Whatever the weather

 Earlier this week I was having coffee with a friend and telling her about the great time I’d had at the cottage with my family last week. The weather – in common with the rest of the UK – hadn’t been great, but we’d got out and about sampled various hostelries, teashops and eateries as well as enjoyed the fresh air and blown some mental cobwebs away. She had recently organised a spa holiday for clients in Spain – and wondered how they were getting on: the weather was, apparently, even worse than it’s been in England in recent weeks and most of the treatments were due to take place outside!

And as another cold, wet and possibly windy May Bank Holiday draws near I am reminded how lucky we are – the English Lake District has plenty  for visitors to do, see and enjoy whatever the weather.

So, with that in mind, here are ten top things to do if, as expected, it’s cold and wet in and around Staveley this weekend. Most of them hold good throughout the year, too.

1. Support Live Theatre and be part of the audience at the comedy Wife after Death  at the Staveley Roundhouse.The players last production got great reviews
2. Go for a moody, atmospheric lower walk in the Kentmere Valley
3. Visit a local pub – complete with roaring log fire. Both the Duke William (nearest the cottage) and Eagle & Child have open fires.
4. Take a trip to Arnside. Enjoy the craft shops and galleries. Stop for morning coffee or afternoon tea. Dodge the storm clouds. Dig for gold at the bottom of a rainbow.
5. Visit a waterfall near Skelwith Bridge and then indulge yourself at Chester’s 
6. Wonder at the QuakerTapestry an award winning visitor attraction for all the family with a veggie café on site
7. Blackwell is a fantastic arts and craft house just outside Bowness. It has great views over Windermere, interesting rooms and exhibitions as well as a café and arts crafty gift shop. 
8.  Improve your cooking and have fun at the same time. Book a class at Lucy Cooks cookery school. It’s within walking distance of the cottage.
9. Explore Whitescar Cave. The longest show cave in the country. It has thousands of stalactites and underground waterfalls and streams.
10. Stay in. Stay snug. Enjoy the cottage’s selection of DVDs, books and games. And if you’re lucky enough to be there with your special someone – take time to remind yourselves why you fell in love in the first place.

Enjoy !