We decided to try somewhere new this year for Christmas. Grasmere was good for 3 years but a few niggles persuaded us, together with our friends Martin & Maxine Shelmerdine, to look for another venue. We had not looked at Bowness seriously until we visited there last year whilst “out and about” and Sue liked the looks of The Belsfield Hotel, just in front of the pier. Our friends decided to try it out earlier in the year and we booked following their trip.
It’s a good hotel, the staff are helpful and pleasant, the restaurant was very well decorated and presented for the break and the food, barring one not so good main course, was lovely. The restaurant overlooks the lake with a large double fronted window – great in summer when it’s light. We were on a wing adjacent to reception and the corridor leading to the rooms would have been well equipped to store frozen food – the reason apparently because some guests had said that the rooms were too hot. This would only have been of benefit if said guests had left their doors open – still, never mind. There’s a pretty library with comfy chairs for afternoon tea and to enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
We didn’t do much the first day – the weather wasn’t very kind. Christmas Day was taken up with presents, socialising and food, with a surprise visit from Santa(!). On Boxing Day there was a boat trip around the lake planned. This followed a walk around the town and lunch. The weather stayed mainly dry but was a bit drizzly so had to pop in and out of the boat for photo opportunities – there weren’t many.
The last day we went for a walk around Rydal Water and then went up to Tarn Hows for a stroll round there – lots of sunshine. I think we’ll do it again.
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