We all know that there are some wonderful things to do in the Lake District National Park. It is after all, an exceptional example of nature’s playground, with the fells to hike, valleys to explore and the shores of the lakes inviting you to take to the water for a swim or boating trip.
At Low Wood Bay, you’ll find that we’ve gone that extra mile in terms of outdoor activities. As well as the outdoor spa facilities for those who want a bit of R&R whilst taking in the spectacular views of the Langdales, there’s also the Watersports Centre which offers pretty much all you can think of in terms of boating, paddleboarding or even wake surfing.
Many of our guests yearn for something more to bring them closer to the natural world, and that’s why we’ve teamed up with Lake District Falconry to offer intimate hawk walks in the Lake District, allowing participants to get up close to birds of prey and even have them fly to their outstretched gloved hand.
How to get into Hawk Walks in the Lake District
We first started working with the falconers and their birds at The Wild Boar Inn, where our 72 acres of woodlands make the perfect tree canopy cover to see the raptors fly, swoop and dive in a natural environment.
And so we decided to help create a falconry centre here on the shores of Windermere, using Low Wood Bay’s extensive grounds and the backdrop of spectacular Lake District scenery to offer ‘hawk walks’ for guests and visitors.
What is a Hawk Walk?
Sessions start with the experienced falconers introducing one of the raptors, allowing participants to wear a falconry glove and have the bird of prey perch on their fist. This is followed by the opportunity to fly the hawk to and from the glove with expert guidance from an experienced falconer.
A bird’s eye view of Windermere and the fells
General manager at the spa Mark Needham says: “We’re very lucky to be able to offer our guests some of the best views across Windermere here at Low Wood Bay. So what better place to allow them an even closer step to nature by trying their hand at falconry.
“During the hawk walks, there’s a chance to take on the role of the falconer, donning the gauntlet and calling the birds to you. It’s a great way to experience the unique bond between these birds and humans. We have a number of hawk walk packages to choose from, including options to make a day of it with spa usage and a two-course lunch or afternoon tea.”
As an integral part of the sessions, participants also learn about the behavioural habits of the birds and watch one of the hawks perform a simulated hunt using artificial prey.
Stephen Lea from Lake District Falconry says: “It’s great to add such a spectacular venue for our exclusive hawk walk experiences. Low Wood Bay guests can get to know our beautiful hawks and immerse themselves in their world against the spectacular backdrop of Windermere and the Lakeland Fells.” Find out more book your falconry experience.
When you take a hotel break in the Lake District, have you ever considered who might have visited or even stayed at the venue before you? Would you know if any historic figures or famous faces from the past have been in the very same room as you?
Lake District Stays With Celebrities Past & Present
From royal visitors to filmstars, our venues have hosted a number of illustrious names over the years, including Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, the late King Hussein of Jordan, The Earl of Wessex and the current King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales.
And Hollywood royalty amongst our guests include household names such as Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Joan Collins and Henry Cavill.
Further back, renowned poets, writers and artists including William Wordsworth, JMW Turner, John Ruskin and John Constable were regulars at Low Wood Bay.
Celebrating Low Wood Bay’s Movie Connections
So, the recent stay of Lucy Fleming was an opportunity to celebrate the venue’s historic movie connections, notably with that truly iconic film from the 1940s, Brief Encounter.
Lucy is the daughter of Dame Celia Johnson, who was resident at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa during the filming of Brief Encounter in 1945. We were thrilled to host Lucy and her husband Simon Williams, with the hotel as a staging post for their play, ‘Posting Letters to the Moon’, which was shown at The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.
The play is a touching portrayal of life during the Second World War through the correspondence between the Oscar-nominated actress and her explorer and writer husband Peter Fleming, the brother of James Bond creator Ian.
It includes Celia’s experiences of working with Noël Coward which led to her starring role in the film. Peter Fleming was away for most of the war, and in his letters, he writes about his adventures working on deception in India and the Far East.
To mark Lucy’s stay over 75 years later, a framed and inscribed copy of a Brief Encounter movie poster was presented to her, and the picture has been mounted in the hotel as a permanent reminder of her mother’s residence here.
Brief Encounter Filming At Carnforth & The Langdale Valley
Celia Johnson was rumoured to have stayed in room 19 but to this day, no-one can quite be sure. She described the hotel and recalls a warming fire being made up in her room and the provision of a late breakfast after filming throughout the night.
