Activity breaks are excellent fun for guests who enjoy the great outdoors. At Blenheim Lodge, the great outdoors are literally on our doorstep. For example, simply take a minute’s stroll from the front door of our B&B in Bowness-on-Windermere and you will find yourself at the farm gate leading into acres of National Trust lands, through which The Dales Way Walk wends along Lakeland fells, eventually reaching Ilkley in the Yorkshire Dales. Three viewpoints, two with 360-degree views, are easily accessible from our guest house and make for lovely spots to enjoy stunning views with your al fresco picnics.

However, for the more adventurous, why not consider an active hiking break? We have staying with us at present a mature couple who have hiked everyday for the last three days. This couple has not climbed any high mountains to date, but they have enjoyed walks around the Lakes which have included some rough ground. For instance, today they hiked from Hawkshead to Wray Castle; then drove to Grasmere, where they parked their car and made a circular walk to include Rydal Water and Grasmere Lake.

If you enjoy company of the woolly kind while walking, then perhaps walking with llamas could be great fun. Lakeland Llama Treks (www.lakelandllamatreks.co.uk) offer routes based around Keswick, which is a 35-40 minute ride from Blenheim Lodge. (I know, as that is where our veterinarian is.) There are a variety of walks ranging from those for less seasoned walkers to 5-hour hikes for more active trekkers.

Photo courtesy of www.lakelandllamatreks.co.uk.

For something on the water, you could try an active break learning how to sail a yacht. Outrun Sailing offers RYA sailing courses on Windermere, and provides all the equipment you will require to undertake the course safely. Windermere is, of course, only a short 5-minute walk from Blenheim Lodge. More information can be found at www.outrunsailing.co.uk/rya-courses/rya-courses.htm.

With so many lakes, the English Lake District is a wonderful destination for water-based activities, such as canoeing and kayaking. A number of companies offer activities on various lakes, with some of the most popular being Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston Water, Derwentwater and Thirlmere. In line with such waterborne activities is the craft of raft-building. Qualified instructors at companies such as Distant Horizons ensure that ‘safety measures are in place before any raft enters the water and an appropriate safety/rescue boat is in close attendance at all times [and] provide buoyancy aids, helmets, wetsuits, waterproof jackets and trousers, neoprene boots and gloves, and a safety boat with qualified staff’. (www.distant-horizons.co.uk)

Cycling is a popular activity with many of our guests at Blenheim Lodge. The Lake District National Park offers opportunities for both road cycling and mountain biking. For more information, please see www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/outdoors/cycling.

Coniston is about 20 minutes from Blenheim Lodge. Here is Coniston Water in bright sunshine with cyclists venturing out onto the jetty. (Photo courtesy of www.cumbriaphoto.co.uk.)

These are just some of the activities that guests enjoy in the Lakes. There are many more others of course, but I do hope I have whetted your appetite for days out in this beautiful part of the world. Blenheim Lodge is uniquely situated for easy access to many Lakeland towns and villages as well as innumerable scenic landscapes, including some more remote beauty spots. Activity breaks in nature will enable a more intimate enjoyment of the grandeur and beauty of the Lakes on the one hand, as well as a closer encounter with the soft lushness that encompasses their flora and fauna on the other.

So, if you are still looking for a nice place to take a summer break and want to visit the Lakes, do consider staying at Blenheim Lodge. Our AA 4-star guest house offers bed and breakfast accommodation in Bowness-on-Windermere, and is a friendly and relaxing place to stay for a few nights or more. In fact, if you are thinking of a week-long break, do ask about our highly discounted weekly tariffs, which are even lower than our winter rates!

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