Grasmere Winter Warmer
Winter has definitely arrived with all of this frost and snow flurrying in, and it has been perfectly timed for a festive trip to Grasmere. From getting out and enjoying the wintry landscapes, to warming up with great food, drink and even a spa - and supporting local businesses while finding some unique gifts for friends and family - Grasmere is a wonderful choice for a winter trip.
Each year that we visit, we have a day out walking on the fells; you’re spoiled for choice as it is surrounded by wonderful mountain ranges. This year we chose a 10-mile circular hike that took in Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur, and included views of some of Cumbria’s most famous lakes and mountain ranges. With the low winter sun and some snowy showers, the views were especially atmospheric and beautiful.
It was made even more special this year as I proposed to my girlfriend, Anna, as we reached Stone Arthur and returned to views over Grasmere with the sun beginning to set – I couldn’t have planned a more perfect scene if I tried!
I love mixing Christmas with a bit of spookiness, too. Later on when it gets dark, and you are comfortably full of the amazing local food, you can get wrapped up and grab a headtorch to go back into the village for a frosty walk under the stars. It’s both festive and spooky, and if you enjoy the night sky, it won’t disappoint as it shines above the surrounding mountain ridges.
We love a walk around the shops filled with locally made items: it includes famous Grasmere ginger, local art, and all manner of local crafts and collectables that make lovely Christmas presents. We also recommend stopping off for some hearty soup and a toasted cheese scone in one of the many tearooms (we always head for Baldry’s); this is a staple of our visit every year and never disappoints.
I can’t finish without mentioning our hotel. It has become routine for us to spoil ourselves with a stay in the Daffodil hotel. From the outset this year we settled in with cocktails looking over the frosty Grasmere Lake and landscape. The hotel also has a great restaurant, and the spa is an incredible luxury after a day out in the cold – especially if you have been hiking on the fells. At the end of our 10-mile hike it was absolute heaven: the spa is complete with a hydro pool full of jets to message your aching muscles and joints, along with a steam room and a sauna to warm you through.
If you’re looking for a humble and scenic winter break, I would highly recommend adding this to your list: Grasmere is an incredibly warm place to be in the icy winter months.
