Heather and Peter Barron head west to Cumbria and the 1871 appeal of Appleby Manor Hotel

NESTLED on the side of a hill, above the town of Appleby-in-Westmoreland, stands an imposing and attractive pink sandstone residence. Built in 1871 as the home of local solicitor John Alcock Heelis – related through marriage to Beatrix Potter – and once used to billet officers in the Second World War, it now serves as a luxury destination hotel in the heart of Cumbria, with easy access to the many visitor attractions and activities in the surrounding area.

The siting of Appleby Manor Hotel means the public rooms enjoy unparalleled views over Appleby Castle and the Eden Valley, and towards the peaks of the Lake District.

Originally a 12-bed hotel, it is now split between three wings – Victorian manor house, modern garden, and coach house annexe – offering 31 luxurious rooms. The interior has been sympathetically refurbished to retain the charm and elegance of the original structure, mixing contemporary decor with turn-of-the-century furnishings. A few quirky original features have been retained – like a fireplace with a window above it (where does the smoke go?) – features that are eagerly pointed out by sales and marketing manager Graham Devine.

The hotel is owned by Mike and Angela Dunbobbin, in partnership with Mike’s parents. A chef by trade, having worked at a number of Michelin-starred hotels, including Gleneagles, Mike acts as general manager, and sometimes chef during the busy holiday periods, while Angela – also with extensive experience in the hospitality industry – runs the front of house operation. Both are Cumbrian born and bred and always keen to return to the area.

Along with children Ethan, 19, and Chelsea, 17, who both help out in the hotel, Mike says that they were looking for a more "normal life" when they took on the Manor.

While this beautifully designed Victorian residence wins plaudits as a destination hotel of the highest standard, it was Garden Spa, which recently had a £1m upgrade,that we particularly wanted to try. “There was a small leisure area, built in 1984 that was beginning to look its age,” explains Mike. “We had to decide whether to shut it down or do something with it.” ‘Doing something with it’ won the day and a couple of years’ research gave them the confidence to invest to take it to the next level.

Usage is limited to just 24 guests at a time, so the pool, hot tubs and relaxation rooms never felt over-crowded. The spa offers several different heat experiences before unwinding in the hydrotherapy pool, complete with massage loungers, volcano pads and shoulder massage water cannons.

You can spend a couple of hours just chilling in the spa area, and then spoil yourself from an extensive range of treatments that include – "for the girls" – Visible Brilliance Facial or Exotic Lime and Ginger Scrub, and – "for the boys" – Lava Shell Rescue Massage or Musclease Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap. There are a variety of Day Packages available, so you don’t have to be resident in the hotel, and the Spa can cater for groups who want to enjoy some ‘pamper time’ together. Packages can include a meal, or a glass of Prosecco with private hire of the outdoor spa bath.

The catastrophic floods at the end of last year to the nearby market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, caused by Storm Desmond, had the community pulling together, and the Manor offering shelter for local people affected by the disaster. But it also hit the hotel business, with December hotel bookings “falling off a cliff and the first week of January no better,” says Mike.

The Spa opened fairly recently and the quiet time meant that everyone could pitch in to get it up to standard. Things have picked up since, and Mike is already looking forward to phase two of the development, “with a spa garden or a gym on the area above the pool hall,” he muses.

Our overnight stay included an evening meal in the fine dining restaurant, although you could choose to eat in the recently added Bistro 1871 with a more relaxed atmosphere and menu. However, the meal we had in the restaurant was delicious and beautifully presented, with the freshest ingredients sourced locally wherever possible.

It was a viciously windy evening and we could see the towering fir trees bending in the wind in the garden, but thanks to excellent double glazing in the conservatory extension, we were warm and cosy inside.

It is easy to see why Appleby Manor Hotel and Garden Spa was a finalist in the 2016 Cumbria Tourism Small Hotel of the Year Awards, and it is perfectly placed for a relaxing and pampering visit to the Lake District.

Appleby Manor Country House Hotel

Roman Road, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6JB

T: 01768 351571

W: applebymanor.co.uk

Prices per room (based on two sharing) are from £160. Discounts available for early booking.