I think that the weather has finally caught up with us today. The sky is grey and the drizzle is not abating. Having said that, temperatures are decent and it does not feel cold. Today, I think, will be an indoors kind of day for our B&B guests. However, to prove that the Lakeland outdoors will still be beautiful on a dull day like today, do take a look at the photo below.
Blenheim Lodge guests have free country club membership, and one of our guests has walked the 7-minute stroll to the club to enjoy the facilities at there. Guests have free access to the swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, gym and table tennis. There is also a lounge bar with pool and snooker tables. For the more energetic, it is possible to book the badminton and squash courts for which the club will charge a nominal sum to switch on the lights and rent the appropriate gear.
Despite the dull skies, the Windermere Lake cruises (www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk) are still running, and a couple of our guests have decided to enjoy a day on the Lake. Our guests wanted in particular to explore the Lakeland villages and towns situated by or on the Lake, and have decided to buy a 24-hour ticket each which will enable them to hop on and off the ferries calling at these locations. The convenience of being based in Bowness-on-Windermere, where Blenheim Lodge is situated, is the fact that all the ferries will come through to Bowness pier because it has a central location on Lake Windermere. For guests, this means easy access to Lakeside, Ferry House, and Waterhead.
Meanwhile, a family staying with us has gone in search of vegetarian restaurants in the area. I have sent them to Ambleside where there are two vegetarian restaurants, Zefferelli’s and Fellini’s. All restaurants in Bowness-on-Windermere will of course have at least one, if not more, vegetarian option on their menus. However, these restaurants are specifically vegetarian in their offerings.
There are, of course, lots of indoor attractions to visit and things to do when the weather does not look too good. For instance, guests can visit the well-preserved homes of John Ruskin, William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. There are also castles to visit, such as Muncaster Castle and Sizergh Castle. Indeed, there are so many stately and interesting homes to visit, that I could not begin to name them all. In terms of things to do, there is the Aquarium of the Lakes in Lakeside, visits to other indoor attractions such as The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness and Rheged in Penrith, etc.
I suppose the main thing about visiting anywhere in the world is never to ever let a little rain take over your holiday break. I remember when we first came to the Lakes for a holiday visit many moons ago and it rained heavily and constantly for the 7 nights we stayed in a tiny static caravan with two small boys whom we had to entertain. The rain never stopped us from enjoying the beauty and attractions that the English Lakes had to offer, and we have fond memories of our time then to this day.
However, it would be foolhardy not to heed weather forecasts or to pay attention to the weather at all if you are intending to set out on a hike or climbing. As there are some mountainous passes in the Lakes, I would also suggest that motorists, cyclists, and walkers pay attention to the weather forecasts before deciding on their courses of action. It is all commonsensical of course, but we do urge our guests who are attempting such activities to check with Weatherline (www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk), a local weather service, before deciding on their schedules for the day.
Lastly, if nothing beckons our guests out on a rainy day, they can always enjoy the cosy comfort of our guest lounge. Sit and relax by the window with a cup of tea or coffee, enjoy a book or magazine or watch the TV. Or watch mesmerised by the moving picture that is Lake Windermere as its character is particularly changeable when the weather is rather less benign.
‘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.’
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