A Heavenly Oasis in the Lakes
14th January 2015
As the rain plummeted down and I drove through gigantic puddles that flooded the winding country lanes, I was eager to reach The Langdale Hotel and Spa, where I could sink into warmth and relaxation.
Even through the heavy downpour, the burnt orange peaks of Langdale looked impressive and added some much welcome colour on such a dismal day.
At the reception of The Langdale Hotel, I was greeted with a warm welcome and given a map and information about the resort. After a quick freshen up in my room and a cup of ground coffee, I made my way over to Hobson’s Bar, admiring the mountainous backdrop, gushing stream and water wheel en route.
The moment I walked into the bar I was drawn into the cosy atmosphere where open fires roared. There’s a lovely rustic feel in here, with chunky wooden tables, comfy sofas and slate walls. It kind of made me thankful that the weather was so terrible outside.
After a couple of aperitifs, and feeling suitably ravenous, I went next door to Purdey’s Restaurant. The staff were attentive yet discreet, and the music enhanced the ambience. The menu was tantalising and I quickly opted for the cauliflower soup with the cutest miniature cheese and onion toastie I have ever seen. The fillet of black bream for my main course was just perfect and left me far too satisfied to squeeze in a dessert. I was ready to retire.
Tucked away in a slate building across from the main building, the Family Room was really comfortable and spacious, with ensuite bathroom, Jacuzzi bath and rainhead shower. More importantly, I loved the bed and made myself quite at home inside the Egyptian cotton sheets.
Thankfully, when I awoke in the morning, the rain had eased off and I was able to appreciate the striking setting of the hotel. Feeling slightly guilty after indulging in several drinks and delicious food the night before, a visit to The Spa and pool was on the cards.
The 20 metre pool at The Langdale is fantastic, with a steam room, Sanarium, and tropical and deluge showers on the pool side. It would have been rude not to test out all of the facilities.
After working up a bit of an appetite, the bountiful buffet and full English breakfast were a feast for the eyes. And after swimming several lengths, I felt I deserved to treat myself, again! Every breakfast food imaginable was on offer and I could have very easily gorged myself on cereals, pastries and cooked food, but I managed to restrain myself and skip the pastries!
To complete my stay at The Langdale Hotel and Spa, I booked myself in for an Elemis deep tissue massage. Ahhh! What a heavenly way to end my experience here. And I couldn’t resist purchasing some of the fabulous products too; it was my birthday after all!
Would I return to The Langdale Hotel and Spa? Absolutely, but next time I would come with my walking boots so that I could explore the magnificent scenery of the Lake District, and I would book an extended stay. One night here simply isn’t enough, I would definitely linger longer.