Dale Head Hall Lakeside Hotel

The garden and grounds were full of wildlife, with lovely walks through the garden and woods down to the Lakeshore. The views were spectacular, and there was no noise or light pollution. It felt like a calm haven to properly get away, while still being a short distance from Grasmere and Keswick for anything we needed. Dale and the family went out of their way to make us feel welcome, and nothing was too much trouble. The house and grounds were beautiful and well kept without being overdone. Our room had all the facilities we needed, including Freeview TV and WiFi if we wanted them. We loved every second of our fabulous long weekend and will definitely be back soon.

We enjoyed the warm welcome from the staff, who told us the building was first put up in the 1500s. Breakfast was a full English, served in the dining room overlooking the lake, and we liked walking around the grounds afterwards, with their hydrangeas, rhododendrons and other lovely plants. The room could do with some updating, but we were comfortable and had no problems. The main draw was the lovely atmosphere at Dale Head Hall and the front row view over Thirlmere reservoir. Two smaller lakes were dammed to make this man-made lake.

We loved our stay. The room was immaculate and comfortable, with a spectacular view over Thirlmere. The service was welcoming, and breakfast was great. We’ll definitely come back!

We didn’t stay in the end. We’d booked the groom room through air b&b for the weekend, but the teapot had mouldy tea and teabags in it, and the cups and bowls were dirty. The kitchen floor was lifting, and all the skylights seemed to have condensation or leakage problems. Some looked mouldy, while others seemed badly repaired. The wifi only worked by the window, and the place was so cold inside. There were dirty marks all down the walls, which I assume came from the skylights, and huge cobwebs in the bedroom.