Brathay Hall - Brathay Trust

Booked 3 beds and got three Loughrigg chalets up a little trail from the main house. Firstly its very good value. The place is surrounded by beautiful grounds and a short walk to the lake. The surroundings are gotgeous. Chalets were nice, comfy beds and quiet. Free hot drinks in the main house and all the staff were lovely. As a frequent lakes visitor I cannot believe have never stayed there.

I booked the Superior Room in Scafell Lodge recently and I can only say I’m impressed! The rooms are lovely and the requested view we had was one you could get lost in. Unfortunately I can’t comment on the staff because we didn’t speak to any, however the check in and out style we did was very swift and easy so I can only be pleased regardless. I’m impressed at what the Hall does for young people and the amount of other areas involved with the business! My full review and room tour are on my YouTube (Phoenix VGC) vlogs #181 and #182 at the end. Please excuse the fact my channel style is a bit “out there” for humour but the overall result of our experience was a solid 8.5 / 10 for the whole experience!

I couldn't find a room in one of my normal haunts and found Brathay Hall with a reasonable price for a two night stay in a single room. The main downside is that there is no breakfast provided, I knew this and took a punt. Given the walk / ride into Ambleside this meant wasted time on meals and a walk back on dark roads; I knew this ahead of time but it would put me off a return trip. I stopped in one of the Loughrigg rooms, it was quite basic but comfortable, the shower tray could do with a good clean. Did it represent value for money yes but the downsides would stop me returning.

My recent family stay at Brathay Hall, operated by Brathay Trust, was unfortunately far from what I expected. Upon arrival, we were informed that there was an event happening, and no food would be available for us. This was especially frustrating considering the location is at least a 5-minute drive to the nearest restaurants. Not only was finding somewhere to eat an unexpected challenge, but parking in the busy area was also a nightmare. After driving around for ages, we finally found parking, but it added additional costs on top of an already overpriced stay. We were especially disappointed with the sleeping arrangement for our child. They provided what could only be described as a campsite bed with springs holding it together. For the price we paid, we expected a proper single bed, not something as flimsy and bendy as a hammock. The bed looked like it was about to break, and I have photos to show how unsuitable it was. Brathay Hall also offered a £6 per person charge for a pre-ordered breakfast consisting of cereal and bread – not exactly what I expected for the price. One of the main reasons we chose this place was for its discreet location and the promise of onsite food, which was clearly not available. Had I known, I would have opted for better accommodation closer to Ambleside, where more dining options are available. Other issues included a damp, sweaty smell coming from the wardrobe, and to make matters worse, one of the towels had blood on it! I have photos to back this up, which is completely unacceptable. On the plus side, the location is peaceful, and it’s a nice spot if you're traveling with dogs. However, parking was a real challenge – the spaces were extremely limited, small, and very tight. Would I stay again? No. Not for the price, and definitely not with the dismissive attitude of the staff. The lack of customer service was disappointing, and we can't even comment on the food because it wasn't available during our stay.

A quick visit with wifey and hounds. We stayed for three nights in one of the scafell rooms. The accommodation was excellent nicely appointed clean and with a great view down the length of Windermere. Ambleside, which is a great little Lake District town, is a twenty minute walk away or if you drive the nearest car park is probably less than five minutes away. Access to the lake is via a short walk of maybe three or four hundred meters to a nice sheltered bit of the lake where we wild swam, chilly but damn fine. Overall, would we stay again, absolutely.

Stayed in the chalet stlye cabins, clean, warm with a great view. Our HQ for ‘The Lap’ ultra marathon and couldn’t fault it. Would of loved a bath instead of a shower but thats just personal preference. Staff very helpful in leaving us access to the microwave for the pre event porridge. Good comms prior to the event dealing with Sanjay. Would definitely return.