Cartmel is a medieval village situated on the edge of the southern Lake District. The 12th century Cartmel Priory typifies this village both in architecture and history. It is still used for worship today as it has been for over 800 years and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The other main attraction for visitors to Cartmel is the racecourse. With the first recorded race said to have taken place on the mid 1800’s, Cartmel races continues to grow in stature and popularity year on year. The creation of a new grandstand, with the back drop of the beautiful southern Lake District coupled with catering to rival any top race event has really put Cartmel on the map.

Cartmel is very much becoming a gastronomic destination. Cartmel and its surrounding villages have some of the best examples of Lake District gastronomy in the whole of Cumbria and the Lake District. Even though many of the restaurants and public houses are located within historic buildings, the food served is right in the 21st century using the finest locally sourced produce that is found in an abundance in the south Lakeland area.

Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of the most famous exports from Cartmel. The pudding is now sold all over the United Kingdom and even world with high class restaurants in London serving this still handmade in Cartmel pudding.

With its top quality food, beautiful historical buildings, race course and spectacular scenery, it’s not hard to believe that Cartmel attracts a cosmopolitan visitor. Luckily, Cartmel offers some stunning Lake District self catering properties including Hardcragg Hall which sleeps up to 14 people. When attending the races, what better place to stay in than a beautiful Grade II listed manor house or a beautiful double-fronted period property in Cartmel.

Nearby attractions also include Holker Hall (a stately home with lovely gardens and grounds and a cafe, Cark-in-Cartmel), the Lakeland Motor Museum (In addition to vintage and classic motors, the museum now features of faithfully recreated period shop fronts and also has a themed gift shop. It is now located at its new site in Backbarrow, on the main A590) and Brantwood (an historic house & gardens which used to be the home of John Ruskin with a shop, café and terrace on the east side of Coniston Water).

Lying to the west of the Coniston Mountain Range, between the southern reach of the Duddon Valley and the wide gentle plains of the Duddon Estuary, Broughton is a bustling town, full of activities, and a perfect base for exploring one of Cumbria’s most unspoiled and dramatic landscapes.

The history of Broughton dates back many centuries with the oldest building thought to be the church of St Mary Magdelene, first built as part of an eleventh century Saxon settlement. The church today is the result of a major restoration taken place in 1873 by the firm of Paley and Austin.

Over time, Broughton became an important market town, a centre of the wool trade and the manufacture of the oak baskets known as swills. Among the little back streets you would have found blacksmiths, millers, tanners, dressmakers and cobblers carrying out their crafts in readiness for the weekly markets.

During the reign of Elizabeth I the town was granted a charter giving permission to hold fairs. To this day, each year on the 1st August, there is the ceremonial ‘Reading of the Charter’, where pennies are thrown to the children.

Today many of the houses and buildings are Georgian, centred on the elegant town square, built by the Lord of the Manor to resemble a London Square. The Market Hall, a fine structure, was built in 1766, originally housing small lock up shops and is now the home of the Tourist Information Centre, exhibiting locally produced glassware, ceramics and paintings. In the centre of the square is a fine obelisk, erected to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George III in 1810, and stands next to both the ancient fish slabs, used to sell fish caught in the River Duddon and Estuary, and the village stocks for those who broke the laws or behaved in an unseemly manner.

For day to day needs Broughton is perfectly self contained with some good shops, inns and restaurants. On Prince’s Street there is Melville Tysons Grocer and Butcher. The shelves groan with preserves, chutneys, wine and pastas; the deli counter has a fabulous selection of cheeses, hams, salami, olives and pastries and the butcher sells the finest cuts, many from locally produced fell bred stock. Next door is the Village Bakery and Cafe. Using only the finest produce to bake their wonderful fresh breads, pastries and cakes the aroma as you pass is enough to draw anybody inside. Finally on Prince’s Street, is the Post Office selling local maps, books, ice cream and general goods.

To take full advantage of Broughton in Furness visitors should look to stay in one the area’s fine Lake District cottages and self catering holiday homes.

When golfing in the Lake District and Cumbria, the different areas of the county present different golf courses types along with different challenges. As the county has over 160 miles of coastline, there are a number of links courses including Silecroft, St Bees and Maryport. One of the finest courses in the county is at Silloth-on-Solway. Silloth-on-Solway golf course is a 6,600 yard championship links course and an R & A regional qualifying course for The Open. During 2004 it was voted 24th in Golf Monthly’s review of Britain and Ireland’s top courses, just in front of Royal Troon Golf Club (25th place). They comment that “Carding a good score is a true test of nerve and industry on this intriguing layout”. Since then it has received accolades from Golf World.

