Transcript
Speaker: Made on Zencaster. Because Zencaster is the all-in-one podcasting platform that really does make making podcasts so easy. There is a link with a built-in discount in the description.
Speaker: Michael Millward
Speaker: the worklife balance podcast from abuida where we don't tell you what to think but we are hoping to make you think i a michael milward today joanne brooke smith is going to be telling me what it is like to spend a month living in the lake district Joanne is the founder and editor-in-chief of Crave magazine. She's based in Yorkshire and I know her because we both use true personal training in Weatherby.
Speaker: Now let's make an episode of rest and recreation that will be well worth listening to, liking, downloading and subscribing to and hopefully also worth sharing with your friends, family and um work colleagues as well.
Speaker: Now hello Joanne. I am extremely well, thank you very much, and hope that you can say the same. I can, thank you. Of course, you've spent a month in the Lake District, which we're going to find out more about, but what happens before the Lake District? What makes somebody want to set up their own magazine like Crave?
Speaker: Well, I left school, went to uni, studied journalism. When I was at uni, I worked in pubs and restaurants to support myself. When I left university, I ended up working for numerous regional magazines and a little bit of a stint as a junior at the Yorkshire Post.
Speaker: And how Crave came about was i was freelancing at a regional magazine in Leeds and COVID hit. Our editor came in and said, everybody pack up and go home. We'll give you a ring when this is over. And because I was self-employed at the time,
Speaker: Of course, that was the end of earning any money. So i kind of packed my bags up and went home and thought, oh my gosh, what am I going to do? So I ended up having a bit of a chinwag with my husband that evening. And he said, look, I'm going to have to work all the way through COVID because he was in one of the jobs that was, he was in logistics. So it it was considered that he would have to work and his earnings wouldn't be affected. So he said, I'm happy to for you to stay at home, why don't you start your own business doing what you've effectively been doing for other people for the last 20 years?
Speaker: So... That's nothing you can't refuse. he did Yes, I know. So he gave me 500 quid and I contacted a friend that I'd made while I was on holiday in Portugal.
Speaker: I tapped him up to create me a fairly basic website and that was it. I went from there, a running crow from my kitchen table, from there from there on, so we're six years down the line now.
Speaker: Great stuff. Yeah, so it took away took it did take a while to to get going, of course, and and at that time I did do quite a lot of, and still do do quite a lot of writing for other people, but yeah, I kind of stuck with it, and it is my main job now am fulltime Great. So what is Crave all about?
Speaker: What sort of content have you got in Crave? So it's an independent lifestyle magazine. We mainly cover food and drink, travel, beauty. It's kind of well-being, everyday lifestyle.
Speaker: So I wanted to create something that felt really not corporate and more personal. And i write a lot of the content myself about things that I do or try myself. We do have freelance writers, have ah a lovely writer down in London, Sandy, and I have a few writers based across the country who go out and do various bits for me. and But the majority of the articles are written by my own fair hand.
Speaker: Nice. Any particularly talented writers that you might have who publish with you every so often? ah Well, Sandy certainly is one of those. she yeah Oh, were you meaning yourself?
Speaker: I have have got some articles on Crave magazine, haven't I? i'm Sorry about that. Yes, please do head Crave, Michael. Oh, there's such memorable content. i'm um I'm flattered. Thank you very much. It's just that Sandy writes for The Guardian, Michael, so I've just thought it.
Speaker: Oh. But yes. Of course. Yeah, thank you. present Thank you. So you've got this glamorous lifestyle, running a ah lifestyle magazine and doing things, I suppose, encouraging other people to do things, but you then go off and spend a month living in the Lake District. what's What's the attraction?
Speaker: Yes, well, so um you say that glamorous, not always so glamorous. However, we do get invited on trips and some press trips, going to stay in hotels and not go visiting nice restaurants and things.
Speaker: But those kind of invites tend to dry up over the summer period, obviously, because hotels don't need any help at that time of year. It's full of families and tourists and what have you all over summer.
Speaker: So we have a holiday home in the Lake District and we decided that for the full month of August, we were gonna go and live in it.
Speaker: So that's what we did. We headed up to the Lake District. It's in the South Lakes. It's on one ah the peninsula. So it's kind of on the Morecambe Bay runs adjacent to it. nice It's based in a village called Flukeborough. It's actually a heaven holiday park.
Speaker: And we bought it about 10 years ago because the house that we were living in at the time didn't have a garden and it was driving me mad because I was so envious of people, you know, when they just had somewhere to sit when the sun came out, which of course is a rarity in England. But, you know, this year if I had a garden or the caravan, had put it had driven me mad. It's just been such nice weather. Good. Basically, and I thought, was it affordable? Probably.
