It’s getting to the time in the year when people are starting to think about Christmas. Where to spend it, what to do?

So, think Winter, think cosy fireside snugs, think Lake District Christmas breaks. Whether it’s for a works party for the night or to an organised Christmas hotel break, the Lake District is the destination of choice for the festive period.

With such a choice of high quality Lake District hotels offering Christmas hotel breaks, it isn’t hard to understand why so many people choose to spend their Christmas in the Lake District. What could be better than being able to walk off that Christmas dinner with a walk up one of the many Lake District fells. For those who aren’t quite as energetic, purely taking in the spectacular views is an activity in itself.
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The Castle Inn Hotel Bassenthwaite are pleased to announce the hosting of a special murder mystery evening.

Saturday 8th October 2011 will see murder at The Castle Inn in the form of a murder mystery evening. Picture the setting, its 1928 and you have been cordially invited to attend the wedding reception of Georgina-Willoughby-Mott to Binky Brinkley in the grand Best Western Castle Inn Hotel. But alas this special occasion takes a turn for the worst when traces of death linger in the air. Can you solve the Murder at the Castle?

Come and join the team at The Castle Inn Hotel Keswick for an evening of love, laughter and mysterious goings on. The evening includes a delicious three course wedding breakfast, a complimentary glass of bucks fizz and canapés and entertainment supplied by Murder Most Horrid and all for only £34.00 per person.

Should attendees wish to make a night of it and stay over at The Castle Inn Hotel Lake District then a special rate of only £50.00 per person per bed and breakfast is being offered.

Set overlooking some of England’s highest fells and Bassenthwaite Lake, the Castle Inn Hotel Lake District is in a beautiful location, just 8 miles from Keswick. Ideally situated for those wishing to explore Bassenthwaite, Keswick and the Lake District, the Best Western Castle Inn Hotel is one of the finest Lake District Hotels offering a warm welcome and the ideal location for relaxing after a busy day discovering the beauties of the Lake District.

Booking is essential for murder mystery evening so please call the Castle Inn events team on 017687 76401 or visit http://www.castleinncumbria.co.uk. Be very careful who you trust!

The AA star classification for hotels began way back in 1912.

The AA first began by recommending hotels and eating establishments to its members in 1908 but it wasn’t until 1912 that they decided to give classifications or stars.

As taken from The AA accommodation star ratings guide, 4 star hotels must have the following:

“Professional, uniformed staff respond to your needs or requests, and there usually are well-appointed public areas. The restaurant or dining room is open to residents and non-residents, and lunch is available in a designated eating area.”

There are many other criteria The AA look for including cleanliness, decor and services such as room service, room size and laundry/dry cleaning for example.
Many consumers know a minimum standard of accommodation they wish to stay in so the star classification for hotels is a good starting point when searching. It may also give added confidence should a hotel be selected if the consumer then finds out the hotel has a high star rating.

Take the Lake District for example. Until recently there were very few 4 star hotels which was extremely hard to believe as anyone that has visited the Lake District knows there are some fantastic hotels. Competition is fierce in areas such as the Lake District so it is not a surprise that a large number of hotels have been carrying out major refurbishments and renovations. In fact, some of the refurbishments seen in Lake District hotels rival any in the country for the quality of their interior design and fittings in bedrooms to overhauls of menus and staff uniforms. Hotel rooms with individual styling and design offering space, luxurious toiletries, Egyptian cotton sheets and his and hers baths. With some of the best scenery in the country and some of the best hotel architecture, it is long overdue that the Lake District has more 4 star hotel classifications.
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Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest of the Lake District at approximately 4 miles long and ¾ miles wide. Despite its size this long and narrow lake is very shallow, at its deepest point it reaches a depth of just 70 feet. The Lake is easily accessible with the A66 dual carriageway running along the western edge. The laybys are extremely popular for people wanting to take pictures and a spot of bird watching.

