Historic Hotels in Cumbria and The Lake District: Windermere, Grasmere and more

The Swan. Grasmere

Built in 1650, The Swan began its life as a simple coaching inn with three bedrooms. Things are different now, of course: set at the heart of the Lake District, it needs to dispense hospitality for far more than just the occasional passing traveller.

The building itself is immortalised in the text of William Wordsworth’s poem, The Waggoner (no surprise given that Dove Cottage - home of the great romantic poet - is a stone’s throw from its doors) and was a regular haunt of Sir Walter Scott. Today the hotel is set in 33 acres of grounds, with a sheltered garden, and enjoys views of nearby Helm Crag and Dunmail Raise. It’s an ideal starting point for exploring lakes, valleys and mountain scenery on foot or by car. Superbreak | TripAdvisor | Expedia | www.lastminute.com | Hotel's Own Site

Lancrigg. Grasmere

Parts of this country house date back as far as the 1600‘s, although it’s likely that there will have been buildings on the site even before then.

Its fascinating history, though, is primarily nineteenth century. In 1840, the great romantic poet Wiiliam Wordsworth purchased the property on behalf of a friend, Elizabeth Fletcher. Indeed, Wordsworth maintained his interest in the house for many years, involving himself in the restoration of the building. It is known that both he and his sister, Dorothy, continued their close friendship with the owner, making numerous visits to Lancrigg. An entry in her journal reads: “We had only been in Grasmere four days when we discovered the terraced walk at Lancrigg, which long remained our favourite haunt.”

It seems that Elizabeth Fletcher was well connected. In addition to the Wordsworths, Charles Dickens - a close friend of her son - was another regular visitor to the house. Following Elizabeth’s death, her daughter and son-in-law, Sir John Richardson, resided at the house. During that time Lancrigg welcomed such figures as Robbie Burns. Today, the building is a country house hotel specialising in vegetarian cuisine. TripAdvisor

White Moss House. Rydal Water.

Within easy reach of both Ambleside and Grasmere, White Moss House has been standing since 1730. Today it offers just five bedrooms and a cosy ambience and has been described by The Times as “the smallest most splendid hotel in the world”.

Its place on Nights In The Past, however, is due to its connection to William Wordsworth who purchased the property in 1827 for his son. Indeed, it was owned by the Wordsworth family for almost a century. Learn more about White Moss House with TripAdvisor

More period and historic accommodation in Cumbria and The Lake District...

Alston

Lovelady Shield Country House. This Georgian country house stands on the site of a thirteenth century convent. LateRooms

Ambleside

Ambleside Salutation, The. This 17th century inn close to Lake Windermere is reputed to have once been something of a haunt for romatic literature’s elite. John Keats stayed here for a while in 1818, as did Alfred Lord Tennyson and Edward Fitzgerald in 1835 - the former while composing ‘Morte d’Arthur’. Expedia | Superbreak | Hotel's Own Site

Foxghyll. This largely unaltered 17th century property was the home of Thomas de Quincey between 1820 and 1825. Indeed, it is thought that he wrote much of his celebrated work Confessions of an English Opium Eater while in residence. TripAdvisor

Bassenthwaite

Armathwaite Hall. Once a stately home, the seventeenth century Armathwaite Hall provides four-star accommodation on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake. Superbreak.

Bowness on Windermere

Lindeth Howe Country House Classic Hotel. Formerly the property of Beatrix Potter. Superbreak | www.lastminute.com

Buttermere

The Fish Hotel. This was once the home of ‘The Beauty of Buttermere’, Mary Robinson, whose plight at the hands of a con artist was documented by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, amongst others.

Carlisle

Dalston Hall Hotel. Radiating history both inside and out, this impressive building’s Pele Tower dates from circa 1500. The Hall was a Royalist stronghold during he English Civil War, and is reputed to be haunted. www.lastminute.com

Coniston

The Black Bull. Four centuries old, The Black Bull has given shelter to many a traveller, Thomas de Quincey, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and JMW Turner among them. TripAdvisor

Eskdale

Bower House Inn. A traditional Cumbrian inn dating back to 1725. LateRooms

Grasmere

Grasmere Red Lion, The. . Located at the centre of the village William Wordsworth called home, the Red Lion offers 47 guest rooms. Superbreak | Hotel's Site

Hawkshead

Red Lion of Hawkshead, The. Fifteenth century coaching inn with 12 en-suite bedrooms.. LateRooms

Sun Inn, The. A traditional 17th century inn located in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful villages. LateRooms

Kendal

Stonecross Manor. Boasting thirty en suite rooms, the building was once an orphanage. Expedia | Superbreak

Riverside Hotel, The. . Seventeenth century building on the banks of the River Kent. Expedia

Langdale

New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. . Said to date back to the medieval period, the hotel has six acres of its own gardens. Expedia | www.lastminute.com

Penrith

Rampsbeck Country House Hotel. 18th century country house on the banks of Lake Ullswater. Superbreak

Brackenrigg Inn, The. Four-star accommodation in a former 18th century coaching inn. LateRooms

Farmer’s Arms, The. Offering accommodation since the seventeenth century, the inn has been standing since the fourteenth. LateRooms

Troutbeck

Mortal Man, The. Historic 12-room inn dating back to 1689. LateRooms

Ullswater

Rampsbeck Country House Hotel. 18th century country house on the banks of Lake Ullswater. Superbreak

Windermere

Samling, The. Built in the late 1700‘s, it was here that William Wordsworth paid rent on his home at Dove Cottage. LateRooms | Mr & Mrs Smith | www.lastminute.com

Storrs Hall. Attractive Georgian mansion on the banks of Lake Windermere. Superbreak | www.lastminute.com

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