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Short stay: Another Place, Ullswater, Lake District, UK

Formerly the Rampsbeck Hotel, Another Place is a 40-bedroom luxury hotel occupying a sublime position on Ullswater, the English Lake District’s second largest lake, and set in 18 acres of grounds that extend all the way to the lake shore. This is a secluded spot where you can enjoy the fresh air whilst keeping watching for red squirrels and other wildlife. The welcome We entered via the original Georgian wing of the hotel and immediately felt we had entered a hotel with its own unique charm. As they say on their website, “Another Place is more than just a hotel” and it certainly felt like that, instantly making you feel cosy and at home. This is not a stuffy, formal hotel but one where you can relax from the moment you enter. Check-in was friendly and efficient, and we were kindly walked to our room which was in the newer, more contemporary wing of the hotel, passing the spa, gym and 20-metre infinity pool with its own lake view along the way. The room We stayed in room 8 – a family suite in the extension to the hotel’s main building, with views over the grounds and out towards the lake and fells beyond. We were glad to be able to bring our dog with us since he was nursing a fractured wrist – Another Place is dog friendly but only certain rooms allow dogs. Our ‘room’ consisted of a generous master bedroom with a large double bed, a bathroom and a separate bunk room for the children. Seating at the window allowed for maximum enjoyment of the view. There was also a small desk with tea and coffee making facilities, and a flask should you wish to take your brew with you onto the fells. (Flasks were also available for purchase at reception.) Our boys’ was a simple bunk but perfect for their needs and afforded us some privacy which isn’t always available with a family suite. The bathroom The bathroom was clean and clinical but tastefully so, with white floor-to-ceiling tiles and contemporary bathroom fittings. As well as what you can see pictured, there was a bath and shower over it, but these things are never so easy to photograph well in a confined space! Toiletries were branded from Watergate Bay – Another Place is a new hotel collection from the team behind Watergate Bay Hotel in North Cornwall. The facilities In addition to the pool, spa and gym facilities already mentioned (my wife had a lovely treatment at the spa), the hotel has two restaurants. We found the service a little more attentive at the Rampsbeck Restaurant, which also enjoys lake views, but there is also The Living Space bar and terrace to choose from, and we found the food good in both. Pictured below are some of the dishes from the Rampsbeck Restaurant: broad bean and pea veloute with spring onion and herb biegnet; crispy pork belly with Summer cabbage and Asian broth; and smoked salmon with avocado, egg and truffle, respectively. For our mains, we favoured the fish – pictured is the cod loin in dashi with foraged sea vegetables and potatoes, and the delicious combination of stone bass with a chorizo cassoulet. I refrained from having a dessert but, had I realised that ‘Fondant with Jersey ice cream’ was in fact a chocolate fondant, I would have been persuaded… instead, I had to watch my younger son enjoy it! He assures us it was very good!!! The Rampsbeck Restaurant was also where a buffet breakfast was served each morning. It included a good array of choices and – much to our children’s approval – came complete with its own waffle station. On our second night we dined at The Living Space – a more informal dining area and perhaps more suited than Rampsbeck to families with younger children, but still with some great menu options. I can heartily recommend the Cumbrian steak served with a garlic butter butter and garden salad… …which was cooked to perfection (I asked for rare!). Before or after dinner, you could relax in the library – a comfortable space where you could chat to other guests or simply relax and read a book over a drink or two. I also liked the terrace area just outside and felt it was a clever use of space and joining of merging of the two buildings, whilst also being sheltered from the elements. Other nice touches The hotel seem keen that you enjoy your surroundings and so you should… in 2017, the Lake District joined the likes of the Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu in achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status. There are several places where you can sit out and enjoy the grounds… …but better still, venture out on to the fells (hills) or enjoy watersports on the lake since it is there on your doorstep! The hotel has formed strong ties with local outdoor pursuits enterprises and can easily add activities such as paddleboarding, mountain biking or wildlife walks to your booking. We were actually in the area for a sailing event that our sons were competing in at Ullswater Yacht Club, just on the opposite shore. From there, you could look back at Another Place and appreciate the hotel’s beautiful setting. As for the sailing, our boys had some problems with their spinnaker on the first day, but thankfully still managed to qualify for the RYA’s zone squad training this coming winter! Cost Family suites start from £285 per night. The best bit The hotel has done an incredible job at transforming a traditional Lake District hotel into something that is lively, vibrant and modern, yet still has a cosy, homely charm at the same time. It is not stuffy and does not take itself too seriously, and somehow seems to have found the magic formula for an easy-going atmosphere. The final verdict If you’re looking for a place to relax and ‘get away from it all’, try Another Place. Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of Another Place.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

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22 Comments

  1. This is living the aristocratic Downtown Abbey lifestyle but with an even better location.

    If you happen to get a little wet whilst out sailing or a bit cold and muddy whilst fell-walking you are soon back in your luxurious room with instant hot-water. Meanwhile the kitchen are cooking you a much needed hot dinner.

    If things get really tough I bet there’s even a laundry service to clean up your mud-splattered tweeds.

