A Review of Another Place, The Lake in Ullswater: A Beautiful Hotel In The Lake District

There are many, many beautiful hotels in the Lake District but Another Place, The Lake is one that’s worth returning to again and again.

Another Place, The Lake on the shores of Ullswater has really nailed the lifestyle hotel with a genuine home-from-home (a very, very nice home) feeling. Set on 18 acres of land in the Lake District National Park, there’s a private lakeshore and gorgeous views over the fells around Ullswater. 

A sister hotel to Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall, Another Place, The Lake is a renovated and rejuvenated Georgian house which encourages people to enjoy the outdoors before coming to relax in the comfortable surroundings of the hotel.

Read more: 9 Cabins In The UK Perfect For Your Next Cosy Holiday

As a guest here you can enjoy activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, stargaze swims and kayaking on Ullswater. There are plenty of walks you can do from the hotel too including Hallin Fell and Aira Force Waterfalls. You’ll find a good selection of walking guides in the walking boot entrance to the hotel. We did Arthur’s Pike while we were here, a moderate walk on the opposite side of Ullswater which gave us incredible views of the hotel and down the lake.

Back at the hotel, if you want to stay indoors, take advantage of the swimming pool with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the fells. Soak any aching muscles in the outdoor hot tub and enjoy a relaxing massage in the on-site spa.

I’ve been lucky enough to stay at Another Place, The Lake twice over the last few years. And, if you’re looking for a relaxing break in the UK, this beautiful hotel in the Lake District is one to put on your list.

Key Facts About Another Place, The Lake

Check in is at 3pm
Check out is at 11am
Another Place, The Lake is dog friendly and family friendly

What Are The Facilities At Another Place, The Lake in Ullswater?

Inside the hotel, before the check in desk, you’ll find the boot room complete with a selection of wellington boots for use around the grounds of the hotel.

There are 40 bedrooms divided across the old Georgian house and a modern extension, two restaurants (the Living Space and The Rampsbeck), a 20 metre swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, treatment rooms. There’s also a library with a crackling log fire, books and board games and a casual bar serving up snacks, refreshments, beers and some delicious cocktails.

In the outside space, there’s a large contemporary treehouse, six shepherd huts and the Glasshouse serving up stonebaked pizza and cocktails.

All rooms have bathrooms, wifi, Stanley flasks, a safe, a Ruark bluetooth radio, a fridge, coffee, hairdryer, bath robe, and Land and Water products. There’s also room service should you fancy breakfast in bed and 24 hour check in

Some rooms have a bath and there are family rooms if you’re bringing your little ones. There’s an Ofsted registered Kid’s Zone area, supervised kid’s sessions, babysitting services are available and travel cots can be provided if needed.

For those bringing a dog, Another Place, The Lake has several dog friendly rooms and the Living Space is even a dog friendly restaurant.

Top tip: If your room isn’t ready when you come to check in, make sure you have your swim wear to hand. You’re welcome to use the Swim Club facilities at the hotel until your room is ready. I love this idea as it means you can enjoy the hotel as soon as you arrive – I’d recommend enjoying the swimming pool and the hot tub then enjoying a holiday cocktail in the Living Space before check in!

You can also enjoy the facilities of the hotel on the day you depart too so there’s no need to leave straight away at 11am.

What Are The Rooms Like At Another Place, The Lake?

There are several different room types at Another Place, The Lake: Standard, Better, Best, Family Suites, Family Cottage, Willow Cottage, Lake-View Suites, Shepherd Huts and the Treehouse.

We’ve stayed in one of the Better Rooms in the modern extension and one of the Shepherd Huts. Both rooms were absolutely incredible and I knew each time we stepped into the hotel, the smell of a log fire and friendly staff welcoming you in, we were in for a good stay.

Our Better Room had the most stunning views over Ullswater and the snow topped mountains. The room was spacious, the bed was HUGE, and it even had its own little seating area with two seats and a sheepskin rug by the Juliette balcony. This was the perfect spot for reading, enjoying a cup of tea, and devouring the teacakes that were kindly left in the fridge. Yes teacakes. Tunnocks chocolately, marshmallowy, gooey, teacakes.

