AUTUMN IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
Lakes magazine
015394 88855
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L A K E LOV E R S .CO.U K
Side Pike - Lingmoor Fell
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Side Derwentwater Pike - Lingmoor - Keswick Fell
Contents
Thank you
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England in the Fall
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Woodland Cottages
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Vegetarian Restaurants
We are proud to pull together our very first issue of Lakes Magazine which highlights all things beautiful in the Lake District as we welcome Autumn. From discovering hidden gems and waterfalls to Cumbrian sculptors and vegetarian restaurants. We’re pleased to guide you through this magical season.
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Cottages with Woodburners
14 Foraging 16
Places to Hide
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5 Hidden Gems
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Hidden Waterfalls
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Cottages Near Waterfalls
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Charlie Whinney Q&A
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Coniston – Ruskinland
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Cottages near Coniston
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Ask the Expert
With thanks to: Charlie Whinney
charliewhinney.com
Woodland Trust
woodlandtrust.org.uk
Shaun Derby shaunderbyphotography.com
Ben Bush
benbush.photos
Front cover image Shaun Derby Photography. Back cover image Ben Bush. Proud to be a member of Cumbria Tourism Browse our Cottages here 3
Blea Tarn - Little Langdale
Welcome At Lakelovers, we believe that behind every holiday lies a unique story. What would you like to discover? Where do you want to go? What would you love to see? With Lakelovers at your service, we can help you handpick whatever it takes for you to get the most from your holiday in one of the country’s best-loved National Parks: The Lake District. Think of us as your personal concierge – we’ll help you find the paths less trodden; the view less crowded; the table best served.
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I’m Lakes born and bred, and have been with Lakelovers for thirty years. What I’m most proud of is that we make people happy. We know this because they send us emails, but most of all because they keep coming back.
markets of Holker Hall, Lowther Castle, Brantwood or Askham Hall. Either way, this is the perfect time of year for discerning visitors to find hidden gems, and we can help. The walks in the lakes have a quiet, reflective charm of their own now too. My wife, Ruth, and I love taking the dog up Gummer’s Howe. It has the most fantastic views of Lake Windermere and in autumn the colours of Claife Forest beyond – but it’s not too strenuous. To ‘tempt’ (bribe) our four children, we follow this up with lunch at the Mason’s Arms at Strawberry Bank which is, I think, one of the best pubs in Cumbria – but I’m sure you’ll let us know what you think.
Our fabulous staff are all from the area, so between us we know every stick and stone of the Lake District – and we love a challenge, whether it relates to old favourite destinations or new ones. We need to be able to answer questions from ‘How does anybody ever find cathedral caves?’ to ‘Which restaurant is tipped for a Michelin star so we can get a table before it’s discovered?’ This is what we do – and it is these kinds of secrets that we want to share. You might fancy red squirrel spotting at Aira Force, Ullswater or Allan Bank, Grasmere. Or, with mulled wine or spiced apple juice in hand, you might prefer to browse for locally made, one-off present at the magical winter
Have a wonderful autumn
Paul Liddell Pure Cottages CEO
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ENGLAND IN THE FALL Everyone has heard of New England in the Fall. Yet in this corner of England itself, ‘the colours’ arrive in equally spectacular fashion. It’s just that Cumbria prefers to let them speak for themselves.
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For around two weeks, somewhere between the middle of October and the beginning of November, Cumbria throws off its characteristic reserve and becomes a shameless showgirl. A walk around Grizedale Forest or Tarn Hows is never a hardship, but when the leaves turn, the heart soars. It is baffling that England is capable of such a spectacle; that all the crowds have gone before the big last number; that something so vivid should be a secret season.
Speaking of secrets, it is not strictly stealing from the US for the British to talk of England in the fall. We invented the terms ‘fall’ and ‘autumn’ and then exported both to America. For a thousand years there were considered to be only two seasons: summer and winter, although there was harvest time. Then in the 17th and 18th centuries, people began to talk of ‘the spring of the leaf’ and ‘the fall of the leaf’ as a pair – soon shortened to spring and fall.
A few are in the know. They organise their year around it. They are the quietly cheerful types who are always pleased just to be here. They are those who say grinningly – sometimes through horizontal rain – that ‘there is no bad weather only inappropriate clothing’. They are aware that nothing worth having is guaranteed – and they are rewarded for this. Not for the same duration every time and not on the very same days each year, but show me a sublime experience without an element of chance. If it were necessarily so, it would lack what the mindfulness gurus call the this-ness.
