Cartmel is a medieval village situated on the edge of the southern Lake District. The 12th century Cartmel Priory typifies this village both in architecture and history. It is still used for worship today as it has been for over 800 years and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The other main attraction for visitors to Cartmel is the racecourse. With the first recorded race said to have taken place on the mid 1800’s, Cartmel races continues to grow in stature and popularity year on year. The creation of a new grandstand, with the back drop of the beautiful southern Lake District coupled with catering to rival any top race event has really put Cartmel on the map.

Cartmel is very much becoming a gastronomic destination. Cartmel and its surrounding villages have some of the best examples of Lake District gastronomy in the whole of Cumbria and the Lake District. Even though many of the restaurants and public houses are located within historic buildings, the food served is right in the 21st century using the finest locally sourced produce that is found in an abundance in the south Lakeland area.

Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of the most famous exports from Cartmel. The pudding is now sold all over the United Kingdom and even world with high class restaurants in London serving this still handmade in Cartmel pudding.

With its top quality food, beautiful historical buildings, race course and spectacular scenery, it’s not hard to believe that Cartmel attracts a cosmopolitan visitor. Luckily, Cartmel offers some stunning Lake District self catering properties. When attending the races, what better place to stay in than a beautiful Grade II listed manor house or a beautiful double-fronted period property in Cartmel.

Nearby attractions also include Holker Hall (a stately home with lovely gardens and grounds and a cafe, Cark-in-Cartmel), the Lakeland Motor Museum (In addition to vintage and classic motors, the museum now features of faithfully recreated period shop fronts and also has a themed gift shop. It is now located at its new site in Backbarrow, on the main A590) and Brantwood (an historic house & gardens which used to be the home of John Ruskin with a shop, café and terrace on the east side of Coniston Water).

Times are changing in the travel and tourism sector. No longer does the operator lay down strict rules regarding minimum night stays etc. The more relaxed stipulations on minimum stays are the case not just at hotels and bed and breakfast businesses but it is now the case for many self catering property owners.

Self catering is becoming more and more popular. The consumer is seeing the many benefits of staying in a self catering property in the UK as opposed to either staying in a hotel or going abroad. Tourism industry members are seeing the profits made from owning holiday homes and the rentals of them. For second home owners, it is the perfect way to make some money out of the property whilst the owners are not using it. In the tough economic time, this is a practice that is being seen more and more to alleviate mortgage payments and running costs. Holiday property owners and companies are also noting that more and more enquiries are for short breaks, typically 3 or 4 nights. Due to this, short breaks in self catering properties are now widely available. They enable extra business in the quieter, off season months and can even generate repeat business for a full week in the high season. Lake District short breaks are great for those who cannot afford the cost of a full week, those who have a small holiday entitlement and families wanting an extra break on top of their main summer holiday.
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It is estimated that there are around 27 million pets in the UK equating to 43% of UK households having at least one pet. In the current economic climate, how can tourism businesses exclude such a high proportion of the market?

Sending a pet to a kennel whilst you are on holiday can be inconvenient as not everyone has a kennelling centre near them. Kennelling and pet sitting services can be quite expensive almost doubling the cost of the holiday. Another and perhaps the biggest reason why pet and dog friendly hotels are appealing is that many owners hate the thought of having to leave their dog or pet when they go away. Taking a dog abroad has its problems with quarantining etc but if the holiday is in the UK, why not take your pet along? Pets are often a large part of the family so leaving him or her for a week can sometimes be quite upsetting. In fact, some even let pets go free which makes taking a pet with you far cheaper than kennelling.

It is not always appropriate or right to take a pet on holiday should the destination, type of accommodation or the activities on the holiday not be suitable for a pet. The Cumbria – Lake District on the other hand is one destination with a great choice of activities and that both the family and Fido with enjoy equally. It is now far easier to take your pet away with you without compromising on the choice of holiday. In fact, there are now pet friendly hotels which a few years ago, was almost unheard of.

