"We can't thank you enough for making the weekend such a memorable one. Your hospitality is fantastic, and the wine, cake and other goodies just added the final touches to our cottage stay. We thoroughly enjoyed winding down in the hot tub and the views from the roof terrace are amazing. We will definitely be recommending Westwood Lodge to all our other friends, and hopefully it won't be too long before we meet again. Thanks a million!" (Debra)
Westwood Lodge is a Listed historic building and we carry out ongoing refurbishment and new work during the quieter winter months. This year, work has started early as we also have planning permission to build an additional cottage on the Victorian building plot to the north of Westwood Lodge. We need to get well advanced before the bad weather sets in! This will temporarily affect The Glenmoor and The Scullery Garden Apartments and noise may, at times, affect other accommodation until February (ish). We will make every effort to keep any disturbance to a minimum. Depending on the work, we may need to allocate some guests another cottage (or apartment) on arrival. We aim to run as near normally as possible with all facilities - except the football nets and upper terrace - open as usual. Cottage gardens and the roof garden will not be affected. Work will only take place between 8am and 4pm (approx) Mondays to Fridays (and possibly Saturday mornings if there have been delays midweek). No work will take place on Saturday afternoons, Sundays or during the Christmas/ New Year period, although it is likely that some materials and equipment will be stored here. The worksite will be fenced and secured at all times with no access. For details of the planned works schedule (which may change depending on weather and other factors), please email us.
Bookings for 2012 are now open. Popular dates such as The Old Gallery at Christmas and New Year may get taken quickly, so now is the time to book ahead!
If you want to relax and be pampered during your break, then you've come to the right place! New for 2011, we’re teaming up with My Personal Sanctuary to offer you treatments, including warming deep tissue massages; cleansing & detoxifying body wraps; nourishing & conditioning facials; hand & feet treats; and holistic, full body treatments. My Personal Sanctuary uses lovely fresh organic products to leave you feeling energised and rejuvenated. My Personal Sanctuary has a variety of Pamper Packages & Treatments as well as Special Offers for you to indulge in and fully let go! My Personal Sanctuary will offer gorgeous Organic Spa Treatments carried out within the comfort of your cottage or apartment. Whatever the occasion whether it be a bride that needs buffing and beautifying, happy hens, sophisticated stags, worn out mums-to-be, tired mummy's & daddy's, a romantic break, birthday celebration, reunion, family fun, pre- wedding treat or girly get together there are specifically designed Pamper Packages & Treatments to indulge. The professional therapists will literally bring the Spa to you & your friends & family. Treatments will be carried out using lovely fresh organic products leaving you feeling energised and rejuvenated whilst massaging your eco ego! Treatments range from a warming deep tissue massage, to cleansing and detoxifying body wraps, to nourishing and conditioning facials, to holistic full body journeys. Many of our guests find this is the perfect way to unwind, appreciate and enjoy the beautiful surrounds you have so carefully selected!
We're delighted to announce that renowned Ilkley Cordon Bleu Party and events chef - Sarah Lawson - who used to own The Rocky Valley Deli here in Ilkley - has introduced a brand new service for guests staying at Westwood lodge Ilkley Moor. For as little as £25 per head, Sarah will come preparesuch delights as Grilled Crottin with Pear and Walnut Salad, followed by Braised Leg of Lam Beaujolais and Ratouille and finishing with Pannacotta with Orange Flower Strawberries. Pre-dinner canapes and a cheese course can both be added - if you've room!
As accredited Gold members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, we'll be joining in the first ever Green Tourism Week. We're looking at a range of ideas for things we can do. Ideas so far include a "pen and phone amnesty". All old pens and mobiles received will be donated to charity for re-use. We're also going to have a special home-grown vegetable growing class for children staying that week. We're trying to encourage a low car use week with an extra push for us all to use our excellent local train and bus services - or even our excellent two legs!
Nationally, environmental campaigner Tony Juniper has been appointed patron of the first Green Tourism Week, which is being endorsed by VisitEngland.
Juniper is currently a special adviser to the Prince of Wales Charities' International Sustainability Unit and a senior associate with the Cambridge University Programme for Sustainability Leadership. He will be a figurehead for Green Tourism Week as well as preparing blogs and chairing a panel of green tourism experts.
