Posts tagged with "South Lakeland Holidays"

A little more than 120 years ago, John Bickerstaffe, one time Mayor of Blackpool visited the Great Paris Exhibition and was so impressed by the Eiffel Tower that he returned home with a dream of building a similar tower in the resort.

With £2,000 of his own money he gathered together a local group of investors and in February 1891, the Blackpool Tower Company was born. Three years later the tower was completed and ever since has been one of the country’s top tourist attractions.



To find out more we sent our Web Communications Co-ordinator Matt Hartnett out again to check out the Tower and other nearby attractions. He was accompanied by Heather Clough and two friends from Blackpool and their eight-month-old son. Their visit was on a cold but bright January afternoon.

The weather though was quickly forgotten with the warmth of the welcome inside the tower building. Parking was no problem with plenty of nearby pay and display parks all providing easy access to the tower.

Matt writes: “The attraction has three different parts to it; a 4D cinema, the exciting lift to the top of the tower itself and then the special interaction once at the top. We were all struck by the helpful and friendly staff which made the visit even more enjoyable.

We all enjoyed the cinema which was my first experience of 4D and I would recommend this to anyone. We enjoyed the lift to the top and once there, the view was amazing. We were helped because it was such a clear day and we all looked out across the Irish Sea towards the Isle of Man. It is said you can even see Ireland on a clear day.

At the the top of the tower there is a glass ‘walk of faith’ floor which allows you to see right down to The Promenade. The more nervous visitor can be assured that only a section of the floor is actually glass.



Elsewhere within the complex there is Jungle Jims, the Circus, the Dungeon and, of course, the world famous Tower Ballroom now such a major feature on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. There is also a large gift shop selling everything you might want related to the tower. There is also the chance to have a photograph taken when you first arrive.

We all enjoyed our visit and we agreed that Blackpool Tower has something for everyone whether they are in a family or a large group. We all decided we would return for another tower adventure.”

Attraction costs:
Adult £12.60 Child £9.60 Family £39.60 (two adults & two children)


Rating: 5 out of 5
Review by Matt Hartnett,
South Lakeland Parks Website Co-ordinator

Did you know?
Blackpool Tower is 518 ft high and cost £290,000 to build and it took five million bricks, 2.500 tonnes of iron and 93 tonnes of cast iron to complete the construction. The iron and steel were constructed and designed in such a way that if ever the tower was to fall, it would fall into the sea. A time capsule is buried at its base.

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So the Olympic Torch route through South Lakeland has been revealed.

On the afternoon of June 21st, the torch will arrive in Grasmere – then travelling along the A591 to Ambleside.

Local events have been planned at this point of the route, including a tea party in Borrans Park.

The Torch will then set sail down Windermere to Bowness Pier, arriving just before 8pm, where a huge event to mark the occasion is being staged on the Glebe.
After spending the night in Bowness the Torch will set off from Kendal Castle on the morning of June 22nd – heading through Kendal and Milnthorpe before entering North Lancashire.

Here’s the South Lakeland route in more detail:
The torch will come from Keswick to Grasmere along the A591 arriving in Grasmere at approximately 5.38pm. The Torch will then leaves Grasmere and continue on the A591 to Ambleside.

Grasmere Primary School is tying its sports day in to coincide with the Torch’s visit. The sports day will be held at Broadgate Meadow so that the local community can be involved. The sports day will be followed by a British style afternoon tea picnic. Children will be performing traditional British Isle songs and special piece of music will be commissioned to welcome the Torch’s arrival.

To celebrate the Torch’s visit to Ambleside local schools and community groups are planning several events. Including a tea party picnic in Borran’s Park which will feature music and the park ‘dressed’ for its arrival and areas planted in the Olympic colour. Pupils from local schools will also perform an especially composed song welcoming the Torch to Ambleside.

After this the Torch will board Windermere Lake Cruises boat MV Tern at Waterhead Pier and will sail down Windermere to Bowness Pier where it will disembark. at 7.57pm where it will be centre stage of a series events planned at the Glebe featuring celebrities, dignitaries, music and food from Taste Cumbria.

The Olympic Torch Relay celebrations will take place in Bowness on the evening of 21 June. The event will give the local community and visitors to the area a chance to welcome the Olympic Flame and share in the excitement and celebrations that the Relay will bring.

