Has Spring Arrived?

What a beautiful day again today here in Bowness. We have had some glorious days of crisp bright sunshine along with equally crisp temperatures of course but the snowdrops are blooming and the daffodils are coming up. I think perhaps spring is slowly arriving although it will be late this year due to the hard winter and very low temperatures that we have all had over the country. I am thoroughly enjoying the sunshine but can't wait for the temperature to start to rise consistently and remain above freezing for more than a few days at a time.

Hugo and I went for a run (very slow!) along the lake shore this afternoon and up Queen Adelaides Hill (much much slower!) and sat enoying the view. I gasped for air like a fish out of water whilst Hugo of course proceeded to race around bouncing at me confused as to why I was the colour of beetroot and couldn't speak. However when I recovered enough I took a photo on my mobile to share the view across the lake towards the Langdale Pikes with you.

We managed to get out on Saturday afternoon for a walk and took the ferry as foot passengers (people 50p each way, dogs free) over Windermere to the shores across from Bowness and walked along under Claife Heights. Again a gorgeous day but chilly out of the sun, Hugo however didn't seem to feel the chill as he took to the water. Here he is waiting patiently to board the ferry across from Windermere.

Hopefully we have seen the last of the snow and can look forward to a bright spring followed by a long and hot summer (well dryish anyway). We are lucky to share one of the most beautiful places in England with our guests and no matter what the weather it never fails but to delight me with spectacular views and breathtaking scenery.

The changing seasons with all the variations in weather bring a thousand moods and ever changing beauty to the lakes however here's a photo of Paul and Hugo in some wintry weather that thankfully we can say goodbye to for this winter (fingers crossed!).

Post Knott (20 mins walk from Langdale View) being very atmospheric with the cloud hanging above Lake windermere taken by my daughter Natasha .

Up and Coming Events

I thought it might be a good idea to start and let you know some of the up and coming events that are happening in the Lakes over the next few months. There are loads of things going on to suit all tastes and abilities so I will list a few each blog to give a flavour and invite you to google and search furher at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/tourism where you can search the latest listings by event type, town or the date of your visit.

Light Up Hadians Wall
Hadrian’s Wall – all 84 miles of it – will be bathed in light for one night only in March.A spectacular line of light will run along the entire coast-to-coast Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail on Saturday, March 13. Hadrian’s Wall – all 84 miles of it – will be bathed in light for one night only in March.

Lights will be placed at 250m intervals along the route – that’s around 500 illuminated spots stretching from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria. The Romans built fortlets, known as milecastles, along the Wall at intervals of one Roman mile. Between each milecastle, and spaced one third of a Roman mile apart, were a series of turrets. The plan is to create a point of light where all the milefortlets and turrets were located, with an additional point of light between each of them. There will also be a number of stewarded points along the wall where people will be able to view the line of light.

The ‘Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall’ project coincides with British Tourism Week 2010 (March 15-21) and is the brainchild of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, who are planning a massive eco-revamp of the site over the next five years.

It is one of a number of events being held in the North East of England and Cumbria presented by Kendal Arts International and Manchester International Arts. It forms part of the events and festivals programme for culture10 in the North East of England and the Lakes Alive festival in Cumbria.

It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a line of light stretching from one side of England to the other.

Cumbria Fishing Festival 2010
Sat 15th - Sun 23rd May at various locations around South Lakeland and Cumbria.

Tel: 01539535630
www.gofishinglakedistrict.co.uk


Windermere Airshow 2010...
This hugely successful and enjoyable event takes place over the weekend of 24/25 July - this will be our 10th anniversary. Based at the Glebe in Bowness-on-Windermere the event takes place over the whole weekend. Participants are yet to be confirmed but I have to say it was an extremely impressive turnout last year. I'll post a new blog as soon as i've found out the itinerary.

Tel: 07749 806586
www.windermereairshow.co.uk

Lakes Alive Summer Programme
May - Sept. A fantastic series of events throughout the season at various locations across the Lakes and Cumbria.

Tel:01539720252
www.lakesalive.org

I hope these have given you a flavour of some of the things that are going on here in the Lakes alongside the beautiful scenery and fantastic walks, climbs, biking that we offer.

A New Year

A Happy New Year to you all, I realise its rather late to be saying this but better late than never as they say. I've been rather busy over Christmas and New Year with entertaining and a full house of guests which has been lovely, and I have very recently celebrated another birthday (21 obviously). So I'm back to the blog now that I have some time. When I master the art of technology I will post some photos that we have taken during the snow and icy weather. I confess its more the point that I can't find the lead that links the camera to the PC rather than anything else, its somewhere safe of course!

The mountains and the Lake District have been particularly beautiful during the snow with some stunning days of sunshine and blue skies to show off the views. I do love the snow and the views but I have to say that when it reached about minus 13 I confess I wasn't that impressed with the temperature. We walked Hugo had snow ball fights, my nephews went sledging and we built snowmen, enjoying the most snow we have had in years. Hugo our dog has a love of snow and particularly ice so he was delighted every day to be outside in the snow running about and chasing snowballs. One of Hugo's peculiarities is that he likes to eat ice cubes, every day after we have served breakfast he waits patiently for an ice cube from the bowl that we serve the yoghurts in .... strange dog, but then who wants a dog without some odd personality traits.

The snow has more or less gone now at lower levels although the mountains are still wearing their white dresses of snow for some while yet I expect. Our wood burner has never been stoked quite so high as in the first couple of weeks of this year, nor have we fed as many of the garden birds, we seem to have gone through bags of seed.

The temperature is now warming up and my thoughts have inevitably turned to the garden. I haven't made any resolutions this year as they all seem to revolve around projects in the Guest house and the grounds. The rest of the property involves 'work' some more enjoyable than other tasks, however my garden is much more of a pleasure for me no matter how mundane the jobs are, if its outside I'm happier. My mother ordered a seed and bulb catalogue for me recently and I have to say the looks of pity I received from my family when I was so excited and delighted to get it, I fear I have no street cred left ..... if I ever had any in the first place!

I hope you all enjoy 2010 as much as we intend to, have a happy and prosperous year and I look forward to welcoming you here at Langdale View. To those of you who garden like myself, may your garden grow well, your pests be few and your crops plentiful ..... fingers crossed!