Cheshire

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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A5837-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="Low Wood Bay " class="wp-image-8768" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A5837-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A5837-ezgif.com-resize-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A5837-ezgif.com-resize-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<p>The thing about a trip to the Lake District is you expect the views. Views of brooding fells and vast winding roads and the sharp surface of all those glittering lakes. Well, what if I told you you could capture all of this, whilst floating around a balmy infinity pool, Aperol in hand? Enter&nbsp;<a href="https://englishlakes.co.uk/hotels/low-wood-bay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Low Wood Bay Resort &amp; Spa&nbsp;</a>— the sprawling lakeside resort on the shores of Windermere that’s become one of the North West’s most talked-about wellness escapes.</p>



<p>Part of the <a href="https://englishlakes.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">English Lakes Hotels</a> collection, the resort has had a major glow-up in recent years, transforming from traditional country hotel into a cool and  contemporary spa-led destination with incredible lake views, soft neutral interiors, outdoor hot tubs and just enough grown-up glamour to feel indulgent without tipping into stuffy. </p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LOW_WOOD_MAY_2024_928-1024x683.jpg" alt="people swimming in infinity pool LoWood Bay" class="wp-image-8737" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LOW_WOOD_MAY_2024_928-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LOW_WOOD_MAY_2024_928-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LOW_WOOD_MAY_2024_928-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LOW_WOOD_MAY_2024_928-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LOW_WOOD_MAY_2024_928-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<p>If you&#8217;re seeking a space with outrageously pretty views, then I promise you&#8217;ve struck gold here. The setting of Low Wood is undeniably the star of the show, pitched on the edge of Windermere between Ambleside and Bowness. So even if you&#8217;re not pootling around the hot tubs and infinity pools (where guests catch peachy sunsets over the water) you can gaze across the glittering streak of Windermere from the hotel, where paddleboarders glide and yachts drift deeper across the lake. </p>



<p>Up for an adventure? Well, my friend, unsurprisingly you&#8217;re in walkers&#8217; territory with trails leading directly from the hotel and beyond that, miles of fells and waterside antics and hidden gardens all on your doorstep. Oh and if you love life on the water, I implore you to book a boat ride with <a href="https://www.wakeonthebay.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wake on the Bay</a>, directly from the hotel&#8217;s very own marina.</p>



<p>The overall vibe? Low Wood Bay walks the line between polished luxe resort and relaxed Lakes escape very well. Yes, there are plenty of people gliding around in fluffy robes clutching Aperol Spritzes, but it never feels pretentious or overly &#8216;wellness influencer&#8217;. It&#8217;s sociable and buzzy, and never hushed and formal, with couples cosying up, groups of pals celebrating big birthdays and walkers fresh off the fells all happily indulging but in a laid-back, easy-going kind of way.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A5381-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="Low Wood bay" class="wp-image-8766" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A5381-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A5381-ezgif.com-resize-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A5381-ezgif.com-resize-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk">PILLOW TALK</h2>



<p>The hotel has a mix of classic rooms, lake-view suites and the more premium Winander Club accommodation, which comes with extra perks including top-notch brekkies with vast views of the lake and beyond. On my first morning, I tucked into a gorgeous yoghurt bowl whilst gazing across the lake, hanging in a thin veil of mist.</p>



<p>Décor throughout leans contemporary rather than country-house traditional — lots of warm woods, soft greys and oversized beds — while many rooms make the most of those knockout lake views. My advice? Splurge on one of the newer Winander rooms with freestanding baths, luxe bathrooms and huge windows framing Windermere like a postcard or the fells in the distance.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-spa">THE SPA</h2>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A7140-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="the spa of Low wood bay" class="wp-image-8746" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A7140-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A7140-ezgif.com-resize-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A7140-ezgif.com-resize-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>


<p>Now for the main event &#8211; and the reason most people book. Just take a lookie of my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX03XhFM7Ah/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram post</a> for a real insight into an afternoon here. Guests slip in their robes and potter from sauna to treatment room to pool and back again &#8211; many with those achingly dreamy views of the lake. </p>



