Many of English Lakes hotel guests take advantage of the summer Festivals in Cumbria each year. We take a look back at some of the highlights of last year’s Garden Festival in the run up to another spectacular event in 2016. (more…)
For our hotel guests and day visitors who enjoy the delights of a leisurely day out in the Lake District, have you considered taking a trip down memory lane on one of Cumbria’s many heritage railways? They are a great way to see the Lake District whilst learning about the area’s culture and history. (more…)
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the kitchen at Waterhead as Head Chef Nick makes the final preparations for festive banqueting. With rich pickings of produce from a range of local suppliers, Nick invited Barry Carr from The Cheese Larder in Kendal to help select a fabulous Cumbrian Christmas Cheeseboard. We think you will love their final choice … (more…)
“Because it’s there” has been called the most famous 3 words in mountaineering. That was, of course, the response of the English mountaineer George Mallory, when he was asked why he wanted to climb Everest. (more…)
Stefan Milanec, head chef at Low Wood Bay
When Tim Bell, General Manager at Lancaster House isn’t exploring local Lancashire walks and attractions on his doorstep, he also enjoys hoping across the boarder to Cumbria. Making the most of the fine weather, Tim heads up one of our most famous mountains…
With the heralding of summer, and the (theoretical) elimination of the risks of ice and snow in the Lakeland fells, for me this change of environmental conditions opens up the ability to tackle walks that one wouldn’t even contemplate undertaking in wintry conditions.
(more…)
How many of us have dreamed of writing and publishing a children’s book? Me, for one!
Now tell me, how many of us have actually achieved it? Sadly, I’m sure like many others, not me! However, meet two plucky women from Cumbria who had that dream and in December 2013 picked up the proof that the dream had become a reality.
Claire Mansfield and Amy Onyango are the creators of Felltarn Friends, a children’s activity book that will keep younger members of the family amused for hours on end and, I predict, will be ‘best friend’ to all visiting families to The Lake District who come across this little gem.
The dream becomes a reality. Amy and Claire with their newly published book
The OnBoard scheme was originally set up by the RYA, with the official aim of introducing half a million children to sailing and windsurfing within a ten-year period. At Low Wood Bay Watersports we have been a part of the scheme and running our OnBoard sailing evenings for the last four years.
We started by offering six children from The Lakes School a ‘learn to sail’ course over six Wednesday evenings. On completion of the course the young people were then eligible to join the official OnBoard club on Friday evenings. Right from the start the scheme was a great success to the point where we have many more youths wanting to sail than boats to put them in!
Another successful OnBoard season draws to a close at Low Wood Watersports Centre
The name ‘Windermere’ is made up of two words, ‘mere’ the Old English word for a body of water and the old Norse name ‘Vinandr’. We do not know who this character Vinandr was, but presumably somebody with a rather large ego who looked out over the lake one day and decided it belonged to him. Guests at Low Wood Bay and Waterhead can readily enjoy Vinandr’s view in a more civilized way over a nice glass of Chardonnay!
Another inheritance from our Viking forefathers are the grey sheep that you will see dotted around the fells. These are the now native Cumbrian Herdwick sheep prized for their robust health and their ability to live solely on forage. The wool quality has unique qualities relating to durability – thick bristle type fibres forming a protective barrier layer in blizzards. They have been known to survive under a blanket of snow for three days while eating their own wool! (more…)