Swimming, cycling and running in the Southern Lakes for Father's Day

If you’re looking for somewhere for sporting dads to enjoy Father’s Day weekend and they like nothing better than the great outdoors and adrenalin sports; why not book a weekend break with Fine Individual Hotels fihotels.com to the picturesque Lake District and enjoy a spectacular ‘triathlon’ of sporting activities from Friday 17 June to Father’s Day on Sunday 19 June, 2011?

With the British Gas Great North Swim and the Gummers How Fell Race at Lake Windermere, and the Coniston Mountain Bike Triathlon all taking place over the same weekend in the southern lakes there is plenty for adrenaline junkies to enjoy or just soak up the scenery and watch others do the hard work.

Two of Fine Individual Hotels properties are perfectly positioned to take in the action with Lakeside Hotel & Spa and Linthwaite House Hotel both located overlooking Lake Windermere.

Kick off the weekend with the British Gas Great North Swim which takes place on Lake Windermere from 17-19 June, 2011. It’s the UK’s biggest outdoor swimming event with over 10,000 swimmers of all abilities registered to participate, from first timers to Olympic champions, in a challenging one, two or 1.2 mile outdoor swim. Visit greatswim.org for more details.

At the southern end of Lake Windermere the Gummers How Fell Race is taking place on Saturday, 18th June. This unique fell race begins at Lakeside Hotel & Spa LakesideHotel.co.uk. The challenge is for competitors to row across the lake from the hotel then race up to the top of Gummers How, run back down and row back across the lake to the hotel. There’s a team and an individual race with prizes to be won.

For participants and spectators the hotel provides the perfect place to take watch the race and when all the energetic activities are over there is time to relax at the Lakeside Spa, the only AVEDA Destination Spa in England. The spa also features a 17m swimming pool, sauna, steam room and poolside Jacuzzi, as well as a well-equipped gym. A one night stay at Lakeside costs from £179 per room per night B&B and spa treatments cost from £30.

Round off the weekend at neighbouring Coniston Water, where the annual Coniston Mountain Bike Triathlon is taking place on Sunday 19 June, 2011. Set in the Lake District’s National Park overlooking stunning scenery the Triathlon race starts from Coniston boating centre with a 1500m loop in the lake. Transferring to bikes participants then take to the roads for a 3k climbing to Grizedale Forest and the North Face trail for a full loop of this red graded trail, which is a mix of forest roads and purpose built single track. The final part of the Triathlon is a run up the slopes of "The Old Man of Coniston" stopping short of the top and traversing the contours on Walna Scar Road, an old quarry route, before descending back down into Coniston. Visit ukmtbtri.co.uk for more details.

This weekend is also the start of National Bike Week and both Lakeside Hotel and Linthwaite House Hotel offer bike hire for guests. From Linthwaite linthwaite.com it’s possible to follow a number of carefully thought out routes on and off road from a nice easy cycle along gentle flat parts of the Lakes to a real off-road challenge. Then head back to the hotel for some award winning cuisine and stunning views overlooking Lake Windermere and soak aching muscles in the hotel’s new state-of-the-art outdoor hot tub whilst gazing at the sunset views of Windermere. Prices start from £165 B&B per room per night.

For further information on Fine Individual Hotels, a collection of some of the finest independently run hotels in the UK, go to: fihotels.com