Welcome to the Golakes Blog

The Cumbria Tourism award winners for 2010 have just been announced reminding us yet again that there are some really great places to visit and stay in the Lake District.

Here’s the low-down on who won what…along with the judge’s independent comments.

Taste of Cumbria Award: The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5015670

The Cottage in the Wood’s excellent use of local produce, really friendly customer service and stunning views all work together to create a fantastic taste experience which exceeds customer expectations.

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year: The Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport
http://www.golakes.co.uk/accommodation/article-awards-coast-aqaurium.aspx

An excellent family attraction which represents very good value for money through its ‘all day pass’.  Educational and interesting for all ages, there are lots of displays, with interactive and informative interpretation. Talks, feeding time and demonstrations really help bring the attraction to life, and encourages visitors to get closer to the local sea life.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Bowness-on-Windermere
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=5018695&feature=2

The World of Beatrix Potter makes great use of every inch of the attraction to appeal to as broad a customer base as possible.  From the new Peter Rabbit garden to the shop, the staff live and breathe Beatrix Potter throughout as they deliver brilliant customer service and ensure a fun and memorable visit for all.

Sustainable Tourism Award: Elder Grove, Ambleside

http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5010016

Sustainability has become a way of life to the owners of Elder Grove.  The owners are committed to buying local produce, employing local tradesmen and sharing their passion and knowledge about green issues with other small accommodation providers and their guests.  They are true ambassadors for sustainable tourism.

Small Hotel of the Year: Overwater Hall, Keswick
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5050397

Overwater Hall is an imposing and enticing building in a beautiful garden setting.  The hotel has benefited from ongoing investment to create an individually furnished interior, which is perfectly in-keeping with the style of the building. Attentive and friendly owners and staff, offer many personal touches while the dining experience focuses on excellent quality, locally produced food.

Large Hotel of the Year: Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel and Spa
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5010270

A £5 million investment has created an outstanding destination spa at Armathwaite Hall, which has been privately owned and family run for over 30 years.  The beautiful setting offers stunning views while the hotel itself offers charming and intriguing public areas and excellent quality bedrooms.  The recent appointment of a General Manager ensures attentive and friendly service and beautifully cooked and presented food.

Self Catering Holiday of the Year: Tottergill Farm Cottages, Brampton
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5021313

Tottergill Farm offers a peaceful and tranquil holiday with a genuine welcome, from friendly and considerate hosts.  The product and service is continually adapted and improved by pro-actively seeking customer feedback.  Impressive properties and well thought out personal touches ensure guests can create simple yet memorable holiday experiences.

Tourism Experience of the Year: Cumbrian Heavy Horses, Nr Millom
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=5086224

A ride with the Cumbrian Heavy Horses offers a wonderful and unique experience with exceptional levels of customer care.  The team’s passion and knowledge about their magnificent animals creates a truly memorable experience, while comfort and safety is prioritised throughout.

Access for All Tourism Award: The Beacon, Whitehaven
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=5021214

The Beacon actively welcomes all its visitors irrespective of age or ability and ensures that everyone can take part in, and enjoy, their exhibitions and other services.  They offer a superb standard of accessible information for guests with physical, sensory or learning disabilities, combined with outstanding levels of customer care where nothing is too much trouble.

Tourism Event of the Year: British Gas Great North Swim, Windermere
http://www.golakes.co.uk/adventure-capital/events-and-challenges.aspx

The fantastic growth in this event is matched by the organiser’s commitment to making significant improvements to the visitor experience, based on extensive customer feedback.  In 2009, 87% of the 6,000 attendees were visitors from outside the county bringing an estimated £1.5 million in tourism value to Cumbria.

Holiday Park of the Year: Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Ambleside AND Woodclose Park, Kirkby Lonsdale

Skelwith Fold

http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5013492

Located in a beautiful woodland setting which fully exploits its wildlife through woodland paths and trails, and a dedication to conservation and sustainability.  Well planned slate and wood buildings are completely in-keeping with their surroundings, and provide immaculately clean and warm facilities. Friendly, welcoming and helpful staff can be found throughout the park.

Woodclose Park

http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5054181

Offering excellent value for money in a beautiful spacious setting with a great balance of luxury statics, touring caravans, permanent wigwams and tents.  Terraced pitches offer privacy and have been well designed to make the most of the wonderful views.  Friendly and knowledgeable staff offer suggestions for places to eat and things to do in the Kirkby Lonsdale area.

Guest Accommodation of the Year: Number 43, Arnside
http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=2&pid=5080340

A welcoming and relaxing ambience awaits guests at Number 43, along with little personal, but luxurious, touches to help them feel at home.  Superb attention to detail can be found in the stunning, high quality interior and in the excellent breakfast choice from a range of local suppliers.

