Your Life - Travel: On your PIKE; THE LAKES REFRESH YOUR BODY & SOUL.Byline: BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG BRIDGE End Farm is tucked away in glorious Eskdale, in the heart of the Lake District - once dubbed the "Gateway to Paradise". Within walking distance there is England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike Sca·fell Pike A mountain in the Cumbrian Mountains of northwest England. At 979.1 m (3,210 ft), it is the highest peak in the range and the highest elevation in England. ; Hardknott Pass Hardknott Pass carries the minor motor road between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley in the English county of Cumbria in the Lake District National Park. The Hardknott Pass vies with Rosedale Chimney Bank in North Yorkshire for the title of steepest road in England with both achieving , its steepest road; and the dramatic Wastwater, its deepest lake - Eskdale is home to some of the most impressive scenery the country can boast. It was the eminent Victorian poet and philosopher John Ruskin who described Eskdale as "Paradise" after visiting Boot, the tiny hamlet in which Bridge End Farm sits. The 400-year-old Grade-II listed former Elizabethan barn is at the end of a cobbled cob·ble 1 n. 1. A cobblestone. 2. Geology A rock fragment between 64 and 256 millimeters in diameter, especially one that has been naturally rounded. 3. cobbles See cob coal. tr. lane, right next to the Whillan Beck and the obligatory country pub A country pub is a rural public house. The term typically applies to drinking establishments in England, but the term is also found in many other countries with strong connections to England (such as Wales, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland). . The oldest working water mill in the country is next door, just beyond the walled garden Refers to a network or service that restricts its users to its own content. Cable TV and satellite TV are walled gardens, offering a finite number of channels and programs to its subscribers. and paddock which guarantee seclusion seclusion Forensic psychiatry A strategy for managing disturbed and violent Pts in psychiatric units, which consists of supervised confinement of a Pt to a room–ie, involuntary isolation, to protect others from harm for your holiday cottage A Holiday Cottage is a type of vacation accommodation which has become common in the United Kingdom and Canada. They are typically small homes that vacationers can rent and run as if it were their own home for the duration of their stay. . Boot itself lies at the foot of mighty Scafell. Despite having just 30 year-round inhabitants, it has its own church, post office - very useful for directions and advice while stocking up on necessities - as well as a craft shop, tiny corn mill museum and two traditional, and very highly recommended, inns. The cottage itself has everything you could need and more. Beneath ancient oak beams there is an impressive lounge, complete with TV and CD player, a fine oak kitchen with all mod cons, period bathrooms and full central heating central heating Noun a system for heating a building by means of radiators or air vents connected to a central source of heat centrally heated adj Noun 1. . Those with local knowledge often say that the Lakes can't be beaten in good weather, and the gods were with us on our visit. The sun shone and showed the surrounding hillsides, and the magnificent Harter Fell, in all their glory. On our visit to Wastwater, the peak of Great Gable dominated the skyline; it is only a short hop from the cottage on foot or by car. Given the heat, we didn't do much by foot, however, and let the train - in this case the Eskdale railway - take the strain. The narrow gauge steam engines take tourists on a splendid run to the scenic village and bay of Ravenglass, through the picturesque Eskdale valley, past Muncaster Castle and on to the coast. There are a number of stops along the way where you can get off for a stroll, then hop back on, so make sure you buy an all-stop pass. Ravenglass has its own little cafe and children's play area, and it is a pleasant stroll down to the bay. There are a couple of pubs which sit alongside the water, perfect for a pit-stop and a pint. And because it's off the beaten track, a sense of perfect peace and quiet allows you to enjoy its stretch of pebbled beach, which is perfect for the children. If you really fancy a walk, fells and mountains abound. The cottage owners can put you in touch with an experienced guide, and there are maps and recommended routes available from the local post office. Alternatively, the Burnmoor Inn offers the perfect refuge - and very good food. Forget about cooking, sit back, select what you fancy from the extensive lunch and dinner menus and enjoy the simple pleasure of eating outdoors. The outdoor play area keeps the kids happy; then, back at the cottage, you can have a dip in the tumbling beck before bedtime. Bridge End Farm, which has its own laundry as well as the impressive kitchen, is a three- times winner of the Lake District Self-Catering Holiday of the Year award, so there is ample opportunity to stay in for meals if you desire. The cottages there sleep parties from two to nine people, available for off-season and summer breaks. It offers a five-star experience in one of the Lakeland's loveliest spots; and that really does take some beating. GETTING THERE PRICES vary according to the time of year, and number of people staying, but start at pounds 270 per week in low season for the smallest cottage, rising to pounds 520-a-week in high season. The largest cottage at Eskdale costs pounds 560 per week in low season, rising to pounds 1,300. Short breaks are available between November and March, excluding Christmas, New Year, and February half-term. Book direct with: Greg Poole, Bridge End Farm Cottages, Boot, Eskdale, Cumbria CA19 1TG. Information on this and similar properties on www.selectcottages.com For a colour brochure, tel/fax 0870 7355328, or email greg@select cottages.com CAPTION(S): HILLS ANGELS: The view over Wastwater in Lake District National Park |
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