Within 42 acres of landscaped grounds, Forest Side Hotel sits on the lower slopes of Butter Crag, in the heart of Grasmere. It has candlelit lounges with open fires and free Wi-Fi.
The elegant bedrooms at Forest Side Bed and Breakfast feature eco-friendly toiletries and Fairtrade tea/coffee. All rooms have a TV and radio, and some have scenic views and luxury bathrooms.
Set in a magnificent country house, Forest Side Hotel is surrounded by wooded gardens, which are home to rare wildlife. It also features 2 cosy lounges with games, TVs and a piano.
Cumbrian breakfasts are served in the pretty gardens or beside an open fire, and feature quality local produce. Fresh coffee is ground to order, and continental breakfasts are also available.
Forest Side is a 20-minute walk from the shores of Grasmere Lake. The famous Lake Windermere is just 5 miles away, and Ambleside is a 10-minute drive. There is plenty of free on-site parking.
Score from 113 reviews
Exceptional
8.5/10
Rooms: 34
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Address: Forest Side Drive, Grasmere LA22 9RN (Map)
Forest Side Hotel - Photos
What people say
Friendly welcome and all staff we met were courteous and helpful at all times. The hotel location is fantastic with a short 10 minute walk into Grasmere. The grounds are spectacular with herdwick sheep in the field in front, deer in the woods and visiting badgers. The sound of owls at night and watching the badgers feeding was definately a highlight. Open fires on our last night when the temperature had dropped were also a bonus.
Breakfasts were delicious and as vegetarian guests we had a varie. all reviews »
Friendly Staff helped enormously with my hectic schedules during my stay, very early starts and late returns also arranging for safe over-night parking of vehicle, they really couldn't have done more to meet my requirements.
The food was excellent, cooked to perfection, hot and presented well. The room was spotlessly clean and the bed was very comfortable, all this and at a very affordable price.
Forest Side was very well placed for a train/bus traveller like me - the atmosphere very homely and comfortable, open fires, deer and badgers all around, wonderful walks nearby. As a single traveller I felt very at home with the other guests when we sat by the windows watching the badgers in the evening.
The staff were really helpful and pedro the manager had only been there
2 days when we arrived he was doing a great job. We had a lovely stay.
They rang us when we got back because we left some walking poles there
they r keeping them for us when we return .
The location was just perfect, the staff were pleasant and very welcoming and very helpful. The room was warm and comfortable. The views were amazing from our room and the lounge was lovely with the log fire blazing. Definitely would go back.
Staff were very friendly throughout our stay. The hotel was clean and comfortable too. On our first night we even saw a deer around and about the hotel grounds! There were also lovely views of Grasmere, would definitely recommend.
Atmosphere, ambience. very spacious and comfortable lounge areas, real fires, badger feeding, good breakfast, good bar, not too far to walk into Grasmere. Good "crack" with manager when I checked in and was shown around.
We were two couples with a young grandchild. We greatly appreciated the position and the friendly staff. The badgers were a draw for the child. The setting of the rooms we occupied were wonderful. Good breakfast.
The staff were very friendly and helpful in this family run hotel. Location was perfect at a very competitive price for the area. Views were stunning with lots of wild life. Log fires were welcomeafter winter walks!.
Comfortable, warm bedrooms with beautiful views of the gardens and surrounding countryside. Very nice breakfast. Plentiful and tasty. Relaxed atmosphere and a joy to relax in front of the blazing open fire.
Really friendly staff;
Excellent location in heart of Lake District;
Lovely building- lots of character;
Superb breakfast;
An ideal place to stay if you are visiting the Lakes for walking/outdoor pursuits.
The relaxed atmosphere, the cosy fires and lounges, lovely surroundings, clean and spacious rooms, good breakfast and friendly staff. We also saw some deer in the grounds which was pleasing.
Great location, spacious interior and beautiful surrounding around the
hotel, friendliness of stuff helping with any request we had, very
comfortable bed, cleanliness and overall safety.
Friendly Staff. Very pleasant room (No. 9) with lovely view of garden. Hearty breakfast. Very reasonable rates and under 10 minutes walk into Grassmere - we really enjoyed our stay,.
Loved the hotel and acknowledge current owner only recently took over but has plans to carry out improvements over next few months. Look forward to returning to see what has been done.
the open fires were very welcoming.
the staff were extremly helpful and couldnt do enough for you. the place was very clean and it was a pleasure to stay here.
