It seems a while since I have written in the Diary, but things have been busy here in the valleys and Summer seems to have crept upon us while we were still languishing in Spring.

We have enjoyed welcoming familiar, and not so familiar, faces to the Hotel, Self Catering Cottages and of course the Tearoom – which has settled in well and now firmly established in this, it’s second season! The weather has for the most part been good and we have enjoyed many sunny days and warm nights. The gardens have been looking beautiful and the kittens we brought to the hotel in the winter have been a great help in keeping the rabbits away from the roses. Ullswater scenery is always stunning whatever the season but in early summer the views have been spectacular.

The second weekend in July saw the annual sailing race known as the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy which took place amid perfect sailing weather. The race is hosted by Ullswater Yacht Club and  consists of over 200 sailing boats taking part in 2 races which cover the full nine mile length of the Lake, it was a fantastic sight on the most glorious of weekends.

It is interesting to note that Lord Birkett is also known as ‘the Saviour of Ullswater’ and was responsible for Ullswater remaining as a Lake and not, as was the wish of the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Department, turned into a reservoir. Lord Birkett campaigned vigorously against this Bill, introduced in 1961, and on his last day in the House of Lords  - 8th Feb 1962 – gave a heartfelt speech condemning the proposal which resulted in the Bill being defeated.

And so as this diary entry ends, we are now into the third week of July, Summer is well and truly upon us and the days are filled with typical ever-changing Lakeland weather, giving us dramatic skies and landscapes, and occasional heady, sun filled days.

The local news at the moment is full of The Lake District’s recently acquired World Heritage Status, - interesting times here in the Lakes. We have no idea what, if any changes this will bring, but hope the status which has been bestowed upon us does not mean that we lose the values and characteristics that we value so greatly.

We hope you enjoy reading about the goings’ on in our quiet corner of The Lake District, if you have visited us before then we look forward to seeing you again, if not, then rest assured, we will be delighted to welcome you whenever you arrive!

To read The Story of The World Heritage Bid in The Cumberland and Westmorland Herald click here

The Summer 2017 gallery is available to view by clicking here