In 1755, Samuel Johnson was the first to put ‘fall’ in a dictionary. Then, according to Merriam Webster, the American dictionary, by the mid-1800s American lexicographers considered fall to be entirely American. To the disappointment of the poets, we were using autumn and letting the US have fall. Fifty years later, in The King’s English, the Fowler brothers were warning against Americanisms, but there was an exception: Fall is better on the merits than autumn, in every way: it is short, Saxon, picturesque; it reveals its derivation to every one who uses it, not to the scholar only, like autumn.
Death comes to autumn leaves eventually, but first, when the temperatures drop and the daylight hours reduce, their chlorophyll breaks down, the green pigment disappears and they show you what they have been hiding all year. In a sense the colours do not turn or change: they have been there all along. It is a kind of jazzy swansong. The reds and yellows and oranges stay for as long as severe rain and wind, or frost, hold off. Only when these come do the leaves turn brown. Only then do the trees let them go.
Then they threw in the towel. ‘We once had as good a right to it as the Americans,’ they said, ‘but we have chosen to let the right lapse, and to use the word now is no better than larceny.’ ‘Larceny’ instead of ‘theft’ the US can keep. But what if we were to reclaim our fall, if only in this hidden corner of England? An old word of simple beauty just for Cumbria in autumn. Perhaps it is the very least that she deserves.
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Lakelovers
Woodland Cottages Experience the magical colours of Autumn from one of our perfectly located cottages
Brooklands 2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom Brooklands Cottage is straight out of Hansel and Gretel’s fairytail providing blissful escapism from the humdrum of everyday life in this magical setting over the River Brathay amidst glorious woodland in the heart of Little Langdale. With long glorious walks in every direction straight from your doorstep, saying good morning to friendly neighbouring deer, and lazy pub lunches providing the enviable agenda for your holiday. From £595 for 7 nights 8
Top images: Bracken Ground
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Bottom images: Fellgate Farm
Bracken Ground
Fellgate Farm
5 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms
3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms
Just south of Coniston you’ll find both luxurious retreat and nature-lovers’ paradise; perfect for family and friendly gatherings. The house is surrounded by 7 acres of unspoilt natural grounds containing woodland glades, grassy openings, a large wildlife pond and even a private outdoor hot tub and sauna facilities.
Fellgate Farm is a recently refurbished farmhouse located in the beautiful village of Helton. The house was built in the early 18th century and oozes charm and character alongside incredibly well designed and appointed spaces. The personality of the house creates an atmosphere you won’t want to leave.
From £1,825 for 7 nights
From £795 for 7 nights 9
The Foodie:
VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS Vegetarian menus have the ability to whisk us away to faraway places. From fragrant Pad Thai’s to ‘green’ afternoon tea, the Lake District has some of the very best vegetarian eateries.
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Granny Dowbekin’s Tea Room, Pooley Bridge, Ullswater
Whilst not an exclusively vegetarian café, Granny Dowbekin’s Tea Room and Garden is a truly relaxing eatery for the laid back vegetarian. Classing themselves as an ‘inclusive café’, Granny Dowbekin’s caters for all. This includes people with coeliac disease, vegetarians, dairy intolerances, children, dogs, ducks and swans. The café’s riverside location is a treat in itself. The newly opened spacious Garden Room and adjoining outdoor Riverside Terrace are coveted seats when the sun’s out. Decorated in a zesty green and floral wallpaper, designed by a local artist, GD’s is more than just a vegetarianfriendly café. It is a place to soak up the friendly and relaxed riverside atmosphere of Pooley Bridge. We’d highly recommend the hearty green breakfast or the veggie afternoon tea.
Upfront Gallery Café, Eden Valley, Penrith
Upfront Gallery Café and Vegetarian Restaurant is a veggie café that offers more than lunch. The wholesome vegetarian menu is a pull in itself. As is the art gallery which is surprisingly big – running across several rooms. Plus a superb gift shop, and a uniquely designed 140-seat Puppet Theatre. Shows take place at Easter,
summer and Christmas and delight all ages, from 4–94! For lunchtime diners, there’s seating indoors, in the main gallery, as well as on the delightful English country garden patio. Like the ‘in-house’ crafted theatre, the food at Upfront is homemade too. And this is a place for those that love their greens and pulses in a hearty fashion. You’ll find a wholesome take on staples like chilli, pasta and lasagnas, as well as lighter lunch options, such as soup and sandwiches. The homemade quiche and savoury pancakes are particularly tasty. This is food like you would cook at home, and you’ll leave feeling full and wholly satisfied – not just from the delicious food.