The evening will finish off with a breathtaking performance organised by Lakes Alive in conjunction with Les Commandos Percu with the world premiere of ‘On the Night Shift’. This is a newly commissioned spectacular show to mark the start of the Festival 2012. This incredible open-air production combines music, pyrotechnics and drama to dazzling effect, sending streams of colour and light soaring through the skies above Windermere.

After spending the night in Bowness the Torch will set off from Kendal Castle at 8.20am on the 22 June. It will travel through Kendal and then will set off for Milnthorpe where it will be met by hundreds of school children as it passes out of South Lakeland and into Lancashire.

Milnthorpe community leaders are inviting all local schools to line the route as the Torch passes through. Two local residential homes have also been invited. Schools in the area are to be given a colour from the London 2012 colour palate to create banners and flags and to wear t-shirts so a ‘Relay of Colour’ can be created along the route. Milnthorpe Primary School will create a musical farewell moment as the Torch leaves the town as the last community in the district.

The Torch will be in carried by a torch bearers it processes through towns and villages. It will be on what Locog are calling convoy mode, when it not in these areas.
Cllr Brendan Jameson, Leader of SLDC, said: “This is a fantastic event over two days that businesses and communities can be involved in. It will showcase South Lakeland and its attractions to the world.”

The details of the route can be found onLocog website at www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map.

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Nurture Lakeland Riverside Walk - Official Opening

South Lakeland Parks are active supporters of Nurture Lakeland, an organization which aims to make the Cumbrian tourism industry more sustainable by creating ways for businesses and individuals to donate to conservation.

Nurture Lakeland makes sure that the money raised goes to the areas that need it the most, so that the Lake District remains a beautiful place to visit. They also deliver responsible tourism campaigns and advice to help businesses, residents and visitors understand how they can help.

As members of the Nurture Lakeland organisation, South Lakeland Parks has been able to raise money – through the
generosity of owners and visitors.

South Lakeland Parks has been helping visitors of all ages and levels of fitness to enjoy the countryside by supporting the ‘Miles without Stiles’ project. This raises money towards upgrading and developing footpaths to improve access for people with limited mobility throughout Cumbria and the Lake District.

Working in association with Nurture Lakeland, South Lakeland Parks has already raised over £50,000.

One of the main routes South Lakeland Parks has been supporting is the Staveley Riverside Walk. This walk was officially opened in July by Eric Robson, the writer, broadcaster and Chairman of Cumbria Tourism. Now  improvements to the footpath have been completed, making it safer for everyone to walk along.

The Staveley Riverside Walk route runs from the Duke William pub along the path to the footbridge and then turns left  along the riverside to the road.

The new wall next to the riverside walk was built over two weekends by the Friends of the Lake District Annual Walling Competition. Members of the Dry Stone Walling Association built a new field boundary wall alongside the path. Over 140 metres was built over three days. The money raised also went towards building a wheelchair accessible bridge and a link to Staveley Mill Yard where visitors can access local shops and cafes.

A 68 tonne crane was needed to lift the new seven tonne bridge into position. The new, bespoke footbridge now spans the River Kent directly behind Staveley Mill Yard and its design, reflects the yard’s unique history of wood turning. The flowing shape of the bridge resembles the form of a wood shaving.
www.nurturelakeland.org

If you want to try the walk  CLICK HERE for the walk route.

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Riverside Walking Route
Route type: For all. A level path alongside the River Kent and minor tarmac road, return to Staveley Mill Yard - OS Explorer Map OL7
Distance: 1.25 km or 0.8 miles
Start and end point: Staveley Mill Yard - grid ref. SD 472983
Facilities: Café, pub and toilets all in the Mill Yard
Getting there: Bus: The 555 bus from Kendal to Windermere stops at Staveley every hour until the early evening. Train: The Kendal to Windermere train also stops at Staveley on request.

Route
Reach the footbridge over the River Kent by either walking past the front of the glass fronted Hawkshead Brewery in Mill Yard, and through a gap in the yard wall, or walking along Main Street to St Margaret’s Chapel and taking the public footpath on the left.

The River Kent is one of England’s fastest flowing rivers and historically was essential to the success of local industry. There were once over 30 mills reliant on its waterpower. The mill on this site was constructed around 1825 by local businessman Thomas Taylor. He recognized that with the new canal to Kendal, there was a ready market for bobbins and reels for the Lancashire cotton mills, and plenty of local timber in Staveley to provide the raw materials.

