Glenthorne Guest House and Conference Centre Easedale Road, ,. Ambleside. . LA22 9QH Telephone / Fax: 015394 35389. Email: [email protected]. WEB: www.glenthorne.or g

Hello from Glenthorne! The snow drops have been in flower for the last two weeks and Glenthorne has opened for the season! The day after Valentine's day, the garden birds were singing in the sunshine, we heard our first woodpeckers of the year hammering in the nearby woods and the tawny owls were calling to each other after dusk. We have seen red squirrels in the garden several times already and Alex (our gardener) has been frustrated by the roe deer nibbling the daffodils again.

This year we are offering more special interest holidays, both at the weekends and during the week. The old favourites such as Patchwork Quilting, Boat, Boot and Goat and Circle Dancing are on the programme along with new additions such as Alison Lock's Transformative Life Writing course at the end of March, Linda Hoy's Labyrinth – Exploring the spiritual journey in words and fabric and Quakerly Yoga with Mary Cleary from North Carolina Meeting. Later in the year we look forward to Ben Pink Dandelion's Transforming Quakerism and Naming our Spiritual Gifts with Thomas Swain of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

We have kept our room prices the same as last year and we have some great special offers available at the moment. It is a great base to walk and explore from. Some of us have been out walking in the already: - , , Silver How, Easedale Tarn and Wainwright's coast to coast walk are at our door. There is gentler walking around Grasmere and Rydal lakes and the slopes of Loughrigg Terrace. Come and spend time with Wordsworth and visit his nearby houses at Dove cottage, Allan Bank and Rydal Mount and visit us in what he described as the fairest place on earth!

Paul, our chef, presents great food (our guests say!), the beds are comfortable and it's a good place to meet new friends. It is one of those few places that you don't feel alone if you come on your own and our Friend in Residence will be very pleased to share some time or offer a listening ear. We look forward to welcoming you here soon! Terry Winterton. Friend in Residence.