Another Place, The Lake review: 'I reconnected with nature'

An active trip to Another Place, The Lake, in the heart of the Lake District leaves Women’s Fitness editor, Sarah Sellens, feeling renewed…

Sarah explores the Lake District on canoe

Feet on the ledge, look out to the boat house, then three, two, one…jump! Into the 17-degree depths of Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District and the setting for Another Place, The Lake, a contemporary 47-bedroom hotel on its shoreline.

This is my first morning at the resort and we’re wild swimming under the expert instruction of swimming coach Colin Hill. It’s not the first time I’ve swum in open water, but this is different – it’s not about getting from A to B as fast as I can, but about enjoying the wilderness.

We’ve dived under the clear water, bopped about, even lay back and revelled in the beautiful scenery, and now we’re jumping off Kailpot Crag. It’s invigorating, energising and a great way to reconnect with nature. And ‘reconnecting with nature’ may perfectly sum up everything this resort seems to be about.

‘I’ve swum in open water, but this is different – it’s not about getting from A to B as fast as I can, but about enjoying the wilderness.’

Set in 18 acres of Lake District national park, Another Place, The Lake is the perfect setting for getting active outdoors. The main building here is a hotel that blends its Georgian heritage with a contemporary wing to provide 40 bedrooms (including dog-friendly suites), a library in which you can chill out and play a board game or two, a swimming pool and spa, plus two restaurants: the truly indulgent RampsBeck Restaurant and more relaxed The Living Space.

Staying in a shepherd hut at Another Place, The Lake

I’m not staying in the hotel, I’m at one of the resort’s new – and rather luxurious – Outside rooms: a tin shepherd hut for two, with an interior clad with handcrafted oak, a freestanding copper bath (the perfect place to relax after a cold-water swim) and a decked outdoor area with firepit.

‘Set in 18 acres of Lake District national park, Another Place, The Lake is the perfect setting for getting active outdoors.’

In the distance are lake views of Ullswater, but immediately outside, from beyond the hut’s expertly landscaped firepit area, is Another Place’s gardens and Glasshouse: a focal point where guests grab a coffee, do some outdoor yoga, have an after-dinner walk, or simply play a bit of table tennis. To the other side of the hut, is the impressive and new treehouse – a stay accessed by walkway, with two double bedrooms, a bathroom and awesome views. It truly is outdoor living at its very best.

woman jumping off ledge to go wild swimming in the lake district

Sarah tries out wild swimming at Another Place, The Lake

Watersports at Another Place, The Lake

Of course you can’t come to Ullswater without doing some water-based activity, which is why the Sheep Shed on site is the perfect place to book a kayaking adventure, learn to paddleboard, or simply grab a wetsuit and head out for a cool-water dip. Want to fast-track your fitness? You can focus on your swimming skills here, too – there’s a Cross Lake swim or 1:1 coaching in the endless pool.

And if watersports aren’t your thing, grab a bike, try your hand at archery or pick up a walking map from reception to head out for a hearty hike. I spend the rest of my day doing a recommended local walk to the Aira Force waterfall, then it’s back to the hotel for a full-body massage in the spa. What bliss!

‘The Sheep Shed on site is the perfect place to book a kayaking adventure, learn to paddleboard, or simply grab a wetsuit and head out for a cool-water dip.’

After the Zen-like spa indulgence, I enjoy three delicious courses at the Rampsbeck Restaurant, which is the place to go for British-focused meals using tasty Cumbrian produce. The dinner leaves me feeling fully refuelled, so I retire to bed, sleeping under the stars thanks to a ‘stargazing roof’. The next morning, there’s time for stand-up paddleboarding, then I head home with a renewed energy and one question: ‘When shall I return?’

A couple shepherd hut starts at £425/night. Book at another.place