Willowbeck Lodge

Review

Built in Scandinavian style, and set by a pond amid peaceful woodland on the edge of a village near Carlisle, this architect-designed house is popular with visitors breaking their journey to and from Scotland. 'Convenient for the M6, but it has no "motorway aura" about it,' says one this year. Another wrote of the 'feeling of sublime comfort'. Run by its 'warmly welcoming' owners John and Liz McGrillis, it has 'well-appointed' bedrooms ('good storage, comfortable chairs, flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, etc'). 'Immaculate' bathrooms have a separate shower. There is a large lounge with a soaring ceiling, high windows, gallery and wood-burning stove. Mrs McGrillis cooks a 'delicious' three-course dinner by arrangement: no choice but menus agreed in consultation; dishes might include mussels in white wine; ginger spiced beef with sour cream and dumplings. Mr McGrillis provides breakfast, ordered the night before: you help yourself to fruit salad, and muesli; cooked choices include pancakes with maple syrup and smoked bacon. (Joan Heath, and others)