Langdale Hotel and Country Club

For me the Lake District, Cumbria, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I love the diversity of scenery; from lakes to high fells this place has it all!

There are numerous places to stay and the Langdale hotel and country club is one of my favourites. Our family first discovered the place about 5 years ago when we were self catering in a house nearby. Part of the package was free membership to the Langdale country club and all its facilities. We loved it so much we decided to splash out and treat ourselves to a stay in the hotel. Since then we have stayed on about 6 occasions.

Where is it?
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The langdale hotel is situated right in the heart of the Lake District national park in great Langdale a few miles from Ambleside.
As you wind your way into Elterwater and the great Langdale valley the high fells are all around you. I think it is the most beautiful part of the Lake District.
The entrance to the hotel blends well with the scenery and the hotel and estate are well hidden behind a dry stonewall.

The hotel and estate.
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The Langdale estate is built on former 19th century gunpowder works and there is still evidence of its past use. In addition to the hotel and country club there are numerous time-share chalets and apartments. Woodland and streams surround the35-acre estate.

Although there is a lot of accommodation within the Langdale estate it doesn't feel crowded as the buildings are well spread out.
The hotel has 57 rooms in total most of which are located a short distance from the main hotel building. There are a few rooms actually in the main hotel. If you book I recommend asking where your room will be especially if you have mobility problems as many of the rooms are accessed via stairs.

The country club forms part of the hotel building. There is a lovely restaurant known as Purdy's, next to the main reception area where breakfast and dinner are served every morning and evening.

The reception area is very plush and sets the scene for what you can expect from this hotel. There are 2 small bars serving a good range of (expensive) drinks. There is a cosy lounge with log fire for the winter months.

A long corridor leads to the country club and another bar, restaurant and café area. This is very convenient if you have a room within the main hotel building!

The accommodation.
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I am not going to review the time-share accommodation here although if this appeals to you could look on the Langdale estate web site where owners often offer odd weeks to let.

We have stayed in several different rooms and can recommend them all!
Each room has full en suite facilities with good-sized baths and showers. The bed has always been huge and comfortable. It is possible to have adjoining rooms if you have children. We always take our own travel cot, as like many hotels there is a charge if you use theirs.

Each room has tea and coffee making facilities, t.v and movie channel trouser press and hair dryer. The rooms are nicely decorated and well sound proofed! Each room is provided with white towelling bathrobes so you can really relax!
Room service is available but I have found this quite limited. It is usually only available for light snacks such as sandwiches, is expensive and not too fast!

Many of the rooms have lovely views, my favourite are the rooms with fell views.

There is a small car park outside the main hotel and very limited parking outside most of the other buildings. I would recommend you park near to the main hotel and carry your bags the short distance to your room as you may get blocked in!

Eating and drinking
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There are several options for eating at the Langdale. The most expensive is Purdy's restaurant next to the reception area. The restraunt has beautiful views to the fells. An old water mill turns outside the large window and the general atmosphere is one of peace and tranquillity. The tables are well spaced out and the dining chairs comfortable.

Purdy's menu is very extensive and changes frequently. It is certainly not cheap with starters ranging from about £6 and main courses from about £ 12 for a pasta dish. A Traditional roast costs around £19. The food is really good and the service excellent. There is a good children's menu on offer with more than the usual choice often-found on children's menus.

If you want somewhere a bit less expensive then you could try the terrace restaurant up stairs from the swimming pool. This is a comfortable restaurant with sofas in addition to the usual tables and chairs. The food is nothing exciting but it is well cooked. The menu consists of sandwiches, chips and pasta dishes to name a few. Children are well catered for and I find it more relaxing than in Purdy's with the children in tow.

If you fancy a walk then you could try Wainwrights Inn about a 5-minute walk away. This is a great pub that serves some excellent food. The prices are reasonable too. If you plan to go then I recommend you book in advance as it can get really busy. You can do this via the phone in your room-extension for Wainwrights is on the phone! I also suggests you pack a torch as there is no pavement and the road is unlit and there are no streetlights.

Breakfast is a very generous affair with a huge choice on offer. It is served buffet style although you can order porridge, poached eggs and other dishes to be freshly cooked. On one occasion I complained the orange juice had a definite fizz to it! This was quickly replaced with lots of apologies!

The country club and other facilities.
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The country club for me is part of the reason for staying at the Langdale.

There is a fantastic 20-metre swimming pool kept at 30 degrees. The pool has lanes for serious swimmers and room for play too! There is a paddling area for children. There are sun loungers around the pool so you can relax after your swim. Those towelling robes come in handy here! The changing rooms are spacious and well laid out.
There is a spa at the end of the pool. Children under 15 are not allowed in the spa. There is a steam room and samarium. This does not get as hot as a sauna but I still find it too hot, however it always seems popular!
In the changing rooms is a lovely warm tropical scented shower. If you prefer, and I can't imagine why you would-you can change the shower setting to give you a cold artic blast! If cold showers are your thing then you will also love the deluge shower. This empties 4 gallons of freezing water over you from a high bucket!

There is a small gym with the usual equipment next to the country club reception area. It is possible to get a personal fitness plan drawn up for yourself. There is an extra fee for this and I'm not sure what this is.

There are several squash courts next to the gym. Again a fee is required. These can be booked at the reception.

There is a soft play area for children under 6. This is quite small but seems to please my 3 year old! I think a bit more effort could be made with this area. It is handy as a place to sit with a drink whilst your little ones play for half an hour!

There is a room with a pool table and table tennis table too.

There are numerous other activities such as mountain biking; climbing and canoeing on offer and these are advertised on the notice board in the reception area. All require a fee!

There is a tennis court about 5 minutes away from the Langdale estate. The court is a bit rough but has a fantastic backdrop!

After you exercise there is a café and restaurant upstairs (as mentioned earlier). You can buy both soft and alcoholic drinks. On fine evenings it is lovely to sit outside on the terrace.

The grounds of the hotel and country club are lovely. There is a large children's playground if your youngsters still have any energy!

There is a beauty salon offering a whole range of treatments again details from reception.

Beyond the boundaries…
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It would be easy to spend all your time within the boundaries of the Langdale estate but then you would be missing out on so much! There are some fantastic walks right from the hotel door. My favourite is to turn right opposite Wainwrights inn and walk up onto the high fell. You can walk for miles here and take in some fantastic views!

Finally the cost! This hotel is not cheap. Prices for 2006 are £65 per person per night mid week (sun-thurs)

£85 per person per night at week-ends (fri-sat). The rate includes breakfast. There is a reduction for children sharing their parents bedroom.

However there are often special offers to be had so it is worth phoning them on 015394-37302 or visit their website at www.langdale.co.uk.
There are no pets allowed anywhere on the Langdale estate.

Although this is expensive I think it is a fantastic place to stay and highly recommend it!