IN most hotels the light switch is a simple ‘on-off’ affair. A few might take it a little further with a dimmer switch, but Brimstone Hotel has made the matter of getting the lighting just right into something of an art form. Offering a different button for every mood – perky, lazy, sexy and even tinkle, for when you need to nip to the loo in the night without waking your partner – the quirky light switches are just one element of what makes this place special.

On the 35-acre Langdale Estate, in the Western Lake District near Ambleside, Brimstone oozes luxury and quality. Since opening its doors in 2013 the £3.5m, 16-suite hotel has won numerous awards and accolades.

Our Brimstone experience actually started 24 hours before our stay, when we received a phone call asking us to describe the car we would be arriving in so that staff could watch out for us.

Arriving late in the evening in heavy rain and winds, the mountain lodge-style hotel was a welcome sight. The building stands alone and almost hidden amongst the trees, but with easy access to the nearby Langdale Hotel, which offers spa and restaurant facilities.

Parking in the hotel’s private underground car park we were met by one of the hotel’s ‘hosts’ who checked us in on the spot – this is a hotel without anything as formal as a reception area. We were immediately shown to our room, a breath-taking suite with its own private balcony and a roaring fire – the perfect antidote to the weather outside.

Each of the 16 rooms at the hotel has been individually designed and beautifully decorated, each offering its own special twist for customers. Ours was the duet suite, an enormous room starring a sumptuous bed separating a cosy seating area in front of the roaring fire from a matching pair of freestanding slipper baths. If the two baths weren’t enough, the en-suite bathroom offered a double shower and double sinks, again with its own quirky light switches – this time offering the option to flatter, groom and tinkle. Everything was luxurious and glamorous, without ever feeling over-the-top.

Before he left, the friendly host took us down to ‘the reading room’, the hotel’s only communal room, offering complimentary beers, wine, tea, coffee and an amazing selection of sandwiches and wraps that are available 24/7.

When it comes to food, there are a number of dining options available, including the Langdale Hotel’s two AA-rosette Purdey’s restaurant and the more casual Hobson’s Bar, as well as the estate’s own pub, Wainwright’s. We ate at Purdey’s, enjoying three beautiful courses in cosy surroundings, although the unrelenting weather made us long to stay curled up in our suite in front of the fire and make use of the room service on offer.

Room service is positively encouraged when it comes to breakfast and we were more than happy to oblige. In warmer months, the large balcony would be the perfect spot to enjoy the cooked breakfast, using local produce, but although the rain had finally stopped, we decided to stay indoors and make the most of the room.

The Langdale Estate is perfect for those who enjoy a ramble, with a number of walks marked out on a map provided in each room. The estate is also just a short drive from Lake Windermere which offers any number of cruises and stunning views and Bowness in Windermere, featuring the sweet Beatrix Potter museum and a number of quaint teashops.

Brimstone has an exclusive air – with a price tag to match – but the staff are warm and welcoming and there is none of the stuffiness you might expect. For anyone looking to get away in the winter months, a Brimstone suite with the curtains closed to the world offers the perfect escape.

Rooms at Brimstone Hotel start from £250 per night. Bed and breakfast rates vary. To book, visit brimstonehotel.com or call 01539-438062. Brimstone Hotel is part of the Langdale Estate and guests can access the Langdale Hotel’s spa facilities and treatments.