Lakestone Cottage is situated right in the heart of Windermere, just off the main street, in Derby Square. Derby Square is a private square of terraced cottages, all made out of traditionally built lakeland stone. Set in a tranquil square, yet a few metres from the main street in Windermere.
The lake is a very short walk away. Bowness is a 10-15 minute walk.
Shopping
Windermere town has some fantastic traditional shops, often using local farms and supplies. In particular, we recommend:
Oak Street Bakery, 1 Oak Street, Windermere
Turn left on the main street in Windermere, and it is about 10 yards along. They make and sell a fantastic range of artisan breads, cakes and patisserie. Get there early as they frequently sell out later on in the day. Closed on Sundays.
Huddleston's Butchers, 16a Crescent Road, Windermere
Virtually opposite you as you go out on the main street. They make their own prize-winning Cumberland sausage, source their meat from the Lake District and have home cured bacon.
Windermere Wine Store, 11 Crescent Road, Windermere
Turn right onto the main street, this store is located a few metres along. They stock a fantastic range of wines, champagnes, whiskys and local beers.
Booths Supermarket, The Old Station, Victoria Street, Windermere
A Windermere institution, Booths is open 7 days a week (8am-8pm; Sundays 10am – 4pm), stocking a great range of produce, including much local food. Next to the train station.
Lakeland, next to the Train Station in Windermere
This is the home of the mail-order business, stocking everything for the kitchen and more, some interesting foods and handy gadgets for the house.
Ashworths of Windermere, 37 Main Road, Windermere
A deli right on the high street, selling a good range of local and international food. Try their made to order picnics and hampers.
Lucy’s of Ambleside, Church Street, Ambleside
The Lake District’s biggest deli and much more. Outside catering for dinner parties, picnics, restaurant and cookery school. If you can’t find it I Lucy’s, it’s probably not made.
Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, Grasmere
A Lakeland tradition, dating back two centuries. The unique and scrumptious gingerbread is made here (you cannot get it anywhere else, so don’t be fooled). Worth a trip to Grasmere for this alone.
Miller Howe
Made famous by chef John Tovey (who remains as a consultant to the hotel), this elegant stalwart of the Cumbrian dining-out scene offers food that balances a slick mingling of textures & flavours served against a stunning view over Windermere to the Langdale Pikes. The six-course dinner menu could include slow-cooked pork belly with butter-braised salsify, shallot puree & candied apple, & roasted Gressingham duck breast with celeriac salad, confit leg meat & orange & cinnamon reduction. Lunch, a three-course set for £21.50, offers a wide choice but always includes something traditional such as deep-fried cod, pont neuf potatoes, pea puree & tartare sauce (a posh take on fish & chips) & there’s usually sticky toffee pudding for afters.
Rayrigg Road
Windermere
LA23 1EY
Tel 01539 442536
www.millerhowe.com
Mortal Man Inn
A favoured inn in the Troutbeck Valley since 1689, the Mortal Man is known for fabulous views down the valley to Lake Windermere. The restaurant prides itself on serving massive portions of traditional local specialties such as roast shoulder of Cumbrian lamb, served with onion puree, pomme fondant and green peas. The large bar offers simpler pub grub, like a smoked trout fillet with a spring vegetable salad in creamy tomato dressing and a Cumberland sausage baguette sandwich, topped with grilled onions and ale gravy. All 12 guest rooms get the celebrated vistas, but the best panoramas are provided by the ones on the top floor.
Troutbeck
Windermere
LA23 1PL
Tel: 015394 33193
www.themortalman.com
Pheasant
The Pheasant is a wonderfully atmospheric old coaching inn, hidden away off the northwest edge of Bassenthwaite Lake. The building dates back 500 years, when it started life as a farmhouse, but it’s been a pub since 1778, and as you sit in the public bar with its oak fixtures and varnished, tobacco-stained walls, it’s easy to forget which century you’re in. The AA-rosetted restaurant at The Pheasant offers a varied selection, ranging from Cumbrian specialities to more classic fine dining, and is open for lunch and dinner. There are also 15 individually decorated bedrooms; stay the night and soak up The Pheasant's timeless elegance.
Bassenthwaite Lake
Cockermouth
CA13 9YE
Tel: 0871 811 4653
www.the-pheasant.co.uk
Punch Bowl Inn
The Punch Bowl Inn is situated in the heart of Lakeland's unspoilt Lyth Valley in Crosthwaite, right next to St Mary's Church. It was purchased and completely renovated in 2005 by the owners of the Drunken Duck Inn and the result is a beautifully appointed pub that effortlessly mixes the old with the new. Head Chef Matt Waddington produces a locally sourced and seasonal Modern British menu in the stylish dining room (there is a bar menu too) and if you wish to stay over, there are nine individually furnished rooms.
