Spas date back to Roman times where relaxation, rejuvenation and healing were sought through hot mineral spring water. Still today, spas offer many of the same services offered at spas in Roman times and they still stand for the same, relaxation, rejuvenation and healing.
Combining a spa treatment with a holiday or weekend away is becoming more and more popular and thankfully now, you do not have to go abroad and spend a fortune in order to do so. With the stresses of work and family life, the ability for total relaxation and making the most out of a much deserved weekend break is a must and places such as hotels Surrey have seen high quality spas hotels opening recently.
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Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest of the Lake District at approximately 4 miles long and ¾ miles wide. Despite its size this long and narrow lake is very shallow, at its deepest point it reaches a depth of just 70 feet. The Lake is easily accessible with the A66 dual carriageway running along the western edge. The laybys are extremely popular for people wanting to take pictures and a spot of bird watching.
Coniston Water
Coniston is the third largest of the lakes and is approximately 5 miles long and ½ a mile wide. The lake is hugely popular with tourist due to its large expanse of water, which contains a number of tranquil islands, as well as the stunning scenery. The lake was famously the setting for the book Swallows and Amazons as well as the setting for Donald Campbell’s ill fated attempt to break the water speed record.
Derwentwater
Derwentwater is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide making it the widest lake in the Lake District. The lake has a number of islands within, one of which contains Derwent Island House which is open to the public just 5 days a year. The huge Skiddaw overlooking the lake and the nearby market town of Keswick make Derwent one of the most popular lakes for visitors.
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest of all the lakes in the Lake District at approximately 9 miles long and ¾ of a mile wide. Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater often finds itself compared to lakes in Switzerland, such as Lucerne. This favourable comparison is thanks to the beautiful scenery with mountains to one side and green fields and woodland on the other. The lake is great for water sports, with canoeing, sailing and wind surfing particularly popular. There are also the more relaxing steamer boats that take you on a cruise of the lake.
Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and is the largest in the whole of England at approximately 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. As well as being the largest of the lakes Windermere is also the most well known and has long been a very popular attraction for tourists. Many of the tourists who do visit end up taking part in at least one of the many on water activities available. These range from wake boarding, sailing and canoeing to a more sedate pleasure cruise.
About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Borrowdale Gates, one of the best hotels in Keswick.
The border city of Carlisle not only the most northerly city in England, it is also the only city located in the County of Cumbria. It is also the largest city in England by area because it includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown as well as many outlying villages including Dalston and Wetherall. In total the city of Carlisle covers an area totalling four hundred and two square miles. The city is traversed by several major rivers, including the Caldew, Eden, and Petteril.
Commercially, Carlisle is linked to the rest of England via the M6 motorway, and to the Scottish Lowlands via the A74(M) and M74 motorways. By rail, it is located on the main West Coast line that runs between Glasgow and London.
Carlisle is an historic city and its origins can be traced back to a 1st-century Romain outpost associated with Hadrian’s Wall. The Brythonic settlement that expanded from this outpost was destroyed by the Danes in 875. Thereafter the region formed part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland, until colonised under King William II of England in 1092. William II built Carlisle Castle, which houses a military museum. Carlisle Cathedral, founded in the 12th century, is one of the smallest in England.
Along the City of Carlisle’s northern extent is the Solway Firth, which forms the western section of the Anglo-Scottish border, and thus divides the city from Dumfries and Galloway, one of the council areas of Scotland. To the east is the English county of Northumberland; to the south is the district of Eden and to the west and south-west the borough of Allerdale, both in the county of Cumbria.
Carlisle is a great place to visit as the city offers great shopping potential as well as an excellent choice of bars, restaurants and visitor attractions including Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle Castle, The Millennium Gallery and Carlisle Cathedral.
When it comes to places to stay, visitors will find Carlisle offers a wide range of quality accommodation, from friendly budget priced Carlisle bed and breakfast right the way through to luxury Carlisle hotels. Whether you want a peaceful country retreat or a convenient city centre stop over you are sure to find the ideal place to stay.