In an excerpt of a letter written by Celia to her husband during filming, she writes:
“We are living out at Windermere in a frightfully comfortable hotel where we have fires in our bedroom, breakfast in bed, in fact every mod con.”
Celia Johnson
She was chauffeur driven each day by Rolls Royce to Carnforth station and also for a day’s filming up in the Langdale Valley for one of the most famous scenes in the movie at Middle Fell Bridge, Dungeon Ghyll.
In her letter, Celia explains:
“Today being Sunday we went out to look for little bridges for the little scene on the bridge and went all round the lakes and up and down the hills and it was simply lovely. I didn’t know this part of the country was so beautiful.”
Celia Johnson
Hosting Film Crews at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa
Our former chairman Michael Berry mentions the film crew’s stay in his book on Lakeland history thus:
“Brief Encounter is one of Britain’s best loved films. Film crews bring an added buzz to all directly involved and indeed bring additional business to the hotel from the locals who are curious to know what is going on.”
Michael Berry
Other films with which our venues have been involved include The French Lieutenant’s Woman from 1981 starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons, Killing Me Softly, the 2002 thriller starring Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes, and Snow White and the Huntsman which starred Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron.
Lucy Fleming said:
“It’s been lovely for Low Wood Bay to be involved in our plans to bring our production, ‘Posting Letters to the Moon’, to Cumbria, and to explore the venue’s connections with Brief Encounter.
My mother, Celia Johnson, very much enjoyed staying at the hotel during the filming of the movie and travelling to Carnforth each day in a Rolls Royce, so it’s a joy to follow in her footsteps.”
Lucy Fleming
In his book, Michael Berry adds:
“These brief encounters are all great fun and add an extra dimension to the life and work of the hotel team.”
Michael Berry
So, if you’re settling in for your stay here at Low Wood Bay, especially if it happens that you’re booked into room 19, take a moment to seek out the picture on the wall in the reception lounge and think about life as a film star in residence back in an altogether different time.
“We are living out at Windermere in a frightfully comfortable hotel where we have fires in our bedroom, breakfast in bed, in fact every mod con”
Celia Johnson
While you’re enjoying your hotel stay in the Lake District or North Lancashire, have you ever thought of helping out with some tree planting?
Celebrate National Tree Week with English Lakes Hotels
National Tree Week, an initiative spearheaded by The Tree Council, is celebrated in the UK every year at the end of November.
It’s a key time for trees as this time of year marks the beginning of the planting season.
Supporting The Local Environment
At English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues, we’re always looking for new ways to do our bit for conservation, the environment and to reduce our carbon footprint.
Whether it’s using natural, renewable resources through our hydro-electric turbine at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, or making the most of the sun’s energy with solar panels at Lancaster House Hotel, we want to help make a difference.
Tree planting in the Lake District and North Lancashire represents one of our core environmental commitments – our aim is to help breathe new life into those areas which have much less tree cover than they have in the past.
Planting new trees to create more future woodland cover is vital in terms of mitigating the effects of climate change, maintaining habitats and protecting land from flooding, as well as helping to preserve the beautiful scenes of the rural countryside for everyone to enjoy for generations to come.
It’s why we recently donated £5,000 from the English Lakes Hotels Sustainability Fund to The Lune Rivers Trust to create new areas of woodland.
As part of an overall initiative to plant over 1,800 new trees, the funding will cover 0.33 hectares of the project along a section of Ellergill Beck, to the North of the Forest of Bowland.
Why Are Trees So Important In Your Hotel Stay?
Too often we take trees and woodlands for granted, despite the huge popularity in the tranquillity of rural, nature-based hotel stays.
It is often said that the UK has one of the highest concentrations of ancient trees in Europe.
Our guests always marvel at the peace and beauty of the 72 acres of ancient woodland we look after around The Wild Boar Inn. These so called ‘Cathedrals of the countryside’ have been around much longer than anything we have built and are a life-giving feature of the landscapes across the Lake District and North Lancashire.
According to The Woodland Trust, the UK’s native tree species and woodlands are not in great ecological shape and are showing declines in wildlife. But there is good news in that tree planting projects across the country are starting to bear fruit and to address these challenges.
Get Involved In Tree Planting During Your Lake District Hotel Break
At English Lakes Hotels, we’re determined to contribute to the national target quoted by the Committee on Climate Change for the UK to plant 1.5 billion trees – at least 30,000 hectares per year – and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
You can get more involved and help make this happen with a simple decision. When you check out after your stay with us, you automatically make a £1 optional donation to our local tree planting and sustainability projects administered through Cumbria Community Foundation.