Family Wildlife Walks, Countywide

Cumbria Wildlife Trust has developed three new family wildlife activity walks at nature reserves around Cumbria.  Family packs of the walks are free and contain information on getting to and around the nature reserves, a short history of the area, wildlife spotter sheets to help identify what you see, and a short quiz.  Packs are available for Smardale Gill, near Kirkby Stephen; Bowness on Solway on the Cumbrian coast, and Foulshaw Moss near Kendal.

www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Ducky’s Park Farm, Flookburgh

A delightful children’s open farm and visitor centre offering a friendly, safe environment for families and schools to enjoy themselves whilst learning about farming methods.  It offers a great indoor soft play area, outdoor playground, education centre and animal interaction area as well as a farm trail, go-carts, bouncy castle, cafe and picnic area.  www.duckysparkfarm.co.uk / Family ticket £18

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Ravenglass

Heritage engines haul trains of cosy covered and open-top carriages from the Lake District National Park’s only coastal village of Ravenglass, through two of Lakeland’s loveliest valleys to the foot of England’s highest mountain. You can just relax and take in the scenery together, pop into the little café at Dalegarth for a tasty lunch or hop on and off to experience the wealth of pretty walks and cycle trails along the route. ‘Steam & Romans’ tour back by popular demand every Wednesday from 2^nd June to 25^th August.

www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk / Unlimited travel family ticket with free line guide & scratch cards for the kids £29

South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Dalton-In-Furness

One of the world’s top wildlife conservation centres and home of the Sumatran Tiger Trust and the Wildlife Protection Foundation.  Here you can see some of the rarest animals from across the globe including cheetahs, tigers, monkeys, giraffes, hippos, kangaroos…You can even help with hand-feeding the penguins!  There’s a café serving freshly made sandwiches as well as good hot meals and scrumptious cakes, a little steam train, lots of picnic tables and a gift shop for treats to take home.  Special Teddy Bears Picnic for kids this half term including daily bear fun & games and best dressed bear competitions.  Children bringing a bear get free entry but all teddy bears pay £2, which goes to the Spectacled Bear Conservation Project.

www.wildanimalpark.co.uk / Adults £11.50

World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-on-Windermere

Winner of Cumbria Tourism’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2010, all 23 of Beatrix Potter’s well-loved tales are brought to life at this interactive attraction. Families can see Peter Rabbit’s garden, explore Jemima Puddle-duck’s woodland glade and call at Mr McGregor’s greenhouse.  Or take a walk through a virtual Lakeland complete with sounds, sights and even smells and visit all the places that inspired Beatrix Potter’s stories and characters.  Then enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the Tea Room or outdoors on the garden terrace, before browsing the gifts in the Emporium.

www.hop-skip-jump.com / Family ticket £18

Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass

Muncaster is an award-winning attraction with something to appeal to all ages in a breathtaking setting on the Lake District coast. For the kids there is The World Owl Centre, interactive displays, a maze, two playgrounds, and a family picnic area (including one for toddlers). For adults, there is the chance to learn more about the historic home of the Pennington family, its magnificent gardens, which are carpeted with bluebells this Spring, and the ghostly goings on which lead some to claim the castle is one of the most haunted in the land. You can also stock up on Cumbrian food and products in the shop and plant centre then relax and refresh in the café.  Five days of madness and mayhem get underway again this half term with the annual Festival of Fools, which culminates in the International Jester Competition to find 2010’s Fool of Muncaster.  Also new for 2010 is a 200m zip wire from Tom Fool’s Tree out over the Cannon Bank reaching speeds of over 35mph!

www.muncaster.co.uk / Family ticket to Gardens, Owl Centre & Maze £27

We Built This City, Lakes Alive, Carlisle

Lakes Alive is a new season of world-class performance and arts events in the spectacular landscapes of Cumbria, and for ‘We Built This City’ has the historic city of Carlisle as a backdrop from June 3^rd to the 5^th.   Using thousands of big cardboard boxes and the energy and ingenuity of kids and families, Polyglot Theatre from Australia will help build a magnificent city in a public construction extravaganza in the centre of Carlisle.  Accompanied by live music, buildings will go up, be pulled down, redesigned, extended, walked through, and jumped on, and at the end of the day, everyone can have fun knocking down and squashing the whole city into a recyclable heap of cardboard rubble!

www.lakesalive.org / Free

Brockhole, Windermere

Many visitors drive past the Lake District Visitor Centre, Brockhole without realising what a great value day out it is for families. Brockhole is home to 10 acres of Thomas Mawson gardens which run idyllically down to Lake Windermere. It’s all free and is buggy and wheelchair friendly. The gardens also house a massive adventure play-park and zipslide. What’s more you can head down to the jetty and catch a Windermere Lake Cruise up to nearby Waterhead. With lots going on to keep the family amused this half term from becoming a nature detective to meeting Silverband Falconry’s amazing birds of prey. www.lake-district.gov.uk / Free entry but small charge for organised events

Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport

Winner of the Cumbria Tourism’s Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2010, the Lake District Coast Aquarium is one of Europe’s best marine aquariums with over 2,000 fish and more than 200 different species from Dwarf Seahorses – the world’s smallest Seahorse to Wolf Fish, Starfish and Lobsters. They hold daily fish feeding demonstrations and informative talks with extra events during school holidays.

