Another Place, The Lake

If you’re going to go to the trouble of updating a country house hotel in the Lake District – where there’s lots of competition – you need to do it right, so kudos to Another Place, The Lake, handsomely sited on the shores of Ullswater. It’s stylish yet unstuffy, and properly family- and dog-friendly – the sort of place that offers wild swimming, nighttime stargazing swims, standup paddleboarding and kayaking from their own jetty, a great pool, and has muddy wellies by the door from days spent exploring. But there are also romantic lake views, convivial public spaces and three restaurants, which makes it a fabulous grown-up retreat too, handy for exploring the less-visited northern Lakes and Eden Valley.

Rooms are split between the original Georgian country house and a new contemporary wing, as well as shepherd huts and a treehouse in the grounds. They range from standard doubles up to family suites, with lake views a premium in either location (and dog-friendly options available). If you want a four-poster bed, high ceilings and an original feature or two, then the main house is for you, though even here the rooms have been given a light, modern touch. Other rooms and suites feel more contemporary, with a kind of nouveau-country chic going on – so you might get a lake-view Juliette balcony, a designer sofa with a sheepskin throw, and a slipper bath. Bluetooth radio, fridge and drinks flask are standard throughout, which is pretty neat, and we love the thought that has gone into the overall guest-friendly concept – witness the star-gazing beanbag we found under a bathroom skylight. Beyond the main building, you'll find Willow Cottage, a large family suite designed by Lynsey Ford, winner of Interior Design Masters. Newer offerings to the site are a contemporary treehouse and six lakeshore shepherd's huts in the grounds, sleeping two or four people. These, alongside a Victorian-style Glasshouse serving stone-baked pizza, make for great ways to experience the great outdoors with luxurious surroundings.

Public areas flow seamlessly through both sections of the hotel in a kind of ‘open-house’ manner – you feel you can plonk yourself down in any one of a number of cosy corners, from brandy in the fire-warmed library to help-yourself coffee and a natter with the staff in reception. What they call The Living Space is a Scandi-style cafe-bar with a family-friendly bistro menu of burgers, salads, pasta and the like, and it spills out onto a lake-view terrace. The indoor pool is a beauty – 20 metres long with its own lake view – and there’s also their take on a spa for adults, with a sauna, treatment rooms and outdoor hot tub too. Outdoor activities loom large – cold water and wild swimming, sign up for stand-up paddle boarding, or drop the children off at the impressive supervised Kids’ Zone (which is kitted out better than your average junior school and runs sessions for 6 months through to 12 years).

The Rampsbeck Restaurant channels contemporary British cooking at its best – but with a global twist. The £55 per person three-course menu showcases Cumbria’s finest ingredients, including produce from the vegetable patch in the grounds. Classical techniques combine international flavours, from beef fillet tataki to vodka-macerated watermelon with whipped feta and dukkah. Seasonal and fresh, every dish comes with signature flair and individuality – we'd definitely recommend dining in during your stay! And for breakfast, enjoy anything from waffles to a Full English.