AS a pretentious student of literature I detested William Wordsworth. I spent much of my twenties telling anyone who’d listen – not that there were many – that the nationally revered poet was nothing more than a damned sell-out.

I took umbrage with the man most others regard as one of Britain’s greatest ever literary heroes simply because he had the audacity to turn his back on his anti-establishment, Romantic roots to become Poet Laureate.

Having long grown out of my somewhat excessively idealistic years, I now find myself at peace with Mr Wordsworth and occasionally even allow myself to take pleasure from his finely-crafted works.

Therefore, when I was invited to visit Grasmere – where the poet and his family are buried – there wasn’t much of an internal struggle before I packed the car and sped down the A66 towards the Lake District with my partner.

The Wordsworth heritage looms large in the picturesque village at the foot of the rocky Helm Crag but it’s not Grasmere’s only draw.

Its situation in the heart of the spectacular Lake District means it’s consistently busy with tourists of all ilk, from walkers to families.

It’s also perfect for a romantic weekend getaway, as is the luxuriously cosy Dale Lodge Hotel, which occupies a central location in the centre of the village.

The Georgian country house hotel, nestled within large and well-kept gardens, makes an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area but also has enough on offer to entertain in its own right.

The adjoining Tweedies bar is an attraction in itself, especially when you’re travelling with a real-ale enthusiast and happen to enjoy the odd glass of wine yourself. Making it somewhat difficult to leave the hotel’s grounds, the CAMRA award-winning bar offers a wide variety of well-kept ales, a tempting menu and a log burning fire to relax beside.

We arrived on a Friday evening and, after promising ourselves we would do some proper exploring on Saturday, we settled in to sample the atmosphere at Tweedies. Weekends see the bar fill up quickly and, after enjoying the last of the day’s sun sipping wine in the garden, we were lucky enough to grab a couple of the remaining seats in the bar as tourists and locals piled in to enjoy an evening of live music in an intimate setting.

To line our stomachs in a bid to enjoy as much cider and real ale as possible, we took a break from boozing to visit the hotel’s Lodge Restaurant for a three-course meal that could deservedly be described as sumptuous.

The restaurant, set within the main hotel, was an elegant alternative to eating at the on-site pub, though the food came highly recommended in both venues.

Offering a fusion of traditional Lake District pub food and contemporary European cuisine, the candlelit restaurant sports a varied – and seasonally changing – menu.

While we enjoyed dishes including the succulent assiette of duck and a handmade chilli burger, the menu has since taken a turn along with the weather and now features hearty winter fare along with classic dishes.

A commitment to fresh and local produce is evident – from the Cumbrian beef fillet to handmade pasta and herbs grown in the hotel grounds.

After enjoying fine wine, food and live music, we retired to our cosy room. Overlooking the gardens and painted in homely yellow, it may not have been the most modern or sleek place to lay one’s head but the beds were comfortable, the room spacious and the views beautiful.

If the hotel experience was marred by anything it was that the complementary leisure facilities offered at a nearby complex were not advertised – not on the website, nor through contact with staff and not at check-in.

It felt like an opportunity missed and seemed an inexplicably odd decision not to promote such an offer.

The disappointment at missing out on an early morning swim was somewhat assuaged by a hearty and delicious breakfast that boasted a surprising number of options, from the standard full English to lighter dishes such as eggs Benedict and Florentine.

It was with full stomachs and slight hangovers that we set out to enjoy a Saturday exploring the Lakes in the customary warm drizzle that soaks most visitors to the region in late summer.

Grasmere itself is a quaint gateway to several walks and lends itself rather well to afternoon teas for the less physically-inclined.

We enjoyed a visit to St Oswald’s Church, its floors still scattered with rushes left over from the annual rushbearing event – an ancient that sees a procession pass through Grasmere, with villagers bearing rushes and flowers.

However, the highlight of the village for ones as sweet-toothed as us was always going to be the famous Grasmere gingerbread, prepared from a secret recipe in a tiny house constantly jammed with those vying to try the crumbly, unique version of the sweet treat.

Stocking up on various forms of ginger delicacies, we packed our car back up and headed home, stopping along the way to enjoy some of the Lake District’s most beautiful towns and vistas.

As we travelled, taking in Windermere, Ambleside and hours of spectacular scenery, I was forced to agree somewhat with my former nemesis Wordsworth in his proclamation of Grasmere as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.”

TRAVEL FACTS

Dale Lodge Hotel

Telephone: 015394 35300

Web: www.dalelodgehotel.co.uk

Email: enquiries@dalelodgehotel.co.uk

Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SW

Bed and breakfast stays are priced from £80 per room per night based on two people sharing. The Dale Lodge Hotel is currently offering a third night free on stays taken on Friday and Saturday night for the dates between 9th October 2014 and 22nd December 2014.

Guests staying for two nights between Sunday – Thursday during the period 9th October to 22nd December will enjoy a complimentary three course meal. Offers are not available during the period 26th October – 3rd November 2014 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotional rate. Bookings by telephone only.