Sunset from Brockstone Cottage White Moss

What a perfect day in Lakeland. The sunset is very early now, dipping down behind Loughrigg Terrace at about 3.45pm.
I've just taken this from the terrace of Brockstone Cottage ( on the coffin route above White Moss- your ideal self catering holiday cottage?).
The sun dips at the end of Loughrigg Terrace with Lingmoor in the background.
Two blogs in one day!

Beautiful frosty morning at White Moss

Well, I see I haven't been here for a while- work, floods, holiday have got in the way.
Today the diary said "DO CHRISTMAS CARDS", but hey, I'm self employed, I can do what I like ( more or less) so I grabbed the camera and popped over the road to White Moss Common, just as the sun was coming up over Loughrigg.
Three weeks ago after the big flood in Cumbria on Thursday,19 November, this whole are was a lake. I'll put some pictures of the floods up another day.
Today it just looks wonderful- there will be sunshine after rain ( Dire Straits!)

Even a total amateur can take a reasonable snap on a day like this.

3 nights for the price of 2 in historic Wordsworth House, Grasmere

Stay 3 nights at White Moss House, Grasmere, and only pay for 2.
From 4 November to 11 November inclusive- stay any 3 nights room and breakfast, and only pay for 2. this can save you over £100.
11, 12 and 13 November are fully booked, and then we close for our winter break, so this is your last chance to stay at White Moss House, Grasmere, in 2009.

A great photograph of Grasmere

This picture from twitpic http://twitpic.com/n1u61 shows what a professional photographer can do!

This was Grasmere yesterday- today its a misty moisty one, with very poor visibility.

Tree in its autumn colours, White Moss Wood, Grasmere

This old oak looks good in its autumn colours.
It stands at the point where you can see Grasmere looking one way, and Rydal Water looking the other way.

Nab Scar is in the background.

Rydal Water late afternoon October

Just looking through some photos I took on Wednesday, and was quite pleased with this one. The sun is dipping down over Silver Howe behind me, making that shadow.
The Lakes look so great at the momet ( when the sun shines) that even a hopeless amateur like me can take a pretty snap.
For some really great professional photos take a look at some posted by my Twitter friend Stewy http://twitpic.com/photos/stewyphoto.

Catch the autumn colours at White Moss House

The trees are turning later this year- probably due to a wet summer. We can offer you outstanding "3 for 2" rates from 3 to 11 November-just in time to catch the last of the glorious colours.
We are even offering you a tempter if you can only stay 2 nights- including the weekend of 6 and 7 November.

Please click on the White Moss House website link on the right,  http://www.whitemoss.com/ , and go to our "offers" page for details.

Stay in the Lakes 1 night on Saturday 31 October.

We usually take reservations for a minimum 2 night stay at weekends, but on Saturday, 31 October ( yes, Halloween), we have a couple of rooms for 1 night only.
We have a smaller room at £88, and a standard room at £108. These rates are for 2 guests, and include our excellent breakfast.
Please email sue@whitemoss.com, or ring 015394 35195.
Check our website at http://whitemoss.com/

Glorious autumn 3 for 2 offer next week

Monday 19 October - Thursday 22 October. Stay 3 nights at White Moss House and only pay for 2. Save over £100! 3 nights in standard room just £216 for 2 people, or in a smaller room only £176. This includes our award winning breakfast.

The leaves are at last turning gold. It really is beautiful in Wordsworth's Lake District.

Traditional Lake District food

The first Kendal Festival of Food will be held from 24 to 31 October.
If you're in the area this might be worth a visit.

Why not look at www.squidoo.com/lakedistrictfood on Squidoo for more infomation on Traditional Lake District Food. Why not leave me a message?

