The launch of the new dining room at the Borrowdale Hotel was a truly sparkling affair as guests were treated to a Champagne Celebration dinner which included a different champagne with every course.

The new look dining room now appears larger, warmer and more inviting with rich gold’s and burgundy bringing the hotel up to date yet still keeping its charm. It was the perfect setting for Champagne coming to Cumbria.

Stephen Wilcock, General Manager of the hotel took advantage of his Master Sommelier skills to work with Jean Pierre Marniquet – the hotel’s specialist grower and wine maker from the Champagne region. Working with Head Chef they created a delicious menu that married the flavors and textures of the food with the different champagnes produced by Jean Pierre.

Guests heard Stephen explain the history of Champagne and also how this particular Champagne is nurtured through production in Jean Pierre Marniquet’s small, privately owned vineyard. “His seven hectare vineyard is very close to some of the most famous champagne names, but as a small grower producer, Jean Pierre can stay very close to the production process to ensure the best from his grapes.”

Jean Pier and his daughter Cyrille travelled from France especially for the evening. They were invited to explain the complexities and subtleties of each champagne as it was served with each course.

Coffee was served with an old Fin de Champagne which was provided by Pascal Delorme from Grapevine Wine Merchant who also supply the hotel with most of their wine.

Diners described the evening as “truly incredible – a wonderful way to reopen the restaurant and a fantastic introduction to a great range of champagne.”

The redevelopment of the restaurant is something that Stephen Wilcock is very proud of. As a Master Sommelier he is now eagerly waiting for the completion of a Wine Cellar and wine tasting bar in the dining room.  “Guests really enjoyed learning about the Champagnes we served and want to learn more about our wines.” He said “the Wine Cellar is almost complete and we are looking forward to many Wine tasting events in the future. The Borrowdale hotel has come a long way in the last two years – introducing the wine cellar is something new for Lake District Hotels and it will make us unique in the area.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Borrowdale Hotels new wine tasting cellar should contact Stephen Wilcock at the Borrowdale Hotel on 017687 77224 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel/index.htm.

Lake District Hotels are pleased to announce a capacity of almost double previously offered for brides to be.

Brides-to-be now have the option of choosing a marquee on the lawn to host their wedding breakfast for up to 200 guests

The Lake District has long been a favourite location for weddings playing host to some of the most picturesque settings you could wish for.  With winter weddings becoming ever more popular – the location can still be picture perfect with spectacular snow capped mountains and frosty lakes.

The Inn on the Lake has lawns that sweep down to their own private jetty on the edge of Lake Ullswater – it is one of the most photographed jetties in the country and is a favourite with brides all year round.

Voted the most romantic location in which to marry, ‘Lake District’ hotels are constantly upgrading what they can offer brides. At the recent Inn on the Lake wedding fair delayed by the November floods, over 150 brides witnessed the launch of two new wedding venues in the hotel gardens.

Almost doubling their capacity, the Lake District Hotels Ltd marquee on the lawn to host their wedding breakfast for up to 200 guests; the views across the gardens, lake and mountains provide a very romantic backdrop and allows the Ullswater area to attract larger bridal parties.

Beverley Kelso, Wedding Co-ordinator at Lake District Hotels Ltd Inn on the Lake says “No matter how large or how small the wedding party, we want brides to fall in love with their venue. As well as offering marquee for large weddings, we have also introduced a very special intimate place to take wedding vows – a Victorian style gazebo close to the water’s edge. There is no other place like it in the whole of the Lakes and it is attracting brides from as far away as London and Dubai.”

The hotel staff challenged themselves to create the ultimate outdoor venue for wedding vows, somewhere unique and very romantic. It was last summer when they began designing the ornate Victorian style Gazebo which was created in the garden during the winter. Spring brides will be the first to christen the gazebo which is set to rival the jetty as a premier location for wedding pictures.

For more information visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/weddings/

Goosemire Cottages, the family owned and run Lake District self catering business, are pleased to launch their January sale.

Everyone is looking for a bargain at this time of year so why should the sales be confined to the high street? Goosemire Cottages are offering discounts on full weeks booked in each of their 46 self catering properties. The discounts range from £30 – £50 depending on the property size.

