Review: The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere, Lake District, UK
As a child on holiday in the Lake District, I remember learning to count to ten in the old Cumbrian dialect—the same rhythmic numbers that shepherds have used for generations to tally their flock. “Yan, tan, tethera” is “one, two, three” in the traditional sheep counting system, making “The Yan” a fitting name for a place that aspires to be “The One”. But does The Yan at Broadrayne, a warm and stylish retreat on the edge of Grasmere, live up to its name? Read on to find out.
The welcome
Ahead of our arrival, we were emailed a personalised door code, for the duration of our stay. This allowed us independent access into the resident’s lounge through a small porch, and to our room beyond. As things turned out, on arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Lauren, who guided us through the process and showed us to our room. The check-in felt much more relaxed than a traditional hotel, instantly setting a relaxed and comfortable tone that defined the rest of our stay.
The room
We stayed in Room 3 — The Lion and Lamb — classified as a Deluxe Superking room and named after the distinctive rock formations atop Helm Crag, visible from our window.
Each room at The Yan carries a name inspired by the local fells, from Dunmail to Fairfield, and the décor blends comfort with understated luxury — plush bedding, a deep and restful colour palette, and thoughtful touches that make it feel like a true retreat after a day’s exploring.
The bathroom
Compact yet well-appointed, the bathroom featured a sleek shower, basin, WC and heated towel rail, all sparklingly clean.
Pure Lakes toiletries, with their fresh, natural scents, are supplied. The geranium and ylang-ylang shampoo is a treat, while the grapefruit and lemongrass shower gel, hand wash, and hand and body lotion provide an uplifting zest ahead of a day on the fells.
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The facilities
Beyond the rooms, The Yan offers a residents’ lounge, a peaceful space with books, games and reading material — perfect for a post-walk wind-down.
But the real star of the show is The Bistro – a multiple time winner of the Casual Dining Venue of the Year award at the Cumbria Food Awards, and has been featured — more than once — in the Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants.
During our stay, we indulged in an array of beautifully crafted dishes, from the Mini Yan naan, topped with butter curry sauce and Grasmere Herdwick lamb Seekh kebab, to the Cheesy Bean Tart, where puff pastry embraced The Yan’s own baked beans, gruyère, mature cheddar, truffle ketchup, and pickled shemeji mushrooms.
For mains, the Jamaic-Yan delivers a bold and flavourful Jamaican curry with cauliflower, peas, red peppers, and crayfish, all topped with jerk-seasoned coley and a spoonful of lime and coriander crème fraîche.
Then, of course, there is their now-famous Shepherd’s Pie, featuring slow-braised Grasmere Herdwick lamb, cheesy mash, cured ham, and parsley garden peas.
The Brit-Yan (serves two) is also a treat: braised local beef feather steak with truffle and cheddar mash, served alongside creamy cauliflower cheese.
And, to finish, there’s everything from the classic Lakeland dessert of Sticky Toffee Pudding to the equally indulgent Tirami-Choux, a choux bun filled with Marsala mascarpone cream and Carvetti coffee gelato, finished with a rich chocolate sauce.
For those looking for alternative accommodation, also on site are Broadrayne Cottages and Grasmere Glamping.
The location
If you’re looking for a central Lake District base, you’d be hard-pressed to find better. Grasmere is home to the world-famous Grasmere gingerbread, of course, and William Wordsworth himself described the village as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found‘.
During our stay, we took a stroll around White Moss, but options abound: from Wainwright climbs to gentler rambles with breathtaking views.
And for those looking to explore further, Keswick is just a 20-minute drive away, where you’ll find historic gems like Castlerigg Stone Circle and lakeside favourites such as Friar’s Crag.
Other nice touches
The Yan goes above and beyond with thoughtful little luxuries. In our room, a kettle and an ample supply of tea and coffee awaited us, alongside sticky toffee bites and a flask of fresh water.
A custom-made Ordnance Survey map, with The Yan at its centre, came complete with a compass, perfect for intrepid days out.
Dog owners will also appreciate the extra care taken for four-legged guests, with a supply of biscuits and a water bowl and mat provided. Dogs are even welcome in the bistro, ensuring they don’t miss out on the fun. And for those planning a long day in the fells, packed lunches can be ordered in advance.
The cost
For a stay in a Deluxe Superking room such as the one we stayed in, out-of-season rates start from approximately £300 per night (Hotel, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) out of season, or £450 for two nights.
The best bit
Yes, the setting is beautiful. And yes, the food is excellent. But what truly sets The Yan apart is its relaxed, unstuffy atmosphere. It strikes the perfect balance between high-end comfort and laid-back charm—luxurious but never pretentious, warm but never intrusive. It’s a place where you can return from a long hike, kick off your boots, enjoy a pint and feel immediately at home.
