Badger Bar Bed & Breakfast - Ambleside

4-star historic inn with nightly badger feeding in the Lake District

Rooms

The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar offers 16 rooms, each with a private bathroom and digital TV. Some rooms, like the Deluxe Double Room with Mountain View, include a balcony or terrace overlooking the surrounding woodland. The bar area has no television, encouraging guests to relax by the log fire with a book or conversation.

Dining

Badger Bar serves homemade pub meals using locally sourced ingredients, with dishes like steak and ale pie and chicken curry on the menu. The bar stocks 40 whiskies and a rotating selection of local real ales, including stouts and pale ales. Breakfast offers a traditional full English breakfast as well as scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and porridge.

Badger Watching & Nature

Badger Bar Rydal runs daily badger feeding sessions at dusk on the hotel grounds, visible from a dedicated viewing area. Guests often spot badgers within 3.7 m of the feeding station, with up to five animals appearing some evenings. The bar's lack of a television and focus on log fires and conversation complements the quiet nature experience.

Location & Activities

Badger Bar is opposite Rydal Water and sits in the Lake District National Park, with direct access to walking trails to Grasmere and Ambleside. A bus stop less than two minutes away provides a 20-minute ride to Windermere. Free private parking is available on site, and nearby attractions include Rydal Cave and Lake Windermere cruise departure points.

Pet-Friendly & Family

The hotel is dog-friendly, providing pet bowls and outdoor space for dogs, and many rooms accommodate families with children. The large family room includes a four-poster bed and two single beds, while the woodland-view room offers space for a dog bed. Free parking on site and a garden with outdoor furniture make it easy for families with pets to relax.

• Badger Watching: Daily badger feeding sessions at night in hotel grounds
• Historic Building: 400-year-old building with original charm and log fires
• Location: Opposite Rydal Water, 20-minute bus to Windermere
• Dining: Homemade pub meals using locally sourced ingredients
• Drinks: 40 whiskies and a selection of local real ales
• Breakfast: Traditional full English breakfast with smoked salmon option
• Pet-Friendly: Dog-friendly with pet bowls and outdoor space