A dog-friendly estate has launched two staycation lodges perfect for stargazers and astrology lovers.
Set in the 250 acres of the Blaithwaite Country House Estate, in Wigton, Cumbria, the two Stargazer Cabins offer incredible panoramic views of the night sky near to the Lake District.
The two cabins are named Galaxy and Comet, and each have a stargazing skylight for uninterrupted views of the starscape - perfect for a romantic night under the stars.
Located between the Solway coast and Lake District, the lodges at the family-run estate sleep between four and six people, and have even been painted in shades of grey and blue to mimic the colours of the sky.
The area is lucky to have ‘minimal light pollution’, meaning clearer skies and a better look at the constellations and galaxies that make up the universe.
The lodges have a double bedroom, bathroom and shower, with a modern kitchen and patio. Comet - the larger of the two cabins - also has a pull-out king size bed, with a cosy LED electric fire to stay warm on those winter evenings.
They each have a fully enclosed, private outdoor space for keeping children and dogs safe.
Outside there’s a pop-up bar, hanging chair, BBQ and hot tub which is ideally located to catch a picturesque sunset over the estate’s Ellrigg Field.
Staycationers were keen to try out the pods, with one family saying they’ll never go back to camping after the ‘glamping’ experience.
Posting to the Blaithwaite Country House Estate Facebook page, the reviewer wrote: “We have been going to Blaithwaite over the last four or five years and it is great to see the business growing and popularity of the site.
“We have always camped historically, however with a new addition to the family we booked a stargazer pod instead. We all loved our stay, everything was spotlessly clean and we really appreciated the little touches like the note and wine, thank you.
“The views from the cosmo pod towards the solway was superb and taking this in after a soak in the hot tub was very nice! Kids loved the space, park and grounds as much as ever. Looking forward to our return trip soon, spoilt now, may never go back to camping.”
Another added: “Absolutely gorgeous, clean and very well kitted out with everything you could need. Comfy beds and my girls adored the stargazer level.”
The estate has been run by six generations of the same family for the last two and a half centuries, and is a country retreat steeped in history.
Home to the Donald family, the owners recommend that phones are turned off for a digital detox, with guests encouraged to take to the trails, feed the animals and end the day with a spot of stargazing.
Owners Kate and Malcolm offer not just the Stargazer cabins, but also several cottages that can cater from four to 40 guests, as well as traditional camping pitches looking across the Solway.
For adventure seekers, there’s also crazy golf, giant chess and dedicated play areas, and activities like bushcraft, outdoor laser tag, pioneering, orienteering and treasure hunts for little ones.
Prices for the Stargazer Lodges start at £450 per week and are available to book at blaithwaite.co.uk .
