Ancient and modern

Appleby Manor Hotel and Garden Spa

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IF you like the best of both worlds then Eden could be your paradise - the Eden Valley, that is.

With the Pennines to the east and the Lake District to the west - both within easy reach - this ancient part of Cumbria has something for everyone, from a trip on the South Tyne­dale Railway to a scenic boat trip on an Ullswater Steamer, from castles to bustling market towns - and lots of scenery and walks.

Appleby Manor Hotel and Garden Spa, close to the ancient market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland - famous for its annual horse fair - continues the theme by combining traditional country house charm with a new, £1 million spa.

Built in 1871 for wealthy solicitor John Alcock Heelis, the pink sandstone building's original name was Garbridge House.

Today's hotel has every­thing you would expect from a finalist in the 2016 Cumbria Tourism Small Hotel of the Year awards: stunning gardens, roaring log fires in winter, a games room with pool and table tennis, magnificent lounges and fantastic views over the Eden Valley to Appleby Castle and the Lake District fells.

The big attraction is of course the stylish, ultra-modern spa, with its infinity hydrotherapy pool, sauna, salt inhalation room, steam room, luxurious foot baths, outdoor jacuzzis and fire pit, not forgetting its range of pampering treatments. It's just the place for couples to relax with a glass of bubbly, for mother and daughter getaways and even escapes with friends.

If a spa isn't your thing, you can book a stay without access, though this can be added later (£20pp for three hours Monday to Thurs­day; £25 Friday to Sunday).

The hotel also has a choice between traditional dining in its AA rosette-holding a la carte restaurant, and a relaxed bistro. There's a welcoming bar too, though a glass of wine is a bit pricey.

Nearby Appleby is a pretty, small town with a lot of history that is well worth investigating.

A visit to St Lawrence's Church shows how high floods have reached in recent years - damage that is still being addresed.

On the way to Penrith, with its easy access to the motorway and main line rail station, the quirky Llama Karma Cafe is a handy stop for a brew in eclectically-decorated surroundings - with a view, naturally, of a real llama.

And firmly in the Lake District, taking an Ullswater steamer is one of the best ways to appreciate the majestic scenery, the water surrounded by picturesque villages including Glenridding and Pooley Bridge, also bouncing back from recent floods.

Penrith itself has a range of historic sites worth exploring, and if you love Keswick as much as I do, that town is only a few miles further west.

North, south, east or west, Appleby Manor is a superb location to relax and as a base for your local touring around the hundreds of attractions of this beautiful part of Britain.


* Appleby Manor Hotel & Garden Spa offers a range of options for breaks.

Spa breaks start at £99 per person per night, with unlimited spa access, breakfast and a three course meal in the bistro. Treatments cost extra.

Info: www.applebymanor.co.uk, or www.golakes.co.uk.