Continue past the weir, built in 1853, and alongside the deeper waters of the river. Watch out for kingfishers and dippers speeding by. The path soon reaches a minor road. Continue along this to Barley Bridge and turn left and left again to return to the village centre. Once past the church, Back Lane is the quietest route to the Mill Yard.

It is a great walk for all the family so make your way to Staveley and see for yourself what South Lakeland Parks has done for the Lake District!

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There are so many things to see and do in the Lake District that sometimes you could be spoilt for choice. In an effort to help you make up your mind, We are planning to highlight some of the attractions near some of our parks. For this issue we dispatched Matt Hartnett and Heather Clough off to Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre.

They report: “We arrived by car and the first things we immediately noticed were the wonderful scenic views and the beautiful gardens which stretch right down to the shores of Windermere. Further investigation quickly revealed that there is loads to do.

There is an adventure playground, a new crazy golf area and 20 acres of garden and woodland to admire and explore. Boat hire is available for a trip around the lake and a new pier.

Inside the imposing house there are always exhibitions to enjoy and to inspire. We enjoyed Rugged Reflections, History of the Lakes as well as touch screen computer games. There is a café which serves good food, most of which has been freshly prepared and locally sourced. There is also a wide range of cakes and sandwiches on sale.



We enjoyed a refreshing cup of tea on the terrace enjoying the splendid views and later we found a bench where we had our picnic with the sun on our backs. Nearby children were enjoying the adventure playground.

Whilst we travelled to Brockhole by car, owners can walk from Limefitt, White Cross Bay and Fallbarrow. Entry to the house, grounds and lakeshore is free. There is free WiFi, but parking charges apply.

Brockhole is a not-for-profit attraction run by the Lake District National Park Authority. All profits go towards its upkeep. There are various events throughout the year so it is best to visit http://www.brockhole.co.uk/ Whats on to see what is on.

The visitor centre is open all year round (except Christmas Day) and opens at 10am till 5pm while the gardens open 8am to 6pm.

We will definitely be going back as there is so much more to explore.

The Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole is located just off the A591 between Windermere and Ambleside. 015394 46601 www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

Rating: 4 out of 5.
Review by Matt Hartnett,
South Lakeland Parks website Co-ordinator

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This is a very short walk but one which should never be rushed. It should be done in the summer and at that time you will see plenty.
This stroll begins in the centre of Windermere close to the A591 and below the Windermere Hotel, the bus stop, Booths Supermarket and the railway station. There are plenty of places to eat but Orrest Head on a nice day is the perfect place for a good picnic.

Map OS L96 or OL7
Grid reference: 412 989
Length of walk: 1.5 miles
Time: You could do it in an hour but you may want to take a little longer than that.

Route
1 - Find a sign on the road seen from the parking area indicating Orrest Head. This is only a few yards and bears left into lovely woodlands. Follow the track through the woods and continue to a junction and turn right. At this time of the year, the woodland flowers, trees and birdsong are at their very best and on the day of my visit I watched pied flycatchers catching insects in flight and taking beakfulls to their nests to feed their young.
Here is a lane with a stony floor and contained between walls which must be very old as they are covered in moss as well as plants such as ferns, herb robert and ivy-leaved toad flax.

The route now bears left and here you begin the climb towards Elleray Bank.

2 - Look out here to see what is left of a kitchen garden which once fed the inhabitants of the estate of Elleray House. The mix of native and introduced plants are open areas close to woodland has proved ideal for butterflies and on the day of my visit I watched several species including Comma, Peacock and Red Admiral. On hot days photographing butterflies is hard work but early in the morning it is easy. Butterflies are cold blooded and in the early morning they spread their wings wide on the surface of flowers and let the sunlight warm them up.

3 - Rhododenrons thrive in this area and follow the meandering path up towards Elleray Bank. There are splendid views down to the left and the route then begins to level out and leaves the trees, dominated by Scots Pine and enters a lovely little lane. Follow this lane until a kissing gate is reached.



4 - Pass through this gate and climb for a short distance to reach the summit of Orrest Head. Look for an inscribed stone dated to 1902 and celebrating the fact that the Heywood family gave the area to the people of Windermere. I would add that it is not just a treat for the people of Windermere but for all of us because here is one of the best views in the whole of Cumbria. All this in just over a mile from the town centre which can easily be reached by public transport. I always picnic here and enjoy a view over the whole of Windermere water and on a clear day, Morecambe Bay can be seen as well as the Langdale Pikes, Scafell Pike, Coniston Old Man and many of our hills and mountains.

