Introducing wildlife breaks in The Lakes

Lake District hotel, The Castle Inn at Bassenthwaite is actively encouraging bird lovers and wildlife enthusiasts to stay at the hotel thanks to its excellent location for spotting a number of exciting birds and wildlife including Ospreys and red squirrels.

The Castle Inn Hotel is located in Bassenthwaite just north of Keswick on the doorstep of Dodd Wood and just a stones throw from Bassenthwaite Lake. The wood is particularly well known as the annual nesting site of a group of Ospreys, while Bassenthwaite Lake, the Lake District’s only true Lake, is also a natural wildlife haven.

Each year Ospreys can be spotted in Dodd Wood from around April through to September as they nest here ahead of hatching.

Other birds which can be spotted in the fells and waters around Bassenthwaite include Red Kite, Barnacle Goose, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Common Dipper, Common Redstart, European Pied Flycatcher and Eurasian Treecreeper. There are also many other more common varieties including finches, sparrows, tits, ravens, crows and jays.

Not to be left out the Bassenthwaite area is also frequented by many rare and interesting wildlife species such as red squirrels, weasels, stoat, otters and roe deer which are all common to the region.

The team at the Castle Inn Hotel has put together a wildlife and bird holiday package designed to offer enthusiasts the ideal break in which to indulge their passion.

The Castle Inn’s packages start from £160 per person and include two nights dinner bed and breakfast, a daily packed lunch to take out into the wilderness and a complimentary hot chocolate each evening to warm guests up after a day in the great outdoors. The price is based on two sharing a standard double room and with the hotel offering some of the largest bedrooms in the Lake District there is plenty of room for visitors to store their binoculars, cameras and other equipment.

For visitors who would like a guide to accompany them on their explorations, the hotel can arrange this on request for an additional charge.

Breaks are available year round, subject to availability. To qualify for the special rate visitors must quote ‘wildlife break’ when booking.

Group rates are also available on request.

For information about the hotel visit castleinncumbria.co.uk.