White Moss Common plan refused! Great News!

The Lake District National Park planning committee has today turned down the application to build a "Welcome Hub" on White Moss Common.

The plan was the idea of the Lowther Estate who manage the land, and was actually supported by the LDNP planning officer, but the committee rejected it by 12 votes to 2.

We are very, very happy, not just because this lovely area (White Moss) is right on our doorstep at White Moss House ( the name's a bit of a giveaway), but because this would have set a precedent . There has been no new building ( apart from a very small toilet block ) anywhere in this area for generations. We have to protect this area for future generations.

Something very special has been preserved today. Our voices have been heard. I think we might have a glass of something to celebrate tonight. Trying to channel "What Would Wordsworth Do?" see Polly Atkin's brilliant blog on this by clicking here. Possibly a glass of claret?

Here a picture of the area on a winter's day. The "Hub" would have been on the left of this picture.

The beautiful, unspoilt White Moss and River Rothay on a winter's day. Saved today. Thank you.

Save White Moss Common- last chance to email today

If you dislike the proposed reinvention of White Moss Common as a "Welcome Hub" with new opportunities for visitors to spend yet more money whilst parking their cars to enjoy the wonderful walks -

you have one last chance to object.

You can email the LDNPA today before the meeting tomorrow (5 November).

The reference that you need, and the email details are in yesterday's blog.

Essential reading is Polly Atkin's blog- What Would Wordsworth Do? which you can find here.

Last chance to express your views on proposed building at White Moss

The Lowther Estate has submitted a plan to build a "Welcome Hub" on White Moss.

You can read all about it here. 

If you feel, as we and every local person we have spoken to feels, that this is totally inappropriate then please email the Lake District National Park Authority by Tuesday 4 November.

The planning meeting which will make this crucial decision is on 5 November.

You need to quote the planning application reference 7/2014/5399. You can see the plans by searching the LDNPA website and inputting this reference.

Their email is    planning@lakedistrict.gov.uk

Thank you .

 

Hallowe'en Pumpkins at Brockstone Grasmere Holiday Cottage

 When our guests checked out after their week at our cottage, they left these on the table  to greet us.

That's Rydal Water in the background by the way- lovely view for pumpkins.

Grasmere looking very lovely today in its Autumn colours

At last, a dry sunny day. The poor half term visitors have had several days of heavy rain, but today ( Wednesday) has been beautiful.

Here are a couple of photos of Grasmere taken this morning - very still, beautiful autumn colours.

And here is one of Rydal Water. There were photographers with tripods everywhere. Maybe one day I'll get a proper camera, but even with my simple little snapper that Lakes still look good.

All taken on my favourite short walk from White Moss to Grasmere shore, up through Deer Bolt Woods, back down Loughrigg Terrace and home. One hour's glorious walking. You can find more about White Moss Walks here.

We've had some really lovely reviews for Brockstone

On Saturday morning the guests at our Lakes Holiday Cottage, Brockstone left very early, so we didn't see them to say goodbye. However, they did leave us the most lovely "Thank you" note,

Here's an excerpt -

"We just wanted to thank you for providing such a delightful stay in your wonderful cottage- it was everything we could have hoped for and the location is breathtaking. We are already thinking of coming back next year...."

What a very uplifting note - thank you if you're reading this!


Some of our favourite guests who have stayed with us many times have already booked for 2015. They have sent us this photo taken during their stay, and given us permission to use it on our blog.
Here it is.

Brockstone Grasmere thanks to our lovely regular guests

Over on our Brockstone website I've just added a new page with snippets from some of the latest reviews that have been posted online. You can go and see the reviews on our website here.

The wonderful weather goes on....

October is looking good in the Lakes. The trees are just beginning to turn, and we have weeks of glorious colour to look forward to.

Weekends here are still very busy, but today feels much more quiet than recent Mondays. Now could be a good time to fit in an autumn visit. We can't offer you any accommodation at Brockstone Cottage until November, but there are lots of lovely places out there still available.

If the weather should turn wet, there is always lots to enjoy at Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth museum.

If you're sitting at  home dreaming about the Lakes here's some recommended reading to enjoy- my choice of some of the best Lake District books.

For a biography of Wordsworth, I'm a fan of Hunter Davies. Always slightly controversial, never dull.
Here's the book - good for settling down with on an autumn night.