In our room we had a full selection of teas, coffee, and a Stanley flask for our walk There was also a Ruark radio, chilled water in the fridge, and, I know I shouldn’t rave about this, but the TV had Netflix, 4OD, BBC player, and ALL the good channels. I mentioned that home-away-from-home feeling? It’s little touches like this that really made it.

The bed was gorgeous and so, so comfortable. We both slept extremely well and if you’re staying here in the winter months, the luxurious bedding will keep you nice and warm.

What About The New Shepherd Huts?

On our second stay, we had two nights in one of the Shepherd Huts. This was a very special stay, and I’ve never stayed anywhere like it before. Set outside the hotel, but only a short 1 minute walk to the reception, the Shepherd Huts are really worth it for an added bit of luxury. 

With an outdoor firepit, marshmallows ready for toasting, a giant copper bath looking out onto the grounds and a log burner to keep you nice and toasty, I’d really recommend the Shepherd Huts for a romantic stay. The interior has been specially designed and you can tell some real thought has gone into the space in regards to the layout and the way the space is used. 

Again, the beds are huge and very comfortable, and for those clear nights, there’s a stargazing window right above the bed. Not only is this the perfect place to see the night sky but it also brings in so much light to the Shepherd Huts. As the shepherd’s huts are a short walk from the hotel, there are umbrellas in the wardrobe where you’ll also find plenty of room to store luggage, coats and boots so they’re not cluttering up the space.

If you’re in one of the regular shepherd huts, you’ll get to enjoy the huge copper bath which overlooks the lake. It’s luxurious and deep so bring some of your favourite bubbly with you, and also maybe a glass of bubbly to enjoy a bath or two.

Where Can I Eat At Another Place, The Lake?

When I say you could stay here for 3 nights and literally not leave the hotel, I mean that. There’s everything you need here to enjoy a relaxing stay and that includes the restaurants too.

There are three dining options at Another Place, The Lake. There’s the Living Space which is the more casual eating space for lunch and dinner. Rampsbeck Restaurant is a more formal dining experience and one I do hope you get to try during your stay. If you enjoy bed and breakfast, you’ll get to enjoy breakfast here and there’s a great selection of cooked food, salmon and cream cheese bagels, pastries, fruit, cereal and a waffle making machine! In the evening, you can enjoy a delectable 3 course meal which focuses on British food that uses Cumbrian sourced produce.

During our first stay we were absolutely ravenous after paddleboarding and the massage. So we ordered our drinks and settled in for what was to be a very good meal. I went for the mussels to start which were coated in leek and thyme, roast gurnard with chorizo, heritage potatoes and capers for my main, and banana parfait for dessert. Chris went for the braised pig cheek and black pudding for starters, sirloin steak for main, then chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice cream for pudding. Our second time at Another Place, The Lake was just as delicious with dishes of brussel sprout and sage risotto, roast venison, and scallops followed by chocolate mouse for pudding.

We also dined in The Living Space. This place is more casual and serves food between 11.30am and 10pm. It’s the ideal place for a chilled out drink too – you have to try the salted caramel espresso martini and the classic margarita.

 The appeal of The Living Space is that you can roll straight off the hills and enjoy a good meal without having to dress up too fancy. We did though, just because why not?

Both Rampsbeck Restaurant and the Living Space serve up delicious food without any pretentiousness.  

There’s also the newly opened Glasshouse which serves up sharing plates and pizzas. We didn’t eat at the Glasshouse but that’s a reason to go back again for a third visit, right?

View Glasshouse Menu

View Living Space Menu

View Rampsbeck Restaurant Menu

 

And What’s The Breakfast Like?

Yes, breakfast needs a section of its own, it’s that good.

There’s the full cooked breakfast buffet, where you can grab scrambled eggs, poached eggs, back bacon, streaky bacon, baked beans, tomatoes, sausages, mushrooms, black pudding, and toast. There’s fresh fruit juice laid out for you – hello pulpy OJ! Granola with dried fruit and yoghurt, and there are fresh pastries waiting to be devoured.

