As with other parts of the UK at Howtown this summer it has been a year of figures, June and July were the hottest since 1910 providing our visitors with exceptional conditions for their stay with us. Perfect weather also helped with the Hotel Farm with every blade of grass cut, tossed and baled by the end of July (almost like the good old days).
The gardens also benefited with the good weather, being full of colour as the flowers elegantly sunbathed. The bees and butterflies flitted from flower to flower besides themselves with joy. We harvested a superb crop of blossom honey, very satisfying for me with the Apiary only in its second year.
Howtown Hotel welcomed many new guests this season, they seemed to fit into the pace of life here, and hopefully left refreshed, to face the challenges of the modern world. As always it was great to see so many of our regular guests returning and stories were swapped and shared like old friends.
The Autumn proved to be two faced, warm and bright by day, cool and autumnal by night a little reminder of things to come. As our attention turns to Winter, Howtown Hotel closes its doors after another successful season - some refurbishment begins almost immediately in preparation for our 115th season.
For me the highlight of the season was Mrs Baldry receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cumbria Life magazine.
Eddie Kay, Gardner and Bee Keeper