The links courses on the west coast are very different to the courses further south as you get down into areas such as Keswick and the South Lakes. Keswick Golf Club at Threlkeld Hall, is a challenging par 71 parkland course that sits on Threlkeld Common and offers scenic, panoramic views of Blencathra, one of England’s highest mountains. The views alone make this course extremely playable. The nature of the Lake District means there are Lake District hotels in abundance to stay in whilst visiting the county to play golf.
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Windermere Marina Village are offering cycling enthusiasts a £50 discount on self-catering cottage breaks if they ditch their cars and arrive by bike.

With Windermere station a mere 10 minute ride away and numerous trails on our doorstep you won’t need a car to get the most out of your biking break.  Four-star self-catering cottages, secure bike storage and a wash down station ensure you and your bike are well catered for at Windermere Marina Village.

Occupying an enviable position on Windermere Lake, the marina is the largest in the North of England offering not only moorings but cottages in Windermere too.  The cottages overlooking the marina are spacious, well-equipped and offer you a little luxury after a day out cycling.  Many of the cottages have double rooms that can be converted to twins offering flexibility for groups and can be booked for 3, 4 or 7 night breaks.  Throughout your stay you will also enjoy full use of our onsite bar, bistro & leisure club; soothe those aches and pains with a dip in the Jacuzzi or pint on the terrace.
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Borwick Fold Cottages are situated in Hawkshead, near Ambleside at the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, high above a tranquil, pastoral valley, with superb panoramic mountain views. Surrounded by fells, lakes, tarns, woodland, ancient hamlets and villages and with its land managed for wildlife, it offers a superb base for many outdoor activities, and in which to unwind. Our visitors return again and again.

Three rather special Ambleside cottages have been imaginatively converted from the barn and stables of our 17th century farmhouse. The Hawkshead cottages are set above a quiet country lane [National Grid Reference: 33420,49970] on the edge of Black Fell [a ‘Wainwright’ fell] close to Tarn Hows, near Hawkshead.

Each of the Hawkshead cottages has its own individual character and is centrally heated for all year round comfort. Benches outside the cottages and on the fell side, as well as the al-fresco dining area and barbecue, make an ideal location in which to absorb the peace and tranquillity of the area whilst enjoying the views and abundant wildlife.

Many who have stayed at the Best Western Castle Inn Hotel before, may already know that Bassenthwaite is home to The Lake District Osprey Project.

Bassenthwaite Lake, a key habitat for the ospreys, is a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Each year these beautiful and rare birds return to nest and this Easter was made ‘eggstra’ special by the return of our male and female Osprey 2 weeks ago.  The female osprey laid her first egg of 2009 at the nest near Bassenthwaite Lake on Thursday 16th April.  The female bird is now incubating the egg and it is hoped that further eggs will be laid in the coming days.  Ospreys normally lay a clutch of three eggs.  Incubation is carried out mainly by the female and takes between 34-40 days.

Peter Wells, General Manager of The Castle Inn Hotel Keswick said: Staff at the hotel are very ‘eggcited’ that the first egg has been laid.  We are hopeful that there will be more eggs and that the clutch will hatch in time for our Spring Bank holiday visitors in May.
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Hotels are having to think even more creatively in order to entice guests in these tough times. With so many Lake District hotels offering discounted rates, which one do you choose? A clever marketing department should be looking at quirky offers or adding value which is something that many tourism businesses are heading towards these days. In 2008, the high quality 3 and 4 star Keswick hotels reported a good year and it is thought that the added value received from such establishments was one of the leading factors.

Of course, it isn’t just leisure guests that need to be lured. With businesses cutting staff and budgets, the business guest is just as important to target. Cumbria is an excellent stop off for business guests from the south on their way to Scotland. Another market is conferencing. Conferencing facilities and packages are offered in most of the larger hotels Lake District now. With most conferences held on week days, it is an excellent market to target. Creative marketing campaigns are springing up such as the Best Western ‘message focussed menu options’ where bread and water is an option if a team has recorded poor performance. This is an eye catching campaign but which saves the business money but helps to improve the performance of their team as the same time.
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High Bracken Lodges provide the ideal place to own a second home or holiday home in Cumbria - the Lake District. High Bracken Hall is a working farm set in the picturesque South Lakes. It truly is a gateway to the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales and the beautiful Cumbrian Coast. Access couldn’t be easier with the M6 just 5 minutes away.

