Absolute Escapes Lettings Ltd



The latest coronavirus updates from the UK government can be found here

We are working hard to minimise any risk associated with staying in one of our cottages. We have adopted the highest standards for cleaning right since the beginning, and we continue to do so.

With the various local and countrywide shutdowns, tier changes etc we are always available to answer any questions about your booking.

We have been very flexible as we do our best to make your holiday bookings work for you. Please don't worry if your booking dates are threatened by Government restriction, please get in touch with us - we are here to help.

Please note we are not liable as agents for any guests/visitors during the Covid 19 pandemic, the responsibility lies with guest/visitors. Please follow all current applicable guidelines set by the government.



Already meticulously planned how you’re going to spoil the mothers in your life this year? Excellent news! Forgot that there was a Mother’s Day this year until now? That’s OK too, there’s still time to get something sorted. 

Mothering Sunday began in the 16th century as a Christian celebration, originally for people to visit the church at which they were baptised (their ‘mother’ church) and nothing at all to do with anyone’s actual biological mother. So if you do forget to plan anything for your mum or get her a card, maybe you can say you’re a purist observing the original meaning of the day. Bound to go down well, right?

It takes place annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter Sunday. Though the origins of the celebration are in the church, over the years it has become more for the appreciation of the wonderful mums in our lives.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor to Cumbria and the Lake District, there’s plenty to choose from to show your mum (or partner on behalf of your children) how much they are appreciated, from the unorthodox to more traditional.

Guided Alpaca Walks

An ideal way to get out into nature and spend some restorative time with lovely animals. Alpacaly Ever After offers something out of the ordinary and allows you to support a good cause at the same time. The social enterprise focuses on providing a comfortable and loving life for unwanted alpacas and llamas from all over the country.

There’s a range of alpaca activities to delight, from simply meeting the alpacas and llamas or walking with them at one of several idyllic locations. 

You can meet alpacas and llamas from as little as £12, the full range of activities and prices can be viewed here including more extensive treks with the animals (children are welcome too!).

Picnic and a Paddle at Fell Foot

Fell Foot is a country park owned by the National Trust on the shores of Windermere, which was formerly the grounds of a Victorian estate.

This year at Fell Foot Park, you can enjoy Mother’s Day and Windermere from the novelty of a paddleboat. For £33 per person, you can treat your mother to an experience on one of England’s most scenic lakes, as well as a special hamper from the Fell Foot cafe. You can book on the National Trust website.

Mother’s Day at Brockhole

Brockhole is one of the Lake District National Park’s most extensive visitor centres, with a plethora of things to do and see.

The centre’s grounds extend right down to the shore of Windermere and feature historical gardens with exceptional views of nearby fells, ideal for a leisurely Mother’s Day walk.

If you want more, Brockhole’s Gaddum restaurant is putting on a special Mother’s Day lunch and afternoon tea. As well as this, there’s the option to combine your afternoon tea with a crafting workshop in the cleverly dubbed Crafternoon Tea, making Brockhole something of a one-stop-shop for Mother’s Day activities.

More information and pricing can be found on Brockhole’s site. 

Afternoon Tea

If you do want a more conventional Mother’s Day, Cumbria is awash with hotels, cafes and restaurants that offer afternoon tea for Mothering Sunday.

Here’s a selection of some around the county - Mother’s Day is a busy time of year, so it’s best to book soon to avoid disappointment:

Penny Blue at The Halston in Carlisle

House in a beautiful Edwardian former post office building, The Halston and Penny Blue offers a cosmopolitan dining experience in Cumbria’s only city. There’s the option to liven up your afternoon tea with prosecco and champagne.

Baha Cafe and Lounge Bar, Bowness-on-Windermere

A luxury option in one of Bowness’ trendiest establishments. Enjoy your afternoon tea in a sleek, modern setting only a stone’s throw away from England’s most famous lake.

Sharrow Bay, Ullswater

This secluded, luxury hotel nestled away on the eastern shore of Ullswater is maybe the epitome of Lake District afternoon tea - a decadent, yet quaint setting that’s just remote enough,  overlooking England’s most beautiful lake. It’s also the birthplace of sticky toffee pudding, so if you’re a fan, maybe a pilgrimage is in order.

Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa, near Keswick

Armathwaite Hall offers traditional afternoon tea in an opulent setting, surrounded by a deer park and woodland near Bassenthwaite Lake. The hotel is also home to a spa if you want to make Mother’s Day even more luxurious.

Sally’s, Warwick Bridge, near Carlisle

Just a few miles outside of Carlisle in Warwick Bridge Sally’s has slightly less spectacular surroundings than other places on the list, which is to be expected when the rest are in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Despite this, Sally’s was named number 1 for afternoon tea in the county by local paper The News and Star. Worth a visit to see if they’re right, no?

Ennerdale Brewery, Rowrah

Fancy a pint of craft beer when you’ve done with afternoon tea? Just outside the Lake District National Park’s western boundary, you’ll find the Ennerdale Brewery Tap, which as well as being a place to sample a range of excellent beer, also offers delicious afternoon tea.

Hawkshead Spring Beer Festival

If your mum prefers a pint over afternoon tea, then how fortunate that Mother’s Day coincides with the Hawkshead Spring Beer Festival weekend. With in excess of 60 beers from a wide range of breweries there’s plenty to try, as well as live music to delight.

The festival runs from 12pm Friday 20th March to 10pm on Mother’s Day - so there’s plenty of time to get the celebrations (and beers) in. Have a look at the Hawkshead Brewery site to find out more. 

Organise your own special Cumbrian Mother’s Day

As you know, Cumbria is famed for its rugged outdoors and plentiful nature. If that’s what your mum’s into, why not cut the fuss down to a minimum and just head outside? Whether you want to tackle some Wainwrights or circumvent a lake, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of walks available in the county suitable for beginners and athletes alike. Who knows, maybe the weather will even be half decent by then?

RUNMUMS Mother’s Day 5k Bitts Park, Carlisle

For mums who fancy something a little less leisurely on their special day, the RUNMUMS Mother’s Day 5k in Bitts Park provides an ideal way to blow the cobwebs away.

A laidback and family-friendly fun run, this event gives the chance to get active without the pressure or competition of a race.

Entry fees go directly to the Eden Valley Hospice, so you can benefit from a warm fuzzy feeling inside even if you don’t manage to get a runner’s high.

Plus, if you manage to raise £25 or more in donations, you get free entry! You can find out more and register for the run here.

Unable to make it on the day? There’s the option to do the race virtually too. All you have to do is record a run of at least 5km using Strava (or any similar app) on or near Mother’s day and send proof, you even still get a medal. Full details of the virtual race can be found here.

Need somewhere to stay while you treat your mum to a Cumbrian or Lake District treat? Absolute Escapes has self-catering holiday cottage vacancies across the Lake District, Eden Valley and more.

What are you treating your mum to this Mother’s Day? Any exciting Mother’s Day goings-on in Cumbria we’ve missed?



There’s more to Cumbria than just rolling hills and picturesque lakes. Within the county, you'll find a wealth of independent and artisanal producers with a range of gift ideas ideal for Christmas. Some small enough to fit in a Cumbrian Christmas cracker or stocking, which is what we’re going to present to you here.

Whether you’re buying for someone mad about Cumbria and the Lake District, or a local who’s all about local produce and craft, these gift ideas are sure to be a hit. Not only do you get an out-of-the-ordinary gift for your loved one you also help out a small business in the run-up to Christmas.

Without further ado, here are our picks:

The Lakes Distillery

"Bassenthwaite" by Adam is licensed under CC BY2.0

Making a huge splash in the world of drinks, only a stone’s throw away from Bassenthwaite Lake, the Lakes Distillery produces several spirits in addition to its flagship ‘One’ blended whisky. They sell a range of cute, smaller iterations of their products perfect for any stocking/cracker. They even make their own crackers with samples of their spirits inside and glass baubles filled with booze too.

There’s a plethora of small gifts ideal for spirit connoisseurs, from drinks themselves to invaluable paraphernalia.

Whisky stones are a useful, permanent alternative to ice.   