Coniston Water
Coniston is the third largest of the lakes and is approximately 5 miles long and ½ a mile wide. The lake is hugely popular with tourist due to its large expanse of water, which contains a number of tranquil islands, as well as the stunning scenery. The lake was famously the setting for the book Swallows and Amazons as well as the setting for Donald Campbell’s ill fated attempt to break the water speed record.

Derwentwater
Derwentwater is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide making it the widest lake in the Lake District. The lake has a number of islands within, one of which contains Derwent Island House which is open to the public just 5 days a year. The huge Skiddaw overlooking the lake and the nearby market town of Keswick make Derwent one of the most popular lakes for visitors.

Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest of all the lakes in the Lake District at approximately 9 miles long and ¾ of a mile wide. Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater often finds itself compared to lakes in Switzerland, such as Lucerne. This favourable comparison is thanks to the beautiful scenery with mountains to one side and green fields and woodland on the other. The lake is great for water sports, with canoeing, sailing and wind surfing particularly popular. There are also the more relaxing steamer boats that take you on a cruise of the lake.

Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and is the largest in the whole of England at approximately 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. As well as being the largest of the lakes Windermere is also the most well known and has long been a very popular attraction for tourists. Many of the tourists who do visit end up taking part in at least one of the many on water activities available. These range from wake boarding, sailing and canoeing to a more sedate pleasure cruise.

About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Borrowdale Gates – one of the best Hotels in Keswick providing luxury base for your Lake District holiday.

The Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale valley played host to past members of staff during a weekend reunion in Keswick. Over 60 ex staff and several current employees got together to renew friendships and memories.

The reunion attracted past employees from all over the world including Peter Dixon and his wife who travelled especially from Australia for the occasion and stayed on to see friends in the Lake District. Also present was Kurt Hartmann and his wife who travelled from Germany. Kurt was Head Chef at the Lodore Falls Hotel for 27 years and it was he who taught current Head Chef Mike Ward.

The reunion began with afternoon tea at Lake District Hotels ltd Lodore Falls Hotel, followed by an evening trip into Keswick for drinks and a friendly pub catch up.

On Sunday everyone gathered again at the Lodore Falls for Sunday lunch and a group picture before departing home or on holiday.

Organised by Head Chef Mike Ward, Sales Manager Tanya Sentance, and past employee Vikki Brier, they all agreed the effort of finding everyone was worth it. Finding staff was made easier by using social media sites like Facebook and friends reunited. Mike said “Social media has made an impact on being able to keep in close touch with friends across the world. It made finding everyone and keeping them informed so much easier. It was a monumental occasion and great to meet people who worked here years ago.

Mike really enjoyed catching up with his Head Chef mentor and it was especially important that lunch was perfect. Having over 60 people at the event shows how much people fondly remember their time working here at one of the most famous Keswick hotels. It was also nice for our current team to catch up with old friends.”

After a competition to find a new name for the George Hotel’s refurbished bar, the name is revealed this week as DAPPERS BAR.

The name DAPPERS BAR was chosen from over 270 entries ranging from the very traditional to the very modern and quirky. John Fisk from Shap entered the winning name. He thought the many sided 400 year old history of the hotel could tie in to the new look and feel of the new bar.

The hotel was a buzz during the 1700’s, Bonnie Prince Charlie came to stay and King George II was on the throne. Noted for being smart and well dressed in his fine clothing, King George II was nick named Dapper King George. Now the bar is modern and distinctive, it too feels like a dapper place to be.

Justin Wales, General Manager at the George Hotel part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd Group said “Finding a name has been very difficult because there were so many to choose from and everyone has a different idea what it should be. John was really pleased when we told him that we had decided on Dapper’s Bar because of the link to King George II. He reigned during an important part of the hotel’s history and it was his forebears that the George Hotel was named after.”

John and his wife Sue called in to the bar this week to collect their £60 dinner vouchers and were impressed with the welcoming ambiance, comfy sofas and the fine detail like the gold leaf light fittings. They also shared some of their research on the dapper king and his life with Justin who has already commissioned a special plaque to commemorate the new name.  It is being crafted to sit at the entrance of the bar and will recount the famous words that Queen Caroline allegedly uttered about King George II: “You may strut, dapper George, but ’twill all be in vain, We all know ’tis Queen Caroline, not you, that reign.”

