Visitor Attractions

Muncaster – Overnight at a Lake District Castle

January 28, 2009

Over the past thirty years of driving up to Whitehaven, I’ve often looked across the valley to Muncaster Castle on the hillside above the River Esk not far from Ravenglass. Last week, though, I had reason to stop there. On my way north in the morning, and looking for somewhere to spend the night before [...]

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Windermere – The Great North Swim

September 1, 2008

In the past I’ve mentioned here a variety of energetic activities in the Lake District – running, walking and cycling.  On September 13th, however, there’s a new one.  It’s the “Great North Swim” – a mile in Windermere.  (No, I won’t call it “Lake” Windermere as in some of its publicity; there’s only one lake [...]

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Four seriously damp but totally delightful days among the English Lakes

August 11, 2008

I hesitated before starting to write this. After all, why should anyone else be interested in a record of how my wife and I spent a few days in the Lake District. We’d driven north to look after grandchildren for a few days, then there was a gap before I had to be north again [...]

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A wet week in the southern Lake District

August 5, 2008

My wife and I have just returned from another expedition to the English Lake District, this time to the southern lakes. We camped near the foot of Coniston Water with the intention of building up a better collection of photos of the Crake valley as well of the Coniston and Hawkshead area. Well, things didn’t [...]

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The Great British Heritage Pass

June 13, 2008

If you’re visiting the UK from overseas here’s a great option for making considerable savings in both time and money when visiting major tourist attractions. (Unfortunately for UK residents this is not available to us; it is only for international visitors to our country). I’m referring to The Great British Heritage Pass which covers entry [...]

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The Westmorland County Show, 11th September 2008

May 27, 2008

Earlier today I was checking on the web for the date of this year’s Westmorland County Show when it came back to me that it was a silver cup won by my great-great-grandfather in September 1871 that first got me interested in the history of my family. Actually, at the time I didn’t know that [...]

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Gardens of the Lake District

May 21, 2008

The English Lake District is well-known for its water and its mountains, but maybe less known for its gardens. And yet this “most beautiful corner of England” contains some magnificent gardens of many different varieties. I recently came across a book that I’d missed noticing when it was first published. (Obviously my eyesight must be [...]

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