This exclusive development of Lake District lodges for sale offers you a tranquil retreat with nature and luxury sitting side by side. Each of the log cabins for sale in Cumbria is finished to the highest standards, ideal for comfort. It is the perfect holiday base to get out and enjoy the many wonders of the English Lakes.

Whether it is relaxing, getting back to nature, outdoor pursuits or sight seeing, High Bracken Lodges provide ideal Lake District holiday homes for sale. The farm boasts fantastic open views of the fells, with walks through bluebell woods and a river to splash your wellies in.

The seasons bring many changes on the farm from new lambs in Spring, to the Summer grass mowing, right through to Winter cattle feeding, find out all the latest with the news and pictures on The Farm page.

The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are filled with things to do and it is all on your doorstep here, the local tourist board site has lots of information.

If it’s shopping, restaurants or culture you want then these lodges lie just a short distance from Kirkby Lonsdale with its boutique shops, delis and pubs or the historic market town of Kendal.

For more information and to arrange a viewing please call Eileen or Stephen on 015395 67219. We have regular open days and are open for viewing every weekend 12 - 4pm. We look forward to hearing from you.

Open for viewing every weekend 12 - 4pm.

With the Lake District being named most romantic destination this Valentine’s, it isn’t surprising that couples then want to return to get married. A staggering 31% of couples interviewed voted for the Lake District over destinations such as the Cotswolds, Bath and York.

The romantic nature of this area unsurprisingly attracts couples looking for a wedding destination. Year on year the Lake District is attracting more and more couples with hotels in the Lake District seeing steady increases in weddings throughout the year. There is an excellent choice of Lake District wedding venues due to the high number of hotels. Having this choice enables a wedding party to select the best venue for the size and theme of the wedding. Many hotels offer a cruise on one of the lakes on the wedding day. This can be for the bride and groom only or for the whole wedding party.
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The western Lake District is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK and which is also the location for the highest mountain in England.

The western Lake District covers a large area from the Solway Firth at the northern most tip right down to Barrow-in-Furness. It is extremely diverse in its landscape having some of the largest mountains but also having miles of coastline. It is the most enriched areas of Cumbria but which offers real escapism from the hugely busy South Lakes.

Silloth-on-Solway on the very northern coast is home to a championship golf course and which holds Open qualifiers. It attracts many visitors to play this links type course. Still on the coast and moving down to Whitehaven. Whitehaven has undergone much regeneration in the last few years and the harbour there is really worth a visit especially the biennial Whitehaven Maritime Festival. Further down the coast and you get to St Bees. St Bees has one of the best beaches in the UK. Clean sand and wonderful views towards St Bees Head. Heading down the A5395 for around 14 miles and you get to Muncaster Castle. The Pennington family have resided there since 1208 but early indications are that the castle has been around since 1026. Set on roman foundations, Muncaster Castle offers tours inside of the castle, an owl centre, playgrounds, a wildlife pond, ghost sits and is one of the most popular Lake District attractions.

The mountain and lake panoramas are the most dramatic of the whole of the Lake District. The market town of Keswick is a haven for walkers attracting thousands of visitors each year to walk the famous fells of Skiddaw and Helvellyn and hence there are many Lake District B&B venues to choose from. It also situated next to the beautiful piece of water, Derwentwater and only 3 miles away is Bassenthwaite. Bassenthwaite Lake is the only piece of water that is officially a “lake”. All the other bodies of water are either a “mere” or “water” for example Buttermere and Crummock Water.

Finally, panoramas do not get any better than the view from the southern end of Wast Water looking towards Great Gable and Scafell Pike. This view won “Britain’s Favourite View” on the ITV’s television programme in 2007 out of 16 views around Britain. Wast Water is the deepest lake in the Lake District at 260 feet deep but only 3 miles long. Wasdale Head offers some of the most remote Lake District accommodation but which is always busy with walkers attempting Scafell Pike.