As well as refurbishing the bar, the Lake District Hotels Ltd Group have also made improvements to the rear entrance with the entrance dressed in a new coat of paint and a new barrier entrance to control the car park. It means guests will have much easier access to car park and a pleasant entrance to the rear of this hotel in Penrith.

Now open daily from 11am, the Dapper’s Bar is enjoying increased popularity, attracting new diners at lunchtime and early evening guests looking to try the cocktails and sample the new tapas menu. Visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/georgehotel/index.php for more information.

It is becoming more and more of a requirement for businesses to provide a niche service or offer something that is just that little bit more specialised than its competitors. This is especially apparent in the highly competitive hotel and leisure industry.

Taking an environmentally conscious approach is one such way. This approach most obviously benefits the environment but is an excellent marketing tool to help a business grow and attract new customers. Many businesses are looking at ways in which to be more environmentally aware green. One such way is by applying for the ISO14001 accreditation. The ISO14001 proves a company’s environmental credentials which enhances a corporate image. This accreditation actually saves the company or organisation money by reducing energy consumption whilst at the same time helping the environment.

The hotel and leisure industry is notorious for its energy consumption. There is the lighting, the washing and laundry, all the electrical goods within the rooms, the heating, kitchens and then Jacuzzis and swimming pools. All contribute to a huge carbon footprint but also high energy costs. The cost of electricity and gas has increased by 20 % in the last year which is creating a huge impact on the profits of a hotel or bed and breakfast. With the economy being in such a bad way at present and customer confidence in spending is decreasing, this industry can’t afford to put up its prices. After all, it is a highly competitive industry to start with.

Hotels have for some time now put notices in the bathrooms relating to the towels situation, in the bath if you would like them changing, on the rail or elsewhere if they are ok to be used again. This of course makes a difference if you think of how many hotels there are in the world but there is so much more that can be done.

The English Lake District is a haven for walkers and people relocating to live and work to provide a better standard and healthier living than in a city. It is understandable that the Lake District has a high number of environmentally conscious Lake District hotels. There are various levels of implementations that can be put into practice within hotels and accommodation providers from recycling and reusing of materials, to sourcing materials, services and supplies locally. There is then a next step that can be taken for example in the form of creating a renewable energy source for the hotel. One of the hotels in the Lake District that has installed a biomass energy production system which has been enabled by its location amongst a 70 acre managed woodland area. Such a system requires expert input but with the correct guidance, an economically feasible and attractive alternative to the use of LPG can be achieved. After a report had initially been produced, it was summarised that a biomass system would be far more efficient than a new high efficiency LPG boiler, an anaerobic digestion system or solar power system. To put this biomass system into context, the saving made should be at least £35,000 per year for this hotel and leisure complex when comparing it to its previous gas boiler system.  With such a saving, it is extremely evident the amount of unsustainable energy that will be saved.

Otterburn is situated in the North East of England in the county of Northumberland.

Otterburn is a small, idyllic village around 30 miles north of Newcastle in the Northumberland National Park and within the Cheviot Hills. In fact, it is located just 16 miles from the Scottish borders which makes it a fantastic place to stop off when visiting Scotland with Edinburgh only 75 miles away. For walkers staying in Otterburn, the Cheviots are a must to visit with nearly 40 peaks over 500 metres in height.

The major sites to see around the area are Hadrian’s Wall and Alnwick Castle of recent ‘Harry Potter’ fame, although there are a host of other attractions like  Beamish, Bamburgh Castle, Cragside House, Wallington House, St Aidan’s Winery, Barter Books, Northumbria Craft Centre, Otterburn Mill, Kielder Forest and the Northumberland National Park to name just a few in the area.  If you fancy a day in the city Newcastle is under an hour’s drive away with its famous Metro Centre and its many, many, many shops providing excellent retail therapy!