Crosthwaite
Lyth Valley
Kendal
LA8 8HR
Tel: 0871 811 4672
www.the-punchbowl.co.uk
Sharrow Bay
This idyllic Ullswater retreat for many sets the standard in luxurious Lakeland living. It was here, in this remote northeast corner of the Lakes, that Francis Coulson and Brian Sack together invented the concept of the English Country House hotel more than fifty years ago. And really not a great deal has changed in the intervening years. Sharrow Bay, with its 12 acres of private grounds, sublime views, sumptuous furnishings and impeccable service, remains an isolated haven, far from the madding crowds of the South Lakes. The restaurant recently retained its Michelin star for the 11th successive year and boasts one of the best wine lists in the country.
Lake Ullswater
Penrith
CA10 2LZ
Tel: 0871 811 4662
www.sharrowbay.co.uk
The Samling
The Samling dining room, if anything, is understated but offers ample space for seven tables. Two menus are of interest, the gourmand and the dinner. The former attracts unstinted admiration and could consist of a salad of Iberico ham, pan-fried, line-caught sea bass with a tomato and red pepper bouillon and saffron potatoes. For pudding the poached figs with spicy caramel crust, yoghurt cream and spiced trails seems to strike the right note.
The slightly humbler dinner menu has the benefit of offering a wider choice, some of which are included in the gourmand menu, so presumably a question of size, and a starter could be roasted breast of quail and oven-dried grapes with sautéed wild mushrooms, followed by chargilled loin of veal with a caramelised sweetbread and woodland herb risotto.
The wine list is almost as breathtaking as the views, with seven quality house wines by the glass for £5-£6 each, and there is no doubting its global scope. Watch out for the "Something Different" section which yields some interesting scoops. The award of a Michelin Star in 2005 confirms what the cognoscenti have known for some time about The Samling.
Ambleside Road, Windermere, LA23 1LR
01539 431922
www.thesamling.com
Underscar Manor
Just north of Keswick on the slopes of Skiddaw and enjoying fabulous views out across Derwentwater to the fells beyond, Underscar Manor is set in 40 acres of its own grounds that are a haven for red squirrels and other wildlife. The Italianate country house hotel has eleven ensuite bedrooms (all with great views), a health club and spa and a two-AA-rosetted fine dining restaurant which serves classic British and French cuisine. Dining in the conservatory-style room is a formal affair and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. The award-winning Moss Nook restaurant in Manchester is under the same ownership.
Underscar Manor
Applethwaite
Keswick Cumbria
CA12 4PH
Tel 017687 75000
www.keswickrestaurant.co.uk
RESTAURANTS
Beech Hill Hotel
From its position on the eastern shore of Windermere, the Beech Hill Hotel enjoys unparalleled views out over the lake and Coniston Old Man beyond. It's a wonderfully romantic setting for dining and the Beech Hill's two-AA-rosetted restaurant, with its outdoor terrace, does not disappoint. Menus change monthly, using the best of local Cumbrian produce. In summer, you can also 'take tea' down at the hotel's private beach and jetty.
Newby Bridge Road
Windermere
LA23 3LR
Tel: 0871 811 4637
Borrowdale Gates Hotel
Built as a private residence in 1860, the Borrowdale Gates Hotel enjoys a stunning location in one of the Lake District's most beautiful valleys. The hotel sits in two acres of wooded gardens on the edge of the hamlet of Grange and many of the ensuite bedrooms enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding fells. The restaurant here has long enjoyed a reputation for fine food, marrying local Lakeland produce with classic French cuisine.
Grange-in-Borrowdale
Keswick
CA12 5UQ
Tel: 0871 811 4665
www.borrowdale-gates.com
Drunken Duck Inn
Just a few minutes drive from Tarn Hows, Coniston Old Man and the Langdale Pikes, the Drunken Duck lies in the heart of the Lake District at a remote crossroads above Lake Windermere. It's been under the same family ownership since 1977 and effortlessly mixes the old with the new. Dine in the AA-rosetted restaurant, sample an award-winning ale from the on-site Barngates Brewery in the atmospheric bar, and stay the night in one of 16 beautifully furnished rooms. The Punch Bowl Inn at Crosthwaite and Chesters Cafe By The River at Skelwith Bridge are under the same ownership.