Speaker: So we were looking at places to buy in Spain and then we really, really looked at that and thought, okay, we could maybe afford a place in Spain. However, it would push us financially. And then there was the travel to get there and back. It made it a lot more complicated than just jumping in the car and heading up to the lakes. So bought what I would describe as a static caravan. you know like I don't know, a lot of people have a lot of nostalgia around static caravans. used to stay in them as kids and they had all the fixed seating around the edges they were always beige and brown inside so yes we bought one of those with a rather nice lovely veranda all the way around it and I was so excited it was the biggest adventure so that's 10 years ago now that we bought it and I've yeah I've not had any regrets at all When you say static caravan, I can remember like being on motorway and roads and country roads behind lorries with these huge static caravans. and And sometimes they'd have an open side, which was covered in polythene. And you're thinking, someone is going to stick two of those together.
Speaker: Yeah, well, they've got a lot bigger than they used to be as well. I can't remember what the difference is, but there's some differentiation between a static caravan and a launch, and I can't remember whether it's an extra of three feet or something, and they do there is a difference. It might be something to do with insulation as well. Because since the first one that we bought, that was in 2016, and then two years ago we bought a new one. right So we're we're in a bit of a bigger one now. They're not how people imagine, I don't think, anymore, although there are still some of those ones on the side. sounds as if you've got lots of space and lots of amenities and it it really is a home from home.
Speaker: Oh it is a home from home. I was going to say don't really consider it a holiday home anymore, it's just living somewhere else for a time because I don't so when I do my normal job and I'm going to a press trip, hotel or you know even overseas, you are living out of a suitcase and as much fun as that is,
Speaker: it can over the months when you go in away twice a week or you know four times a month or whatever you you you can just be living out of suitcase so with the holiday home in the lakes I've already got all my stuff there I don't need to pack unless I want to take particular clothes that i don't have up there you know there's certain things a big winter coat for instance I don't have two of those so it's only bits like that that I have to take up there and yeah it's just literally i walk through the door and I'm at my other home So it's a really lucky position to be in because I split my time between the beautiful county that is Yorkshire Cumbria, the Lake District. So could it ever be any better than that, Michael? Probably not. You're a real country girl, I suppose. Yeah, I'm very outdoorsy, to be fair. Yeah. What sort of things do you do when you're up in the Lake District? Because I'm presuming you carry on working whilst you're there. It's dead easy, though, is that? Because I take a laptop and Crave is and it is all online. It's all digital. So yeahp so it's really easy. ah Basically, I've got two dogs, so I'm up with the lark anyway. and What i generally do over there is I kind of get up really early. It could be between 5 and 6 a.m., m which I quite like that time of day anyway. Certainly for writing, it's a really nice time of day to write. yes
Speaker: So I kind of get up with the lark and kind of get all my stuff done and buye by before midday I'll have done everything that I feel like has got me to a a straight edge and then I'll head out for the afternoon and do something outdoorsy, take the dogs out or we've just had such a cracking summer that I've i've done all sorts this summer, I've been paddle boarding, I've been jumping off bridges into rivers and I've been swimming in fairy pools, I've been hiking up hills and it's just been action packed to be fair. I've been on ah a natural, this is the first time I've ever done this, I've been on a natural water slide, like down a waterfall, which was absolutely cracking. I did must have done it about 20 times, I loved it. When you say a natural water slide down a waterfall, that makes me remember visiting Jamaica and they have those in Dunns River Falls.
Speaker: Oh, I've not been there. Jamaica's on my bucket list, actually. I've not been there. And to be fair, the lakes isn't quite as exotic as that. You won't have been floating around with a bit of sheep, who I don't think. But I possibly was. There you go. You're basically in a waterfall, so the water's coming straight down the mountain type of thing, so it's quite chilly, I suppose. Yeah, it is chilly up there, but...
Speaker: Yeah, this summer's been particularly hot though. and yes And it's not as, I can't remember what the comedian is that says it, but it's ah it's that line that the Brits say, it's all right once you're in.
Speaker: Too true. It's all right once you're in. the Yeah, but you're basically at the top of the waterfall and then the the the rock formations, I suppose, create the slide and you and you exact click and you're able to slide down.
Speaker: Yeah, and then there's fairy pools at the bottom. So you're just straight into a turquoise. It's like jumping into a jewel. It's a turquoise pool of absolutely crystal clear water. And ah it's just wonderful. is's I would absolutely recommend wild swimming.
Speaker: I think we did Wasdale, Eskdale, We did quite a few, but there's also a plethora of waterfalls and all sorts up there you can go and see. it just The scenery is just unbelievable.
