May Day bank holiday weekend 2011. We have never stayed overnight in the Lake District, so decided to make a special weekend and pray for good weather, We made a simple telephone booking as arranged to have an indian head massage on the afternoon of our arrival. The check in was simple and very pleasant. The reception was clean and looked instantly relaxing. We were shown our room, which was down a few different corridoors, but we were more than happy with our double room, extra large bed, luxury en-suite and a decent lcd TV. The complimentary tea coffee and biscuits ( including caffietier) were more than ample. We then went to enquire about our indian head massage (pre booked as a special for us and something we had never had). We were a little disappointed to find that the lady who does the treatment was off sick that day, but really excited when the offered us an alternative of a Rasul mud sauna/spa. in the adjoining Cascades leisure complex. We are both in our 50's and never had a mud spa, never mind having one together in the same sauna. This was an experience we will never forget and thoroughly recommend it to everyone. This apparently is the only one in the area. It was nice to sit with my wife covered in three different muds and been able to shower off together,
We did not eat in the restaurant that evening, but understand that they have excellent cuisine. We decided to make a short drive towards Barrow in Furness for a pub lunch near the sea. The morning consisted of an excellent breakfast which was self service, but had everything you could want, Fresh hot food was constantly brought in to the serving area,
We then checked out and due to the location of the hotel made a short drive to Ullswater to see the Laurel & Hardy Museum ( Stanley born there) then on to Coniston Water ( major lake where the water speed record was broken by the "Bluebird") then on to Winderemere (largest lake). All this and love quaint villages in bewteen,
We had a lovely relaxing weekend, lovely hotel and that special treatment (in service and spa). To top it all, the sun was shinning !