Lake District Houseparties 2010

Lake District Houseparties 2010
We are now taking bookings at White Moss House, Grasmere,for Houseparties in 2010.
We can accommodate up to 10 guests in our 5 rooms, and your group has exclusive use of White Moss House, with its Wordsworth Lounge,pretty terrace and gardens.
We can offer you our award winning dinner on any evening of your stay- again, just for your party, with exclusive use of the dining room.
The rate starts at £490 per night if your booking is for a 3 night stay midweek, up to £550 per night if you are staying for 2 nights at a peak season weekend.These rates include our excellent breakfast.
Children and babies are welcome.
We hosted wonderful houseparties in 2009 for Golden Weddings, Special Birthdays, Family reunions, and Friends Walking Weekends.
All our houseparty guests had a marvellous time- and all commented on how reasonable our rates were. Often you pay a huge premium for exclusivity.
You need to reserve your dates early, so if you have a special event coming up in 2010, contact us to see if we can help.

My Top 10 Lakes In the Lake District

I've just written a lens for Squidoo on my Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District.
Please take a look, and leave a message on there with your views- just click on the link on the right of this page- thank you!

Autumn walk round Rydal Water

Its been a perfect autumn day.
Walking the Rydal round from White Moss House- how brilliant to be able step out of the door straight on to this wonderful walk.
Up the side of White Moss to Brockstone Cottage, along the coffin road to Rydal Mount.(Wordsworth's house) Then a wander round Rydal Hall gardens- looking really good now after the restoration project has had time to bed in.
Then crossing the road at the Badger Bar, back along the lake shore, through White Moss woods and home.
Taking my time, with a stop for a cup of Earl Grey at the Rydal hall tea rooms, 2 hours very well spent!

Grasmere bed and breakfast with free car park

If you want to know for sure that you can park your car easily and at no charge, with no danger of traffic wardens, outside your bed and breakfast, you do need to check at the time of booking!

At White Moss House bed and breakfast, we are very fortunate to have such a big private car park for our guests. The number of people who ask about car parking when they book seems to be growing. Possibly they have had the same sort of bad experiences parking in Grasmere and the Lakes that we have had in Cornwall!

(we arrived at one place in Padstow, asked where we could park, and the reply was "I don't know" Not quite the welcome we were looking for!)

These villages weren't planned with cars in mind!If you stay at White Moss you can walk from the door without paying parking fees. Also, of you are a person of a certain age with a free. bus pass, the buses stop right outside!

Autumn weekends in the Lakes-very special

So beautiful here today. The phone keeps ringing with people expecting to be able to book a room at the last minute.

They seem amazed that we're full, and say "is there something special on this weekend?"

Well,yes- autumn in the Lakes IS special!

Autumn weekends are very popular here- please look ahead and book in good time!

We do still have a room for 9 and 10 October, and also one for 23 and 24 October.

Grasmere Blackberry and Apple Crumble

This recipe is very similar to the "Blackberry and Apple Grasmere" that has been a long time favourite on the White Moss House menu.

Click here to find the recipe.

You can also leave a message on this page. Hope you enjoy it!

Special 3 for 2 offer autumn 2009

Stay any 3 nights, Sunday to Thursday, from now until 11 November, and only pay for 2

This offer applies to 2 guests sharing a double room, and includes our award winning breakfast.

In a standard room- 3 nights now £216 for 2 guests (saving £108)
In a smaller room- 3 nights now £176 for 2 guests ((saving £88).
These rates include our award winning breakfast.
Free use of local leisure club and free use of fishing permits included.

The log fire is burning in the Wordsworth Lounge, and the Lake District is looking gorgeous in its autumn colours.

Please email Sue@whitemoss.com or ring 015394 35295 , or click the link to our website White Moss House for more information.

Autumn is on its way

At last we have high pressure and clear skies.
The bracken is turning red, and the trees are showing the first hint of the autumn colours.

We are lighting the log fire in the lounge every evening now- so cosy!

Dinner, bed and breakfast, 10, 11 and 12 September

We have just had a cancellation for our Dining Club weekend, on 10, 11 and 12 September. ( we had been fully booked since April!)

The 3 night dinner, room and breakfast package is £300 per person.

If you can only manage 2 nights, please ring me for a quote.

