Safe Speed Forums

Completely O/T hope you all don’t mind but I know there are a number of people here from the Cumbria area.

I need to spend one night in Kendal in March so looking for recommendations. I like the Travel inn\ Travel lodge type thing basically because whilst bland you know what you are getting for your money, however the local travel inn (Motorway services) doesn’t have a bar attached so that’s a no-no.

So anonymous style hotels that are clean and have a bar\restaurant either attached or very close by in the Kendal area, anyone? (what’s the Highgate hotel like?)


Also if anyone can recommend the best local places to visit for someone that’s a keen amateur photographer with a day and a half to kill then that would be grand as well!


Cheers

Paul

[quote="gopher"] (what’s the Highgate hotel like?)

Doesn't look like a Travelodge An old white building - never been inside it though. It's on the main street - Highgate, strangely enough!

We used to go for Xmas day lunch at Garden House Hotel off Fowl Ing Lane - bit more upmarket than a T/L but good place.

Photos wise - the world is your oyster - depends how far you want to travel. Worth the hike up to Kendal Castle - great views of the town (if it isnt raining )

Enjoy your visit and watch out for the Talivan on the A6 into town

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You could try the Windermere Hotel - it is owned by Shearings, and fills up spare rooms after the coaches have booked at reasonable rates.
The number is 015394 42251 - I dont think it's online for the reasons above.
It's about 10-15 minutes from Kendal, but watch out you dont get your photo taken at INGS on the A591, and on the routes into town from the south, on the A6!

As to taking photographs, no end of subject - all you need is legs and weather!
Orest Head is 20 - 30 minutes walk from the Windermere Hotel, and is 720 ft above sea level, with good views over Windermere (lake) and towards the central fells.
Visit LAKELANDCAM for a DAILY dose of good quality local pictures.
Kendal Castle is a good place to photograph Kendal.
I'll try and look up a link for a map of the everchanging one way balls up of a traffic system!!

edited to fix a link!

PS, Kendalian, does the Woolpack still exist as a hotel?

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There's no topic restrictions in the 'General Chat' area. Everyone should feel free to post about any subject that may be of interest. We need this sort of stuff to develop the sense of community.

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Paul Smith
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http://hotels.knowhere.co.uk/hotels/~kendal-0/
A list of nearby places to Stay.
The Belsfield Hotel is nice, and has a indoor pool, bar, snooker room, and overlooks the lake. Nice grounds if you have family with you, and dont aways believe the prices on the website! Tel: 015394 42448
It's within 5 minutes walk of several pubs, and lots of restaurants. You'll pass Virginia Cottage to get to one - its next door!
I let off their (Belsfields) fireworks at New Year, but we should have found the one which didn't go off by March!

I'm struggling with that map of Kendal - they keep changing it so often - maybe Ian H could help there!
The Magistrates Court is easy to find - anywhere else you'll need an A-Z!

EDIT
Put LA9 into a google map search, but there ARE changes. Stricklandgate is pedestrianised now, and dont expect much help from locals, as they dont understand it either!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Thanks Guys

I think the The Belsfield Hotel and the Garden House Hotel are worth investigating further.

Cheers

Paul

How much do you want to pay?

In Kendal try the Riverside or the Castle Green hotel for reasonably good quality but anonymous accommodation. Or if you want something a bit cheaper there's the Kendal Arms, which is a pub on the main road into the town which has a separate "Motel" style annexe if you want cheap and cheerful with a pub attached!

My boss and another colleague stayed there for a night two years ago when the above was full. Boss said it was the worst place he'd ever stayed in his life (etc etc) but I took this with a pinch of salt because (a) he couldn't actually cite anything specifically wrong with it, (b) his tastes normally run to the £200-£300 a night range, and (c) the other guy thought it was perfectly acceptable.

Beech Hill hotel near Bowness is pretty good too, with great views of Windermere.

I don't think there actually are many places locally that really fit the bill for "anonymous", once you get off the M6.
If you are a keen photographer I think you'll find the area to be something of a feast of delights! For short walks with good views try Orrest Head, Gummers How or Tarn Hows. If you want to go for a drive via some suitably photogenic scenery have a ride out to Wasdale Head via Gt. Langdale, Wrynose and Hardknott pass.

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Bland - That's excactly what I hate about those places and usually either no food or awful food and no beer or crap beer.

