No. in Party   7+ 2 dogs
Visited    September 2004

This weekend with friends was a spur of the moment affair and a chance to get together to plan a future holiday. During a spell of particularly bad weather; gales and rain, we were quite fortunate to manage two short but enjoyable walks.

The house is typical of the villas built all around the Lakes at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th Centuries and is nicely furnished with some interesting pieces including a number by well known exponents of the  Arts & Crafts Movement.  Further examples of work being represented at nearby Blackwell (open all year) and Broadleys, the home of the Windermere Motor Boat Club (free to visit on Thursday by prior arrangement).

Set in a large, woodland garden the house has magnificent views across Grasmere and towards Helm Crag (the Lion & Lamb) and is a great base for fell-walking and day-tripping through the Lakes.

Sunday lunch at the Traveller’s Rest (booking advisable) was very good* and preferable to the pub fayre supplied in Grasmere village which, being generous, can only be described as mediocre⁺.  The whole village has a slightly tacky feel and there’s much better to be found around the area, get off the beaten track is my advice.

Howthwaite guests can visit  neighbouring Dove Cottage for free - but pick your time - it can be very busy, in fact “swarming” would describe it well.

* Sorry to report a return visit some months later presented a very different experience.

⁺ There are now several much improved eating and drinking places in Grasmere.