Last minute special 3 for 2 offer!

Need a quick break? Stay any 3 nights, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday , Wednesday, 6, 7, 8, and 9 September, and only pay for 2.

Please email or ring us.

Now taking bookings for 2010!

I have just taken several bookings for 2010! Normally we don't open our booking chart for the following year till we get to November, but we've had such demand were going ahead and taking reservations now.

Booking well ahead is essential if you would like to have a private houseparty, taking all 5 rooms, maybe having dinner some nights too if you wish.

Exclusive use of the whole house, for room and breakfast for up to 10 guests is from £500 to £590 depending on the dates. That's great value for a speical event!

Book early for Autumn

The Lakes in autumn is a wonderful place! That's why all the good B & Bs get booked up early.
Plan your break and book it now ( ideally at White Moss House).

The weekends are particulary busy- often, when told that we are full , people say "is there something special going on?"

Its actually just that people really value their break in the Lakes before the winter sets in and the days get really short. There is nothing better than a country walk in the crisp air, looking at the bracken and trees in their autumn splendour, and then relaxing by a log fire- all on offer here!

Rydal Sheep Dog Trails

What a great day it was yesterday for the Vale of Rydal Sheep dog tails and Hound show! Sunny all day, great crowds. A wonderful Lake District tradition.

Fo those who don't know, the dogs have to follow the shouts and whistles of their owners to get a group of sheep ( often fairly badly behaved sheep) though a series of gates. All the commands mean soenthing to the dog- turn right, left , lies down, slower, faster... its wonderful to watch!

If you want to see it, its always the second Thursday in August.

Enjoying the sun on Grasmere shore

After a really wet July, the first sunny spell has brought everyone out .
The lakes are still very, very cold, but that doesn't stop people swimming on a sunny day.
The ducks seem to take it all quite calmly.

August already

Well, here we are in August. Amazing how time flies.
Its a wet old morning here, but sunshine is promised for the afternoon.
Just apologised for the weather to our Italian guests, who told me they didn't mind it "we're from Naples- its too hot there to do anything outdoors there at the moment!"

Ambleside Sports

Today is Ambleside Sports Day- Traditional Lakeland fell races, hound trails, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, cycle races, beer tents(!) and lots of stalls.
The torrential rain of the last 48 hours put the sports in jeopardy, but they decided to go ahead and have been rewarded with a lovely sunny day ( just the odd shower)

Sunshine in Grasmere

Its a lovely day here.

Grasmere village is deserted- everyone must be out walking the fells, making the most of it!

Traditional Lake District Food on Squidoo

Take a look at my lens on Squidoo- lots of lovely pictures and information on Lake District Food.
If you have any ideas of things I could add to this lens please let me know.

Digital TV and Radio now fully turned on!

All our rooms now have digital flat screen TVs with a great range of TV and radio programmes!
The powers that be decided that the Border region would be the first to go fully digital- don't know why, but now that its happened, we're very happy.
TV reception is great, and after a lifetime of very ,very fuzzy radio signals we can now get all the BBC stations through the TV as clear as a bell!
We'll actually be able to listen to football on 5 Live and know which team scores- before we could usually hear that a goal had been scored, but not necessarily which team had scored it.

We could always get TMS on long wave,sort of, but now we get 5 live extra! ( actually , we might miss the dear old shipping forecast)

Plus, of course, we'll be listening to Radio 3, and will be able to hear all the Proms live!

Our Tvs also have DVD players- plus we have free WiFi!

We're so 21st Century !

Houseparties at White Moss House

Just hosted another 70th birthday weekend.
A lovely lady got her family together from all around the country and a great weekend was enjoyed by everyone.
Back to B & B now for the next few weeks.
We have a few vacancies here and there, and would love to see you!

Ambleside Rushbearing

Its Ambleside Rushbearing tomorrow.

For more information, please click on the link to "Wordsworth's Lake District"

Rooms available Friday and Saturday, 3 & 4 July

Last night was very warm ( by Lakeland standards) with a very loud dawn chorus at 4 am , followed by a very loud thunderstorm at 5.30 am!