5 - From the Orrest Head view I am always reluctant to start the descent leading to the starting point, but there is still much to see, but Elleray Woods has other gems on offer. Apart from a picnic I always carry a little flower book because the variety of plants here is wide and attracts birds and butterflies. A little hand lens and a light pair of binoculars always com in handy. An obvious track leads to the road and the starting point.

Most of us use our cars to reach the starting point for walks, but it is good that this one can be reached by both bus and train.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.

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You’re shore to have a great time in the Lakes

It’s hard to imagine tranquil White Cross Bay was home to the top-secret manufacture of Sunderland flying boat bombers back in World War Two. 

The MoD moved the plant from Kent on the basis that the shores of Lake Windermere were as off the beaten track as it was possible to get.  These days, you don’t need a high-security pass to get in and wooden lodges have replaced the Flying Boat Factory. 

In fact, all that remains of a largely forgotten part of the war effort is the long concrete slipway leading into Britain’s largest lake, from which you can now launch your own boat.  But the awesome Lakeland scenery is pretty much unchanged, as stunning now as when the war effort was moved here in 1941.  Or for that matter, when William Wordsworth was wandering lonely as a cloud back in the early 1800s.  White Cross Bay today is home to a laid-back and well-kept holiday park with more than 40 available to rent.

It’s a few minutes from the tourist hustle and bustle of Windermere town centre, but very peaceful, when the only noise you will hear, is the sound of children (mine included) roaming around the park on their bikes.

We are staying in a three-bedroom superior lodge, complete with a large patio and a fully equipped kitchen area and lounge.  My wife and I and our three kids had so much space that my wife summoned a friend and her three children to come and join us for the day.

If your idea of holiday parks is round-the-clock entertainment and children’s shows, then White Cross Bay might not be for you.  But our kids loved it, especially since they could maraud about on two wheels without having to worry about traffic.  There is a bar, shop and restaurant on site and a quiz night once a week and the occasional singer.  The food is reasonably priced pub grub, handy if you can’t be bothered cooking.  The complex has a decent-size indoor pool (go early if it’s raining as it does get busy) and a gym.

But the main attraction here, aside from top-notch lodges, is the great out-doors which White Cross Bay is well placed for exploring.  We took the kids up Loughrigg Fell which is a 10-minute drive around the lake at Ambleside.  With great views from the 1,000ft summit, you feel like you’re on the top of the world.  There is a well-signposted path, so you really don’t need to be a mountaineer or to have fancy walking gear to get up there.  We did it in trainers and wellies and it only took an hour or so to get to the top.  To our mild surprise, the kids loved it….. especially the decent!

As you’d expect there are watersports centres dotted along the lake but after getting quotes of up to £20 per child and adult to go kayaking for an hour, we opted for more manageable £11 per hour for a two-seater kayak at the Youth Hostel at Waterside.  We took to the water in our life jackets and followed a route across the lake in brilliant sunshine up along the River Rothay which leads into the northern end of Windermere.  Even though it was hard work at times in the wind, it was great fun.

But the biggest test of any UK holiday is how well it copes when it rains, which of course it does in the Lake District – often, in buckets.  Fortunately there is plenty to do in the area around White Cross Bay.  There is an indoor play area for younger kids in Ambleside and two brilliant, old-school, cinemas one in Ambleside and one in Bowness.  Watching Mr Popper’s Penguins on a tiny screen in a room not much bigger than a large lounge at the Royalty cinema simply made the evening all the more enjoyable.  Unsurprisingly it was a sell-out – the audience seemed to be a sea of anoraks drying out from the wet weather outside – though it has to be said, our children were quite happy to splash in wearing their wellies and macs.  Almost as happy as when they were having their nightly scrap about who was sleeping where in the lodge ….

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Sunday Mirror Homes & Holidays Supplement – issued 5th February 2012 by Stephen Martin

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Winterisation is necessary to help protect your holiday home from frost damage. Water pipes, shower valves, taps, boilers, radiators can all freeze leading to expensive repairs/replacement costs. It is also important to note that many insurance policies require draining down as part of the conditions of your cover.

We unfortunately cannot guarantee the continuous supply of utilities to your holiday home, and respectfully remind you that boilers will not operate on frost stat setting when there is a break in supply of electricity, furthermore there is no guarantee that the boiler will re-set itself, which could lead to your holiday home exposed to frost damage.

