Clare House, award-winning family run hotel in the Cartmel peninsular overlooking Morecambe Bay

Looking for your next break? Yorkshire residents will find a beautiful spot for relaxing just a short trip away.

Award-winning Clare House in Cumbria’s Grange-Over-Sands has been in the Read family for 57 years.

Far from resting on its laurels, during that time it has gone from strength to strength – and the number of returning guests is testament to the quality service and stunning setting that it continues to offer.

Clare House boasts three AA Red Stars, the Inspectors' Choice awards that represent the highest accolade in the AA hotel rating system: they are awarded to hotels that stand out as the very best for hospitality, service and cleanliness.

“We really pride ourselves on maintaining high standards after all these years,” says Andrew, who runs Clare House with his wife Louise; his mum June, now aged 92, is still based at the hotel too.

“Our hotel is really nice and relaxed – people say it is like being at home, but at the same time they can be assured that everything is taken care of.”

When the Reads first took over Clare House in 1969, it was an eight-bedroom guesthouse with an outdoor privy and electric bar heaters with coin meters in the rooms. But these days it’s a chic, warm and peaceful retreat for its guests, some of whom have been returning for decades.

“It has been modernised as we have progressed over time,” adds Andrew. “But we wanted to keep the traditional feel that our guests enjoy, which is why some people have been coming for 20 or 30 years.

“I remember playing cricket on the lawn with a guest when I was eight or nine: now his retired son comes here with his wife.

“It’s wonderful to see the same faces, many of whom come two or three times a year to take in the different seasons. They are always happy just to arrive and settle in because they know they can relax here.”

Find a room with a view

There are 17 rooms at Clare House and you can choose from twin, super king or single options – all have private bathrooms and most offer views of the gardens and the bay.

Superior rooms have a little more space but in all, you can enjoy cosy central heating, tea and coffee facilities, large-screen TVs and your own telephone.

For those with limited mobility, there are four ground-floor rooms with balconies and walk-in showers that offer the best of all worlds.

Enjoy fantastic food

Guests can enjoy a dinner, bed and breakfast arrangement without the hassle of booking somewhere to eat out each night, and non-residents are welcome too.

The restaurant at Clare House, which seats 32, retained its AA rosette for 2025-26, an award they have held consistently for a number of years.

In January, they launched a new daytime menu: tasty brunch options include smoked haddock risotto, smashed avocado and bacon with feta and poached eggs and juicy cranberry and apple Cumberland sausages with spring onion mash.

Afternoon tea is not to be missed: think finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones, shortbread and homemade cakes.

At dinner time, diners can opt for slow cooked feather blade of beef with a herby cheese scone, buttery mash and veg, seared turkey breast with artichoke cream and sprouts with chestnuts & pancetta, or pan-fried fillet of cod with crispy fried potatoes and mustard lentils with capers.

And for those fancying a foodie break, there are a number of Michelin-starred restaurants nearby which you can explore during your stay too, while Grange-Over-Sands has some wonderfully welcoming cafes.

What to do

Whether you want to stroll in the three-quarters of an acres of beautiful grounds overlooking the bay, get some fresh air along the promenade or explore the Lake District from a quieter spot, there’s plenty within easy reach.

“It is very tranquil – the Lake District can get quite crowded, but we offer a peaceful haven just over the hill,” adds Andrew. “You can dip a toe in the lakes if you like or just enjoy the peace of this area: Grange is a lovely relaxing place with a gentler pace of life.”

Plus there are a number of not-too-taxing walks without needing to travel too far – Andrew recommends the nearby Humphrey Head and Hampsfell or you can take a short train ride to Arnside to get up higher for incredible views over Morecambe Bay back towards the Lakes.

You can find Clare House on Park Road in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7HQ.

To book a stay, call 015395 33026 or email [email protected]

You can find all the information you need on their website.