THERE are moments when Borrowdale leaves you almost lost for words…

Gazing westwards across the valley from Watenlath Fell, we felt somehow transported to a truly magical place, peaceful, beautiful, sculpted by nature, and gloriously removed from the stress of modern life.

Low cloud swirled around the rocky fell tops opposite as peak after peak faded mysteriously into the distance towards Honister. Such images remain imprinted, soothingly, on your mind.

“Magical,” was my wife’s one word summary of the view.

It was not yet 11am and we’d scaled one of the gentler fells in this beautiful corner of the Lake District. We were staying at the Borrowdale Royal Oak Hotel at Rosthwaite, in the very heart of this stunning landscape.

“You only have step out of the front door, and you’re surrounded by wonderful scenery and beautiful walks,” was how one of our fellow guests explained his repeated visits.

Terry and Janet, from Hull, have made an annual pilgrimage to the Borrowdale Royal Oak Hotel for 38 years – a recommendation few hotels can match. The hotel’s new owners recently unveiled a new look for the 23-bedroom hotel.

It’s the result of a £1.3million investment – and it shows.

In our “super-delux” double room, everything was quality, from the bedding, the curtains, the king-size bed and décor right down to the light fittings to stainless steel plumbing in the ensuite bathroom.

The hotel’s eight month make-over was instigated by new owners Nick Wyatt and Matthew Welbourn. They worked with local artisans and suppliers. The result is a classy modern hotel that has retained its traditional charm.

The eco-friendly innovations include handmade local soap and reconstituted plastic bottles, ingeniously transformed into feather-like, vegan down for the pillows and duvets.

Dating back to the 1750s, the Royal Oak is a former farm and miners’ tavern, located on the Coast-to-Coast route near Keswick, (a renowned long-distance walking route recently earmarked as the UK’s newest National Trail).

The hotel’s manager Ann Jackson has been at The Royal Oak since 1978 – and she was more than happy to share her local knowledge with guests.

Co-owner Matthew Welbourn describes the Royal Oak as a “quintessential Lakeland hotel in the heart of the Lake District National Park.”

“The previous owners did a fantastic job is building a loyal customer base over an impressive five decades and our aim is to stay true to the heritage of the property by offering a truly authentic local experience,” said Matthew.

“At the same time, visitor expectations continue to change and evolve – with personal wellbeing being a key factor in people’s holiday choices. Our service ethic focuses making people feel at home, very much like a ski chalet you might find on an alpine resort.”

With walkers in mind, the hotel features a drying room with a new boot dryer, the sort of thing you’d find in a classy ski resort. The hotel’s food is also impressive, as good as in any top-quality restaurant.

For us, the clincher that made the Royal Oak a first-class destination is its location, in the heart of the Borrowdale Valley.

Stunningly scenic, it is also close to so many glorious Lake District walks that immerse you into a richly natural and appealing rural landscape - one of the UK's most appealing countryside destinations. 

Set against the backdrop of high peaks such as Great Gable and Scafell Pike, visitors can explore nearby Derwentwater and Keswick to the east or head west over Honister Pass towards Buttermere and Loweswater.

Walking and driving are not the only way to explore this area. Even on a cloudy day, taking a boat trip around Derwentwater – courtesy of the Keswick Launch – was a memorable way to see this landscape.

“It's a little bit of heaven here on earth,” was my wife’s verdict on this place, less than an hour's drive from Carlisle. After two wonderful days at the Borrowdale Royal Oak Hotel there was no argument from me.

A standard double room for 2 people starts from £165, on a B&B basis. Click on the link for more information.

For more information, go to www.royaloakhotel.co.uk or call 017687 77214 for more information. For more information about Keswick Launch and its boat trips clinck on the link or go to www.keswick-launch.co.uk/cruises/fares

Cumbria Tourism, the official destination management organisation for the Lake District, Cumbria, is also a good place to look for ideas for spending lesiure and holiday time in our county. Find out more at the website Visit Lake District and Cumbria, by either clicking the link or go to www.visitlakedistrict.com