Rattle Ghyll Cafe, Ambleside
Influenced by great chefs like Ottolenghi and Fearnley Whittingstall, the guys at the Rattle Ghyll Café bring our first veggie option in Ambleside – the hearty, beans, pulses, salad and cakes kind of place. If you’re on a 3:2 diet or have a good ‘5 a day’ philosophy, then you’ll easily satisfy your quota after a relaxed brunch here. The healthy and wholesome couple owners have been in residence for 8 years, and have created a warm, welcoming and classically Lake District atmosphere. The walls are filled with local artwork. Plants and flowers adorn the entrance and fresh, local produce, all made onsite (except for the bread from around the corner), fill the open counter. The tasting platters are particularly good and there is even a sweet one! Alternatively, if you’re just passing, pick up a filling burrito to take out.
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Gandhi’s, Ambleside
Cementing Ambleside’s reputation as a veggie hub, is the daytime haunt Gandhi’s Café. Gandhi’s vegetarian café has only been on the scene in Ambleside for a year, but their Asianinspired lunchtime menu has already gained quite a loyal following. This is in part inherited from its former guise as a travelling street-food set up, Gandhi’s Flip Flop, which you may have seen at Glastonbury or Kendal Calling. The globally-inspired menu is eclectic, offering weekly veggie sushi, falafel kebabs and Thai dishes, as well as traditional Indian platters. It is no surprise that Gandhi’s have made Ambleside their veggie home from home.
Fellinis and Zefferellis Vegetarian Restaurants, Ambleside
Ambleside is often called the vegetarian capital of the Lake District. That is because it is home to Zeffirellis Vegetarian Restaurant and Jazz Bar, and Fellinis Vegetarian Restaurant. For almost 40 years the family-run Italian business, cinema and restaurant have been welcoming visitors and locals alike. Fellinis brings a contemporary vibe to Ambleside, with a vibrant Mediterranean vegetarian restaurant. Locals love the daily pizza and pasta specials at Zefferellis. The fine dining 2 course menu at Fellinis is popular as a preconcert meal or special occasion dinner.
Lakelovers Cottages with Woodburners Top left : High Way House | Bottom left : Hawkrigg Farm | Right : Jaspers Retreat
Unwind and cosy up next to a crackling fire
High Wray House
Hawkrigg Farm
Jaspers Retreat
3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms
5 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms
3 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms
A superb Grade II listed country house that was originally built in 1728 which has been lovingly restored to create a truly wonderful property that lets you escape the hustle and bustle of today’s modern world and relax in peaceful surroundings.
From its elevated position above the western shores of Lake Windermere, Hawkrigg Farm is a superb detached country house that offers amazing views of the lake from virtually every room.
From the moment you walk into this outstanding detached property you will be impressed by quality, the open plan living but most of all the stunning views from every room.
From £1350 for 7 nights
From £2450 for 7 nights
From £1195 for 7 nights
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Beck View 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms At the foot of Mell Fell and benefitting from beautiful uninterrupted views across Blencathra, Great Dodd and the rolling hills of the North Lake District, Beck view is a beautifully appointed detached Lakeland Cottage dating back to the 1800’s but with all the modern conveniences for the perfect relaxing Lake District holiday. From £1195 for 7 nights
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FORAGING Have you seen the food that nature has to offer at this time of year? We have picked you a handful.
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Left : Water Mint | Top Right : Juniper berries | Bottom Right : Beechnut Foraging is the ultimate immersive back-to-nature/backto-yourself activity, and so long as the guidelines are followed, it always will be. Every type of landscape in Cumbria has its own food. Damsons, elderberries and blackberries may be over for another year, but have you tasted wood sorrel, wild sage or pineapple weed tea? For the curious, nature always has something new to show.
with your winter salad or soup.