The best part though? There’s a waffle station. A WAFFLE STATION. I know I shouldn’t really get too excited about a waffle station but I LOVED it. The waffle mixture is already made, so all you have to do is pour it in the waffle maker press the timer for 5 minutes and you have your perfectly made, fresh waffle right in front of you. There’s plenty of toppings to choose from so go crazy!

Then, the proof of the pudding was in the eating. These waffles were soft and fluffy and with the streaky bacon and maple syrup on top, it was the perfect start to the day.

The Swim Club

One of the standout features of Another Place is the Swim Club and the pool. I mean, look at it. The 20 metre, low chlorine pool, looks over those gorgeous views that never fail to stun whether they’re misty or saturated in sunshine.

The Swim Club also features an outdoor hot tub with those same amazing views and is so inviting on a cold day. You do have to brave the cold air first but when you’re in that hot water it’s utter bliss. It’s the perfect place to relax after a long walk.

The pool area is open from 7am to 9pm with 9am to 6pm being family time. We took advantage of ‘adult only’ time on the morning of our check out, it was lovely to have a dip in the pool before breakfast. However, we also used the pool in ‘family time’ and found it particularly quiet around 1-3pm with families mainly using it before dinner.

For another treat, the Swim Club has its very own treatment room where you can enjoy a massage, facial, salt scrub, or manicure. We opted for hour long full body massages after our stand-up paddleboarding session. It was very much needed after spending 90 minutes on the lake and definitely eased any aching muscles! Spa therapists will help you pick out relaxing or energising oils and can focus on any points which might need a bit of extra attention.

Take a look at the Treatment Menu for Another Place, The Lake

The oils used at Another Place are part of their special collection called “Watergate Bay Elements” which also feature in the handwash, shampoo, conditioner and bodywash that’s used throughout the hotel. I thought this was a unique and thoughtful feature.

What Outdoor Activities Are There To Enjoy?

You come to The Lake District to explore the outdoors and that’s exactly what we did on our first visit at Another Place, The Lake. No sooner had we settled into our room and taken in the view, we were down at The Swim Club getting ready for our standup paddleboarding lesson. 

Wetsuits and boots were provided, so we changed into them and headed down to the Sheep Shed where Adrian, our instructor for the afternoon, met us. After a few instructions on land on how to use the paddleboard, we were out on the water.

Read more: 21 Of The Best Weekend Breaks In The UK To Enjoy In 2023

Now it might look freezing but it wasn’t that bad. Unless you fell in the lake. Which I did once. It was only a couple of minutes though and after paddling a bit more, I’d soon warmed back up. I love paddleboarding in the warmer weather but for those views, it was worth it and we soon got acclimated to the temperature.

It was the most gorgeous location though. You certainly felt very small in the shadow of the mountains.

You can also kayak, canoe, wild swim, and sail on Ullswater. So, if you fancy any of them, definitely check it out. We had the best time.

Relaxation Time

Active relaxation is a key part of Another Places’ philosophy. This might be their first hotel in the collection but it’s a theme they want to weave through their future locations. So, to relax, we chilled out in our room, we had a leisurely drink in the Living Space, and we made the most of the Library and its many board games.

We definitely spent more time in our room when we stayed in the Shepherd Hut. Taking a relaxing soak in the bath after dinner and enjoying the log fire on one of the cooler evenings.

However, there is a fire in the library which is a wonderful place to enjoy a pre-dinner or post-dinner drink.We camped out on some sofas and grabbed the board game Pandemic. We also played Solitaire and Scrabble to wile away some time before dinner.

Overall, our stay at Another Place, The Lake was lovely and each time I’ve been so sad to leave. This place has hit the nail on the head for guests wanting to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with the luxury of being able to come back to a homely and relaxed place. We were able to get out to Pooley Bridge, do the walk up Arthur’s Pike and also Aira Force, and then come back to relax in the warmth of the hotel.

Would you stay at Another Place, The Lake? If you fancy the perfect mix of outdoorsy and relaxation, check it out and hopefully you get to enjoy a stay here just as much as I did.