We’re very lucky to be able to walk from our door at White Moss House, and enjoy spectacular views of lakes and fells.

This week, the trees are turning glorious colours. Here’s a photo I took as I walked through Penny Rock woods down to the bridge and weir at Grasmere lake- just a 10 minute stroll from White Moss House.

White Moss walk to Grasmere shore via Penny Rock woods

With a good forecast for the weekend, we’re hoping to fill our last rooms. If you can get away for a last minute break, why not stay at White Moss House, leave your car on our car park ( for residents only- free!) and set out on one of these wonderful White Moss walks.

We’ve just added some new Grasmere bed and breakfast special offers for this weekend. Please pass this information on if you know anyone who might be able to take advantage of our last minute offers.

Yesterday was a brilliant autumn days in the Lakes, so we took the chance to scoot up Silver Howe. It’s one of the many great walks you can do from our door.

Starting off through White Moss Woods, we met the National Trust wardens who are improving the path there. Whilst taking to them, we all saw a lovely red squirrel, then a huge stag appeared, with enormous antlers. Apparently it was bellowing like mad first thing in the morning. It’s that rutting time of year, as all us fans of Autumn Watch know.

We then walked along Loughrigg Terrace, across the Red Bank Road and over to Silver Howe. Here’s the cairn on the top.

Looking at Grasmere and Rydal Water from the top of Silver Howe

We then headed off down to Grasmere via Sting’s house ( he wasn’t there- I’ve yet to see him) and Allan Bank , enjoyed a drink in the sunny garden at Tweedies, then hopped on the bus back to White Moss. I know, we could have walked back easily, but we had to get back to welcome our latest guests.

The trees really are looking great, and they’ve got several weeks of fantastic colour still to go- one good thing about the wet year we’ve had.If you can spare a few days, it’s a great time to visit. Check out our special rates – we’d love to see you! Here’s the link to our Grasmere offers page.

The weather’s fantastic here right now, and the hanging basket looks as good as it has all year.

We’re offering excellent rates from now until we close for our winter break ( on the morning of 5th November- no bonfire significance in the date!)

You can go to our website and check the White Moss House Grasmere Special offers page.

We now also have a new White Moss House Facebook Page. If you could take a minute to visit and give it a thumbs up that would be great. You can also become a Friend and get all the up to date information and offers.

If you can’t manage to visit White Moss House this year, you can now make a reservation for 2013. We’re already fully booked on a few dates, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead, especially if you want to organise your own houseparty with us, and take all our 5 rooms for exclusive use of the whole place.

When you blog, you’re never quite sure if anyone will notice, but thank you all who have visited this page  – over 10,000 views now!

If you’re free in the next 10 days to get away, would you like a great last minute offer for bed and breakfast in the Lake District?

Or maybe you’re just browsing, and could take a minute to give us a “like” on our new Facebook page?

Grasmere from Loughrigg Terrace

After a wet couple of days ( not too bad here though- no floods), today is gorgeous and sunny. I’m just off to do this walk now,down to Grasmere Lake and then back along Loughrigg Terrace, taking my camera. The leaves are turning now- such a great time to visit White Moss House ( this photo was taken in summer)

Find out all about White Moss walks here

Over on our White Moss House website special offers page I’ve explained how to get the very best rates at White Moss House this autumn, but I’m sharing them with you here are well. How can you be sure you’re getting the best rate for your Lake District bed and breakfast booking?

Here goes;
Do you realise that you are often paying more when you make a direct online booking? This is because the online systems charge a commission, so the hotels and B & Bs put their rates up to cover this- so you might pay more than if you book directly .

However, booking directly can be confusing- what rates will they charge, are there rooms available etc?

Here’s what I’m offering from now until we close for our winter break on 4 November.

1. Decide when you want to come to stay at our Lake District bed and breakfast

2.Go to the Contact Us page on the White Moss House Website, then click on the “Book Online” symbol and check to see what we have available, and the bed and breakfast rates we are offering. (These rates are per person, per night, so you need to double it to get the room rate)

3. Don’t book online!

4. Email me, sue@whitemoss.com , telling me when you want to come, the price you’ve found, and  the room you want to book if you know which one you prefer. The rate might already have been reduced from our full usual rate.

5. I’ll confirm that rate, and further reduce the total for a two night stay for two guests by an extra £10, or by £15 if you’re staying 3 nights.

6. I’ll need your card details to take a £50 deposit.

That’s it. The best rates guaranteed.

Here’s a picture of the heron I saw today flying over our garden. You might see him, or deer, or red squirrels……

The White Moss Heron on the River Rothay, Rydal, Grasmere

In the last week we’ve seen a red squirrel twice in the same spot, on the old road just above the White Moss Quarry car park, ( just up from where Mark, the ice cream man, has had his van for well over 30 years)

I’m taking my camera with me everytime I go that way now, in the hope that I’ll finally be able to get my own red squirrel photo. I’ve either not had my camera with me, or when they’ve been in the garden, I’ve rushed for the camera only to find the squirrel has run off.