A beautiful September evening walk.

The weather this year has been amazing, and September has been warm and dry so far.

Tonight I walked up through White Moss Woods. Since the path was "improved" (not everyone agrees that smoothing it out was an improvement) there is a new view of Rydal Water. There used to be a tree here, and the path curled away from the wall. There's now a lovely view down Rydal Water.

Tonight at about 6pm the sun was just going down behind Loughrigg, and looking East towards Windermere, it looked like there might be some rain about. However, as Peter had gone to Windermere to play tennis, and is still not back, it seems that it didn't actually rain there. I walk on, over Loughrigg Terrace , down to Grasmere Lake shore and back along the River to White Moss. One of the many superb White Moss Walks.

You can see that the bracken is red/brown already, and the leaves are beginning to turn all sorts of oranges and reds. It will be a fabulous display this year. We still have the week from 18 October available at Brockstone , our Grasmere holiday cottage. The rate has been reduced to £650 for this week. It's a great October offer.

We're getting enquiries for Christmas and New Year now. We're offerings 4 nights minimum stay at £560, 5 nights £645, 6 nights £725 or 7 nights £790. We can be flexible about changeover days.

Great reviews for our Lakes holiday cottage.

We had a delightful family from Holland staying at the cottage for the last two weeks. They arrived at the same time as ex hurricane Bertha, and the weather has been on the cool side and a little rainy for their stay-not like the glorious heatwave we had earlier.

Nevertheless, they said they had had a fantastic time, loved the cottage, and in fact the son had declared it his "best holiday ever!" Lovely!

The previous guests were also very kind, posting superb reviews . You can read their lyrical review here. They say that Brockstone Cottage is "the most wonderful cottage in the Lakes" Isn't that a lovely heading to read?

It's Grasmere Sports today- sunny and fine . Should be an entertaining day for visitors and locals.

We had a cancellation at our cottage for the week 20 - 27 September. The week was £750, but we've reduced it to £650 now if you are able to take up a last minute booking. There's already an autumnal nip in the air. September is such a beautiful month in the lakes. Plus, the crowds have thinned out, the children are back at school- perfect. Can you take advantage of our special offer?

Here's a photo taken on one of the many walks from the door. This is from the Alcock Tarn path looking down on Grasmere, taken on a winter's day. This view could be on your doorstep .....

Just one week available now in September in our Lakes Holiday Cottage.

The guests who left on Saturday have emailed to say how much they loved the cottage, and the guests from Holland who arrived on Saturday sent me a lovely photo of their family enjoying their first meal , outside on the terrace, with the caption "Sue- we are happily Settled!"

 All good!

 We've now let one of the two weeks we had available in September, so we just have 20 to 27 September and 18 to 25 October available before the clocks go back. From 1 November until the Christmas week the rate goes down to a very attractive £490 per week. It's a warm, cosy cottage with an open fire- perfect for a winter break.

Here's a rather arty photo that I took on Brockstone Cottage terrace one misty moisty morning in winter.

We've had a September cancellation- two weeks now available.

September is one of the most popular months in the year for visits to the Lakes amongst those who are not tied to school holidays.. There days are still long, the weather is often great, there is a hint of autumn in the air, and the masses of tourists who hit the lakes in August are long gone.

We have had a cancellation for the week commencing 20 September. The rate for this peak week is £750.
If you are lucky enough to be able to stay for 2 weeks, arriving Saturday 13 September, we are offering a great two week rate of just £1,250.

Dappled sun hits the dresser in Brockstone Lounge

The sign on our gate post

A late autumn photo taken just a few minute's walk from Brockstone

We always like to add a few photos to our blogs. Hope you like them.  Please contact us asap if you can take advantage of this September stay.

Our Grasmere Cottage is now fully booked until 13 September.

We've found the perfect match for the two weeks we still had available in July. A family of 3 who wanted to book at the last minute for those exact weeks have snapped up our Lakes holiday cottage at a great rate. Smiles all round.

The next week which we have available now is from Saturday 13 September, which will be £750 for the week. We then have the week from 18 October, also £750.

