Another Place The Lake

Ullswater, Cumbria & The Lake District, United Kingdom
Book from GBP Book from £137 per night

Outdoor adventures and creature comforts combine at this stunning lakeside estate with contemporary rooms, an indoor pool, and fun for all ages

Outdoor adventures and creature comforts combine at this stunning lakeside estate with contemporary rooms, an indoor pool, and fun for all ages

Peaceful Ullswater is one of the lesser-known (yet second-largest) bodies of water in the Lake District, renowned for a century for sailing and boating. And the best place to stay here? Beautiful retreat Another Place, The Lake, which has two restaurants offering delicious local fare, lush lawns with a kitchen garden, and a relaxed vibe appealing to couples and families alike. There's an indoor pool with glass walls for admiring the surroundings, plus a hot tub and a fellside sauna. The 18 acres of lakeshore land also include a children's zone with playground, year-round kids' club and a forest school.

The emphasis is on enjoying the great outdoors – we rose to the challenge by kayaking along the lake, and plunging into the water from the jetty. It's all made super easy with wetsuits and equipment to borrow, hiking trail maps and helpful blackboards outlining the myriad of daily activities. Fear not if you're more into relaxation, Another Place is also perfect for drinking in the views over cocktails on the terrace, or curling up with a hot chocolate in a cosy corner. Flexible accommodation comes in the form of 47 elegant rooms and suites spread over the original 18th-century house and two adjacent contemporary wings, plus additional huts and cottages in the beautifully tended grounds. The Brackenrigg Inn, their sister Cumbrian pub, a five-minute walk away, caters wonderfully for hikers in another nine rooms, and has its own convivial dining room. Four-legged friends are equally welcome. We loved every minute of our stay.

Highs

    • The stunning lakefront location and Ullswater views are hard to beat
    • Plenty of activities to keep you busy – lake swimming, sailing (there's a marina next door), kayaking, paddle-boarding, cycling, hiking
    • Informal and very family-friendly, with kids menus, a glasshouse serving pizza, and two-bedroom suites, cottages and shepherds huts
    • The 'Swim Club' – the hotel's take on a spa, with an indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, sauna, treatment rooms and swimming clinic
    • Ullswater is in the quieter north-east section of the Lake District National Park, away from the tourist frenzy further south

Lows

    • Leaving. We really wanted to stay much longer
    • Book ahead, this is a popular place especially during school holidays
    • You'll need a car to get here and to explore
    • Couples might prefer to avoid the school holidays, but even at peak times there's enough space for everyone to spread out
    • Most activities incur an additional cost

Best time to go

Summer in the Lakes can be spectacular (and popular so book ahead), and warm weather (though never guaranteed) would allow you to make the most of all the activities on offer. However, Another Place is ideal in any season, and we really loved being there surrounded by autumn colours. It's also the place to come for cosy winter stays, with log-burners, roaring fires and an ice rink.

Our top tips

  • Book a session with the resident cold water swimming guide and coach, who offers guided long distance swims with a support boat, as well as stargazing swims and a guided wild swim in waterfalls in the Ullswater valley.
  • Before heading home, stop at the Cocklakes farm shop and café (15 minutes away) for delicious locally produced food, incredible-value BBQ packs, Keswick Distillery gin and Cumbrian ales.

Great for...

Family
Foodie
Great Outdoors
Spa
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 56 rooms
  • Restaurants & bar (open daily)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Indoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car recommended
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
Room:

Rooms

You've an impressive range of sleeping quarters to choose from. 

Rooms range from standard doubles through slightly larger better and best to spacious suites. Those in the original 1714 building feel grand with high ceilings and plush furniture; as a rule of thumb, rooms face towards the rear and suites come with bold colour schemes and stunning lake views, some have balconies too. 

There are also two blocks of purpose-built rooms, which are very cosy and well thought out, to one side of the property, nearest the pool. They are more contemporary, with smart teal, mustard and sage tones. Some have disabled access. These blocks also house the family suites, each with a bunk room for kids and a double room with a lake view for parents; some interconnect for larger groups and extended families. In addition, two standalone two-bedroom cottages – the second bedroom is or can be a twin in either option – are beside the hotel on the other side.

