“Privately owned, elegant country-house-style hotel with a modern freshness and a highly regarded restaurant. Bedrooms are large and understated while there are lawned gardens for lazy afternoons.”

Hotel review

This charming, white-painted, Regency house, hidden by gardens on the outskirts of Ambleside, has been carefully extended and subtly modernised to make it light and fresh without losing its period feel. Pale-washed walls and pretty wallpapers, smart sofas and choice antiques are set against original features such as shuttered windows and cornices to give a quiet elegance. Bedrooms are generous in size and balance traditional and contemporary country-house styling: soft colours and carpets, bold florals and ginghams, vintage and modern furniture while bathrooms are lovely and large. Bag a room with a balcony. Take note, some rooms are close to the road and those in the separate cottage have less charm. Dining here is an experience. The Modern British cooking produces complex dishes for dinner while breakfasts are well above the ordinary. It’s a 10-minute walk into Ambleside and down to the lake though you might feel tempted to just laze around the hotel with its inviting sitting-rooms and spacious lawns.

Helen Pickles
Helen Pickles Review published: 26/02/2024

Recommended for

  • Country Escape

    • Set in pretty woodlands and boasting easy access to Cumbria's fabulous walking country.
  • Trekking

    • Discover miles of hiking trails across the mountains, around the lakes and through the forests of the Lake District.
  • Foodies

    • The restaurant has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes and serves stunning seasonal gourmet cuisine
  • Riding

    • A number of stables offer horse treks through the picturesque countryside.
  • Sights nearby

    • Visit 'Hill Top', Beatrix Potter’s former home, situated near Hawkshead.
  • Sailing

    • Learn to sail on Lake Windermere, just a short stroll from the property.
  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Country House

  • Mountain biking

  • Intimate

  • Charming

  • Disabled access

  • Child friendly

  • Pet friendly

  • Gym

  • Boutique

  • Fishing

  • Restaurant

Facilities

  • Rooms

    19 rooms in this hotel
  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Meeting Room

  • Bar

  • Parking

  • Wifi

  • Disabled access

  • Room service

  • Child friendly

  • Pet friendly

  • Gym

  • Garden

  • Restaurant

Activities

  • Trekking

    • Discover miles of hiking trails across the mountains, around the lakes and through the forests of the Lake District.
  • Climbing

    • The Lake District is a well-known destination for rock climbing with a number of indoor facilities to learn on.
  • Riding

    • A number of stables offer horse treks through the picturesque countryside.
  • Sights nearby

    • Visit 'Hill Top', Beatrix Potter’s former home, situated near Hawkshead.
  • Sailing

    • Learn to sail on Lake Windermere, just a short stroll from the property.
  • Mountain biking

  • Fishing

Map & Location

See what they say

Why do people love staying in your hotel? Above all people love staying at Rothay Manor due to our friendly, welcoming staff who make people feel as though they're in a home away from home What is there to do in the area? Ambleside is the perfect base to really enjoy what the Lake District has to offer. We offer guests passes to the nearby Ambleside Spa which always goes down a treat! Many of our guests are visiting the area to check out the stunning walking routes and fells. We offer a Walking Holiday twice a year so we can show our guests some of our favourite routes. What kind of breakfast do you offer? We offer a full continental spread of pastries, and home-made granola, fresh bread, home-made jams and marmalade, fresh fruits and yoghurt. There's also cooked options for example our full english, eggs benedict or even smoked kippers! Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? We do offer a full fine-dining experience. We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. We even have a tasting menu which has proven really popular, we are really lucky at Rothay Manor to have such a talented chef. Dan our Head Chef is a big fan of Lake Road Kitchen because the menu changes every time you go or Apple Pie Café which has possibly the best pies in the world. Which are your most popular room types, and why? Our newly renovated bedrooms (classic plus and superior plus) are popular, as they offer a classic country house style, and modern bathrooms. Our superior rooms are also popular, especially in the summer, as they have balconies over-looking our beautiful gardens What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? As a small country house hotel we are more of a haven for peace and tranquilty so don't have many facilities for children. We do, however, have plenty of space for extra beds in most of our bedrooms

Other reviews

Rothay Manor Hotel

A smart, privately owned, country house-style hotel with a serious-dining restaurant and relaxing, understated bedrooms. It's surrounded by gardens, on the outskirts of Ambleside, although close to busy roads.

Originally published by The Telegraph

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