Beech Hill Hotel and Spa in the Lake District prides itself on being the “most distinctive 4 star hotel” in Windermere, and that boast might just be right.

The Lake District is a hugely crowded marketplace when it comes to hotels around the 3 star/4 star mark, so accommodation options, especially those near the tourist hotspot of Windermere, need something special to stand out.

Beech Hill has two such features: a stunning spa that is family-friendly but also extremely relaxing, and views from the rooms (the lake-facing rooms at least) that will take your breath away.

If you need proof of the views, our photos will probably do more justice than words could. We could hardly drag ourselves away from the window after check-in, and in the morning the early fog over Windermere made way for a sensational rainbow spanning the length of the lake. It was beautiful and worth the trip in its own right from Leeds.

The spa, meanwhile, could have been our home for a good few hours had we not taken our little girl with us. We took it in turns to entertain her in the pool (top tip for parents with babies: the mirrored glass above the pool makes for fascinating viewing as the little ones can float on their backs and wave at themselves..!) whilst the other went in the sauna, outdoor hot tub, again with views over the lake, and the steam room. Beech Hill have clearly invested an awful lot of money in getting the spa up to – in our opinion at least – five star standard, and it has paid off.

Views and spa aside, the room we stayed in was very comfortable and had a range of modern touches. The bed was large and covered in soft white sheets and there was a spacious, roomy feel to the place that we needed with our little one in tow.

The communal lounge area is plush and full of deep-seated sofas that tempt you to sit down and fail to leave for the next hour, and the reception area is brought to life by the addition of some touches of nature – sculptures, paintings etc.

Before we checked out in the morning, it was time for breakfast, which at Beech Hill is served buffet-style, with the option to order hot, freshly cooked items. The highlights for us were the fried eggs, which had somehow managed to keep their runny middles, the pastries, and the sausages. Beech Hill’s breakfast efforts were docked a point by not offering coffee options like cappuccino, latte, etc, since the coffee machine isn’t turned on in the morning (according to our waiter) but what we were served was strong, black, and contained the caffeine hit we needed for the day ahead.

Rooms at Beech Hill start at around the £200 mark, which isn’t bad at all for this part of the Lake District, especially taking into account the standard of the spa. There are usually midweek offers to reduce the price, and tempting packages for a slightly longer stay if that’s what you’re after too.