When choosing the most perfect surroundings for a break away, it doesn't get much better than the Lake District.
As far as UK breaks go, the Northern hotspot is a treat for those wanting hiking days, wildlife spotting, and somewhere to sit and wind down of an evening to take in all the beautiful landscape with a drink or two. Armathwaite Hall & Spa ticks all of those particular boxes and with a spa on-site for a complete, relaxing experience it's a great place to take a loved one.
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On arrival, the grounds to this spa and hotel complex are truly stunning. The traditional exterior, matched with equally traditional interiors with the odd modern tweaks is such a breath of fresh air. The staff were very helpful the minute we entered the hotel to check in, showing us to our room which, well, to say our jaws dropped when we walked in is an understatement.
Our room was in close proximity to the spa, complete with a balcony overlooking an untouched courtyard with our own large, outdoor seating area. There were also a couple of extra features in the room ie. the TV in the bathroom, the spacious room layout, and a gorgeous, comfortable bed that really gave the room that wow factor.
Lakeview Restaurant
We loved the layout of the reception, lounge and restaurant floor which had all the character needed to preserve such a wonderfully traditional décor. The roaring fireplace in the main lounge area was a gorgeous spot - and you are even joined by the local farmer's cat who has made Armathwaite Hall his second home. I sat stroking him post-evening meal, it couldn't have been a more relaxing setting.
The Chef on site takes full advantage of a wealth of local seasonal produce at the hotel, using many Cumbrian specialities enabling the kitchen to create a variety of delightful plates of food. Both traditional English fayre and classical French cuisine are refined to reflect the expectations of hotel guests.
The selection of wines on offer at Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa are too a huge selling point, with various different flavours to perfectly complement the chef’s culinary creations.
We chose the ham hock with a black pudding bon bon starter, seabass main course and a delightful ice cream dessert complete with honey brittle, meringue and curd. It's safe to say I couldn't move afterwards but wow, what a meal.
It was the kind of meal where portions were of fine dining expectations, but were ideally enough to fill us both up without feeling uncomfortable. The next day during breakfast was such a dreamy experience. We had just sat down with our freshly brewed coffees, sunk into our seats after consuming a couple of wines the night before and got ready to order our hot breakfast dishes.
When, it couldn't have been more perfectly timed, two wild deer ran across the fields right before our eyes and then a rabbit swiftly followed. You don't get much more organically beautiful than that.
The breakfast was really nice. We had a full English and Eggs Benedict with a mix of pastries and fruit from the continental offering and they set us up perfectly for the day ahead.
The Spa at Armathwaite Hall
While we had the most gorgeous day of relaxation at the spa, there were refurbishments going on around the complex, which meant the outdoor jacuzzi, although it was absolutely wonderful, had a constant flux of workmen walking up and down the side of the spa with full view of the spa facilities.
But the facilities were great, my mum swam and swam and swam in the pool, which was a lovely temperature, and we both really enjoyed the outdoor jacuzzi with a view of the lake in the distance. The sun even made an appearance, so when lounging inside or in the conservatory area of the spa, you were kept nice and warm under a little of the rays.
One thing worth a huge mention is the treatments available at this spa. The lovely Sophia gave me the Drift Away treatment which is a 55 minute full body massage including a signature face and scalp massage. Sophia was incredible at making me feel relaxed, comfortable and able to really just let go during my treatment.
The whole treatment itself for me was ideal. It had a firm massage for body tension but also had the aromatherapy aspect to help me wind down and almost fall asleep mid way through. I even asked her when she was done: "Can I just stay here forever?"
Verdict
For the overall stay, it was practically faultless. One tweak would be to make more of a fuss of the drinks service in the jacuzzi outside. You can press a buzzer on the wall next to the jacuzzi but there is no poster, stand or acknowledgement anywhere to make it more apparent. Apart from that the staff, rooms, spa and food were all so, so worth the price tag.
The food especially was exceptional, we would have sat in the window of the Lakeview Restaurant all morning if we could taking in all the lovely view. To book, visit the Armathwaite Hall & Spa website here.
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