Watersport foray into the deep blue

Midway up a steep hill, as I looked down on Lake Windermere I was struck by the fact that the view in front of me was unlikely to have changed in decades, if not centuries.

It's the perfect place for an escape to the country. And this is exactly what I did. But this was no rustic escape. I escaped to the luxury of Low Wood Bay Hotel.

The hotel sits on the bank of Lake Windermere, with views from every angle that are worthy of a postcard.

Rooms are equipped with everything you might need during a stay and more, though starting at £122 per night, a perfect stay is to be hoped for.

The hotel's exceptional facilities make a stay extra special. A well-equipped gym with exercises classes, a spinning room, squash court, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor whirpool bath, beauty spa, sauna and steam room mean that should the weather be stereotypically British enough for you to not enjoy the great outdoors, the great indoors of Low Wood Bay are almost as good.

That evening we were treated to dinner at the Windermere Restaurant. If the rest of hotel is luxurious, the restaurant is splendid and the food, exceptional.

Starters are priced between £5 and £7.50. My tomato and mozzarella salad was deliciously fresh, while my partner's confit leg of duck at £7.50 was divine.

Staples such as soup were also offered, as well as local delicacies such as Morecambe Bay potted shrimp, or homemade Cumbrian game terrine.

The mains were equally as delicious. My roast rump of Cumbrian lamb was pink, juicy, and so tender it almost melted in your mouth, although at £17 for the dish, anything other than perfection would have been disappointing.

My friend's West Coast haddock, or fish 'n' chips, was a tad more than what you might pay at your local chippy at £15, but again it was divine.

The following morning we returned for the hotel's buffet breakfast which appeared to offer each and every single item you could hope for.

I began to realise that for a stay at Low Wood Bay to be properly enjoyed, a substantial appetite is required.

A trip to England's largest lake wouldn't be complete without a foray into it. After a ferry trip to nearby Wray Castle, we headed to Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre.

We opted for waterskiing, and wetsuited up we headed out to our awaiting speedboat and instructor. Mercifully the lake was less bone chilling than I had feared, and was instead merely very brisk. Our instructor was patient, explained everything and within minutes we both mastered standing up, albeit with a beginners bar.

Later that evening we headed to the Wild Boar Inn, another of the five hotels which make up the English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues portfolio. It boasts The Grill & Smokehouse Restaurant, winner of Cumbria Pub of the Year in 2014, and receiver of Visit England's 2015 Pub of the Year silver award.

We opted for the sharing starter for two at £9.50 consisting of olives, feta cheese, smoked pigs in blankets, vegetable crisps, and perhaps the best pork crackling I have ever tasted. Other options such as soup of the day at £4.50, or goat's cheese tart at £7.50, were all very tempting.

From the 10oz smoked wild boar chop at £26, to a baked stuffed aubergine at £14, all the main courses sounded delicious, and making a decision on what to order took quite some time.

Eventually I opted for the pan fried fillet of cod at £17.50. In short it was perfection. The cod was translucent, and fell apart when you showed it the fork.

My friend went for John Stott's wonderful wild boar and apple sausage at £15. It was indeed wonderful. The sausage was rich and meaty, while the mash was creamy, but not heavy. The gravy was rich, thick, and the meal was everything sausage and mash should be.

At just over two hours by train from the Midlands, Windermere is easily accessible for a relaxing weekend away, or an activity and action-packed holiday. Whatever you're seeking from a break, Low Wood Bay offers it all.

Travel Facts:

Alex Binley stayed at the Low Wood Bay Hotel, near Windermere, in the Lake District. Prices start at £122 for a double room inclusive of bed and breakfast.

Starters at The Windermere Restaurant (located in the hotel) are priced between £5 and £8.50, with mains costing between £12.50 and £24, and desserts from between £4.50 and £7.

Watersports activities at the neighbouring Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre vary depending on the activity. From £14 to hire a sit-on-top kayak for an hour, to £300 for a two-day power boat tuition course. Popular activities such as hiring a rowing boat costs £16 for an hour, an hour's waterskiing lesson is £75, or £88 to hire a fishing boat for half a day.

A round ferry trip from nearby Ambleside to Wray Castle, and then to Brockhole Lake District Visitor Centre, costs £7.70 for adults or £3.90 for children. Admission to Wray Castle is free for National Trust members, or £4 for children, £8 for adults.