A full range of gifts including baubles, crackers and miniatures can be found here.

If you really like the person you’re buying for, you can even buy an Enhanced Distillery Tour With Extra Tastings, that might fit in a stocking or cracker.

Herdy

"Herdwick Ewe" by Andrew is licensed under CC BY2.0

Iconic and responsible Lake District brand specialising in homeware and gifts. Their image is centred around Herdwick sheep, the hardy, fell-dwelling breed plentiful in the region. The 2010 winner of the BITC (Business in the Community) Small Company of the Year, has various options for small gifts perfect for a stocking or cracker.

The Marra Earrings, depicting a pair of Herdwick ‘marras’ (Cumbrian dialect for friend) make an adorable stocking filler.

Yan Socks offer an endearing twist on the tradition of socks for Christmas time, featuring Herdy’s face on one side and bottom on the other. Available in a range of colours.

There are more items including badges, jewellery and more bearing the adorable face of Herdy the Herdwick sheep can be found here to delight your loved ones this Christmas time.

Romney’s Kendal Mint Cake

Probably Kendal’s most famous export. This sugary treat has been produced in Kendal by Romney’s since 1918 and has accompanied the most intrepid of adventurers on treks up Everest, Catbells, and everything in between.

Through their online shop, Romney’s offer multipacks of their famous mint cake, so if you have a few people with a sweet tooth to buy for, you could kill several birds with one stone. In addition to their main product, they also sell modified versions in bar form with added brown sugar, chocolate and more, which you can browse here.

Hawkshead Relish

A shining success story for both small startups and Cumbrian businesses, Hawkshead Relish is now stocked all over the UK and even by some retailers across Europe and North America. Founded by family owners of a Lake District cafe, who were already making their own relishes and preserves, Hawkshead Relish began life proper in 2001. In response to dropping tourism in the Lake District because of the Foot and Mouth crisis, they decided to take the Lakes elsewhere and approached garden centres, cafes, and other potential stockists with their products and the rest is history.

The company offers a range of gift packs for sale on its website, perfect for sampling the famous reserves. Available are Savoury Selection, Black Garlic, Sweet Selection, Christmas Selection, Cocktail Selection, and much more.

Grasmere Gingerbread

"Sarah Nelson's Original Celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread" by Andrew Bowden is licensed under CC BY2.0

Invented in 1854 by Sarah Nelson in idyllic Grasmere, the village’s eponymous gingerbread is somewhere between a cake and a biscuit, both spicy and sweet.

Today, Grasmere Gingerbread, makes a wide range of ginger-based products, from the gingerbread that started it all to ginger-infused drinks, toiletries, and more.

We recommend the six pieces of Grasmere Gingerbread if you’re wanting to introduce someone to the wonderful world of Grasmere Gingerbread. If the person you’re buying for is already au fait, there’s a number of exciting variations perfect for a stocking or cracker, which can be ordered online.

Friar’s Chocolates

Buying for someone who loves Cumbria AND chocolate? Then Friar’s is probably the right choice.

Setting up shop in Keswick in 1927, Friar’s is one of Cumbria’s most prominent chocolatiers, now with a store in Ambleside as well as an online shop. They specialise in luxury chocolates, as well as novelty chocolates and gifts, all designed in-house, perfect for many occasions. Every holiday they launch a new range of products, so there’ll always be something for you to come back to.

There’s almost too many to choose from; Friar’s range of stocking fillers can be perused here - including truffles that look like Brussel Sprouts.

Wax Lyrical Candles

Nestled away just outside the Lake District, near Ulverston, Wax Lyrical is the UK’s largest home fragrance manufacturer. Inspired by the rugged, changing Cumbrian landscape Wax Lyrical has crafted candles and fragrances since 1980.

There are scents and designs for everyone, with wintry ‘Baby It's Cold Outside’ range ideal for providing comfort in the cold, dark months surrounding Christmas. The titular ‘Baby It’s Cold’ candle features an endearing penguin illustration and comes with a scent combining jasmine, white sandal, and amber, with hints of saffron and rock rose.

