A sweeping driveway through verdant countryside reveals this stunning Georgian manor, standing sentinel over Lake Windermere with beautiful far reaching views. Set in a large private estate, Silverholme effortlessly blends contemporary luxury with Georgian elegance, with gorgeous country styling and beautiful furnishings.
The setting is truly idyllic, with the ever changing waters of the lake, panoramic vistas and beautiful countryside inspiring many literary greats. One of Beatrix Potter’s most loved works, The Fairy Caravan, was set in the grounds of Silverholme, and the estate was also a regular haunt of William Wordsworth, who drew inspiration from the exceptional natural beauty surrounding the house.
The interiors are wonderfully light and airy, with spacious reception rooms offering cosy places to curl up by the fire with a good book or impressive spaces to entertain in style. You will find quality furnishings, superb craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout, with no expense being spared in the extensive restoration of this beautiful home.
The stunning luxury kitchen is the jewel in the crown of Silverholme, with swathes of glass comprising one wall affording stunning views over the lake, marble worktops and handmade units. There is a fabulous kitchen table to seat 18, and the kitchen is fully equipped with state of the art technology to make catering for large groups a breeze – or why not arrange a private chef so you can completely relax and enjoy your stay? Floor to ceiling sliding doors open directly out onto the terrace and gardens, perfect for relax summer dining or drinks.
For more formal dining the grand Dining Room is the perfect setting, with its rich red tones, marble fireplace, mahogany furniture and original oil paintings, it creates a very atmospheric setting for special occasions, with seating for up to 20 guests.
The Drawing Room offers plentiful comfortable sofas and armchairs, along with a beautiful fireplace, elegant antiques furnishings and beautiful views through the floor to ceiling, dual aspect Georgian picture windows.
There is also a TV Room with a sumptuous leather corner sofa, 50-inch touchscreen TV with surround sound, a Playstation games console and beanbags, perfect for relaxing with a movie or entertaining children whilst adults dine. The Library has a very relaxed feel and is beautifully light and sunny, with lots of sofas, tables and chairs to enjoy a board game or backgammon whilst soaking in the views.
The sweeping staircase ascends to the first floor bedrooms, all of which are individually designed with beautiful views. Unusually for an historic property, every room is a similar spacious size and of equal status, with beautiful en-suite bathrooms, supremely comfortable mattresses and indulgent luxury bedding. Many of the bathrooms offer both a bath and walk in shower.
There are four fixed double bedrooms with 6ft king size beds and four bedrooms which can be arranged as twins or double rooms within the main house, with the charming Coachman’s Cottage located within the grounds near the house offering a further double bedroom along with its own en-suite shower room, kitchen and lounge, in total accommodating up to 18 guests.
There are a further 18 cottages (all rated as 4 star) within the Graythwaite estate, each sleeping from 2 to 10 guests, which together with Silverholme can accommodate a total of 118 guests.
For larger celebrations and weddings, there is space in the grounds for a marquee, and an additional Coach House which has been beautifully renovated to create a lovely flexible space for private or corporate gatherings. This multi-function venue is ideal for weddings, parties, games evenings, business meetings, and catered events, with a light and airy feel along with state of the art audio facilities, ideal for presentations, meetings or exhibitions.
The Coach House can hold up to 50 guests for an informal buffet and is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 100 guests. The Drawing Room, Dining Room and Library within Silverholme also hold a civil ceremony license for up to 60 guests. You are welcome to
hold an unlicensed ceremony or blessing for an unlimited number of guests within the grounds, or next to the lake under the beautiful gazebo, and there is plenty of space for a marquee to seat large numbers of guests for dinner and dancing.
We can assist with arranging any style of catering required, along with a whole host of additional services, from florists to entertainment to activities. We can also arrange a full drinks service if required however there is no corkage charge should you wish to bring your own drinks.
Silverholme also makes a wonderful venue for corporate retreats, from board meetings, seminars, conferences and team building to simply being a special way to say thank you to hard-working staff. The setting is truly inspirational to get the creative juices flowing, and Silverholme offers numerous opportunities for activities to motivate, challenge and build strong working relationships, or simply let your team relax and have some fun. We can arrange all the support you would expect at a luxury corporate venue, with teas, coffees, refreshments and delicious quality cuisine throughout your stay. Alternatively if you would prefer you are welcome to self-cater, just let us know how we can make your stay perfect for you.
There are many activities available inside the house and on the estate to keep you and your guests entertained throughout your stay. From archery, bushcraft, clay pigeon shooting and climbing to canoeing, kayaking, sailing and wind surfing; the estate and surrounding area offer numerous opportunities for recreation. The Graythwaite Estate extends to over 5,000 acres of woodland, forest and lakeside meadows to explore, with beautiful walks, cycle paths and fly fishing in the 2.5 acre trout lake. Silverholme has private access to Lake Windermere, with canoe launching from the jetty below the house.
Guests at Silverholme enjoy the use of the heated indoor swimming pool, table tennis room and children’s play area within the estate close to the holiday cottages, along with a fitness suite for adults. We can also arrange spa sessions, wine tasting, a cocktail masterclass, hot tub hire or even a murder mystery themed dinner party from the comfort of Silverholme.
We can tailor your stay at Silverholme so that you and your guests feel entirely at home. We can take care of the catering and housekeeping, go shopping for you, supply delicious drop-off meals, provide a superb professional chef, or leave you in privacy if you prefer to self cater. A complimentary concierge service is included to help you make the most of your stay, so just let us know what we can do to make your stay perfect.
You can enjoy all this luxury with a clear conscience, as the owners have strived to ensure that Silverholme is as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible, with a biomass boiler powered by softwood chip from the estate producing the heating and hot water, a hydro-electric turbine providing electricity and its own water supply from the fells. There are smaller touches too, such as the instant boiling water tap in the kitchen, a dedicated glass washer which uses much less water and electricity, energy efficient lighting and appliances, eco friendly products and locally sourced produce.
Whether you are planning a special celebration, a family holiday, a corporate event, team building retreat or wedding, Silverholme offers a stunning luxury retreat in the perfect setting.