You're planning your Lake District spa break and need to choose between properties with outdoor hot tubs versus indoor pools. Outdoor facilities offer fell views and stargazing but depend on weather. Indoor pools work year-round regardless of conditions. Here's how to decide which suits your visit.
What You Get with Outdoor Hot Tubs
Outdoor thermal facilities in the Lake District combine heated water with mountain views. You sit in 37-38°C water while looking across valleys to distant fells. The experience changes by season.
Another Place features a 20-metre indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling glass walls facing Ullswater. The pool includes a shallow area for families and uses UV-filtered, low-chlorine water. A Swedish outdoor hot tub sits overlooking the grounds, offering fell views year-round.
Brimstone Hotel places its outdoor section of a swim-through pool on a terrace overlooking Langdale Valley. The unique 9-metre pool connects indoor and outdoor areas. Evening visits in autumn and winter let you watch sunset over the fells while staying warm in the heated water.
Cold air on your face while your body stays warm creates a distinct sensation. Some people love it. Others find it jarring. You won't know until you try it.
The Indoor Pool Advantage
Indoor pools give you consistent temperature control and protection from weather. You can swim laps without waves from wind. Rain doesn't interrupt your session.
Low Wood Bay installed a 17-meter indoor infinity pool with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Windermere. You get lake views without weather exposure. The pool temperature holds steady at 30°C year-round.
Armathwaite Hall features a 16-metre indoor pool alongside its multiple outdoor infinity pools. Guests can combine indoor swimming with thermal suite access including Finnish sauna and crystal steam room. This flexibility matters during Lake District's frequent rain.
Indoor facilities let you plan your visit without checking weather forecasts. You'll use the spa regardless of conditions outside.
Weather Impact on Your Experience
Lake District weather changes hourly. Outdoor facilities work fine in rain, but wind and storms affect comfort levels significantly.
November through February brings the lowest wind speeds for outdoor hot tub use. March through May can be windy, especially at higher elevations. June through August offer the calmest conditions, though midges appear near wooded areas in the evening.
Outdoor pools and hot tubs stay heated all year, but the air temperature matters. Sitting in 37°C water when it's 2°C outside feels amazing for 15-20 minutes. Beyond that, most guests retreat to indoor areas.
Indoor pools remove weather from the equation. Your January visit works as well as your July visit.
Views Make the Difference
The main reason people choose outdoor facilities comes down to views. Indoor pools with windows provide scenery, but outdoor hot tubs place you directly in the landscape.
Armathwaite Hall positions its outdoor hot tub overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake and the Skiddaw fell range. You face north toward some of the Lake District's highest peaks. The view extends for miles with no obstructions.
Compare that to an indoor pool with windows. You're looking through glass at the landscape rather than being in it. The difference matters to many guests, especially those visiting specifically for Lake District scenery.
Privacy Considerations
Outdoor facilities sit exposed to the landscape. Other guests can see you from hotel rooms, restaurants, or walking paths. Some properties screen their outdoor areas, others don't.
Indoor thermal suites typically offer more privacy. The facilities sit away from public areas. Windows face outward to views rather than inward to the hotel.
Not all outdoor hot tubs offer the same level of seclusion.
Thermal Effects and Health Benefits
Outdoor hot tubs provide contrast therapy - the practice of alternating between hot water and cold air. Sitting in 38°C water while exposed to 5°C Lake District air triggers vasoconstriction and vasodilation, which improves circulation and speeds muscle recovery. Many fell walkers specifically seek this effect after long hikes.
The cold air exposure also stimulates endorphin release. Research shows brief cold exposure can reduce inflammation and improve mood. This explains why outdoor hot tub users often report feeling more energized than those using indoor facilities exclusively.
Outdoor thermal bathing increases vitamin D synthesis even during cloudy Lake District weather. Your body produces vitamin D from daylight exposure, not just direct sunshine. Winter outdoor spa sessions can help counter seasonal affective disorder common in northern England.
Time of Day Changes the Experience
Outdoor facilities shine during sunrise and sunset. The changing light across the fells creates memorable moments. Brimstone Hotel guests often mention sunset hot tub sessions as highlights of their visit.
Morning outdoor sessions from 7-9am give you quiet time before other guests arrive. The valleys often fill with mist that burns off as the sun rises. You'll see this display from an outdoor hot tub but miss it in an indoor pool.
Evening sessions from 7-9pm work well for stargazing in autumn and winter. The Lake District has dark sky areas with minimal light pollution. Clear nights reveal thousands of stars you won't see from cities.
Indoor pools work equally well at any time. The experience stays consistent regardless of when you book.
Which Spas Excel at Each Type
Best outdoor facilities:
- Low Wood Bay: TWO outdoor infinity pools with Windermere views, multiple hot tubs, outdoor fellside sauna
- Brimstone Hotel: Unique swim-through pool connecting indoor/outdoor, Langdale Valley views
- Armathwaite Hall: Multiple outdoor infinity pools, Bassenthwaite Lake and fell views
- Another Place: Swedish outdoor hot tub overlooking Ullswater grounds
Best indoor pools:
- Low Wood Bay: 17-meter infinity pool, floor-to-ceiling windows, Windermere views
- Armathwaite Hall: 16-metre pool with access to outdoor infinity pools and thermal suite
- North Lakes Hotel: Large indoor pool with connected spa facilities
Making Your Decision
Pick outdoor hot tubs if you want fell views, enjoy temperature contrasts, and don't mind weather dependence. Book evening sessions in autumn or winter for the best stargazing. Check wind forecasts before your visit.
Pick indoor pools if you prefer consistent conditions, want to swim laps, or visit during unpredictable weather months like March and April. You'll get reliable access regardless of conditions outside.
Many Lake District spas offer both indoor and outdoor options. You can try both types during your visit and decide which you prefer for future trips.