The charm of Northumberland is its rolling countryside, diverse wildlife and heritage which come in abundance. Driving on roads such as the A696 is a pleasure running from Otterburn right down to Newcastle through some lovely villages. You will also drive past some of the most stunning castles in the whole of England. Having been part of the Roman Empire, Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. Bamburgh being the most famous and imposing of all the castles sitting on the Bamburgh coast. It is also the largest inhabited castle in England. Alnwick Castle is a mere 27 miles from Otterburn. Alnwick Castle celebrated its seven hundred years anniversary last year so it’s a great time to embrace the history, art and breathtaking scenery. You can take a stroll down the Alnwick Gardens or simply explore. A great venue to take the whole family.

Northumberland has one of the lowest population densities in the United Kingdom and it really does make for a complete getaway when visiting this area. There is space, room, endless unspoilt countryside but at the same time, some of the friendliest and accommodating people you’ll meet on your weekend away or holiday.

There are only a handful of North East hotels in the Northumberland National Park which again accentuates the feeling of space and complete lack of overcrowding. You feel as if you are a world away from the pressures of modern life and yet Newcastle and its airport are under an hour away and Morpeth, Hexham and Jedburgh even closer.

When staying in one of the Northumbria hotels, you will be spoilt for choice of local produce. Northumberland is a paradise for game due to its landscape but the Cheviot lamb absolutely has to be sampled as well as the seafood which is often described as some of the best outside of Scotland.

For years now Windermere and its surrounding areas have been popular with a broad range of people.

Windermere is a popular destination for people of all ages, all tastes and all interests. Of course, Windermere is very famous as a base for walking the Lakeland fells and for doing many other outdoor activities but more and more visitors are coming to Windermere for a bit of luxury.

To add to the already long list of Windermere’s attributes and lures comes luxury. Windermere has some of the most stunning buildings with many of the larger residences being luxury Lake District hotels. In recent years, some of the luxury hotels have taken their attention to detail to another level. They have refurbished, redesigned, added on, decorated and paid even more attention to detail than before. Windermere now has some of the best hotels in the country and more than rival some of the famous hotels in south.

Dining has become a more prevalent factor in many hotels these days. Hotel restaurants often used to be of a pretty poor standard even when the hotel itself was of a high standard. Michelin starred restaurants are now common practice in hotels with big name chefs taking control at these luxury complexes.

Windermere couldn’t be in a better location for a restaurant to obtain top quality produce. Cumbria the Lake District has some of the finest local produce in the country from lamb and sausage to cheese, bread and cream. It really isn’t hard to understand why the Lake District is also now home to some of the finest restaurants in the north of England. Being relatively close to the coats means even the freshest seafood can be found.

Attention to detail is key for a luxury hotel from the service to rooms and outside areas. One hotel in Windermere which has seen recent refurbishment has produced a collection of rooms without compromise, most with patio doors leading onto the gardens and with either spa baths or hot tubs. They have also created luxury suites in a renovated Lake house with many having stunning views over a private lake. Constant refurbishment is essential in luxury hotels for complete perfection. Its gardens are as well looked after as the inside of the hotel with different seating areas. Their aim was to create a terrace that comprised different ‘rooms’ for people to sit in. This has been created by breaking up the terrace with different materials and features such as ponds with water features and raised beds. During the day, the south-facing terrace enjoys the sunshine, and at dusk the sunset can often be enjoyed with pre-dinner cocktails. On warm evenings the terrace is candle lit. Pathways lead from the terrace to the south gardens and to the wild meadow and llama paddock.

The special services available set luxury Windermere hotels apart from the rest. Organisation of spa treatments for example, private dining rooms, chauffeurs and touches such as the turning down of bed covers at night.

he Worsley Arms is one of only a few hotels set in the North York Moors countryside, not far from York in North Yorkshire, England, UK. The Yorkshire coastline is close by and if you were searching for Pickering Hotels or Helmsley Hotels, Hovingham village is very close and ideally located for visiting these North Yorkshire market towns.

Our hotel near York is in the North York Moors National Park and close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park as well as traditional Yorkshire towns like Whitby, Stokesley, Malton, Thirsk and the historic city of York.

