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The Tranquil Otter is a great place to enjoy a self catering holiday in Cumbria, UK. Great access to the Lake District and Historic Carlisle. A short break or for a week, we are accessible by both car and train.

March 2010 - Illuminating Hadrian's Wall and Torchlight Parade in Carlisle

Play your part in a once in a lifetime event to commemorate the Roman withdrawal from Britain.  For the first time since the Romans hauled down their standards, “Welcome the Light” will light up Hadrian’s Wall with torches for the 73 miles from Newcastle in the East to Bowness on Solway near The Tranquil Otter in the West.  Hadrian’s Wall will be visible even from space for one night only.  Be part of the torchlight procession over the Pennines, through the streets of Carlisle or along the lonely Solway marshes  Stay at the Tranquil Otter and on Saturday 13th March go to Carlisle make a costume during the day, wear it, collect a torch from Carlisle Tourist Information Centre to take part in this unique event and dine locally afterwards.  You can order your torch in advance on 01228 625600 - £3. Get help with your costume (optional) by attending a free drop-in costume workshop from 10am-4pm on Sat 13 Mar in Carlisle city centre.  We wouldn’t miss this celebration of a long-forgotten but world-shaping event that helped to make Britain what it is, nor should you.  Ring us to book and make arrangements to join in and celebrate.

February 2010 - Managing the Lake at The Tranquil Otter

We are working with the Forestry Commission and Natural England to ensure that through proper management of the woodlands and the lake that we make up for the impact of modern farming and develop a self sustainable nature reserve and a fantastic place to visit for all ages.

Our guests are surprised to see a mega mechanical contraption near the dam as they enjoy the woodland walk around the lake. This winch was designed by Nick and manufatured out of recycled parts locally to form a very important machine in the management of clear waters at the Lough. Over two thirds of the lake is now clear and navigable by boat and we have a programme to balance the needs of the wild life and those of our guests who want to row and fish at the Tranquil Otter.

January 2010 - During the Cold Spell

During January the Lake was frozen during the cold spell causing a halt to most activities on the Lake. It may have been possible to ice skate, however we did not dare to try. Although Mike did jump up and down on parts of the lake and the ice supported his weight.

January 2010 - Coppicing

Who said that the ancient art of woodland management is dead?  Some of you may have seen the recent article in the Guardian Newspaper “Neglect is casting Britain's once bright woodlands into darkness”. At the Tranquil Otter we have been working with the Forestry Commission to cast off the shadows and let some light into the woodlands surrounding the lake.

The main work is now complete and our forestry surveyor, James Holiday, rang during the cold spell.  "Excellent weather", he said "... for forestry work".  "Hard ground so the tractor won't get bogged down, deep winter so the sap is all down and the wood will have much less moisture in it and the leaves are off so the woodman can see what he's doing!".  Quite a silver lining. 

Here are some pictures that were taken by Cab009 - check out some of the other fab photos he took December 2009. Upload your photos to the "Tranquil Otter Holiday Snaps" group on flickr

Peter Howard conducts monthlyWetland bird survey on behalf of RSPB. 17 January 2010

Mute swan - 6; Moorhen - 3; Coot - 2; Little grebe - 5; Gadwall - 2; Tufted Duck - 9; Goldeneye - 4; Mallard - 85; Teal - 64; Widgeon - 252.

Here is another account on the same day:

The Lough Birds 17 Jan 2010 by Trevor Merrington - Thurstonfield
At last the thaw is underway, although most of the lake is still frozen.  On the water there were in excess of 200 wigeon,  approx. 50 mallard, 30 teal, 7 tufted duck, 5 coot, 3 moorhen, 4 little-grebe, 1 goldeneye (female), 1 cormorant and mute swan of 8 adults + 1 juvenile.  Also one dead adult swan.  No sign of the gadwall that are usually present at this time of year.

In the woodland the birds appear to have come through the freeze very well.
There were at least 24 blue tit, 5 great tit, 13 long-tail tit (in two groups, 10+3), 1 coal tit.  Finches were evident though not abundant and included green-, gold- & chaffinch, with the best sighting being 3 male bullfinch.  Nearby 6 Siskin feeding in an alder .  Wren, robin, blackbird were all common; nuthatch were in 4 places and a pair of treecreepers near the "kingfisher totem pole".  Jays were heard giving their usual squawks in 2 places & great-spotted woodpecker seen 4 times.  1 female sparrowhawk hunted along the edge of the trees and a buzzard circled the lake.

Other birds seen were: pheasant, crow, rook, jackdaw, magpie, starling, black-headed gull, woodpigeon, redwing (just the one in the front drive bushes) and overhead a skein of ~100 pink-footed geese.

Here's what Trevor observed on 20th December 2009, although it was difficult for him to get an accurate count because of wintery landscape:

Mute Swan (22 adults and 19 cygnets), Wigeon, Teal (12+), Tufted Duck (2), Gadwall (20+), Coot (100+), Moorhen (6), Mallard (30), Goldeneye (2), Wren, Nuthatch (2+), Tree-creeper (1), Gt Spot woodpecker (2), Coal Tit (1), Songthrush (1), Carrion Crow, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Black Headed Gull, Dunnock (1) and more.