• Who are we? The Centre is privately owned and is run by an experienced and professional team whose aim is to make your visit, whether it be residential or day only, a memorable and rewarding experience.
• Who do we cater for? Those coming to the Lake District for the first time or regular visitors. Individuals, families and groups are all welcome. The Centre offers accommodation for up to 60 people housing groups as diverse as corporate delegates, schools, walkers and climbers, youth clubs as well as college and university students. We are also popular for venue hire where extended families and groups of friends have taken over the whole Centre for celebrations and wedding receptions.
• A bit about the Centre –  a spacious lounge and bar with natural log fires adds warmth and atmosphere in the autumn and winter months. The sun terrace is, of course, very popular in summer. Continued upgrading and refurbishment of the public areas and bedrooms guarantees you a comfortable stay.  Situated in 5 acres of grounds, the Centre enjoys superb panoramic views including our own mountain: ‘Glaramara’.
• What do we guarantee? Great high and low level walking opportunities, the chance to relax in great surroundings and a professional and reliable service.
• What particular aspects of the Centre do our guests enjoy? Those who have visited the Centre before find the layout and ambience of the building encourage a genuinely relaxing atmosphere, allowing every opportunity to get to know other guests.  Our food and drink, we are told, is on a par with multi-star hotels in the area.   We also think the friendliness of our staff and our hotel quality services are appreciated by our guests.
• Does the Centre take its environmental responsibility seriously? It is operated in an environmentally responsible and community friendly manner with staff encouraging visitors to embrace this approach. The Centre has an active recycling programme and energy/water saving measures in place, which all staff and visitors are given information about and encouraged to adopt.

A brief history of Glaramara

In the decades to come TA Leonard was the architect and the prime leader in promoting group excursions to the countryside for youths and adults through the creation of specific sites throughout Great Britain. He was also a prime mover in the creation of the Lake District National Park. In 1964 the organisation became known as the Countrywide Holidays Association (CHA). One of the few sites purchased and developed by the Association ‘from scratch’ was 4 acres of land at the top end of the Borrowdale Valley which became known as Glaramara. Other sites in the Lake District could be found at Newlands, Portinscale, Grasmere, Ambleside and Eskdale.

The largely treeless land was purchased from the Leconfield Estate in 1934 and the building was completed in 1935 and was known as the ‘Association’s new Holiday Hostel and Youth Guest House at Seatoller. The formal opening before local dignitories, including Lord Leconfield and representatives of the Association, took place on August 14 of that year. Minutes of the General Committee from the period show the intention to establish Glaramara as a place for outdoor activities at a price which should not exceed £2 per week. Unfortunately, the current management of the Glaramara Outdoor Centre cannot quite meet those requirements although we hope that we still offer value for money!! The first party enjoyed an organised walk to the top of Bow Fell. Groups thereafter participated in mountain, bathing and boating excursions whilst officials on site included the Centre Host and Hostess who helped organise evening gatherings in the Common Room (now the main lounge) where songs, games and dancing were the order of the day. Morning prayers were a strong feature of the daily routine on excursion days.

In 1960, the Association celebrated the silver jubilee of Glaramara House. Again, a formal event took place in Borrowdale. The current annex was erected during 1978 and coincided with a successful tree planting scheme on the site due to the generosity of members and patrons. Again, a formal opening followed with a large marquee on the field providing an additional feature. On Easter Monday 1985, the Golden Jubilee was celebrated at Glaramara House and included organised walks, dancing and games. The highlight was an Easter Bonnet parade and a Jubilee cake.

Advertisements during the Association’s ownership of Glaramara show a style of accommodation and service which is slightly different from that offered today. As an example, groups were introduced to each other following arrival by a compere who helped to arrange individuals into groups of ‘tigers’, ‘fledglings’ or just ‘reasonable people’.

A major holiday company purchased the few remaining properties of the Association in 1999. The current owners acquired the site shortly after and have since gradually upgraded the accommodation as well as developing a wide ranging and successful activity and skills course arm to the business. However, we are grateful still to receive the support and regular custom of groups who began visiting Glaramara during the CHA years.