South Lakes names its five best places for a Leap Year proposal

Females planning to take advantage of 2008 being a leap year can’t go far wrong if they seek their perfect proposal setting in the Southern Lake District, where dramatic fells and shimmering lakes provide all the romance required by those seeking to pop the question.

But, if a general location isn’t enough, the South Lakes Tourism Group has put together a top five of proposal posing places, which it claims no other UK area can possibly match, in terms of style, romanticism, or opportunity to be at one with nature.

1. The White Drawing Room at Blackwell – 1.5 miles south of Bowness.

Men have already been spotted on bended knee in the stunning white drawing room at Blackwell – a wonderful testimony to the sheer beauty of the furnishings and adornments created by the late Nineteenth Century Arts & Crafts movement.

The room could be regarded as almost Lennon-esque, thanks to its beautiful white interior, but there’s much more than a light, airy feel to this area of the house, originally commissioned through the architect, Baillie Scott, by a Victorian brewer from Manchester. Once an idyllic holiday home on the hillside above stunning Windermere, the house is now one of the Lake District’s jewels.

Birds, leaves, roses, hawthorn berries and acorns are carved into the white drawing room’s exquisite ceiling, whilst a mantel-shelf, running around the room, is supported by beautiful wooden poles on which tiny birds cling amidst fruits and leaves.

The bird motif is repeated in the gorgeous stained glass and supported by designs of swaying tulips, reminding visitors of the beautiful garden outside, where these bulbs grow amidst clematis, dahlia, geraniums, marigolds, iris, alliums and cornflowers and where the scent of herbs wafts on the breeze.

Early evening sunlight floods this room and is accentuated by the small mirrors set into the panelling, providing a brilliance only surpassed by the magnificent view across the lake from the huge bay window.

The perfect place to propose is on the window seat, on which you can linger for as long as it takes to pluck up courage, whilst watching the reflected light from the lake play upon the patchwork patterns of the ceiling above.

Blackwell opens in mid January 2008, after a slight winter break and admission to the house and its stunning Arts and Craft exhibitions costs just £6. More information is available at Blackwell.org.uk.

2. The Gardens, Rydal Mount

True romantics will not be able to resist popping the question in the 4.5 acres surrounding Wordsworth’s former and favourite home, at Rydal Mount, between Ambleside and Grasmere.

The acclaimed poet landscaped the gardens himself and they are regarded as the truest example of a garden designed in the age of Romanticism – a recipe that can surely melt the heart.

The gardens allow the loved-up to view both the largest and smallest lakes in the Lake District – Windermere and Rydal Water – whilst a 180 degree vista, enjoyed from the poet’s summerhouse, is simply breathtaking.

Admission to the house at Rydal Mount and its gardens costs £5.00 for adults, £4.25 for senior citizens, £4.00 for students and £2.00 for children aged two to fifteen. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £12.00. Visitors can also opt to tour the gardens only for a price of £2.50. More details are available at Rydalmount.co.uk.

3. Ruskin’s View – Kirkby Lonsdale

Ruskin’s View can be enjoyed from the Churchyard in the ancient market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, from where visitors can gaze over the beautiful Lune Valley and the medieval Devil’s Bridge.

The view is named Ruskin’s View because of a comment Ruskin made in 1875, after seeing J M Turner’s 1822 painting of the panorama of river, meadows, woods and hills, stretching across the Howgills, Middleton Fell, Calf Top and the limestone scenery of Gragareth and Ingleborough.

Ruskin commented that "The Valley of the Lune at Kirkby Lonsdale is one of the loveliest scenes in England" and, to this day, these words ring true.

To reach the view, couples can first admire the scenery from the bridge and then head down a footpath, through an aptly named kissing gate. Following the footpath signs will allow them to stroll along the edge of the river Lune, pass through another kissing gate and then, after a few hundred metres, up 86 steps known as the Radical Steps, built in 1819 by Francis Pearson.

On reaching the gazebo at the top, couples will not be disappointed, with the purple and green hills and rural landscape providing the perfect backdrop for a proposal.

4. Fell Foot Park & Gardens – near Newby Bridge, on Windermere.

Romantics can literally cruise towards a proposal by first wandering amongst the rhododendrons, oaks and pines growing in this National Trust owned park, before either hiring a rowing boat, in which to make their intentions clear, or heading off on a Windermere Lake Cruise, from nearby Lakeside Pier.

Heading from the park into the woods and climbing up to the summit of the fell, affords a fantastic view of the lake from Gummers How. Couples are torn between gazing lovingly towards the view of Windermere stretching 12 miles to the North, the River Leven flowing through Newby Bridge, Morecambe Bay in the distance and Coniston Water beyond.

With substantial lakeside access, Fell Foot Park provides privacy, sanctuary and the perfect environment in which to get in touch with one’s feelings. Daffodils, in spring, are simply the icing on the cake.

5. Private Charter

The Applegarth Hotel, a Victorian Mansion House, located close to the heart of Windermere village offers luxury bedrooms, four-poster beds (in certain rooms) and a specially designed Valentine’s menu (to get your man literally eating out of the palm of your hand).

Whilst all of this is conducive to the proposal mission, the private yacht charter is something else! Slipping into a Bond Girl lifestyle is totally empowering, whether you opt to prepare the ground for your proposal on a two-hour, half day, full day, or sunset cruise, on England’s largest lake.

With a 50 foot, skippered yacht at your disposal, the only one of its kind on the lake, you can lounge on deck, breathe in fresh air and sip champagne to celebrate receiving a big ‘yes’ in answer to your proposal.

Prices for the yacht charter start at £300, rising to £950 for the full day, the latter allowing you to anchor where you wish, enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch on deck and repose at your leisure.

For more information visit Lakesapplegarth.co.uk.

The South Lakes is simply full of possible proposal places, being a place of beauty, tranquillity and many romantic interludes. To find details of accommodation for a short break, holiday, or overnight stop, visit Lakelandgateway.info or the Kendal, Windermere and South Lakes sections of Golakes.co.uk.