Daffodils, bluebells, primroses and £100 off our Lakes holiday cottage

We are offering a reduction of £100 for the weeks 25 March- 1 April and 22 April -29 April.

I've written a post with prices details and information which you can find by clicking through here to our Brockstone Grasmere Cottage website

Rather than repeat myself boringly (I do this a lot) I'll just ask you to look over there.

Here. I'll just post some photos which I hope might entice you to visit our lovely Grasmere Holiday cottage. More information and reviews can be found here on the Home Away website. Please be sure to book directly with us for the best prices.

Spring photos all taken on a short walk from Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage below. Clocks go forward on 26 March- can't wait!

This is a wonderful time to visit the Lakes

April and early May 2013 is a great time to visit the Lakes.

Why?

Here are some of the reasons;

• The children are all back in school, so the area is quiet.
• People are feeling the economic pich so the area is quiet
• Most overseas visitors don't come until the summer, so the area is quiet
• It's Quiet- that's great for those of you who make it here!

Also-

• The daffodils are still out because it's been so cold
• The cherry blossom is coming along and will soon look great
• The azaleas and rhododendrons are just waiting to burst into life

Click down the blog to this post which shows Sizergh Castle Gardens on 5 May 2010 . to get an idea of what you could see in the next few weeks.

Then there are

• Great walks from the door
• Wordsworth's homes nearby to visit, along with Beatrix Potter's (Hill Top) and  John Ruskin's (Brantwood) homes
• Many cultural events- festivals, theatre, music- there's always something going on
• And of course the Lakes themselves- boat, sail, row or just admire.

View of Rydal Water from White Moss viewpoint, April

I could go on- I often do......but let's just say- try to fit in a visit to the Lakes. Ideally, visit White Moss House ( owned by Wordsworth) for B & B or Brockstone Holiday Cottage perched above Rydal Water for self catering. We're offering special rates at both places- did I mention that's it's quiet here- that means you can grab a bargain!

Lake District Easter Offers

Are you wondering about coming to the Lakes for a few days this weekend?

If so, we can offer you a couple of great deals.

We have a 1 night stay available on Saturday or Sunday, 30 and 31 March, at £118 per night for two guests, and a 2 night stay at £108 per night. These special rates are for two guests, and include breakfast.For more details please see our website..

These rates are only for bookings made directly to us by phone (015394 35295) or by email (sue@whitemoss.com)

If you can stay 3 nights, we can offer you even better rates. Please email me and I'll quote you our best rate.

What's the weather like? Well, we can't deny that it's very cold for this time of year, but on the plus side, it's great for walking, it's DRY and BRIGHT, and the views are AMAZING!  There are no leaves on the trees to block the views, and the hills all have snow on them, so for those of you who like to take photos, this is the time to visit.

Daffodils in the snow on Monday- it's melted now, but the daffodils still look great.

Check back in the blog posts for some lovely pictures of the Rydal Hall Garden- well worth a visit this weekend.

Sunshine, snow , daffodils and special Lake District offers

The snow is still here, but so is the sun. It's cold but lovely, though not the temperature we had last year when the daffodils were over in about a week, as the temps were around 20C.

Daffodils at our holiday cottage, Brockstone with views over Rydal Water

This year the early daffodils are in deep freeze, and it will be weeks before all the daffodils are out unless there is a sudden heatwave. I took the photo above yesterday, as we swept the steps at Brockstone Holiday Cottage, Grasmere clear of snow.

Rydal Water from Brockstone Cottage

Here's another that I took, looking down over Rydal Water. The gate is on the "coffin route" between Rydal and Grasmere. You can find more details of this walk by clicking through this link for the walk round Rydal Water.

Some of you may already follow us on twitter- we're @whitemosshouse if you'd like to see what we're up to today.

Keep up to date with all our special offers by following this blog and twitter. We've just reduced rates for the cottage in April, and there are special 3 night rates at White Moss House- 4 star bed and breakfast in a Wordsworth House

Easter in the Lakes

It's not too late to book your Easter stay in the Lake District.
We still have rooms for the Easter weekend, and the following week.

