Lakeland Book of the Year
Lakeland Book of the Year celebrates top quality writing inspired by the Lake District, Cumbria. Over the past four decades, this prestigious annual competition has seen authors create an incredible catalogue of books covering a range of rich and varied subjects, from landscape and tradition to literature and poetry.
Founded in 1984 by prolific author, journalist and broadcaster Hunter Davies OBE, all entries for Lakeland Book of the Year must be set in – or feature – Cumbria in some way. Grace Dent, Rory Stewart and James Rebanks are among the many talented writers who have previously scooped the overall title of ‘Book of the Year’.
Cumbria Tourism has had the honour of supporting Lakeland Book of the Year for many years and in 2023, we are taking over the full running of the awards. Fresh additions include a new category for children and young adults, along with a new-look judging panel.
Entries for the 2023 awards are now open. Please download an application form here and return to us along with four copies of your book by the 28th February 2023.

2022 Winners:

The Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year 2022:
Panic as Man Burns Crumpets by Roger Lytollis

The full list of 2022 category winners included:

The Bookends Prize for People & Business
Panic as Man Burns Crumpets by Roger Lytollis

The Striding Edge Prize for Guides & Places
Peak Bagging: Wainwrights by Karen & Dan Parker

The Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape & Tradition
The Lucks of Cumbria by Andrew Musgrave

The Gilpin Hotel Prize for Fiction
Brockenspectre by Caroline Moir

The Wordsworth Grasmere Prize for Literature & Poetry
Cumbria: A Book of Days by Dawn Robertson

The Latitude Press Prize for Illustration & Presentation
Joss Naylor’s Lakes, Meres and Waters of the Lake District by Vivienne Crow with Joss Naylor
Subscribe to receive news and updates on Lakeland Book of the Year 2023
To receive news and updates on the awards, including notification of entries opening, please complete the form below.
Get In Touch
For more information about Lakeland Book of the Year, contact Ben Melling on bmelling@cumbriatourism.org