Hill hikes and spa days make the Lake District a perfect weekender

LOUNGING in the laconium – a warm room with heated stone beds that relax my muscles faster than any massage ever has – I decide Brimstone is the best hotel spa I’ve ever been to.

My friend Roop and I are on stop five of seven thermal experiences, and have hardly seen another soul as we hop between ice fountains, herbal steam rooms, salt saunas and a dedicated hydrotherapy foot bath.

There’s something magical about spa-ing in a storm, and sipping bubbly in the heated indoor/outdoor pool surrounded by trees gives forest bathing a whole new meaning.

Poet’s corner 

We eventually tear ourselves away to visit the nearby Wordsworth museum, where we tour Dove Cottage – AKA William Wordsworth’s family home.

He penned many of his poems here, and walking through the quaint rooms, exploring the orchard and trying our hand at writing with a feathered quill is fascinating.

Entry costs £14 for adults (). 

In Grasmere itself, you’ll find the famous gingerbread bakery, plus Baldry’s Tearoom with its 30-plus brews.

The blood orange tea is a must-try and each morning they make fresh bread and cakes – our delicious, oversized scones, £3.95 each, prove to be an absolute bargain (Baldrysgrasmere.com). 

It’s rained non-stop since we arrived and we are completely unprepared.

Thankfully, Brimstone Hotel, which is one of two hotels on the 35-acre Langdale Estate, has a boot room stocked with waterproofs, hiking boots and rucksacks to borrow, plus there’s a bookable electric to whizz about in.

Under the guidance of the hotel’s helpful tweed-clad staff, the next morning we set out on an hour-and-a-half walking loop to Skelwith Bridge.

A Britannia Blonde, £5.50, at The Britannia Inn along the way helps power us on, plus the scenery is so picturesque it feels like we’re walking through an oil painting ().

Reading room raid

At Brimstone’s restaurant, Stove, we share succulent garlic and chilli prawns and enjoy an incredible forager’s risotto with wild mushrooms, truffle and goat’s cheese, £10.50 each.

The cod and smoked pancetta main, £22, is more special than it sounds, and the sticky toffee pudding, £7.95, is huge.

Before retiring, we pick up a bottle of red from the Reading Room, where complimentary snacks (including an impressive cheese board) and drinks are topped up through the day.

There’s even a cocktail delivered to your room before dinner here!

On the way home, we explore Ambleside, a 15-minute drive away, where we find Bath House, a chic local fragrance and skincare brand.

I fall for the Bergamot & Amber Cologne, £55 for 100ml, before we hit Kindred Spirits, a family-owned shop selling small-batch spirits 

in personalised bottles ().

The Coffee Rum and Treacle Toffee Vodka taste far too good to be alcoholic! Christmas shopping sorted…