Of all of the Hotels near York, The Worsley Arms Country House Hotel is one of the prettiest late Georgian style hotels built back in 1841.  Originally built to provide hotel accommodation to visitors to the local spa (sadly no longer in operation), the hotel now aims to ensure guests can sample one of the most traditional North Yorkshire hotels but with all the modern facilities expected.

A hotel near York, in splendid North Yorkshire Moors countryside

If you are searching for Grasmere hotels or Lake District Hotels, consider Rothay Garden, no ordinary Lakeland Hotel. We’re one of the finest luxury Lake District hotels, the newest contemporary four star hotel in Cumbria. The hotel is situated on the edge of picturesque Grasmere village, nestling in two acres of classic Lake District riverside gardens, surrounded by the majestic Lakeland fells.

Wordsworth made Grasmere his home and it is easy to see why he was inspired by the Lake District views. The recent £2 million redevelopment has ensured we are one of the highest rated of all hotels in Grasmere and Ambleside, challenging the very best luxury hotels in the Lake District. The hotel has 25 beautiful bedrooms, five loft suites, an elegant candlelit conservatory restaurant overlooking the gardens, chic lounge bars and two AA rosette dining, which all combine to ensure you have the Lake District short break or holiday that you deserve.

Just outside our Grasmere hotel, the renowned Lake District awaits you – Grasmere really is the ‘jewel of the Lakes’ and Rothay Garden is the most centrally situated of the Lake District boutique hotels for the Ambleside, Windermere and Keswick area.

Penrith is a welcoming market town and a great base from which to explore Eden.

The town of Penrtith, with its beautiful red sandstone buildings has fascinating yards and alleyways to discover, pleasant open spaces and a selection of places to stay from fine hotels in Penrith to cosy guest houses and self catering cottages.

A lovely walk up through the wooded slopes of Beacon Hill to the Beacon “Pike” Monument, built in 1719 of local red sandstone, rewards you with great views over the town and lake district fells beyond. The Rotary Club of Penrith have produced a leaflet with details of an “Access for all Walk” – a self guided tour of Penrith. The route has been chosen to make the walk accessible to all, including those with disabilities. To download a copy, please visit the Rotary Club website.

Back down in the town, explore the ruins of Penrith Castle, dating back to the 14th century, set in an attractive public park where you can play tennis, bowls, crazy golf, pitch and putt or simply watch the world go by! There’s a children’s playground and paddling pool too.

Many visitors come to Penrith for its unique specialist shops offering local produce – fine foods like Penrith Toffee Fudge, loved by the Royal Family and traditional Cumberland Sausage together with all sorts of local crafts. A Specialist Shops leaflet for Penrith is available.

Eating out in Penrith is a pleasure, there’s a good choice too, ranging from inns with home cooking, restaurants with international cuisine, cafes and tea shops.
Don’t miss Penrith Farmers’ Market, held every 3rd Tuesday in the Market Square, where you can cut down the food miles and enjoy locally produced and sourced goods. The newly named Charter Market, a traditional street market is also held every Tuesday in Great Dockray.

Penrith Museum, housed in the former 17th century Robinsons school building gives a fascinating insight into the history of Penrith, local geology and archaeology and houses an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions.

Dating back to Norman times, St, Andrew’s Church in the centre of Penrith is surrounded by historic buildings with a peaceful outdoor seating area. Look out for the “Giants Grave” in St. Andrew’s Churchyard!
If you are feeling active, the recently extended Penrith Leisure Centre has swimming pools, gym, indoor climbing wall, large sports hall and indoor bowls hall. 

The town has an award-winning station on the main west coast London to Glasgow railway line and is served by National Express buses. The C2C cycle route passes through Penrith and the town has been designated Cumbria’s first Cycling Hub, which means cyclists are made extra welcome and will find excellent facilities and specially designed routes starting from Penrith along with many of the Penrith hotels being cyclist friendly.

