Down time before the summer season kicks off

The 2012 / 2013 ski season well and truly put to bed, the Lodge has been cleaned from top to bottom and just a little snow left on the mountain tops. It's our down time, time to recharge the batteries and look ahead to the summer season and all the activities the summer brings!  Well sort of, we are getting some well earned down time, but for all you people that know Nigel, he is also putting in some serious mountain biking miles and training in preparation for all the MTB competitions that are held in Bulgaria and Northern Greece over the next few months. 

Already since mid April he has done 6 competitions!  Of which 180 kms was in just 1 weekend.  The training though is definitely paying off as he has had 4 x 2nds in his group and 2 x 1st which of course he thoroughly deserved. 

As most people are aware we do MTB guiding and also run MTB package holidays during the summer season. With a 7 night MTB holiday package on a Bed and Breakfast basis starting at just £310 per person inclusive of return airport transfers, 5 days guiding, WIFI and of course use of our large outdoor hot tub, we think you will absolutely love the trails we have in and around the area. Our facilities also include secure bike storage should you wish to bring your bike, and wash down and workshop facilities. Take a look at some of the biking on offer, we have made a short video you can watch on youtube.

The 2013 winter season draws to a close and it has been a great one here at Devonshire Lodge.

Where has that time gone! It literally seems like just yesterday that we were doing the usual Spring clean (but in late Autumn) in preparation for the start of the 2012/13 ski season! And now here we are having waved off our final guests of the season and doing the final clear-up.

This season has proven to be one of our best yet; we have welcomed so many great people from so many walks of life  through the doors of  Devonshire Lodge this season and shown them our own very small slice of Bulgaria. 

In one of our previous blogs we announced that we would be entering everyone who booked a ski holiday with us for the 2012/13 ski season the chance to win a weeks B&B for 2 people to be taken during the 2013 summer season. The names were all put in a pot and we thought it would be nice if we asked one of our guests to make the draw. This honour fell to 6 year old Amber Williams.  The lucky winner is Clive Pearce who has since been contacted with details of his fabulous prize.

There’s plenty to do in and around Bansko during the summer, and the weather is beautiful (usually 30 Deg +). Besides walking, biking, horse riding and cultural visits to name just a few, there is also border hopping over to Greece to visit caves, archaeological sites and beaches. 

Nigel is an experienced mountain biking (MTB) guide and can cater for beginners through to the hardcore trail blazer; the vineyards of Melnik are a short hour’s drive away; and for the water babies, we can offer PADI qualified diving trips to Thassos in Northern Greece. 

We want to thank all our guests for making this winter season at Devonshire Lodge such a memorable one for us, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

Glynis, Nigel, and Tosh

The 2013 winter season now open

With the snow arriving right on cue and Devonshire Lodge decked out in all its glory ready for the festive season we are looking forward to welcoming all the guests both old and new that will pass through our doors. For us the winter is a fantastic time where the Lodge really comes to life and welcomes a wide range of personalities, all of whom contribute to leaving a small stamp on it, giving the Lodge its relaxed friendly atmosphere.

This year we have introduced a couple of new TV's to the dining room/ lounge, so whilst the children are busy sat watching their cartoons on the large 42" flat screen they wont be interrupted by the grown ups who are most likely to be found on the Wii 'just dance',  on the dedicated flat screen gaming tv! The menus have had a little bit of re-working, we are sure you will love the additions. The cakes! there is just one new addition here but other than that in my opinion you should never try to mend something that just isnt broken in the first place!  LDT (or to the unitiated Lemon Drizzle Tuesday)  still has its place firmly on the list of fares.

The rooms have also had a little tweaking with some nice red runners and cushions to match that just give them a little extra homeliness.

On the snow front, the official opening of the winter season was on the 15th December and was opened by   the famous skier Herman Maier. New for this year is snowkarting which looks like it will be great fun. Besides the snowkarting there are lots of other activities available, ski-doo, parascending, powergliding over the Razlog valley, ice skating.

 

 

Win 7 night’s B& B accommodation at Devonshire Lodge!

To celebrate 10 years of Devonshire Lodge in Bansko, we’re giving you the chance to win a week’s B&B accommodation at the Lodge for 2 people during the 2013 summer season.

All you need to do to enter is book a ski holiday with us for the 2012/13 winter season, and we'll enter each adult in your party into the draw.

There’s plenty to do in and around Bansko during the summer, and the weather is beautiful. Nigel is an experienced mountain biking (MTB) guide and can cater for beginners through to the hardcore trail blazer; the vineyards of Melnik are a short hour’s drive away; and for the water babies, we offer PADI qualified diving trips to Thassos in Northern Greece.

So, what are you waiting for – book your winter holiday now and be in with a chance to win!

It may be Autumn but there's no time for rest!

September usually means taking time to relax before starting the preparations for a busy winter season, but not here at Devonshire Lodge or MTB Bansko!

Nigel has been putting in lots of hours training on his trusty steed, or in geek speak his Specialised Epic Fsr as September is a busy month on the MTB competition scene here in Bulgaria. 

This weekend saw 8 of the Bansko MTB'ers competing in a 24hr relay race in a place called Matenitsa which is toward the middle of the country in the Stara Planina mountain range. We entered 2 teams of 4 and the rules really were quite simple: ride for 24 hours and do as many laps as possible, but only 1 member of each team was allowed on the trail at a time.

Nigel's team came in 4th after a tie break decided on group times.
They lost out by 15 minutes!  But, both Bansko teams were awarded a rather obscure, Mad Max looking award made from an old bike chain and old gear cables etc. for being the teams who participated in the spirit of things and remained upbeat throughout. It wasn't drink induced either!

Nigel, Steve (hiding), Adam, Kjeld, Tim holding the Mad Max award, John, Victoria and Phillip 

Not sure the Bulgarians quite got it, personally I think it was purely that Brit sense of humour that always seems to shine through.

Back into training for Nigel now he has just entered his next competition - this weekend! A mere 'stroll in the park' 100km! I don't know where he gets all that energy from.

MTB Bansko co-organises upcoming MTB competition

Following the success of recent Road to Nowhere competitions, MTB Bansko is helping to organise a new, more gruelling event called 'The three mountains MTB Ultra' which will take place on Saturday 29th September 2012.

Nigel has been busy riding the trails around Bansko and has mapped a 120km trail taking in the Pirin, Rhodope and Rila mountain ranges.

• Altitude range from 765m to 1683m
• Total climb 3099m 
• Total descent 3095m 

Entries are flooding in! But, are you brave enough to take on the Three Mountains MTB Ultra?

Full details on where, when and how to enter can be found on Bankso MTB 

We would love to see you there.

Devonshire Lodge awarded Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor

We would like to say a big thank you to all our guests for your support since we opened Devonshire Lodge back in 2003. Your feedback and comments mean so much to us, and help us continually improve. As a result, Trip Advisor has recognised Devonshire Lodge’s success by awarding us a Certificate of Excellence for 2012! We really could not have done it without you!