McGahee

May Cottage is located close to the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere making it the perfect base to explore all the Southern Lakes. Just one road from the edge of Lake Windermere, an easy stroll to the boat rides, quaint shops and a variety of Bistros, Restaurants and Wine & Tapas Bars. The climatic end to the famous Dalesway Walk – Wonderful, never ending, breathtaking scenic walks and drives. Leisure facilities offer relaxing sauna, steam, jacuzzi, swim & gym areas, with snooker, café & bar with Sky T.V. lounge section.

Here is just a small sample of the excellent reviews May Cottage B&B in Bowness-on-Windermere have received on TripAdvisor:

“Great B&B accomodation close to the centre of Bowness”
5 of 5 stars
Date of review: 4 Apr 2011

Most pleasant welcome received from Sue – the accomodation was ideal for our three night stay – with a very comfortable bed room and fine ensuite. The excellent full English breakfast ,accompanied by Sue’s little talk on the locality and its history, set us up for the day’s walking . The B&B is just a few minutes walk to the centre of Bowness and the pubs and restaurants.
For Rugby League fans, a must is a chat with Len Casey , Sue’s husband and breakfast chef, who can relate anecdotes about his playing career for Great Britain ( some as captain) and England and both Hull clubs.

“A gem of a B&B”

Date of review: 1 Apr 2011
Our first trip to the lakes and first visit to a B&B. We recently married and decided to stay away for a couple of nights.

Sue and Len are great value, warm and welcoming. Place is a gem, you ll be lucky to get availability as the repeat business is a sign of how popular this place is.

Would love to stay again!
“SIMPLY THE BEST”
5 of 5 stars
1 more review of May Cottage by Sallyberisford:

Date of review: 23 Mar 2011

We returned to May Cottage, & yet again received a warm, friendly welcome. Sue goes out of her way to make you feel at ease & welcome. She has stories to tell you & her knowledge of the area is outstanding. She has a brillant sense of humour, ALL the rooms are lovely & clean.
If you stay here it is only a very short walk into Bowness & all the shops, pubs etc.
I mustn’t forget Len, who doe’s a wonderful breakfast each morning, Len to is a chirpy chappy.
Throughly recommed you to stay here.
We felt like part of Sue & Lens extended family. Will definately return.
THANKS BOTH

Close to the city centre and within easy reach of the road-rail network, Hedley House Hotel in York offers modern comfortable surroundings, great food and outstanding personal service.

Built in 1845 in the heart of the Victorian city, many of our rooms still include the original fireplace features. Combined with en-suite facilities, hospitality trays and digital widescreen TVs, our rooms are a subtle blend of contemporary modern and historic.

Their intimate award-winning licensed restaurant is a great place to spend an evening or start the night. The restaurant serves a range of home cooked healthy meals, snacks and light bites, all freshly cooked using only award-winning ingredients.

Knowle House is a large Victorian terrace house situated off Bootham on the North side  of the city of York.  York Minster is within a six to eight minute walk.  It is also next door to and under the same ownership as Hedley House Hotel. These York self catering apartments are self-contained, fully furnished and contain all necessary linen, crockery and cutlery.  All have central heating, colour television, electric cooker and fridge.  Wireless internet is available. All but one of the apartments have direct dial telephone.

In a city where car parking space is limited, Hedley House Hotel and Apartments have 19 allotted parking spaces. When these spaces are full there is room for 8 more vehicles in the middle of the car park, the keys to these must be left at reception in case of emergency. The car park operates on a “first come first served” basis.  If this is unacceptable there is a large public car park (chargeable) 2 minutes walk from the hotel.

Dublin, such a popular destination with groups whether it be for sporting events, sight seeing, stag and hen parties or university tours.

When thinking of a destination that caters for just about all tastes then Dublin is hard to beat. From the extensive arts and culture, to sporting events and music festivals, Dublin has it all. For group travel, it really is the destination of choice.

Universities, schools, brides and grooms to be, family and friends are all feeling the effects of the economic downturn. These groups are having to be more aware of costs for group travel.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a great time in Dublin and Cork - there are lots of things to do, see and experience and we can help you to plan and book the best of them at the cheapest group prices. Many of Dublins top attractions are located within easy access of a large selection of Dublin hostels.
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There are over 80 bodies of water in the Lake District National Park which includes the largest, Windermere to the small tarns such as Angle Tarn.

