Luxuriating in Low Wood Bay

With spectacular views across Lake Windermere, it was easy to see why Low Wood Bay should be high on anyone’s list of spa hotels to visit.

Sitting on the A591, between Ambleside village, this lakefront resort and marina is a 3 mile drive from Windermere village and the train station.

This well-presented venue has it all, with Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre across the road, or a relaxing health and wellbeing spa, with outdoor infinity pool, several saunas and steam rooms, indoor pool or if you want to get your walking boots on, the possibilities are endless.

We arrived mid-afternoon and were shown to our room in the exclusive Winander Club, which allows guests access to Winander Club Lounges with free hot drinks and chilled water, a roof top terrace with panoramic views of Lake Windermere, Langdale Pikes and beyond and exclusive access to the Winander Bar and roof top terrace.  The Winander Club private breakfast lounge serves continental buffet options and cooked breakfasts, which include vegetarian and vegan options.  Guests also benefit from a late check out of 12 noon.

Our room had stunning views of the surrounding countryside and we decided to stretch our legs after the car journey and followed the well sign posted paths into the woods, where we found streams and waterfalls and felt like we’d well and truly arrived in the Lake District.

On our last visit, we sampled the delights of The W restaurant, so this time, we opted for the cosy Blue Smoke Restaurant, which offers a wide selection of local produce, to satisfy all tastes.  I started with a spicy, crispy duck pancake and followed with easily the best lobster I’ve ever had.  My wife had prawns first, which, in the interests of research, I had to try, followed by a rib-eye steak, which I was less fortunate with.  It melts in your (her) mouth apparently.  I’ll have to take her word. The desserts didn’t disappoint either – you can’t beat a lemon meringue, well, that is unless you try their chocolate brownie.  You decide.  We couldn’t.

We were intrigued by the poster for ‘wood-fired afternoon teas’ (the wife is a connoisseur), so had to book one for the following day to see what that involved.

After a lovely breakfast, with views of the lake and surrounding scenery, we went into the main building to begin our three hour ‘Thermal Spa Journey’.  Having visited quite a few spas around the UK, we feel qualified to know a good one from a not so good one.

This one has it all.  A good-sized indoor pool, outdoor infinity pool, where you can sip prosecco (they have it on draught, you know) and lose your thoughts while watching the paddle boarders and boat trippers on Lake Windermere.  I know, sounds like heaven!  The thing we liked best is that it’s never over-crowded.  Other spas we’ve been to tend to cram in as many visitors as they can, but not this one.

Lunch was the much-anticipated Wood-fired afternoon tea, which didn’t disappoint.  If I could design an afternoon tea, this would probably come close.  The food came on a three tiered set of pans, which the waitress struggled to carry, with a mouth watering selection of tasty bites, including;  pulled pork baps, tacos, nachos, spicy chicken wings, wedges, coleslaw, battered prawns and a few sweet treats of doughnuts with caramel sauce, custard tarts (possibly pastel de natas).  They did keep one traditional item – scones, jam and cream.  Or is it cream and jam.  Let’s not start that one!

To accompany the food, they offer a ‘prosecco flute’ which consists of four small glasses – three normal and one dessert wine, which the wife took advantage of and informed me that they were lovely.

I needed to give my liver a rest and also wanted to appreciate (and stay awake for) my aromatherapy massage, which was to follow.

The other half had a back massage and facial and we both agreed that the treatments were top notch and we left our spa day feeling relaxed, refreshed and chilled.

There’s so much to see and do around Windermere that we decided to go out for our evening meal and searched online for a restaurant that served local dishes.  When in Cumbria……………

I booked a table at the Lamplighter Dining Rooms in Windermere’s High Street, which had a few good reviews and looked like it had a homely feel.

I started with the marinated pig’s cheeks, apple sauce and home-made slaw, while the missus had her old favourite, chicken liver parfait, which we both happily devoured.  The waiter had invited us to try the ‘specials’ of lamb rump and sea bass which were both generous portions and cooked to perfection.  I’m not sure why, but I was most impressed with the presentation.

I think the earlier lunch and the portion sizes here, meant we couldn’t do justice to afters, but it was a close run thing as I’m sure the ‘local cheese’ board was winking at me.

As I mentioned, there’s so much to see and do in these parts and frankly, we hadn’t seen and done enough, so we asked if our room was available for an extra night and luckily it was, so we were able to get the car out and go off exploring the following morning.

It’s on trips like these, that I wish I could paint or draw.  If you can, there’s no shortage of landscapes, hills, mountains or stretches of water to satisfy your needs.  We had no plan and just went over hills and round lakes until we landed in the village of Coniston for a pit stop.  The hill, rising above the village, known locally as the ‘Old Man of Coniston’ is strangely beguiling and somewhat scary.  I’m not sure I’d like to live there with that sitting above me.

We had half an idea to visit Wordsworth Grasmere, but as we approached, we could see how busy it was, so decided to wander lonely as a cloud (see what I did there) over to Keswick for lunch.  For such a small town, it has a plentiful selection of eateries, most with outdoor seating and as it was such a nice day, we plonked our bums on a bench by the Dog & Gun and had a lovely jacket spud.

For our last supper (I always over dramatize things!) we’d tried to get into the Old Stamp House, but the Michelin starred restaurant had been on Tom Kerridge’s ‘Hidden World of Hospitality’ so the world and his wife had beaten us to it, so we went for a place a few doors down, which looked quirky (in a good way) with its witty description of each dish.

I phoned Lucy, owner of Lucy on a Plate and she booked us in for 7.45pm.  I was surprised how chatty she was and how interested she was in taking our names (Carol without an e) and asking if we were celebrating anything.

All became clear when we arrived and were seated with our menus.  At Lucy’s, they print a new menu each night, with a front page which mentions some of the people dining there that evening.  Halfway down the page I spot, “Simon and Carol are rejoicing after 34 years of matrimonial harmony”.  What a lovely touch and if I may say, a cleverly crafted unique selling point.

That finished off a most enjoyable visit, to what is fast becoming our favourite part of the country.

We’re in good company as the list of royalty and celebrities, who have visited Low Wood Bay include; Prince (now King) Charles, Princess Anne, King Hussein of Jordan, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

I hope they enjoyed their stay as much as we did, but I bet they didn’t get a mention on Lucy’s menu!

Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa
Ambleside Rd, Windermere LA23 1LP
Tel: 0333 220 3105
www.englishlakes.co.uk/low-wood-bay

Lamplighter Dining Rooms
High Street, Windermere, LA23 1AF
Tel: 015394 43547

Lucy’s on a Plate
Church St, Ambleside LA22 0BU
Tel: 015394 32288

If you have a news story please get in touch!