Woodlands/Hedgerows All those nuts – but which are which? Hazelnuts (aka cobnuts) take their name from the Anglo Saxon word ‘haesel’ meaning ‘hat’, after the endearing fringe each nut wears. Pick them and eat them or make hazelnut butter. Beechnuts, by contrast, come in pairs hidden within spiky husks. These can be treated as pine nuts and used on salads or risottos. And let’s not forget about sweet chestnuts – one of the oldest of which (at 400–500 years) is at Rydal Hall. Wear gloves to forage for these (they’re spiky) and get up earlier than the squirrels (or they will swipe them). You can puree them or make jam out of them. Or you can take a more traditional approach: pierce them, stick them on the fire, pour yourself a glass of homemade elderberry wine, and wait.
Uplands Junipers are not so common as they were in the UK, because the environments they favour are becoming scarcer: landscapes much like Scout Scar, the limestone escarpment outside Kendal. As well as flavouring gin (and game dishes, apple tarts, even vegan gravy), juniper bushes perform the important ecological function of protecting tree saplings from sheep. While you are there – dodging the spikes of the evergreen shrub – you might look out for hawthorns too, from which you can make hawthorn jelly – or even ketchup.
Guidelines for Responsible Foraging
Water
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If you are walking near a watercourse, keep an eye out for water mint with its lovely mild, sweet flavour. Like any other mint it can be used with lamb or in salad – or you can drink it as a tea. If you are lucky, you might happen upon wild watercress – itself an indicator of very clean water. Even so, with both water mint and watercress there is a tiny chance of liver fluke – a disease passed on from sheep – so be sure to pick the upper leaves of the plant (top 8cm) and wash well before impressing your friends
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Beware poisonous species and know what you’re picking Seek permission from the landowner Do not collect rare species Only collect from plentiful populations Leave plenty behind for others and for wildlife Minimise damage to the nearby habitat and species Take no more than you plan to use
Lakelovers
Places to Hide Return to your own secluded Lake District retreat
Cedar Nook 1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom Created from the old hay barn at Godferhead, this once busy farm is now a haven of peace and tranquillity, horses and sheep graze in the surrounding fields, chickens wander through the old farm yard whilst buzzards circle high overhead. This wonderful Lakeland retreat offers beautiful and high quality accommodation through the seasons and whatever the weather. From ÂŁ365 for 7 nights
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Top images: Infinity at Brow Head
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Bottom images: Loveday
Infinity At Brow Head
Loveday
1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom
1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom
Modernity flirts with traditional Lakeland at this spacious sophisticated contemporary hideaway, perched on the slopes of Loughrigg Fell commanding simply breath-taking and uninterrupted panoramic views over Ambleside and the high Lakeland fells; from the Fairfield Horseshoe to Red Screes and Wansfell.
The perfect self-catering cottage for couples, lovingly restored in a ‘modern rustic’ style. Whatever your passion, Loveday is the perfect bolthole, offering an escape from the everyday. Hunker down beside the log burner, curl up with a good book and a glass of wine, forget the world outside – kick back and relax.
From £650 for 7 nights
From £465 for 7 nights 17
5 HIDDEN GEMS Walking with Wolves A journey that takes you through the beautiful Lake District landscape, alongside the wolf-hybrid duo, Maska and Kajika – voted BBC Countryfile’s No.1 best magic moment. The predator experience is a magical, one-hour walk led by keen environmentalists Daniel and Dee Ashman. You’ll start your experience by getting acquainted with your new companions, as the wolves sniff, lick, and nuzzle your hand for the first time. Following your initiation, Maska and Kajika are then walked along to a nearby field, where you’ll be able to observe their behaviour in a natural and safe environment. Watch them run wild through the pine forest at Graythwaite as they bound and play throughout the trees. An unforgettable experience perhaps only surpassed by the moment you first hear the wolves howl. A truly unique and magical interaction with one of wildlife’s most misunderstood creatures.
Holker Labyrinth A mystical delight in the heart of the Gardens at Holker Hall. The 24 acres of woodland and formal garden display unparalleled gardening worthy of its many awards and are certainly worthy of a visit all year round. The labyrinth is incorporated into the wildflower meadow, acting as a link between the formal gardens at Holker, the parkland and the natural landscape beyond. Emerging from the midst’s of ancient history, from early mythology to the present day, Labyrinths have been used in a myriad of different ways. From dance traditions to magic, and everything in between. Built
from slate from Holker Estates Burlington quarry, the twelve slate monoliths echo the Cumbrian tradition of stone circles. The site is peaceful; neither too exposed nor enclosed. Set against a backdrop of the gardens and ancient parkland trees, you’ll enjoy views of the lake hills, and in winter, glimpses of the bay. A peaceful place for reflection, that sparks interest and curiosity for all its visitors.
