What do you get the man who has it all?! The infernal dilemma keeping me awake at night as I weighed a world of options for my soon-to-be septuagenarian father. My dad loves having his family around him so I knew it had to be a meaningful location close to his heart. Lake District holiday cottage lets: check!
We’d also need a large self-catering accommodation big enough for 10 people. A quick filtered scroll through the thousands of holiday properties, lodges and lakeside cottages on offer at HolidayCottage.com and and we eventually landed on the perfect place just outside the historic village of Grasmere. Now for the icing on the cake… and what better way to marvel at the majestic Lake District scenery than from the air!
Exhibit One: the Gyroplane. Also known as a gyrocopter, invented more than a hundred years ago. Although you wouldn’t have wanted to ride on the prototype…
If you’re of a certain generation (ahem), you’ll remember Sean Connery famously flew a missile-toting gyroplane by the name of Little Nellie in You Only Live Twice, whizzing about the villain’s hidden volcanic lair.
Its large rotor on top and propeller at the back give it the look of a homemade helicopter. But there is one huge difference – the main rotors are propelled by the air flowing through them. That’s right, there’s no engine turning the overhead blades. They call it ‘autorotative force,’ which actually drives the blades around. What could possibly go wrong?!
They’re actually incredibly stable, handle rough air with ease, and only require a short, smooth runway like a field to take off and land – no long, paved runways needed. Easy to fly (unlike helicopters), they have a helicopter-like versatility but are among the cheapest to own and operate.
Enter Roger Savage and Lake District Gyroplanes.
(Ready for takeoff)
With more than 40 years and 9k+ hours of flight experience, Roger is a top gyrocopter pilot and instructor in Europe, who also knows his way round aeroplanes and helicopters. At his Lake District Gyrocopters flight school, located in the stunning Lake District National Park, Roger provides hands-on flights in open-cockpit gyrocopters, with unforgettable views of the Lakes and mountains right after takeoff.
After Roger’s briefing it was time for my dad to suit up and go full Top Gun flyboy for an exhilarating 40+ minute tour of the Lake District’s stunning vistas. The flight also included parts of the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria’s beautiful Eden Valley and Hadrian’s Wall.
It was also a perfect way for my dad to scout out lake district cottages on the Lakes for our next family holiday. And it really was a true hands-on experience, as my dad took complete control of the hydroplane for nearly half the flight.
The smile on his face said it all.
(My flyboy father)
Find your perfect Lake District Cottage at HolidayCottage.com. And book your flight with Roger today at Lake District Gyroplanes today.
Wherever your next holiday takes you – from adventure to relaxation – be sure to escape, explore and ENJOY!
Adam
The Lake District has limestone caves perfect for exploration. Cathedral Quarry and Rydal Cave are accessible options, while Long Churn Cave offers a more challenging experience.
