Bordered by the beauty of Bassenthwaite Lake and framed by the dramatic Skiddaw Mountain and Lake District fells, Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa in Keswick is as romantic as the surrounding countryside.
The hotel offers 46 luxury bedrooms, an award-winning spa, 2 AA Rosette lakeside restaurant and stylish Brasserie and is a popular location for weddings, minimoons and romantic breaks.
When the team at Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa got in touch to see if I would like to pop in for one of their gorgeous spa stays and check out their stunning facilities, who was I to refuse? Turns out, the husband had developed an overnight desire to “try a bit of walking in the Lakes” too. So, walking boots in the boot and freeloader hubby in the passenger seat, we set off to the Lakes.
A top wedding trend for 2019 is ‘moon gatherings’, and there is no more a romantic place to wed than the northern Lake District where light pollution is minimal, meaning visitors can see the moon in all its glory when the sun goes down and benefit from the amazing starlight.
To cater for this growing trend, Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa has introduced their Twilight Wedding Package, offering bridal parties a truly atmospheric yet relaxed and modern wedding. The package enables couples to tie the knot with a 4pm ceremony, in a serene setting of 400 acres of private woodland and deer park, beside the glimmering Bassenthwaite Lake made famous by the Lake poets including Wordsworth. As the evening rolls in and darkness nears, guests can party the night away under the gleaming Lake District moonlight.
Whether couples choose a balmy summer night, a serene springtime sunset, the golden hues of autumn or a frosty winter evening to say ‘I do’, Armathwaite Hall’s dramatic countryside scenery makes for the most stunning of locations.
This civil ceremony, which includes drinks of Prosecco or Peroni, aims to provide a magical wedding ‘day’ that is big on love and low on fuss. Armathwaite Hall’s chefs will prepare a stylish hog roast or barbecue to serve guests a delicious outdoor meal that is full of flavour and soul without the formalities of traditional wedding dining. Guests can be seated outdoors in warmer months for an alfresco dining experience or take to the cosiness of the modern Broadwater Suite during those chilly evenings.
As the evening progresses, the newlyweds can celebrate their first dance in the Broadwater Suite where Armathwaite Hall’s resident DJ will be on hand to set the mood and keep guests on their feet until the early hours.
The bridal couple will then enjoy a complimentary night’s stay in one of the venue’s feature rooms with breath-taking views of the water and a delicious cooked breakfast in the morning. All the guests staying at the hotel can also use the state-of-the-art spa facilities, including the hydrotherapy pool, the aroma room and Snow Quartz Crystal, a luxury steam room and sauna, tropical showers and the new tranquillity terrace.
Lucky for us, we got a taste of the stunning spaces and suites that an Armathwaite Hall Bride & Groom can look forward to. After being forced to walk up a “small hill” by my other half (a bloomin’ mountain!) we retired to the spa for a facial and massage – absolute bliss.
We tried treatments using a range developed in Cumbria exclusively for the hotel. Utilising 100% natural ingredients their sensational new product range uses high quality essential oils to relax, uplift and refresh your body, mind and soul. Like I said, absolute bliss.
Dinner was in the hotel’s formal dining space and was a real treat – including a beautiful risotto and tender steak plus a huge tasting platter of desserts to finish – before finishing the evening with some delicious cocktails in the super cool bar area.
Our feature room did indeed provide sensational views over the lake and the huge bed a blissful night’s sleep, before that aforementioned delight of a cooked breakfast in the morning.
One for the Lakes lovers who like their fresh air with a side order of luxury and romance, I’m hoping that I’ll be checking back in at Armathwaite Hall very soon.
Visit Armathwaite Hall’s website for more information or call 017687 76551 to speak to one of Armathwaite Hall’s wedding co-ordinators.
