Guest comments - Are we one of the Best Hotels in the Lake District?

"We have always found a great welcome - the staff have a good balance of attentiveness without being overly 'fussy'. We have enjoyed all the meals we have had, and unlike many restaurants the food lives up to the expectations. Love the location and appreciate the well maintained grounds. All in all a very good 'feel good' place and whenever we visit the Lakes our No1 venue - highly recommend to all our friends." PC, Sheffield, December 2011

"Well, where to begin? I guess 'Linthwaite does it again' pretty much sums up our stay. As always when you do something for a second time there is always the apprehension that things won't be as good or go as well as the first. I couldn't have been proved more wrong, Linthwaite made our second wedding anniversary more perfect than I could have hoped for. Last year we stayed in the Loft Suite and were blown away by everything - the customer service, the interior design, the food, the facilities in the room. By the time we got home after our stay we had decided already to come back this year, and this time decided to try the Luxury Lake View room. What an excellent choice. It is now our favourite room of all the hotels we have ever stayed in!" VK, Scotland, November 2010

“Another fabulous stay! Our meal was just outstanding, we think each visit can’t be better than the last - and then it is!” GL, Cheshire, February 2011

"... The thing that sets you apart from the rest is the attention to detail and the quality of service." LM, Colne, January 2011

"Fabulous podition, view, gardens and tarn - swimming was tempting even in December! Food delicious of course, perfect portion sizes and great to see a proper vegetarian menu! Staff attentive, courteous but always friendly - particularly liked those with a sparkle in their ete. Great Finnish waiter! Selected this hotel because the person who answered the phone was helpful, knowledgable, bright and lively. We have had a glorious time here - difficult to fault." MP, North Yorkshire, December 2011

"Wonderful room - stylish, comfortable with great bathroom. It is also great to have rooms where dogs are welcome. The service generally in the hotel is perfectly pitched - helpful, efficient and friendly whilst not being intrusive. The gardens are sublime. An inspired mixture of formal and natural. I can only imagine you have an army of workers to create and maintain your fourteen acres." LH, London, June 2010

“To sum up Linthwaite House Hotel, it is the calibre and class of Samling/Sharrow Bay without the pomp and stuffiness.” DF, Tyne and Wear, Feb 2010

"We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this wonderful hotel, from the exquisite cuisine, the friendly front of house staff, to the housekeeping. We hopefully will be back in the near future and would recommend the hotel to anyone planning to visit the Lake District. The attention to detail in marvellous. We stay in many hotels in the UK and abroad and I can say genuinely this has been the best and the most comfortable in our experience." RL, Wiltshire, January 2011

“Most liked: the personal attention and welcome back note from Sarah! The informality of the staff and the whole experience is like being wrapped up in a warm blanket... we never want to go home!”

"We have been coming here for years and every visit seems to be an improvement on the previous. This was probably the best yet. We like: bottled beer, food - desserts were superb, friendly efficient service, lebanese red wine, unfussy, comfortable, attractive bedroom, free bottled water, flat screen TV, modern bathroom, wild gardens and pathways, delicious cream teas, reading lights in room, fire in room!" IG, Hertfordshire, August 2010

Overall a fantastic weekend, very pleasant staff and a wonderful hotel." JM, Glasgow, March 2011

"My wife and I just stayed with you for the weekend, in Room 4, and we had the most perfect time. It was my intention to complete your feedback form before we left, which I can still do if you would like me to, but I didn’t get the chance and it would be wrong of me to let the moment pass without saying anything to you at all, so I will email instead. We loved your hotel. Rarely has a hotel not only matched expectations on actual arrival but exceeded it to such a degree. Your Room 4 is quite stunning. The view was fantastic and the bathroom was, I believe, the best bathroom that we have ever stayed in – and we have stayed in quite a few!! The food, service and general feel of the hotel were all quite superb. We needed a weekend away from it all, just to switch off for a while, and we certainly got one." JH, Gloucestershire, August 2011

"There is little to nothing which I could suggest to help you improve on what we consider perfection. You have an immediate advantage of a beautiful property in wonderful gardens and with magnificent views. The food is lovely (please pass compliments to the chef and other kitchen staff) but what is the icing on the cake is the staff, who are consistently polite, helpful but most of all HAPPY!!" TB, Clitheroe, June 2010

"Particularly appreciated the quiet, attentive staff. Gardens beautiful, even in February. Small birds flitting to and fro a harbinger of spring to come. Peace and quiet and wonderful dining. Can't think of a single thing to go on the 'least liked' list." MC, Edinburgh, February 2011

"The most romantic setting of any hotel I have ever been to." "CD, Wimbledon, May 2010

