This weekend, we had staying with us a man and his wife who were celebrating his big birthday. Normally, he said, they would have rented a caravan but this time his wife was treating him. She had even told him not to take his wallet with him. Coming to Blenheim Lodge was a treat for them, and particularly for him: no shopping for groceries to cook in the caravan and no washing up after meals. Hurray!
The couple’s comments made me think of why people take a break. For those of us who have worked hard throughout the year, it is nice to take a holiday where one can be pampered rather than simply shifting grocery shopping and washing up duties at home to a holiday site, such as camping or caravan sites, or indeed other self-catering options. Taking a holiday in a bed and breakfast establishment means that someone else will cook for you and wash up after you. It also means that someone else will tidy your room for you, thereby leaving you free to go out and enjoy yourself.
It can actually be amazingly good value for holiday makers when booking a week’s stay in a bed and breakfast. At Blenheim Lodge, we offer 7-night B&B weekly rates that range from £265 to £375 per person. These rates, which are only available outside public holiday dates and weekends, represent a savings of at least £50-£120 per person off our nightly winter tariffs. The reason for this is that we save on advertising these rooms for the duration of at least a week whilst they are being occupied. It also saves on time spent on re-making rooms for changeovers.
But a lazy summer holiday is more than simply leaving your cooking and cleaning to someone else to do for you. Think of hot summer days spent picnicking by a beautiful lake or even perhaps on board a hired craft. Or imagine gently strolling through lush greenery and resting by a viewpoint where you can take in stupendous countryside or lake views or a combination of both. Pack a little something to eat and drink and make it a day’s outing, with only birds and perhaps the odd curious sheep or cow to keep you company. It’s certainly a great way to relax.
For a more active but no less lazy day, why not explore the Lake District National Park using your own horseless carriage or by public transport? There are so many gorgeous areas of the Lakes to discover, with many hidden away from the main thoroughfares. Look out for waterfalls and the becks that run off them. Keep an eye out for little paths that point to walks that you wouldn’t think were there at all. Or else park up at some more recognised walking areas and follow well-trodden paths, some of which are paved, to view hidden lakes or access mountains and fells. If you think that all this traipsing around sounds too much like hard work, then rest assured that there are often cafes or pubs close by where you can enjoy hot or cold drinks and snacks or meals.
A lazy summer holiday must surely include lots of time for doing what you enjoy most or even doing nowt! If your passion is sailing, horse-riding, off-road driving or green-laning, we can help to arrange these and other activities for you while you are staying with us at Blenheim Lodge. If you can think of nothing you would enjoy more than to sit quietly lakeside with a fishing rod in your hand, we can offer you the use of free fishing permits enabling you to coarse or fly fish in specific lakes within the Windermere, Ambleside and District Association waters.
Perhaps you enjoy visiting country houses and stately homes. There are many in the Lake District to choose from and Blenheim Lodge is ideally placed to access these extensive estates. Within the Lake District are also the previous homes of some famous writers – Beatrix Potter, John Ruskin, William Wordsworth – amongst others, and for literary buffs, outings to their former residences must of course be of interest.
For those with green fingers and who enjoy seeing and strolling through beautiful gardens, the Lake District is home to beautiful gardens, such as Holehird, the gardens at Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall, Wray Castle, and many more. A lazy day out in the sunshine enjoying and taking mental notes of various interesting plants will give much pleasure to horticulturalists or amateur gardeners. Come and see the gardens in the summer, but also try to visit them in the spring and summer so that you can see their seasonal changes.
For the dedicated sightseer interested in visiting local attractions and taking in the Lake District’s spectacular scenery, you can either visit these using public or private transport or we can help book you into half or full day tours that will take you out and about. The tours include pick up and drop off at Blenheim Lodge, possibly the laziest way of enjoying a summer’s day. There is no need to meet up with the bus at a depot or to find your way back to Blenheim Lodge after the trip, and no need to find your own way to the destinations you wish to reach; with someone else driving, you can concentrate all your attention on the beautiful Lakeland landscapes surrounding you instead of worrying about driving through unknown narrow windy roads. Moreover, the tour companies we work with have knowledgeable driver guides who will give you running commentaries interspersed with interesting anecdotes about what you see.
Finally, for the romantic at heart who are looking for a lazy summer holiday, Blenheim Lodge has quirky and pretty rooms with fantastic views, surely a great start to a romantic break. Wake up gently to birdsong and draw your curtains to stunning Lake Windermere views. Have a lazy day mooching around Bowness-on-Windermere where you can ride the ferries or visit the shops for some retail therapy. Or take up one of the suggestions above for a romantic outing a deux. Imagine just the two of you sitting in a sunlit glade or side by side by a jewelled lake. Surely ’tis a wonderful picture of peace and serenity, love and security for the romantic couple.
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