Special interest holidays at Rothay Manor

Following the huge success of the Scrabble holiday earlier this year, the Lake District’s Rothay Manor Hotel in Ambleside is launching a brand new Chess holiday for 2009.

Chess is just one of nine activity holidays that guests can choose from; while others include Lakeland Life Past and Present, Scrabble, Gardening, Painting, Walking, Antiques and Music.

"Our Scrabble holiday earlier this year created a huge amount of local and national media interest and as a result, it was completely sold out," said Rothay Manor’s Anne Marie O'Neil.

"Interest started when Scrabble’s corporate owner, Hasbro, threatened to shut down the Facebook game, Scrabulous. Our small Google advert appeared alongside the game, which led to an avalanche of enquiries from national and regional newspapers and radio stations."

"The media and public reaction to our Scrabble holiday made us realise just how popular traditional games remain, even among the younger generation, despite the popularity of modern interactive computer games."

In response to this demand, Rothay Manor is launching a range of holidays for 2009.

Chess Holiday

The chess holiday (March 22nd to 27th 2009) will suit anyone from the novice to club players. Guests take part in an eight-round Swiss Competition, look at famous games from the past and attend tutorial sessions covering various aspects of the game.

Prices start from £420 per person, or £285 for non-residents.

Scrabble Holiday

Scrabble holidays are making a welcome return, and given last year's success this event is guaranteed to be very popular, so early booking is recommended.

Holidays take place between February 22nd and 27th 2009, with prices starting from £435 per person, £285 for non-residents.

Lakeland Life Past and Present

Old favourite, Lakeland Life Past and Present (March 29th to April 3rd 2009), makes a welcome return this year.

It will explore traditional aspects of Lakeland life through the eyes of early travellers, artists and writers, looking at farming, sport, food, crafts and traditional industries.

Visits will include the Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry, Stott Park Bobbin Mill and two local farms.

Prices start from £535 per person, £370 for non-residents.

Antiques Holiday

Some of the subjects covered during the antiques holiday (February 17th to 22nd 2009) will be great Victorian collectors; 20th century jewellery; furnishing a country house library; Fabergé since Perestroika; Royal Lancastrian pottery; and The Prince Regent and his collecting mania, with visits to Leighton Hall, Carnforth; Carlisle; and Lancaster.

Prices range from £545 per person and £380 for non-residents.

Gardening Holiday

The spring gardening holiday (April 26thto May 1st) will include private visits to a number of local gardens in the company of their owners – including Brackenburn in Manesty, Keswick, Brockhole at Windermere and Lawson Park at Coniston; and Barkhill in Storrs.

There will be talks on plant propagation and Mecanopsis (Himalayan poppies) and a gardener’s question time.

Prices for this trip begin at £550 per person, £370 for non-residents.

Music Holiday

The music holiday will look at early music in a course entitled:'1809: An end and a beginning (Haydn & Mendelssohn)' - which will celebrate the bi-centenary of the death of Haydn and the birth of Mendelssohn, looking at the lives and work of these two very different composers.

It takes place March 1st to 6th 2009, with prices from £590 per person and £400 for non-residents.

Painting holidays

Rothay Manor’s range of Painting holidays covers watercolour (January 25th to 30th and March 8th to 13th 2009) and general Painting (January 30th to February 1st 2009).

They provide guests with an opportunity to work in the studio and out on location in various inspiring Lake District settings.

Prices start from £265 per person and £210 for non-residents.

Walking Holidays

Walking holidays (April 19th to 24th and May 17th to 22nd 2009) take guests on a variety of delightful routes around the Lake District, some well-known and some more off the beaten track, including Potter Tarn, the Dales Way, Skiddaw, Yewdale, Ullswater and Bassenthwaite Lake.

Prices start at £590 per person.

More Information

Situated in the beautiful setting of Ambleside in the Lake District, Rothay Manor has been running activity holidays for over 20 years.

Ideal for groups, people on their own and couples, they include a mix of lectures by professionals and guest speakers, demonstrations, practical sessions and visits around the Lake District.

Groups vary from 12 to around 25 people.

Five-night and weekend breaks are inclusive of breakfast and dinner.

Rothay Manor is one of the Lake District’s leading country house hotels. Set in its own attractive grounds on the edge of Ambleside, it is close to Lake Windermere.

The hotel is renowned for its excellent cuisine – this year it was the only hotel to be a finalist in Cumbria Tourism’s 'Taste' awards. It also has an AA Rosette and has been listed in the Good Food Guide for 38 years.

It is one of only six establishments to have been listed in the Good Hotel Guide since it began and features in all other major guides.

To book a place on any of the above specialist holidays, head over to the Rothay Manor website.

Chris O'Toole