These are the only two weeks we have available between now and November. If you would like a cosy cottage stay during the winter months, the rate is just £490 per week from November to March. (excludes Christmas and New Year)

Here's a snap I took in winter of the view from Brockstone Cottage terrace. If there is any sun going, you'll get it at our cottage overlooking Rydal Water. Here you can see Wetherlam and the Coniston Fells, lightly coated in snow.

Huge reduction for July weeks in our Lakes Cottage.

What wonderful weather. Still no one has used our new barbecue, and the Dutch guests that are staying at our Lakes holiday cottage at the moment ( for two weeks) say they are not BBQ fans. They are not football fans either, which seems a waste given that their lot are doing so much better than our lot.

We're pretty booked at the cottage for the next few months, apart from a two week spell in July. To encourage a late booking, we've slashed the rate form £870 per week to £690 per week, and if you can stay for the whole two weeks we can reduce it further.

There's lots happening  the Lakes in those two weeks, as well as all the usual outdoors activities.The Summer of Cycling starts at Brockhole on 22 July, and The Famous Ambleside Sports Day is Thursday 31 July.

There is a varied range of events on at Wordsworth's home, Dove Cottage, just a short walk from Brockstone Cottage, and the National Trust has recently added lots of events at the newly opened Allan Bank Grasmere and excellent child friendly events as well as great walks at Wray Castle.


Allan Bank is 1 mile from Brockstone cottage, Wray Castle is 4 miles.

A walk from Brockstone to Grasmere and back is flat and easy. You can do it with a pushchair ( we've done it with our 9 month grandson) Stop for a pint in Tweedies Garden. One of our favourite short walks. Here's a photo from the path by Grasmere, looking over to Allan Bank.

And here's the table at Tweedies- there were three taster beers- one down two to go.

There's so much to do, fun to be had, the outdoors to enjoy. Our Lakes holiday cottage with amazing views is an excellent base for your summer holiday in 2014.

Barbecue time at our Lake Holiday Cottage

It's warm and sunny, perfect weather for a barbecue. Some time ago we bought a lovely new barbecue for our Grasmere holiday cottage. We thought that maybe that was something our guests would love that we hadn't provided.

However, it seems that guests are just too busy walking, boating, sightseeing and having fun around the Lakes to want to spend time with the hot coals. As yet, no one has used the new barbecue!

If you haven't booked our cottage with amazing views yet, your next chance would be for the week beginning 19 July, or the week beginning 26 July. We've reduced the week to £750, which we think is great value for a family holiday in the school holiday period.

For more info and reviews (5 stars) click through this link.

Free nights in our Lakes Cottage?

Here's a great last minute offer.
Arrive Thursday 5 June, leave Saturday 14 June, and pay only £590!

We've already reduced the rate for a week's stay from Saturday 7 June to just £590. Now, if you can arrive on the Thursday you can have Thursday and Friday nights free of charge!

Bargain? I think so.

For more about our Grasmere Holiday Cottage look at our new website or go to Holiday Lettings to see more and read our 5 Star reviews on Trip Advisor.

Leaving you with a view of the terrace at Brockstone. There's a barbecue in the outhouse if the weather is good. In fact the BBC forecast is for sun, some showers, and temps in the 20s. Perfect.

Just 6 weeks still available in our Holiday cottage until November

Our Lakes Holiday Cottage, Brockstone is nearly fully booked from now until November.

Our Grasmere holiday cottage has amazing views, is perfectly located for walkers, and has all the facilities you need for a great Lakes holiday. It's not just me that says that ( I would, wouldn't I?). You can read our reviews on Trip Advisor Here . If you discount the odd nutty review ( you can't please everybody all of the time, obviously) you'll see that our holiday cottage is very popular. Could it be perfect for you?

We can offer the week commencing 31 May, and the week commencing 7 June, at the special reduced last minute rate of £590 per week. If you could stay for two weeks, we would offer a two week stay for only £1080. What a bargain!

The next weeks we have are the weeks commencing 19 July and 26 July. We have reduced these school holiday weeks from £870 to £750 per week. If you want to book the two weeks, we can offer that for £1,400. We think this is a great rate for high season.

After that we have the week commencing 13 September for £750, and the week commencing 18 October for £750.

That's all we have until November. If you would like to take advantage of any of these offers, we'd love to hear from you.