Jason Freezer of VisitEngland said: "Sustainability is fast becoming an essential part of competitive positioning in the tourism industry and VisitEngland is delighted to support a campaign which will help showcase to the industry the superb work already being done in this area and which demonstrates that green is increasingly not just a 'nice to have' but rather an essential strategic driver for business growth."
For more details about Green Tourism Week click here
Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor was delighted to be at the Welcome to Yorkshire launch for summer 2011 held yesterday at The Grand Theatre and Opera House in Leeds. The conference learned of a vast array of campaigns aimed at further showcasing Yorkshire as the visitor destination. As an example, last night's Coronation Street saw a brand new TV advertising campaign launched on ITV1.
Welcome to Yorkshire's Gary Verity said: "Building on our previous award-winning campaigns, we're broadcasting a brand new TV advertisement into homes across the UK with, ‘So much, so near, so different. Have a brilliant Yorkshire' as our new slogan and if you miss that you'll certainly not miss our sponsorship deals which will accompany a number of prime-time TV programmes."The campaign introduces the strapline ‘So much, so near, so different. Have a brilliant Yorkshire’ which will also run across TV promotions, press advertising and outdoor marketing at prime sites. See the new adverts here
In a new, 12-part series for ITV1, Adrian Edmondson returns to the county of his birth, Yorkshire, to bring us the stories behind a summer in the life of the Yorkshire Dales. The Dales is currently on ITV Mondays at 8pm.
Spectacularly beautiful they may be – but the Dales are also a challenging environment for the people who live there in some of its remote communities.
Adrian used to spend many of his childhood summers in the Yorkshire Dales with his family, but in this series he meets a number of characters who live all year round there amidst the stunning scenery.
Adrian Edmondson commented to ITV My parents were very keen on ‘days out’ and picnics, we spent a lot of our time visiting Bolton Abbey, and Aysgarth Falls and we used to walk across Ilkley Moor about once a week. The Dales is also like a geography text book, I spent a lot of time going there on school field trips. As I got into my mid teens the Dales became a regular spot for me and my mates to go camping/hiking/chasing girls/trying to get served in pubs....Information courtesy of ITV.
Is double summertime (BST) on the way to Yorkshire and the UK? The government's eagerly awaited official tourism strategy is due to be published any day now.
At the heart of the strategy could well be a decision to back 'double summertime' - putting the clocks forward to British Summer Time plus one hour in summer, as well as having the clocks one hour ahead of GMT in winter. ie British Summer time in winter!
Some in Scotland will be unhappy as daylight is worse there in winter. However, in Yorkshire, two extra hours of daylight in the summer evenings could make a holiday here much more attractive in the spring and autumn. There are also said to be significant benefits for the environment - with lower levels of energy consumption.
The estimates are that the tourism industry in the UK will benefit to the tune of £3.5 billion extra per year - a major boost in this year of uncertainty.
Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor is delighted to become a sponsor of mylocalweather.org.uk. With a weather station based in Burley-in-Wharfedale (just 4 miles away), local lad John Livesley reckons to be able to predict the weather in Lower Wharfedale much more accurately than the big boys can!
The new Things to do in Ilkley and Wharfedale 2011 leaflet is out! There's a host of things to do locally. History, Heritage and Culture includes The Manor House Museum, the Roman Fort and White Wells. Of course there's the Great outdoors celebrating Ilkley's new Walkers Are Welome official status. For family fun, how about the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Ilkley Lido (re-opens in May) or the Toy Museum? Click here to go straight to the new leaflet. "Enjoy the best of what life has to offer in picturesque and genteel Ilkley. Take pleasure in the beautiful countryside, soak up the town's history, enjoy fine food and wine, relaxed cafes, bars and comfortable accommodation"
Based on a successful Dutch concept, you can now turn-up and hire bikes at Leeds Station - the first CyclePoint in the UK. We tried it this week to visit our architect (thanks Matt!). Friendly Andy at CyclePoint quickly sorted us out and within minutes we were cycling across the city centre, along the canal, under the flyover and away! No traffic jams, no taxis, no hassle!
So if you're heading out for a day in Leeds (Harvey Nicks, Armouries Museum, waterfront cafes, nightlife etc), it's a great way of seeing the sites. Leeds City is just £4.90 return on the train (after 9.30am, anytime at weekends) and bike hire for the day is £8. Here's us with Paula whizzing through Holbeck just to prove it! (Photos: Matt Sturgeon Cyclepoint).
