Tuesday's walk from White Moss House, Grasmere

The View from Jenkin's Crag, Waterhead, Ambleside, overlooking Windermere.

The walk actually begins and ends in Ambleside, but we hopped on the bus at Whitemoss- no point trying to find a day's parking space in Ambleside ( especially if you have a bus pass!).
We walked up Stock Ghyll, over Wansfell, had lunch at the Mortal Man, then back round Jenkins crag.
It's a walk we've done many times before, sometimes the other way round.

As it was a hazy day, the photos are poor. This is the gentle path back from Robin's Lane, with Windermere on the left and the Langdales in the background.

Some people only manage the short walk from Waterhead to Jenkin's crag. Even on a hazy day the view from Jenkin's Crag is superb.

Outstanding on this walk were the wild flowers- bluebells, wood sorrel, wild garlic , buttercups, violets, little yellow orchids. The hawthorn trees are also finally bursting into life. Popularly known as "May" trees", they are just managing to blossom before the end of the month in this late spring.

May Tree looking gorgeoous, above Waterhead, Ambleside.

We thought we had just missed the bus back from Waterhead, where the walk ends, but happily for us, the bus was 10 minutes late- dropped off at the bottom of White Moss House drive.

Note to all visitors to White Moss House- if you have a bus pass, bring it !

Sweet cicely at White Moss House, Grasmere

Sweet cicely is a great herb , and it's looking extra good this year. Here is a photo taken this morning from our kitchen door looking into the Whitemoss herb garden.

It's a very pretty herb, with its masses of white flowers.Its main use for us it as a sweetener in rhubarb, gooseberry and other fruit desserts. If you chop up sweet cicely leaves and add them to the fruit, you can halve the amount of sugar you use. Nature's own low calorie sweetener!

For more information on sweet cicely , plus an amazing recipe for sweet cicely schnapps, you can take a look here.

Windermere Marathon Weekend

Congratulations to all those, including our intrepid guests, who ran this marathon.
Great weather, great organisation, perfect conditions- so I'm told!

I'm especially in awe of the 10 in 10 people- 10 marathons in 10 days!

Cumbria Festival of fishing- stay at Brockstone Cottage at special rates.

Cumbria Fishing Festival runs from the 15th to the 23rd May.
We have 2 fishing permits for our guests at White Moss House Grasmere B and B, or Brockstone self catering Grasmere cottage to use on all local waters free of charge.

We are pretty full in White Moss House itself, but our Cottage up on the famous"coffin route" from Grasmere to Rydal is free, and we are offering 20% disconts on the normal self catering rates. This is from 16 May to 28 May. Minimum 3 night stay, flexible changeover dates.

For prices and details , see Brockstone Grasmere self catering cottage

White Moss goes to Sizergh Castle- gardens looking fantastic!

If you can get to Sizergh Castle,near Kendal, this week, then do- the blossom is amazing and the gardens are looking great.

Here are some of my photos from yesterday. They don't do it justice, but you get the idea! This is a wonderful tulip border.

Part of the famous rock garden

The cherry blossom avenue- just spectacular- worth the annual National Trust membership on its own!

And of course, there's the castle- a remarkable building to look around- and the tea room is pretty nice too!

Sometimes we overlook the wonderful things to see close to home- if you are near Kendal- go to Sizergh now!

Herdwick lambs invade White Moss House Grasmere!

Herdwick lambs- so tiny, so cute! Their mums thought the grass and bluebells at White Moss House were so much better than in their own field.
Most herdwick lambs are black, turning grey later.

This one is quite bold

Time to gently send them back over the wall to their field

No doubt they'll soon be back!