Bassenthwaite Lake is the only true “lake” in the Lake District with the other bodies of water actually being “waters”, “meres” or “tarns”. It is large at approximately 4 miles long but is the shallowest piece of water in the Lake District. Bassenthwaite Lake is linked to Derwent Water by the River Derwent. Bassenthwaite Lake is a key habitat for the ospreys, a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority.
Each year these beautiful and rare birds return to nest. The female osprey laid her first egg of 2009 at the nest near Bassenthwaite Lake on Thursday 16th April. Ospreys normally lay a clutch of three eggs. Incubation is carried out mainly by the female and takes between 34-40 days.
Hundreds of people visited the Bassenthwaite area over the 2009 Easter weekend to get a glimpse of the Lake District Ospreys. Visitors can get great views of the birds from a Viewpoint in Dodd Wood, only 400 metres away from the nest. The Viewpoint is open all daylight hours, with staff on hand with telescopes from 10am-5pm daily, as part of the RSPB’s ‘Dates with Nature’ Project.
It is also possible to see the birds on the nest on a giant videowall at the Visitor Centre on the Forestry Commission estate at Whinlatter Forest, near Braithwaite. Live pictures from cameras overlooking and inside the nest are also beamed to the screen and can also be viewed on the Project’s website ospreywatch.co.uk and the BBC Cumbria website at bbc.co.uk/cumbria. It is now easier than ever before to visit Dodd Wood and Whinlatter thanks to the Osprey Bus which was launched in 2008. The liveried bus service named after the spectacular birds of prey operates around Bassenthwaite Lake taking in the Whinlatter Exhibition and the Dodd Wood viewpoint and runs weekends from 4th April to 31st August 2009, except during the following school holidays, 6-17 April, 25-29 May and 18 July - 31 August when it runs every day.
As well as the Osprays, Bassenthwaite is a popular location for sailing. The Bassenthwaite Sailing club has been in operation since 1952 with RYA, or RYA Affiliated Club members entitled to sail on the lake at a cost of £10 per day. The tranquillity and exclusivity of this lake make it an amazing sailing experience. When staying the sailors are lucky enough to stay in some of the best hotels Lake District has to offer.
Mirehouse is most definitely worth a visit. Alfred Lord Tennyson stayed at Mirehouse whilst writing his poem ‘Morte D’Arthur’ in 1835. It is a private house but open to the public on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. The grounds and a tea shop are open daily though. Further on from Mirehouse is an open air theatre erected by the Tennyson Society is the location where Tennyson was thought to have written most of that famous poem. All around the lake and the surrounding area is a strong literary feel along with a popular place for artists. The landscape is perfect for painting and photography. Work by local artists can be found in the excellent galleries in nearby Keswick. There is a selection of Keswick hotels to stay in whilst visiting.
Hotels in the Lake District offer so much these days. Not only to they offer so many services and facilities but they offer great deals on short breaks combined with sampling the local produce of the area in their restaurants. What has been great to see in the last few years is the use of the magnificent local produce from Cumbria – the Lake District in the hotels in the county. Cumbria is known for a variety of produce but none more so than lamb. Herdwick and rough fell lamb has a very distinct taste and is extremely high quality. This lamb is now revered within the food industry with many top London restaurants requesting Herdwick and markets such as the famous Borough Market stocking it. Cumbrian rose veal is also being championed by top chefs and restaurants for its quality and it is great to see veal back in favour and on menus.
Cumbria and The Lake District are very lucky to have a diverse range of small and artisan producers from lamb, beef and sausages to chutney’s and real ales. Such produce can be found in abundance and the inhabitants and visitors to the area are very spoilt. There are even hotels that have their own Victorian kitchen garden and farms. Such gardens supply as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible to their hotels and the farms supply as much meat. Not only do many of hotels use local produce but they are taking it one step further and supplying themselves. This is a great marketing tool for a hotel and there are guests now having Lake District short breaks as much for the food as the scenery. In the south lakes especially, there are a huge number of local producers and suppliers.
