Category Archives: Sue’s Grasmere Blog

I write about White Moss, Brockstone Holiday Cottage, Grasmere, the Lakes, the weather of course, and things that are happening in the Lake District .

Long weekend in our Grasmere Cottage

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As autumn sets in and turns to winter, it’s easy to get stuck indoors, dreaming of warm summer days. If your only chance of getting outside is on the streets of a town or city, maybe with the occasional visit to a park, you may forget that fresh air and sunshine is vital to good winter health.

Those of us lucky enough to live in the Lake District spend lots of time outdoors, whatever the weather. We wrap up and set off on a brisk walk. If it’s raining we hope (but don’t expect) that it will dry up, but at the end of the walk we hop in the bath or shower, change our damp clothes , light the fire, and have a cup of tea ( or maybe something stronger) feeling the glow that comes from just being outdoors in glorious scenery.

We’re a pretty healthy bunch. You don’t see many overweight locals either.

Why not treat yourself to a Lake District winter break at our Grasmere cottage with amazing views? A long weekend of 3 nights is £350, 4 nights is £390, or, if you can stay a week, its £490. Brockstone Cottage has cosy oil fired central heating, a log fire laid ready for you to use on arrival, and a relaxing bubbly spa bath. It’s even possible to sit out on our south facing terrace on a sunny winter’s day. Whilst the valley and the village of Grasmere are in the shade of the hills during the winter months, our Grasmere Cottage, perched up on a hillside, gets all the sun going.

Here’s my photo of a January lunch break at Brockstone Grasmere Cottage.

 

Lunch on Brockstone Grasmere Cottage terrace, January

Lunch on Brockstone Grasmere Cottage terrace, January

Stay for a long weekend, or even a whole week, and sample the pleasure of a winter break in our Lakeland cottage.

Come before Christmas and enjoy the Christmas lights and great gift shopping in the Lake District villages and towns. Each village and town has its own special charm. Visit Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum, 10 minutes walk from Brockstone Cottage. Check out their excellent winter programme and exhibitions via the link.

Treat yourselves to an excellent value movie and meal deal at Zeffirelli’s Ambleside or see if you can fit in a visit to Fellini’s Ambleside for a special screening of theatre , ballets and opera from around the world. There’s live music every week too in Zeffirellis Jazz Bar.

For more information you can read my article about Things to do in Ambleside and another one I’ve written about Things to do in Grasmere.

If you can visit at Christmas, here’s a useful link to Christmas in the Lake District.

Please contact us if you would like to make a reservation for a wonderful long weekend or even a full week’s break in our Grasmere Cottage with amazing views, Brockstone Cottage Grasmere.

Autumn has arrived in the Lakes

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We’ve had three weeks of dry sunny weather, but today it is windy and rainy, so it seems as if Autumn has now arrived. The apples are being blown off the trees, and there are still some blackberries in the hedges, so it seems as if blackberry and apple crumble is on the menu for the next few days.

I have an excellent recipe for Grasmere Blackberry and Apple Crumble here. Grasmere is famous for its Gingerbread, and ginger is used in lots of traditional Lake District recipes, so our recipe uses a little ginger to spice up the traditional crumble. Try it – it’s good. This recipe was one of the favourites with guests back in the days when White Moss House was a top rated restaurant in the Good Food Guide, before we retired after 35 great years.

Already today we’ve taken two bookings for our Grasmere Cottage, one for November 2015, and one for April 2016. September 2016 is almost fully booked already, so it pays to look ahead to make sure you can book your weeks at our lovely cottage.

I like to add a photo to my posts, so here is a snap I took in October .

Autumn view of Rydal Water

Autumn view of Rydal Water

This is from White Moss viewpoint, just a 10 minute walk from Brockstone, our Grasmere Cottage in the heart of the Lakes.

 

Fully booked until November – Christmas is still available

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Thanks to all of you who have made bookings for September and October, taking advantage of our special offers.

This is just a short message to let you know that our next available week is from Saturday 7 November. We are fully booked until November.During the winter months we can be more flexible about changeover days, and we are happy to take bookings for short breaks ( though the best value is for 1 week stays)

We are now booked for New Year, but Christmas is still available. Departure day for a Christmas stay would be 28 December at the latest. We’re flexible on arrival days, and can offer a minimum stay of 5 nights if you can’t manage a full week.

