| Because the Lake District has so many good hotels it's | | | | country estate, offering a whole range of |
| hard to choose a few to recommend. Yet some | | | | accommodation in a private woodland park |
| stand out by virtue of their quality, their location, and | | | | criss-crossed with streams and tarns, and local flora |
| their unique blend of luxury and location. | | | | and fauna. |
| Our first choice is located a few hundred feet above | | | | In the nineteenth century the Langdale estate was a |
| perhaps the most beautiful lake in Britain - Windermere. | | | | gunpowder works, a factory built here because it was |
| This small gem of a hotel is The Samling. | | | | remote and less dangerous in the event of an |
| This remarkable hotel is set in sixty-seven beautiful | | | | explosion. Nowadays that remoteness is one of the |
| acres of its own grounds. The Samling describes itself | | | | great features - in the heart of the Langdale valley, |
| as a luxury hotel in the country (not as a "country | | | | you are close by some of the Lakes' greatest walks. |
| house hotel"). To offer luxury like this, with fine wines | | | | The atmosphere is relaxed, the accommodation |
| and a great cellar, outside a major connurbation, is a | | | | luxurious. There's a conventional hotel, as well as |
| great achievement. But what we like most about the | | | | comfortable wooden lodges, spread out in a pleasant |
| Samling is the service: it's that kind of quiet and | | | | village-style layout, making a total of 57 en-suite luxury |
| efficient service which seems to meet your needs | | | | rooms, elegantly and very tastefully furnished. |
| almost before you are aware of them! | | | | All around the Langdale estate you'll find a whole |
| But there are other gems in Lakeland. One we | | | | range of facilities, which offer something for all tastes. |
| especially like is Gilpin Lodge. While it's probably not | | | | There's a solarium, not just one but two swimming |
| quite true to say that the food and wine are the most | | | | pools, providing for the needs of serious swimmers |
| impressive things about this hotel, they do form one of | | | | and more relaxed paddlers alike. There's a gym and |
| its greatest attractions! With so many respected | | | | fitness spa. And to meet the needs of the inner man |
| awards, a Michelin star, and a long line of experience, | | | | and woman, there are several fine restaurants. |
| the owners, the Cunliffe family, know how to bring the | | | | Purdey's Restaurant provides some high class cordon |
| finest style and quality to this corner of Lakeland. As | | | | bleu cuisine with an extensive wine list. A less formal |
| far as the accommodation is concerned, the elegant | | | | venue, which also offers great food, is the Terrace |
| and luxurious suites offer private hot tubs and outdoor | | | | Restaurant and the pool Café-Bar, open all day |
| areas, and the rooms have king sized beds. Total | | | | long. And for traditional Lakeland "pub grub", a brief |
| luxury, and perfect for exploring the southern Lake | | | | stroll will take you down the road to the village of |
| District. | | | | Chapel Stile, where you can find Wainwright's Inn, an |
| For a family oriented experience, or a luxury holiday | | | | old Lake District pub offering the best of Lakeland |
| for a couple, you could hardly do better than the | | | | food and drink. |
| Langdale Hotel and Country Club. Langdale is really a | | | | |