Exchange-a-pic

I have had a genius idea.  I mean properly genius.  OK, it maybe has one minor drawback but nothing's perfect is it?

Don't you ever wonder where people were when they had their genius ideas?  Where was Frank Whittle when he came up with the idea for the jet engine?  Or Laszlo Biro when he decided to create the ballpoint pen?  Or whoever it was at Primula who first thought about putting cream cheese into toothpaste tubes?  (Mock all you want, but that stuff rocks on camping trips!)

Well, for the record, my lightbulb moment came at around 6am one morning as I was lying in bed in my rather fetching big fluffy teddybear PJs.  ( a) be glad I didn't run naked down the road Archimedes style and b) what were lightbulb moments called before Thomas Edison came along?)

Anyway, back to my genius idea - or more specifically the flaw in it - the Dragon's Den "I'm out" moment, if you will.  The flaw is this - I can see absolutely no way whatsoever of ever making any money out of it.  A minor detail in an otherwise perfect plan.

So what is my idea?  It is this - if you come to Cumbria for a holiday and the weather doesn't meet your expectations, simply send me your holiday pictures and I'll "replace" them with photos taken from the same spot when the weather was perfect.  See?  Genius - even if I do say so myself (which I just did, so it's too late to stop me now!) - though clearly, no-one is ever likely to pay me for such a a service.

Shiny Car - less than shiny weather...

The idea came to me after we'd borrowed a lovely shiny, brand spanking new, top of the range Toyota C-HR for the weekend from Vantage Motors in Morecambe - it's one of the perks of the blog and social media that they'll trust us with such a beauty, in exchange for us taking some nice photos of it in stunning Cumbrian locations.  (An idea which worked perfectly well in the past when they let us loose with a Hilux and a Citoren Cactus Ripcurl)

The only problem was that for the entire 48 hours that we had the C-HR, it steamed down with rain - which was when the genius idea came to me - how about I post the pictures we took, next to a picture of the view on a nice sunny day, and you can put the two together in your mind?  (Or photoshop them if you're properly clever!)

The other problem was that although the car was indeed very lovely, I got the distinct feeling that we weren't the target demographic the marketing department had in mind and that our adjectives and adverbs may not connect with their desired audience.  With that in mind, here are our "Exchange-a-pic(TM)" photos of the car with all adverbs and adjectives translated for their target market...

Kirkstone Pass

A Slightly soggy Kirkstone Pass

"Here's what you could've seen" #Bullseye

The spry (dope) C-HR was quite at home nipping around the windy lanes of the Lake District and its snazzy (lush) appearance certainly drew a few admiring glances.

Derwent Water

Although the weather conditions were somewhat inclement (totally sucked) the demisters were splendid (bae) when it came to clearing the windscreen.

Sandside

One of our favourite views and a top spot with local fishermen (and ospreys during the summer).  Although we didn't venture far outside the car, the swish (on fleek) interior was the perfect place for a flask of tea and an eccles cake (netflix and chill - I'm not convinced that one's entirely accurate...)

Coast Road to Barrow

The C-HR was definitely a zippy (certy) little motor and was perfect for darting up and over Birkrigg Common.

Leighton Moss

Of course we took it to Leighton Moss - we LOVE Leighton Moss - our next book is about Leighton Moss.  In fact I'd go so far as to say that Leighton Moss is fandabidozi (snatched), the birds are fandabi-double-dozi (sick) and the cakes are fandabi-triple-dozi (absolutely mint).

Out in April 2017!

We were also really rather taken with the absolutely spiffing  (peak) attention to detail and quirky features such as...

It's a hybrid - cosmic! (reem)

The rather dapper (legit) interior

At night this illuminates the pavement as you approach the car - how
delightful! (fresh)

If you're now inspired to head down to Vantage in Morecambe to try out your new urban slang and take the car out for a test drive - don't forget to tell them it's totally boss and that Beth sent you. 😉

10 Fascinating Facts about Cumbria

Writing a book with the word "History" in the title is bound to put some people off.  We don't all love history.  Hell, *I* didn't even love history when I was at school - I'd be nodding off before you could say 1066.  Our mission is to unearth facts that have the "oooohh" factor - as in "oooohh, I never knew that" - so here are 10 of my favourite fab facts about Cumbria; some are in the book and some aren't, but I guarantee all of them are more fun than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

1.  There used to be a bridge from Bowness-on-Solway to Scotland, but it was demolished due to drunken Scots.

The bridge was over 1 mile long and was used by iron ore carrying trains to avoid the busy junction at Carlisle.  It was badly damaged by icebergs in 1881 after the rivers Esk & Eden froze - as they thawed ice broke off and demolished a third of the bridge.  It was rebuilt but eventually closed in 1921.  At that time you couldn't buy alcohol in Scotland on a Sunday so, each Sunday a number of our Scottish friends crossed the bridge to enjoy a "relaxing sweet sherry" after dinner.  Unfortunately they were prone to having one too many and, after a few folks sadly fell from the bridge and drown as they staggered home, the bridge was demolished in 1933.