Since establishing our sustainability fund in the late 1990s, we have raised over £250,000 for local conservation projects.
In 2019, we partnered up with Cumbria Community Foundation to target more of our fund raising towards tree planting projects. Thus far we have committed over £30,000 for a range of initiatives.
Make A Difference For A Greener Planet
You can also get involved through The Tree Council itself, especially during the winter planting season. Why not plant a few trees or a hedge yourself in the garden, or get involved with a community project or tree planting event by connecting with your local Tree Warden Network.
And if you cannot do some hands-on planting yourself, you can make a donation to The Tree Council for them to plant a tree or a line of hedgerow on your behalf. In this way we can all make a contribution towards a more sustainable future.
We first got a glimpse of the Lake District in Star Wars: The Force Awakens official trailer back in Spring, but it wasn’t until the films release on 17th December 2015, that we saw the full beauty of Lake District portrayed as an alien landscape.
Ben, aka ‘Finn’, Berry at Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening night
Perhaps during the film’s original release in 1977 all known human life-form underwent a telepathic genetic mutation that meant henceforth and forever more, all offspring were destined to become Star War’s fanatics. What else could explain the unprecedented cross-generation demand for tickets to the eagerly-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens?
Ben Berry, from English Lakes support office, would not have been anywhere else but at the cinema on release night and then again on the following evening! Yes, of course he did have a hankering to walk in the shoes of Finn, First Order conscript gone AWOL (the clue’s in the costume!), but Ben has also been following the making of the film which features T-70 x-wing fighters and First Order special forces Tie Fighters lighting up the skies of the Lake District.
Catbells over Derwentwater, the Lake District National Park – location for Star Wars scenes
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is arguably the best Star Wars film made and its box office results will speak to that. It brings fresh life into the saga with new characters bringing chemistry we haven’t seen since the originals. Having the film produced in Great Britain and a second act based around a Lake District location is fantastic, not just for fans but for the country as a whole. Going in to the film we knew the Lake District would feature but I was astounded at how much and that they were able to capture its beauty, despite featuring a battle between the sinister First Order and the Resistance.
In the film, when Rey, newest hero of Star Wars, arrives in our Lake District landscape for the first time she exclaims, “I didn’t know there was so much green in the whole galaxy” – a sentiment that we believe many of our visitors to The Lake District can relate to.
Local photographer, Colin Bell, has done an excellent piece of research, identifying the exact locations of the various scenes from the films.
Thirlmere, the Lake District National Park – location for Star Wars scenes[/caption]
Another fiendishly-fixated Star Wars local is Colin Hill, organiser of The Chill Swim at Low Wood Bay. Here he is, dressed as the new Dark Lord Kylo Ren for opening night. Colin has been heard to say that he will swim all of the precise Lake District locations.
Lake District Film Location’s
Of course, Cumbria and Lancashire are no strangers to the filming of box office movies. Going back to 1947, Alfred Hitchcox The Paradine Case starring Gregory Peck; Virginia McKenna and Ronald Fraser in Swallows and Amazons in 1974 with a re-make due for release in Summer 2016; more recently, Miss Potter starring Renee Zellweger and in 2012 Snow White and the Huntsmen. David Lean’s classic Brief Encounters, shot at Carnforth Station in Lancashire, is one of the most popular British films of all times. We welcomed Christopher Nolan to The Midland in Morecambe when he dropped in to check out Morecambe Bay as a potential backdrop for some of the Interstellar scenes. Sadly, on that occasion we were just pipped by a less tidal location in Iceland.
Ben would also like to draw your attention to Sasquatch, an independent British comedy filmed in the Lake District, starring John Murtagh. It’s about two young men who trick a community into believing Big Foot lives in the area. If you look carefully, you should be able to spot Ben alongside the actors – but without the Star Wars costume!
Beautiful UK Film locations
Looking for beautiful or breathtaking film locations in the UK or want to visit iconic film location set in the Lake District? English Lakes has three venues in the heart of the Lake District and two hotels in North Lancashire.
Created Friday, December 14, 2018, by John Lloyd
We first got a glimpse of the Lake District in Star Wars: The Force Awakens official trailer back in Spring, but it wasn’t until the films release on 17th December 2015, that we saw the full beauty of Lake District portrayed as an alien landscape.