Wastwater, Seascale The view across the waters of Wastwater and up to Wasdale Head holds the title as Britain’s Favourite View, beating off competition from the likes of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland and The Mountains of Mourne in Co Down, Northern Ireland. There is much that makes Wastwater Britain’s favourite and most aweinspiring view. Wastwater lies in the most remote and untouched part of the Lake District and looks exactly as it did centuries ago. The Lake is touched on all sides by ominous mountains, including England’s largest, Scafell Pike and Great Gable. On the south eastern flank of Wastwater are screes that rise 2000 ft from the lake, these are snow-capped in winter and give an ‘otherworldly’ look to this view. Although it is only 3 miles in length, Wastwater is England’s deepest lake and whilst it sits alongside England’s tallest peak, it reaches below sea level meaning it has little oxygen and plant life. This gives rise to a spectacular dark water sat against the rugged mountain backdrop. A view like this is not easily forgotten and certainly one to talk about back at home.
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Lowther Castle & Gardens Let your imagination run wild as you explore the grounds. Journey through the ruins, the gardens and woodland, and you’ll find plenty of food for the imagination. Get an insight into the history of this wondrous and mystical place by uncovering ‘the story of Lowther’ exhibition. And learn more about the Lowther family who occupied the Castle since 1150. A miniature replica of the castle itself – ‘The Lost Castle’ is filled with a maze of turrets, zip wires, walkways and slides. A place to lose yourself in a whizz of excitement and fun. The most magical aspect of the lost castle is that it is set high above the ground, within the tree canopy, fitting seamlessly within the natural world around it. Lost deep in the woods, you really do feel it is an imagined place.
Grasmere Gingerbread Quite simply the best gingerbread in the world! Tens of thousands of people visit the Grasmere shop every year to indulge in some delicious Gingerbread, and to learn about its fascinating history that stretches back over three centuries. The unique, spicy-sweet delight was invented in 1854 by Victorian cook Sarah Nelson, who built a reputation that spread quickly to food lovers around the world. Today, third-generation owners Joanne and Andrew Hunter run the business and continue to fill the air with the wonderful aroma of freshly baked gingerbread which greets you as you enter.
Top : Walking with Wolves
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Middle top : Holker Labyrinth
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Middle bottom : Grasmere Gingerbread shop |
Middle right : Lowther Castle
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Bottom : Wastwater
The Lake District’s
HIDDEN WATERFALLS Aira Force is the most photographed waterfall in the Lake District. But there are plenty of hidden waterfalls in the Lakes that are equally as impressive and easily accessible, if you just know where to find them. 20
Stock Ghyll Force - Ambleside
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Tom Gill Waterfalls Tarn Hows Tarn Hows, Coniston, is one of the most iconic easy-access walks in the Lake District. That said, choose an alternative trail to the circular route around the tarns, and walk to Tom Ghyll waterfalls instead. A mile outside of Coniston, park at the Glen Mary Bridge car park, off the A593. Given the picturesque name of Glen Mary by John Ruskin, after his wife, you have an indication of the beauty up ahead. From this car park, follow the signposted route along the tumbling, and less romantically-named Tom Gill stream.
Scale Force Buttermere Walking from the village of Buttermere, which lies between the waters of Buttermere and Crummock, enjoy a pleasant 1-hour walk to Scale Force – the tallest singledrop waterfall in the Lake District. Scale Force offers two waterfalls in one. The upper falls is an impressive narrow plume dropping 120 ft with the lower falls offering pretty wider falls.
Lodore Falls Keswick Tumbling noisily over huge boulders, Lodore Falls is a 100ft series of waterfalls, with superb photo opportunities that are not restricted by viewing platforms and safety railings, as Aira Force is. The falls make for especially good photography following heavy rainfall where the Watendlath Beck crashes over the huge boulders, with crystal clear water pooling between.
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Dob Gill Waterfall Thirlmere Thirlmere Reservoir lies below the ridge of Helvellyn to the east and Raven Crag to the west. From here, Dobb Gill tumbles out of Harrop Tarn down a wide rocky ravine, giving rise to a series of waterfalls and plunge pools. The upper pools are separated by the lower pools with beautifully clear plunge pools that make for great spots for setting the tripod up.
