Left My Heart In The Lakes

The view from above 

So after a very busy, but exciting few weeks, and with this month's issue and wedding guide now put to bed, it's fair to say my skin sought sunshine and blue skies. With the long bank holiday weekend coming up, it was the perfect time to hit the road and head to the Lakes. 

I'm a big fan of the outdoors; I love camping, anything to do with driving/quad biking and love nothing more than slipping on my sunglasses and heading outside, (preferably with my two little mutts in tow). So after scouring the internet for last minute deals we found this little gem! Spa? Swimming pool? Sauna? Just what the doctor ordered! 

So we set off from cloudy Newcastle in search of our blue skies, me in the driver seat and His Highness on directions duty. Fast forward two hours later and we were soon exploring the stunning Lake Ullswater. After seeing so many beautiful images of it from advertisers/photographers when writing Cumbrian features for the magazine, it was a pleasure to see it with my own eyes. No sooner could I hop out of the car and run to the shore, we discovered the perfect little picnic spot (complete with rope swing (!)) and sat down for the afternoon.

Lake Ullswater

Sandwiches eaten, we headed into Pooley Bridge where we found a thriving village full of tourists, dog walkers and beer gardens...heaven! After a leisurely stroll around Ullswater, we couldn't believe it was almost six o'clock, so made the most of the fading sun and warmth in a gorgeous secluded garden (ice-cold drink essential)

A quick half an hour in the gym, gentle swim and wallow in the fabulous hot tub (not to mention a very quick spell in the world's hottest steam room), we dressed for dinner. The nearby George and Dragon came highly recommended by people at work, so we drove along to see what all the fuss was about. Although the menu is short and sweet (meat, fish, meat and more meat), I opted for a classic meat and two veg, while Richie chose stuffed chicken and barley risotto. Service was very efficient, the wine was delicious and interior intimate and cosy. We ate by the warm glow of candlelight, sat amongst old friends meeting for dinner, families catching up and foodies coming for the umpteenth time that week to sample the locally-grown Lowther produce. 

Dinner was followed by homemade pistachio and stem ginger biscotti, smothered in ice cream and dunked in 'Charlie's chocolate pot'. Feeling exceptionally replete, we headed back to our room, excited for tomorrow's adventures! 

After a hearty Cumbrian breakfast of sausage, bacon and egg, we headed to Windermere. An hours drive later, ears popping from the altitude and eyes blinded by the stunning view, it was time for lunch. Choosing from the numerous eateries was an impossible task, did we want prawn linguine or traditional afternoon tea? We opted for a window seat in the emerging sunshine in Renoirs, a lovely French style bistro and shared a pot of English breakfast and selection of scones (sometimes I forget I'm actually 22 and not 62...). Fed and watered, we headed a mile along the road to a very busy Lake Windermere where we decided to hire a boat!

The next couple of hours were fantastic, we had such a good time playing sailors, sunbathing and singing It's A Pirate's Life For Me. I had gotten the sunshine and blue skies I wanted, eaten very well and laughed the whole time! After returning our boat there was just time to get an (overpriced) ice cream and head to the car. The views back home were incredible, although I have to admit I felt pretty sad once we reached the M6 and had nothing but tarmac and road signs to look at for the next few hours. With our phone's dead and radio rubbish, we planned our next getaway all the way home!

With tired legs, a full tummy but happy heart, it's off to bed ready for work in the morning! 

One last snap of sunshine before I go!