As the 32nd anniversary of my wife Lisa's 21st birthday is a particularly special occasion, I deemed it necessary to pull out all the stops. With this in mind, I scanned my rolodex: did this warrant a trip to beautiful Northumberland? Sunny Scotland? Perhaps even further afield?
Then it clicked. With the hope that my dearly beloved would agree with Ruskin’s famous observation that ‘mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery,’ we set off to the famous Lake District.
And there truly was no more quaint, idyllic and frankly breathtaking setting than Ambleside. The Ambleside Inn – part of the award winning Inn Collection Group’s portfolio of venues – was our warm, authentic home for the weekend. Located in the heart of the beautiful town, it has been welcoming visitors for over 300 years. The sheer presence of the building left me wondering: what great minds were enriched by this place? Had Ruskin himself graced these corridors? Did inspiration strike Wordsworth nearby? Would, in the 21st century, this humble magazine proprietor spill Guinness down his best Ben Sherman shirt?
The Inn boasts deluxe double rooms, comfortable beds, spacious en-suite facilities and a range of amenities such as wifi, flat-screen TVs and tea and coffee making facilities. Downstairs, the cosy, wellappointed bar offers guests the opportunity to socialise and bask in the afterglow of their outdoor pursuits. I was beginning to understand why these pillows have been the haven of who-knows-how-many heads for three centuries.
We were conscious of the surrounding beauty, so reluctantly peeled ourselves away from the luxurious comfort provided in order to investigate. I am ashamed to admit that in my 53 years I had only visited the Lakes two or three times. Fortunately, Ambleside is the perfect base to explore other jewels steeped in similar history. We were able to fit in visits to Bowness-onWindermere and Grasmere, areas which are understandably tourist attractions due to their outstanding natural beauty.
Upon our return, we perused an extensive menu offering hearty pub fayre. We kicked off with a dish reminiscent of meals on my recent trip to Lake Garda: The Ambleside Grazing Platter. A selection of sourdough garlic bread, olives, hummus, aioli, roasted vegetables and olive oil and balsamic dip. We truly could have been anywhere in the world at this point.
The better half then enjoyed Fillet fish in crisp batter served with thick cut chips and chef’s tartare sauce. Meanwhile, I devoured locally sourced Cumberland sausage ring, served with mash onion rings and gravy. A staunch reminder that, despite the undertones of Northern Italy in the starter, we could be in no other place but the heart of the iconic Lake District.
Suffice to say, this was washed down with apertivi: glasses of bubbly for Lisa, a few pints of excellent Vitamin G for myself, and friendly banter with professional yet endearing staff.
The next morning, a comforting full English braced us for another day of exploring. The locality offers something for everyone. The world is your oyster from here: watersports and boat rides on Windermere for adventurous types; a five minute walk to the Armitt Museum for insights into local history; fifteen minute drive to Lorigg fell for fresh-aired hikes. However, for the dearly beloved (and, I must admit, myself), the charm of the local shopping scene was too much to resist.
With 30 inns across the group and ten in the Lake District alone, the Inn Collection offers unbeatable value for money and the perfect quick getaway experience. The Ambleside was our caro amore this weekend, and with this absolute gem now on my radar, I can guarantee that I will no longer be remiss in visiting this beautiful part of the world.
For more information, visit inncollectiongroup.com/ambleside-inn