A Lake District Weekend Break at Grass Ings, Langdale

A Lake District weekend break calls for fell walking, cosy nights in and total serenity.

Fancy whisking friends away to enjoy a luxury cottage in the most iconic landscape in the UK? We invite you to Grass Ings, one of the finest 3-bed, Gold Award holiday homes in the Lakes!

Read on to discover how we’d recommend you spend your fun-filled weekend away! And consider this, who are you going to share a Lake District weekend break with?

Grass Ings, Langdale, Cumbria & The Lake District

Luxury | 4 Star Gold Award | Sleeps 6 | 3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | Pub Nearby | Family-friendly 

Winter is well and truly upon us and the days are short. This means that there’s all the more need to pack as much as you can into your precious weekend escapes.

Fires are roaring and Sloe Gins are being poured. Bathtubs are filling up and we’re taking a lot more persuading to go out rather than choose a cosy corner, a good book and a mug of something warm.

This season is all about entertaining at home. Strappy dresses and uncomfortable heels can be left in the wardrobe. We’ve left BBQ season behind and it’s all about candle-lit dinners and warm wintry indulgences.

So that you can get the most out of your winter weekend escape, we’ve picked a Gold Award, sleeps 6 property, in a rural countryside location and planned a weekend itinerary for you and your party.

Let us introduce you to a weekend at Grass Ings…

Getting to Grass Ings

The stretch of the A593 from Ambleside into the Langdale valley is one of the most breathtaking roads in the Lakes.

The River Brathway runs on the left and Loughrigg Fell hugs the road on right. Passing Elterwater, the views open up to reveal the dramatic Langdale Pikes and huge Langdale valley.

There are only a handful of properties along this sought-after route, and Grass Ings is one of them. Located just before the village of Skelwith Bridge, follow the drive to arrive at Grass Ings. You will be greeted by parking for up to three cars and a detached house enveloped by wonderful gardens.

There’s a pub within walking distance and riverside walks straight from your doorstep. Grass Ings puts you in the very heart of the Lake District. Many iconic Lake District hotspots like Grasmere, Hawkshead, Coniston and Windermere are all within easy reach.

The location

Grass Ings occupies an enviable riverside location, elevated just above the river. A huge garden sweeps down towards the river. From here you can walk to the nearby village of Elterwater.

There’s a choice of 3 patios, furnished with comfortable outdoor chairs. A large alfresco dining space is perfect for soaking up the autumn sun.

Grass Ings has been thoughtfully presented for both families and groups of friends. If you’re looking for a sociable space offering privacy and flexibility, this is the perfect choice.

Lake District Weekend Break Holiday Itinerary:

Friday

Check-in from 4pm 

Shop: Stock-up on your self-catering goods ahead of check-in. Booths in Windermere is 7-miles away and has on-site parking. Here you can pick up store cupboard essentials, seasonal fresh fruit and veg, as well as shop the butchers, fishmongers, bakery and cheese counter.

Booths also have an award-winning selection of beers, wine and spirits, with lots of lovely local tipples to try. And don’t forget Nespresso pods for your morning coffee! 

Make yourself at home: After you have chosen who is sleeping where, selecting from 3 boutique bedrooms: 1 master suite with king-size bed and en-suite, 1 king-size and 1 double, it is time to stock-up the kitchen. 

This is the time to introduce you to the “Happy Cupboard” at Grass Ings. This is a pantry off the kitchen – perfectly appointed for a group holiday we might add, with a 5-ring hob, Nespresso machine and range cooker.

Back to the “Happy Cupboard”, this is where drinks are served and it even has an ice machine for raising a toast with a delicious The Lakes Sloe Gin. Take your drinks into the large glass sun house at the back of the house, where you can soak in the stunning views regardless of the weather. 

Early evening G&T and dinner: For your first night, we’d recommend leaving the car behind and enjoying a stroll to the local pub. Enjoy a whisky from The Lakes Distillery at The Talbot Bar before continuing on to an easy dinner at the Skelwith Bridge Hotel.

Soak: Some of your group may like to get into the party spirit with an evening drink, whilst others may prefer a leisurely soak in the luxury freestanding, roll-top bathtub. A bottle of wine and a long-overdue catch-up in the living room as the log burner roars is the best way to spend a Friday evening.

Saturday

Breakfast: We recommend staying local for your first day to soak up the stunning location. One of the best vegetarian cafes in the Lake District is just down the road in Skelwith Bridge village and opens at 9am for breakfast (until 11am).

Chester’s By The River is well-known for its wood-fired pizzas and delicious homemade cakes. For breakfast, choose from the likes of banana and blueberry pancakes, wild mushrooms on sourdough and the popular ‘breakfast hash with tofu’. 

A morning local walk: 2-mile linear walk, flat and easy. 

Walk from Grass Ings along the River Brathay to Elterwater. This low-level riverside stroll is a gentle and easy walk, with a very well-maintained and wide path, which is good for prams and large groups.

As it is a linear walk it makes for a great sociable walk, where a large group can spread out and not worry about the faster ones taking a different route to those bringing up the rear. This is also a good walk for this time of year, when rain or overcast weather may mean you won’t get the views you’d hope for from a mountain climb.

You’ll still need to wrap up well and dress appropriately, with boots and raincoat, but at least this path will allow your party to enjoy several hours of drinking in the refreshing Lake District autumn air.

