Thinking of booking a Lake District holiday for 2019? Whilst Windermere, Ambleside, and Keswick might be top for most visitors to the area, we take a look at why you should consider basing yourself in West Cumbria instead. From the depths of Wild Ennerdale, to the sweeping sands of the Solway Coast, West Cumbria has lots to offer to those seeking something a little more off the beaten track.

As December draws to a close we are looking ahead to the forthcoming year. Forget new year resolutions about giving up sugar or keeping on top of the housework. Instead, make 2019 a year to remember by booking a trip to the Lake District and ticking these must-do activities off the list.

Late November brought the first sprinkling of snow to the Lake District fell tops, heralding the arrival of the winter season. With shorter days, longer nights, and brisk arctic winds bringing in the cold weather, now is the time to seek comfort and warmth.

2018 has seen some amazing events taking place across the Lake District. We have sampled delicious produce at food festivals, we have seen elite cyclists race on our roads, and we have celebrated our rich agricultural heritage at numerous agricultural shows and country fairs.

It’s not long to go until Santa leaves the North Pole and makes his journey around the world delivering presents to all the good girls and boys. If you haven’t finalised your plans for Christmas this year then why not consider coming to the Lake District? Leave all the family drama and housework behind and enjoy a relaxing break in one of our luxury hotels or cosy cottages.

It’s time to dig out the thermals, pull on the bobble hats, and pack the thermos flask. Winter has arrived in the Lake District and we’re feeling the chill. If you like frosty mornings and cosy afternoons spent by a roaring fire in a traditional pub then this is the time to visit.

As Halloween approaches at the end of this month we take a look at some of the Lake District’s most haunted and spookiest places. Plus, we have a guide to some of the scariest events taking place across the national park in celebration of the ghoulish date.

The tens of thousands of people who attended the Taste Cumbria Cockermouth Food Festival last weekend were left in little doubt that Cumbria has an outstanding food heritage. The county is home to the Cumberland Sausage, Grasmere Gingerbread, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, and now it can add another accolade, being home to four Michelin starred restaurants. This is no mean feat when you consider that the county is the 3rd largest in England, but the second least densely populated.

If you don’t mind a bit of rain and want to visit the Lake District during one of the quieter periods, then October is the time to come. Most of the trees are now adorned with golden leaves, waiting for the next big storm to blow them all away. The nights are much colder, and so we see the return of cool crisp mornings leading to spectacular sunrises as mists engulfs the lakes.

This weekend sees the return of the Taste Cumbria food festival to the streets of Cockermouth. First held in 2010 in response to flooding in the area, this is the flagship event for the Taste Cumbria team, bringing around 40,000 visitors to this small town on the fringe of the western Lake District.