The Ro Hotel

The bed was very comfortable and the pillows soft, and breakfast was buffet style. But no afternoon or evening meals, or bar meals, were available. I'd have booked elsewhere if I'd known there was no food apart from breakfast. On Christmas Day the restaurants and cafes were closed, and I was lucky to find The Bellsfield Hotel open for a Christmas lunch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Ro, please let visitors know when booking that you can't provide a full menu. My double room looked over the lake, but the balcony wall blocked the view, so I had to bend down to see the whole lake. Also, the hotel is at the top of a very steep road, so anyone with mobility problems will need to get a taxi.

The friendly staff were helpful, and breakfast was good quality, nicely cooked and served buffet style. Our clean, modern room was a decent size, with a lake view and a nice bathroom with a good shower. Lovely hotel, very close to the centre of Bowness.

We cancelled the rest of our stay and moved to a hotel four minutes down the road. It was cheaper, with impeccable food, kind staff, waitress service and amazing facilities. There are much better options in the area, so don't waste your money here. The pool wasn't working, and we only booked because of the spa and pool. No one told us when we booked spa treatments, on arrival, or when we asked reception about the spa. We only found out when the spa bill arrived. The rooms were poorly maintained between days and felt like two- or three-star at best. The hotel layout is old and quite bizarre, and the modern-looking front doesn't match the rest of the building. Breakfast was an extremely poor buffet, with rude people and rubbish food. The shower was possibly the worst I've experienced, with a weaker flow than a leak. And watch out for extra charges for room views: the surroundings aren't all lake, and you could wake up to garden sofas and a brick wall.

We used the leisure facilities over a month while staying nearby, though we didn't stay at the hotel. The pool and gym had just been renovated, and they'd done a great job. The pool is small but lovely, and there's a hot tub but no sauna. The relaxation room has fantastic views. There's also a little space with hair dryers and vanities for makeup or skincare, with some products available to use. The staff were all so friendly and especially kind to our children. The person I assume is the manager, a lady with glasses and brown hair, was particularly lovely. The facilities feel fancy while the service stays down to earth. Thank you all!