Dome House in Bowness, Lake Windemere, featured on Channels 4’s Grand Designs with Kevin McCloud, is now open to guests. The Executive Magazine went to see what all the fuss was about.
Set back in the picturesque hills of Bowness-in-Windermere, overlooking the lake, Dome House is a striking and impressive building. Featured on Grand Designs, the purpose built structure was initially intended as a holiday home for architect Robert Gaukroger, but after two long years they hit financial difficulty. Thankfully the building was rescued, and new owners stepped in. The property has now been converted into a fully functional, high-end luxury guesthouse, and we couldn’t wait to check it out.
The first thing you notice when turning into the driveway is the sheer scale of the building. It’s modern design is softened by the natural materials, making it blend into the hillside nicely. We were greeted by Phil and Joyce McGuire, husband and wife team who run the business, and made us feel instantly welcome. After a tour of the property and being shown to our rooms, we settled in the huge open plan shared space upstairs for a drink in front of the roaring log fire.
Our late arrival meant we didn’t have much time to explore the house and surrounding area, so we went to our rooms which were well sized, exceptionally clean, modern and comfortable. The beds were sumptuous, and reminiscent of the high quality luxurious beds you’d expect to find in a Marriot or Hilton hotel. After a perfect nights sleep, we were brought a delicious continental breakfast, I’m not usually a fan but the pastries were warm, the juice ice cold and everything else is locally sourced. There was plenty of choice, and even snacks to take out if you’re going for a walk.
We continued our tour of the house, and although the luxury indoor pool isn’t quite finished yet, we could tell it was going to be something special, and a pivotal feature of the hotel which will make it even more desirable. There are 3 bedrooms in total including a master suite with a spectacular wooden bath, as well as a self contained 2 bedroom apartment, and the managers private living space. The guesthouse can sleep 10 people, and is available for events and full hire. I can see Dome House accommodating the likes of music artists and movie stars, who would hire the entire property for them and their entourage whilst on tour, or even corporates looking to treat their staff or clients to a luxury weekend in complete privacy.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the luxurious and boutique-like Dome House, the views are incredible, and service was exceptional. The project has gained a huge amount of publicity, so bookings will be fierce, we recommend getting a room early to avoid missing out of this fabulous guesthouse.