There is in fact only one piece of water that is officially a lake and that is Bassenthwaite Lake 3 miles from Keswick. All the other bodies of water are either a “mere” or “water” for example Windermere and Ullswater or a tarn which means a small body of water.

There are 20 major lakes of which the largest and busiest is Lake Windermere. The lake can be acessed from Bowness, Newby Bridge and Ambleside and visitors will find both Bowness and Ambleside to be thriving tourist destinations with an excellent choice of Lake District bed and breakfast accommodation providers, hotels and cottages. Windermere the town is located 1.5 miles from the lake but Bowness-on-Windermere sits right by the lake swarming with boats, tourists and tours. At nearly 11 miles long, Windermere can fit a lot on it including 14 islands. The speed limit of 10 miles per hour maximum has caused some controversy but of course it has also pleased some people. Another very fascinating fact is that in the heavy rain of January 2005, Windermere rose by nearly a meter overnight. That equates to an extra seventeen thousand litres of water!

The next largest lake is Ullswater in a different part of the county but which offers a much quieter experience. Ullswater is set amongst some of the largest mountains, the main one being Helvellyn, the Lake District’s 3rd largest. The Ullswater Steamers operate on the lake so not only does this area appeal to walkers, but also some sightseers for the spectacular views and quiet lake.

Derwentwater is the 3rd largest lake and offers a very good choice of Lake District guest house venues surrounding it and is located just a mile from Keswick which is a haven for walkers. Derwentwater is only 3 miles long which is significantly smaller than the Windermere and Ullswater.

The deepest lake is Wastwater, being 79 metres or 258 feet deep. At the end of Wastwater at the head of the Wasdale valley are some of the highest mountains in the Lake District, Scafell Pike (which is the highest), Great Gable and Lingfell. The Screes is a mountain that catches the eye on Wast Water. It measures 2000 feet from top to base but 200 feet of it is below the surface of Wastwater. The view towards Scafell Pike from the other end of Wast Water, won Britain’s Favourite View in the ITV programme last year.

It is not just the size of the Lake District that attracts tourists but the density of the area. No other National Park in the UK has the amount of fells and lakes so it is truly special and should be visited by everyone.

To take full advantage of the Lake District visitors should look to stay in one the area’s fine hotels, Lake District Bed & Breakfast accommodation, or self catering properties.

Week off work…check, beautiful vistas required, the English Lake District…check, want to see as much as possible, camper van…check!

With such vast, varied and breathtaking scenery as in the Lake District, it is far too difficult a task choosing one destination for a holiday or short break. Great driving roads+breathtaking scenery=the perfect recipe for camper vans.

Camper vans give you:
The opportunity to visit and experience numerous locations in one trip.
Give you the freedom to stop off when and where you like and for what duration.
No need to worry about there not being a hotel or guest house available in the area.
You are protected from the elements unlike camping.

You’ll never tire of driving on the roads in the Lake District and Cumbria which has some of the most scenic roads in England. In particular, Hartside Pass which The AA and Top Gear list in their top 10 driving roads in England. Other great driving roads include the Kirkstone Pass, the A591 which passes through Ambleside, Grasmere and onto Keswick and not for the faint hearted Hardnott and Wrynose passes.
VW camper vans are particularly suited to the roads in the Lake District. They are compact and allow you to drive on the stunning, narrow roads which other, larger camper van and mobile homes would not be able to.

Camper vans have seen a renaissance in recent years both in terms of new camper vans and mobile homes but especially the popularity of the classic VW camper van. Their iconic status continues to grow and excite young and old. Driving around in the VW camper van is guaranteed to turn heads and makes a holiday even more special.

A mobile holiday is the ultimate in economical holidaying. The cost of parking up on a camping or caravanning site is nominal and sometimes areas can be found that are free. You can self cater as much of the meals as you wish although the Lake District has some fantastic eating houses that really should be visited.

Many people simply can’t justify purchasing a VW camper van for themselves due to lack of annual leave and other commitments. A camper van has to be used regularly both for economy and for the wellbeing of the van. The perfect solution is in the form of hiring. Classic VW camper van hire is now available in the Lake District and enables those who want to experience a camper van holiday but that do not want to purchase one. Volkswagen camper van hire is also great for those thinking of purchasing a van to gain knowledge of driving one. Camper van hire in the UK, sorted.

Jamaica is situated in the centre of the Caribbean, between 17.5 degrees and 18.5 degrees north latitude and 76.5 degrees and 78.5 degrees west longitude. Cuba is 90 miles north.

Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean Islands. Cuba is the largest with the second place taken by Hispaniola which contains the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica is the largest English-speaking Island in the Caribbean, measured at one hundred and forty six miles long and fifty one miles wide and occupying an area of 4,400 square miles.

The population of Jamaica is just over two and a half million with high concentrations in the cities and surroundings, especially Kingston, the capital. Most visitors fly into Montego Bay as the North Coast is home to most of the beautiful beaches and other famous visitor attractions, like Dunn’s River Falls.

It is said that Columbus described Jamaica as “a land of hills and valleys” and crumpled a piece of paper to demonstrate its topography. Almost half of Jamaica is over a thousand feet above sea level and about forty square miles are above five thousand feet. 

The mountainous character of Jamaica creates a wide range of micro-climates. The northeast winds blow regularly throughout the year. During the day, the sea breeze blows onshore and at night, the land breeze blows off- shore. During the American winter season, cold fronts may affect Jamaica, producing very strong cold winds, rain, and a change in wind direction from the North.

There is little seasonal change in average daily temperatures in the lower regions of Jamaica where the majority of the population resides. Readings at St. George’s College Station, Kingston:

·         July Average Low at 75.1 degrees Fahrenheit, Average High at 90.7 degrees Fahrenheit

·         January Average Low at 69.1 degree Fahrenheit, Average High at 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit

Temperatures are ten to twenty degrees Fahrenheit cooler in the highlands, but the summits of the Blue Mountains have seen light frosts on winter nights.

Higher than average rainfall occurs during September to October and May to June. The major dry period is from January to March. The average annual rainfall of 77.1 inches is strongly influenced by the terrain. The northeast of the island receives the most rain. Areas of the Western end also receive high rainfall.

Daily winds develop along the coasts with great regularity and have greater climatic influence than seasonal variations. Typically, the sea breeze commences in the morning, reaches its maximum velocity of about 20 knots at midday, and then gradually subsides in the afternoon, when they often produce afternoon showers in the interior.

Visitors will not be disappointed by the variety on this luscious island, from sun-kissed white sand beaches to rivers and waterfalls, to mountains and valleys in the interior. There are lots of different types of accommodation to choose from including hotels, Jamaica Villas, and Jamaica apartments. There is so much to see and do in including visiting the best beaches at Silver Sands in Jamaica where you will find fantastic places to stay including Silver Sands Villas and cottages. Silver Sands is located on Jamaica’s famous North Coast, midway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest of the Lake District at approximately 4 miles long and ¾ miles wide. Despite its size this long and narrow lake is very shallow, at its deepest point it reaches a depth of just 70 feet. The Lake is easily accessible with the A66 dual carriageway running along the western edge. The laybys are extremely popular for people wanting to take pictures and a spot of bird watching.

Coniston Water
Coniston is the third largest of the lakes and is approximately 5 miles long and ½ a mile wide. The lake is hugely popular with tourist due to its large expanse of water, which contains a number of tranquil islands, as well as the stunning scenery. The lake was famously the setting for the book Swallows and Amazons as well as the setting for Donald Campbell’s ill fated attempt to break the water speed record.

Derwent Water
Derwent Water is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide making it the widest lake in the Lake District. The lake has a number of islands within, one of which contains Derwent Island House which is open to the public just 5 days a year. The huge Skiddaw overlooking the lake and the nearby market town of Keswick make Derwent one of the most popular lakes for visitors.

Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest of all the lakes in the Lake District at approximately 9 miles long and ¾ of a mile wide. Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater often finds itself compared to lakes in Switzerland, such as Lucerne. This favourable comparison is thanks to the beautiful scenery with mountains to one side and green fields and woodland on the other. The lake is great for water sports, with canoeing, sailing and wind surfing particularly popular. There are also the more relaxing steamer boats that take you on a cruise of the lake.

Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and is the largest in the whole of England at approximately 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. As well as being the largest of the lakes Windermere is also the most well known and has long been a very popular attraction for tourists. Many of the tourists who do visit end up taking part in at least one of the many on water activities available. These range from wake boarding, sailing and canoeing to a more sedate pleasure cruise.

About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Borrowdale Gates one of the best Keswick Hotels providing luxury base for your Lake District holiday.

Eden Ostrich World is pleased to announce their festive themed programme of events to occupy even the most excited child this Christmas.

When visiting Eden Ostrich World over the festive period families will be able to experience Christmas themed areas and activities including a craft table where visitors can make a Christmas mask or perhaps colour in a picture and they can even make a Christmas decoration to be displayed on the Eden Ostrich World tree.

