Beautiful Lakeland fells and the soothing sounds of the River Rothay – as ways to wake up go, this has got to be up there with the best of them.
And that’s what greeted us on an autumnal morning from our room at the Rothay Garden Hotel in Grasmere.
We love going to the Lake District – why wouldn’t you? As a place to relax and unwind and leave the daily madness behind, it ticks all the boxes.
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Whether you enjoy gentle strolls, exploring the many towns and villages of the Lakes, energetic hikes up the hills or you want to completely kick back and chill – Rothay Garden suits all needs.
Relaxing lounges, excellent rooms and suites with great views, absolute quality dining and a relaxing spa retreat – it's easy to see why it’s a choice for so many visitors.
Situated in the heart of Grasmere on the bank of the Rothay, the hotel was built in the 1850s as a private home. It first became a guesthouse in the 1960s, evolving over the years into an award-winning 30-bedroom hotel, spa and restaurant.
The Hotel is rated as four silver stars by the AA, plus two AA Rosettes for the Garden Restaurant, with 90% of TripAdvisor reviews rating it ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.
When we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly and helpful staff and immediately felt relaxed. As an old building, its corridors have many quirky twists and turns. Our room on the first floor was at the rear of the building – which had two separate French doors which led to balconies overlooking the river and beautiful fells.
Well-appointed and tastefully decorated, the room had all the amenities you would expect – with robes and slippers and bathroom spa products included.
Grasmere village itself is obviously a big tourist draw – as it plays host to Dove Cottage, the once home of William Wordsworth. In the summer of 1802, before leaving Dove Cottage for several months, Wordsworth composed 'A Farewell', a poem addressed to the Garden-Orchard. He described it as 'The loveliest spot that man hath ever found.
It’s a beautiful village – also home to the world-famous Grasmere Gingerbread Shop. Just a couple of miles from Ambleside and Windermere – it's a perfect base.
Not wanting to exert ourselves too much on our first day, we opted for a stroll around the village - enjoying a couple of beverages at some of its welcoming hostelries and it was soon getting towards time for dinner.
Rothay’s Garden Restaurant is one of only a few in the area to consistently win two coveted AA Rosettes and is a popular choice with local guests and non-residents alike. And it’s easy to see why.
Full of locally sourced produce, the menu is excellent, and each course was a delight for the taste buds. I opted for the venison for main which I would highly recommend. I always encourage the wife to get something different in the hope she may want to push some my way – but sadly this time it was clean plates all round.
There is a great wine menu also for those inclined – and with the attentive and knowledgeable staff on hand to attend to every need – this is a dining experience that would grace any special occasion and would even be worth a trip across from the North East for the food alone.
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Like a lot of Lakes hotels, Rothay Garden attracts many walkers and hikers – but what gives it the added edge is the addition of a quality spa which makes it a perfect choice for those wanting to soothe those aching limbs.
The Riverside Spa has floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding fells and river which you can enjoy from the hydrospa and its therapeutic, gentle pounding of the air-jets as you recline in a sunken lounger.
It also boasts a herbal pine sauna, aroma-room, heated infra-red loungers and two monsoon feature-showers.
Spa treatments, massages and aromatherapy are also available in your room during your stay.
After a couple of days soaking up everything Rothay Garden had to offer it was sadly time to return to reality.
On the hotel website, guests are invited to “come and let your cares slip away” - further describing Rothay Garden as ‘an oasis within the haven of Grasmere, wrapped up in the sublime beauty of the Lake District”
We absolutely did and we couldn’t agree more! Highly recommended.
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