Ritson’s Force Wasdale Head This is a true local’s force, named after a former landlord and accessed via the beer garden of the 200-year-old Wasdale Head Inn. Getting down to photograph the lower part of the falls will involve careful clambering down over fallen boulders. The water here is crystal clear, the falls are very powerful and the fallen boulders provide points of interest in the foreground. Either return to Ritson’s Bar at Wasdale Head Inn or you can continue this walk further on to the Mosedale Horseshoe.
Stock Ghyll Force Ambleside As the only waterfall within easy walking distance of a Lakeland town centre, it’s unsurprising that the various falls of Stock Ghyll Force in Ambleside have been a popular attraction for over 100 years. In fact, Victorian visitors paid at a turnstile to view these famous falls, enjoying them from a viewing platform. The beauty of the falls remains the same today and the easy access and close proximity of the falls to Ambleside is a draw for many photographers not keen on lugging lots of kit around the fells.
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Lakelovers Cottages Near Waterfalls
The Piggery 1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom This charismatic converted Lakeland piggery occupies a blissfully secluded setting in the village of Glenridding with breathtaking Ullswater and Glenridding Beck on your doorstep and Aira Force waterfall just minutes away. From ÂŁ395 for 7 nights
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Grass Ings 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms At the very heart of the Lake District lie the spectacular Langdale Valleys; Great Langdale and Little Langdale. In this stunning landscape of high mountains, rolling meadows, cascading waterfalls and babbling becks, Grass Ings stands in a prominent position overlooking the River Brathay, on the edge of the village of Skelwith Bridge. From ÂŁ825 for 7 nights
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CHARLIE WHINNEY Q&A Should we have heard of you? Two of my repeat clients are Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. If you walk past either of these stores in London, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds or Edinburgh and there’s something that looks a bit curvy and it’s wood, the chances are that we’ve done it. Harvey Nichols tours the installations around its stores. My thinking with commissions is that they are all for things that will exist anyway, so if I pitch for that work and get it then I will produce it in a more low-energy, sustainable, eco-friendly way and also explore my practice creatively. I was at Chelsea flower show this year and have installations in Japan, Singapore, China and the US. Locally I have two sculptures in Grizedale Forest: ‘Together’ and ‘Mountains we Made’.
How do you become a steambent wood sculptor? My older brother Joss began training as an artistic blacksmith and set up a workshop. I was at architecture school but had become frustrated by how hypothetical it was. I’d not done any making before and when I went and helped him, I thought, ‘Wow!’ You have an idea in the morning and by the afternoon you can have made something decent and useful. So, I quit architecture and did a two-year furniture course at Rycotewood, where a furniture designer called David Colwell who did steambending gave a talk. When
I tried it, for me, what came out of the steam chamber was just a hot plastic material. I saw that I could do in wood what I’d been doing in metal with my brother. My sketchbook was full of metalwork designs and I’ve got a really organic, curvy style so it was natural for me to explore that.
Do you work with other materials? I’ve always been really interested in materials. If you know a material in an intimate way, then you can do the best you possibly can with it. I’ve worked with ceramics as well as lots of high-performance materials including Kevlar, but by the time I had finished at college I was thinking about sustainability and decided that if you want to make contemporary work it has to respond to the contemporary context of the world. When everything was taken into consideration – ecology, the way it performed – steam-bending green wood was still the best option, and people love it.
In what way is sustainability important to you? If you use locally sourced green wood, you know the tree’s going to be replaced and you’re not transporting it anywhere, so the carbon footprint is kept to a minimum. I love a streamlined solution. I keep going back to steam bending because it’s such a good
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process. If I am going to make things – and I probably shouldn’t – then this is a good way to go.
Is there more of an interest in sustainability these days? I was down at the London design festival and there were climate protests going on outside and no one was talking about sustainability at the festival. I don’t get it. I was in a room with two or three hundred designer–makers, everyone selling fancy things for your home. Still, everyone’s poor and just needs money, I suppose. And rather than getting something that’s a bit crusty and eco-looking, the customer will still go for something made of metal and paint.
