Being located in the Lake District, it is fair to say there are quite a few fell walkers and mountaineers amongst us here at English Lakes. Today is a special day for many hiking enthusiasts as it marks the 60th anniversary of man successfully reaching the highest point on the planet!
The first successful ascent of Mount Everest was undertaken by Sir Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953.  They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest. Hillary was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. (more…)

A recent poll ran as part of a competition by Sitons has found the Lake District to be one of the UK’s top five dream kayaking locations.
The poll was taken as part of a December competition for watersports fanatics to win a GoPro Hero II camera. Over 500 entrants were asked where would be their dream place to kayak.

The Lake District ranked an impressive 3^rd place out of the UK locations, mentioned numerous times alongside hundreds of worldwide-renowned kayaking spots. (more…)

Before setting off on holiday, I like to try to read a novel either about the place I am visiting or by a local author. I don’t mind if the details of the plot are factually correct or if the author has used artistic license, I am more interested in soaking up an atmosphere or the ‘sense’ of a place; a preparation for discovery.
For visitors to the Lake District, Val McDermid does this in her psychological suspense thriller The Grave Tattoo.  She mixes history, literature and murder most foul wrapped up in the culture and heritage of Wordsworth country. Many of the place names are actual – Lancaster, Kendal, Keswick, Coniston –Dove Cottage, Grasmere and even Zefferelli’s cinema in Ambleside get a mention. (more…)