Many hotels in the UK and the Cumbria – Lake District specifically exclude dogs and pets of all sorts from their premises. However, some hotels welcome all well-behaved pets to enjoy a holiday with their owners. Some dog friendly hotels in the Lake District offer walking services, special bed linen and beds and food.

Who would have thought it? Windermere is not on Lake Windermere! In fact, it’s about 2 miles away, with ‘Bowness on Windermere’ being the small town which is on Lake Windermere.

Strangely, Windermere [town] used to be called Winandermere and before that there were actually three small hamlets [Applethwaite, Birththwaite and Heathwaite] which were combined in the 1800’s when there was a greater attempt to encourage people to visit the area. The railway arrived in 1857, making the area much more accessible to visitors and with this demand grew a wealth of Lake District Hotels. The railway still exists today and brings people from all over the world to this special area of the Lake District National Park. As well as being a sustainable way to travel, most of the Windermere hotels are only a short walk from the station, or at worst a five minute taxi ride.

Lake Windermere is well known as England’s largest Lake at over 10 miles long and is also the deepest at 65 metres. There are numerous outstanding viewing points within easy reach either by car, or by short walk. Gummer’s Howe is probably the most famous being situated at the south end of Lake Windermere. You can drive most of the way, leaving only a 30 minute walk to marvel at the panoramic views over Lake Windermere and across to Morecambe Bay. To see the Lakes from a different perspective, Arnside Knott rewards those who take this gentle climb with stunning views of the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay; simply head for the viewpoint.

The Eden Valley is a beautiful, yet little known area in Cumbria, which lies between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To the North of the Eden Valley lies Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall, whilst to the South you will find the fabulous Yorkshire Dales.

There is an excellent choice of accommodation available within Eden including hotels, guest houses, Cumbrian cottages and caravan parks. Away from the main holiday season many of the Lake District holiday cottages offer the flexibility of short breaks rather than just whole weeks, so visitors can enjoy a long weekend in the area and perhaps buy some fresh local produce to cook yourself at the property. However your eating requirements are catered for by the many excellent restaurants and traditional pubs that reflect the local flavour.

Historic Penrith, often referred to as the “Gateway to the Northern Lakes”, is the major town in the Eden Valley, with a good mix of traditional shops selling locally made products and crafts, including famed Cumberland Sausage and Penrith Toffee.

When it comes to places to visit during your stay the Eden Valley offers a wide range of historic houses, castles, gardens, craft workshops, galleries and museums. In fact there are over seventy visitor attractions in Eden. For the more active there are many sporting facilities including sailing, windsurfing, horse riding, golf, squash, tennis and fishing.

One of the area’s key activities is Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place every June. The Horse Fair gathers together travelling folk from all over the country, buying and selling horses, keeping alive a 300 year old tradition. This is Britain’s largest gypsy gathering, with hundreds of tradition horse-drawn caravans converge on nearby Gallows Hill.

Walkers will find Eden is wonderful walking country, either a leisurely walk along river banks and lake shore or you can take to the higher paths over the Pennines and Lake District fells. In fact, the Pennine Way National Trail reaches into the Eden Valley at Appleby-in-Westmorland as it winds its way towards Scotland. Cyclists can follow the coast to coast (C2C) and Cumbria Cycle Way, both routes are clearly marked along the way.

The River Eden provides challenging fishing, and has in place a “Go Wild” scheme to enable visitors to try wild fishing on the river.

The BBC 2 Wake up to Wogan show launches “Things that Money Can’t Buy” auction for Children in Need on Monday 16th November with a Wainwright walking package starring Julia Bradbury and The Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick.

The Wainwright walks have been popularised by Julia Bradbury who often stays at the Skiddaw Hotel when filming in the Lake District. This unique package is set to appeal to walking fans who enjoy bracing walks, fresh air, beautiful surroundings and a touch of glamour too!

The package gives the final bidder and a friend the chance to join presenter Julia Bradbury and the production team from Skyworks TV for a day’s walking in the Lake District sometime next year.

