Foxgloves and Ivy is a comfortable and cosy home from home. Everything you need is here but the arrangement of furniture and large sliding patio doors promote the sense of spaciousness. Indeed with multiple windows light can flood into the rooms throughout the day. Then at night guests can draw the stylish curtains, turn on either the ceiling lights or standard lamps, and relax in front of the colourful flames of the electric fire. Each of the bedrooms has plentiful storage comprising of both shelves and wardrobes. In the mirrored wardrobe of the main bedroom there can be found an iron, tabletop ironing board, clothes horse, spare blankets, and the cushions for the patio furniture. A handheld vacuum cleaner can be found in the boiler cupboard beside the front door. A dustpan and brush is in the kitchen beneath the sink. Also in the kitchen are spare dog bowls, and should you ever need them hot water bottles because this is Cumbria after all. The kitchen is equipped with a full size double oven with gas hob, and a microwave for when you just want a speedier meal. There is also an undercounter fridge, and a separate freezer.

My name is Philippa Greggan and I am your host. As someone who has enjoyed self-catering holidays for many years I endeavour to make Foxgloves and Ivy the kind of place I would want to stay in myself, and to equip it with everything necessary to make it as comfortable as it could possibly be. I love meeting new people, as well as seeing familiar faces again, and want to help make every stay here be as enjoyable as it can be. I'm a creative person and find this area very inspirational for my poor attempts at painting or drawing, and embroidery. I may not be able to climb the Fells these days but they never stop being beautiful to look at. I've even taken up wild swimming at Derwentwater, and I hope to try a few of the other lakes this year. I say "swimming" but it;s more what I like to call "swimbling", that is ambling around in the water. Maybe you might like to try it yourself.

Foxgloves and Ivy is, in my opinion, in the perfect position for visitors to access so much that Cumbria has to offer. Being on the north-western edge of the Lake District all the Fells and Lakes are within easy reach. Then there is the Solway coast with its fantastic birdlife, expansive beaches such as Allonby where even on the hottest summer's day the beach never feels crowded. Cumbria also has so much ancient and more recent history to be discovered. Mystifying stone circles such as Castle Crag near Keswick is breathtakingly beautiful set as it is amongst the Fells, or Long Meg and her daughters near Penrith where the number of stones changes every time you try to count them. Talking of breathtaking, why not try wild swimming one or many of the Lakes. It's meant to be very beneficial for your health. We're also just a short distance from Scotland. Just a short drive up the motorway from Carlisle is Gretna Green's outlet centre if its a happy shopping experience you are after. Or see the Solway from the other side and drive along the Dumfries and Galloway coast. If it is gardens you like then Dumfries House is worth a visit. In the caravan you will find may books, leaflets and other literature to inform your choices of what to do whilst in this part of the world.