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 Try before you buy!
If you are not yet a member but would like to attend one of our events, why don't you come along and see what it's all about? We understand that you may want to get a feel for the club before you commit to joining and therefore we invite you to attend any one event before we ask you to join. Please contact the office if you have spotted an event that you fancy coming along to and we'll make sure that you get a warm welcome!
Tipi Weekend - Sept 20th-21st
Tipi Weekend - September 20th - 21st
We have a truly unique weekend lined up for you here - a weekend of walking, sitting by the open fire, sleeping in a tipi at night and our very own woodland to explore...
We came here last year and everyone agreed that sleeping in a tipi is a really great experience. It's a bit like camping but much much better -the atmosphere inside a tipi has to be experienced to be understood! This is Sarah's review of last year's Tipi Weekend:
What an excellent time I had on the recent Tipi weekend. It was such a novelty to stay in a Tipi - very much like posh (ish!) camping. The Tipi's were hugh so it was more like sleeping in a house than a tent. There was two big Tipi's to choose from as well as a mini one for use as a mess tent.
The weekend was absolutely brilliant. The weather was great, the BBQ excellent, and the breakfast was yummy! (unless you were the one to eat the bread with a little 'extra' ingredient. mmmm a yummy slug which had found a home in the loaf of bread!).
The camp fire at night was great, the company superb, the toilets and shower of high standard (not).
I had one of the best weekends so far this year and am looking forward to another 'Tipi extravaganza'!
Miss Nickson
xxx
We arrive on Saturday morning at Fell Foot Wood at the southern end of Lake Windermere. We have the wood, all 22 acres of it, all to ourselves for the whole weekend. The wood is a beautiful, magical place, with spectacular views over the lake and is full of little secret areas to explore.
As you arrive you will leave the car behind and walk up into the wood to be greeted by 3 authentic American Sioux Indian tipis - this is your accommodation for the weekend! The tipis really are magnificent structures, reaching 26 feet in height and decorated in Sioux Indian artwork.
This is a 'getting back to nature' weekend and apart from the most basic of facilities, the wood is as natural as it gets. This is not a commercial campsite - we will be it's only inhabitants for the duration of our stay - and you are free to roam around as you wish.
The basic facilities we've mentioned are 2 toilets, a washing area with hot water and a new gas shower unit. There is also a permanent tent erected that you can store bikes in should you wish to bring yours.
Apart from that, it's just us and nature!
Saturday
We ask you to bring a picnic lunch which we can enjoy either by the tipis or we can walk up to nearby Gummers How and eat overlooking Lake Windermere.
Later we will have a barbeque and then while away the evening around a big outdoor fire.
We retire that night to our tipi which sleeps 6-8, or a smaller one which sleeps 4, for a unique night under canvas!
Sunday
Next morning breakfast will be provided and we can then decide how to spend the day. There are many options from this site - we can walk one of the many beautiful pathways which lead directly from the woods, head to the lake and take a steamer up to Bowness or Ambleside, go mountain biking (please bring your own bikes) or simply hang around the wood and enjoy the blissful peace and quiet.
We have managed to put this on for you at an incredible £65 per person and £50 per child. When you consider that you get a night in a tipi, a barbeque, a roaring fire, breakfast and exclusive use of 22 acres of woodland, we're sure you'll agree that this is a very good value weekend!
You will need to bring with you an inflatable mattress for comfort, a sleeping bag, a chair, a picnic lunch and your bike if you wish to go mountain biking. Oh, and your own supply of booze for Saturday night - it's a long way to a shop!
Places will be limited - we have 3 tipis - so early booking is advised.
If you'd like to book your place now please drop me an email.
 Narrowboat Weekend - October 3rd-6th
Narrowboat Weekend - 3rd - 6th October.
All aboard for a lazy 3 night cruise through the Lancashire countryside.
Setting off on Friday night and returning the boats on Monday, the idea is to stack our temporary floating homes with food and beer and enjoy a wonderful weekend of complete chill out! (If you can't stay until the Monday because of work commitments, we can drop you off late on Sunday evening).
We have a particulary scenic route planned and there are plenty of locks to keep you busy. We start off at Riley Green and our first challenge on Saturday morning is to negotiate 7 locks before taking it in turns to navigate the canal! We work our way down to Wigan flight on Saturday and Sunday and then return to our starting point by Monday morning.
If you speak to any of the Zesters who came last year, I'm sure you'll hear that they all had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.... here's a snippet of feedback from Sarah Nickson:
'What an absolutely fantastic time I have just had on the Narrow Boat! The company was great, food yummy and sleeping arrangements cosy! What more could you wish for. The whole weekend was spent relaxing on the boat pondering over what game to play next or more importantly what to eat next (white chocolate v's milk chocolate). This oral consumtion was however cancelled out by the 'energetic exercise' which was pursued by some in the form of strolling along the canal side. All Zest goers particulatly enjoyed steering the boat and tackling the locks - which were in fact good for the old bingo wings and required some good muscle power (it's a good job I'm a 'sturdy' girl, that's all I can say).
Particularly enjoyable moments -
Pam's accidental collision (Titanic / Iceburg moment)
Barbara's lack of tuition skills prior to Pam's collision
Mary's mini yet multiple collision moments
Lisa / Pam / Nickson close contact moments when passing each other on the boat
Paul's 'splash back' incident (oh yes it really happened - and I bet your mouth really was open at the time!!!)
Jeff (boat neighbour) with his 'Rapido' design of a 'Rat' (NOT)
Barbara + Jeff
The dead Rabbit
What fun memories! I'd definately do it again
xxx
We have booked 2 boats; a six berth and an 8 berth and so once you have a Zest member of staff there, we only have a maximum of 13 places available (maybe less if no couples book and we have to use double beds for single people - it's more likely to be just 10 places). There are 3 double beds in total and the rest are singles. Both boats are beautifully fitted out and are extremely well equipped. All bedding is provided so all you need to bring with you is a small overnight bag and plenty of beer!
The price of just £175 (£195 for non-members) includes breakfast, all meals except for the first night where we eat in one of the many pubs en route, and 3 nights on board.
If you'd like to book your place now please send a £50 deposit to the office. The balance of £125 will be due on or before 16th August.
This weekend will not appear on the calendars for a couple of months but there has been a lot of interest in another Narrowboat Weekend - therefore it is likely to fill up very quickly so please if you want to join us, book asap!
 New Year 2009
New Year 2009. Bookings are now being taken! Please see the booking link on October 1st to book your place.
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