Here's a photo I took on Saturday, looking out of the twin bedroom window at Brockstone. You can see Wetherlam , Coniston on the horizon to the left, and Sergeant Man, Grasmere on the right. The wire you can see again the background of the fields full of May blossom is bringing your free unlimited broadband to you at Brockstone cottage.

Last minute reduction for a week from 17 May in our Lake District Cottage

Brockstone Cottage is available from 17 to 24 May, and we have reduced the rate to just £550 for the week.

We've just checked the weather forecast and it's looking pretty good. The Lakes are looking amazing. My brother, who is a horticulturalist says it's a "mast year" when all the elements combine to give greater abundance than usual. This explains the amazing number and colour of bluebells, and the wonderful blossom and flowers on the camellias, magnolia, azaleas and rhododendrons.

If you can take advantage of our last minute special offer you'll see the Lakes at their colourful best.

Here's a photo I took last week in Rydal Village, just a beautiful short walk from Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage.

If you have a spare minute, please could you visit our Brockstone Lake district holiday cottage page on Facebook and give it a Like please? Thank you.

Our Lakes Holiday Cottage has another great review.

The guests who left Brockstone Cottage on Saturday have posted a very nice review on Trip Advisor. You can see the reviews of our Grasmere Cottage here 

The Lakes are looking fabulous at the moment. The bluebells are still blooming, and the azaleas and rhododendrons are just amazing. In fact everything looks even better than usual this spring. The conditions over the last year have led to outstanding blossoms and the trees with their fresh leaves are stunning. For some lovely pics that I took at this time last year, please take a look at our new work in progress Brockstone website. I'll be out and about with my camera in the next few days updating my picture library. What a year!

We've just been updating our availability and rates on the Holiday Lettings and Home Away websites where we post all the details for our Grasmere Holiday Cottage. We've reduced rates for the weeks that we still have available in May, June and July, so if you are thinking of visiting the Lakes, and want to try our cottage (it has amazing views) now would be a good time to come. Take advantage of our last minute offers.

We've also updated the rates and availability as far as March 2015 if you would like to book further ahead.

I always like to have a picture on my blog, so here are two I took a few days ago on the circular walk round Rydal Water, which passes by Brockstone Cottage. One is of Rydal Hall gardens, and one it taken in Rydal Village.

The fabulous Rydal Hall gardens- a great stop on a walk round Rydal Water from Brockstone Cottage.

Rydal Village looking beautiful

Bluebells everywhere

Has there ever been a better year for bluebells?

Yesterday was warm and sunny, so we set off round Rydal Water. For once I remembered my camera. Here are a few of the photos from this wonderful walk round Rydal Water from White Moss or Brockstone Cottage.


Bluebells, White Moss Woods.

Along Rydal Water- looking over to Brockstone Lakes Holiday Cottage (that blob on the hillside)

Bluebells in Rydal Woods ( I know they look similar, but you can see Rydal Water in the background)

Dora's field at Rydal, is famous for its daffodils, but right now it's full of ...................

Yes- you've guessed correctly.

We headed back along the coffin route, and at one point Peter climbed on a log to look over the wall to the left. We often nose about looking for squirrels, fallen trees, anything interesting, and here, hidden from view, was an amazing small field absolutely full of bluebells.

Mossy wall in front, field of perfect bluebells hidden from the path by the wall.

Should you have a spare week from Saturday, we've reduced the rate for our cottage ( just a few minutes walks from these bluebells) to £550. The week from 19 May is also just £550 now. These last minute offers are excellent value. For more information you can see our other website  or more articles that I've written via this link to our Grasmere holiday cottage with amazing views.

We now have unlimited broadband for our guests at Brockstone Cottage

At last! We finally have access to the internet from our Grasmere holiday cottage, Brockstone. I won’t bore you with the whole story as to why it took so long. Suffice to say that it has been a struggle. BT seem to have a whole new dictionary to explain their actions. How a communications company can fail to communicate is very puzzling.

I've wasted hours hanging around waiting following messages in which they told me I MUST be on site between 1 and 6 pm only to be told (after I’d made several furious phone calls) that this could never had happened due to “an engineering plan needing approval”.

I love the conversation I had with my “Special personal BT manager”  yesterday who advised me that they were “fast tracking” my connection and that it would definitely be connected sometime before midnight, 24 April, not 30 April as feared, completely ignoring the fact that I had been promised it for 3 April. Oh well, the main thing is that it’s now working, the signal is good, and our guests are very happy.