Christmas is approaching fast and many people are starting to think about gifts for friends and family. Each year this task gets harder and harder!
Often, the gifts people remember the most are gift experiences not objects. Lake District Hotels Ltd are pleased to offer a solution to the age old gift buying problem in the form of gift vouchers which can be selected for use in any one of their six hotels.
The gift vouchers have been created to suit every taste, requirement and budget. For example, the hotel break vouchers are available for one or two nights and range from a standard room right up to a luxury four poster room. Other vouchers include food and drink vouchers which incorporate a two course lunch for four people voucher or a £25 wine voucher, vouchers for afternoon tea and spa vouchers which include luxury massages and manicure treatments or full “well being” spa breaks. If you aren’t sure or simply can’t decide on which voucher to buy, a monetary gift voucher for one of the hotels in an excellent idea. They come in values starting at £25 up to £250. Gift vouchers take away the worry of buying the correct size or colour for a present and they allow the versatility to be used at a time that suits them.
The Lake District Hotels Ltd group consists of six luxury hotels in the Lake District, The Inn on the Lake on the shores of Ullswater, The Lodore Falls on the shores of Derwentwater, The Borrowdale Hotel in the Borrowdale Valley, The George Hotel in Penrith and finally the Kings Arms and Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick.
For more information visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net and http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/giftvouchers/.
The Lodore Falls Hotel played host to ladies from Lancashire and the Lakes at a luncheon where over 100 guests enjoy a three course lunch and fashion show. The event raised over £750 which will be donated to Keswick Mountain Rescue.
The event was organized by Kit Graves in conjunction with Hilary Cookson from the renowned dress shop Maureen Cookson from Whalley in Lancashire and a regional a lifestyle magazine. Whilst there were a number of ladies from Lancashire, Liverpool and beyond, there were also tables of local ladies from Cockermouth and Keswick.
The fashion show was presented by Hilary Cookson from the Maureen Cookson shop and during her show she also gave a humorous talk about what to pack in a suitcase for holiday.
Local ladies include Susan Farrell and her team from Solway Heaters in Workington, they regularly book their Christmas parties but took the opportunity to have a look at the autumn clothing from Maureen Cookson. Her collection included a mix of practical and very stylish clothing and of course, some sparkle for Christmas.
Kit Graves, managing director of the group of hotels in the Lake District said “it was a wonderful opportunity for ladies outside the Lake District to experience what we have to offer. The autumn weather was lovely so they had a fantastic drive through the lakes. We were especially pleased to see a group of ladies who had been dropped off by their husbands for a surprise treat - they went on to do some walking and collected their wives on the way home!”
During the lunch, £750 was raised to support Keswick Mountain Rescue. Anyone interested in finding out more about organizing charity events at the Lodore Falls Hotel should contact Stephen Johnston at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285.
Grasmere is a village situated in the central region of the English Lake District. Grasmere is located approximately 5 miles north of Ambleside along the A591 and 13 miles south of Keswick.
Grasmere is stunning village, one of the most picturesque but what Grasmere is most famous for is one particular past inhabitant, William Wordsworth. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere for 14 years and was quoted in saying it is, “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. Dove Cottage is where he lived until 1808 and it is now a museum and art gallery dedicated to the life and work of Wordsworth and other influential poets and artists. Approximately 70,000 visitors walk through Dove Cottage every year with tours, exhibitions and children’s activities.
Grasmere is also famous for its gingerbread. Dating back to 1850, Sarah Nelson’s gingerbread is now sold all over the world. The Grasmere Gingerbread shop is located in the same building that the first batch of gingerbread was made all those years ago. It also has connections with Wordsworth.
Grasmere is an excellent base for fell walking on some of the most famous fells in the Lake District. Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and the Langdale Pikes are all very near. There is a number great hotels in Grasmere to stay in. The village is so geared up for tourism that there is accommodation of all types from luxury Grasmere hotels to small bed and breakfasts. All are used to having walkers stay and accommodate them readily but should complete peace and quiet be required, there are some lovely Grasmere self catering cottages. Many being traditional Lakeland slate cottages.