Ben, aka ‘Finn’, Berry at Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening night
Perhaps during the film’s original release in 1977 all known human life-form underwent a telepathic genetic mutation that meant henceforth and forever more, all offspring were destined to become Star War’s fanatics. What else could explain the unprecedented cross-generation demand for tickets to the eagerly-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens?
Ben Berry, from English Lakes support office, would not have been anywhere else but at the cinema on release night and then again on the following evening! Yes, of course he did have a hankering to walk in the shoes of Finn, First Order conscript gone AWOL (the clue’s in the costume!), but Ben has also been following the making of the film which features T-70 x-wing fighters and First Order special forces Tie Fighters lighting up the skies of the Lake District.
Catbells over Derwentwater, the Lake District National Park – location for Star Wars scenes
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is arguably the best Star Wars film made and its box office results will speak to that. It brings fresh life into the saga with new characters bringing chemistry we haven’t seen since the originals. Having the film produced in Great Britain and a second act based around a Lake District location is fantastic, not just for fans but for the country as a whole. Going in to the film we knew the Lake District would feature but I was astounded at how much and that they were able to capture its beauty, despite featuring a battle between the sinister First Order and the Resistance.
In the film, when Rey, newest hero of Star Wars, arrives in our Lake District landscape for the first time she exclaims, “I didn’t know there was so much green in the whole galaxy” – a sentiment that we believe many of our visitors to The Lake District can relate to.
Local photographer, Colin Bell, has done an excellent piece of research, identifying the exact locations of the various scenes from the films.
Thirlmere, the Lake District National Park – location for Star Wars scenes
Another fiendishly-fixated Star Wars local is Colin Hill, organiser of The Chill Swim at Low Wood Bay. Here he is, dressed as the new Dark Lord Kylo Ren for opening night. Colin has been heard to say that he will swim all of the precise Lake District locations.
Lake District Film Location’s
Of course, Cumbria and Lancashire are no strangers to the filming of box office movies. Going back to 1947, Alfred Hitchcox The Paradine Case starring Gregory Peck; Virginia McKenna and Ronald Fraser in Swallows and Amazons in 1974 with a re-make due for release in Summer 2016; more recently, Miss Potter starring Renee Zellweger and in 2012 Snow White and the Huntsmen. David Lean’s classic Brief Encounters, shot at Carnforth Station in Lancashire, is one of the most popular British films of all times. We welcomed Christopher Nolan to The Midland in Morecambe when he dropped in to check out Morecambe Bay as a potential backdrop for some of the Interstellar scenes. Sadly, on that occasion we were just pipped by a less tidal location in Iceland.
Ben would also like to draw your attention to Sasquatch, an independent British comedy filmed in the Lake District, starring John Murtagh. It’s about two young men who trick a community into believing Big Foot lives in the area. If you look carefully, you should be able to spot Ben alongside the actors – but without the Star Wars costume!
Beautiful UK Film locations
Looking for beautiful or breathtaking film locations in the UK or want to visit iconic film location set in the Lake District? English Lakes has three venues in the heart of the Lake District and two hotels in North Lancashire.
Throughout winter the Lake District hotel guests are always treated marvellous picture post card views of snow-capped peaks, some guests even come to the area just for the snow sports! If it snows on your Lake District Holiday, sledging can be great fun for the whole family…
Hotel Guests First Created Recreational Sledging
The practical use of sledges, or sleds, is ancient and widespread, enabling easier transport of people and goods across snow-covered ground. There are records indicating that Sled Racing has been around since the 15th Century in Norway and Sweden. Interestingly, it was a bunch of hotel guests in St Moritz in the mid 1800’s that brought us recreational sledging. Adapting delivery sledges for a spot of cavorting in the snow, they unwittingly developed a family pastime that, right up to the present time, has young and not-so-young alike eagerly anticipating the first flurries of snowflakes.
Lake District Family Sledging Locations
So that our hotel guests do not feel the need to hijack our deliveries in search of suitable sliding accoutrement, our Lake District hotels keep a sledge in readiness – just in case you forget to pack your own! We’re even prepared to share our top three favourite family sledging places with you – as long as you don’t tell anyone!
1. Tarn Hows
Not only beautiful scenery with a lovely pushchair-friendly short walk around the tarn, the slope down to the lake is moderately steep – great for thrill seekers!
