Five minutes’ drive – or a 30-minute walk – from Lake Windermere and the town of Bowness, yet away from the touristy hustle bustle, set on a hillside stands the grand Linthwaite House. A contemporary country house hotel, Linthwaite is set in 14 acres of established gardens and well-maintained private woodland grounds.
Linthwaite is a sprawling Edwardian house of whitewashed render and black-and-white timbered gables. As you walk inside, an air of calm descends – serene staff glide through the rooms, themselves a pleasing palate of pale greys, milky-whites, tans and bottle-greens, jazzed up with splashes of leopard print or tribal pattern.
Equally distracting are the modern artworks – some of the owner’s private collection (the hotel is part of the South-African-based Leeu Collection) – displayed with a gallery’s professional precision.
We dined in the hotel’s acclaimed, Michelin Guide listed, Italian-inspired restaurant Stella. The head chef is Gianluca Interrante, who came straight from Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort in Sicily, hence the Italian influence.
Dishes are based on locally sourced and organic produce that highlights the best of the Cumbrian region and the season. The menu is set Italian-style, with the option of an additional pasta and risotto course.
Our plates mirrored the beauty of the art displayed on the hotel’s walls. Starters stood out and set the bar high. My creamy buffalo mozzarella starter in a Yorkshire pudding – a nod to the North, was complemented by the sharpness of its accompanying roasted cherry tomatoes. My other half’s Classic northern Italian veal roast was set on a plate of foamed tuna sauce, dehydrated Sicilian olives, celery and paprika, with a crisp toast decoration.
His main of braised beef cheek with vegetable torte, crispy leeks, jus and gremolada was hearty and wholesome. My stone bass with crispy sourdough crust, creamy broccoli, chilli sauce and marinated artichokes, was both accomplished and filling, leaving no room for a pud.
As we polished off the rest of our bottle of red, we planned our next visit to this lakeside idyll – Stella- where the stars seem to have perfectly aligned.
Address: Crook Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3JA
Phone: 015394 88600
Website: leeucollection.com/UK/linthwaite-house/stella
To read more about Linthwaite House click here
