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.

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.

Walk from White Moss House to Silver Howe

Yesterday was a brilliant autumn days in the Lakes, so we took the chance to scoot up Silver Howe. It's one of the many great walks you can do from our door.

Starting off through White Moss Woods, we met the National Trust wardens who are improving the path there. Whilst taking to them, we all saw a lovely red squirrel, then a huge stag appeared, with enormous antlers. Apparently it was bellowing like mad first thing in the morning. It's that rutting time of year, as all us fans of Autumn Watch know.

We then walked along Loughrigg Terrace, across the Red Bank Road and over to Silver Howe. Here's the cairn on the top.

Looking at Grasmere and Rydal Water from the top of Silver Howe

We then headed off down to Grasmere via Sting's house ( he wasn't there- I've yet to see him) and Allan Bank , enjoyed a drink in the sunny garden at Tweedies, then hopped on the bus back to White Moss. I know, we could have walked back easily, but we had to get back to welcome our latest guests.

The trees really are looking great, and they've got several weeks of fantastic colour still to go- one good thing about the wet year we've had.If you can spare a few days, it's a great time to visit. Check out our special rates - we'd love to see you! Here's the link to our Grasmere offers page.

More red squirrel sightings

In the last week we've seen a red squirrel twice in the same spot, on the old road just above the White Moss Quarry car park, ( just up from where Mark, the ice cream man, has had his van for well over 30 years)

I'm taking my camera with me everytime I go that way now, in the hope that I'll finally be able to get my own red squirrel photo. I've either not had my camera with me, or when they've been in the garden, I've rushed for the camera only to find the squirrel has run off.

Guests have sometimes seen the red squirrel too- you might be lucky. This time in the autumn they're out  looking for food to store. If you want to stay with us in October, from Sunday to Thursday night, we are offering FREE NIGHTS! Stay 3 nights and have a 4th night bed and breakfast free. You can check our website for details, http://whitemoss.com/special-offers.htm.

Stone on the top of Sheffield Pike overlooking Ullswater

 

Here's an unusual Lake District photo to you. This inscribed stone is on the top of Sheffield Pike, which has great views over Ullswater. Wainwright wasn't a big fan of Sheffield Pike, but we like it, as it's always quiet and the views are great. Drive about 25 minutes from White Moss, park on the west side of Ullswater, and take this lovely walk past the quaintly named Seldom Seen onto the tops for a great autumn hike.

Red Squirrels and bluebells

I drew back the curtains this morning and there was a red squirrel bouncing around in the bluebells in the woodland garden at White Moss House.
If you stay with us, you should be able to catch a glimpse of these pretty creatures, provided you've got plenty of patience. They're around all the time right now.

For the next few weeks, we're offering short breaks at our Grasmere self catering cottage, Brockstone.. Lots of people wonder "who owns that cottage on the coffin road?" and "can I rent the cottage on the hill above Rydal Water?" Well, it's ours, and it can be yours for a week or a short break.

Please email me sue@whitemoss.com, giving me the dates you want, and I'll give you our best weeks. This offer runs from 14 April to 19 May.

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.