Bay Villa

Hotel review

You'll walk right past the front door of Bay Villa, which is just as its owner, Margaret Denby, intended. This place is all about discretion and comfort. Part of a late-Georgian terraced house, it has the feel of a much-loved home with antique and traditional furniture mixing with quirky memorabilia. Apart from the hallway, there are no public rooms - just three huge suites - so there’s little chance of meeting fellow guests. Comfortably traditional, the suites have a quiet elegance with large beds, comfy sofas, a few antiques, thick curtains and soft table lamps. One has rich wood-panelling, another a roll-top bath in the window, while all have sea-views. Breakfast is decadently served in your room - the real deal with white napkins, fresh butter and a choice of hot or cold dishes that could include home-made muesli, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. For evenings, you can whizz over to two-Michelin starred L'Enclume in nearby Cartmel or curl up with a takeaway - plates and cutlery are in your room.

Helen Pickles