Somerset House

Ospreys spotted at nearby Esthwaite Water

2012-04-24

Two magnificent Ospreys have been spotted over the last 2 weeks, flying regularly over nearby Esthwaite Water, a local trout fishery about 20/25 minutes from Somerset House.

The male bird visits the lake 4 times a day taking a large rainbow trout on each visit, swooping down from the sky and grabbing the fish with its powerful talons.

These much-loved birds of prey spend winters in West Africa and increasingly now are finding their way to Cumbria, via their migration route over the Sahara Desert,central Spain then northwards along the Atlantic coastline of western France, across the Channel to Cumbria and northern Scotland.

Some are nesting and breeding near Basenthwaite Lake, and the Esthwaite pair are nesting in a secret woodland location nearby.

Stay at Somerset House and take an Osprey-watching boat trip on the lake.

Car-Free, Care-Free Springtime leisure at Somerset House

2012-03-26

Do you know that guests at Somerset House B and B in the elegant Edwardian town of Grange-over-Sands can walk out of the front door and immediately start climbing to the top of Hampsfell, the 770feet hill which looms above our town ? Leave your car in the car park and a gentle 45 minute climb will take you to an observation tower where you watch as Morecambe Bay fills and empties with the tides,sometimes at the speed of a galloping horse,where hundreds of millions of gallons of seawater retreat twice a day to expose golden sandbanks up to 6 miles long. From the hill top you can clearly see Cross Fell in the North Pennines and Ingleborough, in theYorkshire Dales, the hills of South West Scotland and the entire extent of the English Lake District stretching to the north and west.The unique structure of the dramatic outcrops of ''pavement limestone'' shelter all kinds of plants and flowers in their deep fertile clefts,including the purple orchid.

Take an early walk up some day and from the eastern skyline, witness the ''rosy fingered dawn'' spread across the entire sky !

ONLY 15 MINUTES AWAY

2012-03-22

Only 15 minutes from junction 36 of the M6,in south Cumbria, and you are in the elegant Edwardian resort of Grange over Sands, relaxing,dining, or planning a visit to the most beautiful part of the Lake District. If you stay at Somerset House B and B,away from the hectic tourist hot-spots, you can be back on your journey the next day, or if you stay a bit longer, just consider the exciting possibilities: magnificent Windermere or the unspoilt Coniston Water with its mountains and forests.former home of John Ruskin and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Go further west to Wasdale Head, voted the most beautiful place in England where the deepest lake meets the highest mountain, and the smallest church , in wild, rugged, peaceful seclusion.

Call Somerset House on 015395 32631.

Its Time to visit Somerset House in Grange over Sands

2012-03-21

The Curlews are flying inland now , to breed, and Lapwings are doing their aerobatics above the flatlands and mosses in the Grange area. Shellduck and Egret can be seen from the promenade, feeding on the saltmarsh. The Woodland birds are building up in volume now ,and soon you will be able to see the purple orchids and watch the Skylarks on the dramatic limestone terrain of Hampsfell, which soars above our town, and gives panoramic views from its 770 ft. eminence.

Spend a few days with us and be at-one with the natural world.

A Bridge to the Promenade,AND you can now ride your bikes !

2012-01-18

Clare House Lane Bridge,just behind Somerset House,is now open. linking the western part of Grange over Sands with the eastern end. A bridge not too far from our guest house is now open and access to the beautiful Edwardian promenade is a short walk away.

Guests and visitors can walk , and they are now able to ride their bicycles along the full length of the promenade.

Somerset House is within 5 minutes walk of the bridge. Our guests will enjoy the amenity of a superb loop walk, a safe traffic-free route along its full length to the Railway Station, then back to our guesthouse, through the town centre.