the braised pork belly (which he described as “just right”), followed by smoked haddock leek and dill fishcake (for me - more than enough but well-matched flavours) and roasted rump of Herdwick lamb (for him - “yes, yes, very good indeed”).

I maxed out on pudding with white chocolate, almond and raspberry tart and crunchy praline, which nearly sent me into a diabetic coma but was worth it. My pious partner opted for a cheeseboard and watched as I stuffed my face, anticipating the complaining to follow.

Prior to the meal we’d lounged in the bar area where I asked the barman whether they did non-alcoholic cocktails. They didn’t, he said, but he’d give it a go, and went on to gamely make me a booze-free Bellini. He did well (with an abundance of fruit and a heck of a lot of lemonade) and watched as I gave my verdict, “in case others ask for it”.

Waterhead Hotel deserves its stars
English Lakes

And that sums up the spirit of the hotel. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff. Breakfast was generous, with a buffet and cooked option (kippers, black pudding, etc) and the decaf coffee I ordered even tasted delicious, which has to be a first, surely.

The service was bar none and the welcome was commensurate with the landscape. Prices aren’t bad either, starting at £55 for a house room and topping at £149 for a luxury room like ours.

Maybe I’m going on a bit but I’ve stayed in so-called 4-star and 5-star hotels and this one definitely deserves its stars and maybe one more for good measure.

Waterhead Hotel
Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0ER, UK
Reservations: 08458 504 503 (UK only).
Tel: (015394) 32566.
Website: www.englishlakes.co.uk/hotels/waterhead/index.aspx