The number of self catering holidays in the UK has risen quite dramatically in the last 2 years. Various factors have contributed to this for example the poor Euro exchange rate resulting in tourists staying in the UK and the cost savings of self catering compared with a hotel stay. A self catering holiday allows freedom, the ability to cook within the property so saving on restaurant bills and is an excellent type of holiday for families and pet owners.

Goosemire Cottages have available 46 traditional Lake District cottages for discerning visitors (Ranging from 1 to 7 bedrooms, sleeping up to 10). Most are rustic 17th or 18th Century Lakeland cottages or lovely barn conversions, where antiquity and modern comforts have been beautifully combined. The atmosphere and idiosyncrasies of each property are reflected on their website which offers full online booking facilities and information and images on each of their properties.

For more information on the Goosemire Lake District cottages January sale or their last minute booking discounts, visit http://www.goosemirecottages.co.uk/special-offers

Developed by Sweeney Properties Ltd right in the heart of the Lake District National Park, this is the latest addition to the Lake District Inns & Cottages portfolio of high quality accommodation.

Located just off the A591 & only 5 minutes away from Keswick on the site of the Old School House and Youth Hostel at Legburthwaite near Keswick, it will be a stunning 40 bed Lodge Hotel. The Lake District Lodge will be opening in the early summer of 2010.

The design, by local award winning architects Savage & Chadwick, fits perfectly into the beautiful landscape, utilising local traditional building features and materials, whilst having a light and airy contemporary feel. This is achieved by a two story glass atrium at the heart of the building and the mixing of cedar wood cladding and local stone work under a Westmorland slated roof.

Company Managing Director Derek Sweeney says: “This is a really exciting project for us as it will add to our ability to cater for another sector of our clientele who are looking for high quality accommodation but do not want the full range of services provided by our Inns.

Derek Sweeney also quoted “over the last seventeen years we have seen many changes in tourism in the Lake District. Our Keswick and Grasmere hotels and cottages are all located in the heart of The National Park and are a very good barometer for measuring the ebb and flow of business over the years. The Lake District continues to be a superb holiday destination both for our domestic visitors and international guests alike. Even with the lure of cheap flights to most European and now international destinations we continue to be extremely busy with both our loyal regular clientele and new visitors.

See full details at http://www.lakedistrictinns.co.uk/lodge.cfm

The weather has been very cruel to the United Kingdom this Winter but why let that stop you enjoying Christmas festivities.

For the last two weeks, Cumbria – the Lake District has been the main focus on all the news networks. This beautiful location may have been battered and bruised by the weather but it is still one of the most beautiful areas of the United Kingdom and fully open for business.

And Christmas is an ideal time to visit the Lake District with its warm hospitality, endless real fires and top quality local produce.

The Castle Inn Hotel and Spa near Bassenthwaite, Keswick have a small number of places available for their luxury Christmas break. This special Christmas break commences on Thursday the 24th of December right through to Sunday 27th December. The mix of organised events and time alone to explore the area or visit the health spa has been perfectly combined.

Set overlooking some of England’s highest fells and Bassenthwaite Lake, the Castle Inn Lake District Hotel is in a beautiful location, just 8 miles from Keswick.  They are ideally situated for those wishing to explore Bassenthwaite, Keswick and the Lake District. The Castle Inn Hotel is one of the finest Keswick hotels offering a warm welcome and the ideal location for relaxing after a busy day discovering the beauties of the Lake District.

Those requiring further information on the festive Christmas break at the Castle Inn Hotel & Spa should visit http://www.castleinncumbria.co.uk or telephone 017687 76401.

The BBC 2 Wake up to Wogan show lunches “Things that Money Cant Buy” auction for Children in Need on Monday 16th November with a Wainwright walking package staring Julia Bradbury and The Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick.

The Wainwright walks have been popularised by Julia Bradbury who often stays at the Skiddaw Hotel when filming in the Lake District. This unique package is set to appeal to walking fans who enjoy bracing walks, fresh air, beautiful surroundings and a touch of glamour too!

