Fell good factor
Pushing the boat out in the Lake District, a place to lift your spirits come rain or shine
TStorrs Hall here are few places that are awesome all year round.
Some countries are great winter destinations, others perfect for sunshine breaks, some areas come alive in autumn, and there are those that give you a lift in spring.
But the Lake District is one of those places that delivers no matter what time of year you go.
Which is a good thing, because I found myself trapped indoors by monsoon-like rain for a full day on my last visit.
But I couldn’t have been happier... I was curled up on an oversized leather sofa in front of a roaring fire, Lee Child’s latest novel on my Kindle, a glass of malbec at my elbow – in the splendid lounge at Storrs Hall overlooking Lake Windermere.
The room was filled with heavyframed art, stuffed deer heads, quirky antiques and leather-bound books – perfect setting for a day by the fireside with a good read.
It was so grey I could barely see Windermere, even through floorto-ceiling windows that wrap around the front of this magnificent country hotel.
The beautiful gardens were being pummelled by the elements, the rain lashed at the windows and drummed on the roof, the wind whipped up the grey waters of the lake... and it was all wonderfully life-affirming.
I snuggled further into the couch, pulling a tartan blanket around me as the staff stoked the fire and discreetly refilled drinks. Bliss.
I’ve been to the Lake District several times, enjoying all the seasons (sometimes all in one day!), and I am always blown away by how gorgeous it is here.
The nodding daffodils in early spring, the cool waters in summer heat, the bracing hikes in golden autumn, and the sunshine that seems even brighter in winter when it glistens off the snow.
And the tourist industry has adapted well to the seasons, with something to do all year round. In the warmer months, activities are very much based on and around the lakes, while this time of year is perfect for hiking and hillwalking.
And for us, when the weather lifted the next day, we enjoyed glorious sunshine and grabbed the opportunity to explore the lake by boat from nearby Bowness. This is a lively little town with plenty of delicious tearooms and a great variety of restaurants – you can eat your way from Thailand to Mexico here.
In the summer you can take the kids (big and small) on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway (lakesiderailway.co.uk) Roaring fire had us feeling all aglow
which is great fun when combined with a boat trip across the lake. A number of ferries criss-cross the water and you can explore towns like Lakeside, Ambleside and Brockhole, and hop off for Wray Castle or the Lakeland Motor Museum.
The Stagecoach 599 double-decker open-top bus is a cheap and cheerful way to explore the area – it stops off at William Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and museum in Grasmere, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction near Bowness, as well as the lovely town of Kendal.
If you’d prefer a guided tour, the
Mountain Goat minibus takes you to all the hotspots and off the beaten track. Back at Storrs Hall, it was time for dinner. After a bracing walk along the lake shore we had worked up quite an appetite and enjoyed an absolute gourmet treat as course after course of beautifully crafted, exquisite food arrived. Everything was seasonal, local and delicious.
It was so tasty we kept hoping the rain would keep us indoors again the next day so we had an excuse to try out the magnificent afternoon tea. In front of another roaring fire, of course.
other promotion or third-party booking. 5-course dinner €65pp. storrs-hall.com
Mountain Goat runs winter tours daily from Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside. Try the full-day Ten Lakes Spectacular for €35 adult/€22 child. mountain-goat.com
golakes.co.uk