Seaside retreatfor body and soul

Mar 15 2009 Sunday Sun

WHEN it comes to finding rest and relaxation, PHIL CULLEN shows he’s no slouch and heads for England’s North Western shore

SOMETIMES I need to take a break, get away from it all, relax and unwind.

When the urge to leave the city suddenly comes upon me, my favourite spur-of-the-moment destination has always been the Lake District. It’s easy to get there, they speak English and there’s always decent food and ale available.

Usually, I head for the Northern Fells and let go of my cares amongst the mountains, lakes and bosky dells of the most beautiful National Park in England.

For my most recent escape, however, I bypassed the snow-capped peaks, leaving their January conquest to the brave and the foolhardy. An extra 20 minutes’ drive found me in a completely different landscape . . . the West Cumbrian coast.

After all, who doesn’t like to be beside the seaside?

Having had almost no previous experience of this distant shore, I’d decided to stay near Whitehaven, as it’s quite central and very handy for some great beaches and walks as well as a host of other agreeable diversions.

On arrival at my lodgings, though, I decided it would be best to put all other considerations aside for a while and enjoy the place I’d be calling home for the next few days. Rather a stately home, as it happened.

Moresby Hall is a Grade I listed building, one of the most important in Cumbria, and appears now pretty much as it did back in 1620. Parts of it are much older, dating back to the 11th century, and it boasts a long and distinguished history – including being featured in an episode of the TV show Most Haunted.

The only spirits I encountered, though, were in the well-stocked bar-basket in my room, where the atmosphere was definitely more chilled than chilly.

My bedroom was huge, light and airy, luxuriously appointed with antique furniture and a seven-foot-square four-poster bed.