Why Cumbria? My son Casper’s mum and I travelled to eighteen countries when we first met. Then, when we got back, I had two weeks before I had to start my first Harvey Nichols commission. So, we got the van out and went to the Lake District. I’d never been here before and I thought, ‘I’ve seen the world and all along this was in England.’ I’m from Dorset originally and we’d never been north. It was so nice. I couldn’t believe it. So, we decided to stay for six months and found the house next door to this workshop. Then, completely randomly, the next-door neighbour was about to put this barn on the market. I took it for a workshop and we never left.
I’m a designer–maker and I’m an artist. When I was in London recently I described myself as an artist, so that people knew I made sculptures and non-functional things. I think for designers it’s often more like a job than a passion or calling. When I first started, I thought that all designers were obsessed but they’re not. I think I’m quite an obsessive person. I think I’d rather be thought of as an artist than a designer–maker because I have a reason or narrative behind why I make a piece of work in a particular way.
You work with the community too don’t you?
Which work are you most proud of? It’s always the last thing. I’ve gone back to product design, which is where I started. Every year we had an open weekend where other makers or anyone can come along and I shared all my secrets. Then we started doing one-day courses. It evolved into the beginners’ steambending course. In the morning we take you into the woods and explain about how trees grow and what trees are and how steam-bending works, the ecology and why I choose it over other processes. Then we come back and bend ten different species of wood and we do a wide range of stuff which takes us through to
Top left : Curly Shade | Bottom left : Trees for Buildings
Yes, there’s a walker’s café downstairs and some children with special needs from Kendal used to turn up in a minibus twice a year and want to know what I was working on. So, I’d show them around and then they’d
want to make something too. I then got funding to make stuff with them and one of the products available on the website is exclusive to them or community groups. Now I hang out with them every week. This feels relevant.
lunchtime. And then at the end of the day they make something – a full-on product to take home. By the beginning of this year, people were actually making nice lampshades. I never intended for that to happen – I just wanted to teach them about the process. I’m proud of it because people are really happy. Honestly when they go home, they’ve learned loads and they go home with something. And they hang a lampshade in their kitchen and they’re going to keep that forever. I still get emails from two years ago, and they send me a picture of their lampshade and it may not have the best finish, but they say ‘I love it. I look at it every day,’ and the reason they love it is that they made it themselves. Wood & Steam by Charlie Whinney published by Kyle Books charliewhinney.com Photography Andrew Montgomery
Top right : Plankton | Botom right : Witherslack Knot
Do you describe yourself as an artist or a designer?
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Coniston RUSKINLAND Ruskinland can seem a strange place, populated by academics and the occasional oddball. Yet it exists – and it flourishes. In areas as diverse as furniture design, mental health therapy, conservation and ecology, many people, some unknowingly, are energetically taking forward ideas that owe a lot to what Ruskin thought, wrote and did.
So says Andrew Hill of Coniston’s most famous resident in his book Ruskinland: How Ruskin Shapes Our World, published this year (the 200th anniversary of Ruskin’s birth). John Ruskin lived on the eastern side of Coniston in the mighty Brantwood – which now houses a museum and art gallery, and has lovely gardens and a café in the stables – with a terrace allowing everyone to enjoy its epic view. Along with Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth, Ruskin was one of the three cultural pillars central to the Lake District’s successful application to be a World Heritage Site. The submission described Ruskin – best known as an artist and critic, but born in a time when a man could have ‘many parts’. In his deliberately unconventional biography, Andrew Hill demonstrates the reach of Ruskin’s thinking and its relevance to our world today. His thoughts on art, craft, nature, conservation and much else besides, all have resonance. Above all, Ruskin is a wonderful, readable writer – and Hill’s writing does him justice. There are aspects of Ruskin that seem anachronistic – his dislike of railways, the extent of his religion – but there are more we would do well to remember at the earliest opportunity. ‘There is no wealth but life,’ wrote John Ruskin in his book Unto this Last. ‘Life,’ he continued, ‘including all its powers of love, of joy, and of admiration. That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest numbers of noble and happy human beings.’
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Image : The Coniston range from Blawith Knott
From Ruskinland: On Seeing ‘The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way. To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion, all in one.’ Ruskin had some advice for the frazzled, time-poor 21st-century sightseer. It was the quality of what he saw, not the quantity that mattered. ‘We did not travel for adventures, nor for company, but to see with our eyes, and to measure with our hearts.’
On Drawing, Painting and Craft A child with a talent for drawing ‘should be allowed to scrawl at its own free will, due praise being given for every appearance of care, or truth, in its efforts’. From the busy hub at Brantwood, a whole network of local craft started to expand, with Ruskin’s endorsement and help: Laxey cloth, Langdale Linen, Ruskin Lace – explicitly built on the writer’s idea of individual creativity. No two pieces of lacework were the same.
