Can anyone recommend a lovely hotel in Lake District?

[NeedSpeed]

Hi, can anyone recommend a lovely hotel in or near Lake District please? There's no budget. Preferably child friendly but doesn't have to be. Thanks

[Dollyemi]

Not been for years but Lodore Falls, I think it's on offer with Groupon at the moment too.

[srtajuanita]

Swinside Lodge. Wonderful chef.

[NeedSpeed]

Forgot to mention ideally one that is pet free (allergies).

[AliMonkey]

We enjoyed Swan Hotel in Newby Bridge. Child friendly (library of kids books, board games, milk and cookies brought to your room every night if you want it, playground, interconnecting rooms) but would have happily stayed there if no kids

[NeedSpeed]

Thanks everyone! Any more recommendations?

[getinthesea]

Argil Castle. Lovely, child friendly, laid back.

[myrtleWilson]

Drunken Duck is supposed to be fab

[getinthesea]

AUGILL. A pox on autocorrect.

[lk26]

Ramps beck on ullswater. Inn on the lake glen ridding.

[Ferguson]

It is fifty years since I last went, but if you want to be right in amongst the Fells then THE hotel is ODG - Old Dungeon Ghyll, in Langdale. A mile or two away is the New Dungeon Ghyll.

ODG looks out onto Bowfell and Crinkle Crags, and it is at the foot of the Langdale Pikes.

It USED to be a climbers' hotel, and the local Mountain Rescue Team was based there I think.

[Should you be interested, I can tell you more about what it was like there in the 1960s.]

[Singsongsung]

Augill Castle is in Cumbria but not in the Lake District though. You have about a 25 minute drive from there to get to a lake! It is nice though.

[Ferguson]

I got so carried away thinking about ODG, I forgot to give you the link:

www.odg.co.uk/

Do you know the Lake District, and what are your priorities?

In more recent years we went self-catering at a cottage on Rannerdale Farm, Crummock Water. This is in the north west of the Lakes, and is MUCH quieter, because it is further away from the tourist hot-spots:

www.sallyscottages.co.uk/rannerdale-close

[FrameyMcFrame]

Second Lodore falls. The location and food are excellent. It's an old fashioned lakes hotel so don't expect chic modern etc. but it's a great family hotel.

[ComingtoKent]

Hillthwaite Hotel in Windemere. We had a great deal (Secret Escapes I think) which included four course dinner. Lovely views from its hillside position. It's got a swimming pool, but we didn't have time to use it. Would definitely go back.

[saresywaresy2]

The one i've always wanted to stay at, money no object, is the Gilpin

[velidhu]

we stayed here for a birthday break a few years ago. Get a room with a lake view, book dinner in the restaurant, have a relaxing spa treatment (hot stone massage did the job for me) and go for some bracing hikes. Absolutely loved it!

[Archfarchnad]

I wasn't actually that impressedby Lodore Falls. We went to a wedding there some time back and stayed in a family room for 2 nights, it struck me as tired and stuffy. Pool was nice but pretty small. No good view to speak of (at least not from our room). If I was on a no-limits budget I'd be looking elsewhere.

[5Foot5]

We have had a very nice break at Lodore Falls too.

However, I do have a soft spot for the Keswick Country House Hotel. We have had a couple of lovely New Years there pre-parent days.

[lovelyupnorth]

Hillthwaite - i would suggest is too old a market (ie all their customers are old)

Lakeside, Newby Bridge - very family friendly, lovely pool and nice family rooms
Swan Newby Bridge - as above

Drunken Duck - not really for famililes