In a nutshell: Luxury private lodges for the ultimate romantic Lake District retreat.
The neighbourhood
In the heart of the Cumbrian countryside, a five-minute drive from Lake Windermere, sit sister hotels The Gilpin and Gilpin Lake House. The former offers contemporary spa lodges set in 21 acres of land, and the latter cosy country house vibes perched on the edge of a pine-framed private lake. Both are family-run and gloriously child, wedding and conference free. A local walk to nearby Gummers Howe offers panoramic views of the lake and mountains and the quaint town of Windermere is a 10-minute drive away.
Spa Suites offer open-plan luxury
(Gilpin Hotel)
The look
The spa suites are slick, vast and luxurious – and an Instagrammer’s heaven. Each one is 100sq m, open plan and complete with multi-aspect floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the mountains to the west and woodlands to the east, while welcoming in the ‘golden hour’ light from all angles. The décor is indoor-meets-outdoor, with the natural landscape brought inside via copious greenery (some of which is fake), bark, concrete-style walls and a large light well in the centre.
The vibe
The Gilpin is a family-owned hotel, run by the Cunliffes for more than three decades. Staff are eager and friendly with a clear love for the place – many of them having worked there for years. The hotel itself feels a little dated compared with the spa lodges, with Eighties interiors a tad incongruous next to the hard-edged modernity, but open fires, endless piles of magazines and helpful information on the best local walks make it feel welcoming. Visitors are often locals down for the weekend and many are regulars, with a few loved-up honeymooners emerging from their lodges for dinner.
Bed and bath
The spa suites are luxury hideaways like no other. An airy, open-plan layout places rainfall showers and a circular stone bathtub at one side, opposite a sitting room where a 65in smart TV and suspended gas fire create a cosy lounge area. A Sonos sound system fills the lodge with music of your choice.
A perfect spot for honeymooners, each suite is like an exclusive spa, exposed yet intimate and entirely private, shielded from the outside world (ideal for a pandemic escape). In winter, the lodges make for the ultimate hygge weekend away, and, in summer, the wood decking area with hot tub and…
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