I wanted somewhere peaceful away from tourists and crowds and I got it. I also wanted a place that wasn't as commercialized as most other places in The Lakes, and I got it. I found, to my great delight, something largely unchanged by commercial pressure and time. Sunlit oak floors and furniture and deep plush furnishings that echoed the sounds of birds and hens running free in the sumptuous gardens that tumbled down to the view of the lake. Two old rescue dogs that minded their own business unless engaged, each seemingly unconscious of their great fortune in having been rescued by the owner, Mrs. Lockwood, who is as diligent with her visitors as she is with her beloved canines. A breakfast room that wouldn't look out of place in a period English drama, to complement the rest of the immaculately-maintained ramshackle long house that weaves and curves around entwining stairs, whose delicate scents preserve in some places the woodsmoke tang of generations of family winters around elegant fire grates. The house is unblemished and unencumbered by tasteless tat and modernity; no TV's to annoy other guests, but with quality Wi-Fi that keeps visitors connected, if they must be, in such a space of peace and quiet. It's perfect for combing quiet relaxation with the frenetic pace of Lakeside tourism.