Bluebells in Rydal Woods, a short walk from Brockstone Cottage

I like to add a picture to every blog post, but a photo of a router doesn’t really look that great, so instead I’m showing you a picture of bluebells in Rydal woods.
We have two weeks available in May, and we've reduced the rates. If you come early in May, the bluebells will be looking and smelling wonderful. Did you know that bluebells have a lovely scent? I fell calmer just thinking about them.  Away with all this BT anger- all is well…..

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Stay in the Lakes for a week in May in our lovely cottage

Brockstone Cottage is available for the week beginning Saturday 3 May, and also for the week beginning Saturday 17 May.

We have just reduced the weekly rate in our Lakes holiday cottage to £590, or you could stay for a shorter break, minimum of 3 nights, for £120 per night.

For more information, you can look at our new website ( which is still a work in progress), or see another page that I've written which has lots of useful links giving you information about the area, walks and things to do. 

You'll probably catch a glimpse of our local heron on White Moss Tarn, or maybe you'll see a red squirrel- no photo yet- they never wait for me to get my camera ready.

"Everything perfect"- guests' comment about Brockstone Cottage!

Guest who have just left Brockstone really loved it, and can't wait to visit again.

They said "You know, when you go to a holiday cottage there is usually something that is a bit disappointing, that could perhaps have been a little bit better.  Well, there was nothing at all about your holiday cottage that disappointed. It was perfect"

Lovely comment!

If you would like to visit, our next available week is from Saturday 1 May. If you would like to see some glorious photos taken last May on a very short walk from Brockstone Cottage, you can click through this link now which will take you to a new Brockstone website. It's a work in progress.

Here's a taster of the gardens around a half mile of Brockstone in May- one of the loveliest times to visit the Lakes.

Special Offer 11 - 18 April in our Grasmere Cottage

We have reduced the rate for this week to just £590 if two of you are staying, or £640 if there are 3 or 4 guests.

As a further offer, you can stay free of charge on Thursday, 10 April, or arrive early on Friday 11th ( usual check in time from 4pm)

We've started a new website for Brockstone, our Lakes cottage with amazing views. It's still being built, but if you'd like to take a look and maybe leave a comment , or share it ,that would be great.

I've put some pretty pics of rhododenrons on there that I took last year in May. They could well be early this year.

Here's one I took earlier.

This from our neighbour's garden at Heugh Folds, just along the road from Brockstone. It is an amazing garden in spring.

Easter has now been booked in our cottage, but we have 8 nights for the price of 7 from 10 April

If you can arrive on Thursday 10 April, you can stay 8 nights, leaving Friday 18 April, for just £590.

This rate is for 2 guests.

If there are 3 or 4 guests, the rate is £640.

This is a great Easter offer!

Snow on the Lake District hills today

With a change in the weather today, the temperature has dipped, and snow fell overnight. We had a light coating of white in the garden, but up on Fairfield and Helvellyn the snow is thick.

We are having sunshine and showers, and in the sunshine the hills look beautiful.

If you would like to stay at our Lake District cottage, Brockstone Cottage,, the earliest date we have is a 3 night stay from 4 April for £350.
Easter is also still available, with arrival day either Thursday, Friday or Saturday, 17th, 18th or 19th April.

I love Pegging Out

I don't know what "pegging out" means to you, but in my native Lancashire it refers to the time honoured job of pegging the washing out on the line.

Why do I love pegging out?

I thing there are 3 main reasons.

1. It takes me back to my childhood, to the days before tumble dryers, when the world seemed a very simple place ( as it does to most young children I think)
2. I love the idea that I'm saving money by not using the tumble dryer. All those Kilowatt hours being saved from the clutches on British Gas.
3. If I'm pegging out, it must be a dry day in the Lakes. It is probably even a sunny day in the Lakes. Every dry , sunny day is something to feel very happy about. Especially in the Lakes, as it does sometimes rain here (no rain, no Lakes as we say)

Here's today's washing on the line.

It's bath mats, towels and hi tech wicking garments on my line today- not exactly the strange flannels and woolies you see on Call the Midwife  (I love that programme- they are big fans of Pegging Out ).