Or as part of their ‘Lakes Collection’, you could give your loved one ‘Fallen Leaves’ tealights, stirring memories of crisp autumn days scented with amber, heliotrope, vanilla, and rich musks.

There are almost too many candles and fragrances to choose from; you can shop the full range here.

Love the Lakes

Stockist of gifts from different Cumbrian brands, they also make their own covering a wide range. Love The Lakes has stores in Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere aiming to showcase the best consumer products Cumbria and the Lake District has to offer. There’s a focus particularly on ethically-produced items, handcrafted in the Lakes with organic ingredients.

If you’re buying for a loved one who’s environmentally conscious, Loves the Lakes own Earth Savers range has several options including natural shampoo bars and fragranced natural soap.

The full range of Love the Lakes products can be viewed here including prints, mugs, and even gin.

Honister Slate

"Lake District - Honister Pass from the Slate Quarry" by Gareth Williams is licensed under CC BY2.0

What about a gift from England’s last working slate mine? Something from deep within a Lake District mountain? This family-run business is located at the top of Honister Pass, one of the UK’s steepest roads. As well as supplying building materials, it stocks unique gifts made from Honister green slate from the mine itself inside Fleetwith Pike.

Honister slate appears on many notable buildings, including Buckingham Palace, New Scotland Yard and other esteemed places across the country.

Small gifts made of Honister slate you can get include these rustic slate hearts, stylish key rings, and these distinctive slate cufflinks. 

Of course, all the brands we listed also stock gifts far too big for a stocking or cracker. We’d encourage you to look at those too, if you like the person you’re buying for enough, that is. 

Despite being a sparsely-populated county, we found Cumbria to have a wealth of producers, so many in fact we’re bound to have missed some of your favourites.

What would go in your ideal Cumbrian Christmas cracker or stocking? Maybe we’ve missed something glaringly obvious that should be on the Christmas list of every lover of Cumbria. Or maybe there’s a real hidden gem that you think everyone should know about. If so, let us know so we can help spread the word, you can get in touch via our contact form or Facebook.

Perhaps the ultimate Cumbrian Christmas gift, however, would be a stay in the beautiful county. If you're interested in staying in Cumbria or the Lake District during the festive period, why not check the availability of our self-catering Lake District cottages and spend Christmas in a winter wonderland.



There’s more to Cumbria and the Lake District than the rugged landscape - in October you can experience culture dating back hundreds of years, with a distinctly modern twist. 

The Ullswater Droving and Winter Droving, taking place on 25th and 26th October respectively, celebrate the Eden Valley’s rich rural heritage. 

Allow them to transport you back in time, and get lost in the rituals and festivities. Make sure you don’t miss out on what has proven to be one of Cumbria’s biggest cultural events over the last few years. Find accommodation for The Winter Droving here.

2019 will be the sixth Winter Droving festival, meticulously planned and pulled together by local arts organisation Eden Arts. 

Historically, the winter droving arrived at the end of the harvest season and was the time of year when herds of cows were led south from Scotland to be sold. Penrith as a market town, and not far from the Border, was an integral part of this historic route. 

In reference to this, the festival features huge highland cows lifted above the crowds on stilts. Walking among the cows will also be a dazzling range of other illuminated animals with the masked procession, which in previous years have taken the form of giant sheep heads and howling wolves. 

It also coincides with Samhain, the ancient Gaelic pagan festival marking the end of the harvest, and the end of British Summer Time as the nights really start to draw in and Winter bears down upon us. A time when, according to mythology, doors to the Otherworld opened, allowing the dead and supernatural to enter our world.

With all the masks, torches and animals, you’ll certainly feel as if you’ve stepped into another world, or happened across a host of beings from elsewhere during The Winter Droving.

Ullswater Droving

The Winter Droving weekend kicks off with the smaller Ullswater Droving on Friday 25th October from 5pm. Taking place in Pooley Bridge, the event seeks to set the tone for the weekend with performances from internationally-renowned Catalonian street theatre act, Kamchatka, and genre-defying music group, The Baghdaddies.

Blurring the line between performance and real life, Kamchatka will be exhibiting their exhilarating, thought-provoking brand of street theatre from 5pm in the village centre.

