Brathay Hall

Less than two-miles south-west of Ambleside, just off the north-western shore of Lake Windermere, the charity, the Brathay Trust has its headquarters and residential centre. This youth-focused charity was founded in 1946 by Frances Scott, a very successful businessman who lived in Brathay Hall, an 18th century country mansion. Scott wanted to improve the lives of young people from poorer backgrounds, thus founded the charity and used his own home to create a residential outdoor activity centre. Today, the charity continues to support young people through a range of activity programmes and when the residential centre is not in use for these programmes rooms are let out on a B&B basis in order to raise money for the charity.

The hall is set amongst 360-acres of land that leads down to the shore of Windermere. Wray Castle is less than three-miles away, whilst other nearby attractions include Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, Grizedale Forest, and the Windermere Lakes Cruises.

Accommodation

Brathay Hall has accommodation to suit all budgets, whether you are a single traveller or a large group of friends or family. In the main hall, you will find the standard rooms. These have been recently refurbished and are available as single, twin, or double rooms. They include an en-suite shower facility with a small selection of complimentary toiletries, a television, tea and coffee making facilities, a hairdryer, a desk, and a safe. Some of these rooms benefit from views of the fells.

At the side of the hall, you will find the Scafell Lodges that house the superior double and twin rooms. These purpose built lodges have been created with sustainable and environmentally friendly features, and inside, they are decorated in a modern Scandinavian style. These very spacious rooms have en-suite bathrooms with complimentary toiletries and a comfortable seating area, as well as floor to ceiling windows with magnificent views.

For single travellers on a budget, dormitory style accommodation is available. These compact rooms have a single bed, a television, a radio alarm clock, a desk, en-suite shower and a drying area for outdoor equipment.

For groups and families, there are two self-catering cottages. Hestead House sleeps up to 11 guests – mostly in single bunkbeds – and has a large lounge and fully fitted kitchen. On the ground floor, there is a twin bedroom with en-suite wet-room that is ideal for guests with limited mobility. Shackleton Lodge is huge, sleeping up to 31 people in total – again mostly in single bunk beds. There is a fully equipped kitchen and dining room in a separate building adjacent to the lodge.

WiFi is available on the estate, but depending on your room’s location you may not be guaranteed to receive a signal.

Restaurants & Bars

For B&B guests, breakfast can be provided for an additional charge of £5. Food is served in the large dining room in the hall via a self service buffet that includes a mixture of cooked items and continental style options. If you require a packed lunch, the hall will provide one for you for £5.

There is no restaurant. However, the nearest pub is just over a mile away at Waterhead, whilst in Ambleside there is a plethora of excellent restaurants and eateries to choose from. There is a lounge bar, however, whilst guests can use the lounge at anytime, the bar is only open for service occasionally.

Additional Facilities & Services

The hall has a number of meeting rooms, including a full stage theatre, that can be hired for various occasions, including business meetings and family celebrations, during the periods when the hall is not in use for residential programmes.

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