Tarn Howes in Snow
2. Fell Foot Park
The National Trust Fell Foot Park sits at the southern tip of Windermere. Smooth green lawns slope down to the lake shore for some great uninterrupted sledging and suitable for younger children.
Two kids sledging in the snow
But really, you don’t need to go any further than …
3. Low Wood Bay
The sloping fields behind Low Wood Bay is a magnificent sledging spot for our guests. With breathtaking views of Windermere and the snow-covered peaks beyond, even those standing around and not partaking of the sport will not be bored! There are varying gradients offering something for all the family.
Once you have finished having fun in the snow, warm up in Low Wood Bay’s Langdale Lounge & Bar and enjoy a Hot Chocolate by the roaring log fire.
Hot Chocolate by the fire
Sledging Safety Tips
Here are our top tips to ensure you stay safe whilst sledging:
- Choose your slopes carefully for the age and ability of your party
- Be aware of obstructions
- Make sure there is an adequate ‘slow down’ area
For our hotel guests and day visitors who enjoy the delights of a leisurely day out in the Lake District, have you considered taking a trip down memory lane on one of Cumbria’s many heritage railways? They are a great way to see the Lake District whilst learning about the area’s culture and history.
Below we’ve put together a list of five railways not to be missed during your time in the Lake District.
1. Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway winding though woodland
Known locally as La’al Ratty, this 15” minimum heritage grade, well-loved little railway was opened in 1875 to ship iron ore from Eskdale. Its 3’ guage predecessor was Owd Ratty. The oldest locomotive is River Irt, parts of which date from 1894, while the newest is the diesel-hydraulic Douglas Ferreira, built in 2005. There’s a selection of carriages to suit all weather conditions from open coaches with no roof or windows, semi-open, to the heated closed saloons.
Train pulling in to Irton Road Statiom
Enjoy the railway museum at the Ravenglass end of the line with interesting photos, artefacts and an audio visual presentation. To add to your day out, Muncaster Castle is just one mile from Ravenglass Station.
Opening times vary, so check out the seasonal timetable.
2. Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway train
Originally a branch line of the Furness Railway carrying passengers and freight to Barrow, the remaining 3.5 mile steam railway journey from Haverthwaite to Newby Bridge gives a glimpse of life from a bygone age.
The journey might not be as long as other preserved lines but the scenery makes up for it. The engine sheds at the end are great to look around and the cream teas in the station buffet were very nice.
Trip Advisor review April 2016
People waiting for Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway train.
A great way to experience the railway is as part of the Sail and Rail package, taking a cruise from Bowness to Lakeside followed by the twenty minute train ride.
Trains run from April through to the end of October.
3. Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum Railway
Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum – 2015 steam gala / CC 2.0 TheTurfBurner
Definitely one for the railway enthusiast and not pretty Lakeland view seekers, The railway has three lovingly restored locomotives. SIR TOM is a completely restored 0-4-0 saddle tank narrow guage locomotive; Hunslet 50hp, 0-4-0, is a 1945 an ex-National Coal Board locomotive from the South Yorkshire area which was retrieved from the underground prior to two colliery closings.The current passenger diesel in use is Ruston 48 DL, 1947, an ex-Royal Navy Armaments Depot Loco currently used to transports passenger trains from the middle quarry to the inner quarry.
Threkeld Quarry was opened in the 1870s to supply railway ballast to the Penrith – Keswick line. Rock was blasted from the quarry face with gunpowder and the broken rock loaded into wagons on the narrow gauge railway. The wagons then pulled the empty wagons via a cable back to the rock face for refilling. After WWII the railway was dismantled, excavators then taking over the task previously undertaken by the railway.
Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum – 2015 steam gala / CC 2.0 TheTurfBurner
Visitors can also enjoy the quarry and mining museum, complete with a lighting, drilling and explosives room.
The museum is open daily 10 am to 5 pm, with diesel trains at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. There are also special Steam events throughout the year.
4. Cumbrian Coast Line
West Cumbria and Coast. View south across Parton to St. Bees Head on the Cumbrian Coast. / CC 2.0 Richard Szwejkowski
A Railway line with beautiful coastal views as well as a legitimate historical interest. Running close to ancient British stone circles, Hadrian’s Wall and historic ports along the way, there is much of intrigue for both railway enthusiasts and travellers interested in Cumbria’s past.
