Lakeside greenery

GETAWAYS with a green flavour have become increasingly popular in recent years, whether it means spending a few nights in a yurt or in accommodation built according to the latest eco-standards.

Set beside two open expanses of water and beautiful open countryside and woodland, the eco-cabins at Brompton Lakes, near the market town of Richmond in North Yorkshire, are not only luxurious with attention paid to the finest details but are also the very latest word in sustainability – with a hidden secret beneath their two lakes.

Opened in 2009, the estate offers time 
to relax and while away the hours watching the wildlife or fishing but is 
also well situated for getting out and about to explore the beautiful 
landscape of the Dales or the rich history of the area.

But it is certainly the timber-framed log cabin style lodges which immediately catch the eye – and the ingenious way the natural landscape has been harnessed.

There are 20 cabins on the site, each with three bedrooms designed in a contemporary style, but distinctively different with their own character overlooking the water.

The wooden buildings have sedum green roofs with a variety of plants growing in them which help them to blend into the landscape but also insulate the cabins to retain heat in winter and keep them cool during summer months.

The site sits over a large natural aquifer and a borehole provides spring water under its own natural pressure for guests.

But it is the geothermal heating which is perhaps the most impressive green feature as the site extracts solar energy from the lakes to provide both hot water and underfloor heating.

Looking out onto the lakes in the peace and tranquility of the countryside, the location does feel a sanctuary well off the beaten track.

Yet only two miles away is bustling Richmond dominated by its Norman keep which stands guard over the cobbled market place with spectacular views both over the rooftops of the town and across the Swale.

The castle is among the older Norman stone fortresses remaining in Britain, built as part of William the Conqueror’s notorious harrying of the North – an early act of ethnic cleansing following rebellions against his rule which is believed to have claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people – and became the base for one of the biggest Norman estates in England.

It had fallen into disrepair by the end of the 14th-century but was still used during the First World War to imprison conscientious objectors in a grim dungeon – messages written by those held there are on display in the castle grounds.

Richmond itself is home to the fine regimental museum of the Green Howards and has an interesting array of independent shops.

Closer still are the remains of Easby Abbey, built around 1300, only a 
short walk along the Swale but 
many visitors might want to go further afield perhaps to visit Middleham Castle, the favourite childhood home of the Yorkist Richard III, whose remains buried underneath a car park in Leicester are believed to have been discovered during the summer where they had lain since his defeat at the nearby Battle of Bosworth to decisively end the War of the Roses.

Hopes he might be buried 
according to his wishes in York Minster appear to have been dashed but the re-discovery of his remains are sure to cause further interest in the king villainously portrayed by William Shakespeare in a piece of Elizabethan propaganda as an evil hunchback who ordered the murder of his nephews Edward V and Richard of York, the two “princes in the tower”.

For those happier to take it easy and set a gentler pace, there is plenty to do at Brompton Lakes with entertainment including a giant play tepee for youngsters, mountain bikes, tennis courts, a boules area and fishing from private platforms in the lakes which are well stocked with coarse fish among them carp, tench, roach, bream and chub, with fishing rights on the Swale. There is also a family barbecue area.

The Swale runs nearby, with a private stretch of river for paddling and fishing rights in waters with grayling, wild brownie, dace and perch.

The site is self-catering but there is a catering service where a chef is assigned to cook and serve meals for guests or leave food that can be heated up. Posh take-aways and picnics can also be ordered from the Heifer in nearby Scorton.

For those who need some pampering there is also an opportunity to get massages, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures and a range of beauty treatments.

Getting there

Lodges at Brompton Lakes start from £737 for a week’s rental, although they do offer shorter stays.

The site runs offers throughout the year, so it is worth checking the website before booking.

Brompton Lakes also offers guests the chance to experience its Scandinavian barbecue room, massage and aromatherapy treatments and can arrange catering inside the lodges.

For more details call 01748 850333 or visit www.bromptonlakes.co.uk