News from Stair Mill

We had our first snowfall this winter overnight 4/5 December.  Some good photo opportunities arose - all taken from the garden.

Over the last few months we (well, susan actually) has obtained a trail camera.  We have seen lots of pheasants, hedgehogs, foxex, sheep etc but the Owl, as shown is the best.

Hello and Happy Christmas to all of our guests, both past, present and future.

It has been a very up and down year for us.  We were in total lockdown for April, May and June for which we were virtually fully booked, but due to lockdown 1.0, all of those weeks were cancelled.  Many folks were kind enough to either move their booking to later in the year or transfer to 2021.

Once the restrictions were lifted, we then had 100% occupancy until Lockdown 2.0 was introduced.  Although we had some cancellations in that period, the weeks were snapped up, often within 24 hours.  We were due to have our busiest November before Lockdown 2.0 was introduced.  

Bookings for 2021 are looking positive, although the tier 3 situation is having a major impact for early 2021 as we have many folks due to arrive from those areas.

Let us all hope for a better 2021

Happy Christmas to you all

Martin & Susan

Hello from a very quiet Stair Mill and a very quiet Lake District.

Following the lockdown announcement, we have (like everybody else) been unable to welcome guests to our wonderful facility here at Stair Mill.  The latest update from the government (if everybody behaves) is that we might be able to welcome guests from July 4th, but this is by no means certain.

It has been a very quiet april and may so far which is generally one of our busiest times of the year (where we welcome back many returning guests) along with June (and July, august, september).  We clearly hope that we can welcome guests again as soon as possible - we miss you all.

Typically, since lockdown, the weather has been great with plenty of warm days and hardly any rain during april.  I measured 14mm throughout April but it was 540mm of rain in February.

Susan has been very busy clearing and creating another path to the back gate on the left hand side of the wood.  It looks really good.

So, here are some photos so you can see what its been like up here as well as some of our new paths and garden additions

SKIDDAW FROM THE GARDEN

ROWLING END FROM FRONT GATE

LIVESTOCK

DOUBLE RAINBOW OVER CATBELLS

NEW PATH CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY

CHERRY TREE IN FRONT GARDEN

GARDEN VIEWS

THE HOUSE

NEW RHODODENDRON AND WHITE BLUEBELLS

Hello again. 

We have a Keswick Mountain Rescue collecting tin in the cottage for those who wish to make a contribution to this worthwhile cause and hope you never have to call upon them.

We are pleased to report that the total raised in the year (Nov 18 - Nov 19) was £116.18

Those of you who who stay in Mill Cottage have the added facility of a log burner.  Unlike many cottages, we supply all the wood and kindling which comes from our own wooods so we can be sure it is at the right moisture for burning and we thought this one way to help raise funds for the Rescue team.  Of course, many have contributed during the summer and we are very grateful to everyone who has contributed.

Thanks again

Martin & Susan

There is a new way of locating anywhere in the world and its called what3words.  

Look at this on what3words.com and download the app what3words

Our three word designation is  CLOUD.UNHEATED.CAKE

With the app on your phone, you can tell anyone the three words for your location and emergency services (and others) can find you

We got a weather station at the start of the year (2019) and these are the details so far;

Max Temp                              35C           29 July

Max heat index                      38C           25 July

Min Temp                              -6.8C          3 February

most rain in 24 hours            58.2mm      8 February

Rain in august so far             131.6mm    up to 10 August

highest wind                         44.3mph     8 February

highest pressure                   770mmHg   13 May

lowest pressure                    720mmHg    3 March

Hello and a belated welcome to 2019 to all of you viewing this site as well as our guests.

So, what has been happening here? whats new? whats changed?

• We now have fibre broadband and can get speeds up to 40-50Mbps.  Its also a lot more stable.
• New front windows were intalled in Mill cottage late 2018 which makes a big difference to warmth and has eliminated the morning condensation in the upstairs bedrooms
• A small swing has been put in the garden with a 'baby seat' which can be used by folks up to 25kg
• in the last 18 months, all the beds have had new hotel quality mattresses put on
• The Owl has been seen by a number of guests
• Our red squirrel is still around but has not appeared quite as often this year

This is a trial of our new blog facility and it is hoped we will do regular updates.

Martin & Susan

August 2019