Meet Carole and John Batchelor, Low Wood Bay marina members. They have had fun mucking around in boats since childhood and have some very happy memories of holidays in The Lake District. We will let Carole introduce them…
Early-Year Sailors
John and I have been married for thirty years. John has a son in Southampton and a daughter in Queensland Australia. I have a daughter who also has a boat on the marina and two grandchildren.
I ran a boutique for many years, and John is Managing Direct of a number of companies. I grew up in Yorkshire but we visited the Lake District often as my Dad had a boat on Windermere. I was around boats when I was as young as eight years old.
John sailed on inland waters as a kid then moved to Southampton and continued to sail on Southampton Water and the Solent
Happy Lake District Memories
Over the years we have owned various windsurfers, dinghies, speedboats. Our current boat is a 30 ft. Hunter Legend yacht called Alenka.
As I said John used to sail in the Solent and it was very much something they did as a family.
Some of my earliest memories are sailing on Windermere. My Dad got his first boat in 1953. It was a 30 ft. steel boat with a back cabin, called Tralena. We had that boat for twenty years. I have very fond memories of mooring at Wray Castle whilst my friend and I went and collected bluebells or played on the beach.
I also remember water-skiing from Low Wood Bay jetty in the early 1960s and having drinks at the Low Wood bar afterwards. My family started coming to the Lake District about sixty-five years ago. Initially we would stay on Tralena behind Belle Isle.Then we stayed just along the road at Whitecross Bay where my parents had a newer cabin cruiser.
I loved skiing off the hotel jetty and I particularly enjoyed the ‘lock-ins’ at the hotel bar at the weekends. Sadly, these are a thing of the past.
Favourite Lake District Beauty Spot
I don’t have to go far for my favourite place. It is a sunny evening sitting on the jetty, or relaxing on Alenka or friends boats watching the sunsets. It’s just a stunning location.
Low Wood Bay Marina
The benefit of being moored at Low Wood Bay is that you have the ever-changing and spectacular view of the Langdale Pikes from our cockpit.
More than that though, it is a friendly place and we enjoy the camaraderie of the other marina members and the team at Low Wood Bay Watersports.
As members we can enjoy the fantastic Spa, pool and gym facilities at the hotel.There are also lots of choices when it comes to eating, with Blue Smoke on the Bay, Langdale Lounge or Windermere Restaurant although we do miss the old bistro that’s no longer there.
Some of the additional benefits of berthing at Low Wood Bay
Norman’s is good for a cup of coffee or healthy snacks with great views over the lake, plus of course it is dog friendly so the two border terriers can join us.
Berthing at Low Wood Bay Marina
If you would like more information about our small and friendly Low Wood Bay Marina and the huge range of on-site facilities available, give us a call on 015394 39441.
