Spring time in the Western Lake District - Lambs, daffodils and action galore
The snow on the fells is giving way to snowdrops. By May, the beautiful Eskdale valley is carpeted in bluebells. But one flower in particular is associated with the Lakes and you can visit Wordsworths house for a fascinating re-creation of his early life, when gardens were planted with foodstuffs, not daffodils. While in Cockermouth, why not pop into the Lakeland Sheep & Wool Centre to see the spring lambs?
Its a perfect time of year for bracing walks and rides. Try the coastal paths around Whitehaven, the guided walks from Keswick Rambles, or the meandering 27-mile Smugglers Route from Maryport to Ireby. Take to the beach on horseback, courtesy of Allonby Riding School. Play golf at one of several excellent courses such as the Silecroft and Silloth links, or Eskdale, where the 14th green is set within a huge trout pond and theres private fishing too.
Come Easter-time there are all sorts of traditional local events. One of the most famous is Workingtons Uppies and Downies match a no-quarter Medieval ancestor of modern football played between the colliers and the sailors, in which the goals are half a mile apart, there are virtually no rules and brute force wins the day.
Summer time in the Western Lake District - Sun, sails and sound-checks
Summers here and the time is right for dancing in the streets of Whitehaven, Silloth, Cockermouth Local festivities and music festivals abound. Dont miss Workingtons Paint the Town Red, the multi-award-winning Solfest, the Seaton Carnival, the Festival of Fools at Muncaster Castle, Milloms Scarecrow Festival or the impressively named CockRock, to name but a few.
What better time to hit the quiet beaches of Allonby, St Bees and Haverigg, to try the fascinating town and harbour walks in Egremont and Harrington or to set out by foot or on bike along the famous Coast to Coast routes? There are many Lake District Accommodation venues to stay at. There are strolls, hikes and rides for all the family, from coastal walks at Flimby to pony rides on Silecroft beach, organised through the Murthwaithe Green Trekking Centre. Golf at Workington and the Harrington driving range? Or what about a perfect, lazy days fishing on the Salterbeck reservoir, or from the pier at Whitehaven?
Of course when the sun is dancing on the Lakes, the urge to get out on the water is irresistible. So dont resist. Take a leisurely cruise on Derwentwater with Keswick Launch. Take out dinghies, windsurfers and many other craft from Nichol End Marine. Talk to Platty+ about canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating and even raft building. Or raise the excitement levels and get out to sea with the yachts and powerboats of Ventures West.
Autumn time in the Western Lake District - Local colour like no other
Always majestic, the landscape of the Western Lake District turns magical with the change of season. As the days grow crisp and morning mists gather on the lakes and in the valleys, the fells become a golden swathe of bracken. With Lake District hotels set amidst such breath-taking scenery, there can be no better place to appreciate the woodland colours from the soft carpets of oak and birch leaves in the Miredale valley to the striking red maples of Giggle Alley near Eskdale.
The bird sanctuaries of the coast are a hive of activity with new arrivals settling down ahead of the winter, or just passing through. Visit the Dodd Wood view-point near Bassenthwaite and you may catch an impressive glimpse of the rare and beautiful ospreys which fish the lake, perhaps before they migrate to their African wintering grounds.
Its harvest-time too, of course, and there are various local celebrations to mark it. The Crab Fair in Egremont is a tradition dating back to 1267 the name comes from crab apples, not the sea, and the Parade of the Apple Cart continues to this day. The fair also hosts Cumberland wrestling and the World Gurning Championships! Meanwhile, in the woods, red squirrels are harvesting too...
Winter time in the Western Lake District - Rediscover the spirit
Whether you think the season starts on the shortest day of the year or sometime soon after Halloween, the Western Lake District allows you to experience it to the full. Snow-capped mountains, glorious sunsets, roaring log fires and traditional evening entertainments will remind you what winter used to be, should be and can be all about.
Take the Swinside Stone Circle near Broughton-in-Furness, Its an atmospheric time of year to visit this megalithic site, one of the earliest and finest in Britain. The fifty-five stones are set in a ninety foot diameter circle and seemingly aligned with the midwinter sun. Or the extravaganza of Darkest Muncaster and its mile-long trail of twinkling lights and seasonal effects by turns spooky and truly magical. To complete the picture, add the welcoming warmth of cosy pubs and inns, of home-made soups and Cumberland Rum Nicky, a rich sticky tart with exotic ingredients that draw on the regions historical trade with the West Indies.
Its all very different from the usual drudge of Christmas and January. (Although if you want to keep up with your shopping, a good selection of outlets is never far away.) And if you find that you have overindulged at the dining table or in the Sales, what better remedy could there be than the sharp clean air of the fells?