The guests will spend the first night as special guests at the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick, before walking in the footsteps of the famous walker Alfred Wainwright. The walk may be filmed for TV broadcast, but at the very least, the winning pair will have their own private film of their walk – as well as signed DVD’s photo’s and memorabilia from the series.

Kevin Curran, General Manager of the Skiddaw Hotel, part of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd group said “The hotel is very popular for walking holidays and we already have a walking break named after Julia Bradbury and Wainwright  – it includes a copy of Wainwright’s Northern Fells book and a bathroom experience pack for relaxing after a day’s walking on the fells!

Julia likes to stay with us when she is filming in the Lake District, so we were delighted when she mentioned the opportunity to link in with Terry Wogan’s “Want Money can’t buy” auction. Fingers crossed for the bidding on Monday morning.”

A full list of the opportunities up for auction can be seen on the BBC 2 website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wake-up-to-wogan/terrys-children-in-need-09-auction/monday/

From October, couples marrying at the Inn on the Lake Hotel on the edge of Ullswater will be spoilt for choice when an ornate Victorian style Gazebo will be competed in the gardens of the hotel.

The new outdoor covered feature will then be an option for brides wanting an outdoor ceremony or somewhere different for photographs.

Planning permission has already been granted and the Victorian style design of the gazebo is currently being finalized. The covered structure is being made to order and will feature ornate aluminum balustrade and a hardwood handrail to three sides. Painted in ivory white it has a Verdi Gris painted roof, and will be located close to the shore of Lake Ullswater – making it a fairytale location for wedding pictures. It also enables a smaller wedding party to be catered for as often wedding venues are geared around and for the larger wedding ceremony.

Designed for intimate ceremonies the gazebo is already attracting attention from wedding party planners across the county and beyond. The luxury Lake District Hotels Manager Gary Wilson said “we already have one of the most romantic settings for weddings and also have one of the most photographed jetties in the country. Adding a romantic gazebo to the garden is like the icing on the cake and we really think there’s nowhere better for stunning Lake District weddings.

The gazebo is being produced by Andy Thornton Limited who specializes in design and manufacture of ornate metalware.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the new gazebo should contact Gary Wilson at Inn on the Lake Hotel on 017684 82444 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net

Activities on Lake Windermere have been much talked about in recent years.The 10 nautical miles per hour speed limit was put into force on 29 March 2005. Lake Windermere is of course quieter now but there are people that are still wanting fun to be had on the lake but in a different form. Lake Windermere now has a privately owned 50 foot Sealine Y50 Flybridge motor yacht that can be hired out for Windermere lake cruises and both private and bespoke charters. This has brought the glitz and glamour back to the lake and is bringing some different clientele to the area.

With such spectacular scenery, Lake Windermere attracts thousands of tourists each yeaar from anglers, to canoeists to yachtsmen and dingy owners. The cruises on Lake Windermere are truely worth a go as the magnificent scenery can be taken in fully. Starting from the south of the lake and Newby Bridge is where you will be.

Continuing up the lake and you pass Cartmel Fell, Far Sawrey, Bowness-on-Windermere, High Wray and the lake comes to an end at Waterhead, only a short walk into the centre of the bustling Ambleside. The views are of course sights to be hold all the way down but the most spectacular are towards the north of the lake where the Fairfield Horseshoe, Great and Little Langdale and Coniston Old Man are in view. The Windermere Marina continues to thrive with around 400 boats having mooring there, the largest inland marina in the North of England.

Sailing on Lake Windermere is an excellent way to travel. In the summer months the roads are blocked continually due to the high number of visitors. Sailing on the lake is direct, allows the stopping off at the top destinations along the lake such as Bowness, Ambleside and to the many Lake District hotels and makes for a very relaxing journey with not a hint of road rage!

Taking out a Lake District boat charter is an excellent way to celebrate a special occasion. Lake Windermere cruises can be taken out for half days, full days or as bespoke charters. High quality food and beverages are served and it makes a very memorable day.

Borwick Fold Cottages are situated in Hawkshead, near Ambleside at the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, high above a tranquil, pastoral valley, with superb panoramic mountain views. Surrounded by fells, lakes, tarns, woodland, ancient hamlets and villages and with its land managed for wildlife, it offers a superb base for many outdoor activities, and in which to unwind. Our visitors return again and again.