Guests have sometimes seen the red squirrel too- you might be lucky. This time in the autumn they’re out  looking for food to store. If you want to stay with us in October, from Sunday to Thursday night, we are offering FREE NIGHTS! Stay 3 nights and have a 4th night bed and breakfast free. You can check our website for details, http://whitemoss.com/special-offers.htm.

Stone on the top of Sheffield Pike overlooking Ullswater

Here’s an unusual Lake District photo to you. This inscribed stone is on the top of Sheffield Pike, which has great views over Ullswater. Wainwright wasn’t a big fan of Sheffield Pike, but we like it, as it’s always quiet and the views are great. Drive about 25 minutes from White Moss, park on the west side of Ullswater, and take this lovely walk past the quaintly named Seldom Seen onto the tops for a great autumn hike.

One of my favourite Dire Straits songs- ( that dates me!)
Why worry,
There must be sunshine after rain,
These things will always be the same,
So why worry now?

At last, after so much rain, we’re into a spell of gorgeous dry, sunny early autumn weather just perfect for walking , hiking and sightseeing in the Lakes.
For those of you planning to visit the Grasmere and Rydal area, my White Moss Walks gude is very helpful. Ideally, you would be staying at White Moss House, so that you can start the day with one of our award winning breakfasts, then leave your car in our free car park and walk from the door.

Yesterday I did the walk through Deer Bolt Woods, and, as is often the case, saw a couple of baby deer. These woods have been called Deer Bolt Woods for centuries, so today’s deer are just following tradition, as are the swans who live on Swan Point, Rydal Water.

This week looked like it would be quiet, but it has filled up thanks to our special offer and the sunshine. We do still have rooms for the weekend though, and have reduced the rate. Please take a look at our White Moss House and Brockstone Grasmere cottage special offer page. Next week we thought we were 100% fully booked, but a Japanese guest has had to cancel a week, so if you can take up any nights in Room 5 from Tuesday, you can get a bargain.

Virginia Creeper on White Moss House, September 2011

The colours are already looking good- see our ancient Virginia creeper ( planted by the Wordsworths)

“Walking is therapy in boots” Not sure who said this, but it’s true.Grab your boots and enjoy the early autumn sunshine.

There’s a nip in the air, and autumn is on the way. After a day of heavy rain yesterday, today is sunny and bright. Perfect hiking weather.

The offer in the last post has been extended, so it now runs from Sunday 2 September to Friday 7 September. We’re very busy this week, we’ve only 1 room left from 10 to 14 September, but the first week in September is very quiet. Here are the details of our best ever last minute offer. It’s for a three night stay, but if you can only manage two nights, email me ( sue@whitemoss.com) and I’ll give you our best rates.

Here’s a photo taken in early October last year-

Rydal Water from the end of Loughrigg Terrace

You could be here!

We have two special 3 night breaks available at our self catering Grasmere holiday cottage, Brockstone, with amazing views . The dates are 8, 9 and 10 September, and also 22, 23 and 24 September. The special rate for 3 nights is £290.

White Moss waterfall

Here’s the waterfall at the end of White Moss House garden. This stream runs under Brockstone Cottage!

We’re hoping for a beautiful autumn in the Lake District this year. The trees are so lush after all the rain this summer that we think the leaves are going to look great.

As a very early autumn treat, we’re offering very special rates for a three night stay at the beginning of September. The children will be back at school and it’s usually (!) pretty good weather.

This offer runs from Sunday 2 September to Thursday 6 September inclusive.

Rooms 1, 3 and 5, usually £354 for three nights, bed and breakfast , will be just £275

Rooms 2 and 4, usually £294 for three nights, bed and breakfast, will be just £225.

This is for two guests, including afternnon tea and home made cakes on arrival, our award winning breakfasts, and all the other White Moss extras (see our website). If it’s cool, the log fire will be burning. You’re welcome to paly our baby grand piano too……

This offer is subject to availabilty, and only for bookings made directly with us by phone or email.

If you can only manage 2 nights during these dates, please email me for our best offer.

This beautiful picture of Rydal Water is by David Willis for Cumbria Tourism . All rights are reserved and it must not be used without permission.

Contact us; sue@whitemoss.com    015394 35295.

I was just chatting to a lovely young couple at check out, asking them where they were going to next, and talking about their stay when he cleared his throat and looked very serious. Oh dear – was there a problem?

“We got engaged yesterday” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exceiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They got engaged by the shore of Grasmere, down by the rowing boats and the ducks. He handed his lovely lady what she thought was a handful of feed for the ducks, and it turned out to be a diamond ring.

Isn’t that great? Who says that romance is dead? How wonderful !

This lovely picture of a boat on Grasmere is thanks to Cumbria Tourism, taken by David Willis. It is not for reuse without permission.