Nestling in southern Cumbria – the Lake District are the hidden treasures of Cark-in-Cartmel and Allithwaite. Both locations providing access to the Lake District fells and Morecambe Bay.

Cark-in-Cartmel and Allithwaite are both located at the southern end of the Cartmel Valley and are classic ‘working’ Lakeland villages. This area is beautifully quiet without being remote and has a gentle pace of life. With its location so close to Morecambe Bay this area brings a milder climate than the rest of the Lake District.

The medieval village of Cartmel lies just 1½ miles north and is the oldest and most picturesque village in South Lakeland. The 12th century priory escaped destruction during the Dissolution of Henry VIII and remains one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England. The ancient village square is home to two good pubs and is a lovely place to sit and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by. There are another two good pubs just around the corner to visit when staying in Cumbrian cottages.

Cartmel Valley is a gentle, undulating landscape of lush green fields, rolling hills, leafy lanes and tranquil forests. The woodlands are an ideal base for easy access of the whole of the Lake District, Morecambe Bay, the rolling sand dunes of the Cumbrian coast, the Forrest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Walkers can put away their car keys as there are dozens of walks from their Lake District self catering cottage. The ancient Cistercian Way pass through Cark village and links up to all major walking routes in the Lake District. The Cumbrian Coastal Way also goes through both Cark and Allithwaite and provides spectacular coastal and fell walking for mile after mile. Morecambe Bay, with its vast areas of sand and marshes is a popular haunt for bird watchers, as is nearby Leighton Moss bird sanctuary. The Bay and the Cumbrian coast are great for windsurfing, with clear winds from the south.

If walking is not on the agenda when staying in one of these Lake District cottages then a visit to Holker Hall is a must. Holker Hall is Cumbria’s premier stately home, the home of Lord & Lady Cavendish. Residents and visitors of the village are granted permission to walk freely around the extensive parklands stocked with herds of deer and rare breed cattle and sheep. They also have a farm shop on site where produce from the estate can be purchased.

And finally, for families, a 10 minute drive north leads you to the nostalgic Haverthwaite to Lakeside Steam Railway. This connects to the awaiting Lake Windermere steamers and cruise boats that travel the full length of England’s longest lake where stops can be made at Waterhead (for Ambleside) or Bowness-in-Windermere.

It is becoming more and more of a requirement for businesses to provide a niche service or offer something that is just that little bit more specialised than its competitors. This is especially apparent in the highly competitive hotel and leisure industry.

Taking an environmentally conscious approach is one such way. This approach most obviously benefits the environment but is an excellent marketing tool to help a business grow and attract new customers.

The hotel and leisure industry is notorious for its energy consumption. There is the lighting, the washing and laundry, all the electrical goods within the rooms, the heating, kitchens and then Jacuzzis and swimming pools in the Lake Disitrict spa. All contribute to a huge carbon footprint but also high energy costs. The cost of electricity and gas has increased by 20 % in the last year which is creating a huge impact on the profits of a hotel or bed and breakfast. With the economy being in such a bad way at present and customer confidence in spending is decreasing, this industry can’t afford to put up its prices. After all, it is a highly competitive industry to start with.

Hotels have for some time now put notices in the bathrooms relating to the towels situation, in the bath if you would like them changing, on the rail or elsewhere if they are ok to be used again. This of course makes a difference if you think of how many hotels there are in the world but there is so much more that can be done.

The English Lake District is a haven for walkers and people relocating to live and work to provide a better standard and healthier living than in a city. It is understandable that the Lake District has a high number of environmentally conscious hotels. There are various levels of implementations that can be put into practice within Lake District hotels and accommodation providers from recycling and reusing of materials, to sourcing materials, services and supplies locally. There is then a next step that can be taken for example in the form of creating a renewable energy source for the hotel. One of the hotels in the Lake District that has installed a biomass energy production system which has been enabled by its location amongst a 35 acre managed woodland area. Such a system requires expert input but with the correct guidance, an economically feasible and attractive alternative to the use of LPG can be achieved. After a report had initially been produced, it was summarised that a biomass system would be far more efficient than a new high efficiency LPG boiler, an anaerobic digestion system or solar power system. To put this biomass system into context, the saving made should be at least £35,000 per year for this hotel and leisure complex when comparing it to its previous gas boiler system.  With such a saving, it is extremely evident the amount of unsustainable energy that will be saved.