The package gives the final bidder and a friend the chance to join presenter Julia Bradbury and the production team from Skyworks TV for a day’s walking in the Lake District some time next year.

The guests will spend the first night as special guests at the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick, before walking in the footsteps of the famous walker Alfred Wainwright. The walk may be filmed for TV broadcast, but at the very least, the winning pair will have their own private film of their walk – as well as signed DVD’s photo’s and memorabilia from the series.

Kevin Curran, General Manager of the Skiddaw Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group said “The hotel is very popular for walking holidays and we already have a walking break named after Julia Bradbury and Wainwright  – it includes a copy of Wainwright’s Northern Fells book and a bathroom experience pack for relaxing after a days walking on the fells!

Julia likes to stay with us when she is filming in the Lake District, so we were delighted when she mentioned the opportunity to link in with Terry Wogan’s “Want Money can’t buy” auction. Fingers crossed for the bidding on Monday morning.”

A full list of the opportunities up for auction can be seen on the BBC 2 website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wake-up-to-wogan/terrys-children-in-need-09-auction/monday/

It was pamper time at the Lodore Falls Hotel this week at a networking event organized by the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.

The event was a sell out in only a few days and more than thirty ladies enjoyed an afternoon of relaxed networking between treatments and afternoon tea.

The Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has been organizing a variety of different events for members and this is the second time they have gathered at the Lodore Falls Hotel this year. Earlier in May the Chamber hosted an event at the hotel which was aimed at women. The positive feedback from that evening lead Suzanne Caldwell, the Chambers Enterprise & Development Manager to organize this Spa pamper networking event.

Suzanne said “We recently held a golf day which was mainly attended by men so we thought SPA networking afternoon would be perfect for businesswomen who can use the day to meet new contacts and take time to address their work life balance. The Lodore Falls Hotel is a fantastic venue, they are used to catering for groups and events and the food is always first class. The facilities are excellent and we have been well looked after – we enjoyed afternoon tea in our robes and felt very comfortable doing so!”

Kit Graves, Director of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd Group said “Christine Bibby our Spa Manager has worked hard to make sure our Chamber guest had chance to experience SPA treatments in peace and tranquility – there were a lot of treatments and it was important to us that they didn’t feel rushed. They were certainly very relaxed when they enjoyed their afternoon tea and I am sure a lot of networking was done too – just in a more informal way!”

Anyone interested in finding out more about organizing group Spa Days at the hotel should contact Christine at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/spabreaks. For more information about events held by the Chamber of Commerce in Cumbria visit http://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/

The Borrowdale Hotel steps back in time with an exhibition of old photographs depicting life in the Borrowdale valley hundreds of years ago. The exhibition is set to run until the end of October.

The display, by kind permission of Patricia Roscamp, is made up from historical photographs that have been hung in the Borrowdale Hotel bar. It is quite fitting that the photographic exhibition is being held at the Borrowdale hotel in the Lake District – built over 140 years ago it was the first purpose built hotel in the valley.

General Manager Stephen Wilcock is also marking the occasion by introducing a luncheon and dinner menu that is representative of the 1800’s. Dinner guests can choose from today’s a-la-carte menu, or choose dishes from a menu available to guests in the 19th century. The menu is as close to tradition as possible, but certainly doesn’t go as far as Heston Blumenthal’s Tudor feasts shown on TV last autumn. Diners can choose from two, three or four courses which includes Victorian favourites like ‘Ham Hock Terrine with pureed peas, roast goose and an old fashioned desert of Lemon Posset with almond brandy.

Head Chef Peter Starauscheck has tried to replicate 19th century dishes wherever possible, but knows tastes have changed! “Local ingredients and seasonality have always been important, but Chef’s in 1800 would have goose on the menu any time of the year – today geese are generally available around Christmas, so we had to place a special order to ensure we could include Goose on the menu. Once the Pheasant season begins we will be introducing a three bird roast of goose stuffed with a chicken and pheasant.”

