Kendal in the Lake District (From York Press)

Kendal in the Lake District

8:59am Saturday 27th June 2009 in

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A break in the Lakes sees JENNIFER BELL happy to escape from from the city.

FOR somewhere within touching distance of North Yorkshire, the Lake District has always seemed cloaked in a certain mystique – as if it’s another world, even another time.

But when it comes to escaping from it all, this magical corner of the UK is as far removed from the pace and strain of everyday city life as The Godfather is from High School Musical.

It was because of these qualities that I leapt at a chance to visit the serene Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, for a weekend of food, shopping, beer-tasting and relaxation. Not bad work if you can get it: especially with a grateful mum in tow and ready for a mother-daughter girlie mini-break, with stress-busting top of our ‘to-do’ list.

That mission was boosted by a hassle-free two-and-a-half-hour drive from York to the four-star base of operations for our visit which has recently been upgraded from three-star status after a £1 million renovation.

The 100-bedroom hotel makes a handy and impressive launch-pad for those wanting to explore the surrounding area – and it doesn’t skimp on wide-open space itself, boasting a sprawling 14 acres of gardens and woodland.

Our room provided plenty of space for both of us with breathtaking views, so much so we decided to enjoy them with a bottle of bubbly and scrumptious room service in the shape of a canapé selection.

Room relaxation time gave way to the urge to explore, and we first mused over the idea of taking a stroll around the brooding Cumbrian landscape to enjoy the famed scenic mountain walks.

Windermere and Keswick are nine and 30 miles away respectively, with all other lakes within an hour or two by car.

However, this was a weekend when anything too labour-intensive was off the agenda, so we took a taxi into Kendal for a spot of retail therapy. Shopping over, we returned to the hotel for a five-course dinner prepared using ingredients sourced from within a 55-mile radius of the hotel’s AA rosette-bestowed Greenhouse restaurant.

Despite fearing we would be too full following our snack attack, we finished every scrap of our delicious meals prepared by a squad of 14 chefs, headed by executive chef Justin Woods.

We both had a goat’s cheese hors d’ouevre, followed by smoked salmon with cream cheese to start, before mum opted for the lemon sole and sorbet dessert, while I tucked into steak and thick-cut potatoes chips, with chocolate fondue for pudding.

The meals were superb, albeit from a limited menu and with portions that didn’t quite qualify as large. The cooking and presentation were first-class, the service immaculate.

Following our meal – and a lovely bottle of wine – we revisited our earlier idea of a stroll, although rather than tackling daunting fells, we just about made it to the warm and welcoming Westmorland pub, Alexander’s, based in the hotel grounds, which offers hand-pulled guest ales.

The next day, while my mum surveyed over the extensive breakfast menu, guilt about my greedy exploits of the previous night got the better of me, and I decided to check out the hotel’s fitness and leisure facilities.

The hotel has a modern, well-equipped gym and a floodlit swimming pool.

With the gods of fitness appeased, it was time to unwind in the steam room. You could also finish off with a pampering spa experience: the hotel’s tranquil salon offers a blissful massage and treatment, which is guaranteed to ensure you come away from your break looking and feeling your best.

Meanwhile, my mum said she was glad she shunned the treadmill for a full stomach, with the abundance of fresh fruit followed by a slap-up breakfast doing the restorative trick.

Our whistle-stop Lakes experience at Castle Green drew one major piece of praise from my mum: the quality and attentiveness of the hotel staff. I had to agree – the genteel charm of the Lake District shines through in its people, and it’s a key ingredient in the area’s reputation.

With its majestic surroundings, quaint villages, easy pace of life and some of the best pubs in Britain, even a short time in the Lake District is enough to discover why it’s so highly rated for long weekends, days out or Bank Holiday breaks.

While the air of mystery may live on, there’s no riddle behind why this is the perfect place for a getaway.

Fact File

* The Castle Green Hotel, Kendal. The average cost for two people having a three-course meal and sharing a bottle of wine is around £75. For a night’s stay, prices average at £114, but check the hotel’s website for special deals. For more information and to book, phone 01539 734000 or log on to castlegreen.co.uk