“It is hard to know which deserves the more praise, the excellence of the table of the friendliness and efficiency of all the staff. Congratulations to all concerned.” KP, Durham, February 2011

"Having wanted to visit Linthwaite for several years, we've finally made it up here. If we had known how utterly beautiful and tranquil it was, we would have come sooner. This place is exquisite and immaculate - and the views are a treat for the soul. The gardens are magical, and the food!! Wow, never eaten such delicious treats! However, for us the thing that sets Linthwaite apart is the warm-hearted service we received from the staff. My partner and I travel a lot, for business as well as pleasure, and rarely have we encountered such a pleasing and delightful place." ET, Middleton, June 2010

"At night the candles and fires added a lovely romantic feel to the lounge areas." AB, Clitheroe, March 2011

“As first time visitors to Linthwaite on recommendation of our daughter who has visited on two occasions, everything has been exemplary. It has been a pleasure to chat with all your staff. We cannot see that you need to change anything. Keep the cheerful and happy staff and the superb food!” MT, Huddersfield, February 2011

"A beautiful house in a stunning setting. Staff were friendly and courteous from the warm welcome at reception through to the polite and helpful waiters at dinner and breakfast. Dinner was well presented, tasty and much nicer than a recent meal at a Michelin Star restaurant in Jersey." JH, York, October 2010

"Thank you for such a lovely stay (and for the upgrade to a Preferred room!). Thank you for the lovely personal touches to help us celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary - a card in our room, good wishes from staff and our beautiful decoration at dinner. You made a special weekend even more special! This was our first (hopefully not our last) visit. Your staff, every one, are fantastic, nothing is too much trouble and they are genuine and very professional. We've had a very comfortable stay, this is a lovely hotel and we were made to feel welcome from the minute I telephoned to enquire about rooms. Very happy to recommend Linthwaite to anyone. P.S. Wonderful food, portions just the right size. Love the breakfast menu!" C & J S, Wiltshire, October 2011

"This is my second time here and I really enjoy the whole experience. I like the 'non typical hotel' feel of the place." MC, November 2011

“The reason we keep coming back (despite the weather) is the very high level of friendly service, combined with the total lack of pomposity, and of course the ability to relax in cosy comfort. The food is pretty damn fine too!” DG, Liverpool, Oct 09.

"Staff welcoming and pleasant as usual and dinner outstanding. Have tried to find something to be grumpy about as I can normally do grumpy quite well, however I have failed to find anything. We look forward to returning." PH, Lytham, December 2011

“This is our third visit and the fact that we return again and again speaks for itself. The venue/gardens/rooms/staff and food are ‘outstanding’. Long may it continue. Thank you so much.” RH, Northumberland, Oct 09

"Room 21 - WOW!! Really special. Amazing view, decor, bathroom - and the hot tub and terrace are gorgeous. Can't fault anything. Linthwaite is still our favourite place in the world. Well done to lovely Andy and his team for maintaining such high standards and delighting us on every visit. Just brilliant." ET, Milton Keynes, May 2011

"An absolutely excellent stay made magical by the snow. In a location that was already beautiful, it transformed the grounds and views into something sensational. The inherent warmth of the staff (and the hotel) were lovely to return to after a day in the cold. There is no doubt that the ambiance of this hotel is exceptional; a combination of diligent, warm and friendly service, excellent food, warm fires and cosy lounges. Staff commitment was epitomised by the efforts made early each day to keep the drive both open and safe." RD, Dec 09, Buckinghamshire

"Personal nature of the service and that it is so efficient and friendly without being fussy is a big plus for us. The food is fantastic as well and we look to the Linthwaite as our rest and relaxation break away from our very busy working lives. Will definitely be back again." CG, Cheadle, November 2011

"For us staying at Linthwaite is a real treat. We always feel so comfortable, and able to relax during our stay. A big strength of Linthwaite is the staff who try to remember your name, and are always polite and professional. Food, as always GREAT." JC, Worcestershire, October 2011

“Our visit to Linthwaite has been very enjoyable; we have felt very welcome and cosseted by all the staff. The atmosphere is very relaxing, warm and cosy. The food is the best we have experienced in all the various places we have stayed over the years. The quality of furnishings, bedding, china etc is excellent and much appreciated – you can’t beat the best! The hotel is spotlessly clean with plenty of hot water for long relaxing baths. Thank you for a wonderful break.” EE, Southport, Feb 10

"Thank you for your excellent offers which allowed my wife and I to afford our visit. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay, albeit a brief one. I commend all of your staff on their attention to detail as these many small points add up to make a significant impact on us both." AH, Cumbria, Dec 09

