The Samling, Windermere review
- Ambleside Rd, Windermere LA23 1LR
- View website
The Lake District is world renowned for its cinematic beauty, and after five hours in the car, even the driveway leading up to The Samling Hotel took my breath away.
Nestled in a stunning Lakeland fellside looking out over Windermere, a patchwork of rolling green fields, wriggling dry stone walls and a smattering of plump sheep all lead up to the picture-perfect whitewashed Gothic-Revival house and its sleek yet sensitive glass-walled extension.
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Built in the early 1780s and a hotel since 2002, The Samling (which means ‘a gathering’ in Old Cumbrian) sits amongst 67 acres of unspoilt and utterly romantic countryside - Wordsworth himself once had a romantic dalliance by the hotel’s stream.
Roses clamber around stone doorways; paths and bridges pass through cascading ornamental water gardens; wildflower meadows and wild woodlands are bursting with wildlife and plant species; there's a productive vegetable garden, orchard, beehives and more, plus an array of striking sculptures and some very sweet Shetland ponies. Today, the boutique hotel has just 12 bedrooms and suites, yet there is so much space.
The Windermere suite
We checked into the Windermere suite, tucked away at the top of the estate amongst peaceful woodland. Less suite and more cottage, it has an incredibly spacious split-level mezzanine style layout, this serene, elegant space is spread over two floors.
It has a private patio that offers glimpses of the twinkling lake that it is named after through lush greenery. The interiors reflect the lakeside location: soothing dove greys, soft blues, rustic slate walls, and luxuriously soft carpets.
The chic bathroom is a real showstopper – a calming cream space with a vast copper-clad freestanding bath, double sinks, and a huge shower. Upstairs, an incredibly comfortable super-king-sized bed is perfectly positioned under four big skylight windows, letting in lots of lovely light, fresh country air and soothing bird song.
Another perk of this particular suite is its proximity to the hotel’s pinch-yourself-it’s-so-picture-perfect outdoor hot tub. Totally private and ensconced by nature, this terrific tub can be booked via reception in hourly slots. We immediately leapt into the fluffy robes provided and scampered up the fairy-lit steps to find the steaming, bubbling tub ready for us, complete with a bottle of fizz on ice and stunning views across Windermere.
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The restaurant
In the summer months, guests can eat at The Samling’s more casual à la carte spot, The Gathering, a converted Dutch barn with yet more sensational lake views, but we headed for the hotel’s smarter option within the main Georgian house.
The team here is expertly led by chef Robby Jenks, who trained with Michael Caines, and the restaurant was awarded one Michelin star for 2023 and an impressive four AA Rosettes in the 2023-2024 AA awards.
We made a quick pit stop in the hotel’s cosy and sophisticated bar, where I sipped on an exceptionally good cocktail whilst admiring artwork by the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Chagall and more. It’s all very impressive but reassuringly understated.
Dinner was nothing short of sublime.
The design-led extension recently attached to the side of the hotel provides unbelievably beautiful panoramic views over the countryside and lake.
It is a sleek and intimate space with an instant sense of serenity and elegance. The service is friendly and efficient yet unobtrusive and unpretentious, and then there is the food…
Ingredients are either from the hotel’s greenhouse, gardens, and woodland, are locally sourced, or are the best available in the UK, and Jenks’ skilful tasting menu transforms them into something fun, extraordinary, and incredibly delicious.
For example - every meal should start with a mouthful of zingy, creamy limoncello ice cream, should it not? Beautiful snacks arrived next – a crisp croustade filled with smoky squid and a smooth red pepper cream stole my heart.
A ceramic egg revealed an explosion of fresh heritage tomato flavours and textures: foamy and chewy, sweet and salty. A chunk of soft langoustine came wrapped in silky fresh pasta, sat in a satisfyingly rich bisque and topped with a generous dollop of caviar. Heaven.
There was also a beautiful cod and truffle dish doused in flavoursome foam and a medley of soft peach flavours in varying forms, including a bright pink nostalgia-inducing jelly, offset by tart yoghurt ice cream and sweet, crisp meringue.
The hefty cheese trolley is the stuff that gastronomic dreams are made of, and a selection of perfectly precise petit fours came magically served from little pull out drawers hidden amongst a beautiful doll’s house-esque model of the hotel itself.
The wine pairing was also superb, as The Samling boasts one of the best wine lists in the world. It is 600-strong, with over 40 champagnes and a Coravin system which allows guests to try some very special wines by the glass.
Breakfast
I slept like a baby and was awoken by birdsong and the sun hazily rising over the Coniston Old Man mountain range. After a breath-taking walk around the estate (maps provided), we ate a decadent breakfast outside on the beautifully planted terrace (breakfast is a very civilised table service affair) and watched as the first boats began to glide across Windermere’s calm waters, while Wray Castle’s fairytale-like turrets stood in the distance.
Final thoughts
The Samling is perfectly positioned to explore all the area has to offer, but it’s incredibly hard to tear oneself away. Instead, we spent the day exploring the gardens and taking in the views before heading down to the hotel’s private and incredibly picturesque jetty, where we braved a wild swim before returning to the warm waters of the hot tub, and another cocktail or two.
Soon, sadly, it was time to head home, but before I reluctantly climbed back into the car, I was presented with chilled water and some freshly baked biscuits for the journey home, and that sums up The Samling perfectly really. Painstakingly thoughtful and deeply luxurious yet laid back, unpretentious and ever so welcoming. It’s filled with warmth, exquisite natural beauty, exceptional food and *that* unforgettable hot tub. In short - staycations don’t come much more splendid than this.