Lunch time visitors to this Lake District hotel can sample the ‘Bygone Days two or three course luncheon’ while they peruse the photos and history of the valley; potted salmon with pink peppercorns, egg, lemon, peppers and a tomato vinaigrette, or chunky vegetable and bacon soup, followed by slow braised shoulder of mutton served upon stewed pearl barley and vegetables. Proper puddings were certainly fashionable in the early 1800’s and a rhubarb and Bramley apple crumble mixed with oats and nuts would be warmly welcomed – then and now.

Stephen Wilcock said “we have completed most of the hotel refurbishment and thought the exhibition would be a good opportunity for local people to come and have a look. We have mounted the old pictures and hung them in the bar so visitors can see how the valley used to look while they enjoy lunch afternoon tea or dinner. Adding a 19th century dinner menu certainly tested Chef – but like today, they would have used as many local lake District ingredients as possible and diners will be delighted when they see what we can offer.”

For more details on the exhibition and details of the 19th century dinner menu at the Borrowdale Hotel please contact the General Manager – Stephen Wilcock on 017687 77224, http://www.lakedistricthotels.net or http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel/index.htm.

Grove Cottages, the Lake District cottages company with properties in Ambleside, announce the launch of their new website.
www.grovecottages.com has been refurbished and updated to fully promote the refurbishments and upgrades of the five properties on Grove Farm. The new website offers much clearer and informative details on each cottage, the environment, farm and location. An online booking system has been integrated allowing quick and easy real time availability and booking of each cottage. More images have been included which enlarge when clicked.

Grove Farmhouse is the latest addition to the four holiday cottage lets already on the farm. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 – 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse. Grove Farmhouse has two lounges each with log burning stoves, wireless broadband access and in the kitchen, a traditional Rayburn cooking range. A total of three bathrooms make this property an excellent choice for a large group.

The luxury Lake District cottages lie in the beautiful Stock Valley in Ambleside. They are reached by a private drive from Ambleside, which runs past Stockghyll Falls and nature park, climbing to 700 feet to offer some of the finest Panoramic views in the Lake District. Each of the Cumbrian cottages has been lovingly converted from a traditional Lakeland barn. Guests are invited to relax in the secluded gardens, or explore the farm and its wildlife. The latest development on the farm is Grove Farmhouse which was released earlier this year. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 – 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury Lake District self catering holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse.

Andrew Howard together with his brothers Max and Ross, took over the running of Grove Farm in the summer of 2008.Their family has been farming for over 150 years on the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Grove is a typical Lakeland hill farm, running to some 160 acres of grass and woodland on the slopes of the Stock Valley. The pastures on the farm are home to the Howard’s herd of pedigree Dunn Galloway cattle. The cattle are sold to local speciality butchers.

For further information and to check availability go to http://www.grovecottages.com or telephone 015394 33074.

There are several new experiences at the Lodore Falls Hotel which are proving popular with visitors and locals too.

There’s the new ‘Café Culture’ at the Leisure Club, new treatments for men in the Beauty Salon, a new hot tub with stunning views across the lake and Cat Bells – and finally a new life enhancing club called ZEST!

The whole ambience at the Lodore Falls is one of relaxation and a chance to spoil yourself – and with a number of local people using the facilities, the ZEST experience was an obvious next step.

Zest is a new club that offers a schedule of treatments over 3, 6 or 12 months. It entitles you to a range of half hour or full hour treatments at greatly reduced prices and is very simple to use. The longer your membership the greater the discount on treatments.

It’s not just the ladies that are making use of Zest. Christine Bibby, Salon Manager said “treatments for men are now very popular. We wanted to make sure we can appeal to gentlemen too, so we have launched new facials as well as Turkish wet shaves and massages. It is important that we keep looking for new ideas and the new treatments for men are certainly a hit.”

Kit Graves, Managing Director of Lake District Hotels said “If you have ever thought ‘I would really like some me time’, then Zest is perfect for you and we are pleased to see that more and more local people are making use of the hotel facilities too.”