"Everything was first class, can't wait to come back again! I like the quirkiness, the solicitude of all the staff without being 'in your face' or obsequious. I cannot find fault." SB, Poulton-le-Fylde, December 2011

"I have no idea how you manage to provide such a high level of service without stuffiness, but you do! We felt as if we were in a private house hosted by people who wanted to take care of our every need without intrusion. The restaurant staff were outstanding…the desk staff were incredibly helpful as well." - TH, California, June 09

“We would certainly recommend this place to our friends with total confidence. Many thanks for a fabulous stay – we feel totally spoilt and well rested.” MR, Berkshire, Feb 10

“I always compare the Linthwaite to going to a massive football game – worried that it may not reach the heights that I’ve previously experienced! However, the Linthwaite – unlike a lot of football games I’ve been to – never disappoints. I know it’s hard but I hope you can continue the standards that you’ve set.” GH, Ormskirk, Feb 2010

"We had a truly most enjoyable stay. Your hotel has two outstanding qualities which set it clearly above others we have stayed in. Friendly helpful and knowledgeable staff who really make guests feel welcome. Excellent food in both quality and presentation in the restaurant.” DR, Cheltenham, May 2010

“We would especially like to express our appreciation to Colin, the wonderful plumber who kindly retrieved my diamond ear stud that got drained away in the bath tub. Within an hour of informing about the loss, I got my stud back! Absolutely amazing!! We’ll definitely be back!” CT, Indonesia, April 2010

“A wonderful, ‘unstuffy’, luxury stay – days really do become months! Great staff, great food, wonderful location (seen in the snow!) – totally relaxed, two jigsaws in two days – we will be wearing anoraks next!” JK, Heywood, Jan 2010

"We would like to thank the staff at the hotel for making this the most enjoyable experience we have had. The receptionist was extremeley helpful, the bar and restaurant staff were so polite and just an absolute pleasure. Even the gardner gave us some directions on where to go to get the best view of the grounds - these may seem like little things but it's the little things that really count to make somewhere different than the rest. Room/grounds/seating areas absolutely beautiful - cannot wait to visit again." MM, Liverpool, July 2011

“There is a warm and relaxing atmosphere with an extremely efficient service. Your ‘unstuffy’ approach is prefect for making a visit to such a tranquil setting, and we cannot praise your staff enough.” VP, Somerset, Feb 2010

"Really enjoyed our stay, probably our best so far at the Linthwaite. Food and service remain fantastic. Staff feel a bit more relaxed during our visit this time which was nice. Only concern is the bath in bedroom 4, it's just too good! Could have spent our whole stay in it relaxing and watching TV!" SJ, York, December 2011

“This has been the best hotel I have ever stayed in, and having been a Travel Coordinator I have stayed in many hotels. Your excellent customer service, the cosy intimate surroundings and the food ‘well’ what can I say. Hand on heart everything has been truly wonderful and I can’t think of anywhere I would rather have spent my 60th Birthday. Well done, and many thanks.” MG, Cheshire, Feb 2010

"Wow!! Thus is just truly amazing, had a fantastic few days here. The staff are so kind and helpful in every way. The rooms are perfect, the food excellent. I will be back, many thanks, I feel totally relaxed." JF, Barnsley, May 2010

"What can one say? A bit of heaven on earth might be a little over the top, however on the other hand, it must be one of the nicest places that anyone could ever stay." MM, Canada, August 2011

"From the moment we stepped out of the car and saw the view and the very warm reception we received in the hall we knew we would enjoy our stay - how right we were." DH, Liverpool, March 2011

"I can quite honestly say that I have never stayed in such a gorgeous room ever before. The Loft Suite is fantastic, so modern, roomy and spacious. I felt totally relaxed as soon as I stepped into the room." MH, Cumbria, March 2011

“Just the right level of service/attention to detail and luxury. We HATE stuffy, pretentious places, but do like a touch of class.

"The first thing that impressed us was the standard of the room. The furnishings were excellent, indeed one of the nicest hotel rooms we have every experienced in the UK (and we have stayed in quite a few!) The friendliness ans standards of service displayed by the hotel staff are exemplary - every request is dealt with promptly and efficiently (perhaps you should run training courses for other hotels' staff - showing how it should be done!) Finally the gardens - they are an absolute picture this time of year - congratulations to your gardener." CA, Oxon, May 2010

"We felt very comfortable from the moment we walked in and saw the lovely fires. Coming in from a very wet day this made such a difference. We have only booked for one night and we picked you the blue. The evening meal tonight has been a lovely experience and we shall certainly return. The staff are very friendly and efficient." GU, Ormskirk, November 2010

“The hotel is excellent and the restaurant is fantastic. Room 4 is the best room we have been in and has superb views.” TH, Kent, March 2010