The final verdict
The Yan at Broadrayne is a masterclass in boutique hospitality — a family-run haven that seamlessly blends the traditional heritage of a sixteenth century Lakeland barn with contemporary comforts. Whether you’re here for the hills, the food, or just some restorative peace and quiet, The Yan delivers in every way. If you’re looking for a place that celebrates the spirit of the Lake District with effortless charm, you need look no further.
Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by The Yan at Broadrayne.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of Yfamily Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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Without doubt one for my little black book of places that I must visit as soon as possible.
I hope you manage to get there soon, Sarah! 🙂
One of the great things about The Lakes is the enormous variety of walks, ranging from all day strenuous hikes to gentle 20 minute strolls, and even on the 20 minute strolls you can get superb views that you wouldn’t get anywhere else in England.
Absolutely, Chris… there is truly something for everyone. Even walks such as Orrest Head, a short but popular favourite, have now been made entirely accessible.
Sometime soon we’d love to fly to England and drive around the Old Country staying in quaint hotels like this and looking up some of our long lost family.
Hi Steve – too many international visitors to the UK visit only London. Places like the Lake District are much more accessible than many people realise. In less three hours by train, you can get from London Euston to Oxenholme the Lake District, and experience a very different England. 🙂
The classification of rooms always takes some reading. One property’s deluxe double is another’s junior suite.
For me, a key differentiator is whether there’s somewhere comfortable to sit and relax, like that sofa, so that you don’t have to always lie on the bed.
You make a very good point, Roger. With no standardisation across different hotels, it can be hard to compare. Hopefully that’s where reviews like this one can help to manage people’s expectations. Don’t forget that here there’s also a residents lounge with additional comfortable seating. 🙂
What a wonderful find! I can’t believe that you’ve shared it with us and didn’t want to keep it to yourself.
Ha! 😀I wouldn’t be doing my job very well if I didn’t share… 😉
Lovely. My wife and I finally visited the English countryside last year and it’s great to see more options. Did your room have air conditioning? It can get pretty toasty without it and if you leave the windows open you can get much bright light in your bedroom at 5:30 in the morning as we discovered last May.
I don’t recall whether the room had aircon, but you could certainly open the windows to let the fresh air in. The UK rarely gets stiflingly hot (and particularly less so in the north), so we do not have the same need for aircon as many other countries.
These escapes to the country for a few days of fresh air are priceless. A rare opportunity to switch off our work phones.
Very true, Ed… and mobile signal in the Lake District can be patchy sometimes, so can help you to switch off also… 😀
The Yan is getting everything right. Location, location, location with views to die for. Then great food and hospitality thrown into the mix as well.
Exactly, Moya… and without any stuffiness too, which we also liked. 🙂
It’s nice to see hotels that are proud of local heritage and featuring it their DNA. The Yan is ticking those boxes.
Thanks for your comment, Piers… glad you like the look of The Yan. 🙂
George looks to be enjoying himself, if he’s not too busy he could start work on a “Dog’s Guide to UK hotels.”
But seriously, provision for dogs has hugely improved over the last 5 years.
Though I’ve got friends with a pack of 5 German Shepherd dogs who are struggling to find somewhere dog friendly.
Ah yes… travelling with FIVE dogs 😲 is likely to be a challenge, I’m sure!
Classic Friday lunchtime browsing. Where I wish we’d booked for a long weekend if I’d got us organised!
You can always plan a long weekend for another time in the future, Dawn…? 🙂
Nice touch to give each room a name, especially when it helps to bring through some of the local heritage. There’s nothing worse than staying in some anonymous corporate monstrosity where you’re in 2954 – which can be building 2, floor 9 and room 54. These small hotels are right to make the most of their individuality.
Funny you should say that as I’m currently staying in room 3000-and-something in a hotel in Montenegro… can’t complain, though – the place is stunning.
Love to get out of the office and go somewhere away from it all like this. It’s manic at the moment. Possibly next month.
Going from experience, the best thing to do is just to book it and get it in the calendar. Everything else then just has to fall in line around your plans. 🙂
Just want to leave my office and go out feel the cool winds under open sky cherish the moments.
What better place to do that than in the Lake District? I hope you manage to get there one day, Sanjay!
That custom-made Ordnance Survey map is such an imaginative nice touch. I don’t suppose that you get to take it home as a souvenir? Or can you buy one?
You could buy them. £25 I think they were. 👍
Making their own baked beans ? That’s dedicated cheffing .
😀
I have to say, it made a HUGE difference!
It is remarkable how those early childhood holidays stay in our memories. When we drove through Dartmoor last year childhood memories of Uncle Tom Cobley, looking down on the prison, a cream tea and seeing ponies through the mist came flooding back.
Sometimes I worry that our children don’t seem to be drinking in the holiday experience. It’ll be interesting to see if they talk about any of those holidays in 3 decades time.
So long as they’re not glued to screens, and looking out of the window and engaging with what’s around them, I don’t see any reason why they won’t have fond memories. 😊