There are over 80 bodies of water in the Lake District National Park which includes the largest, Windermere to the small tarns such as Angle Tarn.

There is in fact only one piece of water that is officially a lake and that is Bassenthwaite Lake 3 miles from Keswick. All the other bodies of water are either a “mere” or “water” for example Windermere and Ullswater or a tarn which means a small body of water.

There are 20 major lakes of which the largest and busiest is Windermere. Windermere is a thriving tourist destination with an excellent choice of Windermere bed and breakfast venues but there are many Windermere hotels available as well. Windermere the town is located 1.5 miles from the lake but Bowness-on-Windermere sits right by the lake swarming with boats, tourists and tours. At nearly 11 miles long, Windermere can fit a lot on it including 14 islands. The speed limit of 10 miles per hour maximum has caused some controversy but of course it has also pleased some people. Another very fascinating fact is that in the heavy rain of January 2005, Windermere rose by nearly a meter overnight. That equates to an extra seventeen thousand litres of water!

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Goosemire Cottages, the family owned and run self catering accommodation company based in Kendal, Cumbria are pleased to announce the launch of four new cottages for 2009.

The new cottages are in four different locations all offering different forms and sizes of accommodation. The first, Rosegarth Cottage at Newby in the Eden Valley. The second Lake District cottage is Edenfold Cottage, Bolton near Appleby. The third cottage is Pheasant Cottage in the Eden Valley and the fourth of the Lake District cottages is Stonegarth also in Newby.

These cottages are the latest additions to their already 35 strong cottage portfolio. This amount of cottages lead to the need for a new website which was put live last year and which enables the visitor to check the live availability of each cottage. It also gives clear information on each particular property with either “available”, “booked” or “a please phone” status. If one of the cottages is “available”, indicated under the availability status is the price for that week. This enables the visitor to know instantly the cost and eliminates the need to telephone or email for a price.

Goosemire Cottages are a small family run agency offering holiday cottage accommodation in the Lake District, UK (with just a few exceptions) an all-inclusive rental price. Their limited overheads mean low prices and they pride themselves on their value for money approach. There are open all year round and offer out of season or last minute breaks. To help you relax, Goosemire Cottages adopts a “nothing is too much trouble” approach, ensuring a welcoming, informed and personal service. On arrival you will find your cottage carefully prepared, to give your holiday a perfect start. In fact from the point of your initial enquiry onwards they guarantee they will give both you and your holiday the warm friendly attention deserved.

Goosemire Cottages have available over 39 traditional self-catering holiday homes for discerning visitors (Ranging from 1 to 7 bedrooms, sleeping up to 10). Most are rustic 17th or 18th Century Lake District self catering cottages or lovely barn conversions, where antiquity and modern comforts have been beautifully combined. The atmosphere and idiosyncrasies of each Lake District cottage property are reflected on our website, and while some maybe more luxuriously appointed than others, all are carefully prepared and maintained.

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With the weak Euro against the pound, the tourism industry is hoping for a bumper year for UK holidays.

For the last 20 years, more and more families have been going abroad to Europe for their summer holiday and year on year the UK market has been decreasing. The UK seaside used to be thriving and although such places as Devon and Cornwall are still busy in the summer, on the whole, it is less popular. The UK has so many fantastic places like Scotland and Wales for walking, the Northumberland coast where there is 10 miles of coast with some of the cleanest and whitest sand in the country, down to Dorset and the Isle of White.

The UK of course does have a downside in the weather but what the UK lacks in sunshine, it makes up for in activities and good old fashioned fun. This area is especially suited family holidays in the Lake District with its vast choice of activities. Firstly there are the fells. Walking and taking in the spectacular scenery in the Lake District is not only good exercise but it is free. Other activities in Cumbria and the Lake District are Muncaster Castle, the World Owl Trust, Ravenglass Steam Railway, Lake District Coast Aquarium, Puzzling Place and Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, Beatrix Potter Museum and cycling tours at Grizedale Forest. A trip to the Lakes isn’t complete without a boat trip. Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater and Derwentwater are the main lakes for boat trips. It gives a different perspective on the fells from the water than on land.
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Ambleside is a very popular and picturesque town situated at the heart of the Lake District National Park, close to the shores of Lake Windermere, which is England’s largest lake. Ambleside itself has become a major tourist resort and one of the most popular bases for exploring the Lake District with an array of excellent shops, restaurants, plus a great choice of of Lake District self catering venues including camp sites, bed and breakfasts, hotels and Lake District cottages.