Commencing your journey in Carlisle, the western gateway to Hadrian’s Wall country, it is worth stopping off at Whitehaven, one of Britain’s 40 ‘Gem’ towns and learning about its history as one of the most important trading harbours in the past. The Beacon explains the history of Whitehaven and its harbour and The Rum Story shares fascinating tales of the UK rum industry centred in Whitehaven.
Also worthy of note is St Bees with its long sandy beach, the red sandstone cliffs being the summer home to northwest England’s largest colony of nesting seabirds. On a clear day you can also see the Isle of Man. You will be treated to spectacular Lakeland scenes through the Lake District National Park before reaching Barrow-in-Furness, still famous for ship building and specialising in submarines.
Check the timetable here.
5. Millerbeck Light Railway
Millerbeck Light Railway / CC 2.0 Arnie Furniss
They call themselves ‘Lakeland’s best kept secret’, Millerbeck Light Railway is a private railway run by the Gorse family in the grounds of Millerbeck House in the village of Staveley-in-Cartmel. Perhaps its secretive nature is due to the fact that it is only open for occasional family days throughout the year, so more a labour of love than a commercial venture. A beautiful Lakeland setting, visitors are treated to a ride of about a mile through the meadow, woods and over the stream. There’s a selection of steam, diesel and electric locomotives running on this narrow gauge railway.
Look out for the occasional Driver Training Days for the icing on the cake of these delicious miniature railway days out in the Lake District.
Stay in the Heart of the Lake District
These railway days out are easily accessible from each of our three Lake District hotels, Low Wood Bay, Waterhead and The Wild Boar. Set in some of the best Lakeland scenery, come home to a warm welcome, a hearty meal and a good night’s sleep.
Many of English Lakes hotel guests take advantage of the summer Festivals in Cumbria each year. We take a look back at some of the highlights of last year’s Garden Festival in the run up to another spectacular event in 2016.
Holker Hall and Gardens
25 Acres of Award-Winning Gardens
Anticipation builds as you join the throng of festival goers waiting to enter Holker Garden Festival. Wondering how 20,000 people are going to fit into the venue over the three days, it all becomes clear as you sweep into the grandeur of the Holker Parkland and realise that 25 acres of award-winning gardens have been set aside for this celebration of gardening, countryside, food and crafts.
Holker Hall Gardens
Flower carpet hidden in the woods of Holker Hall
The 24th Anniversary of the festival
This year will be the 24th Anniversary of the festival which will take place between 3rd and 5th June 2016. Headlining the event this year, Charlie Dimmock, best known for her appearances on the TV show Ground Force, will be meeting visitors and taking part in a question and answer session in the Garden Theatre.
The sound of music is usually the first thing that greets you on arrival, that and the tannoy letting you know what’s coming up in the entertainment programme. This year the Horsemen of the Knight will be putting on a Jousting Show with sword fights and fire. The Little Nippers Terrier Racing Team are limbering up to make sure they clear the hurdles in their Obstacle Race. There’s even a relay race featuring the Blackrock Llama Display Team.
The Show Gardens are a must-see and a focal point in the outside arena. The theme this year is Gardening Through the Generations. I’m sure the exhibitors will once again excel in imaginative and creative designs. Each garden is judged and awarded Large Gold, Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze.
Inside the Horticultural marquees there is an explosion of colour and rare botanical sights.
Inside the Horticultural marquees
Artisan produce and locally produced goods to sample make browsing the Food Tent a tempting treat.
A Victorian helter skelter is the perfect backdrop and lends its own particular charm as well as being great fun.
The bandstand provides the perfect place to sit and relax.
There are live demonstrations of traditional crafts and this year, for the first time, there will be a Rural Crafts Marquee where you can meet the craftsmen and learn about their designs and materials.
For a small additional fee you can gain access to the magnificent Holker Hall.
Lots of Things to do in the Lake District
There is something for everyone in the Lake District from car free days out with the family, climbing mountains, adventures on the lake, meandering around some stunning Lakeland gardens or taking it easy with a cool crisp G & T.
English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues look forward to welcoming you and would be delighted to help you design your very own holiday in our Lake District Hotels.
Whether your ideal day out in the Lake District is a gentle stroll by a meandering stream, a more strenuous hike up a mountain or a heritage rail journey, it would appear that there is something for everyone. Here’s one for the more adventurous.
Safely attached to the side of a cliff!