It's another really lovely Lakes day today. If you want to visit, our cottage, Brockstone, is available for short breaks. You can read about our Lakes Holiday Cottage on Trip Advisor here.

It's a sunny spring day in the Lakes

Looking out of the window this morning, the sky is blue, the sun is coming up and the birds are singing. All thoughts of sitting at the desk catching up on paperwork have gone. It's a day to get outside.

We're promised several days of glorious sun. Usually we'd be getting ready to open White Moss House for our bed and breakfast guests, but we're having a break this year. We are still letting our wonderful Lakes holiday cottage, Brockstone, and it is available for short breaks in March and early April. We might spend today in the garden up at Brockstone cottage.

It's such a sunny spot it's an absolute joy to "work" up there. It's just a few hundred yards from White Moss House by footpath ( though it's over a mile by road). It's also a few hundred yards by road (well, track) from the next nearest cottage, but it feels quite remote when you are there as you can't see any other buildings and only walkers and their dogs go past. I'll take my camera, but meanwhile, here's a photo of Brockstone in the autumn. It could be you opening that gate to a wonderful Lake District break in the next few weeks!

WiFi comes to our Lakes Holiday Cottage

BT permitting, we should have free unlimited Broadband at our Lake District holiday cottage by 3rd April.

Guests have always been welcome to use the free WiFi at White Moss House, but for even greater convenience we have persuaded BT that they can put a phone line into our cottage. The engineers have not yet been out to check where the cottage is, but we are optimistic that the lovely people at BT will not be daunted by the (relative) isolation of beautiful Brockstone.

Those of you who follow this blog (and there must be quite a few, as we've had over 21,000 visits) might like to know that we've started a new blog for Brockstone, our Lake District Cottage with amazing views .
Much more to come here. You could bookmark the page and come back from time to time.

This is the photo , taken by me in January 2012, that I've edited to make the banner heading. Not bad eh? It is, of course, Helm Crag and Grasmere taken from the shore of Grasmere, just 10 minutes walk from our holiday cottage and White Moss.

For more circular walks from White Moss click here.

Remember the weather in March last year?

I've just been looking through photos from last March. Here's one I took at Brockstone Cottage on 24 March 2013. Those of you familiar with the walk from Grasmere to Rydal will recognise the gate with the unusual fastening. It's just below our Lakes holiday cottage. One day I'm planning to write a blog post with photos about gates and their fastenings- there so many different types - I find it fascinating. Maybe I'm a bit of a sad case.

Rydal Water from our Lakes Holiday Cottage March 2013

Snow, grey skies, grey lake in March last year....quite a contrast to the one I took and posted on our blog yesterday.

If you are reading this post and have a moment to spare, please can you visit and give a LIKE to our Brockstone Cottage page on Facebook? Thank you. Please click here to get to our Facebook page.

A welcome cup of tea overlooking Rydal Water on our Lakes cottage terrace

Our Lakes Holiday Cottage, Brockstone, doesn't have any guests staying this week, so we've taken the chance to do some gardening there- mostly pruning and cutting back. Everything seems to be growing there right now, (including the snowdrops which are lovely, and the daffodils that are just coming out.)

We took a very well earned cup of tea on the terrace. You can see Rydal Water down below in the background. You could have this view next week! The cottage is available at just £290 for a 4 night midweek stay, or £290 for a 3 night weekend stay. If you can stay a week, it's £450.

Not great photos technically, but you get the picture!

Easter in the Lake District 2014- our cottage is still available

Easter is late this year so we're hoping that it will be warm and sunny. Our Lakes Holiday Cottage, Brockstone, would be a great place to stay for your Easter break.

The days will certainly be long. My research tell me that there will be 14 hours 13 minutes of daylight on Easter Sunday. In the Lakes, the sun will rise around 6 am and the sun will set around 8.15 pm.

This means that with a little luck,  you will be able to sit out on the terrace in the morning having breakfast watching the sun come up over Rydal Water, and then you'll be chilling after a day's walking having supper and a drink watching the sun set over Wetherlam, the Coniston Fells and Silver Howe.

Here's a photo of the view from our Lakes Holiday cottage terrace in winter. You can sit for hours watching the shifting light and clouds. The views are amazing . You can read some of our reviews here.

A week at Easter either 12- 19 April or 19-26 April is just £790, all bills included.