I've got an excellent CAMRA book called Room at the Inn with pubs that have rooms. They vary enormously in character and price but all the ones I have stayed at have had good food, good beer and a comfortable bed with a good breakfast in the morning. What more could you want?

I nearly always go for a pub/inn or small hotel these days. You never know what the place is like until you get there but that's all part of the fun and makes staying away 2-3 nights every week more enjoyable and if I don't like it I just go somewhere else next time.

And exactly what I like, takes all sorts doesn't it?

Being serious though I find the attention I receive in "good" hotels or in "family run" hotels, B&B's and Inns very uncomfortable.

Cheers

Paul

ps also a CAMRA Member

I hate it when you want to browse in a shop, and the assistants keep interupting and wanting to "sell" you something!!
No problem in Halfords in Kendal though - all they want to do is play with the sound systems, and aren't bothered in the slightest about dealing with customers enquiries!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

CAMRA members probably know this already - or can look it up, but a popular hostelry in these parts because of the range of beers on offer, is the Watermill at INGS!
You might even get to rub shoulders with the "Watermill 7" who started the campaign for a 40 mph limit through the village, which led to the cameras!!!

Hey, maybe you would like to meet up for a drink and a chat!

If you PM me, I have a printed map of Kendal with an up to date version of the one way system!! Well it was up to date a few days ago!

Edit
Hey, it's available online!! http://www.lakelandgateway.info/top_tips_kendal_map.pdf

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

I know exactly what you and gopher mean, which is why I often prefer buying things from Argos

Having said that I've not generally found a problem in family-run B&Bs and the fact they are half the price of a Travel Inn does help.

I'm also a CAMRA member btw

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I used to use Argos, but I am going off them. My wife bought two bracelets for Xmas presents, and when we went to wrap one, the box was EMPTY. Tried to ring and ask if we could get a replacement, and could only get a machine which did not present an option which dealt with such an eventuality! You can go too far the other way!

I'm not in CAMRA, but now I know how extensive the membership is here, I'm thinking of selling pipes, hush puppies and sweaters with leather patches on the elbows!!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Well - when in the Lakes - tend to stay with Ted and Wildy as you may gather.

However - there are occasions when Alice, self and kids want our own company - and I have used the Stonecross Manor Hotel on one occasion and found it comfy and well run - and a decently comfy stay for some £60 per night.

A colleague enjoyed a stay at the "Garden House" which provided him with a basic but comfortable stay at ca £30.

Hope this helps you. The Mad Cats live to the north of Keswick - and thus know their immediate area better.


Lots of guest houses and I'd suggest a call to the local Tourist Office for a definitive list and reccomendation. Have stayed at one and enjoyed and my pal enjoyed his stay at the smaller guest house.

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Thanks all for your advice.

I'm arriving on the 12th March and staying at the Belsfield Hotel which did a good deal and has great views over the lake. (thanks Ernest).

Will be spending that evening in company with Tony Robinson at the Brewery arts centre (or something like that)

Ernest - nice idea, would like to meet up, thanks for the map (I think I may need it!), we could meet up Sunday afternoon sometime? If the date is ok pm me and we can take it from there.

Cheers

Paul

I live in Windermere, and it's downhill to the Belsfield!
I dont think I have anything on that weekend, so I look forward to a meet in the bar!

Is it THE Tony Robinson? I know the Brewery are getting some great acts in lately, but I rarely get to look at the program nowadays!

I once attended a video photography course at The Brewery, back in the days when you had to thread the tape reel to reel!!
Traffic was so light in those days, we filmed a part on location with me lying on top of a car as we drove down a quiet lane!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

As long as we are taling about the guy who played Boldrick and presents an archeology program then yes, THE Tony Robinson.

What I did not know until recently was that he started out as a stand up and has played along side John Wayne in a film!

I heard he was ding a tour but was upset that it did not include any local venues, but then I noticed he was in Kendal the week we take our annual trip to North Yorkshire, so thought a day or two around the lakes would nice as well!

Cheers

Paul

He used to be in a sketch show called "Who Dares Wins" which has never been repeated to my knowledge.
Robbie Coltrane was in it too!
I think it got eclipsed by "Not the Nine O'Clock News" with Gryff Rees Jones, Mel Smith, and Rowan Atkinson. Oh, and Pamela Stephenson

Dont forget you cozzy for the Belsfield's pool - it's a reasonalble size, and no attendants to bother you and tell you not to spalsh or dive!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!