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The Lake District Hotels Group is still attracting strong demand for wedding bookings despite the effect of the recession.
The recent wedding fairs at The Lodore Falls Hotel and Inn on the Lake attracted over 650 of mothers and ‘brides to be’ - which only goes to highlight the importance of the Lake District wedding venues.
Kit Graves, Director of Lake District Hotels Group said “We decided to hold a Wedding Fayre at the Lodore Falls Hotel because it gives us the chance to show off the venue and is real opportunity for our Chefs to show off their culinary skills; offering taster samples from our wedding menus and displaying some of THE most temptingly delicious deserts. Chef Nigel Harper was the most popular man on the day - in charge of the tasting sessions and there were queues for one to one chats.
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Hillthwaite House Hotel, the luxury hotel in Windermere is pleased to announce the appointment of a new member of the management team.
Thomas Cross has joined Hillthwaite as the new General Manager. His family roots are very local with his Grandparents having been the proprietors of the Old Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale, back in the 1950s and 60s. Thomas hopes to bring some of his own skills to Hillthwaite and offer customers an even better experience.
Thomas Cross says “I have already realised that the Hillthwaite House Hotel is a very special place, with a very positive and calm nature”!! Being extremely lucky to live and work in the wonderful area of the English Lake District, Thomas makes full use by having a keen interest in fell walking with his walking companion, Ruby the dog.
Set amidst the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District, between the villages of Windermere and Bowness, Hillthwaite House Hotel is the most ideal of Lake District Hotels for all types of breaks including short Lake District weekend breaks or for use as a base for your walking holiday in the Lake District National Park. Impeccable service and comfort, lovely food sourced from local produce, friendly, attentive staff and the many guests that return to the hotel time after time speak for itself.
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The Lake District is an ideal place for fishing enthusiasts with such a wealth of lakes, tarns, rivers and the sea, together with a selection of well-stocked fisheries. So whether you are fishing for salmon, pike, carp or trout you should definitely choose Cumbria - the Lake District and combine tremendous Lake District fishing with breathtaking scenery that includes some of England’s highest mountains.
Whether you are a beginner or a highly experienced angler you will find the region has plenty to offer when it comes to Lake District fishing. The more adventurous may enjoy experiencing one of the region’s many hill tarns, or fly fishing on say, the river Eden, or perhaps boat fishing on one of the lakes, or even sea fishing. For the less experienced why not combine you activity break with some expert tuition from one of the area’s qualified instructors. You could also combine tuition with a visit to one of the fisheries, such as Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery and many Lake District hotels offer special fishing breaks along with all the information required on fishing in the Lake District.
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When looking into the origins of golf, the better questions are where did golf take root and how did it spread to other locations? The answer emphatically to these questions is Scotland. The game of golf evolved here in Scotland, and it is to Scotland that golf owes its legacy of continuity. A trip to the British Golf museum, appropriately placed in golf mecca St Andrews on the Fife coast, explains more on the history of not just Scottish golf but golf the game, now as internationally popular as football.
Scottish golf courses are all over. The particular Scottish areas doing well for golf include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dumfries & Galloway, the Scottish Borders, Perthshire and pockets of the Highlands. The supreme Scottish golf hotspots, containing golf courses which frequently host the Open Championships, are to be found on the Ayrshire Coast, The Angus Coast, the Fife Coast and in the heart of Perthshire. Scotland golf location meccas include Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick on the Ayrshire Coast, Montrose and Carnoustie on the Angus Coast, St Andrews on the Fife coast and finally Gleneagles luxury golf resort in Perthshire. International golf visitors are well served by airports near these Scotland golf hotspots. For the Ayrshire golf coast head to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, for the Angus golf coast look to Aberdeen Dyce Airport and both St Andrews and Gleneagles are just a reasonably short drive from Edinburgh Airport and the many Edinburgh hotels.
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