| It has been thought in the past that staying in | | | | is a great location. The lake is 4 miles long and is |
| hotels with children is a bad idea because they are | | | | the shallowest of all the lakes with its maximum |
| not places geared up for children. | | | | depth just 70 feet. For parents interested in bird |
| Parents however, want a bit of luxury and do not | | | | watching, it is one of the best places to spot an |
| always want to camp or go self catering. Times | | | | Osprey. |
| are changing and hoteliers are waking up to the | | | | Hundreds of people visit the Bassenthwaite area |
| idea that families are a large market hardly | | | | over the spring to get a glimpse of the Lake |
| targeted. There are some hotels that operate | | | | District Ospreys. Visitors can get great views of |
| strict “no children” policy but many hotels | | | | the birds from a Viewpoint in Dodd Wood, only |
| who are quite happy having them stay are | | | | 400 metres away from the nest. The Viewpoint |
| adapting rooms and creating fun things for children | | | | is open all daylight hours, with staff on hand with |
| to do to entice families to stay. | | | | telescopes from 10am-5pm daily, as part of the |
| The Lake District is the perfect location for | | | | RSPB’s ‘Dates with Nature’ Project. |
| children. Endless activities to keep them occupied | | | | Bassenthwaite the village itself is one of the most |
| for example watersports, walking, Go-Ape, a zoo | | | | beautiful Lakeland villages and is an ideal base for |
| and the Ravenglass-Eskdale railway. It has long | | | | discovering the woodlands of Thornthwaite Forest |
| been an area popular with families. | | | | and the trails of Dodd Wood. It is the |
| An area full of activities and stunning scenery is | | | | northernmost and only true 'lake' in the Lake |
| the area of Keswick and Bassenthwaite. There | | | | District; it is renowned for its peacefulness, |
| are many Keswick hotels that offer child friendly | | | | accessibility and continually changing scenery |
| rooms with excellent leisure facilities on site. | | | | caused by changeable weather and seasons. |
| These facilities include heated swimming pools, | | | | When the adults need to get away there’s |
| gyms, tennis courts, putting greens and some | | | | Mirehouse which is most definitely worth a visit. |
| even have games rooms with both board games | | | | Alfred Lord Tennyson stayed at Mirehouse whilst |
| and computer games such as Wii consoles | | | | writing his poem 'Morte D'Arthur' in 1835. It is a |
| installed. The practical facilities within these hotels | | | | private house but open to the public on |
| come in the form of flexible meal times for | | | | Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. The grounds |
| children, the use of complimentary high chairs and | | | | and a tea shop are open daily though. Further on |
| cots, bed time books and stocks of essential | | | | from Mirehouse is an open air theatre erected by |
| items such as nappies, baby milks and food and | | | | the Tennyson Society is the location where |
| dummies. | | | | Tennyson was thought to have written most of |
| The Bassenthwaite Lake area encompasses | | | | that famous poem. All around the lake and the |
| some of the most well equipped hotels Lake | | | | surrounding area is a strong literary feel along with |
| District. The lake is one of the largest in the | | | | a popular place for artists whi stay in Keswick |
| English Lake District situated at the foot of | | | | hotels. |
| Skiddaw and in such close proximity to Keswick, it | | | | |