The Christmas themed program of events will take place on the 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd of December and is the perfect way to start the Christmas holidays, both young and old!
Eden Ostrich World is a family run business hosting a working farm and visitors centre, which opened to the public in 1998. Diversification came about due to the dramatic changes within the agricultural industry: as it became more difficult to survive whilst farming new ideas started to emerge and after several years planning we created and opened our doors to the public as Eden Ostrich World.
Situated in the middle of the Eden Valley, we couldn’t ask for a more magnificent setting, with the River Eden running straight through our site, it allows customers to take in the views and have a wander down by the river! It is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the different varieties of birds and wildlife.

Their aim is to offer bags of fun and Lake District things to do as well as an educational day, not only learning about the ostrich, from incubation and hatching through to being fully grown, but to give people an insight into modern day farming. They also host playgrounds, a tea room and a very reasonable gift shop, as well as the Hayloft Gallery which is packed full of unusual gifts – a Cumbria attraction for the whole family.

For more information on the festive events and for further information on Lake District attractions, visit http://www.ostrich-world.com.

Lake House is the latest venture for Gilpin Lodge, the award winning family owned and run hotel in Windermere.

Since opening in September 2010, Lake House has already proved a resounding success with guests who have been blown away with one couple’s comments being “it’s like a decompression chamber for stress – you simply feel your body relax”.

Lake House is comprised of six individual suites sharing this fully staffed boutique hotel with bar, dining room, lounge, swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and Knipe Tarn, a four acre right outside the door. The attention to detail is second to none at Lake House but its uniqueness is the combination of their unfussy service which creates an experience of escapism rarely found these days. Quiet, untouched, and devoid of traffic or people, whether sitting by the fire in the lounge, or in the cedar wood hot tub, Champagne in hand, or in the swimming pool, the view instils a sense of peace and calm.

The Lake House is set in 100 acres of private grounds. From the east side of the Lake, over the dam and the waterfall, a stile leads you into the grounds which are a mixture of hilly woodland, moorland, grassland and wild ponds.

Approximately half an hour’s walk from the main house, one particular hill has been named “Viewpoint”. From here you have 360 degree panoramic views of the Lake District, including the distant mountain ranges of Coniston and the Langdales. From this vantage point wild deer and birds of prey are frequently seen. Quite simply a unique location, setting it apart from other Windermere hotels.

The family and team are very proud to have been voted best small hotel in the national tourism awards held by Visit England in April 2010. This follows winning the Cumbria Tourism awards in April 2009, and the North-West England Tourism awards in November 2009.

For further information on Lake House including image galleries, visit http://www.gilpinlodge.co.uk

Lake House is the latest venture for Gilpin Lodge, the award winning family owned and run hotel in Windermere.

Since opening in September 2010, Lake House has already proved a resounding success with guests who have been blown away with one couple’s comments being “it’s like a decompression chamber for stress – you simply feel your body relax”.

Lake House is comprised of six individual suites sharing this fully staffed boutique hotel with bar, dining room, lounge, swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and Knipe Tarn, a four acre right outside the door. The attention to detail is second to none at Lake House but its uniqueness is the combination of their unfussy service which creates an experience of escapism rarely found these days. Quiet, untouched, and devoid of traffic or people, whether sitting by the fire in the lounge, or in the cedar wood hot tub, Champagne in hand, or in the swimming pool, the view instils a sense of peace and calm.

The Lake House is set in 100 acres of private grounds. From the east side of the Lake, over the dam and the waterfall, a stile leads you into the grounds which are a mixture of hilly woodland, moorland, grassland and wild ponds.

Approximately half an hour’s walk from the main house, one particular hill has been named “Viewpoint”. From here you have 360 degree panoramic views of the Lake District, including the distant mountain ranges of Coniston and the Langdales. From this vantage point wild deer and birds of prey are frequently seen. Quite simply a unique location, setting it apart from other Lake District hotels.

The family and team are very proud to have been voted best small hotel in the national tourism awards held by Visit England in April 2010. This follows winning the Cumbria Tourism awards in April 2009, and the North‐West England Tourism awards in November 2009.

For further information on Lake House including image galleries, visit http://www.gilpinlodge.co.uk

Lying to the west of the Coniston Mountain Range, between the southern reach of the Duddon Valley and the wide gentle plains of the Duddon Estuary, Broughton is a bustling town, full of activities, and a perfect base for exploring one of Cumbria’s most unspoiled and dramatic landscapes.