In spite of that, I'm up and about, bright and breezy, with my first cup of tea of the day. I've been out in the garden, where its already warm and sunny, checking that my Jasmine really is about to flower . I've fed it really heavily this year after poor showings in the last 2 years.

Anyway, if you have the weekend free, why not visit us? We still have rooms free on Friday and Saturday- email me for a special offer if you can stay 2 nights.

sue@whitemoss.com

Grasmere bed and breakfast with free car park

We are so fortunate to have a big free car park for our guests.

So many hotels and B & Bs in the Lakes, built before cars were important, struggle to find spaces - every day I see "car park rage" as guests try to manoeuvre in and out of tiny spaces, or get trapped in by other guests ( I think you might know which B & B in the middle of Grasmere I'm thinking of!).

When we went to Padstow some years ago, I asked the receptionist at our small hotel where to park- she said " I don't know!"- and "Try up the hill"- not what you want to hear after a long drive! Now we always check the parking arrangements when we book!

Guests are welcome to leave their cars all day on arrival and departure days. Now that the hugely popular White Moss car parks charge heavily ( no longer even free for NT members) this is a real bonus.

Sun shining, rooms full! (but come next weekend?)

We've been full all week, which we love! However, we do have rooms for next Friday and Saturday, 3 and 4 July.

Why not book now to make sure of your room? These are our last rooms until 19 July!

Lakeland goes digital ( sort of)

The powers that be have decided that our region is at the cutting edge of technology, and yesterday turned off BBC2 on analogue so we all have to go digital or miss Wimbledon!

Actually, it seems to have gone well, though we now can just get BBC TV stations on digital and have to flip back to analogue for ITV.

Roll on 22 July when the whole digital stuff comes on- hopefully we might all be able to get a decent radio signal at last through the TV!

Squashing greenfly

Its a lovely warm morning, and having just finished serving breakfast I've been out looking at the roses and squshing those pesky greenfly!

What a very satisfying start to the day!

Midsummer

Midsummer is nearly here! Traditionally, people walk up Helvellyn to watch the sunrise on Midsummer morning. In the past few years the weather has been terrible- here's hoping for a clear night and beautiful sunrise in 2009

The sheep are looking "sheepish"

When the rain cleared about 4pm yesterday I went out on my favourite short walk- down to Grasmere Lake, up to Loughrigg terrace, back down to Rydal Water and home to White Moss via the woods.

There were very few people about, but the sheep were out in force, all looking- well "sheepish" would be a good description.

They've all just been sheared, and they look very skinny without their thick coats.They seemed to look back at me with an air of slight embarassment, not very comfortable with the new look.

We really do need rain!

Its been very dry and all our young plants, tubs, hanging backets have been in need of watering, so the gardens really do need a good soak.

We'll that's what they're getting today- lets hope it knows when to stop!

Brockstone Cottage Offer

Just a few dates now left at 25% off the normal rates.

We have from now until the night of Wednesday 24 June, and we have 29, 30 and 31 July.


Please go to our website and click through to the Brockstone information page which take you to our Holiday Rentals site, or click the link on the right of this page.

Last minute rooms

We've been full for weeks! BUT, due to a cancellation from a houseparty we have lots of rooms free next week. 10% off 3 night stays. The weather is lovely today- just great walking weather.

Also, we've had 2 cancellations for Brockstone Cottage, self catering, and we're offering 25% reductions. Minimum stay 3 nights, until 4 July ( except 25 to 28 June)

If you've got a few days free , we would love to see you!

White Moss Dining Club

We're full of guests enjoying our 3 night dinner, room and breakfast special. Mostly people who've stayed with us over the years, and love the famous White Moss Dinner, ( cooked by Peter of course).

Some new faces- all very happy. However, blogs on the backburner now as we are busy till next week.