Barngates
Ambleside
LA22 0NG
Tel: 0871 811 4639
www.drunkenduckinn.co.uk
Famous Wild Boar
The Famous Wild Boar restaurant possesses character in abundance; oak beamed and cosy by candlelight, it delivers a delectable hearty and modern English menu, championing a whole host of local produce and seasonal ingredients and complimented by an extensive wine list. Embracing a passion for tradition and excellence the head Chef, Marc Sanders, makes full use of Lakeland’s natural larder when selecting produce for the regularly changing menu.
A choice of real ales, guest beer and a highly commended wine list actually on display, make the bar a very sociable and extensive offering to complement the restaurant.
The Famous Wild Boar Hotel
Crook, Nr. Windermere
Cumbria
LA23 3NF
015394 45225
http://www.elh.co.uk/restaurants/wildboar.php
Fayrer Garden House Hotel
If you're in search of fantastic views over Lake Windermere, the two-AA-rosetted Terrace Restaurant at the Fayrer Garden House Hotel in Bowness delivers in style. It's a fine dining affair with a five-course dinner (priced at £35) served in elegant surroundings and matched with a 110-bin wine list. The three-star hotel sits in its own grounds and has 20 well-appointed rooms. There are also regular food and wine weekends arranged throughout the year.
Lyth Valley Road
Bowness
Windermere
LA23 3JP
Tel: 0871 811 4656
www.fayrergarden.com
Gilpin Lodge
Gilpin Lodge sits high above Bowness on the road to Crook and close to Windermere Golf Club. A Lakeland country house built in 1901, it’s been family run by the Cunliffes since 1987 with the second generation now at the helm. It's the newest of Lakeland's Michelin-starred restaurants with Executive Head Chef Chris Meredith emphasising fresh seasonal produce sourced both locally and direct from France. Lunch and dinner are served in four dining rooms, each with its own character and style. The sumptuous bedrooms here are individually designed and furnished and Gilpin Lodge is set in 20 private acres of country garden, moor and woodland.
Crook Road
Windermere
LA23 3NE
Tel: 0871 811 4640
www.gilpinlodge.co.uk
Highfield Hotel & Restaurant
The Highfield Hotel and Restaurant enjoys magnificent views out over Derwent Water and beyond. The building dates back to 1886 and retains many Victorian features including turrets, balconies and bay windows. It's been a hotel since the 1940s and has 19 en-suite rooms, all with DVD and TV, as well as free wifi internet access. The restaurant boasts two AA rosettes with a Modern British menu that changes daily and uses the best-quality Cumbrian produce.
The Heads
Keswick
CA12 5ER
Tel: 0871 811 4641
www.highfieldkeswick.co.uk
Holbeck Ghyll
The magnificent oak panelled Restaurant and the new Terrace Restaurant, both with stunning lake and mountain views, are ideal settings for a memorable dining experience. The latter, in addition, has French doors onto a patio for lunch or early evening dining.
Dining is intended to be an integral part of ones stay at Holbeck Ghyll. Canapes and aperitifs are taken in one of the lounges or on The Terrace whilst looking at the menu.
An extensive wine list reflects the desire of the proprietors to feature wines of quality, interest and value from around the world. The Holbeck Ghyll now boasts a Michelin star.
Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel
Holbeck Lane
Windermere
LA23 1LU
015394 32375
www.holbeckghyll.com/restaurant.htm
Jerichos Restaurant
Just off the main street in Windermere, Jerichos is a multi-award-winning British restaurant run by chef-patron Chris Blaydes and wife Jo. Chris's two-AA-rosette cooking uses the freshest seasonal produce to deliver a small but perfectly formed menu. The restaurant seats just 36 with a choice of four starters and five mains, complemented by a 60-bin wine list. Jerichos has an upmarket feel and accepts bookings for private parties.
Birch Street
Windermere
LA23 1EG
Tel: 0871 811 4642
www.jerichos.co.uk
L'Enclume
Simon Rogan has brought cutting edge Modern French cuisine to the sleepy south Lakeland village of Cartmel in the shape of L'Enclume, his Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms. It offers one of the country's most innovative and exciting culinary experiences, with Simon drawing on his time working with some of the biggest names on the UK restaurant scene, high-profile chefs such as Marco Pierre White, John Burton Race, Keith Floyd and Jean Christophe Novelli. Although you can eat a la carte at L'Enclume, most diners opt for one of the tasting menus, where Simon pushes the boundaries of texture and flavour combinations. The three tasting menu choices comprise eight, 14 or 20 courses and are very much an all-night affair. L'Enclume has quickly become one of the country's top destination restaurants and if you are planning to stay over, there are seven individually decorated rooms as well as a house in the village that can accommodate groups of up to eight people.