The history of Broughton dates back many centuries with the oldest building thought to be the church of St Mary Magdelene, first built as part of an eleventh century Saxon settlement. The church today is the result of a major restoration taken place in 1873 by the firm of Paley and Austin.

Over time, Broughton became an important market town, a centre of the wool trade and the manufacture of the oak baskets known as swills. Among the little back streets you would have found blacksmiths, millers, tanners, dressmakers and cobblers carrying out their crafts in readiness for the weekly markets.

During the reign of Elizabeth I the town was granted a charter giving permission to hold fairs. To this day, each year on the 1st August, there is the ceremonial ‘Reading of the Charter’, where pennies are thrown to the children.

Today many of the houses and buildings are Georgian, centred on the elegant town square, built by the Lord of the Manor to resemble a London Square. The Market Hall, a fine structure, was built in 1766, originally housing small lock up shops and is now the home of the Tourist Information Centre, exhibiting locally produced glassware, ceramics and paintings. In the centre of the square is a fine obelisk, erected to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George III in 1810, and stands next to both the ancient fish slabs, used to sell fish caught in the River Duddon and Estuary, and the village stocks for those who broke the laws or behaved in an unseemly manner.

For day to day needs Broughton is perfectly self contained with some good shops, inns and restaurants. On Prince’s Street there is Melville Tysons Grocer and Butcher. The shelves groan with preserves, chutneys, wine and pastas; the deli counter has a fabulous selection of cheeses, hams, salami, olives and pastries and the butcher sells the finest cuts, many from locally produced fell bred stock. Next door is the Village Bakery and Cafe. Using only the finest produce to bake their wonderful fresh breads, pastries and cakes the aroma as you pass is enough to draw anybody inside. Finally on Prince’s Street, is the Post Office selling local maps, books, ice cream and general goods.

To take full advantage of Broughton in Furness visitors should look to stay in one the area’s fine Lake District self catering holiday homes. Combine stunning architecture and heritage with stunning scenery.

The Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale valley played host to past members of staff during a weekend reunion in Keswick. Over 60 ex staff and several current employees got together to renew friendships and memories.

The reunion attracted past employees from all over the world including Peter Dixon and his wife who travelled especially from Australia for the occasion and stayed on to see friends in the Lake District. Also present was Kurt Hartmann and his wife who travelled from Germany. Kurt was Head Chef at the Lodore Falls Hotel for 27 years and it was he who taught current Head Chef Mike Ward.

The reunion began with afternoon tea at Lake District Hotels ltd Lodore Falls Hotel, followed by an evening trip into Keswick for drinks and a friendly pub catch up.

On Sunday everyone gathered again at the Lodore Falls for Sunday lunch and a group picture before departing home or on holiday.

Organised by Head Chef Mike Ward, Sales Manager Tanya Sentance, and past employee Vikki Brier, they all agreed the effort of finding everyone was worth it. Finding staff was made easier by using social media sites like Facebook and friends reunited. Mike said “Social media has made an impact on being able to keep in close touch with friends across the world. It made finding everyone and keeping them informed so much easier. It was a monumental occasion and great to meet people who worked here years ago.

Mike really enjoyed catching up with his Head Chef mentor and it was especially important that lunch was perfect. Having over 60 people at the event shows how much people fondly remember their time working here at one of the most famous Keswick hotels. It was also nice for our current team to catch up with old friends.”

Cartmel is a medieval village situated on the edge of the southern Lake District. The 12th century Cartmel Priory typifies this village both in architecture and history. It is still used for worship today as it has been for over 800 years and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The other main attraction for visitors to Cartmel is the racecourse. With the first recorded race said to have taken place on the mid 1800’s, Cartmel races continues to grow in stature and popularity year on year. The creation of a new grandstand, with the back drop of the beautiful southern Lake District coupled with catering to rival any top race event has really put Cartmel on the map.

Cartmel is very much becoming a gastronomic destination. Cartmel and its surrounding villages have some of the best examples of Lake District gastronomy in the whole of Cumbria and the Lake District. Even though many of the restaurants and public houses are located within historic buildings, the food served is right in the 21st century using the finest locally sourced produce that is found in an abundance in the south Lakeland area.

Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of the most famous exports from Cartmel. The pudding is now sold all over the United Kingdom and even world with high class restaurants in London serving this still handmade in Cartmel pudding.