Leisure facilities at this luxury Lake District hotel are constantly being improved with two more new additions  -  the new Café Culture recently opened in the Leisure Club, providing morning coffee, light lunches or simply a cool drink after a workout in the gym, a swim in the indoor or outdoor pool. The second enticing addition to the facilities is the new outdoor Hot Tub!

The hot tub boasts stunning views across Derwentwater, and sits alongside the river running from the famous Lodore Falls. General Manager Stephen Johnson said “The tub is attracting a lot of attention and many Spa guests are enjoying the hot tub experience with a glass of chilled bubbly – so it’s no wonder our champagne sales have gone through the roof!”

Anyone interested in finding out more about Zest or any of the leisure and Beauty facilities should contact the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 87722 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls/

Applegarth Villa Hotel and Restaurant in Windermere, the Lake District, announce the completion of five refurbished rooms.

The five rooms have all been individually designed in collaboration between the owners of Applegarth Villa their interior designer. The rooms are part of the ongoing development of Applegarth Villa which last year saw JR’s Restaurant refurbished along with the outside terrace. The newly refurbished rooms have been fitted with all the facilities expected by today’s hotel guest; power showers, 32 inch flat screen televisions, Egyptian cotton sheets, Wifi and ipod docking stations. Two of the rooms have even been fitted with flat screen televisions in the bathroom!

The guest rooms are not the only refurbishment at the Applegarth. This week sees the launch of their new website. The new site has been designed to be easy to navigate and reflect the continuing development of the hotel and its brand. Showing images and details of the new rooms along with links to their restaurant and Windermere lake cruises websites, the new site is a comprehensive online brochure and information resource. With online sales such a large proportion of a hotel’s revenue, updating a website is as important as the updating of the hotel itself.

Applegarth Villa and JR’s Restaurant has been owned by Alan and Suzanne Mumford since 2001. Applegarth Villa is a magnificent Arts and Crafts period property set in a quiet area of Windermere Village within easy walking distance of the train station and shops with the unique benefit of free and private off road parking. Elegantly appointed, Applegarth Villa offers a choice of Windermere accommodation from classic double rooms to luxury four-posters with views over the Lakeland fells. Alan and Suzanne have created a classic Lake District hotels experience whilst offering a modern twist with the contemporary design and technology. In continuation of their quest to meet the needs of the modern hotel guest, Applegarth Villa offer luxury Windermere lake cruises on their 50 feet Sealine T50 Flybridge cruiser. The boat, located on Lake Windermere, can hold up to 12 people and can be chartered out for half or full day cruises complete with refreshments throughout. It is the largest motor yacht on Lake Windermere and offers total luxury.

For further information on the refurbished rooms, availability and cruises, go to http://www.lakesapplegarth.co.uk or telephone 015394 43206.

The 17th century Kings Arms may be one of the oldest establishments in Keswick, but is certainly up to date with the food on offer.

As the new truly local menu testifies; offering a true taste of the Lakes and Cumbria for visitors and locals during the holidays. The hotel has worked closely with local celebrity Chef Peter Sidwell from Good Taste to create a new and exciting menu for the Kings Arms – putting back the authenticity into a British Pub menu and using as many local ingredients as possible. Enjoy a taste of the Lakes in the cosy surroundings of a real ale pub serving favourites like potted duck pate, fish in beer batter, and pies with ingredients from our region. The pies are proving a real success; proper Shepherds pie using Herdwick lamb and local cheese, Beef and Ale pie made with Jennings Cumberland Beer, or try the Cheese and Leek pie made with local Crofton cheese.

Peter said “our research reinforced what we already knew – people want simple, well cooked comfort food that is truly British. We are lucky to have such high quality ingredients from fells, rivers and fields that are quite untouched. That’s why the local ingredients taste so good, cooked simply and done well. The ingredients are so local that you can taste a dish in the pub and source the ingredients in Keswick – you can take them home and enjoy a taste of the Lakes again.”

Keswick is the walking capital of England and the Kings Arms location is one of the most enviable of all the Keswick hotels. Gary Price the General Manager said “walkers really enjoy staying with us – both famous walking hero’s and holiday makers alike, because we know how to look after them: great breakfasts, packed lunches and food to fuel the soul in the evening after an exhilarating day out. Our new menu is a classic – you won’t find any curry, chilli or pasta, just a menu full of Great British dishes.