www.lakedistrict-coastaquarium.co.uk / Family ticket from £18.95

The Beacon, Whitehaven

Situated on Whitehaven’s harbour front, The Beacon has undergone £2.2 million pounds worth of improvements to best show off its museum collection. Kids can try out the moving deck, which simulates what it’s like being onboard, a ship, and for the more cerebral, you can trace the maritime heritage of the port. Not only was Whitehaven once one of the world’s big players in seafaring, it has links with the first US president, George Washington. The town was also at the heart of the rum smuggling skullduggery. There’s a Met Office Weather Gallery offering breathtaking views of the Irish Sea and an exhibition gallery over five different floors. This half term, bring the kids along to the Beaconeers craft workshops for just £2 per child.

www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk / Adults £5 and under 16’s free with adults

For further information about visiting the Lake District, Cumbria, visit www.golakes.co.uk

No trip to the Lake District would be complete without a locally brewed pint in a charming little pub. With that sentiment in mind, here is a list of the top ten pubs in the Lake District.

At a cross-roads close to Ambleside, Hawkshead and Coniston, sits the Drunken Duck. The heart of the Duck is its bar, featuring oak floors, old beams, an open fire, leather club chairs and a beautiful black slate bar from the local quarry. Legend has it the landlady of the Inn found ducks lying stretched out in the road and concluded that they were dead. Thriftily she began to pluck and prepare them for dinner. However, down in the cellar a barrel had slipped its hoops and beer had drained from the floor into the duck’s feeding ditch. Theducks took full advantage but awoke to find themselves plucked and halfway to the oven. Full of remorse for the rough treatment, the landlady knitted the ducks waistcoats of Hawkshead yarn until their feathers grew back again.

www.drunkenduckinn.co.uk

One of The Angel’s main features is its terraced beer garden, which overlooks Windermere. Choose from locally brewed beers, international draught lagers, world wines by the glass, hot drinks or soft drinks. In winter, The Angel comes in to its own with a toasty log fire roaring away, a flat-screen television, comfy sofas and twinkly Christmas lights.

www.the-angelinn.com

A walk up Coniston Old Man wouldn’t be the same without a trip to The Sun Inn. It was built over 500 years ago on the old Walna Scar packhorse trail, which leads over the mountains to west Cumbria. The Sun provides a genuine Lakeland setting with stone walls, stone floor, exposed beams and a beautiful fireplace. The brewed-in-the-village Coniston Bluebird bitter is a must try.www.thesunconiston.com

At the northern end of Bassenthwaite, the only official Lake in the Lake District, is The Pheasant Inn. This charming old coaching inn is one of the best known pubs in the Lakes with its polished walls, real log fires and period furniture. If beers are not your thing take Afternoon Tea with home made scones with rum butter, freshly baked cakes, cucumber sandwiches and a range of different teas from Lapsong Souchong to Earl Grey.

www.the-pheasant.co.uk

Enjoy a pint of Melbreak in the garden or bar at the Kirkstile Inn and gaze in awe at the huge mountain from which the drink takes its name. The Kirkstile is in a rare corner of the Lake District that many do not manage to find with landscape calendar scenery, peaceful countryside and mostly empty country roads. www.kirkstile.com

Travelling north along Ullswater, you’ll find the tiny village of Tirril and The Queen’s Head pub.  The emphasis is on earthy rather than stylish and it has won awards aplenty. It has its own beers brewed nearby, a great lunchtime menu, cheerful bar staff and hosts a festival in August featuring 20-plus beers and over 15 different sausages.

Call 01768 863219 for more info.

Originally a small ale house built by Isacc Cookson, the Mortal Man’s unusual name comes from a sign painted for the Landlord at the time by a famous English painter called Julius Caesar Ibbetson. On a crisp, bright winter’s day at the end of one of the long walks you can do throughout the valley. The surroundings are likely to make you feel mortal whether you’re male or female. www.themortalman.com

The Old Crown, which to all intents and purposes is HRHThe Prince of Wales’ “local,” is believed to be Britain’s first co-operatively owned pub. 125 customers banded together to stop it from falling into the hands of a faceless brewery. Instead, the pub has survived and its links with the Hesket Newmarket Brewery continue to this day. www.theoldcrownpub.co.uk

You don’t just drink or eat at the Masons Arms, you have a Lakeland experience. Overlooking the Lyth Valley, you can enjoy the view from the terrace under a cosy canopy even in winter, fired by the warmth of the outdoor heaters. The food is worth waiting for too, from Smoked Haddock Chowder to the spicy ribs. Combine a trip with a walk to nearby Gummer’s How, offering views over Windermere. www.masonsarmsstrawberrybank.co.uk

The Woolpack at Eskdale aims to eradicate the products found in most high street pubs. Instead, it specialises in its own, a pint of 3.7 per cent Woolpacker made by the Hardknott Brewery. Visitors can camp in the grounds by arrangement and take in views of nearby Harter Fell and the Eskdale Valley. This is walking country and the Woolpack is the perfect base camp. www.woolpack.co.uk