Towards the lake in the grounds are six gorgeous shepherd huts (three each for couples and families of four) with stargazing roofs, and a stunning black timber-clad two-bedroom treehouse with a bathtub on its wraparound terrace. The huts are carefully positioned apart, with their own private sit-out area complete with fire pit and fairy lights, and consist of linked double huts, making these a surprisingly spacious option. Ours was for a couple and had a splendid copper bath in the bedroom area as well as a cosy seating space with wood-burning stove. The family ones differ in layout, with a separate bunk room.

There are a further nine bedrooms in The Brackenrigg Inn – ranging from a single to a suite – all with smart boutique decor and most with a lake view. Guests here have breakfast at the Inn, which is found further up the fell, and have access to all the hotel facilities just five minutes' down the road.

Wherever you lay your head, you get Land & Water toiletries, bathrobes, tea- and coffee-making stations, Ruark speakers, a mini-fridge and a TV. There are also thoughtful additions like Stanley Flasks – perfect for grabbing your coffee and going for an early hike – and marshmallows and sticks for the fire-pit.

Features include:

  • Bathrobes
  • Central heating
  • Coffee / tea making
  • Hairdryer
  • Minibar
  • Radio
  • Satellite TV
  • Toiletries
  • WiFi

Eating

In keeping with every other aspect of the hotel, you've a delicious choice of eating options.

Breakfast in the main 70-seater Rampsbeck Restaurant is a help-yourself smörgåsbord of loveliness, including fresh fruit, cereals, hot dishes, compotes, smoked salmon, breads and even a waffle-making station. A classy a la carte dinner is also served here, with beautifully plated food sourced from local producers – we loved our poached cod with leeks and cockles, and the venison with celeriac puree, pommes Anna and juniper sauce, plus salted caramel tart for dessert. A separate kids' meal is served from 5-6pm, so parents can sit and have a drink while they feast.

The Living Space, the more relaxed dining option, with additional seating outside just opposite the indoor pool, is open from late morning 'till night, offering everything from coffee to cocktails plus a brasserie-style menu. Think sharing boards, imaginative sandwiches, burgers, fish and chips, and rice bowls with crowd-pleasing sweet treats to round off the meal. Dogs and kids are welcome here, and there are board games for you to enjoy at your table. The blocks housing the family rooms also have a pantry area with a microwave, fridge and drinking water for out-of-hours-snacks.

You can also enjoy pizza in The Glasshouse in the grounds, which works well for families. Or head up to The Brackenrigg Inn for some excellent hearty pub grub – such as rotisserie chicken, roasted salmon or steak pie with traditional puddings to follow. There are also sandwiches, starters and salads if you fancy something lighter. 

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Kids' meals
  • Restaurant
  • Room service
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • Take to the lake: all sorts of water-based activities (SUP, sailing, kayaking, canoeing) are bookable – get kitted out in the Sheep Shed – we loved kayaking the length of Ullswater with only birds for company on a calm day
  • Wild swimming in the lake is exhilarating – just ensure you swim safely – advice and gear is provided. If you prefer to swim indoors, head to the heated 20m pool with its floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Ullswater
  • Hiking is what the Lakes are known for, so bring your boots (there are wellies to borrow too, a nice touch!) and ask reception for maps and best route tips; The Brackenrigg Inn caters especially well for walkers
  • Book a treatment at the 'Swim Club' – massages, facials, manicures and more are available. There are also yoga weekends, and swim clinics for those wanting to improve their technique
  • The fellside sauna is particularly popular – dive into the lake from the jetty afterwards for best effect!
  • The hotel can recommend wild-running trails for particularly active types
  • In winter Skate by the Lake on their 200 sqm ice rink overlooking Ullswater, or even ski on Helvellyn (90 minutes)
  • Chug across the lake on one of the famous Ullswater Steamers, which run from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Boat trips
  • Climbing
  • Cycling
  • Gym
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Kayaking
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Private guided tours
  • Sailing
  • Sauna
  • Skiing
  • Spa treatments
  • Stargazing
  • SUP
  • Swimming
  • Walking
  • Waterfalls
  • Yoga

