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Top Spots for Wild Swimming by Rachael Parkin One thing the Lakes District definitely isn’t short of is water. Whether it’s sparkling in a glistening lake, surging down a thundering river or falling out of the sky to try and put a dampener on your day, to holiday in the Lakes is to get wet in the Lakes. And few things are more appealing on a hot summer’s day than a refreshing, cool swim amongst the magnificent scenery of the Lakes. Whether you’re an experienced wild swimmer and looking to do some serious swimming on a picturesque lake or a…

By Rachael Parkin Ordnance Survey (OS) have recently published Britain’s favourite place to start a walk; with Ambleside claiming the top spot for the Lake District, coming in fifth out of the UK as a whole. The survey shows Ambleside as the hub of walking in the Lakes, with more people choosing to start a walk from here than anywhere else in Cumbria. The survey also revealed that other Cumbrian walks scored very highly, with the summits of Scafell Pike and Helvellyn also appearing in the top 10 of the most commonly tread paths. With this in mind, we at…

Explorefromthedoor with Sean Conway – #10 Trouté Diem – Seize the Trout Now when I decided to start this blog series about adventures in and around my home in Coniston, I have to admit it was all adrenalin this, running that, cycling here, canoeing there and all other manor of activities to get your heart racing. Don’t get me wrong. My next blog after this one is probably one of the toughest local challenges I’ve come up with, but for now, I fancied doing something a little more relaxing. OK, a lot more relaxing – fishing. This came about because…

Six Easy Wainwright Fells to Bag on your Holiday by Rachael Parkin If you fancy bragging about bagging half a dozen Wainwrights during your Lake District holiday but don’t feel like your legs are quite up to scaling over 3,000 feet up the dizzying heights of Scafell or Helvellyn and the likes, or if you are coming on holiday with children and are looking for lower, safer summits to conquer without missing out on the spectacular scenery the Lakes has to offer then we’ve put together a list of some the easier, but no less rewarding, fells to climb during…

Explorefromthedoor with Sean Conway – #9 The Double-Double Awakener! It’s been almost exactly a year since I finished my world record bike ride across Europe. And in this year, I have cycled only three times and one of those times was to get some bread from the bakery 200 meters from our house. I always do this – go cold turkey right after a big block of cycling and I have to admit, I always regret it. It’s far easier keeping a steady fitness than trying to build it up again from scratch. Never the less, it’s now May, the…

Enjoying the Lakes on a Budget The Lake District National Park is here to be enjoyed by everybody – whatever their budget. While those who wish to can come and “splash the cash” it is equally possible to come, enjoy and get the very best out of this UNESCO World Heritage Site whatever your budget may be. Here are our top tips for experiencing everything this stunning part of the world has to offer without breaking the bank. Travel outside of the busy and peak seasons. If it’s possible to do so then it will be of no surprise to…

Lake District Tea Shop Trails By Rachael Parkin Cake scarcely tastes as good as it does after a refreshing walk. And a walk is never more enjoyable than when you know that a delicious and well-earned baked reward and accompanying steaming drink awaits you at its conclusion. Even the most reluctant of walkers can be persuaded along by the promise of an imminent sweet treat at a cosy café after an afternoon of activity. We have compiled a list of some of our favourite, family-friendly walk and tea/coffee shop combinations that are guaranteed to please body, mind and taste-buds in…

Family Events in the Lake District this Easter Browse cottages for Easter breaks 2024 – special offers now applied – save up to 40% There’s plenty to keep your little bunnies busy this Easter with egg-citing family-friendly events taking place across the Lake District throughout April. Coniston Easter Fayre, Coniston Institute, Saturday 20th April 2019, 11am – 3pm If you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of our Coniston cottages these holidays then you may wish to drop into the village’s Easter Fayre on Saturday 20th April. The fayre features a range of local produce and food stalls, children’s…

Lakes Beautiful Bluebell Guide: Where to head to spot them this spring By Rachael Parkin Every season in the Lake District brings its own unique charms; summer brings scenes of lush green with warm days and hazy evenings; autumn brings crisper air and vistas of burnt gold and orange; winter brings snow-capped mountains and dark nights spent in front of cosy fires but spring is perhaps the most magical of all. With new lambs leaping in the fields our already beautiful landscape is transformed by a carpet of purple, a celebration of colour which loudly declares that winter is well…

#Explorefromthedoor with Sean Conway – #8 My Favourite Low Level Hike Winter walks are, in the words of Tina Turner, simply the best. Layering up, a flask of boiling hot tea in your thermos and a map snugly sealed in a zip-lock bag you’re ready to hit the trails. With winter, however, it can be extremely windy which can make heading up the hills feel somewhat out of your comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong. I love it when the elements are giving you a Rocky Balboa style battering but it’s not for everyone. Luckily there are many low level,…