We have just updated our rates, and included special offers for stays of 3 or more nights. Check here for our newly updated and reduced rates. If you would like to book, please use this online booking page, or you could email me with the dates you want, the price that is quoted on the booking system, and I might be able to knock a couple of extra pounds off.........

At present we have snow everywhere, but it's very sunny. It looks gorgeous. By next weekend the snow at lower levels will have probably gone, but the mountains will still be white- fabulous for taking photos.The daffodils are out too.

I'm making my Lakeland tea bread now for afternoon teas this week. Tea and homemade cakes on arrival with our compliments!

Book now for our Grasmere special offers this Easter Time.

Save over £100 on your Lake District break.

We're getting ready to open for 2013, which we reckon will be our 33rd year at White Moss House. Will we ever be able to tear ourselves away? We love it here!

The decorator has been painting, the carpet cleaner has been swooshing around, and we are polishing and dusting every nook and cranny ready for our first guests of the year.

White Moss House, Grasmere snowdrops

The weather has been beautiful in the Lake District for the last few weeks, and the snowdrops are out in force. The daffodils are ready to burst into bloom, and in a couple of weeks they will be fantastic.

We're offering excellent offers for B & B from 15 to 28 March, with savings over £100 for 3 night stays. These offers apply all week- no weekend supplement. We also offer 2 night specials. The AA has just awarded us their Special Award for Outstanding Breakfasts.  This reflects the top quality produce, locally sourced when possible, and the skill in preparation and presentation. Our 2013 homemade Seville orange marmalade is delicious, our locally smoked kippers and cured bacon are simply the best.Come and treat yourselves before the Easter rush.

Please note that bookings at our special rate must be made direct by email ( sue@whitemoss.com) or phone (015394 35295). They are not available for bookings through any online booking sytem.

The days are getting longer.

It's noticable now that the days are getting longer. Today it was light before 8pm, and it doesn't get dark until well after 5pm.

We've had a very heavy snowfall in the last week, but all the snow has gone, and the daffodils are well on their way. They must be very confused with the huge variations we've been having between very mild weather and very cold weather. Here's a photo I took through the window of Room 3 on Saturday morning.

Rydal Water from White Moss House

Here's another one of the terrace, where you'll be be able to enjoy your complimetary afternoon cup of tea with homemade Lakeland tea bread when you check in at White Moss House !

For early bookings of three nights midweek, or four nights over a weekend ( including Easter and other Bank Holidays) we are offering 10% discount on our 2012 rates. For more details check our  White Moss House website.

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!

Red Squirrel visiting every day.

A beautiful red squirrel is paying a visit to the terrace outside our window every day. Where's the photo? I haven't managed to take one yet. The camera is sitting right by the window, but that squirrel has a sixth sense, and even though it doesn't seem to be looking at me it hops, skips and jumps away every time I focus on it.
I'll post the photo here when I eventually get one!

Meanwhile, are you thinking about visiting the Lakes in 2012? If you want to walk without taking your car, you couldn't do better than to stay right here at White Moss House. Here are some of the walks you can take whilst leaving your car ( free of charge of course) in our large private car park. ( visitors pay £££££ to park in the public White Moss car parks)

Here's the Walk round Rydal Water from White Moss House, and here is a guide to 6 walks around Grasmere and Rydal Water from White Moss House. Feel free to print these guides.

If you are able to commit now to a stay here in 2012, you can have a FREE NIGHT! Stay 4 nights and have a fifth night completely free. This includes our excellent breakfasts. Bank Holidays are excluded from this offer, but all other dates are fine, subject to availability. Please email me, sue@whitemoss.com to make a reservation. You need to book before the end of January for this special offer.Why not take advantage of this offer to visit out of peak time? Come at the end of March for the daffodils, or late April and May for the azaleas......

Wordsworth wild daffodils ate White Moss House

Every good blog needs a photo, so here you are. These are the wild daffodils described by Wordsworth in his famous poem. There are banks of the lovely little flowers at White Moss House. The end of Mrach, beginning of April is usually a good time to see them.