Some parks offer this winterization service in-house, and all parks can provide a list of approved contractors/tradesmen upon request. Alternatively you can follow the procedure below, however please be aware that any small amount of water left in the system could freeze. When closing down for winter it is advisable to use a compressor (no more than 3 bar pressure) and blow through the pipe lines to ensure all water is removed.

Tip 1 Add the correct level of anti freeze to your central heating system
Tip 2 Shut off the main supply outside your holiday home
Tip 3 Leave open all taps including the shower and drain
Tip 4 Flush the toilet to empty the cistern
Tip 5 Put anti freeze also into all sinks and shower traps
Tip 6 Open the drain cock provided under the holiday home and leave open
Tip 7 Drain and set any water heaters or central heating systems to defrost setting
Tip 8 Ensure you home is left locked and secure. When you return simply reverse the procedure and turn on the mains supply slowly (with an assistant)
Tip 9 Speak to a park team member for advice if unsure

For more advice on draining down for the winter, speak to a member of your park staff.

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The UK’s most luxurious holiday lodges opened in April

It has been described as a new dawn in luxury home ownership and there was certainly many other compliments paid when the Lakeside lodge development at Fallbarrow was officially launched in April.

The sun shone brightly as Tim Farron, local MP and president of the Liberal Democrats opened the development which offers a chance for holiday home ownership in one of the Lake District’s most prestigious locations.

Mr Farron said: "We have a world class product here in the Lake District and these staggering and gorgeous lodges have really raised the bar of the standard of accommodation available.  The product is ambitious and visionary offering a wonderful standard of residence in the Lake District that is cheap by comparison for a second home.  It’s a great opportunity for others to share in what we enjoy on a daily basis without robbing a local of much needed general housing."

His views echoed that of South Lakeland Parks MD Nigel Wimpenny, who is the brains behind this exciting development He said:  “We wanted to create a market for people to own a holiday home without putting the strain on local housing prices.  These lodges offer just that and there are few, if any, better locations for a holiday home than here on Lake Windermere. 

"The lodges have a unique quality in their proximity to Bowness and offer owners the highest quality of accommodation at half of the average house price in the area."

The Lakeside is a collection of 23 high specification holiday lodges which can accommodate up to six guests each.  Features within the lodges can include:

• Remotely activated heating and lighting
• An overall living space of up to 62 x 22ft
• Meile kitchens
• Bose sound systems
• Outdoor decked area for owners to enjoy barbecues or even install their own hot tub
• Parking for up to two cars
• Lakeside location with views to the surrounding mountains
• Luxury furnishings and carpets
• Mooring for luxury motor and sailing boats

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Subletting is a great way to earn additional income and offset some of the annual running costs of your Holiday Home when it would otherwise not be in use..

Why sublet through South Lakeland Parks?

Choosing to sublet through South Lakeland Parks holiday division South Lakeland Holidays allows you to relax while others take care of everything else. The Parks team will ensure that your Holiday Home is in safe hands. You will also have the support of our ‘Holiday Reservations’ and ‘Marketing Teams’.
South Lakeland Holidays will provide you with:

• A FULL CLEAN of your holiday home after each booking
• LINEN and LAUNDRY for all your holiday bookings
• ADVERTISING in newspapers and on the internet
• TARGETED MARKETING SUPPORT – brochures, letters, flyers
• ONLINE PROMOTION
• CUSTOMER CORRESPONDENCE including confirmations, invoices and collection of payments
• KEY HANDLING service via our reception teams
• GAS CHECKING SERVICE (for units on bottled gas) and invoicing direct to the holiday home owner (i.e. no need for holidaymaker to pay up front for a new bottle)
• EXTENDED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT through our maintenance staff who are available during office hours seven days per week throughout the season and after office hours a night warden will be available to assist holiday home users
• INVENTORY CHECKING of your holiday home
• HOLIDAY LETTINGS STATEMENT Quarterly statements of all of your bookings and weekly income breakdown

South Lakeland Holidays have a wealth of experience in holiday park marketing and a significant marketing budget is allocated for brochure production, mailings, internet development and advertising to support our subletting programme. This combined with an excellent booking system and experienced professional staff will ensure your property is effectively marketed.

How much income can I expect?

The income you can expect will depend on park location, category and size of your holiday home plus ever changing market conditions. South Lakeland Holidays does not guarantee any income levels from subletting your unit.

To request a sublet guide or for more information call 015395 69835 or email janette.vaughan@southlakelandparks.co.uk

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