Shropshire Star

Better lake than never

The Lake District, with its soaring peaks and sheltered valleys, is synonymous with walking. We set out for a weekend in the lakes intent on doing just that with boots, waterproofs and rucksacks packed away in the car – and that's where they stayed.

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It wasn't that the weather was bad, indeed we were blessed with sunny spells during much of our two-night stay at the end of April.

But we soon realised there's much more to the Lake District than the great outdoors.

We enjoyed spas, exquisite fine dining and breakfasts to die for overlooking Lake Windermere – and that was before even leaving our hotel.

Our base for the weekend was the Lakeside Hotel which, as its name suggests, sits on Lakeside at the southern tip of what is England's largest lake.

With faultless service and in a splendid setting, everything about the hotel oozes class – but without any edge.

No surprise then that it was chosen as Lake District Hotel of the Year 2012/13.

But it's clearly been a winner for many years, with its most regular guests having stayed an incredible 74 times since 1996, which is far back as current records go – and they stayed before that date too.

The hotel is the perfect place to escape with its seamless blend of country house character and contemporary four star luxury, and there's plenty to explore and experience once you step outside.

Highly recommended is the Lakeland Motor Museum, just a 10-minute drive from the hotel and well worth an hour or two of anyone's time.

Housed in the purpose-built complex the museum is a unique road transport collection of some 30,000 items, amassed over a period of some 50 years and displayed alongside many non-motoring exhibits .

For me the star of the show was the 1955 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupe, while a close second was the 1960 M GA roadster – one of just 50 used by the police for traffic patrol. Next door is the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition which pays tribute to speed kings Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald who between them captured 21 world land and water speed records for Great Britain.

Donald Campbell was tragically killed on nearby Coniston Water in January 1967 when at an estimated speed of more than 300mph his Bluebird K7 soared into the air, somersaulted and crashed back onto the lake, sinking almost immediately.

You can combine a visit to the museum with a cruise on Lake Windermere and/or a nostalgic ride on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway.

We opted for the cruise, taking the steamer from next to the hotel up to Ambleside and calling on the way back down at Bowness – relaxing it most certainly was, although we did test ourselves on the near mile-long stroll into Ambleside.

The return journey saw the weather change and it literally poured down, but that was soon forgotten as we entered the hotel.

We had already experienced a coffee and cake in the conservatory on our arrival the day before, but you can certainly indulge if you've the appetite – the three-course afternoon tea arrives with a chilled gazpacho to start followed by a delicate selection of finger sandwiches and a choice of homemade cakes and pastries to finish. It looked almost too nice to eat, but many guests were certainly doing it justice.

But the highlight was without doubt dinner in the 2AA Rosette Lakeview Restaurant.

Without going into too much detail I started with scallop and saddleback pork belly with crackling which was so tasty I could quite easily have chosen it as a main course – but was delighted that I didn't.

For my wife and I plumped for the Galloway Chateaubriand for two – but there was easily enough of the fillet steak to share around. It really was some of the best fillet steak I have ever tasted.

Both the food, and the hotel, will linger long in our memories.

Facts:

Lakeside Hotel has rooms available from £179 per night, based on two sharing on a bed and breakfast basis. Until October 31 2013, they are offering four nights for the price of three from £298 per person on a bed and breakfast basis. To book, call Lakeside Hotel on 015395 30001 or visit the website, www.lakesidehotel.co.uk

The Lake District By Jim Walsh

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