Ambleside is mostly a Victorian town, although there has been a settlement there since pre-Roman times.  Galava, a fort located beside Borrans Park in Ambleside was built by the Romans and was used to house around 500 soldiers. The fort was built to defend the lower fells of South Lakeland from invasion by the Picts and Scots, and also to guard the road to the Roman Port at Ravenglass which is accessible from Hard Knott Pass.

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Dancing in the Dark, based near Penrith in Cumbria have been providing professional Lake District mobile disco entertainment throughout Cumbria since 1988. Whilst Lake District wedding discos are their speciality they provide entertainment at a range of other functions and events including corporate entertainment, office parties, birthday celebrations, christmas parties and karaoke nights. So whether you are organising a birthday party for a friend or relative, looking to keep your delegates entertained during a corporate event, or trying to arrange the best Christmas Party in town, Dancing in the Dark will make your event a roaring success.

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Combining a spa treatment with a holiday or weekend away is becoming more and more popular. With the stresses of work and family life, the ability for total relaxation and making the most out of a much deserved weekend break is a must. Spa’s located within Lake District hotels are the most convenient and give the most relaxation as the guest can simply come down from their room and within a matter of seconds be in having a spa treatment, no need to get in a car or walk for miles.

One such example if The Lodore Falls Hotel situated on the edge of one of the most beautiful lakes in the English Lake District, Derwentwater. It is a very popular area with lovers of all activities and it is one of the few pieces of water in the Lake District that has retained its peaceful atmosphere despite being right in the heart of the most popular area for walking. Lake District spa treatments can be anything from a variety of massages to facials, tanning, waxing, manicures, pedicures, anti-ageing, eye treatments, facials, sunbed and bridal treatments. With the popularity of getting married in the Lake District, a Lake District spa offers ultimate pampering for the bride.

Elemis is a high rated brand of facial, massage and body therapy treatments. The Lodore Falls Hotel offer Elemis Spa Therapy which is developed by a specialised team, with extensive clinical & scientific studies. Elemis professional spa-therapies are world renowned for their powerful massage sequences combined with the most dynamic activities, available in the world today. Lake District pamper days are also available in some of the Lake District spas. Locals can then use these facilities or guests who just want a full day of relaxing.

Windermere in the English Lake District is the longest natural lake in England. Set in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, Windermere and its surrounding areas have been a favoured holiday destination since 1847. Windermere the lake is 10.5 miles long and ranges from a quarter of a mile to one mile wide. The northern end is Waterhead, a mile from Ambleside town centre, the middle being Bowness-On-Windermere and the southerly end bringing you to Newby Bridge.

The town of Windermere is located on the east bank of the lake and is in actual fact one and a quarter miles from the lake. With a population of approximately 2,295, Windermere is one of the larger towns in the South Lakes. Many businesses have offices and shops in the town due to its location to the many smaller villages in the area. It has a supermarket, many local independent shops and the flagship Lakeland Limited store right next to the train station.

Surrounding the town and all the way down to the lake are a plethora of hotels in the Lake District and Lake District hotels. The choice really is endless. Boutique and niche hotels have begun to pop up making Windermere a quality destination suitable for young and old.

The lake offers many activities from Windermere lake cruises to fishing and water sports. Of course, if being on the water is not for you, the walking along the shore taking in the scenery and landscapes is equally as enthralling. The town of Bowness-On-Windermere sits right by the lake too. Again, a very busy town but a greater focus on tourism.

The name “Ullswater” is believed to have come from an early Viking settler but due to a stone circle called The Cockpit at Barton Fell, some say it could have been earlier. The valley has many farms which is now the main economy of the area along with tourism. Some of the farms which are still working today, date back to as early as the sixteenth century.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District at a length of 8 miles. The lake is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the area and is a very popular place to stay for walkers wanting to tackle Helvellyn, Highstreet and Fairfield. The Coast to Coast walk goes through Patterdale with the Patterdale YHA situated on the route. For less adventurous walkers, there are many lower level, less strenuous walks such as the lovely Hallin Fell walk. It is approximately 3 miles long and of the same distance, the Aira Force Walk. Aira Force is the most spectacular waterfall in the Lake District and the beautiful walk through a leafy glen is wonderful.

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