Dorothy Wordworth's Journals

Checking 1 June 1802 she begins "A very sweet day, but a sad want of rain." and ends with "A short note and gooseberries from Coleridge"

2 June is my favourite entry though, with a lovely quote about White Moss- watch this space.

Summer starts here?

Well, its warm and sunny, and the man delivering Coniston Bluebird Beer has just told me that this is it- sunny all the way for summer!

Of course, if that were to happen we would all start grumbling about how its too dry and the garden needs rain!

Anyway, we have a houseparty taking all rooms to celebrate a 70th Birthday this weekend. It was booked many months ago, and its great that they're going to have such good weather.

Cuckoos

Radio four this morning was bemoaning the huge fall in cuckoo numbers.

We're obviously very lucky to still be hearing our local cuckoo . It seems to be in the same area as usual, over towards Rydal and Loughrigg.

There's nowhere better than the Lakes in Sunshine

What a great May Bank Holiday- sun, clear skies,lots of happy guests.Everyone has spilled out into the fresh air- walking, boating, chilling, sitting outside the pubs and cafes as if it were the south of France!
The sun umbrellas are up on our terrace. Guests are saving the £5 fee now charge for parking at White Moss Common, by leaving there cars all day and walking from here- and why not!

Are you free next week?

4 nights Bed and Breakfast for the price of 3!
Arrive Bank Holiday Monday,25 May stay 4 nights, leaving Friday 29 May, and only pay for 3.

Contact us via our website,ring 015394 35295 or email sue@whitemoss.com to make a reservation.

Dorothy Wordsworth- laudanum was the norm!

Always checking with Dorothy in her Grasmere Journals to see what the weather was. In 1802 today was warm with a little rain. The next few days were "very hot", though on the 23rd, Dorothy says "I was ill in the afternoon, took laudanum. We walked...on White Moss " Opium was commonly used for ailments of all sorts!

No rain No lakes

After days of heavy showers, at last some good weather is on the way.

No rain No Lakes can wear a bit thin sometimes, as does the old chestnut " If you can see the hills it means its going to rain, if you can't see them its already raining."

The fuschias are back in the garden- no flowers yet, but looking very bushy and healthy.

Half Term Bargain break

If any of you have 4 nights free, Monday to Thursday, 25 , 26, 27 and 28 May 2009, you can stay all 4 nights B & B at White Moss House and only pay for 3 !

We just have a few rooms for these nights on this fantastic offer, so please email or ring ( 015394 35295) as soon as possible if you would like to visit us!

Our local heron would love to see you!

Sunday in the Lake District

Sunny, cold and windy. Not that any of our guests will notice, as they are all at a conference.

The people who will notice are those amazing people doing the Brathay Marathon, some of whom have done 10 marathons in 10 days!

RESPECT!

Now on Squidoo

I'm just joining Squidoo- seems like fun.

Try looking at this.

Its all a learning curve for me, but hopefully it will help me keep you informed of goings on round and about White Moss House

Endurance events in the Lake District

This last weekend saw two of the hardest Lakeland events.

On Friday nights guests stayed before setting out for a 6am start on the Keswick to Barrow race www.Keswick2Barrow.co.uk. This is over 40 miles on roads, arriving in Grasmere via Dunmail Raise, leaving via Red Bank. It was said to be the worst conditions in recent years- cold, windy, rainy, even hail!

On Sunday, it was the Fred Whitton Challenge www.fredwhitton.org.uk . This is a cycle ride starting and finishing in Coniston, taking in all the major mountain passes- 112 miles of sheer torture! The wind had dropped, and particpants said they had enjoyed it!!!!!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been glorious. The rhodies are looking great this year

Back to the Blog

I started out so well, but I seem to have lapsed for a whole week!

Over the weekends we had guests staying with us for two local endurance events.

On Saturday it was the Keswck to Barrow walk/run. Over 40 miles, up and down hills, passing through Grasmere after Dunmail Raise, then over Red Bank. The weather was terrible- freezing cold, wind , rain and even hailstones! Apparently it was the hardest conditions anyone could remember.

