The view from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage

Good morning from the Lake District. The views are amazing.

December weekend offer in the Lake District

Treat yourselves to a December weekend in the Lake District. 

 Have you ever considered taking a weekend break in the Lake District in December? If not, just take a moment to read our blogs and posts about why this is a great idea.

You can read all about it here.

If you follow this blogger blog of ours, you might also like to bookmark the blog on our Brockstone Grasmere Cottage website. There is lots of information and loads of beautiful photos.

Our offer is for the weekends of 2 December and 9 December. Four nights for the price of four. Just £330 for a four night stay. There is so much to do and see in the Lakes in December. The locals make a huge effort putting on Christmas Markets, shows, Christmas Lights, Craft Fairs....really, it's just the best place for Christmas shopping.

Windermere Christmas Market

Add to that all the usual wonderful outdoor events and walks that the Lake District has to offer and you can see why Winter Breaks in the Lake District have become so very popular.

Rydal Water in winter

Come and visit. Stay at Brockstone Grasmere Cottage. We look forward to hearing from you.

Monarch Airline collapse

Very sad to hear of the collapse of Monarch. We've had many happy holidays in Lanzarote and other places over the last 40 years that have begun and ended with a Monarch flight from Manchester. I know they've been on the edge for a few years now, but we'll miss them. They provided lots of flights from Manchester and the service was pretty good.

If you were planning to go away for the late half term week ( from Saturday 28 October) and were booked on Monarch flights- maybe you'll want to stay in the UK now? Maybe you've nothing planned but would like an autumn break in the beautiful Lake District? This is a cheeky reminder that we still have the second half term week available at Brockstone Grasmere Cottage , at a reduced rate for last minute booking. (was £890, now £690)

Here's our website Brockstone Grasmere Cottage

Some photos

and here's the link to our Facebook page. On Twitter we're @GrasmereCottage and @whitemosshouse

Autumn Mist Grasmere

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" John Keats wrote his poem "To Autumn" on 19 September 1819.

Today's weather in Grasmere certainly has the Autumn mist in evidence. This morning's walk from White Moss was my favourite one hour walk, round by Grasmere shore, Deer Bolt Woods, and back via Loughrigg Terrace. You can find a description of my walks from White Moss here- click on White Moss Walks.

The walk takes you to the shore of Grasmere , approached by a bridge across the River Rothay.

Autumn morning Grasmere Weir.

From the shore of Grasmere at 11am this morning, National Trust Allan Bank could be seen through the mist.

Allan Bank glimpsed through the mist over Grasmere

Twenty minutes later, this was the view from Loughrigg Terrace, a few metres above the shore of Grasmere .

Grasmere from Loughrigg Terrace- Allan Bank no longer visible.

The mist had come down and it had started to drizzle. This had not put off the walkers, who were out in strength on this mild, misty, moisty Monday morning. ( how's that for alliteration?)

If you want to visit this beautiful area, our cottage, Brockstone Grasmere Cottage could be just the place for you. We still have the week from 28 October available at a special rate, and we have short breaks and excellent value weeks available in November, December and January. You can read more about our Grasmere Cottage winter breaks here. 

Here's a photo showing the exact same viewof Grasmere as in the photo above, taken on a clear autumn day.

Same view, different day!

And here's one taken in winter, with a hint of snow on the fells. This photo is of Rydal Water. You can see Rydal Water from the terrace of Brockstone Grasmere Cottage.

Rydal Water on a winter's day.

As I headed up through Deer Bolt Woods, three sheep came charging at me. There are never usually any sheep in Deer Bolts, so I wasn't surprised when the farmer and his sheep dog rushed by me , the farmer bellowing at his dogs and the sheep in an attempt to get them back.

A group of visitors were entranced. They had obviously watched Countryfile on the BBC last night, which featured the One Man and His Dog competition. Here was One (very angry) man and his dog in real life! "Oh, it's just like on TV" they said. I don't actually remember the farmers on Countryfile sounding quite so cross!

Autumn and Winter breaks in the Lake District.

October is one of my favourite months in the Lake District. The summer crowds have gone, and the shorter days are often crisp and bright. The leaves are turning all sorts of amazing colours. It's a perfect time for walking in the Lake District ( now a UNESCO World Heritage Site)

If you stay at Brockstone Grasmere Cottage, which is in the White Moss area of Grasmere, here are some of the wonderful circular walks that you can do from the door.

Why not take a look at our Brockstone Grasmere Cottage website by clicking here  to see more information and photos about the Lakes in October? You'll also see that we still have two weeks available in our Grasmere Cottage with amazing views. What's more, we have reduced the rates for those weeks. Maybe you can take advantage of our special  autumn offer?