Speaker: And, yeah, it's just great. So you've become a wild swimmer whilst you're in the, as a result of the Lake District. Well, when you say that, I've been, I've been pottering about in fairy pools. I wouldn't say that I've all of a sudden decided that I need to swim the channel or even a reservoir really, Michael. I just let the fairy pools, Clear, clean water.
Speaker: Yes, nothing swimming about underneath you, which is one of the things that i don't like about the sea. With the fish and things. Well... I must admit, I agree with you. I quite like, i'm ah i like swimming, but I like the the clear water and that there's nothing that I'm going to touch that is going to sting me or bite me. Sting you, yes, bite you, sting you, anything like that. Oh, yeah, anything. Yeah. So, yeah. It's their world, leave them alone. Exactly. exactly I love the Clearwater. And you don't get that in Morecambe Bay, unfortunately. So i'll stick with the... yeah stick with the fla it pulls rather
Speaker: Well, there is a really nice coastline as well in know in the Lake District. St B's is a really nice place to visit. And there's some fantastic beaches up there, which I never really considered.
Speaker: You consider the lakes, the water bodies of the lakes is the lakes, isn't it? Yes. But then, of course, you do have a coast there, which is which is really nice as well. St B's is a lovely place to visit. it So, yeah, that's another aspect. I saw some pictures of the Lake District on the television a couple of days ago. It just seemed to be nose to tail traffic and footpaths in in the towns and villages that were just full of tourists.
Speaker: Yeah. How do you manage getting getting around when you're up there? It's like when you're not being a tourist, you're going to the shops and you want to get somewhere at a particular time. How do you manage being a local for a month?
Speaker: Yes. Well, so where we are, is not in its We're kind of 20 minutes away from Windermere, 30 minutes from Ambleside. We're not in one of those bang on tourist areas, although we are on a haven park. So, of course, there are holidaymakers there. But we're in a very quiet part part of the park anyway. And we have got local amenities. So we're quite near to Grange over Sands. That has all the supermarkets you would need and what have you. And then we've never done the whole of August before. We've actually done July before. And I probably would prefer to do July again for me. Because August is obviously when all the families have their holidays. And so it does make it extremely busy. And I think July was better for us last time. So we'd probably do that again. in it And it is. We didn't attempt Windermere and we didn't attempt... Oh, we did do one of the places that... Where's the place that sells the famous gingerbread? We did do that.
Speaker: Was that Grasmere? I can't remember. They are all packed though. And as much as the Lake District does cater for tourists and there are car parks everywhere, you won't be able to park in Windermere unless you are very lucky or you get there at 6am and wait for the car park to open. It sounds like the swimming pool areas is of a hotel in Benidorm or wherever, where everybody's got to get their sunbed. When everyone moves their sunbed, yeah. it's It's such a busy place, but fortunately there are a lot of things up in the lakes that are off the beaten off the bit and track. and and And if you kind of do your research before you go, we've got a great book, which...
Speaker: unfortunately i don't have it on me because yeah at the caravan um but we've got a great book and it's just got these barcodes in it and it'll give you a postcode and it'll send you off to do a circular walk you know no matter how far you want to go if you want to do two miles or you want to do 20 it'll give you a great location to go to it and you can be off the beaten track and so if you if you do your research before you go even at even at peak times you will find places to go that aren't packed out It depends what you want to do. If you want to go to Windermere and go on, you know, the ferry that goes across the lake, you'll be queuing. But if you want to go hike up a hill and jump in a ferry pool, you won't be. So it's different. It's different. Things that people like doing, isn't it? It sounds like a little bit. You can decide and plan and organise how you're going to do the Lake District and you'll have a great time.
Speaker: Or you can sit back and let the Lake District do you and you'll spend a lot of time in queues and waiting around. Yeah, I do think it's worth doing a little bit of work before you go, a little bit of research before you go to find out what you actually want to get out of your time in the Lake District because not everybody wants to go hiking and I totally understand that. and But there's some absolutely beautiful drives up there as well. We did the Hard Knock Pass and apparently it's one of the scariest roads. I can vouch for that because my husband...
Speaker: It fairly quick driver. And I was on the on the cliff side for the most of the drive and I felt like it was on that cat and mouse ride at the end of Blackpool Pier that looks like it's going to throw you into the sea. So it is, but it's stunning as you come through the valley with the hills rolling up at each side of you and there's crystal clear waterfalls coming down. It is just stunning, and but it can just be a little precarious sometimes. But yeah, there's loads to do besides just the the things that people, you know, think of the Lake District as. And of course, it's an absolute mecca for food. The food in the Lake District is unbelievable.