The snow on the fells is giving way to snowdrops. By May, the beautiful Eskdale valley is carpeted in bluebells. But one flower in particular is associated with the Lakes and you can visit Wordsworths house for a fascinating re-creation of his early life, when gardens were planted with foodstuffs, not daffodils. While in Cockermouth, why not pop into the Lakeland Sheep & Wool Centre to see the spring lambs?
Its a perfect time of year for bracing walks and rides. Try the coastal paths around Whitehaven, the guided walks from Keswick Rambles, or the meandering 27-mile Smugglers Route from Maryport to Ireby. Take to the beach on horseback, courtesy of Allonby Riding School. Play golf at one of several excellent courses such as the Silecroft and Silloth links, or Eskdale, where the 14th green is set within a huge trout pond and theres private fishing too.
Come Easter-time there are all sorts of traditional local events. One of the most famous is Workingtons Uppies and Downies match a no-quarter Medieval ancestor of modern football played between the colliers and the sailors, in which the goals are half a mile apart, there are virtually no rules and brute force wins the day.
Summer time in the Western Lake District - Sun, sails and sound-checks
Summers here and the time is right for dancing in the streets of Whitehaven, Silloth, Cockermouth Local festivities and music festivals abound. Dont miss Workingtons Paint the Town Red, the multi-award-winning Solfest, the Seaton Carnival, the Festival of Fools at Muncaster Castle, Milloms Scarecrow Festival or the impressively named CockRock, to name but a few.
What better time to hit the quiet beaches of Allonby, St Bees and Haverigg, to try the fascinating town and harbour walks in Egremont and Harrington or to set out by foot or on bike along the famous Coast to Coast routes? There are many Lake District Accommodation venues to stay at. There are strolls, hikes and rides for all the family, from coastal walks at Flimby to pony rides on Silecroft beach, organised through the Murthwaithe Green Trekking Centre. Golf at Workington and the Harrington driving range? Or what about a perfect, lazy days fishing on the Salterbeck reservoir, or from the pier at Whitehaven?
Of course when the sun is dancing on the Lakes, the urge to get out on the water is irresistible. So dont resist. Take a leisurely cruise on Derwentwater with Keswick Launch. Take out dinghies, windsurfers and many other craft from Nichol End Marine. Talk to Platty+ about canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating and even raft building. Or raise the excitement levels and get out to sea with the yachts and powerboats of Ventures West.
Autumn time in the Western Lake District - Local colour like no other
Always majestic, the landscape of the Western Lake District turns magical with the change of season. As the days grow crisp and morning mists gather on the lakes and in the valleys, the fells become a golden swathe of bracken. With Lake District hotels set amidst such breath-taking scenery, there can be no better place to appreciate the woodland colours from the soft carpets of oak and birch leaves in the Miredale valley to the striking red maples of Giggle Alley near Eskdale.
The bird sanctuaries of the coast are a hive of activity with new arrivals settling down ahead of the winter, or just passing through. Visit the Dodd Wood view-point near Bassenthwaite and you may catch an impressive glimpse of the rare and beautiful ospreys which fish the lake, perhaps before they migrate to their African wintering grounds.
Its harvest-time too, of course, and there are various local celebrations to mark it. The Crab Fair in Egremont is a tradition dating back to 1267 the name comes from crab apples, not the sea, and the Parade of the Apple Cart continues to this day. The fair also hosts Cumberland wrestling and the World Gurning Championships! Meanwhile, in the woods, red squirrels are harvesting too...
Winter time in the Western Lake District - Rediscover the spirit
Whether you think the season starts on the shortest day of the year or sometime soon after Halloween, the Western Lake District allows you to experience it to the full. Snow-capped mountains, glorious sunsets, roaring log fires and traditional evening entertainments will remind you what winter used to be, should be and can be all about.
Take the Swinside Stone Circle near Broughton-in-Furness, Its an atmospheric time of year to visit this megalithic site, one of the earliest and finest in Britain. The fifty-five stones are set in a ninety foot diameter circle and seemingly aligned with the midwinter sun. Or the extravaganza of Darkest Muncaster and its mile-long trail of twinkling lights and seasonal effects by turns spooky and truly magical. To complete the picture, add the welcoming warmth of cosy pubs and inns, of home-made soups and Cumberland Rum Nicky, a rich sticky tart with exotic ingredients that draw on the regions historical trade with the West Indies.
Its all very different from the usual drudge of Christmas and January. (Although if you want to keep up with your shopping, a good selection of outlets is never far away.) And if you find that you have overindulged at the dining table or in the Sales, what better remedy could there be than the sharp clean air of the fells?
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