Today must be just about the balmiest day we have had in Windermere. A haze settled over Lake Windermere, which we could see from our windows. This phenomenon, called an inversion, is quite common here in Spring and Autumn. However, it does not detract from the fantastic scenery that we see from our guest house rooms. Indeed, these inversions impart even more character to the surrounding landscape so that it appears to be shimmering.
Bowness on Windermere was busy today with lots of people taking last minute decisions to head to the Lakes to enjoy the sunshine in this beautiful part of England. Many of our guests decided to take advantage of the good weather today with a couple climbing up Helvellyn, a mountain popular with walkers. Tomorrow, I think, they are going to try Scafell Pike.
We were very interested to meet a particular couple who are staying with us this weekend to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They had been to stay at Blenheim Lodge 20 years ago, and it was fascinating to learn from them about what the place had been like when they were here at that time. We were trying to work out who was running the guest house 20 years ago, and finally came to the conclusion that it was a former pilot and his wife who ran Blenheim Lodge as a fully fledged hotel at the time. In fact, the lady, who is sadly no longer in this world, was such a good chef that people would stay at Blenheim Lodge just to eat her dinners.
Now Blenheim Lodge only serves breakfast, as it is run as a family concern rather than a hotel. Our Victorian home lends itself well to life as a bed and breakfast guest house, and exudes the ambiance of a comfortable family abode rather than that of a large impersonal hotel. Local produce is used where available, and our guests often ask to be directed to our butchers to buy the same handmade sausages and bacon that they have eaten at breakfast before they depart the area. We also use a local dairy, and our milk and eggs, like our meats, are delivered fresh to our door.
People who stay with us go out for meals in town. It takes approximately 2-5 minutes to walk down the hill from our elevated location into the centre of Bowness on Windermere, where numerous eateries beckon. A range of culinary delights await: English pub and restaurant food; Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian and Spanish cuisine; Mediterranean/European influenced bistros; and even fish and chip cafes. For more formal dining, there are local hotels with AA Rosette restaurants and a Michelin restaurant 3 miles distant.
Bowness on Windermere is a thriving village with rather a lot of amenities considering the size of the place. There are hairdressing salons, a Post Office, a cinema, lots of boutique shops as well as some smaller chain stores, a bakery, coffee shops, a bank, etc. Near the Lake you will also find stores catering to the sailing enthusiast, as well as a games arcade, night club and various tea shops, restaurants and pubs.
The glorious sunshine always brings people out to the Lake, where the ferries ply the waters of Lake Windermere. In Summer, Windermere Lake Cruises also puts on barbeque and buffet sails in the evenings. See their website: www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk for more information.
For guests coming to stay with us, we can arrange yacht cruises to include lunch, dinner or cheese and wine on board. Do ask us about these cruises when booking accommodation as there are only a maximum of 6 spaces on board the yacht at any one time. It is also possible to book the yacht for exclusive sails with meals.
April is round the corner now, and hopefully the warm weather will continue. Do come and stay with us to enjoy the stunning scenery on our doorstep. We have a number of cracking special offers which you can take advantage of, and these are not limited to specific rooms so you can choose the room YOU want. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Blenheim Lodge.
‘Blenheim Lodge . . . panoramic Lake views, peace and tranquillity, nestled against acres of beautiful fields and woodlands, in the heart of the English Lake District National Park.’
Visit our website: www.blenheim-lodge.com
Email: enquiries@blenheim-lodge.com
Telephone: 00 44 (0)15394 43440