Blog

Here in the Lake District it has been wonderful to see so many visitors return to the National Park after a difficult few months. With restrictions still in place relating to international travel, many people are opting for a “Staycation” and are taking holidays here in the UK, including in the Lake District. Campsites and self-catered accommodation in particular are seeing a bit of a boom, with many sites fully booked for the next couple of months.

It’s been a while since we last produced a What’s On guide for the Lake District and the last few months have certainly been difficult for so many people and organisations in so many different ways. Whilst it’s fair to say that we haven’t returned to normality here in Cumbria, the hospitality sector across the Lake District has once more opened its doors to visitors and we’re certainly happy to see everyone back and enjoying this rich landscape once more.

We know that so many of you were disappointed to cancel your Lake District break this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Equally, many Lake District business owners and staff were devastated to see the effect this has had on the area’s economy. As one of the UK’s top tourist destinations, the area relies heavily on spending from tourists in independent, family owned businesses, and for many, the future is looking uncertain.

Conquer Scafell Pike, visit the Pencil Museum, or relax on the shore of Ullswater, all from the comfort of your own home with the arrival of a Lake District themed Monopoly game. Lockdown has been hard on all of you Lakes lovers out there, but perhaps this revival of the much-loved family board game will bring some solace. The Lakes Monopoly Game sees the removal of the traditional London landmarks in favour of iconic spots in the Lake District, including Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top, Ravenglass Station, and Windermere.

It’s a strange time here in the Lake District. We have had crystal clear blue skies, the Easter holidays, and the arrival of the spring flowers, including the beautiful bluebells that crop up all over our woodlands. Normally at this time of year we would be welcoming thousands of tourists into our hotels, cottages, and campsites and we had a whole raft of wonderful events planned to coincide with the tourist season. Sadly, the 2020 tourist season is looking decidedly different to those that have come before it, thanks to Covid-19.

Originally, the Lake District was brimming with events for April as it brings Easter and normally the school holidays, but most of these have now been cancelled or postponed as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

After what felt like an eternal January and February, we are well and truly ready for the arrival of Spring this month. Already the signs can be spotted in the fells and woodlands, with the cheerful yellow daffodils spreading across the land.

Forget the treadmill in your air-conditioned gym. Nothing beats getting out into the countryside and giving those glutes a good workout. The Lake District’s extraordinary network of bridleways, paths, and mountain passes makes it one of the best places in the world (in our humble opinion) to go for a run, helped of course by the large number of cafés that will provide you with some much needed cake at the end.

The Lake District in February is still very much in the grasp of winter, but there are subtle signs of an emerging spring, with daffodil bulbs pushing up through the ground and nesting birds setting up home amongst the trees. After a relatively quiet January, February brings a resurgence of events and activities, especially towards the latter part of the month when many schools break up for a half term holiday.

Come for the fells, stay for the festivals, theatrical performances, and arts events. The new decade kicks off with a packed programme of exciting events in the Lake District National Park and we’ve picked out the highlights. These are some of the most exciting events taking place around Cumbria this year, so if you are thinking about booking a Lake District holiday, take a peek to see if there is anything fabulous taking place during your visit!