WITH Lakeland’s third highest peak, Skiddaw, towering above, and its most northerly lake on the doorstep, Bassenthwaite Lakeside Lodges is an exclusive holiday park in an idyllic setting in one of Cumbria’s most gloriously unspoilt areas.

The Bellamy Gold Award park offers luxury holiday lodges set in secluded woodland in an elevated position on the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake, recently designated a National Nature Reserve.

The lake is home to a rare species of fish and to a great variety of wildfowl and other birds (including Ospreys) and Red squirrels live along its shores. Dinghies, canoes and rowing boats can be launched from the park’s own jetty.

Rental lodges at Bassenthwaite are two or three-bedroomed, centrally heated and double glazed, with extensively equipped kitchens, colour TVs and CD players. Each has French doors leading to a private timber patio with gas barbe-cue to help you make the most of idyllic summer evenings.You can also own your own lodge on the park, with show homes and vacant pitches available.

As well as watersports on the lake and walking the local hills, there are equestrian, cycling, tennis and golf facilities nearby, and the park is roughly equidistant from the lovely towns of Cockermouth and Keswick.


FOR SALE

At the time of writing, homes for sale included an Omar Kingfisher 38x20 3-bed, £167,500; a Cosalt Lautrec 29x20 2-bed, £126,000; a Cosalt Cezanne 36x20 3-bed, £155,250; a pre-owned Cosalt 36x 20 3-bed, £84,000; and a Cosalt Lautrec 32x20 at £52,000.


LOCAL INFO

• Local amenities: Local shops and services, including banks, in Keswick and Cockermouth, 5-6 miles (closest supermarkets and PO in Keswick).
• Health: GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacies are in Keswick. The nearest hospital with A&E is White-haven (17 miles).
• Transport: The nearest stations are Penrith (for mainline trains to Carlisle, the Midlands and London) or Maryport  (for the local coastal line from Carlisle to Morecambe, Preston etc). The local Whitehaven-Cockermouth-Keswick-Penrith bus is roughly two-hourly at Bassenthwaite, and there is also a summer  Rambler (2 a day) from Carlisle to Keswick.
• Eating & drinking: Bassenthwaite has the Sun Inn, and there is also a pub at Embleton (3.5 miles). There’s a wide selection of restauarants and takeaways in Keswick and Cockermouth.


WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE?

Mirehouse - Historic manor house with  literary connections, including Tennyson (he wrote The Charge Of the Light Brigade here), Carlile and Wordsworth. Lovely gardens, regular events and a tearoom.

Thornthwaite Galleries - Large contemporary art gallery on opposite side of the lake, with exhibitions of the work of around 130 artists from Cumbria and the north west of England, including painting and sculpture.


CONTACT

Scarness, Bassenthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4QZ. Tel: 0845 4565276 or 017687 7664. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.bll.ac

• Prices from £52,000
• Ground rent £3,789pa
• Mains gas and electricity metered and billed by park
• No age restriction, children welcome
• Pets permitted


This review was published in the June 2009 issue of Park & Holiday Homes magazine. To order our latest issue please click here.


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