Here are a few photographs taken in and around Brockstone Grasmere cottage in autumn. Tempted?

From 4 November 2017 until 16 March 2018 we are offering short winter breaks ( excludes Christmas and New Year) We can be flexible about changeover days, but a 3 day weekend break or a 4 night midweek break will be at the special rate of £330. If you can stay a full week that would be £495. Why not treat yourself?

Why not take a Christmas shopping break in the Lake District. We've got lots of lovely independent shops offering original high quality clothing, gifts, food, drink artwork- all sorts. What's more, you could visit a Christmas Market in the Lake District  and have lots of fun whilst doing your shopping.
Here's a photo from last year's Windermere Christmas market.

Christmas shopping Windermere

We are fully booked for Christmas, but we can offer a special 3 Night New Year Break. Saturday 30 December, Sunday 31 December and Monday 1 January 2018 at the rate of £540. If you would like to stay longer, up to a maximum of 4 extra nights from 2 January can be booked for the additional rate of only £70 per night.

These rates are for bookings made directly with us and are subject to availability.

It might snow-though it probably won't. However, if it does snow in the Lakes, the main A591 road is always kept clear. The snow goes fast on the lower ground, leaving beautiful snow capped mountains like those in these photos.

These photos of Grasmere and Rydal water were taken on a short walk, just minutes from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage.

Keep up to date with Brockstone Grasmere Cottage on our Facebook Page ( please Like the page), our Twitter account @GrasmereCottage or on our main Brockstone Grasmere website where lots more information can be found.

Looking forward to Autumn

I'm looking forward to Autumn. This may sound perverse, as schools have just broken up , and many of us are still looking forward to a sunny summer holiday. I love summer too- of course. We've got a family holiday to look forward to and hopefully some lovely sunny Lake District August days warm enough to eat out in the garden.

However, when summer comes to an end it's uplifting to have an Autumn break to look forward to. Last October the weather was superb. Here's a post I wrote on my blog at the end of that wonderful month. Please click here Here's a photo from that post.

Penny Rock Wood Grasmere, October

If you're thinking of taking a week's walking holiday in the Lake District this October, you might like to try making Brockstone Grasmere Cottage your base . We have the week 7-14 October available, and also the half term week 28 October- 4 November. The perfect Autumn break. Both of these weeks have been reduced by £100 for last minute bookings.

From 4 November you can stay for short breaks, with a minimum stay for 3 nights. Rates start at £330 for a 3 night midweek break. The best value is for stays of a week. We can be flexible about changeover days.

To check rates and availability please use the booking checker at the bottom of this page. 

I have a lovely Pinterest board with more gorgeous Lake District Autumn photos. You find it here. Take an Autumn break in the UK's newest UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get out in the fresh air. Walk yourself happy. If you stay at Brockstone Grasmere Cottage you can bring your dog.

One more photo of leaves in Penny Rock Wood, Grasmere, just a few minutes beautiful walk from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage.Find us on Facebook here

Penny Rock Wood, on a beautiful short walk from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage

Beautiful Autumn colours in the UNESCO World Heritage Lake District.

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Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Lake District has just been awarded World Heritage site status. We knew we lived in a very special area, and we're very proud that UNESCO has recognised this.

The press in the UK have been writing about this. Here's an article from the Telegraph.

Praise for the Lake District World Heritage Site from the Telegraph.

The Lake District is now ranked along side the "must see" places in the world, such as he Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu. The Lake District is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year. You can read some of my tips on year round visiting here.

Yesterday, there were TWO articles in the Sunday Times. The first article was about living in the Lake District- where to buy, why it is so good to live here, with tips about great walks, sdrives, restaurants and so on.  Where did they pick as the Best Village? Grasmere! Here's the page, and the post about Grasmere enlarged.

The Lake District- why the Sunday Times loves the Lakes

Grasmere- the Best Village!

You can stay in our historic Grasmere cottage with stunning views and experience this beautiful area for yourselves. Our next availability is for the week 26 August-2 September, which is available at the last minute due to a cancellation. It's the week of Grasmere Sports, and you can also take in the Grasmere Guzzler Beer Festival 

Find out lots more about our beautiful cottage Brockstone Grasmere Cottage, on our website. 

Here's a tempting photo! The cottage is on a famous walking route- no passing traffic. At the end of the day, take off the boots, soak in a spa bath, then take a glass of something cold and sparkling onto the south facing terrace and drink in the view.

You can follow daily posts and information on our Facebook Page. Please visit, and Like the page- thank you.

We're also on Twitter @GrasmereCottage  andfwe also tweet as @whitemosshouse.

To check rates and availability of our Grasmere Cottage look at our "How to make a booking" page. 