Hailing from the North East and regulars on the Cumbrian music scene, featuring at other local festivals such as Solfest, The Baghdaddies present a lively mix of world music, incorporating Balkan elements with ska and Latin influence for a big brass party.

Arriving via Ullswater Steamer, at 6.30pm the band will lead the procession of attendees through the village to the big bonfire where the night will culminate in music, performance and more.

No need to worry if you get peckish or thirsty; there’s hot and cold foot available to eat and take away including a Christmas taster menu from 1863 Bistro and various other treats available throughout the village. 

You can register to carry a torch in the procession (if you’re over 16) for the price of £2 - you can sign up here.

It’s free to attend the Ullswater Droving, and no ticket is needed, so just turn up and immerse yourself!

The Winter Droving

Once you’ve gobbled up the taster of the Ullswater Droving, the main course awaits you the following day, Saturday 26th October. Just like the Ullswater Droving, The Winter Droving is free to attend.

Things kick off with music and live performances from 11am in the historic market town in what’s sure to be a busy day - over 8,000 flocked to the streets of Penrith for 2018’s event.

Entertainment will take place across the town with six stages hosting a range of music and street performers. In addition to this, there’ll be a vintage funfair to look forward to, one of Cumbria’s largest local food markets and a craft market.

The Drovers Cup

While there, you can also bear witness to the barmy Angel Lane Chippie-sponsored Drovers Cup. Starting at 1.30pm, the cup features teams vying to win a series of oddball challenges comprising Hay Bale Racing, Pint Passing, Egg Throwing, Tug-O-War, and Sausage Eating.

Throughout the day, there will be a range of activities to partake in as well as musicians and performers to watch. You can come away with new skills after poi spinning and acrobatics workshops.

Music and Performance at the Winter Droving

There will be a range of music to suit all tastes from street bands to singer-songwriters, folk, world music and others you’d struggle to classify!

Musical headliners on the night are Z.O.G and the Zongo Brigade, an 8-piece afro-fusion band comprising members from Ghana, Jamaica and the UK, mixing afrobeat, hip hop, soul, reggae, rock, and funk to dazzling effect.

Other musical acts include Ponyland, Hadrian's Union, BAAB, Gaita Band, BLAST Furness, Dandelion Train, Drum Nation, Ben Rowlands, Melanie Baker, The Harmonic Minors, Blue Jam Arts and more!

A number of street performers will also be on hand to provide entertainment throughout the day, with acts ranging from jugglers to street theatre practitioners, dancers and acrobats.  Performers include Gandini, Kamchatka, The Wheelabouts, Dick Danger, The Flying Colours, Painting Venice, Other Half Productions, Nula Hula, Mary the Faerie and more delighting festival goers.

Bringing your dog along? There’s the Vets4Pets Dog Fancy Dress Competition, giving entrants the chance to win Vac4Life, a lifelong preventative plan offering vaccinations, boosters and annual health checks. You can sign your pooch up here.

The procession sets off from St Catherine’s Playing Field (aptly on Drover’s Lane) at 6.30pm, making its way to the Market Square for 7.00pm, reaching an end at Great Dockray, the former 18th century cattle market, for 7.30pm. It’s here that the remainder of the night’s festivities will take place. 

Mask wearing is strongly encouraged - in fact there will be mask police on the day with punishments for those that don’t comply!  You can even be a torch carrier, you can sign up here. 

Looking for accommodation for the Winter Droving?

Absolute Escapes has a number of Penrith self-catering holiday cottages suitable for couples, families, or groups of friends. Have a look and make sure you find the perfect place to unwind after a busy day at the Droving.

Make sure you get somewhere to stay in time for the Droving, book soon!



The Cottage, Hutton Hall

58a Castle Hill Road, Penrith

Goldrill Cottage, Patterdale

Quince Cottage, Melkinthorpe, Near Penrith

The Barracks, Little Strickland

Walled Garden Cottage, Brougham

Harbour House, Motherby

High Mill House, Eamont Bridge

3 Gowbarrow Cottages, Watermillock

The Ghyll, Applethwaite, Near Keswick

Rumney Mead, Watermillock