There’s also another secret reason why we love this walk at this time of year, especially if it has been raining. Skelwith Force waterfalls is a mini-falls, only a 16-foot drop but for what it lacks in height it makes up for with force. The sheer volume of amber peat-filled water that rushes forcefully down into a pool of white bubbles is impressive. 

L-R: Chester’s By The River, Skelwith Force, The Forest Side

Afternoon spa treatment: Guests of Grass Ings have access to a day pass at the luxurious Langdale Spa, just a few minutes drive into the Langdale Valley. Please speak to Lakelovers when making your booking to arrange your Langdale Spa pass. 

Late afternoon prosecco: The Drunken Duck fine-dining pub and microbrewery is a long-standing local favourite, as well as being popular with visitors. It occupies a wonderful location at Barngates, elevated above Ambleside, between Coniston and Hawkshead.

You walk into a stylish bar, welcoming both muddy boots and well-heeled drinkers. The open fire is guaranteed to be roaring at this time of year and champagne sits on ice in a giant silver trough on the bar. Their own ales will be on tap, including the delicious Tag Lag. Hops hang from the ceiling and a professional team of staff are on hand to make your visit as welcoming as can be. The no alcohol elderflower G&T is a must for the designated driver! 

Return back to Grass Ings. Hang coats and boots up on the stylish ski hooks in the downstairs cloakroom. Time to take full advantage of the luxury bathrooms and get ready for a night of dining like no other. Hire a 6-seater taxi with Amber Taxi Ambleside and be whisked away to a dreamy Lake District manor house for a very memorable dining experience. 

Dinner: The Forest Side, Grasmere 

A Victorian manor house set in a beautiful wooded estate, just outside Wordsworth’s much-loved Grasmere village, is home to one of the most-talked about Lake District restaurants of the moment.

Three years ago, The Forest Side restaurant gained the coveted Michelin star status and is known for its Cumbrian-inspired menus, including the L’al Un (Cumbrian for small) and its foraged tasting menus.

For a large group, we’d recommend booking a table in the dining room well in advance. There is a private dining room for 6-10 people available at no extra charge and offers the 6-course menu. 

Sunday 

Breakfast: The generous-size open-plan kitchen and dining room at grass Ings is ideal for lazy breakfasts. Keep the Nespresso machine switched on as guests come and go, enjoying the morning sun on the outside patios and the peaceful garden sunroom. There’s a lovely range cooker and the large dining table is ideal for getting everyone together for breakfast – our favourite meal of the day when on holiday! 

Exploring further afield: Grasmere

Grasmere was the adopted home of one of England’s best-known poets, William Wordsworth. The pretty petite village is today lined with boutique shops, galleries and eateries. It can get busy during the summer season, so now is a great time to enjoy this iconic part of the Lake District.

From Grass Ings follow the A593 back to Ambleside and the shores of Lake Windermere, then north to Rydal Water and into Grasmere. Alternatively, there are buses (555, 599, 516) from Skelwith Bridge to Grasmere and back, hourly. 

Walk: Grasmere and Rydal Water circular walk, flat, 5.5 miles. 

Parking at Stock Lane Car Park for the day (9 hours) is £8 and gives easy access in the centre of Grasmere village for this walk. From here you head out of Grasmere and pass Dove Cottage the Wordsworth shop to take the footpath signposted ‘Alcock Tarn and Coffin Route to Rydal’.

This walk takes in one of the most famous Coffin Roads in the UK. Look out for the ancient coffin stone on the side of the road at Town End. Dove Cottage was Wordsworth’s first family home in the Lake District. This is where he produced some of his most famous poems.

L-R: Grass Ings, Dove Cottage, Rydal Water – Grasmere

The next stretch takes you to Rydal Mount, the final home of William Wordsworth. The rest of the walk is scenic, traversing along the shores of Rydal Water, with Loughrigg Fell towering down. Partway along Rydal Water, take a detour to Rydal Cave, making sure you take care during wet weather.

Leaving Rydal Water, breath-taking views across the tranquil waters of Grasmere open, making up for its diminutive size in beauty. Finish the circuit, returning to the village of Grasmere.

Lunch: Back in the village, we recommend a laid-back lunch in one of the Lake District’s most quirky eateries, The Jumble Room. The food is organic where possible and locally-sourced. 

This bohemian-style restaurant has been a mainstay of Lake District life since 1996 when it first opened its welcoming doors.

For large groups, we would recommend booking in advance. What better than a warming bowl of soup served with homemade focaccia after a winter walk?

Monday

10am check out 

Breakfast: At the end of your weekend break in the Lake District, enjoy breakfast as you pack, or head back to Chesters to save on the dishes.

Perhaps head into Ambleside on your way home, where you’ll find one of the most unique high streets in the UK with quality brands mixed with unique local retailers.

Pop into Kysty’s for lunch. ‘Kysty’ is a Cumbrian word for ‘fussy’, or rather ‘picky’ about one’s food. This is the ethos driving this Lake District eatery. It is headed up by Ryan Blackburn, the chef at the 2019 commended Michelin-star evening restaurant The Old Stamp House (also in Ambleside but not open on Mondays).

We hope that your Lake District weekend break leaves you with a wonderful taste of true Cumbrian life.

Enjoy some quality time with your loved ones and secure a break at Grass Ings today. Check availability online here or call us on 015394 88855 to speak to a friendly member of the team. 

If you’re interested in how else you can spend your time at Grass Ings, give our guide on things to do in Ambleside a read!