Cumbria

Wordsworth, Southey and Coleridge were often described as 'Lake Poets' and Wordsworth's 'host of golden daffodils ... fluttering and dancing in the breeze' were almost certainly seen by the poet on one of his walks around Grasmere or Rydal Water, near his home in the Lake District. This magnificent area of England has been the inspiration of many poets, authors, painters and photographers who all find that it can give something new to them as the differing seasons, and the changes in the weather, allow familiar places to be seen anew.

Unfortunately the changeable nature of the weather in the Lake District is the one thing that causes the most frustration for the many visitors who come to the area. At their best, in good weather, the lakes and the surrounding towns and villages can be stunningly beautiful, but this particular part of the country is subject to heavy rainfall which, whilst it can lend a sombre and dramatic aspect to the landscape, is not to everyone's liking.

The two largest lakes, Ullswater and Windermere, are both in Westmorland and, with the lovely mountain scenery of the Cumbrian range to set them off, they are considered by many people to be the finest part of the Lake District. There are, of course, others who would disagree strongly and pick another of the lakes as their particular favorite and this is, perhaps, the secret of their great charm, that they can be different things for different people.

It would be wrong to think, however, that the Lake District is only a place where beautiful scenery is to be admired. It is also very popular for the outdoor sporting facilities it affords. Naturally enough activities such as sailing and climbing are high on the list but so too are fell running and Cumberland wrestling, two of the sports featured in the annually held Grasmere Sports.

That the district around the lakes is very beautiful is unquestionable. The surprise, too many of the visitors who tour the area, is that there is a great deal more to be seen than only the lakes and mountains. Because of the industry, and in particular the presence of the Calder Hall atomic power station, on the Cumbrian coast it might easily be dismissed as not worthy of attention. It is quite true that there are industrial centers here, notably those of Whitehaven and Workington but others, such as Maryport, have now fallen into disuse, and once industrial sites are no longer used and nature starts to re establish itself, then it is not long before things are much as they were before man interfered. Long stretches of sandy beaches and beautiful countryside inland were never touched by such industrialization as took place, and they remain quite unspoiled for us to enjoy.

In any book on a country, however wide the coverage or strong the intent, a vast amount has to be left out. It would be foolish to suppose that these pages show the best that is to be seen and that there is little else worth showing. At best a book such as this can only serve to awaken interest in things and places that the reader may not be aware Of, and to present to that reader a few of the riches with which this country is so liberally endowed.

Cumbria Hotels
Sychnant Pass House Hotel - Sychnant Pass Road, Conwy LL32 8BJ Tel: 0870 418 8182
Pen-y-Dyffryn Country Hotel - Rhydycroesau, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7JD Tel: 0870 860 8437
Abbey House Hotel - Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA13 0PA Tel: 0870 860 8438
Ees Wyke Country House - Near Sawrey, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0JZ Tel: 0870 418 8140
Dale Head Hall Lakeside Hotel - Thirlmere, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4TN Tel: 0870 418 8139
Craig Manor Hotel - Lakeside
Burn How Garden House Hotel - Back Belsfield Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3HH
Broadoaks Country House Hotel - Bridge Lane, Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1LA
Bridge Hotel - Buttermere, Cumbria CA13 9UZ Tel: 0870 418 8149
Borrowdale Gates Country House Hotel - Grange-in-Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5UQ Tel: 0870 860 8441
Aynsome Manor Hotel - Cartmel, Nr Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6HH Tel: 0870 418 8137
Armathwaite Hall Hotel - Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4RE , Tel: 0870 418 8135
Appleby Manor Country House Hotel - Roman Road, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria CA16 6JB, Tel: 0870 418 8134