An old Edwardian summer house from 1901 and now the Lake District outpost of South Africa's Leeu Collection, Linthwaite House sits high on its own hill with gorgeous views across Lake Windermere and the Coniston Fells. Inside, it's very much a scene of modern, 21st-century luxury - think bold prints and wild colours, sumptuous armchairs and a fine selection of African art, all from the owner's personal collection. It's surrounded by 14 acres of garden and woodland that keep the rest of the world at arm's length, and when you're finished exploring, there's always a crackling log fire somewhere to cosy up to. Frankly, Wordsworth would have approved.
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There are 36 rooms ranging from Classic and View rooms in the main house (calming neutrals, the odd bold print, plus baths and walk-in rainfall showers) up to the top-floor Loft Suite, which has its own stargazing telescope. All rooms are excellent, but any with a lake view are even better and watching the steamers on the lake from your bath is definitely no hardship. The Fell Suites are the real showstoppers, however. Reached by golf buggy, they have floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-burners and, in the best of them, a private hot tub angled at the fells.
The art isn't only indoors and a wander the woods will reveal a life-sized lion among the trees – a sculpture, mercifully, but a good wheeze on an English garden stroll.
Tuck a handful of duck feed into your pocket for the resident mallards, then track down the hidden hilltop swing. It's the best view on the whole estate!
Henrock, the Simon Rogan restaurant everyone comes for, only opens Wednesday to Sunday. Land on a Monday or Tuesday and dinner is the (still very good) Bar and Conservatory menu instead.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Linthwaite House can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made UK trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended UK trips featuring Linthwaite House or get advice and suggestions from one of our UK specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Linthwaite House start from around $180, or US$180, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
With its wild fells and mirror-still lakes, the Lake District is England at its most dramatically beautiful.