Why not contact us and make a booking?

Can you spot our Lakes Holiday Cottage in this picture?

I set off from White Moss in the sunshine this morning. From Loughrigg Terrace you can look back to White Moss, and if you lift your eyes and look, you can see our Lake District Holiday Cottage, Brockstone. Can you see it in this photo? It's right in the middle, on the side of Nab Scar, in a clearing between two sets of trees.

If I swing the camera down a little you would see Grasmere Lake to the left and the River Rothay running by.
Here's another view .

And here is more of a close up view. All these are taken on a great little walk, which you can do from the door of our Lakes Holiday Cottage.

You can stay here in March for just £290 for a four night midweek break, - one of our last minute offers. You can read more about walks from White Moss and Brockstone Cottage here.

Stay in our Lakes Holiday Cottage in March 2014 at great last minute rates.

Have you got a week or a few days free in your diary in March? If so you could take advantage of our last minute offers and stay in our Lake District cottage with amazing views our special last minute rates.

Stay any time from now until Friday 28 March ( last night available is Thurdsay 27 March), and take advantage of our special offers.

7 nights £450

3 nights at a weekend £290

4 nights midweek £290.

This photo shows Brockstone Cottage. In the past it was two cottages for Rydal Estate wokers and their families. Now it is one cottage just for you!

All bills are included. Towels and bedlinen provided. The beds will be made up and ready for you on arrival. The log fire will be laid. For more information you can see our Grasmere holiday cottage on the Home Away website ( formerly Holiday Rentals) or on the Holiday Lettings website , where our cottage gets 5 Stars from Trip Advisor.

Please email esuedixon@gmail.com for more information, or ring us on 015394 35295.

Words by the Water, Keswick, March 2014

Visitors to the Lakes in March 2014 can join enjoy the wonderful Words by the Water Festival, taking part in the Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, from 7 - 16 March 2014.

Those of us who live in the Lakes consider ourselves very fortunate to have this event on our doorstep. Billed as a "Festival of words and ideas", it features a wide range of authors , broadcasters and all round very interesting people.

I'm keen to hear Joanna Trollope, A. L. Kennedy, Philippa Gregory and Penelope Lively.
Or would I like to hear Melvyn Bragg ( again), who is President of the Festival?
Maybe Jeremy Paxman? George Monbiot? Michael Rosen? This is an outstanding programme.

Here's a link to the Words by the Water Festival so that you can see for yourself the great range of speakers for 2014.

If you don't live in the area, you could rent our Lakes Holiday Cottage and drive the very scenic 20 minutes to Keswick to hear your choice of speakers. A week in March is just £490 if you book during January ( usual rate £550) Here is a link to more info about our Historic Grasmere Holiday Cottage with amazing views .

On Silver Howe, March 2011- Grasmere Village and Dunmail Raise in the background.

March can be a great time for walking in the Lakes. The days are already quite long, and the weather can be good ( but no promises!) Here's a photo ( a rare one of me - I usually take them) taken on a sunny March day. It was so warm I didn't need a jacket, even on the top. It's taken on Silver Howe, which is a walk than can be done directly from Brockstone, our Grasmere Holiday Cottage. In fact, you can see Brockstone from the top of Silver Howe ( and vice versa of course)

Grasmere taken March 2011 on Silver Howe walk

Here's a photo taken on the way to Silver Howe on the same day. Lovely.

Book our Lake District Holiday Cottage for March at special rates.

If you book a week now in our Grasmere Holiday Cottage, a full week ( arriving Saturday) will be just £490. This includes all linen, towels and central heating. No extra bills.

You can see more about our Lake Holiday Cottage, which is called "Brockstone" ( brock is the local name for badger- you may see one), by clicking through this link.

You can also look at the pages on the tabs at the top of this page, though this is a work in progress...

A walk to Alcock Tarn from White Moss - glorious views and a wonderful sunset.

Yesterday the weather was gorgeous, and we headed off at about 2.15 from White Moss House, on one our wonderful White Moss Walks. We went up to our holiday rental cottage, Brockstone, then headed up the steep path by the side of Dunnabeck, heading past the lovely old sheep fold and on up to Alcock tarn.

Alcock Tarn

Setting off back down via the main Grasmere path, the snowy Langdale Ridge forms the horizon.

