Blog

September is the time when we begin to say goodbye to this year’s long hot summer and start looking forward to the delights that autumn brings. The leaves on the trees slowly change colour as they lose their dark green shades and hints of yellow, gold, and orange shine through, whilst the hedgerows are dotted with bursts of colour, as berries and seeds become plump and ripe.

August is country fair season in Cumbria with over ten taking place across the county. The biggest show this month is happening this weekend at the Lowther Estate. The Lowther Show attracted around 60,000 visitors last year and despite being one of the youngest country shows in Cumbria, it is one of the highlights of the show calendar.

School's out for summer! If you haven’t already planned a Lake District trip for you and your family during the long summer break then it’s not too late, with plenty of hotels, campsites, and lodges still available for booking. However, they are likely to sell out pretty fast, so don’t delay booking much longer to avoid disappointment.

As we prepare this month’s What’s On guide we are reflecting on what has been a glorious summer so far, with endless days of sunshine and little in the way of rain. Whilst we can’t promise this will continue throughout August (and we do desperately need some rain to replenish those lakes and return the greenery to the fells), we can promise you another packed calendar of events.

Here in the Lake District, we have had some fantastic weather. With the exception of one or two wet days, it’s generally been very dry. So dry in fact, that the lakes and rivers have started to shrink quite noticeably. There’s even been some sightings of the sun! As a result, it’s a perfect time to enjoy a Lake District picnic.

July brings haybales to the lowlands and the early blooms of purple heather to the uplands of the Lake District. The days are long, the nights are warm, and the paths become trickier to navigate, overgrown with wild flowers and plants. July is one of the busiest periods for tourism in the Lake District. The Scottish schools are on a break throughout the month, with the English and Welsh schools starting their six week long break towards the end of the month.

Last year, according to Cumbria Tourism, the Lake District and Cumbria received over 47 million visitors, which is more than the population of Spain. The peak tourist season is now upon us, and 2018 is already looking to be another record breaking year for tourist numbers to the area.

Most visitors flock to the well-known towns and lakes with Windermere, Keswick and Derwent Water, Grasmere, and Buttermere all being very popular. However, there are still plenty of places where you can go to escape the crowds and enjoy a bit of peace, providing you are willing to drive and walk a bit more.

Summer is here at last with the weather turning warmer and the days getting longer. June is a delightful time to visit the Lake District, as it’s an opportunity to make the most of the summer sunshine outside of the peak tourist periods that coincide with the school summer holidays.

May half term is a brilliant time to visit the Lake District with your children. Spring is fully in bloom and the area is brimming with wildflowers. The woodland canopy is rich with shades of green, but not so heavy that the sunlight is blocked out entirely. Lambs, foals, calves, and even crias (baby alpacas) can be seen in the farm fields. The Lake District is one giant adventure playground, and this half term, there is plenty to keep the family occupied.

With two bank holidays, half term, and increasingly warmer weather, May is the perfect time to book a break to the Lake District with your children. The fells, lakes, and woodlands are a delight this time of year, with lambs and spring flowers in abundance, all providing the perfect backdrop for a family stroll. Pack up a picnic, slather on the sun cream, and check out our top guided walks to do with the family this month.