With its top quality food, beautiful historical buildings, race course and spectacular scenery, it’s not hard to believe that Cartmel attracts a cosmopolitan visitor. Luckily, Cartmel offers some stunning Lake District self catering accommodation. When attending the races, what better place to stay in than a beautiful Grade II listed manor house or a beautiful double-fronted period property in Cartmel.

Nearby attractions also include Holker Hall (a stately home with lovely gardens and grounds and a cafe, Cark-in-Cartmel), the Lakeland Motor Museum (In addition to vintage and classic motors, the museum now features of faithfully recreated period shop fronts and also has a themed gift shop. It is now located at its new site in Backbarrow, on the main A590) and Brantwood (an historic house & gardens which used to be the home of John Ruskin with a shop, café and terrace on the east side of Coniston Water).

Lying with the Pennines to the east and the Lake District Fells to the west, the beautiful Eden Valley

The Eden Valley situated around the River Eden and is a mix of lush green countryside, traditional towns and attractive sandstone villages some dating back to Viking times. To the south are the peaceful Howgill Fells, a favourite of Wainwright.

The River Eden which has its source in the Mallerstang Valley, is one of the finest salmon and trout rivers in the North of England and you can enjoy some great riverside walks. Look out for Lacy’s caves, carved out of sandstone right on the riverbank or go in search of the Eden Benchmarks, ten intriguing sculptures in dramatic settings which act as welcome seats.

The most scenic railway in England, the Settle to Carlisle line runs through the Eden Valley with stations at Appleby and Kirkby Stephen. Penrith, a welcoming market town makes an ideal base to explore the area.

Alston and the North Pennines

Alston in the North Pennines is surrounded by a unique landscape of moorland, hills, rivers and waterfalls and is England’s highest market town. This intriguing town with its cobbled streets and fascinating nooks and crannies was the location for the ITV’s production of Jane Eyre and the Oliver Twist.

Enjoy marvellous views over the Eden Valley, Lake District hills and Scottish borders as you climb up to Alston via Hartside, a route named as one of the World’s Top Ten Most Scenic drives by the AA.

Alston and the North Pennines have long inspired artists and writers, the poet and writer W H Auden loved the area and today Alston is an inspiration to the craftspeople who live and work there. There’s a host of unusual shops in the town including quality crafts and galleries.

There is a good choice of Alston accommodation including hotels and guest houses to Alston cottages - many with great views and there’s a Youth Hostel in the town.

Take a ride on one of the lovingly restored steam and diesel engines on the South Tynedale Railway, a round trip from Alston to Kirkhaugh takes around 50 minutes through the beautiful scenery of the South Tyne valley. Visit The Hub Museum with its interesting local history and bygone transport collection.

The North Pennines used to be one of the wealthiest lead mining centres in Europe and you can go down a real lead mine today at Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre-a great family day out with interactive exhibitions.

Designated Britain’s first UNESCO European Geopark, the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a haven for special wildlife and plants.

Alston is an ideal walking and cycling centre with the Pennine Way passing through the town and great opportunities to get away from it all in the surrounding countryside. The C2C, Walney to Wear and Pennine cycle routes all pass near the town making their way through some stunning scenery. You can also go horse riding or fishing on the River South Tyne.

Ullswater Valley

Ullswater is known as one of “England’s most beautiful lakes” and at nine miles long is surrounded by dramatic mountains and inspiring Lake District countryside, featured recently in the “Miss Potter” film.

The perfect place to unwind, you can choose to stay in traditional farmhouses, cosy Ullswater cottages, welcoming guesthouses, fine Ullswater hotels or well run caravan and camping sites around the lake-all offering quality Lake District accommodation. Local restaurants, cafes and inns provide local fare and cuisine to suit all tastes.

The village of Pooley Bridge, at one end of the Ullswater valley is linked by a lovely drive along the lake to the villages of Glenridding and Patterdale at the other the end of the valley. Enjoy a cruise and soak up the atmosphere of this peaceful lake on one of the Ullswater “Steamers” which carry passengers all year round. There are piers at Glenridding, Pooley Bridge and Howtown.

Ullswater is a great lake for sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing and skindiving and you can hire rowing, sailing or small motor boats to explore the islands and bays at your own pace. There’s an active sailing club, various activity centres and pony trekking too.

Follow one of the many scenic paths which skirt around the lake, much admired by Wainwright or head up to the nearby fells such as Helvellyn for a full days hike. Look out for red deer or red squirrels along the way!

