We stayed here for my wife's birthday in February, it's an excellent location very close to the shore of Lake Ullswater. The rooms were very clean, we stayed in a superior room with a view of a stream and the lake. Food was of very high standard, we had breakfast there and dinner in Ratchers Tavern (bar/restaurant underneath the hotel). The hotel is also right next to the Ullswater Steamer stop which goes all the way to Pooley Bridge (Pity there is a reduced service this time of year as we didn't have time to go on it) I would recommend it and would like to go back in summer with the family.

We are reasonably regular visitors now, and have spent 4 out of the last 5 Christmases in Glenridding, including 2011. We have also visited at other times of the year.

We have always found the welcome to be warm and the service to be excellent. They are flexible and helpful, and make every effort to cater for my husband's food allergy. They are equally accomodating of the canine visitors - this time my mother rang in advance to discuss room allocations because her dog was temporarily immobile after an operation, and a room that could be accessed without any steps was allocated. This kind of customer care and attention to detail is typical.

It is rare to find a hotel that is as genuinely dog friendly as the Glenridding. Too many claim to be dog friendly and turn out to be no such thing.

There are plenty of fine walks near the hotel, some harder than others. There is also a drying room for those soggy outer layers. If walking isnt your thing, Penrith, Keswick, Windermere and Ambleside are all in easy reach.

This is an excellent base for any Lake District holiday.

Highlights are excellent Best Western breakfast in a charming dining room overlooking Ullswater. A stream dashes past with water direct from the peaks of Helvellyn. Wonderful, friendly full service from the multinational staff. Ratchers Bar underneath has a welcoming open fire, 5-star food and the fastest bar staff I've ever seen anywhere in the world - even surpassing the souped-up Sao Paulo barmen. Glenridding has a decent pool and sauna. Great location for walking Helvellyn (one route up is opposite the entrance) and also for the extremely scenic walks along the eastern banks of Ullswater and over-the-top to Howtown via Martindale. Glenridding also good stop off point for Coast-to-Coast walk. Highly recommend this place. Minor caveat, reducing the star count, is the rooms themselves are slightly in need of updating (only slightly) but overall a 5-star bathroom and 5-star cleanliness. Well done the manager of the hotel !!!

May I take this opportunity to write a few words about our wonderful winter break at the Glenridding Hotel. My husband and I (accompanied with our dog) enjoyed a wonderful stay! We have visited the hotel previously and thought nothing better than to end the year by a glorious stay in the Lake District.

Our stay was nothing short of exceptional, from the warm welcoming staff through to the delicious christmas dinner! The hotel also had such a cosy feel this Christmas with it's open fires! I also enjoyed a nice warm hot chocolate and a mince pie with our dog in their coffee shop after a nice long walk in the crisp winter air!!

During our stay we were also invited to a showing of a television programme that the hotel had been involved it. The hotel took part a competition with another Cumbrian hotel to create the best "Sticky Toffee Pudding"! This video caputred the very essence of the hotel and it's surrounding community. They sourced local products, involved the local community and children from the nearby school. What a wonderful showcase for the hotel. They deservidly won!! (I also tried some of the sticky toffee pudding in their Ratchers Bar . . delicious!)

I would like to conclude that my husband, our dog and I had a glorious time this Christmas and would love to come back again next year! I cannot see how previous comments on here are just!!

Thanks to ALL the staff at the hotel for a wonderful stay!! Will definitely be seeing you all again! Happy New Year!