The Waterwheel

This wonderful guesthouse is where I have just spent two blissful nights with my husband. I found The Waterwheel on trip advisor and thought it seemed perfect as our Ambleside base for our mini babymoon and much needed break. We weren't disappointed.

The house itself is beautiful. A perfect combination of cottage chic and antique charm with all the modern touches you could wish for. It is situated in the centre of Ambleside, yet tucked away down a small ginnel. This means you get the best of both worlds - proximity of everything you could wish for in the town and yet peace perfect peace. The only noise comes from the glorious sound of the rolling millstream that The Waterwheel overlooks.

Our room, Stockghyll, was beautifully decorated with william morris prints, brass bed and a victorian style bathroom suite including a ball and claw bath and thunderbox toilet. Gorgeous extras included complimentary organic toiletries in the bathroom and by way of refreshments, sachets of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cookies, kendal mint cake and a lovely splash of port in the cut glass decanter. Additionally, on the evening of our first day we returned to find a beautiful package of home made squidgy chocolate cake on the bed - perfect to nibble with a cup of tea and just typical of the extra mile the owners go to. Whilst on the subject of food, we had two impeccable cooked breakfasts including locally sourced sausage and bacon, egg, beans, mushrooms and tomato, and a delicious fried slice; accompanied of course by individual pots of tea and coffee and glorious thick cut toast. Prior to our cooked breakfast bonanza we were lucky enough to have yoghurt and home made raspberry compote - the latter, made by the owners the day before from locally picked fruit.

And what of the owners? Julie and Nigel compliment their beautiful guesthouse perfectly. They are both welcoming, friendly and we enjoyed chatting with them enormously. They manage to tread the line between being incredibly warm and engaging without being in the least bit overbearing or intrusive, which is exactly what you want as a guest.

In conclusion, I could not recommend the waterwheel more highly and I urge you to try this hidden gem with it's wonderful hosts while you can, because once it's secret is out I have no doubt that rooms will be booked up months in advance.