Grasmere Sports coming up this Sunday

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Grasmere Sports takes place on Bank Holiday Sunday, which means that Sunday, 30 August 2015 is the day to see this great Lakeland event in 2015. For more information you can visit the Grasmere Sports 2015 website.

Guest staying at Brockstone often walk down to the sports field and enjoy a day out. Here’s a photo of some of those taking part in the “Guides Race” as the race up the nearby fell or hill is called. There is track racing for children, dog shows , Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling and lots of stalls, food and beer on offer.

Grasmere sports

Grasmere sports

Our cottage is fully booked this year for Grasmere Sports week, but it is available the following week, from September 5th. We’ve reduced the rate by £200 for last minute bookings. If you can come for the week from 5th September, you’ll be able to enjoy the Grasmere Guzzler Beer Festival at Tweedies and also the Westmorland County Show which takes place on Thursday 10 September. Here’s a photo I took at one of the past Westmorland shows. It’s a great day out- a whole day of “Countryfile” right on our doorstep on the showground, Crooklands, Kendal.

Prize stock at the Westmorland show

Prize stock at the Westmorland show

So, that’s Grasmere Sports Sunday 30 August, Grasmere Guzzler Beer festival 4, 5, 6, September, and Westmorland Show Thursday 10 September, three great Lakeland events not to be missed.

5th September £200 reduction for 1 week stay Lakes Cottage Amazing Views

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Got a week free from Saturday 5 September? If so you can save £200 on last minute stay in our Lakes Cottage with amazing views, Brockstone Grasmere Cottage.

From 5th September there is a £200 reduction for 1 week. The rate for September weeks is usually £790, but as we are very close now to 5 September, and our cottage is still (surprisingly) available, we’re offering a great deal for last minute stays. That’s just £590 for a week in our cottage with amazing views ( read our reviews for our guests’ opinions)

Great views, two bedrooms, spa bath, lounge with log fire, satellite TV, DVD, ipod dock, kitchen with Smeg fridge, dishwasher, washer dryer, free WiFi, barbeque, terrace table and chairs, spacious free car park…………..brilliantly located for hiking from the door…..we even welcome your dog…

Please look around this website for more information and links, and contact us if you’d like to know more.

 

View from the bedroom window over the Grasmere hills.

View from the bedroom window over the Grasmere hills.

Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage

Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage

Another Excellent 5 Star Review

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Thank you very much to the family from Germany who stayed with us last week for posting this excellent 5 Star review for Brockstone Grasmere Cottage.

Can you understand German? Here’s the review as posted on the HomeAway cottage website.

Frank K. said…
30-Jul-2015

Schönes Cottage in traumhafter Umgebung

Brockstone Cottage, White Moss, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SF, United Kingdom (92349)
Date of Stay
17 July 2015
Helpful votes:0/0
Wir verbrachten als Familie (zwei Kinder 12 und 14 Jahre) mit unseren beiden Hunden zwei Wochen in diesem wunderschön eingerichteten Cottage. Brockstone Cottage liegt in einer idyllischen Alleinlage. Wir konnten mehrere Wanderungen direkt vom Cottage aus starten. Auch nach Grasmere und Ambleside ist es nicht weit. Wir konnten unsere Woche im Lake District in vollen Zügen genießen.

My understanding, thanks to an online translation, is that this means

Frank K. said ...
30 -Jul -2015
-
Beautiful cottage in beautiful surroundings
Brock Stone Cottage , White Moss , Grasmere , Cumbria , LA22 9SF , United Kingdom ( 92349 )
Date of Stay
17 July 2015
Helpful votes : 0/0
We stayed as a family ( two children 12 and 14 years ) with our two dogs two weeks at this beautifully appointed Cottage . Brock Stone Cottage is situated in an idyllic secluded location . We were able to start several walks directly from the cottage . Even after Grasmere and Ambleside is not far away . We were able to our week in the Lake District to the fullest

Anyway, you get the gist. Lovely guests, very happy. Thanks to them for taking the time to write this review.

If you would like to stay at Brockstone Cottage for the week commencing 5 September 2015 we have reduced the rate from £790 to £690. We have also reduced Half Term week in October from £790 to £690.

The other available October weeks have been reduced from £690 to £590. These autumn weeks are often the most beautiful time of year in the Lake District. The crowds have gone, the walking is great, the trees begin to turn. At the end of the day the spa bath and the log fire in Brockstone Grasmere Cottage help you relax and reflect on your days in the great outdoors.

