Hubby and I have been living at Blenheim Lodge now for the last 10.5 years. And do you know, despite the fact that the road we are located on being called Brantfell Road, it never occurred to me until a week back that we are actually located on a fell! And . . . after all these years, it took a guest to tell me the obvious!
It was breakfast time, and Joseph and his family had just finished eating. Out of curiosity, I asked him why he had chosen to book our Bed and Breakfast. Joseph told me that one of the reasons was the fact that we have walks and a fell right on our doorstep. Well, the access gate onto Brantfell is certainly only a minute’s stroll from our front door, and two of our rooms overlook Brantfell. Indeed, a low wire fence, with a little stone wall and small hedge are the only dividers between our back garden at Blenheim Lodge and fell fields, woodlands, country paths and viewpoints.
And then it struck me: our road, Brantfell Road, is called ‘Brantfell’ because it is on Brant Fell. I think I missed the cue possibly because the two words, ‘Brant’ and ‘Fell’ had been combined to make one word. How dim could I be? Duh!
Right now, however, having discovered our ‘new’ location, I am feeling rather chuffed. Over Easter weekend, we had had a lovely chap to stay with us in one of our single bedrooms, and he told me we should let walkers know that we are on a fell, with fell walks right behind our guesthouse. I was a little skeptical about this, as some visitors who prefer to be within easy walking distance of attractions and amenities might take it the wrong way and think that being on a fell means that Blenheim Lodge is in the back of beyond.
It really is not easy to get across to potential guests just how well located Blenheim Lodge is. Basically, we are quietly situated on a fell – nestling into it, in fact – with the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere and Lake Windermere only 5 minutes’ walk from our guest house. Being in an elevated position also means that whilst we are only a 5-minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Bowness and Lake Windermere, it feels far away from the madding crowd because the fell itself helps to absorb the noise of traffic and crowds that emanate from the village centre. It really is the best of both worlds; and particularly so because our Lodge is situated in the South Central Lakes, with excellent travel routes that link Bowness to numerous walks and fells within the 885 square miles of the Lake District.
Just yesterday, another person told me that we should mention the obvious: with a fell practically in our backyard, it means that keen walkers who visit our place and arrive in mid-afternoon, say, can stretch their legs on arrival by climbing up Brantfell, especially during these Spring days of longer daylight hours. Imagine striding out cross country to 360-degree viewpoints and inhaling deep of fresh clean air after a stuffy car, train or coach ride, especially if said journey had proved tedious or stressful. What a way to literally breathe in the Lakes on arrival! Surely, a good omen for a refreshing break in this beautiful part of the world!
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.’