Sweeping into the driveway late on a Friday night, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by doormen dressed in black tie. Not something all too familiar in the north of England. Our bags and car were taken around to the rear of the hotel to our lodge, whilst we were led through the main entrance of the hotel.

Outside the main restaurant, which had every table occupied, various awards shields and rosettes were displayed across the walls boasting exquisite dining. The evening was in full flow with guests in both the restaurant and the conservatory area overlooking the lake. A pianist played Sinatra in the background and everybody was enjoying themselves. We eagerly looked forward to our gastronomic meal planned the following night.

We were guided through the hotel before exiting to the rear towards the lake and our lodge, which was a nice introduction to what facilities it had to offer. We could have just walked around to our lodge using the side road but it is a point they make for each arrival and it was a pleasant surprise, although not overdone as it was obvious we were tired. Like many a visitor here we had come for a break after a busy week and it was instantly apparent that the staff were discretely attentive. To be able to go somewhere to switch off and relax it is important to have this type of service and we were impressed. The luxury Aveda health spa was a persuasive force either way.

Walking up the pebble path to the lodge we could hear a gentle lapping of small waves on to the shore. Incredibly the October sky above us was completely clear and full of stars, something you are not aware of when living in London under light polluted skies. Homebound birds flew across the water which reflected the hills opposite us etched with pine tree ridges. The air was fresh and it almost felt Nordic. In complete contrast to the fast paced lifestyles, which most people escape from to come here, the Lake District constantly distils a sense of inner calm and it is this more than anything that makes it such a special place to visit when you need a break. You can’t help but take a big breath of air and feel relaxed.

The Lodge itself was modern with contemporary furnishings, with a large lake view wall of windows and spacious rooms. Complete with its own Jacuzzi and Sauna the level of luxury was high but understated. There was no flat panel television in the bathroom, no LED light system around the bath and no multi-room multi-function entertainment system. It was perfect. I had escaped the typical frustration with a set of controls which I would never find out what they operated anyway and I could relax in a large comfortable bed without the awake-keeping glow of the usual a mini-citadel scattered around the room. We slept very well.

A quick brunch of Eggs Benedict the next morning and we were off for an adventure around the lakes. As well as the main ‘Lakeside’ restaurant, the hotel has a Brasserie which has a more informal atmosphere perfect for the active people already prepared for the day.
I’m always excited by the instruction to wear clothes which can ‘get wrecked’ as it usually turns out to be fun. Although the instruction for the 4x4 trip was to wear clothes that I didn’t mind just ‘getting dirty’ it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. We set off to join the group who had been climbing the fells since 8.30am, meeting at a lunchtime stop off to hear the adventures of the morning.

The group was made up of two sisters who had seemingly become bored of bridge and had found a love of extreme sports