Where to stay:

For bargains look at the accommodation on this site.

If you are arriving by coach or rail can we suggest day trips on public transport. It is possible to purchase a bus 'Explorer' ticket (£19) on the bus, which lasts 4 days and can be a considerable saving. Jump on and off the 'Stagecoach' bus to see lots of places with special interest.

Lake District News:

August 2005

- The ospreys at Bassenthwaite lake are flying as a family. Mother, father and two offspring are enjoying soaring above Bishop rock on Barf. The telescopes on Dodd are provided free to allow visitors to see the birds across the lake and on the perch in the marsh.
- A prominent member of the Lake District National Park has voiced her concern about the number of low flying jets swooping noisily over villages and the lakes. She objects to the noise pollution in a popular tourist destination. The RAF says low flying is an essential part of training and will usually keep to 250 feet.
- The Government is to allow the purchase of second homes to be a qualifying tax break. A buy-to-let investment will count as part of a pension. There is already a shortage of affordable properties in the Lake District and many fear this idea will make matters worse next year.
- The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere have published a free walks guide. Follow the footsteps of William who often tramped into Easdale to compose poetry. Discover the inspiration he felt from the landscape around Grasmere and Rydal Water.
- The male golden eagle in the east of the Lake District can be seen from the RSPB hut in Riggindale beside Haweswater. There is a telescope here and a warden mans the observation point. The male golden eagle is eight years old and could live to thirty years of age. He is probably hoping for a mate to arrive in the area as the resident female must have died due to old age. Over the years sixteen young fledglings have been produced.
- A recent overnight heavy downpour and a flash flood in the Lake District have been blamed on pollution causing global warming. One local meteorologist believes that the changes are normal fluctuations in the earth's weather systems. The river in Borrowdale rose fourteen feet above normal and there was extensive flooding in the surrounding fields, with the loss of many sheep.
- Hen harriers have nested in Geltsdale near Brampton. Cumbrian birdwatchers are pleased to have such a rare and magnificent bird.
- A proposed barrage across the Morecambe Bay is receiving approval in Cumbria. It would harness the natural power of the tides and supply 'green' electricity through turbines. It would also carry a new road to Barrow and the Western Lake District, bringing tourists and providing better communications.

September

- The National Trust intends to sell the buildings of High Yewdale Farm at Coniston. This was left to the Trust by Beatrix Potter, the author of many children's books. The sale is necessary because farm subsidies have been reduced for hill farms and the small farm is now not viable economically. Protestors see the sale as the start of a rationalisation process for other National Trust properties and the end of small hill farms.
- The recent television programme about the Coast of Britain was fascinating and the Cumbrian coastline was covered with comment on old and new industries. The BBC now have a Whitehaven walk on their 'Cumbria' website in their 'best of' section. The walk leads you along the harbour and into the town, pointing out the rich maritime heritage and places of architectural interest.

October

- Low flying aircraft are crossing Cumbria this month in an exercise in which they are permitted to fly as low as 100 feet.
- World heritage status: Apparently a decision as to whether an application is to be made or not, is being reached on October 14th.
Unfortunately the The Lake District was twice turned down for accreditation in the 1980s but the Lake District National Park Authority has been encouraged to try again following changes to the criteria.
If it goes ahead, a bid will go to English Heritage in 2007 and on to Unesco, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, in February 2008. Advocates of a bid say that having World Heritage Site status could boost tourism, enhance the county’s image and promote conservation. But opponents say heritage status would lead to more planning restrictions on housing and roads. Cumbria Tourist Board is curiously against the designation.
- The vendace, a fish in Bassenthwaite Lake, is being protected from extinction. The lake is suffering from increased pollution, mainly from the high levels of phosphate and nitrates in effluent from busy Keswick. A helicopter has been used to airlift catches to a remote tarn in the central fells. It is hoped they will flourish there. Eggs have also been sent to a lake near Dumfries in Scotland.
- The meeting about World Heritage status did not reach any firm conclusion and another meeting will be held in December.

November
- The restoration of the jet powered Bluebird 7 is unlikely to be supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. They argue that the wreck is what the public want to see as it would provide a strong image, reflecting the heroic attempt at high speed. Donald Campbell died in the attempt for the water speed record. His daughter Gina wants almost one million pounds to be spent on a full rebuild.
- Food producers are starting a campaign to get the Cumberland Sausage recognised by the European Union. A Yorkshire farmer has recently been prevented from marketing a home made cheese as Feta, as this apparently can only be produced in a certain part of Greece. If Cumbria is given protected status for Cumberland sausage this could mean opportunities for Cumbrian farmers and businesses.
- Three climbers had to be rescued from a rock climb in Borrowdale. The rescue involved 38 members of the local Mountain Rescue teams. The rock climb on Raven Crag is particularly long and the climbers texted other climbers when they could not finish. Rescuers had to be lowered down the crag in the dark in bad weather. It seems amazing that rock climbers are still on crags when torrential rains are hitting the fells every day. The rock face must have been running with water and 'Corvus', a very difficult long classic route (about 1,000 feet), would have been an epic in such conditions. A Mountain Rescue spokesman commented that they started in the afternoon, did not allow enough time for the route and as darkness fell they were benighted without emergency food and rather poor clothing.
- A red squirrel study in the Grasmere valley has shown that there are 30 - 40 animals including young ones. Grey squirrels, now also in the valley, carry a pox virus which kills the red squirrels. Greys are being trapped and shot, but despite this the number of Greys is rising in the valley. A £1 million project is being launched in northern counties to cull the greys in zones surrounding red squirrel populations. The Greys now outnumber the reds by 66 to 1. American Greys were introduced into England in the 19th Century and these larger squirrels also compete more successfully for food. Further north there is also an increased determination to keep the Greys out of the Scottish forests. The red squirrel must be saved from extinction.

December

The Lake District National Park is planning to close some Tourist Information Centres in the near future. The LDNP has to find a saving of 1 million pounds in 2006 as the funds it will receive will not be increased to match inflation. Discussions also continue with organisations about the responsibility for path maintenance in the valleys.

January 2006

There is little snow on the fells but ice climbing is popular on the high cliffs.

February

A bottlenosed dolphin has entered the harbour at Maryport. It is thought that it has separated from its pod, migrating through the Irish sea.

March

The dolphin has become a tourist attraction. The mammal swims along the side of the dock and feeds on the flatfish below. It seems to be about eight feet long and many people spend hours watching it. It seems very happy in the harbour and does not seem to want to leave when the harbour gates are open. The dock is eventually drained and the dolphin is lifted out with a crane. The inflatable lifeboat is then used to take the dolphin to deep water. Amazingly another dolphin swims into sight and the two dolphins swim away.

April

Two ospreys return from Africa - one male and one female. After two weeks three eggs were laid. A dolphin was beached at Beckfoot just north of Maryport and photographs of markings on the fin confirmed it was the same dolphin that stayed in Maryport harbour in March. The dolphin was returned to the sea.

May

At the end of May three osprey chicks were hatched.