Tripplo's verdict, based on guest reviews
Tripplo’s analysis · Updated 1 October 2026 · How we review hotels
Borrowdale Gates Hotel is made for people who come to the Lake District to walk. The house stands in wooded gardens on the edge of Grange, in a quiet corner of the Borrowdale valley, and guests can head out onto the fells, including Cat Bells, straight from the door. Back at the hotel there is afternoon tea by the fire in the lounge, and dinner is the high point for many guests, with traditional British cooking based on Lakeland lamb, game and fish. The trade-offs, however, are modest. Dinner is a set menu, so anyone who wants to choose freely each night may feel limited, and a few rooms have small flaws such as old windows or missing blinds. Service is warm on the whole, though not always even. Keswick and the shores of Derwentwater are a short drive away. Walkers and couples who want calm will find a comfortable base; those who want a town outside the door should stay in Keswick itself.
Guests score it 9.0 out of 10 — the average across the 9 hotels we list in the Lake District is 9.1.
What Guests Loved
- The hotel sits in a quiet corner of Borrowdale, away from the busier towns, and guests repeatedly describe the setting as peaceful and the views of the valley and fells as beautiful, including from the restaurant.
- Walkers value being able to set off on foot without driving first. Guests point out that the hotel lies at the foot of Cat Bells and that walking, cycling and climbing routes lead into the valley from the doorstep.
Things to Consider
- The restaurant serves fixed menus rather than à la carte, which some guests missed, and one or two found the portions on the small side.
- A few guests mention older windows that were hard to close, a ground-floor room without blinds and a room that ran warm because it sat above the boiler room. These are details rather than a pattern, but worth asking about when booking.
Should you book it?
Borrowdale Gates Hotel is worth booking for walkers who want to start out on foot into Borrowdale — but pick somewhere else if you want to choose freely from an à la carte menu every evening.
Book it if you want
- Walkers who want to start out on foot into Borrowdale
- Couples looking for a quiet country house with good dinners
Pick somewhere else if
- You want to choose freely from an à la carte menu every evening
- You want shops and pubs within walking distance
Frequently asked questions
How far is Borrowdale Gates Hotel from the centre of Lake District?
Borrowdale Gates Hotel is 10.9 km from the centre of Lake District.
How do guests rate Borrowdale Gates Hotel?
On Booking.com it scores 9.0/10 from 709 guest reviews.
How many stars does Borrowdale Gates Hotel have?
Borrowdale Gates Hotel is a 4-star hotel.
What amenities does Borrowdale Gates Hotel offer?
Borrowdale Gates Hotel offers gardens, free Wifi, restaurant, bar, afternoon Tea and lounge with Open Fire.
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Grange-in-Borrowdale, Keswick, CA12 5UQ, United Kingdom