To see lots of lovely photos  of Autumn in the Lake District click through here to my Pinterest board. Why not take advantage of our October offer?

Here’s a photo I took from Loughrigg Terrace, a gorgeous walk that give you amazing views of Grasmere. It’s one of the many short walks from Brockstone Cottage. If you look carefully at the picture you can just spot Brockstone Cottage on the hill

autumn colours 011

Brockstone Grasmere Cottage in Autumn

 

 

 

 

Absolutely fantastic cottage!

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“What a cottage! Absolutely fantastic cottage. Amazing views.. We loved it. We’ll definitely be back.”

These were the words of our guests checking out of Brockstone Cottage this morning. What a lovely start to the day.

The only downside to the week? Did the guests have any complaints? Well, the weather could have been better. We’ll refer that problem to the authorities in the hopes that he/she can try a little harder.

The weather has been a bit disappointing, as the south of the country has had a sunny week, whilst we seem to have had a drizzly cloud settled over us. Our Grasmere Glee summer singing on Moss Parrock ( Grasmere village green) had to be moved into the church. We had hoped that like last year we would attract the passing tourists’ attention, give them some pleasure, and maybe get them to drop some money into the Great North Air Ambulance. collecting boxes Some people did drop into the church, and we did really enjoy ourselves singing, so all wasn’t lost. It was just a shame that we had hit the wettest day for weeks.

“The view this morning was beautiful at the cottage” – a shame to be leaving on a wonderful sunny morning like today.

We’re off now to get Brockstone Grasmere cottage ready for our next guests. We know we’ll be tempted to sit on the terrace and admire the amazing views ourselves……but there is a job to be done!

Next available week in our Grasmere cottage with amazing views? 5th to 12th September.

5 day special offer 24-29 August

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We’ve now let nearly every week in our Grasmere cottage until 5 September, but if you’re looking for a short break in August, we have a 5 night special offer for arrival on Monday 24 August, leaving Saturday 29 August ( so avoiding the Bank Holiday crowds).

The rate for this 5 night stay is £500- very attractive for an August stay in the Lakes we think. If you would like to take advantage of this 5 day special offer, please contact us via the contact form on this blog .

We’re now taking bookings for the winter period from 31 October, including Christmas and New Year. We’re fairly flexible about changeover days bewteen 31 October and March, so please ask for dates and rates if you would like to make a booking, and we’ll give you our best quote. We ask for a 3 night minimum stay, apart from Christmas and New Year when we offer a 5 night minimum.

Summer Holiday week still available in our Grasmere Cottage with amazing views.

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Not booked your summer holiday yet? We have a week from 25 July to 1 August still available in our Grasmere  cottage (with amazing views)

The cottage sleeps four, so it’s perfect for a family with older children, and you can bring your dog too. The Lake District is a wonderful location for a Summer Holiday. There is the Great Outdoors, with all the hiking, watersports , cycling and adventure that you could want. Check this link to the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest for a taster. This is one of our family’s favourite places for cycling, walks and all sorts of fun. Our children loved visiting Grizedale when they were young, and still go back there now when they come to stay ( they’re in their 30s!)

If you visit for the summer holiday week 25 July to 1 August you’ll be able to visit Ambleside Sports. Always held on the last Thursday in July, Ambleside Sports is a fantastic local day out. Hound Trails, Cycle races, Fell Races, Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling, stalls, local food, beer tent- brilliant. A 20 minute walk from Brockstone Cottage takes you to the Ambleside Sports field.

If you know the Lakes, and love the walk from Grasmere, via Dove Cottage, to Rydal, along the “coffin route” also known as “Wordsworth’s walk”, you’ll have passed by Brockstone Cottage. Every day lots of walkers pass this great little cottage, and many of our guests tell us they’ve always wanted to stay in this fabulous spot. No cars go by- it’s a bridle route, and is only accessible by car as far as Brockstone,

Here’s a photo pf the cottage. Recognise it?

Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage

Brockstone Grasmere holiday cottage

Here’s a picture taken from the terrace looking south, where the view is of Rydal Water.

Tea on the terrace, Brockstone Grasmere Cottage, with views of Rydal Water

Tea on the terrace, Brockstone Grasmere Cottage, with views of Rydal Water

Like to know more? If you can’t find the information on the site, please email me and we’ll get back to you asap.

For up to date prices and availability please look on the HomeAway website or the Holiday Lettings website, where you can also read our reviews.

Our blog, about the White Moss area and Brockstone Cottage also has lots of information.