Top Lake District activities to enjoy with your mum this Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day falls on the 27th March this year, and you’re probably beginning to think of special ways you can treat your Mum. A getaway to the Lake District is the ideal way to spend Mothering Sunday; with quaint little tea rooms and restaurants, luxury spas, boat trips and outstanding countryside and gardens to explore. No matter what your Mum’s style, they’ll be something for here for her! 

Treat your Mum to afternoon tea 

One of the most popular ways to spend Mother’s Day in the Lakes is indulging in a tasty afternoon tea with a view! Everyone loves homemade cakes, scones and sandwiches that you can enjoy with a tea or coffee (or something stronger!) whilst admiring the surrounding lake views. There are a range of Lakeland tearooms, hotels, restaurants and manor houses offering afternoon tea this year…

  • The Inn on the Lake 

For a traditional afternoon tea in a luxurious setting, The Inn on the Lake at Glenridding is just the place. Tuck into sweet patisseries, fluffy cakes, and delicate finger sandwiches on the tranquil shores of Ullswater. You and your Mum can enjoy the views from the stunning garden or inside the Orangery. This choice even has a royal seal of approval after the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed afternoon tea at the Inn on the Lake in Summer 2019! 

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at the Inn on the Lake is served from 12pm-5pm and is £30 per person. 

  • Mizu at Lodore Falls 

For Mum’s who like something a little different, the Mizu Tasting Menu at Lodore Falls, Keswick is perfect for afternoon lunch with a twist! The 6- course tasting menu incorporates some of the restaurant’s best exotic dishes from Asian cultures. Enjoy on the beautiful riverside patio or inside the stylish Japanese restaurant providing views over the stunning hotel grounds. 

The Mizu Tasting Menu is served between 12pm-2pm and is priced at £40 per person. If you can’t book a table for Mother’s Day, you can also purchase a gift voucher, which can be used at a date and time that is convenient for your Mum.  

  • The Wild Boar 

For Mum’s who love great British food, the unique afternoon tea at the Wild Boar in Windermere is guaranteed to hit the spot.  The pub offers an ‘Afternoon Tea with a difference’, which can be enjoyed comfortably beside the crackling fire in the country lounge or in a picnic basket to devour in the beautiful grounds. The tea with a twist consists of mini British pub classics including ‘Mini Fish & Chips, Pork scratching’s and Pig in blankets’ alongside more traditional sweet treats including Scones with Jam & Cream. 

‘The Alternative Afternoon Tea’ is served 12pm-4pm and is priced at £27.50 per person. Vegetarian options are also available on request. 

Relax with a spa day… 

For the ultimate, luxurious treat, book your Mum a spa day in one of the Lake Districts top spas. Your Mum can put her feet up and relax amongst the beautiful Lakeland surroundings… 

  • The Spa at Lodore Falls 

One of the most popular spa breaks in the Lakes, and for good reasons, the luxurious spa at Lodore Falls offers 18 state of the art spa bedrooms, a champagne bar and a 16-metre hydrotherapy pool overlooking the mountains. Treat your mum to a relaxing facial or massage by a professional, using high quality products for the ultimate pamper treatment. 

A spa day here starts from £50 per person and includes a special complementary gift for Mums on Mothers Day. 

  • The Spa at Low Wood Bay 

For a spa with ‘wow’ factor, The Spa at Low Wood Bay on the shores of Windermere is the perfect place to impress Mum. Enjoy access to an indoor pool, steam room and sauna alongside outdoor hot tubs and the Fellside Sauna. Bathe in one of the most stunning outdoor infinity pools in the area, overlooking Lake Windermere, then pamper your Mum with a luxury treatment to help her unwind. 

Spa days here start at £45 per person

  • Aqua Sana at Whinfell Forest 

Take your Mum on a trip to the North Lakes and visit the unique Aqua Sana at Whinfell Forest. There are a variety of wild spa experiences to choose from here including Turkish Baths, a Japanese Zen Garden, Greek Herbal Baths, waterbeds and more. This package is perfect for a busy Mum who needs a nature retreat amongst the peaceful surroundings of Whinfell Forest. 

