Winter in the Lake District

Hi folks!
I've noticed that 42,911 visits have been made to this blog, Thanks for adding another number to this total. Hope you find something useful here.

Can I just ask you to look at my other blog on our Grasmere Cottage website?- Here's the link - just click. I've posted information about stuff to do on winter visits, plus more links that might be useful if you're planning a long weekend or winter week here.

Here's a photo of a winter view taken from the terrace of Brockstone Grasmere Cottage

You could be here this winter! Treat yourself to a winter break in our Grasmere cottage with amazing views.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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...

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.

Happy New Year- we're looking forward to 2014.

2013 has been a great year for us personally- we became grandparents for the first time. Felix was born on 1st September, and he has just spent his first Christmas with us ( along with his mum and dad and all our family). White Moss House is just the best place to spend a family Christmas, whatever the weather.

Going forward into 2014, we have decided, after over 30 years of welcoming guests to White Moss House from all over the world,that we're going to take a break. We've been one of the top restaurants in the Good Food Guide for over 30 years, and in the last few years, although we haven't offered dinner every night, we've been a very highly rated Guest House. It's all been great fun.

Brockstone Cottage, our Grasmere holiday cottage,

Brockstone Cottage from White Moss viewpoint

is still going to be available for self catering . It's fully booked until March, but the weeks are filling up quickly for the rest of the year.


Here's a reminder of one of our favourtie recipes, the famous White Moss Sherry trifle. As usual, we made one for Boxing Day. It was delicious. Yesterday I found a tiny portion left in a small bowl in the fridge, and ate it for breakfast - as you do.

Today is another dull day, but it has stopped raining, so we're off for our last walk of the year. We'll be walking round Rydal Water with my brother, who is visiting for New Year.  We're looking forward to lots more walking in the year ahead.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us , and best wishes to you all for 2014!

Stay in our Lakes Holiday Cottage for Christmas or New Year at reduced rates.

We have late availablilty for our Lake District Cottage, Brockstone Grasmere Holiday Cottage. Perched on the hillside overlooking Rydal Water, this south facing cottage gets all the sun going in winter. When the sun dips behind the hill, Grasmere Village is plunged into the shade, but our cottage gets at least a precious extra hour of winter sun.

Our current guests leave on Sunday 15 Decemebr, and our next guests arrive on Thursday 2 January. We are offering 4 nights over Christmas from £520, and four nights over New Year from £580. This is for up to 4 guests. Dogs are welcome for a small extra charge.

We can be flexible about changeover days, and we may be able to offer extra days at special low rates.

Please email  esuedixon@gmail.com or ring 015394 35295 to check for rates, availabilty, or to ask any questions you might have.

Here's a picture taken at dusk in December the other year. This could be your view over Loughriggg to Wetherlam the the Coniston Fells.

December view from Brockstone Grasmere Holiday Cottage to Wetherlam.

Mists, mellow fruitfulness and short breaks at our holiday cottage with amazing views.

We have the week beginning Saturday 28 September still available, at the last minute rate of £590. This is for up to four guests. Bills all included.

Soak up the views, walk from the door,  watch the sunset from the terrace, then relax in the bubbly spa bath  ...Sounds tempting?  See more information and pictures about Brockstone Grasmere holdiay cottage with amazing views. here.

Sun, lavender, butterflies and bees

Has there ever been a better August Bank Holiday for sunshine? Here in the Lakes we've had wall to wall sun. The forecasters said "west is best" and as we watched the pictures from a washed out Oval on Saturday we were amazed- they were so right!

We've noticed more bees and butterflies than usual in the past few days. That's good news. I watched about 6 white butterflies chasing around the lavender this morning. They tend to move away whenever I get near, but I managed this photo on the lavender by the front door.

Butterflies on White Moss lavender

There are more photos of lavender, plus lots of tips on growing lavender via this link

We are fully booked at White Moss House until Thursday, but we do have rooms for the weekend. It should be a good weekend to visit the Lakes, as the crowds will have gone and the weather still looks good. We have reduced our rates for last minute bookings so please check here.

Our cottage is available for 1 week from Saturday 7 September. We have just reduced the rate from £690 to £590 for last minute bookings. If you would like to stay 2 extra nights, leaving on the monrnng of Monday 16 September, we can offer you all 9 nights fo only £690. Here's a link if you want to find out more about our Grasmere holiday cottage with amazing views.

As this lovely summer continues, what offers can you find in the Lakes?

The heatwave has passed. I know lots of people found it too hot, but I loved it. However, it has been replaced with pretty good weather, just a little cooler, making it perfect for walking, hiking, and all the outdoor activities the Lakes has to offer.

At White Moss House B & B, we're pretty booked up until the end of August- just a few rooms available here and there. What we can offer you though, is a whole week for up to 4 guests at our holiday rental cottage at a greatly reduced rate. You can read about Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage here, or see more on the HomeAway holiday rentals website..

We are offering the week commencing Saturday 24 August, leaving Saturday 31 August, at a reduced rate. Originally this school holiday week was £850, but for last minute bookings we have now reduced that to just £690. Quite a bargain! If you and your family can find a gap in the calendar to take a last break before schools and colleges go back, then this could be a  for you. Add a few days to the August Bank Holiday weekend and treat yourselves to a relaxing country holiday.

Here you can see Brocktone Cottage, our Grasmere holiday rental cottage, perched on the hillside overlooking Rydal Water.

Ready to walk? Leave from the door of our Lakes holiday cottage for some of the best walks in the Lakes. You can read about 6 circular walks from White Moss and Brockstone holiday cottage right here.

Two days left to book our Lake District Cottage at 10% discount.

If you've walked from Grasmere to Rydal along the "Coffin Road" you'll have passed by our Lakeland cottage, Brockstone ( named over 200 years ago after the badgers who live around there).

We still have some weeks available to let in the cottage in 2013, and if you make a reservation today or tomorrow ( before the end of July) for a 2013 week, we are offering a 10% discout on our advertised rates. Click through here for more about our holiday cottage and links to rates.

The first available week is Saturday 24 August. We have already reduced that from £850 to £790, but if you book now there would be an extra 10% off, bringing the rate to £711.

We also have weeks available in September and October, a wonderful time to visit the Lakes. Any weeks in 2013 that are not marked as booked on the calender are avialble for this offer.

For those of you who want to book in 2014, we are already taking bookings. Don't leave it long before you get your dates booked.

You can see Brockstone Cottage, perched up on the hillside above Rydal Water in this photo.