Speaker: Crave is all about lifestyle and food and holidays and hotels and things. So when you go to the Lake District, you work in, you've got all sorts of places on your doorstep. So um um I want to find out what you found.
Speaker: Okay, so one of the nicest hotels that I've been to in the Lake District, well, there's so many, but one of the nicest recent ones that I've been to is, of course, the Gilpin. That is, in my opinion, one of the finest hotels in the country. It is fabulous. It's not cheap.
Speaker: But if you can afford to splurge and go to the Gilpin for a night, they have two restaurant have two restaurants. Yeah, they have sauce at Gilpin and, oh, going get in trouble because I think it's called Spice.
Speaker: They have an Asian fusion restaurant and a Michelin star fine dining restaurant. Both are wonderful. The Asian one has an open pass and so you can see all the theatrics going on. and um The food is stunning in both. I actually thought I preferred the Asian but that's because of my penchant for rare Spice.
Speaker: The hotel itself is unbelievably beautiful um and it has... various different kinds of accommodation. So the last time I went, I stayed in one of their spa lodges. And when they say spa lodges, they mean a spa.
Speaker: It's like having Rudding Park to yourself. You've got a lot that you stay in with beautiful hotel amenities, but then it's got its own sauna, steam room, jacuzzi.
Speaker: Oh, just absolutely everything. It was stunning. So I would highly recommend that. But I was invited to that. I didn't pay for it. I have no idea how much it was, but I don't think it would be. You just know from looking at it and the quality of the experience that it's a special, for most people, it's a special occasion type of trip. It certainly would be for me. But there's nothing to stop you going for a coffee or a drink in the Gilpin just to have nosey because it's worth having a look, having a wander around the grounds and what have you. It's just beautiful.
Speaker: So certainly that's worth a visit. Linthwaite House Hotel has some of the best views I've ever seen of Windermere and I was really lucky one day to see one of the because there's did the yeah ah RAF do a lot of their flight training up up at the lakes and they fly really low in the valley across the lakes and we were sat high above Windermere at Linthwaite House and the the the weather was cracking so we were sat outside on the veranda and you just see down to the down to the lake and it's just viewed that you can't imagine how incredible that view is and they've also got beautiful grounds and they also have um not sure whether it has a michelin star restaurant it could be in the michelin guide they have a fine dining restaurant, which is one of Simon Rogan's restaurants. And then they have a more casual restaurant called The Conservatory, which is really affordable, but really nice. The food is really good. The service is fantastic. So even if you're not staying at the hotel, it's worth going there for lunch. It's fantastic. And it's not out of the way expensive.
Speaker: In fact, I would say that going there is better value than going to somewhere, say in Brunesse, where you get not so good food. but you're paying for where you are sat lower down near the lake in the thicker things. Linthwaite house is a drive, so but I would say it's a better experience. It's well worth traveling the extra miles to get the good quality food.
Speaker: Oh, absolutely. And the service. Let's not forget the service. Yeah. so And then and spa hotels. There is a plethora of spa hotels up there too. So anything from Lodore Falls, which is up in Keswick,
Speaker: and to Lowood Resort, is it? at the end Kind of at the end of Windermere that has all the and water sports and it's had a purpose-built spa and everything with infinity pool looks out over Windermere and what have you. So if you really want to spa it up in the Lake District, you really can. there isn't I mean, the Gilpin itself has got a beautiful spa. It's in a separate part of the hotel called The Lake House and they'll do you a spa journey. So they'll guide you through this whole kind of treatments and then into like a cold plunge and then into the next thing. And it's wonderful. It's a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I'd like to go back and do that again, actually, right now.
Speaker: We'll make sure that somebody from the Gilpin hears about that then. Yes. Yeah. yeah We need more information about that. There's the hotels, there's the restaurants, but I imagine as well there's probably some really good food shops as well. Oh, so just um just up the road from um the village where the caravan park is, is the food mecca that is Cartmelt. which is world famous for its sticky toffee pudding. Apparently originated there and it doesn't taste the same if you buy it from the supermarket in Leeds. You have to buy it from there for it to taste like it should taste.
Speaker: and But if you are shopping in Morrison's and you see Cartmel's sticky toffee pudding, you should buy it because it's fantastic. and So that little shop in Cartmel Village is wonderful. Then in Cartmel also, Simon Rogan is quite a famous chef. He has two... Michelin star restaurants and the hotel Longclume and hotel and restaurant Longclume and then he has his casual arm inverted commas and of dining and that's Rogan and Co and then just around the corner from that there is a place called Unsworth's Yard which is and a pair of brothers that have opened like almost ah a little courtyard of foodie things so One of them has got a wine bar and he does like pizzas and cocktails and really nice wine. And then around the corner, there's a full cheese shop. The cheese shop is incredible, but I have to put a peg on my nose when I walk in, especially if I'm feeling delicate.