    1. I’m not sure it’s quite of Downton Abbey proportions, Rob! But not really purporting to be anything quite like that, I don’t think… more just a homely hotel where the overriding sentiment is one of relaxation. :)

    2. Hi Rob,
      We are all about active relaxation. We want you to get out in the fells or on the lake, during the day, and then back to the hotel in the evening to eat and drink well.
      Hopefully we will see you at the hotel soon.

  2. British Food has come a long way since Fawlty Towers.

    I wouldn’t dare say that British Food is the best in the world but it is very, very good.

    Taking a look at your pictures and your descriptions tells me that “Another Place” has got itself a very creative and highly skilled chef – and he has obviously formed an excellent team.

    Nowadays you don’t have to pay top dollar in the big cities you can often find superb food in these luxurious country hotels too.

  3. Paul you seem to have a talent for sniffing out these gems. You’ve got an ability to find some cracking places.

    I guess that’s why you’re running A Luxury Travel Blog and why I’m standing on a Picadilly Tube Train dreaming of a country weekend. Realistically Anothef Place is a bit too far from Chiswick.

    1. Hi Jez… actually, that’s a common misconception that Londoners have. Get yourself to Euston and you can be in the Lakes (well, the mainline station of Oxenholme the Lake District which is actually just outside the national park boundary) in less than 3 hours!

      If visiting Ullswater, it’ll be a little longer than that but not much. Take the train to Penrith (you might have to go to Carlisle and come back on yourself slightly, depending on train times, etc.) and Another Place is just 6 miles from there.

      It’s still very doable in a weekend and yet will have you feeling a million miles away from the city… :-)

    2. I think Jez is making two good points:

      1) Paul, you are good at finding these places.

      2) Surely Jez doesn’t have to travel hours for a bit of Country House living? There must be dozens within an hour of London.

      How about a post on Ten Great Country Hotels?

    3. Sure, you don’t have to ‘travel hours’ but, if you want a house that has the same kind of tranquillity and freedom that’s offered by the Lake District, then you may find yourself having to go a little bit further than just outside the M25. ;-)

      We do have some other posts that may be of interest here:

      5 luxurious English country hotels:
      https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2018/06/30/5-luxurious-english-country-hotels/

      5 five star country escapes from London:
      https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2014/08/26/5-five-star-country-escapes-from-london/

      Also, another that we have reviewed recently, as well as visited in the past: Stoke Park.
      https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2018/08/15/short-stay-stoke-park-country-club-spa-and-hotel-stoke-poges-buckinghamshire-uk/

      King regards

      Paul

  4. I love the “Gone Paddling – Please Clean” sign. It is lovely when these hotels show some character and individuality, though they’ve got to be good enough to get away with it. From your pictures and review the confidence of “Another Place” looks fully justified.

    However, I am wary of these hotels that give you a Paddington Bear or Woolly Lamb and ask you to put it outside your room if you do not want to be disturbed. When you read the small print there is a £30 charge to your bill if the soft toy goes missing.

    1. I’ve not heard of that before, Sue, and wouldn’t think it would stand up in court! If it’s an item of – albeit modest – value that you’re positively encouraged to leave outside your room, then anyone could take it and the hotel would have no way of proving whether it was the guest or someone else. Seems like quite a flaw to the system there!

  5. It’s great to read about these places and how beautiful and cozy they are, and so very English. However, a tourist like me will probably find it too time consuming to travel hours to reach these country lodges. And we’d normally be coming from London, too. Shame, though. This place really sounds lovely.

    1. I’m not sure what to say, Charles… is travelling 3 hours really too much? To my mind, it’s really not that long or that far, but then again I went to Australia (from the UK) for just 4 days recently, so maybe we just have very different ideas on how far is too far!

  6. Hello Sue.
    We are glad you like our sign. Our most popular personal touch is the Tunnocks Teacakes and coffee which we leave in the rooms and reception for our guests to help themselves too.

  7. Totally inspirational. I think I need a Country weekend getaway before Christmas. A break from work and all the preparations for Christmas. It is amazing what a weekend away can do for you, it is a real boost. Another Place looks absolutely ideal, really lovely.

    1. Hi Jen… yes, it is! Very homely for a hotel, too. We have friends who stayed for their anniversary just a few days ago (I like to think it was based on this review but I’m not sure if it was!) and they had a lovely time also.

  8. I simply need to do this as it’s under 2 hours from where we live in the Borders. We have always enjoyed visiting Ullswater too, so this is ideal for a short hotel break.

    1. Hi Chris – yes, that end of the Lakes is very accessible from the Borders. I don’t know where in the Borders you are, but 2 hours sounds quite generous. From Dumfries, it is a little over an hour’s drive so very doable. Enjoy! Paul

  9. A really informative review as ever, really gets down to the nitty gritty and backed up with oodles of top quality pictures. The photos really bring this beautiful destination to live. Having done some of the places you’ve reviewed I feel in tune with your outlook and can trust your words.

    1. Thank you, Jean… glad you enjoyed the article and feel you can trust the reviews. We do try to be open and honest about our experiences of the places we visit. Hope you can make it there some time – I’m sure you will enjoy it! :-) Paul

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