Cavendish Street
Cartmel
Grange-over-Sands
LA11 6PZ
Tel: 0871 811 4645
www.lenclume.co.uk
Lakeside Hotel
The four-star Lakeside Hotel at Newby Bridge enjoys the ideal location on the southern shores of Lake Windermere. Sumptuously furnished throughout, it retains the warm and welcoming atmosphere of its 17th-century coaching inn origins, whilst offering state-of-the-art pool, spa and conference facilities. Diners have two options -- classic fine dining in the two-AA-rosetted Lakeview Restaurant or the more informal and international menu in John Ruskin's Brasserie & Bar. You can also enjoy a light lunch or snack in the Conservatory, soaking up the splendid views out over Windermere.
Lake Windermere
Newby Bridge
Windermere
LA12 8AT
Tel: 0871 811 4644
www.lakesidehotel.co.uk
Langdale Chase
Built in 1895 as a private country residence, Langdale Chase stands in six acres of beautifully manicured grounds on the shores of Lake Windermere. It's got one of the longest garden frontages on the whole lake, making it a popular choice for weddings and the hotel has a license to hold civil ceremonies. Langdale Chase is full of character with ornate carved fireplaces, oak-panelled rooms, and an imposing oak staircase with minstrels' gallery. The bedrooms are all individually furnished, some with four-poster beds and jacuzzis, and with one unique room above the boathouse on the lake. Dining in the AA-rosetted restaurant is a romantic experience with candlelit tables and great lake views from the picture windows.
Windermere
LA23 1LW
Tel: 0871 811 4666
www.langdalechase.co.uk
Langdale Estate
The Langdale Estate is a 35-acre woodland haven in the heart of the Lake District that encompasses hotel, lodge and self-catering acommodation, two restaurants, a pub, and leisure facilities including a pool and spa. Purdey's restaurant is the AA-rosetted fine dining option, refurbished in the style of an old mill, and offering a la carte and table d'hote menus and an extensive wine list. The Terrace Restaurant and Cafe-Bar is more informal, overlooks the pool at the Country Club, and now has wi-fi internet access. Wainwright's Inn in Chapel Stile is a short walk from the Estate. With its stone-flagged floors, open fires, real ales and good food it's just what you would expect from a traditional Lakeland pub, and features regularly in the Good Pub Guide.
Great Langdale
Ambleside
LA22 9JD
Tel: 0871 811 4660
www.langdale.co.uk
Linthwaite House Hotel
Award-winning 3 Red Star (AA) Linthwaite offers modern British cuisine using the best of local produce in the 3 rosette restaurant. Recently awarded Johansens Most Excellent Country House Hotel 2007 award.
Crook Road
Oaks Drive
Bowness-on-Windermere
LA23 3JA
Tel: 015394 88600
www.linthwaite.com
Lucy’s on a plate
A food lover's paradise, Lucy's was born in 1989 through a love of food and people, and has gradually grown into all that it is today - a fabulous combination of Delicatessen, Mail Order, Cafe & Restaurant, Outside Catering, Wine Bar & Bistro and Cookery School in the Lakes.
The main operation here is a top-end deli/grocer designed to cater, as far as I can tell, for holidaymakers used to the range and quality of Selfridges’ food hall. If you turn right on entering the shop, through a small arch and down some steps, you emerge into a little into a folksy little low-lit restaurant of clean wooden tables and bustling staff with a blackboard pudding list that must have named 100 desserts.
Before that there was Bluebird beef (local meat braised in the great Bluebird ale of Coniston), cranberry bambi (local venison with cranberry), herby saffron cod (sounds like a very posh twenties rally driver), lamb rumpy pumpy and lots more bad puns screaming madly for attention on behalf of some good, hearty food.
On the first Wednesday of every month, Lucy holds her “Up the Duff Pudding Night”, when £20 buys you all the pudding you want: pecan and maple bread-and-butter pudding, Lancashire lemon tart, deep dish egg custard tart, nutty raspberry Pavlova and a glass of dessert wine.
Church Street
Ambleside
LA22 0BU
Tel: 015394 31191
www.lucysofambleside.co.uk