Venue
Brathay Hall, Ambleside, The Lake District
Follow this link for a map of the Brathay site at Ambleside. You will be assigned your room after you arrive and that room will either be in Scafell, Wansfell, Helvellyn, or Loughrigg. Dining will be in the dining room (or, weather permitting outside it).
The event will run from Brathay Hall, an 18th-century mansion, located two miles from Ambleside in the Lake District National Park. The hall is owned by Brathay Trust, a charity founded in 1946 by Frances Scott. Today, the charity supports young people through a range of activity programmes and when the residential centre is not in use for these programmes rooms are let out on a B&B basis in order to raise money for the charity.
Eating and drinking
We'll provide your meals while we're at Brathay. We also hope that the weather will cooperate so that we can make the most of dining outdoors in the grounds or enjoying a picnic or two. In our attendance questionnaire you can tell us about any specific requirements you have.
Accommodation
Brathay has a range of accommodation. All our accommodation is in private rooms either in the Hall itself or in the grounds of the estate. Please contact Claire (c.coulton2@lancaster.ac.uk) if you have any accessibility requirements or anything other concerns regarding your accommodation during your stay.
Things to do
We very much hope to make the best of the venue and its location in the Lake District. There are a number of options for stunning walks and visits within a few miles of Brathay. Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth and John Ruskin are all linked to the Lake District and it is possible to visit their homes nearby. We are also able to arrange outdoor activities such as walking, open water swimming and boating.
Getting here
Brathay is a little bit out of the way, but we think the rural location will be worth it in terms of benefitting from reduced distractions and a beautiful landscape to work in. If you have any worries, concerns, or questions about travel then please get in touch with Claire (c.coulton2@lancaster.ac.uk). Claire will also organise taxis for the last leg of the journey from Windermere if you are arriving on a train.
By plane
The nearest airports to the venue are Manchester or Newcastle. Arrival into Edinburgh or Glasgow could also be viable options.
By Train
The nearest train station is in the town of Windermere (a 15 minute cab ride from Brathay). Windermere is served via Oxenholme station. Oxenholme itself is on the West Coast Mainline with a direct train to Manchester Airport, as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London. Tickets and timetables can be found here: https://www.thetrainline.com/
By bus
On arrival at Windermere Station, the 599 bus service goes along the banks of Lake Windermere and brings you into Ambleside. Bus times can be found here: https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/buses/599/
By Car
You are welcome to drive to the venue. There is ample parking on site.