On Landscape and Nature ‘He understood the physical structure of rocks,’ Howard Hull, the amiable and encyclopaedically well-informed director of Brantwood told me, as we looked out across the lake below Ruskin’s house to the crags of Coniston Old Man that Ruskin loved. ‘The beginning of all my own right artwork in life depended not on my love of art, but of mountains and seas.’
Ruskinland: How Ruskin Shapes Our World by Andrew Hill is published by Pallas Athene
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Lakelovers Cottages near Coniston
To p i m a g e s : Te n t L o d g e
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Bottom images: Grass Guards Cottage
Discover and explore Ruskinland
Tent Lodge
Grass Guards Cottage
6 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms
2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms
Situated just above the North-Eastern shores of Coniston Water, Tent Lodge must be one of the Lake District’s best-kept secrets. Tent Lodge, previously a family home, is steeped in character and history having welcomed and inspired many famous guests including Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome. A home from home offering comfortable, elegant accommodation, perfect for special memory-making holidays with family and friends.
With breathtaking views to the Coniston Fells, and Harter Fell rising majestically to the north, Grass Guards is perched high in the hills of the beautiful Duddon Valley. A perfect base for walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and families! This farm dates back over 500 years and has been loving refurbished to create a high quality retreat for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of modern day life and to relax and enjoy one of the most beautiful corners of the Lake District.
From £2600 for 7 nights
From £590 for 7 nights 30
Ask the Expert
Graham Wilkinson
Row of Pine Trees reflected on Buttermere
Ever wondered about owning your own holiday let in the Lake District? We asked our Portfolio Development Manager, Graham, for his expert advice.
What types of people buy holiday let property? Many of our valued owners are actually previous guests! We find that many of our guests who book with us time and time again tend to live within a 2–3 hour drive of the Lake District and so have been enjoying holidays here themselves for many years before they decide to invest in a holiday home.
What sort of property delivers the best income? There are no hard or fast rules when it comes to selecting a holiday property although there are many elements that can help to ensure a property is let out for as many weeks of the year as possible. A good place to start is to think about the sort of property you like to stay in and the features that you look for.
How can you earn the best income? Income levels are intrinsically linked to each individual property and are influenced not only by the number of bedrooms but also by features such as outdoor space, hot tubs, parking,
location and whether or not they accommodate children and dogs. The more flexible an owner can be, the more bookings we can take, so properties that offer short breaks of 3 and 4 nights in addition to 7 night bookings generally perform much better.
What should an owner look for when selecting a holiday letting agent? It is always best to meet with holiday letting agents face to face as having that connection with them early on is key. We believe it is important that our team live in and around the areas of the Lakes that our holiday homes are in – not only so they can easily meet with new owners but also because they have the local knowledge and expertise that only a local team can bring. Our team regularly view properties before they have even been bought, offering independent advice on how suitable a property is for holiday rental and what changes may be needed to get the very best booking and income levels.
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How often will I be able to use my holiday home myself? Unlike other property letting agents here at Lakelovers we allow our owners to use their holiday home as often as they like without any penalties or increase in fees. We work very closely with our owners to understand their expectations around booking and income levels so that we can recommend the best time of year to use the property for themselves.
Graham’s favourite lake The two-hour walk around Lake Buttermere stopping in the village to refuel as you pass through.
Graham’s favourite local shop Higginson’s butchers in Grange Over Sands – for locally sourced meat and incredible Pork Pies!
Graham’s Autumn Hidden Gem A walk around the country lanes of the Lyth Valley is lovely at any time of year but in the early autumn you need to remember to take a pair of gloves and some old ice cream tubs with you as the hedgerows abound with wild blackberries, sloes and damsons.
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Garth Cottage 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Located at Storrs Park, one of the most desirable residential areas in the country just a mile from the village of Bowness On Windermere, Garth Cottage, has been developed by the owner to create a superb holiday retreat that offers first class accommodation in a superb location. Garth Cottage offers excellent living accommodation complemented by a choice of four bedrooms making ideal for family celebrations or couples gathering to spend time together. From ÂŁ975 for 7 nights
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Ben, Floyd & Core – Ben Bush Photography
015394 88855
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