CHECK IN: THE LANCRIGG, LAKE DISTRICT

The Lancrigg is a real gem in the Lake District. The location is fantastic and a recent restoration has nailed the relaxed country house vibe. It feels more like a cosy B&B, but with the amenities and service of a good hotel.

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THE LOCATION

The Lancrigg is set amongst thirty acres of mature woodland and gardens, so despite only being less than a mile from busy Grasmere, it feels very secluded. Grasmere can get incredibly packed during the peak summer months, so being able to walk into town easily (and not have to fight for parking) is a real bonus. Ambleside, Windermere and Coniston are all within a 15-30 minute drive.

Gaining the hotel extra bonus points, one of my favourite short walks in the Lake District – Helm Crag – starts from The Lancrigg. The hotel is tucked into the bottom of the hillside. If more adventurous Lake District walks are not your thing, the gardens of The Lancrigg are lovely enough in their own right to spend an afternoon exploring. 

THE ROOMS

The seventeen rooms are decorated in an eclectic arts and crafts style, with house plants and vintage finds adding a sense of personality. The rooms also all have comfortable sitting areas. As ever in the Lakes you have to come prepared for rain, and sat in the armchairs in our large bay window watching the rain hammer down on the windows, with a bottle of bubbly, felt an indulgently enjoyable way to make the most of a wet afternoon in Cumbria! 

Dogs welcome (£20 per night).

THE EXTRAS

The house itself dates from the 17^thC and has been a hotel since the 1980s. The house was bought in the 1800s by Elizabeth Fletcher, a friend of William Wordsworth. It is thought that Wordsworth composed several poems in the grounds of the estate. Elizabeth’s son was also a friend of author Charles Dickens, who visited the family at The Lancrigg. 

The Lancrigg was restored by the current owners in the mid 2000s, with a genuine-feeling Victorian country house vibe. Think dark mid-century furniture, stripped floorboards and lots of house plants. Communal areas include a nice sitting room with board games and maps available to borrow, and drying room to air out your inevitably wet walking boots. The communal areas – and the bedrooms – have successfully found the balance of feeling more like guest rooms in a country house than an impersonal hotel, without being twee. 

Dinner and breakfast are served in the small dining room. For many years, The Lancrigg was an entirely vegetarian establishment and whilst they now serves meat and fish, there are still plenty of vegetarian offerings. Although the menu is not extensive, portions are generous, and meals tasty and comforting. 

The Poet’s Bar is open throughout the day, and serves light sandwich lunches. It is open to non-residents and makes a nice place to stop after your return from Helm Crag. The Poet’s Bar is in what was once the library of Sir John Richardson, a Scottish surgeon who, with John Franklin, mapped out nearly 2,000 miles of artic coast in Canada. He retired to the Lake District in 1855. 

THE LESS LOVEABLE

I am at a loss to think of anything substantive! The bathroom in our room was on the smaller side, but perfectly fine for a few nights stay, with the main requirement for a Lakes walking holiday – a good, hot shower. 

Check my sleep series for other wonderful places around the world to stay. Be sure to check out my Lake District guides for more ideas to help create your perfect itinerary – there are ideas on where to hike, what to do on a rainy day and where to find all the best things to eat!