Go in search of the Spring daffodils on the shore line around Glencoyne which inspired Wordsworth to write his famous poem or visit the National Trust’s Aira Force, where a series of waterfalls plunge through an attractive wooded ravine.

There is no better location that Keswick on Derwentwater when it comes to walking in the Lake District. There are a plethora of mountains within easy reach of Keswick including some of the highest mountains in England such as Scafell Pike, Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Great Gable and Pillar, which are all over 2,900 feet tall.

For anyone feeling less adventurous there lots of other enjoyable walks in the area including a choice of lakeside paths around Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite and Thirlmere, you can explore neighbouring valleys and secluded places, plus to the West of Keswick you will find the wonderful Whinlatter forest which offers a number of different forest trails.

Of course walking is not the only outdoor pursuit available in Keswick on Derwentwater there are opportunities for mountain climbing, mountain biking, sailing and kayaking to name a few.

Keswick on Derwentwater and the Northern Lakes covers one half of the Lake District National Park. This is the perfect area to choose for gentle relaxation or for an action packed family adventure holiday with lots of activities and attractions.

The picturesque market town of Keswick, nestled on the shores of Derwentwater, has a wide array of shops, restaurants and galleries. Explore the five major lakes, beautiful valleys and unspoilt villages.

For visitors to Keswick and North Lakes there is a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, whether you prefer a Keswick Guest House, hotels, caravan sites or Keswick cottages, the choice is yours.

When it comes to places to visit and things to do during your stay you will find Keswick has plenty to offer including Derwentwater lake cruises, Cumberland Pencil Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Trotters World of Animals, Cars of the Stars Motor Museum, Mirehouse Historic House & Gardens and the Keswick Brewing Company.

When it comes to eating out in Keswick visitors will find an excellent choice of quality restaurants, pubs and hotels. Many different cuisines are catered for including traditional English bar meals with many places specialising in local ingredients. You will also find Italian restaurants, Indian restaurants and even a Mexican restaurant. Fine dining is available at some of the top hotels in the area including Armathwaite Hall, Lodore Falls Hotel and Swinside Lodge in Borrowdale.

It is estimated that there are around 27 million pets in the UK equating to 43% of UK households having at least one pet. In the current economic climate, how can tourism businesses exclude such a high proportion of the market?

Sending a pet to a kennel whilst you are on holiday can be inconvenient as not everyone has a kennelling centre near them. Kennelling and pet sitting services can be quite expensive almost doubling the cost of the holiday. Another and perhaps the biggest reason why pet and dog friendly hotels are appealing is that many owners hate the thought of having to leave their dog or pet when they go away. Taking a dog abroad has its problems with quarantining etc but if the holiday is in the UK, why not take your pet along? Pets are often a large part of the family so leaving him or her for a week can sometimes be quite upsetting. In fact, some even let pets go free which makes taking a pet with you far cheaper than kennelling.

It is not always appropriate or right to take a pet on holiday should the destination, type of accommodation or the activities on the holiday not be suitable for a pet. The Cumbria - Lake District on the other hand is one destination with a great choice of activities and that both the family and Fido with enjoy equally. It is now far easier to take your pet away with you without compromising on the choice of holiday. In fact, there are now pet friendly hotels which a few years ago, was almost unheard of.

Many hotels in the UK and the Cumbria - Lake District specifically exclude dogs and pets of all sorts from their premises. However, some hotels welcome all well-behaved pets to enjoy a holiday with their owners. Some pet friendly hotels in the Lake District offer walking services, special bed linen and beds and food.

Recent years have seen a tremendous rise in the number of self catering properties to choose from.  No longer is a self catering holiday spent within a dingy flat. Lake District self catering cottages can be found for 2 persons right up to 16 and from the basic small house to luxury cottages complete with flat screen TV’s, wood burners and luxury interiors with all the modern conveniences of TV’s, DVD players, washing machines, dryers and dish washers.

Self catering holidays benefit the environment too. The carbon footprint of a self catering holiday is significantly less than a hotel based holiday. Many factors contribute to this, the amount of lights, sheets and towels washed and spa and swimming pool facilities. Some self catering property owners and developers are creating a more eco friendly property, for example, installing solar panels, wind turbines and worming and composting facilities.

In areas such as Grasmere and Ambleside there some idyllic self catering properties such as traditional Lakeland houses dating back years. Staying in Grasmere cottages or Ambleside cottages means there are views in every direction.  Located at the heart of The Lake District National, some properties have views of Helvellyn also Silver How, Steel Fell and Helm Crag. Grasmere is an idea base for walking with the foot of Helvellyn just minutes away and located on main A591 road which leads right up to Keswick for the highest concentration of fells in the Lake District.

