hi
we live just on entry to south lakes
pine lake resort is really nice
log cabins entertainment and right on a lake...easily accesible for all lake district resorts

We liked the Cedar Manor at Windermere but it has gone a bit more pricey since it was refurbished - depends what your budget is. B&B from about £40 per person. It's a lovely old stone Victorian house, see;

http://www.cedarmanor.co.uk

If you've got a garden you could buy him a nice ornamental tree - or you could have one planted on his behalf:

http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/helping/pat_life.html

Thank you to you both!

Stuboy, I did a search on the pine lake resort but it looks like the cabins are for bigger parties (4-6 people?)
It does look nice there though.

MariaH, the B&B you mention looks lovely. I was thinking of maybe staying one night in one part of the South Lakes in a B&B and one night in another part of the area in a hotel.
Thank you also for you suggestion of a tree as a present: I had thought about it but we might be moving houses in a few months time so I'd be too worried that the tree wouldn't survive the move


Any more suggestions on places to stay in the South Lakes?

The Kings Head at Thirlespot is a lovely coaching Inn, we go there 2 or 3 times a year. They have a nice 4 poster bed in room 4 with a roll top bath as well,definatly worth the extra,very romantic Where ever you chose I hope that you have a lovely time

try http://www.lakelandgateway.info lots of info on hotels,b&bs,places to go etc.
There are places with timber lodges,Fallbarrow Park,Whitecross bay and Limefitt park spring to mind there is a link on the above site to the tourist info and they would be able to give you more info on these.
Although I live in the South Lakes it is difficult to recommend anything specific as there is so much to choose from so the link above should help.
September is a good time to come as its not as busy as July/August and I think some places do special deals on weekend and short breaks.
Hawkshead and Grasmere are both lovely by the way.
Hope this helps,enjoy your holiday
Ps:re anniversary gift have a look at this http://www.theduckcompany.co.uk someone bought me one for christmas and he's lovely!!!

Im a bit unsure as to your requirements....you say you want it to be a 'bit special'....but not too pricey? If it is just for the weekend period, i would recommend The Swan hotel at Newby Bridge, which is right on the lower tip of Windemere. It isnt the cheapest place to stay in the Lakes...but you will appreciate the comforts - and it is certainly 'special'. If my mrs laid this on me, as a surprise - i would be well pleased!

Thank you to you all; I will have a look at all the places suggested when I have a few minutes.

Yes, I want the impossible: something special and not too pricey at the same time

having just joined the forum this may be too late.
I can heartily reccomend the Queens Head Hotel http://www.queensheadhotel.co.uk in Hawkshead.
They do special breaks .
I took my wife there for our anniversary in October last year.
We spent 3 nights D,B&B
Accomadation was excellent and the food was fantastic.
Walked to Tarn Hows, it was beautiful.

see also the thread "lake district" further down this forum

probably too late - but went to windermere last weekend and stayed at a B&B called Alice Howes - really lovely place and in an ideal position - very reasonably prived too.

davee - went to Tarn Hows early sunday morning - the sun was shining and we were virtualy there on our own - amazing.

Hello,
just to let you know I've booked 2 nights in the same hotel (Howbeck) in the end, in Windermere.
This hotel had not been recommended to me by anyone, but I found it through a search on the Net and thought it sounded like a lovely place.
We're going in 3 weeks now, can't wait.
Myhusband's booked us in a nice restaurant Saturday evening for our "anniversary meal" don't know what the restaurant is called (it's a surprise).

Anyone can recommend somewhere nice and cheap to eat Friday evening (Pub or restaurant)?

Thanks again to all of you for your suggestions!

there are a couple of nice restaurants towards the bottom of Windermere high street on the left hand side - but can't remember the names - but both good food and quite cheap. Or if you go down the road to Bowness overlooking the lake (about a mile and a half) you'll be spoilt for choice.

have fun

Perhaps no-one is reading this site now but just had to post re the Swan!
Stayed there for one night 2nd September [Saturday] for our wedding anniversary.
Booked via Octopus.com, cost £65 per person for B & B.
Very impressed.
Our room was very clean, nice furniture and quite big.
Staff really friendly and helpful.
Ate in the Brasserie; good food, reasonable prices-my hubby was beaten for the first time, too full to have his pudding!!!
Idyllic setting, helped by the sunny weather I admit, but really well placed for visits to Windermere etc
Also has gym, pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna!!
Thoroughly recommend
Enjoy !!!

[ps for you more discerning 'posters' there is a helicopter pad at the back for you to land your private 'copter!!!]

Ha yeah, the helipad. We had a suite that overlooked it - but i didnt recognise any 'famous faces' getting out of the choppers that landed!

ok there were only two landings, but this was the lakes, not london.
Blue moon, im glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Hello,
just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed my weekend at the lakes
Our hotel (Howbeck, in Windermere) was very nice (my husband loved their breakfast ). We spent the Saturday nearby (great walk above Bowness, lovely sunny day. a bit of shopping in town, a few drinks outside a pub).
I wanted to recommend what I thought was the best restaurant I tried in this country: The Porthole Eating House in Bowness: excellent food and service A+.

On Sunday, we drove up North, stopped in Ambleside, then on to Ullswater.

I enjoyed it very much and I can't wait to go again, maybe with the kids next time