Western Lake District Winter News 2007

Winter 2007

• Winter Walks in the footsteps of Wainwright, or explore the home of Britain’s Favourite View!
   
• Winter Warmers – The Best Food and Drink in the West
   
• Ghost Sit – Not for the faint hearted
   
• Press Trip itinerary example – our ‘Boys Weekender’
   

Britain’s Favourite View

The Western Lake District is home to 'Britain's Favourite View' as voted for recently in an ITV poll. Wastwater was chosen by Coronation Street actress Sally Whittaker, and the viewers of the ITV show agreed with her and voted it as their favourite. The deepest lake in Britain at 249ft, is truly the jewel of the Western Lake District’s crown.

Sally says of the area: 'This landscape has fired up the imaginations of painters, poets and climbers. And it's not lost any of its power to surprise, charm and thrill us today.'

Picking up the award on behalf of Wastwater, Sally said: 'I'm really thrilled and hopefully even more people will go off to the Lake District now. There are so many beautiful views in the Lake District - every view is amazing and it is such an inspirational and magical place to be.'

Why not take Sally's word for it, and come and visit the view for yourself.

Alongside Wastwater, you can experience a wealth of breathtaking walks, with a collection of walks, named ‘Wainwright Walks, captured by Alfred Wainwright, in his booklet, exclusively created by the famous walker, for the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in the 1970’s.

Amongst the ten walks featured are the Hardknott Roman Fort, which starts and finishes at Dalegarth Station (one of two main stations for those travelling on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk ).
Wainwright describes this walk as ‘Some road and some valley rambling – an interesting objective’.

The most popular of his featured walks is to Dalegarth Force in Eskdale, formerly called Stanley Gill.  He describes the fall itself as: “…at Lakeland’s liveliest waterfall, exquisitely so, You have heard of sylvan beauty: it is here, in Eskdale, at Dalegarth Force.

If winter's your perfect time for discovering the joy of pubs with roaring fires, or a farmhouse kitchen where you can rock up in your walking boots and tuck into some fabulous homemade soup, our Winter Warmers press trip is just the one for you.

The Western Lake District is full of magnificent scenery, whether you are on the fells, or walking along the
dramatic Solway Coast, but winter temperatures may also be partially responsible for the type of hearty, taste-smacking fare for which we are renowned, which also has its roots in our strong association with the rum and spice trade.

If you yearn for a taste of Cumberland Rum Nicky after a gallop through the waves, or relish the thought of some award-winning Cumberland sausage, or some intriguingly named Fidget Pie, this is the trip for you.  

Whether it's food from the fells, or food for the fells, we can offer you the chance to explore a Winter Warmers food-themed press trip with as much or as little outdoor activity thrown in as you wish.

For more information please contact Fiona Tubman on 01900 818987, or ftubman@western-lakedistrict.co.uk

Ghostly experiences are on the menu at Muncaster Castle, in Ravenglass, reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in the UK, where the spirit of the legendary Tom Fool is said to run amok.  Entering the castle’s spectre ridden Tapestry Room is one challenge, but spending a night here on a Ghost Sit is quite another!

This Ghost Sit experience is a unique opportunity for up to six people to stay overnight in the haunted room, with a private tour of the castle, during which the tales and legends of Muncaster are spelt out.  Scene setting occurs in the late evening, with a private tour of the castle, with the tales and legends of Muncaster being spelt out.  Once the characters of Tom Fool, The White Lady and a woman dressed in black are implanted on the brain, the party can settle down for an all-night watch, amidst the Flemish hangings, wonderful Georgian furniture and Elizabethan fireplace. 

The next morning, visitors are greeted by a full English breakfast in Creeping Kate’s Kitchen, where they can explore their thoughts on the evening’s events and compare and contrast stories.  As thoughts are crystallised, they are then committed to the written word, with all guests being asked to complete a log of what happened to them during their ghostly night.

The Ghost Sit will run every Saturday and Sunday in November and December, as well as between December 26-28, Darkest Muncaster allows visitors to explore life in the castle’s gardens after nightfall.  The experience includes music, sounds, special effects and light, creating spine-tingling feelings and breathtaking entertainment and lasts from dusk to 9pm, with last entrances at 8pm.

For more information on Muncaster visit www.muncaster.co.uk

For more information contact Fiona Tubman on 01900 818987 or ftubman@western-lakedistrict.co.uk

Spooky Muncaster photo courtesy of www.cumbriaphoto.co.uk

A weekend for the boys…

Take on some of the England’s most beautiful walks in the day, and prepare to be spooked beyond belief at the Muncaster Ghost Sit at night! 

Walk with the Spooks…

Friday:

• Arrive in Ravenglass on Friday lunchtime, home of Ravenglass Roman Bath House, and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, and Muncaster Castle.
• Accommodation at the Pennington Arms or Muncaster Coachmans Quarters, in Ravenglass.
• Ride the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway to Dalegarth Station and take home cooked lunch fare at the station café.
• Experience the walk to Dalegarth Force, described above, before travelling back to Ravenglass for a luxurious dinner at the Pennington Arms.

Saturday:

• Travel to Wastwater and take walk around Britain’s Favourite View
• Lunch at the Wasdale Head Inn
• Travel back to Ravenglass and visit Muncaster for a night in the Castle where your adventure begins with your Ghost Sit!

Sunday:

• If you have survived the night in the Castle, you can travel to Loweswater for a walk around Ennerdale Lake, with lunch and a pint of ale at the Kirkstile Inn.
• In the afternoon, you can travel to Cockermouth, only 15 minutes away to sample the delights of Jennings Ale at their local brewery.
• After all that Ale, why not visit one of the towns best loved Indian restaurant, Taste of India, winner of the excellence award from Asian Women magazine 2007, before sampling more ale in bar 1761, CAMRA pub of the season Summer 2007.
• Followed by a nice night’s rest at the Trout Hotel in Cockermouth, 4 star luxury, set on the river.

N.B. All accommodation featured is subject to availability

Western Lake District Tourism Partnership - Telephone: +44 (0)1900 818741

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