The Kings Arms is part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group of hotels which encompasses the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick, Lodore Falls Hotel and The Borrowdale Hotel, The Inn on the Lake on Ullswater and The George Hotel in Penrith.

For more information about the menu contact Gary Price, Manager of The Kings Arms on 017687 72083 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net

The Woodlands Hotel in Windermere launch a new luxury suite for the 2009 season.

The new newest addition to the Woodlands Hotel accommodation, is the recently completed executive suite. The suite is located within the main hotel building offering a large amount of space but with all the facilities of a hotel right on site. A luxury bathroom has been fitted complete with roomy stand up shower. The fitting have been chosen for their upmost quality. Far larger than a normal hotel room, the new suite has plenty of room to walk around along with a seating area and can actually sleep three persons or be a luxury Windermere hotel break for a romantic couple. A further suite is set for completion in December 2009.

Woodlands is one of the few Windermere hotels to achieve a five star guest accommodation status. Sarah and Alan Ayres, the proprietors, were thrilled to be recognised for their hard work by the AA, which was awarded for their exceptional standards of quality guest accommodation and service.

Woodlands Hotel in Windermere is a handsome Edwardian Villa situated between the villages of Windermere and Bowness in Cumbria – the Lake District, just a few minutes away from the shores of Lake Windermere. Guests will enjoy the luxury, stylish and contemporary Boutique accommodation being offered at Woodlands, which has now been formally recognised as being one of the finest hotels in Windermere. There are a total of fifteen luxury and en-suite guest bedrooms including a choice of single, double or twin bedded rooms. The resident’s bar and lounge is an exciting space for guests to relax after a long day’s site seeing and exploring. According to the AA, a five star Guest House needs to demonstrate an awareness of each guest’s needs with nothing being too much trouble. All bedrooms must be en-suite or have a private bathroom, with excellent quality beds and furnishings. Breakfast must include specials/home-made items, high quality ingredients, and fresh local produce. The new suite meets and even exceeds The AA’s five star criteria.

Sarah and Alan have not compromised or neglected their environmental policy through these refurbishments and improvements. They continue to support the Tourism and Conservation Partnership and hold a CBEN bronze award for good environmental practice. With the escalating effects of using a car on both the environmental impact and the rise in fuel costs, Woodlands offer a collection service from Windermere train station.

For more information on the new suite or to check availability go to http://www.woodlands-windermere.co.uk or telephone 015394 43915

The Lake District Hotels Group is still attracting strong demand for wedding bookings despite the effect of the recession.

The recent wedding fairs at The Lodore Falls Hotel and Inn on the Lake attracted over 650 of mothers and ‘brides to be’ – which only goes to highlight the importance of the Lake District as a wedding venue.

Kit Graves, Director of Lake District Hotel Group said “We decided to hold a Wedding Fayre at the Lodore Falls Hotel because it gives us the chance to show off the venue and is real opportunity for our Chefs to show off their culinary skills; offering taster samples from our wedding menus and displaying some of THE most temptingly delicious deserts. Chef Nigel Harper was the most popular man on the day – in charge of the tasting sessions and there were queues for one to one chats.

With such a large turnout of mothers and brides to be, there is no doubt that Lake District Hotels are still a firm favourite for Lake District weddings – despite the current climate  There were over 40 different stall holders at the event – all of whom received serious enquiries from couples marrying in the next couple of years.

Sophie Kings, Wedding Co-ordinator at the Lodore Falls Hotel said “Winter weddings are becoming ever more popular and for those that married in the ‘Lakes’ last winter, the snow made their weddings picture perfect. With difficult economic times it is even more important that brides are sure they choose the best venue for their wedding – that’s why we created a Winter Wedding Offer which includes extras, focusing on adding value and saving £100’s to make your winter wedding budget go further. The Wedding Fayre was an ideal time to launch the Winter Fairytale Wedding Offer which allows couples to try the venue for free. They stay for two night’s dinner bed and breakfast and we will refund the cost when they book their wedding with us.

