Harley Young spends a weekend road-tripping around The Lakes and stops off in Penrith overnight
Road trips are often an exciting way to explore what the country has to offer in terms of sights and surroundings - especially when travelling through the breathtaking landscapes of the Lake District.
But when you begin to feel your energy start to wane, those ergonomic seats aren’t feeling quite so ergonomic anymore and you’re sick of hearing the backseat drivers ask “Are we there yet?”, it’s good to have an overnight pitstop in mind that you can reach straight off the road.
Luckily, North Lakes Hotel & Spa in Penrith is conveniently located just off the M6 and has ample on-site parking ready and waiting for you to pull up and rest your weary head.
With 84 guest rooms set across three floors, each furnished to a high standard, as well as its very own bar, restaurant and spa, it’s a hotel that offers so much more than your typical just-off-the-motorway stop-off point.
Last Friday (12 September), my partner Dave and I were kindly invited to spend a night at the AA Silver Star destination during our long weekend in the Lake District.
From quaint and cosy coffee shops to castle ruins and giant’s graves, here’s how to spend your time in Penrith.
Penrith
The humble, postcard-like town of Penrith is steeped in rich history. Known for its 14th century castle, which overlooks Penrith town centre, this Cumbrian gem has plenty to discover during a short visit.
Those looking for a thoughtful memento to take home can find everything from artist illustrations to adorable Jellycat teddies at quaint gift shop The Unicorn.
If you’re looking for something to put a little pep in your step before a ramble in Cumbria’s Eden Valley, Redby Coffee is on hand with freshly roasted coffee to wake you up.
Perhaps you prefer rummaging through antique oddities and vintage homeware instead? Brunswick Yard Architectural Salvage has lots of unique items you won’t find anywhere else.
Being a stereotypical goth, a short walk around the town later led me to exploring the grounds of St Andrew’s Church and ‘The Giant’s Grave’; the suspected burial site of Sir Owen Caesarius, King of Cumbria. The site gets its name from the human remains which were found there, including what has been described as ‘very long leg bones’.
Checking in
Back at North Lakes Hotel & Spa it was time to check into our room for the evening. Warmly welcomed with a smile from a member of the reception team, our booking details were swiftly checked and we were handed the key for our room on the third floor.
The room
Kitted out with everything you could want for a short stay, from good quality amenities like a smart TV and coffee machine as standard, as well as the little things that can sometimes be forgotten about (a pillow menu and fresh slippers) we instantly felt at home.
Catering to groups of all sizes, from solo travellers to couples and families, the hotel features a number of different room styles and layouts. We’d been given one of the family rooms. Bright and airy with playful nods to the area, such as wall art that looks like a pencil sketch of Penrith’s rugged surroundings and a headboard that looks like the gate to a farmer’s field, this room was very similar in style to the doubles and suites we’d seen online but also feature a couple of bunkbeds that young children will absolutely adore.
In fact, kids are made to feel just as catered for as the adults with North Lakes’ ‘VI Little P’ packages where they’ll receive their own fluffy bathrobe, a personalised cookie, fresh milk and activity packs. Four-legged friends aren’t left out either, with a large number of dog-friendly rooms to choose from and a ‘Waggy Tail Welcome’ pack.
The Spa
Not ones to waste any time hanging around when there’s a jacuzzi knocking about somewhere, we quickly changed into our swimwear, donned our slippers and robes and made our way back down to the ground level to the on-site spa.
As well as a state-of-the-art gym, the hotel boasts a number of relaxation rooms, a sauna, steam room and heated full-length swimming pool.
The pool area is family friendly and can get very busy during peak times, so if your goal is relaxation, it’s probably worth visiting midweek or even first thing in the morning before your checkout to get the most out of the space and bag one of the few loungers available.
A full menu of treatments, including facials and massages are also available to book onto your stay at an extra cost.
Dinner
After a busy morning of exploring followed by an afternoon of lounging, we’d certainly worked up an appetite for dinner. Luckily, we didn’t have too far to travel as, also located on the ground floor, is FYR - the hotel’s on-site restaurant and Cumbria’s only open fire grill.
The large, open plan restaurant and kitchen is spacious and rustic while the focal point of the open fire provides an ambient glow and delights all the senses. Known for its fire grilled meats, such as 28-day aged steaks and hanging kebabs, it’s a popular spot for both visiting guests and Penrith locals.
We took our seats and picked out a few starters; belly pork with Asian slaw and sesame for Dave and the caprese salad with heritage tomatoes for myself - both of which were enjoyable and kicked the meal off nicely.
For our mains, we heated things up a bit (literally), choosing the FYR beef burger and piri piri chicken hanging kebab from the grill menu. Both came with served seasoned chips and had that nicely smoked, slightly charred taste to them that you’d expect from open flame cooking.
Rounding off the meal with something sweet as always, I opted for the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream - a classic dessert, served as a hearty slab in a pool of toffee sauce. Dave kept things simple, ordering a plate of three local cheeses served with crackers and accompaniments.
Full and exhausted from a long first day of driving around exploring the best The Lakes has to offer, we popped next door to the hotel’s lounge bar area for a swift digestif and returned to our room for some much needed shut-eye.
Breakfast
After a pretty decent night’s sleep, we rose bright and early the next morning and made our way down to breakfast for our eight o’clock slot. As the hotel is often very busy, especially on weekends, its recommended that guests book their preferred time to avoid having to wait.
The breakfast buffet features a good spread of both continental items such as fruits, cereals and pastries, and hot food options like scrambled egg, bacon and veggie sausages. There’s also a pancake machine and a small menu to order specific breakfast dishes from, such as poached eggs on toast. Hot drinks orders are taken at the table by a member of the team while you help yourself to juices and fresh water.
We headed over to the hot counter and started building our breakfasts, trying to be mindful and make them as healthy as possible (while still laden with plenty of bacon, of course) as we’d be walking a fair bit over the weekend.
Full, fuelled and ready to continue our travels, we collected our belongings and popped our key into the drop-off box making for an ultra swift and smooth check-out.
If you’re looking for a well-situated, family-friendly (and four-legged friendly) stay that has a few additional luxuries and home comforts, give North Lakes Hotel & Spa a try. For more information and to book a room, visit northlakeshotel.co.uk.
North Lakes Hotel & Spa, Ullswater Road, Penrith CA11 8QT
Follow Harley Young on Instagram @HarleyUpNorth
Fact File
Stay
Harley stayed in a Signature Family Double Room (average price of £250 per night on weekends) at North Lakes Hotel & Spa in Penrith, which has complimentary on-site parking and is located just a 12-minute walk from Penrith station.
Spa & Fitness
There is an on-site spa and fitness area available to guests, boasting a state-of-the-art gym, relaxation rooms, a sauna, steam room and heated full-length swimming pool. Treatments, such as facials and massages, can be booked and enjoyed at an extra cost.
Dining
North Lakes Hotel & Spa’s on-site restaurant, FYR, is Cumbria’s only open fire grill restaurant and serves an array of fire-grilled dishes from 28-day aged steaks to piri piri chicken skewers. A buffet-style breakfast is also available to guests in the mornings, as well as an Afternoon Tea menu which can be booked in advance.
Travel
Harley drove the all-new Lexus RX450h+ from Manchester to Penrith (1hour, 50 minutes) and parked in the hotel’s on-site car park.
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