Three rather special Ambleside cottages have been imaginatively converted from the barn and stables of our 17th century farmhouse. The Hawkshead cottages are set above a quiet country lane [National Grid Reference: 33420,49970] on the edge of Black Fell [a ‘Wainwright’ fell] close to Tarn Hows, near Hawkshead.

Each of the Hawkshead cottages has its own individual character and is centrally heated for all year round comfort. Benches outside the cottages and on the fell side, as well as the al-fresco dining area and barbecue, make an ideal location in which to absorb the peace and tranquillity of the area whilst enjoying the views and abundant wildlife.

Many who have stayed at the Best Western Castle Inn Hotel before, may already know that Bassenthwaite is home to The Lake District Osprey Project.

Bassenthwaite Lake, a key habitat for the ospreys, is 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 and this Easter was made ‘eggstra’ special by the return of our male and female Osprey 2 weeks ago.  The female osprey laid her first egg of 2009 at the nest near Bassenthwaite Lake on Thursday 16th April.  The female bird is now incubating the egg and it is hoped that further eggs will be laid in the coming days.  Ospreys normally lay a clutch of three eggs.  Incubation is carried out mainly by the female and takes between 34-40 days.

Peter Wells, General Manager of The Castle Inn Hotel Keswick said: Staff at the hotel are very ‘eggcited’ that the first egg has been laid.  We are hopeful that there will be more eggs and that the clutch will hatch in time for our Spring Bank holiday visitors in May.
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Hotels are having to think even more creatively in order to entice guests in these tough times. With so many Lake District hotels offering discounted rates, which one do you choose? A clever marketing department should be looking at quirky offers or adding value which is something that many tourism businesses are heading towards these days. In 2008, the high quality 3 and 4 star Keswick hotels reported a good year and it is thought that the added value received from such establishments was one of the leading factors.

Of course, it isn’t just leisure guests that need to be lured. With businesses cutting staff and budgets, the business guest is just as important to target. Cumbria is an excellent stop off for business guests from the south on their way to Scotland. Another market is conferencing. Conferencing facilities and packages are offered in most of the larger hotels Lake District now. With most conferences held on week days, it is an excellent market to target. Creative marketing campaigns are springing up such as the Best Western ‘message focussed menu options’ where bread and water is an option if a team has recorded poor performance. This is an eye catching campaign but which saves the business money but helps to improve the performance of their team as the same time.
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High Bracken Lodges provide the ideal place to own a second home or holiday home in Cumbria – the Lake District. High Bracken Hall is a working farm set in the picturesque South Lakes. It truly is a gateway to the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales and the beautiful Cumbrian Coast. Access couldn’t be easier with the M6 just 5 minutes away.

This exclusive development of Lake District lodges for sale offers you a tranquil retreat with nature and luxury sitting side by side. Each of the log cabins for sale in Cumbria is finished to the highest standards, ideal for comfort. It is the perfect holiday base to get out and enjoy the many wonders of the English Lakes.

Whether it is relaxing, getting back to nature, outdoor pursuits or sight seeing, High Bracken Lodges provide ideal Lake District holiday homes for sale. The farm boasts fantastic open views of the fells, with walks through bluebell woods and a river to splash your wellies in.

The seasons bring many changes on the farm from new lambs in Spring, to the Summer grass mowing, right through to Winter cattle feeding, find out all the latest with the news and pictures on The Farm page.

The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are filled with things to do and it is all on your doorstep here, the local tourist board site has lots of information.

If it’s shopping, restaurants or culture you want then these lodges lie just a short distance from Kirkby Lonsdale with its boutique shops, delis and pubs or the historic market town of Kendal.

For more information and to arrange a viewing please call Eileen or Stephen on 015395 67219. We have regular open days and are open for viewing every weekend 12 – 4pm. We look forward to hearing from you.

Open for viewing every weekend 12 – 4pm.