As White Cross Bay is a lake side site it has it’s own Marina – and although launching charges are applicable to the yachts and boats it doesn’t stop you taking kayaks or dinghys on for your own entertainment, if safe to do so – (would always advise life jackets and stay close to the edge for novices!) 

It’s great to go down there for a picnic too (picnic benches are provided) as you can just watch the world go by and admire the sailing skills of all those lucky enough to have their own boats!  The dogs love it too … great for cooling down on a hot day!

The views across the lake are clear and undisturbed and you can spend your time feeding the ducks, waving to the passing lake cruisers or just soaking up the environment! 

There’s no need to take the car if it’s great views and beautiful scenery you’re after – you can walk straight out of White Cross Bay and turn left towards Ambleside – a few hundred feet along the pathway is a foot path on the other side of the road – follow it up and it takes you out at Troutbeck Village!  Keep going along the pathway for a few more hundred yards and you’re at the Brockhole Visitor Centre!  It couldn’t be easier and is good for the environment to leave the car at home once in a while    You can of course follow the foot path all the way to Ambleside – or turning right out White Cross Bay you can walk directly into Windermere or Bowness on Windermere! 

Gill and Ian have 2 gorgeous spaniels who love visiting their dog friendly lodge on White Cross Bay – as you can see they have a lot of fun while they’re there and always have something new to do – be it walking on the fells, exploring in the lanes and countryside, or splashing around in the Lake – all of which are very accessible from White Cross Bay.

Dogs are welcome in all of our lodges as we believe that a holiday isn’t a holiday unless all the family are there to enjoy it!  There are so many places that are dog friendly in the Lake District – we really notice the difference up there as the pubs around our local area aren’t as welcoming, or you have to sit out in the beer garden – no matter what the weather is like!  But around Windermere and Ambleside (and particularly around Limefitt Park) most pubs understand that the Lake District is a dog lovers paradise and welcome them in – they might even have biscuits and always have a bowl of water!   

Check on the website ‘dog friendly in the lake district’ for some more information about taking your dog to our holiday lodges, around Windermere, Ambleside and the Lake District in general!  Feel free to e-mail or comment with any new places to take your dog or any good walks that you come across – the more information the better – and your photos of you and your dog in the Lake District or at the lodges!!  :-) 

This holiday lodge provides self catering accommodation comprising of lounge area, dining area, kitchen, bathroom (with overhead shower) one double bedroom, one twin bedroom (the single beds are not full size) and one single bedroom – the spacious decking area provides a great al fresco dining room accessible directly from the indoor dining area!  So you can enjoy outdoor living at every opportunity in one of the nicest spots on White Cross Bay!  

There is an outdoor shed which has bikes and games in for you to enjoy free of charge during your stay – and indoors there is a good selection of books, DVDs and games!

Being new to the windermerelogcabin.com Glen Auldyn Lodge offers lots of availability in the coming weeks and months and can be booked for full weeks, midweek breaks or long weekend breaks - check the availability calendar now!  

There are a number of different routes to the peak of Helvellyn and Striding Edge ………… this particular route from Grasmere was very dog friendly – with no stiles and we didn’t need to do the Striding Edge which we felt would be a bit tricky for dogs if they’re not used to it ….. and decided Jester would find it a bit difficult to negotiate.  The views of Striding Edge were fantastic last Friday however …. all the way along we were just looking around and soaking up all the beauty the Lake District has to offer …. which is what we do each time we are up there on such a beautiful clear day! 

We were dropped off just outside Grasmere and left our car at the Travellers Rest – although buses can be used for this purpose!  From White Cross Bay and Limefitt Park you just head towards Ambleside and pick up the A591 towards Grasmere … go past the Travellers Rest and it’s on the right about 3 miles on …. check out your ordnance survey map!  It was a fairly steep ascent to start with but that got most of the up hill out of the way in the first hour and a half …. don’t forget to take lots of water (expecially if you’re taking your dog) as there were only about 4 ‘natural’ watering holes – the last one being the Tarn at the foot of Helvellyn on the way back down, which Jester loved and played in for about 20 minutes!

There’s just so much to do whilst holidaying in the Lake District – and staying at one of the lodges gives you the freedom to come and go as you please!   And being dog friendly, you don’t have to leave your dog at home and they can have as good a time as you do!  Check out the self catering accommodation on windermerelogcabin.com for your next breaks in the Lakes …. whether it’s Tree Top Lodge or the Calgarth Lodges you’ll be in an ideal spot to get to all that the South Lakes and Lake District has to offer anytime you want!

Offering self catering accommodation for up to 4 people with a double ensuite bedroom and a twin bedroom with an additional bathroom, Calgarth Lodge 14 is fully kitted with everything you need to give this a real home from home feeling.

White Cross Bay is midway between Windermere and Ambleside and has excellent facilities on site – including the marina and dog walking area – the lodge is dog friendly and there is no additional charge for you to bring your dog with you to Calgarth Lodges. 

Saturday saw us setting off walking from Calgarth Lodge, White Cross Bay to Ambleside – from there we turned right up past the waterfalls and directly onto Wansfell – the ascent is fairly steep from this side but as we usually do it from Limefitt Park it made a nice change!  We got to the top and had some glorious views of Lake Windermere and the surrounding fells – we really dropped on with the weather and stayed dry througout the day, getting down to our t-shirts at some points!  We had great views of Tree Top Lodge (the other holiday lodge) and Limefitt Park on the way back down, it really is a great spot to holiday in Lake District and looks lovely from up high!

The descent down into Troutbeck was very gradual before climbing again up onto fell behind Limefitt Park and over onto Orrest Head again – from there we went directly into Windermere and onto Bowness for a swift pint in T’hole in Wall – Jester was being fed crisps and ham butties and had a big bowl of water and lots of attention!  He hated it   We then had to pull ourselves for the last couple of miles home to Calgarth Lodge – nice hot shower and we were right as rain again – til the next morning and we realised we should really have done a few more stretches before and after!!  We covered 15 miles in our ’round robin’ & got some good training in for our Great Glen Way Monster Bike & Hike challenge in May!