Unlocking the magic of a famous lakeside country house
The Lake District, located in Cumbria, Northwest England, is the country’s largest National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famed for its dramatic glaciated valleys, shimmering ribbon lakes, and highest peaks, it is a premier destination for hiking, literary history, and breathtaking natural beauty. An inspiration for artists, authors and poets for centuries, the area has some of the finest scenery and vistas in the country and is a cultural haven for those just wishing to get away from it all.
An elegantly reimagined country house set on 4 acres of landscaped gardens that extend to the shores of Lake Windemere, England’s largest Lake, Langdale Chase Hotel has been welcoming visitors to The Lake District since the late eighteen hundreds. While today’s style is more laid-back luxury where guests can kick back and fine tune the art of doing absolutely nothing, The Hotel continues to honour its historic full-charm reputation as a five-star venue with top-notch service, home-cooked meals made from scratch with local ingredients, and must-see outdoor landscapes.
All 30 rooms are individually designed—six are considered suites. Each one is centred around its occupants getting to enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake, no matter if they’re staying in one of the 21 rooms in the Victorian Main House, the eight room Lake House’ or the stand-alone Boathouse suite.
One a kind in the region, Langdale’s traditional wooden motor yacht, the Albatros, gives guests the opportunity to experience Windemere Lake at its finest. Finding this magnificent piece of craftsmanship and being able to bring it to The Lakes was, we’re told, a stroke of luck.
Much like Langdale Chase itself, Albatros has many tales to tell. Built in Berlin in 1928 as a private motor yacht before being confiscated for the German war effort, Albatros found herself operating as a passenger ferry in Lake Constance (known as Bodensee in German), shuttling passengers to towns and cities along the coastline. Eventually, she was purchased and restored by boatbuilders in Friesland, Netherlands where she was rebuilt. Through the late nineteen nineties, Albatros was kept in French waterways before finally returning to the Netherlands, where she was fully restored to her 1928 glory.
Standing tall on the shores with striking views of the Langdale Pikes the yacht offers guests a front-row seat and optional afternoon tea or lunch as well as some of the most breathtaking views of the Lake’s landmarks.
Off-site there’s plenty to do and see in Windermere from historic sites to cultural gems. Of most interest, Holehird Gardens and one of the most ancient places in the UK – Castlerigg Stone Circle. Ambleside village and Roman Fort are worth an afternoon stroll and for the kids, discover the tale of Peter Rabbit at the World of Beatrix Potter.