First Cuckoo

Yesterday, Wednesday 6 May, heard my first cuckoo of 2009. I was walking through Deer Bolt woods from the shore of Grasmere up onto Loughrigg Terrace, and there it was- very loud and clear.

There have been reports of concerns about the vanishing cuckoo, so it was good to hear the old rogue again.

It was the first break in the rain for about 3 days, and all the birds seemed to have a touch of spring madness. They were making a huge din, and I had to duck to avoid being headbutted by an overexcited chaffinch. Who says country life is dull?

Today is sunny and bright, but windy and cold. Peter has gone walking with a friend up onto Fairfield via Nab Scar, probably coming back via Alcock Tarn.Its windy up there even on a calm day, but the view should be fantastic.

Poetry on BBC 4; Owen Sheers on Wordsworth

This is the first of a series of half hour programmes about great poems, and this was so good I'm going to try to watch them all.
It explored the sonnet "On Westminster Bridge" , often known by its first line "Earth has not anything to show more fair" and looked at why a Lakeland poet should write such a lyrical poem about London, and put it in the context of Wordworths personal situation at the time.
Excellent!

May Day Bank Holiday

I've just read in The Times that this early May Bank Holiday is usually wet. This year is no exception! ( Wet all day here)It's got a really poor weather record.

Why not cancel it ? It's not as if it's even really May Day, just a very British arrangement of the nearest Monday to May Day. Let's find another date for an extra day.

From the point of view of the Tourism Industry, it's not great ,as 4 Bank Holidays come together in just a few weeks- 2 at Easter, this one, then the end of May holiday. Then we just get 1 day in August and no more till Christmas.Very unbalanced.Just like London buses- none for ages then 4 at once. In fact , even a bit like Lakeland buses, as now the open topped ones are running every 20 minutes I have actually seen 2 buses at once in the middle of Grasmere! Both going the same direction! As most of the time in winter, especially on Sundays, there are only about 2 buses a day this is the height of excitement. ( yes, we do lead a fairly dull life here sometimes!)

Dorothy Wordsworth Grasmere Journals

On Sunday, 2 May 1802, Dorothy Wordsworth wrote " Again a Heavenly morning. Letter from Coleridge"

Well, its a heavenly morning here today- bright, clear, sunny but a cold wind blowing. Much better than long term forecast predicted.

However, no post till Tuesday, from Coleridge or anyone! The Wordsworths had to walk to Rydal to collect the post. Most people now think they have "gone on a walk" if they go from Dove Cottage to Rydal. To Dorothy it was just "went to Rydal to collect the post"

Bluebells Grasmere and Rydal Water

The bluebells woods round Rydal Water and Grasmere have never looked better. Its a bumper year!

I've noticed though, that its also a great year for wild garlic, so you have to pick your spot to get the pure scent of bluebell.

Here are 2 pictures taken this beautiful morning in White Moss House garden. You should just be able to see Rydal Water in the background past the flowering cherry,

Sunny May Day at Rydal Water

In spite of the bad forecast, the sun is shining.
Just heard that Carol Ann Duffy has been made poet Laureate. Good news all round! I'm going to listen to her at Dove Cottage poetry reading, St Oswald's Church Grasmere on 2 June.

Azalea at White Moss. Rydal , Grasmere

I've just taken this picture of a beautiful azalea in White Moss House garden after rain, in the morning sun.
This is such a beautiful time to visit the Lake District. The rain has brought lots of flowers and blossom, and the yellow azalea scent fills the air. ( I'll photograph one of these tomorrow)

Bluebells and azaleas

The showers of the last few days have made the azaleas open, and the yellow scented ones are fantastic.
The bluebells are also at their best- just a few days to catch them before they are over.
Going for a walk in White Moss wood and round Rydal Water today to see them at their best.

A great spring day in Wordsworth country

Bluebells everywhere, lambs in the fields, a huge thunderstorm has just passed over and everywhere is freshly washed.
Spring in the Lakes! Love it!