Thanks, 

Sue 

July- Rushbearing time

July is Rushbearing time in Ambleside and Grasmere. Dating back centuries, this ancient custom is still very much part of the annual village calendar.

Ambleside Rushbearing is Saturday 1 July. For more information click through this link.

Our sons went to junior school in Ambleside, and we took part , walking around the village with our bearings, every year.

This year I'll be joining in with Grasmere Rushbearing on Saturday 8 July.There are differences between the two villages and their traditions, but at heart they both date back to the days when church floors were made of mud and soil. The fresh rushes ( reeds) were picked in  July and laid on the flors of the church to generate a sweet smell and softer floor.

Grasmere has the "Rushbearing Maidens". As you can see from these photos, thing haven't changed all that much over the years.

You can see the Rushbearing Maidens in both photos, wearing the same dresses.

Fingers crossed for good weather this year for our Rushbearing processions.

Guests at our Lake District Cottage love the view

Guests who left our Lake District cottage this weekend loved the view so much they are booking to come again in the autumn. In fact they loved the whole cottage, and their dog loved it too.We're dog friendly.

Here are a few photos taken recently so you can see what we mean

Back from a day's hike- boots off! Rydal Water below

Relax- we deserve this after our busy day

The View. That's Wetherlam over at Coniston on the far horizon

These photos were taken at 7pm on a bright and sunny April evening. If there's sun in the Lakes, Brockstone Cottage gets it. The South facing terrace, up on the hillside, gets sun all day. Wonderful!

The next dates we have available are in June. Check our website, Brockstone Grasmere for availability. 

Grasmere Cottage Special Offer

View from the bedroom window

Our Grasmere Cottage with amazing views has been reduced to £590 (from £790) for a last minute booking week Saturday 22 April to Saturday 29 April. What a bargain! 2 bedrooms, sleeps four, but a lovely peaceful romantic getaway for two guests .

Welcome to Brockstone Cottage

We would be happy to let a short break this week, 3 nights minimum stay, from £350.

There are primroses.......................

and bluebells........................................

See our website for more details of this special Grasmere Cottage, including our 5 Star reviews by clicking here

Visit us on Facebook here  ( and please give us a "like" whilst you're there)

April Flowers

This morning was glorious, so out I went with the camera to record some of my favourites in the garden right now.

Magnolia

Magnolia White Moss

Fritillary

Fritillary and euphorbia

Euphorbia

Bleeding Heart

That's enough for now! The bluebells are appearing in the wild part of the garden.  Just a reminder that we still have an April week available at Brockstone Grasmere Cottage at a special offer rate of £640. This is the week of 22-29 April, when the bluebells should be at their best.
Just one more picture of bluebells near Brockstone Cottage taken last year...you could be here two weeks from now. You might like to follow our Grasmere Cottage on Facebook by clicking here.

Daffodils at Brockstone Cottage Grasmere

The daffodils at Brockstone Cottage have been beautiful this year. Grasmere is famous for daffodils, thanks to William Wordsworth who often walked past our cottage back in the days when it was two cottages owned by the Le Fleming family of Rydal Hall, who used the cottages for their estate workers.

Bench in Brockstone Garden

 Here is a pretty bench set in the corner of Brockstone garden. From the bench you can look down on the footpath below. You can see the gate on the "coffin route" through which many people walk every day on their hike between Grasmere and Rydal. The view from the bench is in the picture below.

Looking down from Brockstone garden to the path below, with views over Rydal Water

Turn the other way, and look up the hill. More daffodils. Brockstone garden extends as far as the fence you can see, and beyond that there is fellside, leading on to the side of Nab Scar fell.

Brockstone garden looking uphill from the bench- full of daffodils

 Brockstone Grasmere Cottage has a wild woodland garden. In March , this is absolutely full of daffodils. Guests are very welcome to pick them and take a big bunch home at the end of their week in the cottage.

Brockstone garden from the side window in the four poster master bedroom

The picture above is taken through the side window of the master bedroon at Brockstone Cottage. The bedroom has a fourposter bed.From the front window of both bedrooms you see Rydal Water and the hills over towards Grasmere. On a clear day you can see the Coniston Fells.

View from Brockstone bedroom of Rydal Water

If you want to see daffodils at Brockstone Grasmere cottage you'll have to wait until 2018. However, we can offer you bluebells . The week of 22-29 April is still available, and in past years this week has been a great week for bluebells. The woods around Brockstone of full of these beautiful flowers. You can see pictures if you scroll back through this blog. 

Even better news is that we've reduced that week from £790 to £650 for last minute bookings. Can you come? Can you take advantage of this special offer?  Do you know someone who might like a week in this lovely spot? We'd love to hear from you.