We're full this weekend- why not visit next weekend?

We're fully booked at White Moss House and Brockstone holiday cottage this weekend, but from Wednesday 9th May onwards we're offering some pretty good rates. Please look at our website for more information and special offers.

Weather report. We've had a little drizzle today, but it's sunny again now. We've had a lovely dry , sunny spell. Long may it last! We kmow we'll get the rain again, this is the Lake District after all- no rain no lakes, but we're having a beautiful Grasmere spring.

Herdiwck lamb playing hide and seek at White Moss House

Here's today's photo . I took this through my office window. I tried to go outside and get a better photo but the little thing skipped off too quickly.

Little black herdwick lambs invading

Herdwick lambs in White Moss House garden.

This isn't a great photo I admit. I'll try to get a better one later. These are the little creatures that were making an enormous row first thing this morning. The lambs and mum had come into our garden, as they do every year, then mum had wandered off leaving the lambs. It's amazing that she can ignore the ear splitting bleating. They managed to drown out the dawn chorus, and were certainly lounder than my alarm clock.

I've rung the farmer to let him know that we've become a lamb sanctuary. He'll come and take a look apparently, which may mean that they don't come back again.........

If you're interested in the Herdwicks, our Cumbrian native sheep, I have written an article about Herwick sheep here. Most of the lambs are black, with the odd white mark. Today's visitors had little white ears. Very sweet. They become the usual Herdwick grey as they get older.

The weather here is beautiful again. The rain that came up from the south yesterday has gone, and it's perfect walking weather. We still have rooms this weekend, so ring or email us for our best rates if you can get away for a last minute break. 015394 35295 or sue@whitemoss.com for our last minute special offers.

White Moss House Garden is buzzing

The view from my desk as I write is of the back garden at White Moss House. It's actually a wild woodland hilly slope. currently full of daffodils. However, it's the moving creatures that are keeping me amused right now.
This morning so far I have seen a deer, a red squirrel and a very splendid male pheasant.

Yesterday, sitting outside in the sunshine having lunch, my hair was parted by a very skittish chaffinch. Two chaffinches were chasing each other around in the most crazy way, and I just happened to be in the flight path.
All the birds are frisky right now. There's a blackbird on the terrace that seems intent on emptying all the soil from one of the flower tubs with its beak.

What does all this mean? Yes! Spring! We love the dry weather here. We laugh at the idea of a water shortage! It's just beautiful in the Lake District right now. We're busy spring cleaning to get ready for the arrival of guests from 29 March onwards. Why not think about a stay at White Moss House? We're in a great spot for walking and exploring the Lakes, and you might see a red squirrel any day you're here.

Please email me with any enquiry and I'll give you our very best rates. sue@whitemoss.com
This heron sometimes flies over the garden, but he actually lives on White Moss Tarn, just five minutes walk up the hill from White Moss House. He's there all the time at the moment,

The White Moss Heron

sue@whitemoss.com

Which is your favourite lake in the Lake District?

I've written a web page called The Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District, and I've got a poll on there for you to vote on your favourites.
It's just my view, but Rydal Water is number 1, and Grasmere is number two. I admit it, I'm biased. With Rydal Water just steps away from our door, and Grasmere a beautiful 10 minute walk away, I visit both of these lakes several times a week. Every day is different- the weather, the light, the trees, the birds.
Yesterday we saw the red squirrel in the White Moss garden again, we saw the heron on White Moss tarn, and a buzzard landed in a tress at close quarters.
This morning the news wasn't so good. I woke up to find the garden full of sheep eating the daffodils. These are our local Herdwick sheep. They think my garden is part of their "hefted" land, and it's hard to keep them out once they've got the taste of our lovely fresh grass. I've also written an article about Herdwick sheep too if you'd like to take a look.

White Moss House re opens on 29 March, and we have just one room left for that weekend. We do still have a room for the Easter weekend.

Grasmere and Helm Crag taken 10 minute's walk from White Moss House, January 2011

In April and May we are offering short breaks at our Grasmere holiday cottage with amazing views. Please email sue@whitemoss.com to find out more about availability and rates. We'd love to welcome you to the Lakes this spring. You can "wander lonely as cloud........" as Wordsworth and Julie Walters said!

Great last minute offer for Brockstone Cottage

Have you got a gap in your diary any time from 13 March to 31 March?
Would you like to stay in a Grasmere Holiday Cottage with possibly the best views on any holiday cottage anywhere ( allegedly!)?
Our Grasmere holiday rental cottage, Brockstone is now on last minute special rates for this pre Easter period.

Here's the view- lunch on the terrace, photographed in January.

This way you can see Wetherlam, the Langdales and Silver Howe. Looking the other way you can see Rydal Water, Loughrigg and over to Wansfell. Nab Scar and the Fairfield Horseshoe are up behind the cottage.

Please email me, sue@whitemoss.com to make your reservation.

Happy New Year from the Lake District

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year from the home of the Wordsworths, White Moss House.
If you're already thinking ahead to spring and summer holidays, early bookers for 2012 can stay 4 nights and have a fifth night free, any time, any days, except Bank Holiday weekends.
Please contact see our website for details, or email sue@whitemoss.com.

White Moss Snowdrops

Not long now until the snowdrops, daffodils, the azaleas, the bluebells ........

Blackerry time ! A great White Moss blackberry recipe for you.

The hedges are bursting with blackberries around Rydal Water and Grasmere right now.
Our Grasmere Apple and Blackberry crumble recipe is a perfect way to use the blackberries.
What is the Grasmere part of this recipe? Well, you've heard of Grasmere Gingerbread, and this recipe has a hint of ginger in it, which just adds a little extra something to the usual recipe.

This is an up market crumble!
You are welcome to use this White Moss recipe- please leave a comment on the bottom of the page if you enjoyed it.

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!