THINGS TO DO IN CUMBRIA AND YORKSHIRE DALES
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Via Ferrata
So you get a house booking for a group that includes a friend and think "yay" and then the friend mentions she is going to be doing a via ferrata and would love it if you could join in and you think "eeeeekkk!" Put it this way, if you are scared of heights -...
Scafell Pike
Having climbed two of the UK's three highest peaks, Damian and I still had Scafell Pike to trek up and so of course, now living in Cumbria, it was about time we finally ticked it off the list. Originally I had wanted to take a longer route on the journey to Scafell...
High Dam
Today on the blog, we bring you the simple beauty of High Dam. No activities, no adventures, but sometimes it is just nice to let the images show off what Cumbria has to offer. High Dam is a gorgeous place for a walk and easily accessed, even if you want to visit for...
Belly Dancing Hen Party
When a group of ladies ring to book St Marks Stays for a Hen Party and then say one of the planned activities would be belly dancing, well you know it is going to be a fun weekend. To be honest, Damian and I both said what a great hen party it was as they really made...
Winter Cold Water Immersion, Dipping and Swimming
For various reasons, I have titled this blog winter cold water immersion, dipping and swimming, because all three are different and I have taken part in all three at different times over the UK winter season. Many of you who follow our Instagram and Facebook profiles...
The Sedbergh Wilson Run Course
When a friend, who works for Sedbergh School, mentioned she was going to take the opportunity to walk the famous Sedbergh Wilson Run course the morning of the race, we knew we had to join her. Sedbergh School was established in 1525 and back in 1881 the school held...
Yoga and Rhythm Retreat
Yoga and rhythm are a great combination and it has been perfect to have this as our third yoga retreat here at St Marks Stays recently. Everybody loves a 'It must be fate' story don't they and this is how we came in to the awareness of Gillian who runs Yoryoga. On her...
Wickerfish Arts Painting Retreat
Having studied art herself and with books on our shelves about Monet and Van Gogh, Joanne was delighted to have a painting retreat using the studio at St Marks Stays. A big thank you to Ruth Clayton and Stuart Gray of Wickerfish Arts Studio for bringing us our first...
Book Club
How appropriate for World Book Day that we can share with you the story of our recent guests and the celebration of their Book Club Anniversary. When we had a request from the lovely Sarah, saying she wanted to reserve St Marks Stays for herself and her friends who...
Ennerdale Water
Situated in the Western Lake District, Ennerdale Water is a reservoir that has beautiful surroundings at every point of the walk around it. To walk around the whole of the water is approximately 8 miles and is fairly flat apart from one small section. You can park by...
A Buttermere Wainwright
With a total of 214 Wainwrights, we decided to tick off a Buttermere Wainwright over the New Year period. It wasn't the first Wainwright we have walked, but we have a long way to go to be able to say we have achieved all 214 of these walks. Starting from Buttermere,...
Small Water Crag
Small Water Crag is a little gem of a tarn up the valley from Haweswater Reservoir and amazingly quiet if you are willing to take the walk. Parking at Haweswater Reservoir, there are several paths that you can take for walking in this area of Mardale and it is the...
Haweswater Reservoir
Like many others recently, due to the dry weather spell this summer, I got to walk on the paths of a lost village that usually sits on the bottom of the Haweswater Reservoir. It is quite surreal. The valley of Mardale was populated with farming villages and in 1929...
Helvellyn, Striding Edge and Britain’s Favourite Walk
In 2018, the general public got to vote on what they felt was Britain's Favourite Walks and so we went to check out for ourselves, if Helvellyn via Striding Edge deserved the number 1 top spot. Spoiler Alert. It is pretty spectacular! Moving to the Lake District, we...
A Walk to Stickle Tarn
Starting from Millbeck in Great Langdale, the walk to Stickle Tarn is really worth the effort even if only for the views. They are stunning. Climbing the stones steps along the pathway carved into the dramatic slopes of the landscape, you ascend to the height of 470m...
Open Water Swimming in the Lake District
With so many new experiences to try in the Lake District, Open Water Swimming was just one of the many on our list to do more of. Especially with the summer we are having so far this year, who wouldn't find the allure of a glistening, crystal clear, world heritage...
Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge
We have had two groups staying with us recently that have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and as we have yet to do this ourselves (don't worry we will tick it off the list at some point) we have been getting all their tips and advice for those thinking...
Walking up Catbells
Having moved to Cumbria we are keen to explore the area and walking up Catbells was a new experience, especially with the viewpoint of overseas tourists accompanying us. Damian's friends from Singapore were planning a trip to Paris and London and having been inspired...
A Visit To Cartmel
If you are looking for things to do whilst staying at St Marks, I would recommend a visit to Cartmel. Just 45 minutes away from St Marks Stays, this picturesque village located in the Southern edge of the Lake District, offers so much more than expected for the size....
Sizergh Castle and Garden
If you are looking to do something a little closer to St Marks Stays, the National Trust property of Sizergh Castle and Garden is really worth a visit. Located 4 miles south of Kendal in the Lake District and a half hour drive from us here in Cautley, Sizergh Castle...