Doncaster and Peterborough have been centres for distribution since the opening of Great Northern Railway’s London to York line way back in 1850. Peterborough and Doncaster are not the first areas people will first think of as large business and distribution centres but they really are major players in this field. Their locations are their key along with their excellent transport links both road and rail most notably commencing with the opening of the Great Northern Railway London to York line in 1850. Peterborough and Doncaster road links are equally as effective hense major road haulage and distribution centres.

Peterborough has a vibrant business community and is a business destination for conferencing and for UK distribution head quarters. Even Peterborough Cathedral, voted in the top 10 UK landmarks in the Fujifilm user’s poll of 2007, has conferencing facilities. Peterborough is only 75 miles from London but is equally as accessible from the north by the East Coast Mainline and by the M1 motorway. On this line, Newcastle is two hours away and London just one hour. Also by rail from the east as Peterborough is served by the main cross country Liverpool to Norwich train.

The start of Doncaster’s distribution activities stem from the coal mining industry. Coal was shipped to the local steel production firms in Sheffield and Rotherham. For modern day distribution, Doncaster is ideally located to major cities such as Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle also the Midlands. Major high street retailers, supermarket distribution to the north and rail freight to Europe all have large facilities in Doncaster. With such major companies and organisations having offices and distributions centres here, hotels in Doncaster now cater very well for the corporate guest. To further enhance Doncaster as a business centre, the Robin Hood Airport has flights to mainland Europe, Barbados, Poland and even Mexico. The Robin Hood Airport is the UK’s newest purpose built airport on the old RAF Finningley.

In 2005, Tesco opened a brand new 370,000 square feet distribution centre and shortly after they took over a centre in Doncaster and further expanded it by 110,000 square feet. Both of these sites are fresh food depots. Conferences and meetings are obviously held in abundance in Peterborough and Rotherham with many Rotherham hotels having excellent conferencing facilities

January has come around again and for the UK at least, the weather has been dictating what we have been doing. Almost throughout the whole of the UK over the past three weeks, the heaviest snow in twenty years has been experienced. People haven’t been able to get to relatives for Christmas with people and cars snowed in. The cold spell is expected to last for another week or so but what to do after that? The temperature will increase and roads will eventually become completely clear, the perfect time to get away from the house and take a weekend break and it is a perfect tonic for the January blues.

Now, what is excellent about this time of year are the sales from furniture to cars, clothes to books. January sales don’t stop on the high street though. January is the biggest discounting time in the tourism industry with package holiday reductions for the summer and even more so, hotels and accommodation. From the most modest of guest houses to hotel chains such as Hilton, everyone is discounting.

Taking a break in January celebrates the New Year, recharges the batteries after a hectic and over indulgent Christmas and can be one of the best value short breaks you can have. All but a handful of hotels and accommodation providers will discount rooms, give added value or two for one deal’s in January and February. This time is traditionally their quietest but it is now being recognised as an excellent time to have a short break by savvy travellers. Even though in recent years more people are deciding to take advantage of these cheaper prices, hotels are still generally on the quieter side making for a truly relaxing break.

The Lake District is one such destination. There is a high concentration of luxury Lake District hotels set in the most fantastic surroundings. Often, due to the quality of these hotels, they are out of some people’s budgets, but come January and February the discounts enable even the thriftiest of guest to stay. In the winter months, the Lake District is fortunate to experience clear, bright sunny days which are by no means warm but perfect for sightseeing and walking (providing you wrap up warm!). It is very much an all year round destination with most attractions opening throughout the winter months.

It has been thought in the past that staying in hotels with children is a bad idea because they are not places geared up for children. Parents however, want a bit of luxury and do not always want to camp or go self catering. Times are changing and hoteliers are waking up to the idea that families are a large market hardly targeted. There are some hotels that operate strict “no children” policy but many hotels who are quite happy having them stay are adapting rooms and creating fun things for children to do to entice families to stay. The Lake District is the perfect location for children. Endless activities to keep them occupied for example watersports, walking, Go-Ape, a zoo and the Ravenglass-Eskdale railway. It has long been an area popular with families.