Heading back - Langdales in the background

On the way down the main path you have brilliant views over Grasmere Village .

Grasmere Village from a point just below the flag post at the top of the Grasmere Guides Fell Race route.

The day ended with a beautiful sunset - here the sky is looking amazing over Grasmere Lake

Sunset over Grasmere with the Coniston Fells in the background.

Just a reminder- you could have this walk right on your doorstep if you book our Lakes Holiday Cottage. Special rates for March if you book right now.

Blue Sky at last

The weather has picked up over the last few days. Looking out of my office window right now I can see blue sky over Nab Scar. The BBC website tells me it is raining right now. Don't always believe the BBC- it's not. In 5 minutes I'll have my boots on for a quick walk, all part of the New Year's resolution to go for a walk every day whatever the weather. January 10th - so far so good!

If you can get a cheap deal to visit the Lakes this weekend you'll find that it's a really good time to visit. It's quiet, but the walking is great . Make sure your boots are waterproof though. Maybe this would be a good time to buy a new pair in Grasmere or Ambleside? There are some excellent sales on.

Here's a photo I took yesterday showing a sprinkling of snow on Seat Sandal.

Seat Sandal Grasmere from Loughrigg Terrace- taken on a short walk from White Moss yesterday.

This photo is taken from Loughrigg Terrace, an easy circular walk from White Moss . We are taking a break from B & B at White Moss House in 2014, but you can still stay in the wonderful Lake District Holiday Cottage, Brockstone , which has fabulous views over Loughrigg towards Wetherlam and the Coniston Fells, with views over Rydal Water as well.

It's fully booked until the end of February, and for many weeks in the year, but if you want to book now for March, we are offering special rates. You can check our Grasmere Holiday Cottage offer here.

That's all for today folks- the outdoors is calling...

Reasons to be cheerful, even though it's January.

Walking round Rydal Water today I met a man who said "aren't we lucky- it's dry and there's a hint of sun". After so much bad weather, that was indeed a reason to be cheerful. Having such great walks on the doorstep is another, though as this man was from Buckinghamshire he wasn't a lucky local like me.

Here's a photo from the path just by Rydal Caves, taken this afternoon.

Rydal Water looking over to White Moss House and Brockstone, our Lake District Holiday cottage

Here's a description of the walk round Rydal Water if you would like to get more idea of the wonderful walks from White Moss and from our holiday cottage .We have guests there who have booked to rent the cottage for the whole of January. We were concerned that the wet weather might be daunting, but as they are from Chicago where it's been -20 C, they are very happy with the mild weather we're getting here.

The cottage is booked until 27 February, but if you want to book if for a week between then and the end of March, and can pay in full before the end of January, the rate will be only £490 per week ( usually £550). This includes all laundry, heating etc.

One more reason to bee cheerful- a lovely little red squirrel keeps popping up in our garden. I thought they would be hibernating at this time of year, but this one is bright and breezy. I never have the camera to to hand at the right time, but I WILL get a photo soon.

BTW, if you're in Grasmere tomorrow, Thursday 9 January, why not come to the Grasmere WI Open meeting at 2.30 pm in the Tithe Barn. Only £3 for a fascinating talk, tea, cakes and raffle. More details about Grasmere W I here.

Stay in our Lake District cottage this spring and save £60

Are you looking for a break in the Lake District for a week between 27 February and 29 March 2014? If so, Brockstone Cottage, on the famous "coffin road" walk from Rydal to Grasmere may be perfect for you.

• Great Views
• Woodland Garden
• Two bedrooms
• All modern comforts
• Spa Bath
• Well equipped
• Log Fire
• Superb walks from the door,- easy strolls or high fells
• South facing- if there is sun, Brockstone gets it all day and all evening.

If you can book and pay in full before 30 January, the rate for a week will be £490 instead of the advertised £550.

We might be able to offer short breaks- please contact us for a quote.

Lunch on the terrace in January at Brockstone Lake District holiday cottage

This is the view from the terrace looking west. You can catch a glimpse of Sergeant Man over the Silver Howe Ridge. Look the other way and you get a lovely view of Rydal Water.

Route planning with Rydal Water in the background.

A view in summer looking south east. You can see Rydal Water and Loughrigg in the background.