Give the driver a quieter time this year
Give the car and driver a break this year and treat the family, or just yourself and partner, to a fabulous holiday that proves you don’t need to pack into your motor when holidaying on home soil.
If you head to the beautiful location of Watermillock, close to England’s most stunning lake, Ullswater, you can discover the delights of The Quiet Site - a perfect base for exploring the glorious Lake District scenery without the car.
Those letting the train take the strain can travel to Penrith (on the west coast line and connecting with London Euston in the south and Glasgow in the north). As of this season, there is a daily bus connection running from Penrith railway station right to the Quiet Site’s door, where on-site accommodation includes two self-catering holiday cottages and permanent, wooden Lakeland camping pods, as well as full camping, caravanning and motorhome facilities. Taxi hire from Penrith station to The Quiet Site is also available.
The weekly rental for the two excellently equipped self-catering cottages, which date from the sixteenth century, costs between £400 and £1400 per week. Ivy Cottage sleeps six, with an optional cot available, while Watermillock Cottage sleeps nine, again with the option of a cot for babies.
A Lakeland camping pod costs £35-£50 per night for those travelling light with just rucksacks and sleeping bags. Those bringing more equipment with them, by car, caravan or motorhome can also take advantage of the great site facilities, which have enabled the site to become a runner-up as Cumbria Holiday Park of the Year and feature in the top positions, in various camping magazine reviews, as voted for by guests and independent reviewers.
The ethos of The Quiet Site is to be ‘quietly greener’, but in practice this has seen an extensive eco-friendly system evolve, in terms of investment in reed-bed water harvesting and solar energy systems which recycle water and heat the impressive shower and bathroom block. Many eco-friendly measures have been implemented, enabling the site to become a local champion of sustainable tourism within Cumbria and the Lake District.
Produce is sourced locally, as much as possible, and wildlife concern and environmental initiatives, such as tree planting, are part of a holistic approach to sustainable tourism.
Once on site, even if guests have arrived by car, they can have great fun exploring without it. The 108 bus service, which now runs into the site at 8.50am and will drop passengers back at 6.30, can take them to numerous local beauty spots and attractions. This includes Lakeland’s famous waterfall, Aira Force, whose legend of the lady Emma, who fell into the waters of the falls while sleepwalking, was immortalised in a Wordsworth poem.
The service will also take guests to the pier at Glenridding, on Ullswater, from where they can catch an Ullswater Steamers boat back to Pooley Bridge, enjoying a lake cruise and scenic glories, which include the sight of mighty Helvellyn. Back at Pooley Bridge, they can then use the legs to walk back to The Quiet Site, taking in the wildlife sightings en route, which may include encounters with red squirrels.
Alternatively, they can take the bus to Pooley Bridge pier and enjoy a round the lake cruise, hopping off and on the boat to take advantage of the many footpaths around Ullswater that lead to various beauty spots, or could just opt for a relaxed return sailing to Glenridding and back.
On other days, when a spot of shopping, or a culture-focused day is on the cards, guests can catch the bus service to the bustling Lakeland town of Keswick, where a varied retail offering awaits, along with a packed programme of entertainment at the exquisite Theatre by the Lake, on Derwentwater.
Discounts with Ullswater Steamers, Keswick Climbing Wall, the Rheged cinema and other local attractions have been negotiated on behalf of Quiet Site guests, to encourage a get-up-and-go mentality.
The Quiet Site further encourages discovery of the local area on foot through four detailed and charmingly illustrated walks available for download. These explain the walks that can be taken from the site, to various beauty spots: Aira Force, around Little Mell Fell, to Bennethead and Longthwaite and to Helton and Askham.
What doesn’t require much energy is a stroll to The Quiet Site’s very own pub – The Quiet Bar – possibly the most unusual and best-equipped holiday park bar or pub in the country, where guests can even sup the site’s own brew and enjoy a Quiet Pint. With a roaring log fire on colder days and an impressive insulation system, this snug hostelry is a centre of amusement for the whole family, with a dedicated children’s play area, television room and a games room where adults and older children can enjoy air hockey, table football and table tennis.
Opting to ‘go greener’, park up the car and look at more sustainable ways of exploring new terrain can be great fun and the eco-friendly nature of The Quiet Site’s accommodation makes it an even more attractive option for those wishing to travel in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Learning to live without the car and understanding how not to rely too heavily on petrol is a journey in itself, so why not take it this year and make it an integral part of a stay at The Quiet Site? More details are available at thequietsite.co.uk.