An area full of activities and stunning scenery is the area of Keswick and Bassenthwaite. There are many Keswick hotels that offer child friendly rooms with excellent leisure facilities on site. These facilities include heated swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts, putting greens and some even have games rooms with both board games and computer games such as Wii consoles installed. The practical facilities within these hotels come in the form of flexible meal times for children, the use of complimentary high chairs and cots, bed time books and stocks of essential items such as nappies, baby milks and food and dummies.

The Bassenthwaite Lake area encompasses some of the most well equipped hotels Lake District. The lake is one of the largest in the English Lake District situated at the foot of Skiddaw and in such close proximity to Keswick, it is a great location. The lake is 4 miles long and is the shallowest of all the lakes with its maximum depth just 70 feet. For parents interested in bird watching, it is one of the best places to spot an Osprey.

Bassenthwaite the village itself is one of the most beautiful Lakeland villages and is an ideal base for discovering the woodlands of Thornthwaite Forest and the trails of Dodd Wood. It is the northernmost and only true ‘lake’ in the Lake District; it is renowned for its peacefulness, accessibility and continually changing scenery caused by changeable weather and seasons.

Christmas is approaching fast and many people are starting to think about gifts for friends and family. Each year this task gets harder and harder! Often, the gifts people remember the most are gift experiences not objects. Lake District Hotels Ltd are pleased to offer a solution to the age old gift buying problem in the form of gift vouchers which can be selected for use in any one of their six hotels.

The gift vouchers have been created to suit every taste, requirement and budget. For example, the hotel break vouchers are available for one or two nights and range from a standard room right up to a luxury four poster room. Other vouchers include food and drink vouchers which incorporate a two course lunch for four people voucher or a £25 wine voucher, vouchers for afternoon tea and spa vouchers which include luxury massages and manicure treatments or full “well being” spa breaks. If you aren’t sure or simply can’t decide on which voucher to buy, a monetary gift voucher for one of the hotels in an excellent idea. They come in values starting at £25 up to £250. Gift vouchers take away the worry of buying the correct size or colour for a present and they allow the versatility to be used at a time that suits them.

The luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd group consists of six luxury hotels in the Lake District, The Inn on the Lake on the shores of Ullswater, The Lodore Falls on the shores of Derwentwater, The Borrowdale Hotel in the Borrowdale Valley, The George Hotel in Penrith and finally the Kings Arms and Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick.

For more information visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net and http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/giftvouchers/.

With such spectacular scenery, Lake Windermere attracts thousands of tourists each year from anglers, to canoeists to yachtsmen and dingy owners. The cruises on Lake Windermere are truly worth a go as the magnificent scenery can be taken in fully. Taking out a Lake District boat charter is an excellent way to celebrate a special occasion. Windermere Lake cruises can be taken out for half days, full days or as bespoke charters.

Sailing on Lake Windermere is an excellent way to travel. In the summer months the roads are blocked continually due to the high number of visitors or when essential road works are being carried out. Sailing on the lake is direct, allows the stopping off at the top destinations along the lake such as Bowness, Ambleside and to the many Lake District hotels and makes for a very relaxing journey with not a hint of road rage!

The town of Windermere is located on the east bank of the lake and is in actual fact one and a quarter miles from the lake. With a population of approximately 2,295, Windermere is one of the larger towns in the South Lakes. Many businesses have offices and shops in the town due to its location to the many smaller villages in the area. It has a supermarket, many local independent shops and the flagship Lakeland Limited store right next to the train station.

Surrounding the town and all the way down to the lake are a plethora of Windermere hotels and Lake District hotels. The choice really is endless. Boutique and niche hotels have begun to pop up making Windermere a quality destination suitable for young and old. Windermere has an excellent choice of Lake District restaurants and they really are spoilt with the amount of fantastic local produce. Cumberland sausage, herdwick lamb and fantastic cheeses are in abundance along with artisan bakers and chutney producers. The real ale in Cumbria – the Lake District is second to none and what better drink to go with Cumberland sausage and mash! There are micro breweries in the back of public houses through to breweries where they offer’s tours.