2.  George Washington's Granny is buried in Whitehaven

Honestly, there are SO many fascinating things to say about Whitehaven that it's hard to pick just one - but this was the one that surprised me the most.  Mildred Gale - George Washington's paternal grandmother is buried there.  She was born in Virginia but married a shipping merchant who traded on ships between Virginia and Whitehaven (which was a very busy and important port at that time).  She's buried in St Nicholas' churchyard, though the exact location of the grave isn't known.

3.  There's a road which runs parallel to the A6 between Kendal and Shap which used to be one of the most important roads in the country.

OK, it doesn't parallel the whole way - it does criss cross a few times, but the Old North Road is still there and very easy to spot.  Most of it remains accessible and it makes for a lovely walk well away from the crowds.  There's a fabulous road map from 1675 which records all of the main coach roads in Britain - there were only 4 roads noted in the whole of Cumbria and this is one of them. And if a dusty old book from the seventeenth century doesn't impress you then maybe the fact that AW himself loved the old road and was fascinated by its history might persuade you to take a second look.

4.  Grange-over-Sands got its name from an annoyed vicar

You may have noticed that there are two Granges in Cumbria - the one up near Keswick and Grange-over-Sands in the south - but until 1858 they were both just called Grange (a name usually indicating a nearby granary).  When the Reverend Wilson Rigg arrived in the southern Grange, after an eventful coach journey across Morecambe Bay sands, he quickly got fed up of his mail getting misdirected to Keswick Grange, so he changed the name of the town to Grange-over-Sands to distinguish between the two.

5.  There's a rock up above Launchy Gill that was the site of illegal trading

Anyone who's ever trekked from Ullscarf to High Tove will tell you what a bogfest it is - unless they did it when it was all frozen solid (a top tip for those attempting all the Wainwrights).  There are only a few rocks up there and one of them has an interesting history. When the plague hit in 1665 public markets were stopped to try and prevent the spread of the disease, but people still needed money, so the folks of Thirlmere Valley had a plan...  Far away from the eyes of the law they snuck up onto the top of the fell to a place called Web Rock to trade their "web" (woven fabric) and earn money to buy food.  No-one has quite pinpointed exactly which rock it is but there are a few likely contenders.

6.  Kentmere had such rowdy drunks they changed the law of the land

Back in the nineteenth century there were plenty of mines, quarries and mills along the Kentmere valley and, on payday, things could get a bit rowdy.  In 1887 the pub in the village had its licence revoked thanks to the lively goings on.  The owners pursued the decision all the way to the House of Lords and ultimately lost but their case Sharp -v- Wakefield set a precedent still cited today.

7.  The Cumbrian Dialect is a foreign language

Many folks are familiar with the "Yan, tan, tethera" sheep counting language used in Cumbria, but the Cumbrian dialect (now sadly in decline) is pretty much a language in its own right.  During World War Two a local gent who joined the Royal Navy was stationed in Iceland - he spoke with a strong Cumbrian dialect and apparently had little trouble conversing with the locals.

8.  The monks of Furness Abbey engaged in both smuggling and bribery

Furness Abbey is a beautiful place to visit, sadly now a ruin but back in the day it was one of the most powerful Abbies in the country.  The monks built the castle on Piel Island to support their import and export trade which, as they didn't pay any taxes on it, was basically a smuggling operation.  The Abbot is also said to have paid a "ransom" to Robert the Bruce to protect the Abbey.  Some call it a "ransom" others may call it a "bribe".  I bet their confessions were interesting...

9.  George Stevenson planned an enormous bridge from Morecambe to Ulverston

When they were originally planning the expansion of the railways in the region, George Stevenson proposed the idea of running a railway line directly out across Morecambe Bay.  The enormous structure would have connected Morecambe to Ulverston, but the backers of the time understandably got the jitters and backed out of the idea, leading to the current railway and viaduct we see today.

10.  There was once a plan to heat Cumbria using geothermal energy

Shap Granite with its big pink crystals is easily recognisable and was much used in architecture across the country (including the bollards around St Paul's Cathedral in London).  As recently as the 1980s the British Geological Survey carried out test drilling to see if there was enough residual heat deep down in the rocks to provide heat to the county - sadly there wasn't, but then the rock is over 400 million years old.