The Iron Road
I hate ironing, but this is a something altogether different! Via Ferrata or ‘Iron Road’ is a protected climbing route across mountainous areas, making often exposed and inaccessible areas available to non-climbers like me. And we have one of only two Via Ferratas in Britain right here on our doorstep.
Honister Slate Mine is the only working mine in England and supplies highly sought after green slate around the world. Set amidst some of the most breath-taking scenery in the Lake District, Honister has a Visitor Centre, organised and informative mine tours and a ‘fill your boot for £20’ facility.
On this occasion, that’s not what brought Kris and myself past Derwentwater and along the beautiful Borrowdale Valley. We were booked on Honister Via Ferrata Xtreme, an adrenaline pumping experience which would take us to the summit of Fleetwith Pike, a commanding presence above Honister Pass at a height of 2,066 ft.
Honister Pass snaking below the Via Ferrata
In recent history Via Ferratas have grown massively in popularity, particularly in the Alipine regions of Italy, France and Austria, but they have been around as early as the 19th century and the early years of mountaineering. They also served a more serious diversion during WW1, providing vital military routes across hazardous mountain ranges for troops and supplies.
A Privileged Perspective
We joined another seven adventure seekers and after a quick introduction to Tom, our guide, we were issued with harness, helmet and a pair of life-preserving carabiners. I’d done my research, so I knew that if everything were to go wrong, I would be the first to perish en route. Cold comfort.
A bus ride a short distance up the side of the mountain deposited us at the start of the route. Tom gave clear instructions about how to remain safely clipped in to the steel rope, but all too quickly we had to lower ourselves over the side of the mountain and descend steeply on a series of iron ladders.
Keeping my eyes level and my hands busy with the constant carabiner clipping meant that the reality of the cars-as-dots deep in the valley below did not totally freak me out. Surprisingly quickly, I started to trust the equipment and Tom’s words about its near impossible breaking strength.
The beauty of the valley below and the mountains around started to permeate my consciousness and I felt privileged to be allowed to view it all from such a vantage point.
Smile for the Camera!
Kris smiling for the camera, just before he looked down to the valley bottom
Navigating ladders overhanging a steep gully
We discovered that Tom was also a photographer. That, and his dry sense of humour collided when, on the 60 m ‘tightrope’ Burma Bridge, he encouraged me to turn around and smile for the camera! As the bridge began to sway and I heard Kris’ strained voice behind me quietly assert, “I don’t like this,” I willed myself to the other side. A scramble up a steeply stretched cargo net and, all too soon, our two hours of climbing were over.
Tina’s tightrope photo shoot on the 60 m Burma Bridge
The steep cargo net climb
A short assent through a disused mine shaft took us close to the summit of Fleetwith Pike with spectacular views across Buttermere Valley to Crummock Water and Loweswater to the north. Views of Haystacks, Great Gable and Green Gable bathed in late afternoon sunshine accompanied us on the gentle descent back to the Visitor Centre.
Group shot at the summit of Fleetwith Pike
I believe anybody with reasonable fitness, thirst for adventure, a head for heights (or a need to overcome a fear of heights), and a desire for some high level sightseeing will finish their session at Honister Via Ferrata exhilarated and with a huge smile on their face.
Views back towards the Honister Visitors Centre
Via Ferrata Xtreme
The Xtreme takes approx. 3 – 3.5 hours to complete. Prices from £37.50 Child (10 yrs up to 16), £45.00 Adult (16 yrs +), Family discounts available.
Book online or by Telephone: 017687 77230
Address: Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5XN
Adventure Holiday in the Lake District
After a morning on the Iron Road, scrambling to the top of Fleetwith Pike via cable, ladders and cargo nets, you will have plenty of time to explore the rest of the Lake District.
Take a scenic drive past the beautiful Derwent Water, and visit the town of Keswick for a spot of lunch. Then head down the A591 past Thirlmere to Grasmere where you can sample the world famous Sarah Nelson Grasmere Gingerbread. Then head towards Ambleside where you can check in the 4 Star Waterhead Boutique Hotel or Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel on the shores of Windermere. If you are still thirsty for adventure after a great night sleep, head down to Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre where there is plenty of activities to keep you entertained within our Lake District Hotels!
As we are situated right in the heart of the Lake District National Park, ‘celebrating everything that is unique and wonderful about Britain’s breathing spaces’ is something that is second nature to us at English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues. The theme of this year’s National Parks Week, from 25th to 31st July, is adventure. Here are just five of our favourite things to do in the Lake District to get your heart pumping in stunning surroundings.
