One of the delightful rooms at Raventsone Lodge
Ravenstone Lodge is nestled between Skiddaw, Ullnock Pike and Bassenthwaite Lake, a mere 10 minutes from Keswick town centre.
Upon arrival, after checking in and unpacking your bags, I suggest you take some time on the terrace with a drink to absorb the views of this beautiful part of the Lake District. The rolling hills, the fields full of bouncing sheep and the lush greenery are all synonymous with this area and are a constant reminder of how lucky you are to pay it a visit.
If you are looking for an active or a relaxing weekend away this lodge is perfect for either. A great base for eager walkers or those who like to sit in the conservatory or on the terrace to read, unwind and take in the surroundings. With only nine rooms in total you can guarantee that you won’t be bumping into lots of people- so you can be safe in the knowledge that you will have a very quiet stay.
The team of staff is surprisingly small with one chef, James Cooper, and a handful of people in the hotel including Sharon and Antonio, who we had the pleasure of meeting. It is quite amazing, the level of service they manage to maintain and as well as being friendly and approachable at the same time.
We were greeted by the owner, Mike Cornish who showed us around to where we would be eating, The Coach House, the converted Stables Bar and Bistro and lastly to our rooms.
We stayed in the High Man room or room 9, which was largest in the hotel. It boasted sturdy oak furniture and a 6ft sleigh bed which was very comfortable indeed, so we had a peaceful night’s sleep.
The views spanned across the farmlands below and up to the fells and encouraged us to sleep with the curtains open.
The bathroom was huge, decorated in muted tones with a wet shower room, large bath, fluffy white towels and the use of shampoo and conditioner in the dispensers in the shower just in case you forget to bring your own. If you are booking in at the hotel, I would certainly recommend this room.
My parents occupied the North Col room (room 5) which was a little more modest than ours, however maintained the same level of cleanliness and natural colour scheme of High Man. It had a king size bed and views across the top of the conservatory and the hotel grounds as well as a new designer bathroom. The oak furniture gave it a light and airy feel to the space.
We enjoyed a wonderful meal in the restaurant (The Coach House) in the evening and my father and husband took advantage of the Stables Bar and Bistro afterwards for a few drinks while they watched the football. This unique bar has kept all of its original features from when it used to house the horses. Even the hoof marks remain in the partitions!
With Peroni on draught, a variety of bottled beer from the Cockermouth brewery, spirits, single malt whiskeys and wine from their Kendal merchant there are a great many drinks to choose from. Both the restaurant and the bar are open to the public not just residents.
The hotel also promises that if they don’t have your favourite tipple they will go out and get it for you! You cannot say fairer than that!
The breakfast was part buffet, part waitress service. With the usual choice of croissants, cereals, fruits, yoghurt and juice, there were many foods to choose from to suit every palate. With a generous selection of cooked options too, we followed this up with Eggs Benedict and a traditional English Breakfast. Everything was perfectly cooked and locally sourced so of the highest quality; all washed down with generous helpings of tea and coffee to set us up for the day.
Overall, this hotel is a great place for families like us looking for somewhere to meet up together or couples looking for a romantic getaway. The quality of the food, the surroundings and the attentiveness of the staff shone through.
I was a little surprised to find out that this hotel is only a three star establishment. When I compare it to other three star hotels I have stayed in, it exceeds its competitors in every way, which is why I have given it an extra star because in my opinion it was very deserving of it.
Ravenstone Lodge,
Bassenthwaite,
Keswick,
Cumbria
CA12 4QG
Telephone: 017687 76629
Fax: 017687 76638
Email: [email protected]
Tagged in The Lake District