Kids

Another Place is a brilliant option for families, with an Ofsted-registered Kids' Zone, kids' meals, a playground and games room, and accommodation options for up to six people. Active families in particular will love it here, thanks to the huge array of outdoor adventures available.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Most rooms will accommodate 1-2 baby cots or rollaway beds, with no extra charge for children under 3 in a cot. The best options for families of four are the family suites and the two-bedroomed cottages, as well as the cool family shepherd huts, which have bunk bedrooms for kids aged up to 10. The best family suites can accommodate two adults and then four kids in a larger bunk room with an extra single bed and space for a cot. There are also four interconnecting rooms. 

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Babysitting:

Available on request

Baby equipment:

  • Baby cots

  • Highchairs

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Creche/Kid's Club:

The Ofsted-registered Kids' Zone provides supervised sessions by age group (6mo-3 years, 3-7 years and 7-12 years), the older age groups operate every morning and evening during school holidays; otherwise there are evening sessions for 3-7 year-olds and weekend sessions for 7-12 year-olds. There's a pool table, mini-playground, bean bags, games and toys in the main Kids' Zone area, and an emphasis on outdoor activities and bush craft in a separate Forest School space at weekends and school hoidays. Staff are warm and welcoming and our kids wanted to stay for hours. Children can also use the kids zone out of the supervised sessions, as long as they have an adult with them to supervise. Great on a rainy day.

Children's meals:

Both restaurants have kids' menus (think mac and cheese, cumberland sausages, steak frites and falafels, with brownie, strawberry mousse, ice cream and sticky toffee pudding for dessert) and a separate kids' dinner is held daily between 5 and 6pm in the Rampsbeck Restaurant. The Glasshouse is popular for its pizzas. There is also a pantry with help-yourself snacks in the newer wings.

Kids Activities on site:


  • Playground

  • Table tennis

  • Games room with foosball, air hockey and a pool table

  • Badminton

  • Playstation – ask at reception

  • Lots of kids' DVDs, books, toys, puzzles and games

  • Indoor pool

  • Archery, rock climbing and wildlife walks

  • Sailing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, raft-building, and swimming

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Mountain biking

  • Horse riding

  • Kong Adventure indoor climbing and caving centre in Keswick

  • Crafty Monkeys pottery painting in Penrith

  • Rheged Centre (arts, play areas, a cinema and shops) just outside Penrith

  • Go Ape (ropes and zip-wires) in Grizedale Forest

  • The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere

  • Lowther Castle and Gardens, adventure playground

  • Aira Force waterfall via Ullswater steamers

Families Should Know:

You'll need to supervise children by the lake and pool, and in the kids' club out of its supervised sessions. Kids are not permitted after 6pm in the pool.

Distances:

  • Shop: 5-minute drive
  • Airport: 1.5-hour drive (Newcastle, Manchester or Liverpool)
  • Hospital: 20-minute drive (Penrith)
Kid Friendly:

Location

Another Place is set on the western shore of Ullswater in the northern Lake District, just 15 minutes from the M6 at Penrith.

By Air:
The nearest airports are Newcastle (125km), Manchester (179km) and Liverpool (189km). They're served by a wide range of flights from Europe and beyon.

By Car:
The remote location means you'll want a car to get here and get around. If you need to hire one, see our car rental recommendations. The hotel is 5-6 hours from London and Bristol, 3.5 hours from Birmingham, and just over 2 hours from Manchester or Liverpool.

By Public Transport:
The nearest railway station is Penrith (11km). From here you can get a taxi (20 minutes) or a bus (which stops outside The Brackenrigg Inn) to the hotel.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

Airports:

  • Newcastle 125.0 km NCL
  • Manchester 179.0 km MAN

Other:

  • Beach 20.0 km
  • Shops 4.0 km
  • Restaurant 4.0 km

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