The Eden Valley is a beautiful, yet little known area in Cumbria, which lies between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To the North of the Eden Valley lies Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall, whilst to the South you will find the fabulous Yorkshire Dales.

There is an excellent choice of accommodation available within Eden including hotels, guest houses, Cumbrian cottages and caravan parks. Away from the main holiday season many of the Lake District holiday cottages offer the flexibility of short breaks rather than just whole weeks, so visitors can enjoy a long weekend in the area and perhaps buy some fresh local produce to cook yourself at the property. However your eating requirements are catered for by the many excellent restaurants and traditional pubs that reflect the local flavour.

Historic Penrith, often referred to as the “Gateway to the Northern Lakes”, is the major town in the Eden Valley, with a good mix of traditional shops selling locally made products and crafts, including famed Cumberland Sausage and Penrith Toffee.

When it comes to places to visit during your stay the Eden Valley offers a wide range of historic houses, castles, gardens, craft workshops, galleries and museums. In fact there are over seventy visitor attractions in Eden. For the more active there are many sporting facilities including sailing, windsurfing, horse riding, golf, squash, tennis and fishing.

One of the area’s key activities is Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place every June. The Horse Fair gathers together travelling folk from all over the country, buying and selling horses, keeping alive a 300 year old tradition. This is Britain’s largest gypsy gathering, with hundreds of tradition horse-drawn caravans converge on nearby Gallows Hill.

Walkers will find Eden is wonderful walking country, either a leisurely walk along river banks and lake shore or you can take to the higher paths over the Pennines and Lake District fells. In fact, the Pennine Way National Trail reaches into the Eden Valley at Appleby-in-Westmorland as it winds its way towards Scotland. Cyclists can follow the coast to coast (C2C) and Cumbria Cycle Way, both routes are clearly marked along the way.

The River Eden provides challenging fishing, and has in place a “Go Wild” scheme to enable visitors to try wild fishing on the river.

There are a variety of reasons why the Lake District is a great place to visit in the autumn and winter months. Starting with autumn and the colours in the landscape are simply beautiful. Browns, reds, oranges and yellows shower the roads, fields and fells. An excellent time for artists and photographers to visit the Lake District.

Moving to November and December and the Lake District is lucky to have a good share of those spectacular bright sunny winter days when the air is at its crispest. On days like these, you can see for miles and they are excellent times to go walking or to visit the area for a short break. In November especially, there are some great offers available in Lake District hotels. For those wanting a real escape and complete tranquillity, November is ideal.

January celebrates the New Year, recharges the batteries after a hectic, over indulgent Christmas and can be one of the best value short breaks you have. The Lake District is becoming a popular choice in January. There are many activities to do in the Lake District along with the possibility of snow still being on the fells. As with hotels and leisure accommodation throughout the country, Cumbria hotels and Lake District hotels have excellent rates for January as it is traditionally thought to be the quietest month of the year. This enables the consumer to enjoy short breaks in the Lake District at fabulous prices, much needed after Christmas but especially when everyone is being hit by the economic crisis.

Savvy travellers are noticing the great value deals to be had in the winter months. Holidays are quite often being thought about and planned for spring and summer but waiting until then without a break is too long. A short break in the Lake District can combine a much needed break with the chance to go canoeing, sailing, walking, mountaineering, fell running, cycling, the list goes on. The most popular, cheapest and most accessible is walking on the hundreds of fells in the Lake District. Wainwright alone walked and wrote about 214 of them but there are many further smaller fells allowing walkers of any age or ability to sample what the English Lake District is famous for.

A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at Firgarth Guest House in Windermere. Firgarth is an elegant Victorian house built in Lakeland stone around 1875, with views to the rear over Wynlass Beck.

Firgarth Windermere Guest House has the advantage of car parking, and is situated just a short walk from Windermere centre, with its many shops and restaurants and rail/bus station. We make an ideal base for touring, walking or just a relaxing break at any time of year.

Just take a 15 minute walk through ‘Millerground’ to the shores of Lake Windermere or alternatively climb to ‘Orrest Head’ from where stunning views of Lake Windermere and Morecombe Bay can be enjoyed.

Firgarth offers eight bedrooms comprising of double, single, four poster and king size double which are all ensuite. All rooms are centrally heated and decorated in a combination of modern and traditional design, all have colour TV, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer and a range of toiletries.