cumbria hotels

Hotel Crosthwaite House

Handsome Georgian house; kind hosts; honest food served in an attractive dining room. Simple accommodation. Crosthwaite, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 8BP

Hotel Wateredge

Of the many places to stay around tourist-ridden Lake Windermere, this is a longstanding favourite. Family-run, with courteous, willing staff, it’s a quiet, traditional holiday inn situated right on the shores of the lake, its core being two fishermen’s cottages. Suites in the annexe. Private jetty. Recently refurbished. Waterhead Bay, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0EP.

Hotel Pheasant

The old oak bar, full of dark nooks and crannies, is a gem, little changed from its earliest days. Beyond that are several lounges with generous sitting space. Bedrooms are modern and light, without TV or telephone. The food makes few concessions to fashion – a simple characterful inn, recently refurbished. Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9YE.

Hotel White Moss House

Renowned for its cuisine, with pretty bedrooms (two in a secluded cottage). In the Wordsworth family until the 1930s. Rydal Water, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SE.

Hotel Old Dungeon Ghyll

At the heart of the Lake District, a slate-and-stone walkers’ hostelry: simple, somewhat worn, with hearty food. Great Langdale, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9JY.

Hotel Number Thirty One

A winning combination of imagination and hands-on professionalism. There are just three rooms: Green (Oriental style), Blue, the largest, with walk-in wardrobe, and Yellow, with half-tester. Philip Parker’s dinners are based on what’s freshest that day. As much as possible – breads, preserves and so on – is home-made. 31 Howard Place, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1 1HR.

Hotel Swinside Lodge

Immaculately decorated and maintained, with attentive service and agreeable personal touches, this typical Victorian lakeland house makes an excellent country hotel. There is exhilarating walking right from the door. On your return, dinner is a no-choice, four-course, mildly adventurous delight. Newlands Valley, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5UE. Map p77 D5.

Hotel Seatoller House

This is not a run-of-the-mill hotel, but, if you are convivial, it is a delight. Guests eat communally at set times, and, to get the best out of the place, should take part in its social life. A guesthouse for more than 100 years, it has simple bedrooms, a low-ceilinged sitting room, plain country dining room and good food. Seatoller, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5XN

Hotel Mil

l A 17th-century former mill cottage in lovely setting, with simple, airy bedrooms and a chintzy sitting room. Vegetarians are well catered for. Mungrisdale, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0XR

Hotel Wasdale Head

Inn In a site unrivalled even in the Lake District, this robust old inn stands above deep, dramatic Wastwater. There are convivial bars, a comfortable lounge, a panelled dining room decorated with china and pewter. Mixture of simple bedrooms, all with bathrooms, and self-catering apartments. Wasdale Head, Gosforth, Cumbria CA20 1EX.

Hotel Gilpin Lodge

Notable for its high standards and attention to detail, Victorian Gilpin Lodge presents a fresh, white, flower-bedecked exterior. Its immaculate, cosy yet smart interior is embellished with many ornaments and flower arrangements. Some bedrooms have four-posters. Dinner included in price of room. Crook Rd, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3NE

Hotel Mortal Man

Glorious views of Windermere from this friendly Lakeland inn. The bedrooms are functional; traditional bars, hearty food. Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1PL.

Hotel Old Vicarage

This Georgian country house is hidden in a large wooded garden, and the owners have invested it with an easy-going atmosphere. The straightforward decoration combines new with old; five of the bedrooms have private terraces. Dinner is a highlight, using local ingredients in fresh and thoughtful ways, Witherslack, nr Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6RS.

Hotel Amerdale House

The setting is one of the most seductive in all the Dales: on the fringe of a pretty village, wide meadows in front, high hills behind. This admirable hotel is distinguished by its warm welcome and exceptional cooking (dinner included in price of room). Best bedroom is the top-floor room with four-poster bed. Arncliffe, Littondale, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 5QE.

Hotel Old Church

The whitewashed 18th-century house on the shores of Ullswater has been in the care of Kevin Whitemore and his family since the late 1970s. They have created bold interiors, with a confident but harmonious use of colour in the bedrooms, most with lake views. Kevin is the cook, producing satisfying menus. Boating. Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0JN.

Hotel Holbeck Ghyll

The set-back position of this classic Victorian lakeland hotel provides welcome privacy from the bustle of Windermere, as well as grand lake views from the immaculate gardens. Traditional and rather formal in style, with a professional, friendly staff, it has mostly very spacious bedrooms and bathrooms. Holbeck Lane, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1LU.