Fly Boarding
An adrenaline filled experience that you will never forget! Water is forced through jet nozzles to your boots, providing thrust for the rider to fly!
Flyboarding at Low Wood Bay
Via Ferrata Extreme
A thrilling climb on the ‘Iron Road’ high above everyday life for those with a head for heights. Have a look at more photos from our day out.
The steep cargo net climb
Mountaineering
With over 200 mountains on our doorstep, including the highest ten in the UK, it would be unusual if this wasn’t one of the adventurous activities we listed. Get a 360 degree tour of some of the highest peaks here.
Jo Murphy on Helvellyn
Open Water Swimming
Open water swimming has taken off in this country. As a sport it’s not only good for you, but it is exhilarating. At Low Wood Bay we welcome thousands of people annually who are competing in the Great North Swim and the BigChill Swim.
Taking the plunge at the BigChill Swim
Watersports
They can be as exciting and adventurous as you want it to be! From wakeboarding, sailing, canoeing and much more at Low Wood Bay Watersports to Low Wood Club’s Paddlesize classes.
Wakeboarding at Low Wood Bay Watersports
Book your Lake District Adventure
Whether you plan to head into the mountains, or dive into the lake, we can supply a comfortable bed, a hearty meal and a warm welcome for all adventure seekers at one of our Lake District Hotels.
World Chocolate Day – what better excuse do we need to consume as many sweet, glorious gooey treats as we possibly can? The team at Lancaster House share one of their chocolate delights.
Before we get down to the real business of chocolate chomping, we did a little research and found out a few facts about one of the nation’s favourite obsessions.
Our Love of Chocolate
Strange myth says that the gods squabbled about whether to share its secret with humans. Wars have been wages over it, it’s been used as currency, as medicine, rationed to soldiers, given as a treat to children, an alcoholic beverage, good for you, bad for you, bitter, sweet, served hot, cold, dark or white – whatever you think about it, a thirty-three billion pound worldwide industry tells us that we love to consume it! ‘It’, of course, being Chocolate.
1. A Bitter Beginning
The Cacao tree, with its bean cargo, was first discovered in the Amazon
Fruit of the Cacao tree
basin and was gradually transported through south and Central America. When pollinated, the seed forms a kind of ‘ear’ which holds 30 – 40 brown-red almond shaped beans which are bitter to the taste. It is believed that the fermented, sweet pulp may have been served as an alcoholic drink as early as 1400 BC.
2. Chocolate Tax
The Mighty Aztecs
During the supremacy of the Aztecs, they demanded chocolate payment as a tax, or rather a ‘tribute’ to their rule. To give us an idea of the value of these beans, at that time 100 beans could purchase ‘a canoe filled with fresh water or a turkey hen’.
3. Precious Cargo
Christopher Columbus brought cacao beans to Europe after his 1502 mission trip. It didn’t take off in popularity until Spanish friars introduced a much sweetened version to the royal court. Over the next 100 years it spread in popularity throughout Europe, first in the ranks of the wealthy.
4. Chilli Chocolate
Chilli and Chocolate, an ancient combination
Recent trends for dishes combining Chilli and Chocolate cannot be attributed to the ingenuity of any modern celebrity chef. The ancient Mayan people mixed the cacao beans with chilli peppers and cornmeal.
5. A Shameful Market
Western Africa produces two thirds of the world’s cocoa, with the Ivory Coast contributing half. Sadly, over the years, the cocoa market created a thriving slave market and, even today, children are trafficked for use in the industry. There are, however, an increasing number of health-food and anti-slavery organisations now campaigning against this dreadful abuse.
6. Three famous names
a. 1847, Joseph Fry discovered how to make chocolate mouldable, by adding back into the mix the cacao butter that had previously been extracted.
b. 1875, Henri Nestle invented milk chocolate (and we love him for it). Powdered milk was added to the cacao bean and butter mixture.
c. 1879, Rudolph Lint invented the conching machine which improved the taste of chocolate and made it the smooth delight that we know today. Conching grinds the gritty textured liquid and produces particles smaller than the human tongue can detect. High quality chocolate is conched for around 72 hours, lesser grades only get 4 – 6 hours conching.
Chocolate on the Menu at Lancaster House
The team at Lancaster House needed no encouragement to celebrate World Chocolate Day. Featuring on our menu…
