The Grotto
Sleeps 20
Penrith, Lake District
Pool, gardens and grounds
The Grotto pinches a whole acre of Cumbria. It’s yours to explore. For the kids to play hide-and-seek, for you to enjoy the sweet thwack of leather on willow, or the clack of a croquet mallet.
The great outdoors is just that here. From the dining room, open up the doors to the balcony and sit out in the clear Cumbrian air with a G&T, drinking in the views. Let the kids discover the football net and garden.
Flanked by columns and accessed from a balcony, the indoor heated pool is big and breathtaking and in this area you’ll also find the Jacuzzi and a seating area. Heated to 29 degrees and spanning eleven metres by three, the pool is the perfect way to pass a few hours in exercise and/or fun.
Living spaces
Imagine the largest, grandest living area. Now double it. The first floor comprises two large open-plan lounges with dining areas. You’ll find two large TVs. There’s a flat-screen and a curved screen – both show Freeview, and there’s a DVD player.
Large glazed doorways lead out onto the very large decking area, providing views to the distant Pennine range and the property’s half acre of cut grass, used for football and other games. The overhanging oak staircase somehow enhances the sense of being on a cruise. Head out to the starboard deck to take in the rising or setting sun, for an al-fresco breakfast or evening night-cap.
If you can tear yourself away, get stuck into the gym: keep in shape on the treadmill, bike and multigym, or break off to tap into the fast Wi-Fi that whizzes around the place.
Cooking and dining
Cooking’s a pleasure in the handmade, bespoke kitchen fully equipped for you to cook up a curry, or anything else that tickles your tastebuds. Slip out a Sauvignon from the wine chiller, while the two double ovens do double duty, then load up the dishwasher afterwards. Job done.
If you’d rather we did the job while you get acquainted with a nicely chilled aperitif, or just get nicely chilled, we can recommend Choice Catering. Serving anything from cold buffets to canapes, including a cheese tower served with crackers, celery and chutney, Debbie’s a dream for one-off celebrations.
You’ll eat in the living-dining area, with the cavernous sense of scale adding atmosphere to any occasion. For an al-fresco alternative, pop out through the double doors to the first-floor deck and feast in the fresh Lakeland air.
Change the scene at The Gate Inn, serving local meats, pickled vegetables, fruity desserts – to rave reviews. For an oriental option, try the Platinum Chinese or, for pizza and pasta, pop down to the Villa Bianca Restaurant in Penrith.
Bedrooms
The Grotto sleeps up to 20 in seven en-suite bedrooms, three sofa beds, and a pull-out bed. Exquisite rooms come fitted in bamboo with spots on the ceiling and wood on the floor. Drift off to the large flat-screen TVs and wake before feeling the warmth of the en-suite underfloor-heated wet rooms with walk-in showers.
On the ground floor, bedroom 1, 2, and 3 comprise large double beds, whilst bedroom 4 has a super king & single sofa bed, flat-screen TVs showing Freeview, and en-suites with walk-in showers. Bedrooms and en-suites also feature underfloor heating.
On the first floor, you’ll find Bedroom 5 with its king-size bed, pull-out single bed and en-suite wet room.
And finally, on the second floor are Bedrooms 6, the master suite and 7 with its 3 single beds and 3 pull-out singles. Both have en-suite wet rooms. Step outside of these bedrooms for a balcony with seating, over looking the lounge/dining areas and with onward views of the garden and fields.
Among the thick rugs, the fitted wood, the spa-like bathrooms, the skylights and the spotlights, luxury is as deep as your sleep here. In this relaxed rural setting, only the breeze through the boughs delays your dreams.
What people say
A big, beautiful landscape
In a big, beautiful landscape, climb high to Aira Force falls. Go back in time to the romantic ruins of Lowther Castle, or come right up to date with zorb football and sumo wrestling at Cumbrian Adventures. Kids can horse around at Happy Hooves Riding Centre or paint pots and discover tunnels at the Rheged Centre.