Speaker: And then there's a ah bakery where you can get all the sausage rolls and black pudding, pork pies and all that kind of stuff. And they really know the onions in there as well. They can really help you when you're buying cheese if you're not too short.
Speaker: And then there's a brewery there as well. So it's everything all all in all in one place. And then across the road, there's a gorgeous ice cream shop that if you like licorice, they're licorice ice creamers to die for.
Speaker: And then there's couple of ice cream shops and bits and bats. It's just, and then and then of course there's the pubs, you know, we've got two or three beautiful pubs there all serving really nice pub grubs. So Cartmel is a really nice place to go if you're a fooder Right. it Sounds like you had a fantastic time. But I'm wondering, what's the downside to spending a month in the Lake District?
Speaker: I haven't found one. I was thinking about that. I haven't found a downside. And I have heard people say, oh, I'd never buy a holiday home don't want to go to the same place all the time.
Speaker: think my holiday home has now kind of changed from being a holiday home when we first bought it to now just being home from home. So I don't really see it as going on holiday anymore. Therefore, I don't see it going to the same place all the time. And I'm in the really lucky position that I do travel further afield as well. So I don't feel kind of restricted by the fact that we have a holiday home in one place.
Speaker: I love it because I love the Lake District. It wouldn't be for everybody. I can completely understand that. And I can completely understand the people who go actually, no, I'd rather have an RV and go to, you know, loads of camps all over the country.
Speaker: I can understand that because I can see the pull of going to maybe the Cotswolds or the Peak District or wherever. But for me, the Lake District two and a half hours away. i can take my dogs. I don't have to pack. I can wash my clothes there. I've got a washing machine. I've got a dryer. I've got a bath.
Speaker: I've got a walking wardrobe, Michael. I mean, i only i can only I can fit in it, but I can still walk in it. and's So it's got everything that I could possibly need and more. So for me, it's absolutely brilliant. And the fact that it's on haven park isn't necessarily i a bonus for me. But my husband has got three girls and they've all got kids. So when the kids and the grandkids come up, it's great.
Speaker: for them to be there because they've got all the entertainment on park and they don't really need to worry about anything. We don't we rarely use the facilities on the park. We're there for the Lake District. But um as a as a holiday park, it does have all those things. It's got a couple of swimming pools, crazy golf, all that kind of stuff. So if you want it, it's there. But um yeah, I can't see a downside to having this holiday home. But you've got to be able to obviously make it work for you financially. It sounds great. And you're obviously smitten with the whole place and really enjoying it. And I feel quite tempted to visit the Lake District myself, but but we must find out more about your various travels through the rest of the year. But today, Joe, it's been great having this conversation with you. really do appreciate your time and now look forward to next time.
Speaker: Absolutely. We must do it again. I have plenty more to say. You surprise me. that point Thank you very much for today. if listening to this has tempted you to travel to the Lake District, do what I would do and make your travel arrangements with the Ultimate Travel Club.
Speaker: Because as a member of the Ultimate Travel Club, you get access to trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, holiday parks, all sorts of travel-related purchases. I am Michael Millward, Managing Director of Abusida, and in this episode of Rest Recreation, been having conversation with editor Crave Magazine, Joanne Brooks-Smith.
Speaker: i am michael milward managing director of alaseda and in this episode of rest and recreation i have been having a conversation with the editor of crave magazine joanne brooks smith You can find out more about both of us by using the links in the description, including reading Crave magazine itself.
Speaker: If you are going to visit the Lake District, you'll be wanting to tell everyone who's not the visiting the Lake District that you are in the Lake District and having a great time. And that means you're going to need a really good internet connection.
Speaker: And you'll need to know that 3.0 has the UK's fastest 5G network with unlimited data. And using 3.0 means that you can wave goodbye to buffering. There is a link in the description that will take you to more information about business and personal telecom solutions from 3.0 and the special offers available when you quote my referral code.
Speaker: I'm sure you will have enjoyed listening to this episode of Rest and Recreation as much as Joe and I have enjoyed making it. So please give it a like and download it so you can listen anytime, anywhere, even in the Lake District.
Speaker: To make sure you don't miss out on future episodes, please subscribe. Remember, the aim of all the podcasts produced by Abusida is not to tell you what to think, but we do hope to have made you think. Until the next episode of Rest and Recreation, thank you for listening, and goodbye.
