Leah, the resident pooch, is friendly no doubt. She also happens to be persuasive too. They say that collies are clever, in terms of Leah this is an understatment. If you do happen to have a visit from Leah, or are escourted by her around the lake, please resist the temptaion to feed her.

The Tranquil Otter provides luxury lodges that are also dog friendly. Here is a pictures of Leah visiting one of our guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The great thing about having the Lake District and the Solway on our door step is that it is an ideal place to bring your dog, walks for the dog, hot tub and internet for you. Perfect.

The woodlands are abundant with birds singing and chasing around. It's lovely to walk through them and try to work out birds from their song. I only know "teacher, teacher" and can't remember which bird matches this song. Of course I recongnise the drumming of the Great spotted woodpeckers.

Nothing like a walk on the fells on a Sunday. Nick decided on a circular route, a pub and dog - must have, wife and kids - nice to have.

Now that we have two pretty little kids in the woods, Hazel and Bianca, there is even more reason for our two boys to be out in the woods and more importantly off their xbox.

The ultimate mini retreat, two days of total tranquillity, is surprisingly affordable. Take off from the nearest mainline station close to home, and hey presto you’re in your lovely lodge @ the Otter.

When Edward I died on Burgh Marsh in the summer of 1307 his body was laid out in the local church at Burgh by Sands and for ten days this tiny Cumbrian village had the eyes of Britain upon it.

 

Book a three-night stay at the Tranquil Otter, 5 star lodges overlooking the lake, to arrive on Jan 24 and you could win a Burns Night dinner for two in the beautiful surroundings of Tullie House.

I love that feeling of waking in the mornings and knowing that for a change I'm not the first one up! I admit I'm an early riser and enjoy it, but it can be a bit lonely in the winter months waiting and hoping - usually in vain - for one of my brood to bring me a cup of tea while I'm still tucked up in bed.

Even though the rest of the Country is deep in snow, the sun is shining in Cumbria and I feel spring in the air. Each new day is a little longer than the last with fewer sightings of the Christmas Robin. Snow drops and crocus are pushing thr...

Gretna Green has always been a favourite location amongst couples and we recently received an invite to eat out at the town’s beautiful Smiths Hotel.

I am feeling like one of our mute swans at the moment.  I think I’m still managing to seem serene and under control but, beneath the surface, I am paddling like mad.

The nights are drawing in fast and the mornings are dark too but the Lough at The Tranquil Otter is bustling with winter visitors – not only our guests in the lodges but also plenty of birds out on the lake including mute swan, little grebe, wigeon and moorhen.  I love waking up to all the bustle and activity in the summer months but there’s something intriguing about a view gradually emerging on a winter morning too.

Tullie House is one of my favourite places in Carlisle, great coffee, a gift shop in which to get lost for at least an hour, a gallery, museum and a lovely garden to explore.

From the Tranquil Otter you may just be able to make out wind turbines close by; these are at Watchtree Nature Reserve, a former disused airfield and now the biggest man made nature reserve in Europe. Well worth a look.

You are really missing out if you have not had an opportunity to visit the Solway Firth. It is rightly categorised as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Prone to flooding, it is used primarily by local farmers for feeding their stock at various times of the year.

One of our favourite destination is Walby Farm park; not far to go and so much to do, especially on a rainy day and it is good to have something up one's sleeve. When in South London it was the soft play at the Brixton Rec or Peckham and here is a fa...

A pre-condition of getting Leah from the Dog's home was that she would need to be speyed. As usual, Nick, trained in Lambeth's Dog psychology, wanted none of it. We ignored the Dog's Refuge for a year and eventually they just made the appointment ...

Cycling solo is not something I would have attempted in a City or even in Carlisle. Last weekend, the weather was dull and seemed just right to explore Solway villages by cycle. Mostly on c roads this map sets out a lovely route; apparently these...

We now have another urban being staying with us; nephew from Birmingham who had no experience of countryside or dogs. Here is a picture of Leah taken by said nephew. ...

Nick has been managing the woods around the Lough with help from the Forestry Commission. Ours and the adjoining woods includes ancient woodlands; and a large number of trees were planted before the Second World War. Late last year I noticed wha...