<p>Treatments use ESPA, with massages and facials very much geared towards full-body collapse-level relaxation. </p>



<p>There are indoor and outdoor thermal pools, a Fellside sauna, salt sauna, herbal lounge, steam rooms and relaxation spaces dotted throughout &#8211; plus the new peachy-hued Fell View Lounge. Here guests can rub on face masks and flop into loungers with LED masks and magazines to thumb through. And something entirely unique to the whole set-up is the amount of snacks and nibbles offered up by roaming staff. Tiffin anyone? Brownie with your Aperol ma&#8217;am? Er yes please! Though for me the standout was undoubtedly floating around the two outdoor infinity pools — particularly as the sun was setting, casting peachy hues across the fells, the sky and the lake, lying in the shadow if it all.</p>



<p>Plus, during the summer sessions, the crew behind it all host chilled DJ sessions on Friday evenings, where crowds mull about the pools and sink cocktails. My kinda night!</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LWB_FellsideSauna_2-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="sauna at Low wood bay" class="wp-image-8752" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LWB_FellsideSauna_2-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LWB_FellsideSauna_2-ezgif.com-resize-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LWB_FellsideSauna_2-ezgif.com-resize-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<p>Far stronger than I was expecting. Blue Smoke on the Bay is a buzzy, down-to-earth space with a focus on wood-fired cooking. Char siu belly pork, giant prawns, thick steaks, all cooked over coals are outstanding, plus the team will mix up an excellent cocktail, too — all served with huge windows overlooking Windermere.&nbsp;Alternatively, there’s also The W, dishing up refined modern British plates on crisp, white table cloths in a glam, cavernous setting. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A9640-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="Low Wood Bay Lake District" class="wp-image-8742" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A9640-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A9640-ezgif.com-resize-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/6B0A9640-ezgif.com-resize-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-friendly">FAMILY-FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Surprisingly, yes. Although the spa side feels all very grown up, the wider resort works very well thanks to larger rooms, watersports on the lake, an indoor pool and loads of bucolic loveliness. There’s a marina onsite, where you can sign the kids up to paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing, while nearby walks make it easy to keep kids occupied between spa sessions.&nbsp; That said, if you’re visiting primarily for a romantic spa break, booking an adults-only spa session or Winander Club room is your best move.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>GOOD FOR:</strong>&nbsp;Luxe spa weekends, romantic Lake District escapes, girls’ getaways, milestone birthdays, post-hike recovery, and anyone whose love language is an outdoor thermal pool with a view.<br><strong>NOT FOR:</strong>&nbsp;Ultra-secluded boutique hotel fans, or anyone expecting old-school country house charm over contemporary resort-style luxury.<br><strong>THE DAMAGE:</strong>  Willow Room (Classic) start from £186 B&amp;B; Winander Club Room (Luxury) from £281 B&amp;B. Spa access for resident guests is&nbsp;£75 per person for a three-hour thermal journey. Alternatively, for day guests, a two-hour thermal journey is from £69pp and three-hour is from £89pp. Spa day packages can be found <a href="https://englishlakes.co.uk/hotels/low-wood-bay/the-spa/spa-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. And spa breaks <a href="https://englishlakes.co.uk/hotels/low-wood-bay/the-spa/spa-breaks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A6683-ezgif.com-resize-1.jpg" alt="Low Wood bay" class="wp-image-8770" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A6683-ezgif.com-resize-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A6683-ezgif.com-resize-1-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/7M8A6683-ezgif.com-resize-1-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/hotels-nns/the-muddy-guide-to-a-dreamy-spa-day-at-manor-house-cheshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Muddy guide to a dreamy spa day at Manor House, Cheshire</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/rookery-hall-hotel-spa/">Rookery Hall Hotel &amp; Spa Review: What it’s really like to stay at Cheshire’s iconic country hotel</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/hotels-nns/get-a-room-the-best-romantic-escapes-in-cheshire/">Get a room! The best romantic hotels in Cheshire</a></li>
</ul>


REVIEW: Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, Lake District

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