Couples receive even more added value when booking  Winter Weddings – we will also include a FREE top table for up to 8 guests, free chair covers to match their colour scheme and reduced winter room rates too that’s a saving of £100’s.*

Visitors to the Wedding Fayre were certainly left with a true flavour of how we make each wedding day extra special and unique. There was a real buzz and a fantastic atmosphere. With over 40 different stall holders the event was described as a fairytale sweet shop for brides to be!

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Winter Wedding offer or looking for a venue should contact Sophie Kings at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/weddings

Holidaycottagescumbria.com are pleased to announce the addition of Hardcragg Hall to their portfolio of Lake District self catering properties.

Hardcragg Hall is the latest addition to Holidaycottagescumbria.com Cumbria portfolio of 5 individually owned holiday cottages. Hardcragg Hall is the pinnacle of 5 star luxury self catering accommodation and can facilitate large groups of up to 14 guests with its 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. This stunning Elizabethan manor house makes an excellent choice for luxury family holidays, short breaks, celebrations, special occasions, wedding guests, parties, large groups or for a get together of family or friends.

Hardcragg Hall is steeped in history and dates back to 1563 and this grade II listed country manor house is reputed to be the oldest building in the local area. This historic manor house is lavishly furnished with antiques and high quality furnishings throughout. There are several spacious reception rooms that all interconnect, including the dining room, drawing room, bar area, breakfast room, library, the oak panelled entrance hall area with its roaring log fire and the snug lounge with patio doors leading out into the landscaped gardens and grounds. The recently furnished farmhouse kitchen is superbly equipped with everything you will need to cater for large groups or couples alike and boasts a four oven Aga, a 5 burner gas hob and double electric oven. Adjoining the kitchen, the utility room is equipped with washing machine, tumble dryer, freezer and plenty of storage and drying space.

This large Lake District self catering cottage 10+ is ideally located in Grange-over-Sands on the Southern edge of the English Lake District. Grange over Sands is one of Cumbria’s secret gems and is the Lake District’s principle sea side town. This is an ideal location for scenic fell and woodland walks, together with a mile long, traffic free promenade overlooking the sands of Morecambe Bay.

Holidaycottagescumbria.com is owned, managed, and run by Simon Cleasby with the help of a team of good housekeepers, and maintenance staff. Simon is a knowledgeable local Cumbrian (nee Westmorland) with a huge passion for the Lake District and Cumbria. Simon travelled and worked his way around the different continents for a few years before coming back to live in the South Lakes to start up this luxury Lake District holiday cottages company.

For more information and latest availability on this property go to http://www.holidaycottagescumbria.com/hardcragg_hall.html or phone +44 (0)1524 702955

Many who have stayed at the Best Western Castle Inn Hotel before, may already know that Bassenthwaite is home to The Lake District Osprey Project.

Bassenthwaite Lake, a key habitat for the ospreys, is a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Each year these beautiful and rare birds return to nest and this Easter was made ‘eggstra’ special by the return of our male and female Osprey 2 weeks ago.  The female osprey laid her first egg of 2009 at the nest near Bassenthwaite Lake on Thursday 16th April.  The female bird is now incubating the egg and it is hoped that further eggs will be laid in the coming days.  Ospreys normally lay a clutch of three eggs.  Incubation is carried out mainly by the female and takes between 34-40 days.

Peter Wells, General Manager of The Castle Inn Hotel Keswick said: Staff at the hotel are very ‘eggcited’ that the first egg has been laid.  We are hopeful that there will be more eggs and that the clutch will hatch in time for our Spring Bank holiday visitors in May.

Hundreds of people visited the Bassenthwaite area over the Easter weekend to get a glimpse of the Lake District Ospreys.   Visitors can get great views of the birds from a Viewpoint in Dodd Wood, only 400 metres away from the nest.  The Viewpoint is open all daylight hours, with staff on hand with telescopes from 10am-5pm daily, as part of the RSPB’s ‘Dates with Nature’ Project.