Manager and staff are great though new and still finding their feet.Lovely location.Open fires.Breakfasts very good(apart from the toast!).Badgers a highlight.
The house, the location, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, badgers, deer, real fires in all reception rooms, home cooked evening meal and good breakfast.
Lovely lounges with fine prospects over the hotel grounds - lawns, rhododendrons - badgers in the evening - friendly and helpful staff.
nice friendly staff and great views .plenty of walks around the area with grasmere village no more than a gentle 10 minutes walk away.
Good budget hotel.
Very accommodating when we asked for an early breakfast - good continental provided?
Cooked breakfast excellent.
I liked the building, the faded grandeur, the large communal rooms, the friendly staff. The well- heated room, in the cold weather.
Accommodation great for our purpose. Location just right. Breakfasts quite acceptable. For the Lake District in summer, good value.
The friendly manager. The location and the comfortable rooms. The fact that there were two drawing rooms was a definite plus.lp.
Friendly, welcoming, lovely touches like cake in the lounge on arrival day and easter eggs with our breakfast on Easter Sunday/.
Quiet location with great views, only 5 minutes walk from Grasmere village. Nice breakfast and plenty of on site parking.
The peacefulness and tranquility of the place, the wildlife and ease of access to Wordsworth and Wainwright territory!.
The friendly no nonsense aproach of the staff, the overall setting the hotel was idealic, the room was comfortable.
Our room has a perfect view and the environment was so comfort that we just want to stay in the room all day.
Nice warm welcome when we arrived, very comfortable room and superb breakfasts. Totally enjoyable 2 nights.
Staff were fantastic
Breakfast was great
Location is ideal for walking
Plenty of parking
Value for money.
Large rooms, fires in every lounge area, spacious rooms and grounds. Fine 1853 designed building.
Great breakfast
Friendly staff
Quiet location
Plenty of car parking
Great views from bedroom.
Just about everything! I've been to Forest Side at least 12 times, which tells its own story.
Very helpful, friendly service. Good breakfasts.
Quiet, rural surroundings.
Good TV room.
Staff were very friendly and breakfast was very good beds nice clean and comfortable.
Unpretentious, excellent hospitality, home from home, friendly to motorcyclists.
Warm, friendly hotel
Very comfortable
Excellent breakfast
Very friendly staff.
Comfortable room. Good breakfast. Beautiful surroundings. Friendly staff.
It was relaxing, in a good setting and with friendly and helpful staff.
Location a delightful short walk to town,the pub and good food.
homely,and well looked after,food and hospitality great.
Unpretentious and relaxing.Perfect for a walking break.
Comfortable, very obliging management ,good breakfast.
warm welcome and very nice room would go there again.
Location was great. The price was very reasonable.
Friendly staff and good breakfasts.
Great location.
The ambience, setting and the new management.
Location, friendly staff, clean, comfortable.
location, very clean,pleasant staff.
Nothing!.
The mattress was very hard, I personally found it difficult to sleep on due to this and the light coming in from outside the bedroom door. The shower also had no happy medium and kept going from scalding hot to freezing cold!.
No evening meal facility.
The shower that had a faulty electrical connection in its mains switch; went cold in the middle. OK for us in the summer, but not one for the winter.
It suited us very well.
Grasmere itself lacks a "proper pub" unless you walk to the 'Traveller's Rest' but this is no fault of the hotel!.
Couldn't fault it.
Fully cooked breakfast, as European missing more variety of continental
uncooked breakfast, after request they tried to satisfy my dietary needs
to the max, thank you for that! Still could be offered also raw version
of vegetables or cheese.
Only negative I could think of, dated curtains (not a huge issue) pictures in my single room with a view number 4, not good, rather have no pictures! (Didn't like ugly dragon ornaments either). Beautiful glass skylights above stairs and landing,unfortunately covered in dirt and debris, what a shame.
would have been nice to have option of evening meal but apart from that cannot think of anything negative about my stay.
Nothing.
No en-suite facilities.
The ramps in the drive were too severe and need modification.
Rooms were quite basic and would have expected on suite bathroom for price paid.
The signal and Internet are poor.
nothing.
The badgers and deer did not perform for us!
The grounds needed a little attention. I unblocked one overflowing watercourse. I was itching to rake away last year's dead growth.
The lack of evening meal - but with all the eating places locally this was not a problem.
Poor shower. No en-suite in Annexe.
Nothing.
Bedroom and bathroom too small and poorly laid out.
Extend the wifi service to the rooms on the 2nd floor.
not clearly signposted.
Nothing.