Top Ten Autumn in West Cumbria
The peaceful Western Lake District is a beautiful place for an autumn break. A showcase of stunning scenery, quiet coastlnes, autumnal colours, unique events, mouth-watering food and gorgeous places to stay, it boasts something for everyone to love. Here are just a few suggestions for an idyllic break in the Western Lakes...
A fabulous foodie feast...
Taste Cumbria Food Festival 2011
24th & 25th September 2011
Cockermouth plays host once again to the annual food festival, which launched to record numbers of visitors last year. The vibrant festival boasts a bustling traditional farmers' market, demonstrations from celebrity chefs along with the area's very best culinary talent, informative master classes and workshops from Cumbrian food heroes, live music and street entertainment, plus an interactive children's area where they can learn about food production, simple recipes and healthy eating. Entry to the festival is free but a small charge will apply for some workshops and events.
www.tastecumbria.com
Funny faces and festivities...
The World Gurning Championships, Egremont
17th September 2011
The World Gurning Championships are held each year at the Egremont Crab Fair and Sports. This traditional fair is proud host to the renowned competition in which contestants pull ugly faces through a horse collar or 'braffin'. Gurning is not the only unusual activity at the festival... Climbing the Greasy Pole, the Apple Cart Parade, dialect singing and a pipe smoking competition can all be enjoyed.
www.egremontcrabfair.org.uk/history.html
Postman Pat and his black and white cat...
La'al Ratty, Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
1st & 2nd October 2011
Head to the La'al Ratty for a rare chance to meet the celebrity that is Postman Pat, accompanied by his best friend Jess. 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 on this pretty railway, providing an idyllic way to explore the autumn colours. All travellers will have an opportunity to meet Pat, take in a magic show with top children's entertainer Stu-di-doo plus enjoy face painting, colouring, games and story reading. Tickets are £13 per adult and £7 per child and include as many return journeys on the line as you wish that day.
www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk
Bing Crosby and beautiful views...
The Trout Hotel, Cockermouth
This popular family-run hotel was once a favourite of Hollywood legend Bing Crosby. A perfect base for an autumn break exploring the stunning Western Lake District, The Trout offers beautifully appointed rooms, all individually and stylishly decorated, most with wonderful views, each with thoughtful touches such as luxurious toiletries, well stocked refreshments trays and WI-FI. The Rosette awarded Derwent Restaurant, timelessly elegant yet relaxed, boasts a mouth-watering menu of delicious choices and The Terrace Bistro and Bar combines an easy going ambience with year-round alfresco dining and a menu jam-packed with great local food heroes - Choose from home baked cakes, decadent afternoon teas, abundant sharing platters, hearty mains and speciality sandwiches...They can even provide you with recipes so you can recreate their culinary deilghts at home!
www.trouthotel.co.uk
The best things in life...
Beer ‘n' Bangers Festival
7th - 9th Oct 2011
The Beer 'n' Bangers Festival is a delicious celebration of local breweries and sausage makers with 18 venues serving mouth-watering local produce for guests to visit. Guided ‘hangover' hikes to work off the excesses of the night before and self-guided walks are available to enjoy and visitors can discover the origins of Beer 'n' Bangers with brewery tours and sausage making demonstrations. The festival is the ideal opportunity to explore the Duddon valley and Black Combe, beautiful nature reserves and an award winning coastline with endless opportunities for walking, cycling, and bird watching. Venues taking part in the festival include establishments in Millom, Broughton in Furness, Duddon Valley, Bootle, Waberthwaite, Kirksanton, Silecroft and Whitbeck and all will be doing something very special to celebrate the event. Entry is free!
www.beernbangers.com
Spectacular scenery...
Enzo's Escape, Mockerkin
This self catering accommodation offers a peaceful and stylish retreat for two. The converted barn is spacious and boasts a woodburning stove for cosy nights in, exposed stone walls, a double ended roll top bath, toasty underfloor heating and a state of the art home cinema system. Located near Loweswater, this is a stunning base for tranquil walks and dramatic autumn scenery and it's also affordable and prices include a luxury welcome hamper, linens, towels, toiletries and logs.
www.enzosescape.co.uk
A peaceful autumn hideaway...
West House Farm Cottages, near Cockermouth
These gorgeous self catering cottages are on a working dairy farm in beautiful West Cumbria and provide the perfect autumn hideaway. The Old Byre is a single storey cottage, converted from a former calf shed, with two bedrooms, family bathroom and large fully fitted kitchen with adjoining lounge. Little Meadow is two storey cottage converted from a former hay barn. It comprises two bedrooms, one en-suite and a family bathroom, fully fitted kitchen and separate lounge, open staircase and gallery landing with exposed beams and an outdoor Jacuzzi hot tub. All the interior doors are made from solid oak and much of the furniture has been hand crafted by a local joiner. All guests will be welcomed to the cottages with a generous hamper of local goodies.
www.westhousefarmcottages.co.uk
Owl tours and twinkling lights...
Halloween Week at Muncaster Castle
23rd - 31st October 2011
This spooky week is Muncaster's biggest event of the year! Visitors are invited to get into the spirit of the occasion and come in fancy dress with prizes awarded for the best costumes. The Ghostly Grotto hosts children's fun activities including magic shows, face painting, crafts, games, and talks on ancient Halloween traditions and after dusk the gardens are transformed by the Darkest Muncaster illuminations with a mile long twinkling route through the trees and shrubs that tower either side of the main drive. Every evening a fire juggler adds to the entertainment and additional Mysterious Owl Tours can be booked each evening.
www.muncaster.co.uk
Forests and delicious food...
The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter, Keswick
The Cottage in the Wood Country Hotel and restaurant is a former 17th Century coaching inn situated in the heart of the Whinlatter forest near Keswick. Here the philosophy towards food is to use the best possible produce they can and to combine seasonal ingredients to create simple and appealing meals. The starting point is their suppliers who are knowledgeable and have long established links with farmers and growers. Silver winners of the Taste of England Award 2011.
www.thecottageinthewood.co.uk
Tall stories...
The World's Biggest Liar Competition, Wasdale
17th November 2011
As well as being home to England's deepest lake, highest mountain and smallest church, the beautiful Wasdale Valley is also host to the World's Biggest Liar Competition. Each year this unusual event, which is sponsored by Jennings Brewery and now attracts world-wide attention, takes place at the Santon Bridge Inn in honour of the World's Biggest Liar of over 100 years ago, Will Ritson. In recent years the audience has learned how the Lake District was formed not by ice or volcanic action, but by large moles and eels!
www.santonbridgeinn.com/liar/index.html
For further inspiration for breaks in the beautiful Western Lake District please visit www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk
For further information, images or press visits please contact Nicola Hewitson - nhewitson@cumbriatourism.org