It is also possible to see the birds on the nest on a giant videowall at the Visitor Centre on the Forestry Commission estate at Whinlatter Forest, near Braithwaite.  Live pictures from cameras overlooking and inside the nest are also beamed to the screen and can also be viewed on the Project’s website www.ospreywatch.co.uk and the BBC Cumbria website at www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria.

It is now easier than ever before to visit Dodd Wood and Whinlatter thanks to the Osprey Bus which was launched in 2008.  The liveried bus service named after the spectacular birds of prey operates around Bassenthwaite Lake taking in the Whinlatter Exhibition and the Dodd Wood viewpoint and runs weekends from 4th April to 31st August 2009, except during the following school holidays, 6-17 April, 25-29 May and 18 July – 31 August when it runs every day.  A bus timetable is displayed at the hotel as the liveried bus service picks up from and drops off at The Castle Inn Hotel Lake District during these times.

Bought in March 2008 by Lake District Hotels, the Borrowdale Hotel is undergoing a refurbishment programme which will see a £1 million investment once finished.

Phase one which cost almost £1/2 million is now complete with a noticeable transformation to the entrance, lounges bars and some of the bedrooms. The hotel is now ready for the influx of visitors during the summer before commencing more work in the autumn.

Plans to refurbish the hotel were carefully phased to avoid disruption for guests at busy periods like Christmas, New Year, Easter and the summer holidays. The work has been overseen by General Manager Stephen Wilcock who has been working closely with the tradesmen – all of whom are local.

As the first coaching inn to be built in the Borrowdale Valley, the Borrowdale Hotel is steeped in history and has a reputation for warmth and traditional hospitality. Kit and Charles Graves, Directors of The Lake District Hotel Group were keen to ensure the refurbishment remained sympathetic to the hotel’s character. “We want to keep the warmth and heritage of the hotel because that is what visitors and guests really appreciate. We have developed a look and feel that still creates a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Tradition and personality still pervade – like the original 41 room bells that still hang in the hall and the Victorian coffee grinders, bed pans and plate warmers that adorn the new, more open reception area. You will also still hear the homely tick of the Grandfather clock and the chiming of the hour.”

The lounges have new fire places, deep pile carpets, rich wallpapers and plush curtains. The comfortable sofas and chairs have an abundance of cushions and there are fresh flowers everywhere.

A third of the bedrooms have now been refurbished – meeting modern day expectations for quality; comfortable beds, rich classic fabrics and furnishings, sparkling bathrooms and of course, flat screen TV’s with SKY.

Some things have never changed at the hotel – like the friendly, hospitable staff and the fact that they are still happy to welcome well behaved dogs in a number of rooms – a custom dating back to when the hotel opened in 1866.

Investment by Lake District Hotels has ensured work for local tradespeople from plasterers and plumbers to painters, decorators, electricians and florists. This is set to continue during phase two of the programme which will include developing the restaurant and more of the bedrooms.

The redevelopment of the restaurant is something that Stephen Wilcock is particularly looking forward to. He has a passion for fine food and good wine – something that led him to become a Master Sommelier, a role he is eager to develop with the restaurant.

Kit Graves, Managing Director of Lake District Hotels Ltd said “We have been making changes since we bought the hotel and Stephen has worked hard to minimise disruption for guests when the lounges were being updated – they have made a real difference to the place, but regular visitors will still find the Borrowdale Hotel a very charming, traditional place to stay. The restaurant development will be the next exciting phase, but we will have to time that to keep dining disruption to a minimum and won’t be until the hotel gets quieter later in the year.”

One of the first changes was to open the bar and conservatory all day for food and drink. It has always enjoys good local trade for morning coffee, lunches and has a growing reputation for afternoon tea. The gardens at the hotel are particularly special this time of year as the ancient Magnolia tree is in bloom – attracting keen gardeners who enjoy lunch in the conservatory to admire the view.

“Visitors to the Lake District have high expectations and are more demanding than ever. We want to ensure guests enjoy their Lake District holiday and hope they want to visit us time and time again. The Borrowdale Hotel has very loyal guests but we need to continue our investment, to ensure we exceed their expectations.”