It was the morning after the night before, and everyone was looking surprisingly chipper. Breakfast was on the table and people were helping themselves to bacon and eggs, cereal, toast, coffee and juice – with an aspirin or two for those feeling a tad fragile. My son and his girlfriend...

It’s a real pleasure listening to people talk about their passions. They become animated, articulate and  engaging. Their enthusiasm is infectious and can be a catalyst for change. In recent weeks I have been chatting to a number of people closely linked to the cultural scene in Cumbria and each person...

“Why do you visit the Lake District?”  When asked that question, there are a variety of responses, the most common being to walk, enjoy the scenery, eat good food, stay in a lovely hotel, have a break from work, escape the city, climb, swim, get a decent pint. What you’ll...

I’m often asked what is my favourite lake in the Lake District and I always find it difficult to say. Each stretch of water in this glorious part of the world, from northern Bassenthwaite Lake to the justifiably popular Windermere has its own appeal. Yachts on Windermere Depending on the...

The Quaker Tapestry is a modern day masterpiece of story-telling in stitches.   Elizabeth Fry It’s also one of the largest and most significant, imaginative and collaborative community textile projects in the world. Its 77 panels made by 4,000 people from 15 countries celebrate life, people, such as famous Quakers Elizabeth...

In this guest post, Sally Fielding, owner of family-run Sally's Cottages, shares some of her favourite, and less known, places in the Lake District in Cumbria. Middle Row Cottage I’ve lived in the Lake District my whole life and I’ve discovered some truly memorable places. Many of these aren’t mentioned...

OK, I’d better fess up straight away. I was at the Gala Premiere of  ‘Postman Pat: The Movie’ at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, in the midst of a horde of tiny tots straining their little necks to get a glimpse of an enormous figure in a (glitzy?) blue uniform...