Spa days for 2 start from £95 per person and include full spa access and lunch.

Enjoy a traditional Sunday Lunch 

If your Mum is a traditionalist, she’ll likely want to enjoy a traditional Sunday Lunch on Mothering Sunday. We know there’s nothing better than Mum’s Sunday Roast, but our choice of Lake District pubs and restaurants comes a very close second, so Mum can have well-deserved break from the kitchen… 

  • The Gaddum Restaurant at Brockhole is home to a highly recommended Sunday Lunch, which can be enjoyed in the luxurious Garden Room, designed to reflect the 19th century rooms in Brockhole House or the cosy Orangery. The idyllic restaurant is serving a unique, bespoke Mother’s Day menu this year made especially for treating Mum’s in the Lake District.  The menu features ingredients freshly plucked from the garden of Brockhole House and crafted in the kitchen by the passionate Head Chef. The traditional Sunday Lunch is served with a choice of locally reared beef or chicken alongside delicious Yorkshire Puddings, roast potatoes, star anise roasted carrots, buttered roasted broccoli, almonds and an indulgent gravy. 

  • For a luxurious dining experience, The Borrowdale Hotel in Keswick, serve a unique Sunday Dinner you’re Mum will love.  The stunning AA Rosette restaurant serve a Sunday menu prepared with the finest fresh, local ingredients and includes a traditional roast carved at your table from a silver carving trolley. The trolley has a selection of juicy roasts to choose from, including Roasted Sirloin of Lakeland Beef, Roasted Eden Valley Pork Loin or Pan Seared Free Range Chicken. The hotel is also treating every Mum to a free gift with every Mother’s Day Sunday Lunch served between 12pm-2pm! 

  • Jump on a Lake District Cruise 

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a fun day out exploring the water of the Lake District. Hop on the Keswick Launch, Windermere Lake Cruise, the Ullswater Steamer or the Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water. Special Mother’s Day gift vouchers can be purchased for Windermere Lake Cruises, which include 24 hours unlimited travel on the cruises and stop offs at attractions on the lake. Ullswater Steamers also have special ‘Cruise and Bubbles’ offers, where your Mum can enjoy a glass of bubbly whilst admiring the lake and mountain views! If your Mum is on the adventurous side, she may prefer to take to the lake on a rowing boat, kayak or paddleboard, which can be hired from various marinas on Ullswater, Coniston, Windermere and Derwentwater. 

Enjoy a peaceful garden walk… 

The Lake District is filled with beautiful gardens, which are blooming at their best around March, making a Mother’s Day garden walk the perfect, springtime activity….

  • Brockhole on Windermere is home to outstanding, historic gardens created by the renowned landscape designer Thomas Mawson, providing views of Windermere and the Langdale Pikes. Once your Mum has had a wander, treat her to something special from the The Brockhole Shop, which has a dedicated Mother’s Day stand displaying Lakeland Gin, luxury chocolates, flowers, cards, candles, jewellery and more! 

  • A visit to Lowther Castle and Gardens is a truly magical experience that your Mum will remember. The splendid grounds of the Lowther estate offer woodland walks, wildflower meadows overlooking the countryside and Victorian, Japanese Gardens. Take a picnic basket filled with your Mum’s favourite treats to enjoy amongst the relaxing surroundings. 

@lowthercastle

  • For a trip to a traditional, ‘English Garden,’ take Mum to Levens Hall. The hall’s 17th century grounds includes the world’s oldest topiary gardens complete with a unique collection of yew trees, labyrinths, rose gardens, herb gardens and much more. After exploring the gardens, treat your Mum to a tasty bite to eat in the Levens Kitchen, which use products grown on the estate and from the gardens! 

Watch a show at the theatre 

The Lake District is renowned for it’s wet weather, so a bright, sunny Mother’s Day is never guaranteed. If the weather has ruined your outdoor plans, head to the Theatre By The Lake in Keswick for cosy, indoor afternoon filled with drama (the good kind!), costumes, music and captivating stories and speakers. Their programme of events is bound to have something to entertain your Mum. After the show, head to the Lakeside Café to enjoy some tasty food!

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Laurie Crayston