Mary Mount Hotel

The location is fantastic, with far-reaching views across the lake to Catbells and its own jetty for catching the ferry around the lake and to Keswick. We stayed in the Lodge beside the main entrance, which has two bedrooms and a spacious lounge. Breakfast and dinner were both to a very high standard. At this price point it's a great hotel, probably three or four stars, with some genuinely premium touches. I'd stay again.

The room and bathroom were clean and pleasant, and the room had a beautiful mountain view. Reception gave us a warm welcome, and it was quiet at night. Breakfast was good quality, but the hygiene put us off: the windowsill right beside where people eat was lined with dead flies, so we had to eat outside. There was a strong sewage smell everywhere during the hot weather. Opening the windows didn't help, and there was no AC or fans, so be aware. The pictures also gave us the wrong impression about being right on the lake. It's a short walk to the pier, or around 5-10 minutes up the road for a decent view across the whole lake. Parking was fair, though busy at mealtimes, perhaps because there are few food options nearby. We skipped dinner there for more choice and drove into town instead. After returning from dinner at about 10 pm, we found the bar and seating areas shut, which was a shame as we'd only stayed one night and wanted a drink in the lobby on the bank holiday evening.

The meal was the letdown. The Ploughman's was missing items that were advertised, and the burger came in toasted brioche that made it rock hard. When the kitchen got our order wrong, the waitress was vaguely aggressive. Nobody checked how the food was, though the bar staff were doing their best despite a queue at the bar. We'd asked for a table with a view when booking, but on arrival were told to sit wherever, and all the front tables were taken. It's a nice, clean place to sit, though a bit full of rude tourists, hey ho. We paid £17.30 for a large rose and a non alcoholic Guinness. Getting the order mixed up because the chef read it wrong was just a mistake, and that part was fine, but the food itself wasn't good. I'd suggest going for a drink, keeping your coat on and sitting outside to enjoy the beautiful views.

The setting at Mary Mount Hotel is lovely, with beautiful views, and it made a nice place to pause for lunch during our 16km walk around Derwentwater. My wife and I enjoyed the break, though ordering was frustrating: I stood at the bar for almost five minutes with nobody there. The meal stop could have been much better with more attentive service.