Tasting the stickiest toffee pudding during a stay at Cumbria's Grange Hotel

The food is great, but there’s plenty more to enjoy, writes Marion Ainge

Unsurprisingly, sticky toffee pudding is a favourite on the dessert menu at The Grange Hotel, Grange-over-Sands.

The Grange promenade view | Marion Ainge

placeholder image — The Grange promenade view | Marion Ainge

For nearby Cartmel's Village Shop has produced this popular pudding for 35 years and its invention is a Cumbrian claim.

But there's more than a sweet treat to savour here. Located on the southern tip of the Lake District, just 15 miles from Lake Windermere, the hotel has rested proudly high above the Grange-over-Sands' promenade for more than 150 years.

It was built as a railway hotel in the ornate Victorian Gothic style. During the 1800s, wealthy, north west city residents travelled by train to the town which was becoming a fashionable haunt with its micro climate, clean air and calm aura. Today it continues to grace the charming Victorian town of Grange-over-Sands, a far cry from the bustle of Bowness and the like for those who seek a tranquil, leisurely experience.

From the top of the tree-lined drive, we admire the impressive, grey limestone facade and on entering, receive the warmest of smiles and welcomes. The recent hotel refurbishment features a stunning Art Deco fusion of tasteful decor complemented by artefacts, mirrors and artwork. Undoubtedly, it exudes grandeur but a calm, ambient atmosphere hovers throughout. Staff are obliging and helpful. The sweeping staircase (also a lift) leads to our bedroom, one of 56, which is huge, light and airy with comfortable twin beds and Smart TV plus bathroom with bath and walk-in shower. Double aspect, full-height sash windows overlook the beautifully-manicured gardens, affording splendid views over Morecambe Bay. We're delighted.

The drawing rooms, lounges and snug provide restful retreats. The spa with pool, hot tub and saunas offers relaxation and refreshment. The front, wide terrace area, dotted with wooden tables and red parasols, is a lovely spot to linger over a light lunch or pre-dinner drink on warm evenings. The gardens, filled with shrubs, trees, plants and seasonal flowers, are stunning.

Cuisine is of an excellent standard and the restaurant overlooks the gardens. Breakfast is buffet style with menu options. At dinner, my starter choice of plump, juicy poached prawns with lime leaf gremolata and charred shallots in a chilli coconut broth is sublime. For the main course, I select the expertly-presented, fragrant Thai-style salmon fillet with spiced carrot and ginger purée, pak choi, sweet potato fondant and chilli and lime aioli.

Cartmel Village Shop has takeaway sticky toffee pudding | Marion Ainge

It's just a few minutes’ walk into Grange. It's a serene little gem, quietly confident in its appeal, with a cluster of small, independent shops, cafes and restaurants. A promenade stroll enables wonderful views over Morecambe Bay and the lush, fertile Ornamental Gardens feature a small lake in a magical setting. The heritage station opened in 1857 and the clock tower was built in 1912. Grange's unique combination of mudflats, saltmarshes and woodlands make it a stopover and wintering site for migratory birds.

From Grange, it's just two miles to Cartmel. Outside the Village Shop, there's a queue for takeaway sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. After tasting a sample, sitting on the village square's stone steps, I can understand why. It's sticky, dark and divine! The Holliday family have sold the famous pud for 35 years. Sarah Holliday, 60, says: “We started off in the shop's back kitchen. Now our famous hand-made sticky toffee pudding is available in hotels, restaurants and fine food shops all over the country.” Sarah is assisted by brother David, 67, baker Simon, 59, and in the shop, Lydia Unsworth, 21, whose family history in Cartmel goes back more than 100 years. This quaint, medieval village has a priory, a famous racecourse plus lots of quality restaurants and tearooms.

The Elizabethan Levens Hall, located at the gateway to the Lake District National Park, five miles south of Kendal, has grown from an imposing pele tower built around 1250-1300, into a warm, welcoming family home. The magnificent, privately-owned house and gardens boasts the world's oldest topiary gardens and is the centre of a thriving 9,500-acre agricultural estate which provides produce for the cafe, Levens Kitchen. Artefacts include gloves Wellington wore at Waterloo along with his spectacles and case. Other items include a bottle of port wine gifted by Oporto following the Peninsular War and a copy of The Times newspaper, dated June 22, 1815, reporting on the Battle of Waterloo. Also on display is Napoleon's writing blotter, taken from a captured coach after the battle.

At the southern tip of Windermere, The Lakeland Motor Museum stands alongside the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition which celebrates the land and water speed records of Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell. With around 30,000 classic cars, motorcycles, bicycles, kiddie pedal cars and memorabilia, the motor museum is an auto aficionado's dream day out. I learned to drive in the classic Ford Capri, described as 'The Car You Always Promised Yourself'. But looking back through the small, slanted, side rear window, I found it difficult to gauge distance and reverse the vehicle accurately into a small space. It took two attempts for me to pass my driving test in this car! The reason for failure? When I reversed, a wheel touched the kerb. Ford Capri? Not for me!