Relax and reset with a visit to the Lakes
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A shimmering expanse of water. A beautiful mountainous landscape. An atmosphere of peacefulness and relaxation. And all found at the end of a winding mountain pass. But, this isn’t a description of the Highlands of Scotland. This is Bowness-on-Windermere. We set off for a weekend in the Lake District with no real expectations.
Neither of us had experienced that part of the UK before and we had deliberately not researched our trip too much with a view to taking the weekend as it came. There’s something about heading south on the A9 on a Friday.
That feeling of leaving the week behind and everything that’s been playing on your mind along with it. That’s a road well travelled for us. Does that make us less appreciative and aware of the beauty of the landscape along that journey? It probably does.
With the Lake District being new to us we chose to negotiate the most scenic of routes to reach our destination of Bowness-on-Windermere. That’s when we became fully aware of the beauty of the landscape along our journey.
Turning off at Penrith and ultimately picking up the A592 meant we were treated to some of the UK’s finest natural scenery as we wound our way towards Windermere. Quickly we felt we had left the busyness of normal life behind.
As the road snaked along the vast expanse of Ullswater and then over the stunning Kirkstone Pass that ultimate Friday feeling of relaxation seemed to amplify. That feeling of relaxation accelerated further in the right direction when we reached Bowness-on-Windermere.
Sitting right on the shore of Lake Windermere it’s a Victorian tourist town full of character; winding streets and lanes, cafes and restaurants catering for all tastes, lively authentic pubs, and access to all the outdoor activities you can imagine.
Staying at The Old England Hotel & Spa meant we had all of this outside our door. We parked up on the Friday and didn’t turn a wheel until we departed on the Sunday afternoon.
The Old England is a sister hotel of The Drumossie - well known to those across the Highlands for high standards of experience, food and service - and we quickly picked up that standards were equally high. What we weren’t prepared for was the wow factor that the Old England’s location delivered.
Set right on the shore of Lake Windermere its gardens tumble towards jetty’s full of moored yachts. Look beyond that and what feels like the whole of Lake Windermere is in front of you; and nothing else apart from that - water and mountains.
The view from the floor to ceiling window in our room was exactly that - water and mountains. Why move from there? We asked ourselves exactly that. But we wanted to explore the hotel and the quirky town we had just discovered. Starting off with a drink in the hotel lounge was hard to resist when we spotted the views were just as exceptional as those from our room.
A glass of something cold, a view over mountains and water, and an atmosphere of relaxation - the perfect start to our Friday evening. The pull of exploring the vibrant town was too much to resist though.
Stepping outside the front door of The Old England and we were right at the heart of things. Everything and more of what you would expect from one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations. We only walked a few yards before we gave in to the call of a pub.
The Albert is the perfect Friday night pub. Comfy velvety sofas, a great selection of craft ales and good gins, and a really relaxed atmosphere. Full of a variety of visitors who had been enjoying exploring the outdoors - and many like us who hadn’t ventured up a hill or across a lake - locals relaxing after work and more than a few friendly dogs.
The choice was then where to eat? As we were dining in the hotel on the Saturday- which was excellent, we chose to eat in the many restaurants within a stone’s throw of The Old England. There’s no shortage of choices: tapas, Asian, pizza, fine-dining, pub grub, all concentrated in the centre of town - it really feels more like a village atmosphere than a town though.
Saturday found us in a more adventurous spirit. A few yards from The Old England we were able to hop on board Windermere Lake Cruise which would take us on a 75 minute tour of the lake.
You can jump off at the villages of Ambleside or Borockhole. There was still so much to see in Bowness that we chose to stay on board. Both look well worth a visit - we’ll definitely explore more on our next visit.
With an appetite worked up we were looking forward to the Afternoon Tea we had booked at The Old England. It did not disappoint; savoury finger sandwiches, delicate cakes, and fluffy scones with jam and cream were the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing afternoon enjoying the views of Windermere and beyond.
And a couple of glasses of fizz certainly helped too! That indulgence meant we missed out on exploring the dozens of craft and local produce shops nearby. And neither did we get to The World of Beatrix Potter which is almost next door - next time, definitely.
After our wonderful meal in the hotel on Saturday evening we went outside to enjoy a walk to see Bowness even more alive than the prior night. Families, groups of friends, locals and visitors all enjoying the holiday atmosphere.
The perfect tonic for us on Sunday morning was a final opportunity to relax in the Spa & Leisure Club at The Old England. Treatments, thermal suite and a pool means there’s something for everyone. A luxurious end to a relaxing weekend.
Our first visit to the Lakes, but definitely not our last. We’ll be back and we’ll be heading to Bowness and The Old England again. For those looking to indulge in a weekend away at the Lakes, then The Old England is an idyllic spot and is currently offering three nights for the price of two on Lake Windermere.
Included in this offer, you’ll enjoy an extended stay on Lake Windermere when arriving at Old England Hotel and Spa overlooking the water in the former fishing village of Bowness.
Those who arrive by May 29, 2024 will receive three nights for the price of two with bed and breakfast on memorable spring breaks, with the hotel handily placed for discovering the wider Lake District region with its variety of natural wonders, family-friendly attractions and charming locations.
Rates are from £449.00, which includes an extra day to explore one of the most revered national park destinations in the UK. During this time you can embark on a day full of adventure with the family - or simply put your feet up and indulge in some well-deserved relaxation.
Additionally, delicious cooked or continental breakfast each morning and swift access to famous boat tours on the lake are also included in the deal.