Our books are PACKED with hundreds of fascinating nuggets just like these so please don't think it's just another boring old history book.  Click here to find out more and buy your copy.

Click here for more info

We also offer a number of guided walks, visitng places with lots of interesting history.  You can find out more about those right here.

#LakeDistrictBid Advent Calendar Day 15 - Because of the quiet corners...

Millions of people visit the Lake District every year and, to be honest, it's not all that big a place and there are parts of it which get particularly busy, but no matter how busy it gets there are always some quiet tucked away corners.  Places like High Dam and Stott Park Heights, Whitbarrow Scar and the route up Wansfell from Troutbeck are some of my favourite spots to go to escape the crowds.

One of the benefits of gaining World Heritage Site Status will be a possible increase in visitors and an increase in visitors within the national park will lead to more visitors to areas just beyond the boundaries that could really benefit from the income that would generate - places like Ulverston, Barrow and Whitehaven.  I have a real soft spot for those towns with their drop dead gorgeous views and fascinating histories.  The coastline all along Morecambe Bay is so chock full of wildlife that it lured BBCs Autumnwatch back to Leighton Moss for 2 years in a row and walks along the coast are deserted even on the busiest bank holidays.

Ulverston

Just outside Barrow

Whitehaven

Whitbarrow Scar

High Dam

Roadblock between Troutbeck and Wansfell

Leighton Moss

Morecambe Bay

To learn more about the bid and to register your support with just one click (honestly, just one click, no email address needed or anything) please visit the World Heritage Bid site here.

To go back to day 1 of the advent calendar please click here.

Legless in the Lakes (Day 6)

Peel Island from Roa Island.

Finally - a day of full and glorious sunshine and no rain or ice - yay!  Things were looking so good on the garden centre avoidance front that  I did a little dance.  Not sure what I put in the food last night but everyone had developed a deep and lasting attachment to their beds so it was gone 11am before we were on the move and, to start with, we didn't move far at all.  Time to visit downtown Grange which, for a retirement town, is pretty tricky for those unsteady on their feet.  We stayed just long enough to enjoy a coffee at the wonderful At Home Bistro and to book a table there for dinner tonight.  I've waxed lyrical about them before and they really are a must visit next time you're in the area.

The closest I got to the snowy fells...

Having spent a few days in the fells mum opted for a drive out to Barrow along the coast road.  I wasn't at all sure about the shopping part but I was certainly up for the drive.  We stopped at a couple of spots along the way to admire the view and even took a spin down to the end of Roa Island to peer at Peel Island and Castle while I tried to explain to mum about the King.  Thoroughly confused we headed for Barrow.

I've never been to central Barrow before so followed the signs to the town centre parking.  Driving around the first car park I couldn't see any disabled bays but I could see a traffic warden - not always a welcome sight but on this occasion he was.  When I asked about the disabled parking I was very impressed to discover that blue badge holders get to park for 3 hours free of charge in Barrow.  YA HEAR THAT SLDC?  So we popped the badge in the window and leapt out of the car.  Well, I leapt, mum sort of slid out cursing, groaning and complaining about her knees - as Bette Davies so accurately put it "Old age ain't for sissies".  I can only imagine how frustrating it must be when your mind is fit as a fiddle but your body refuses to play ball.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a very grumpy old woman; unless I spend most of my twilight years embalmed in gin, which is also an option.

Lovely council building & lovely to
have free parking for the disabled.

We made our way around Barrow and, as towns go, it wasn't too bad.  Nice wide walkways with well laid pavements and lovely chrissy decs.  I asked a couple of different people directions to get us about the place and everyone I spoke to was only to happy to help, especially the nice people in Debenhams who let me remove a decoration from their tree because they'd sold out in the rest of the store.  We didn't go far but it was a pleasure to be somewhere where it was easy to get around and where cafes and public loos were within easy reach at all time.  I never normally stop for coffee when I'm out and, even though I only ever drink de-caff, I fear I shall be going cold turkey next week...

As the sun began to set we made our way to the car and, rather than take the quick route home, we pootled back along the coast road to Ulverston and managed to catch one last lovely sunset before Mum heads home tomorrow.  It's been a really interesting week for me;  I'm known for zooming around most places at high speed and I'll be honest, at times this week my soul has ached to climb the fells - which sounds dramatic, but there are many of you reading this who will understand what it's like to look at the snowy fells on a beautiful day and know you can't go up them.  It's made me more determined than ever to run (or maybe stagger) up every fell I can while I can and to enjoy every single second of being able bodied.  I am sure that one day, when I'm old and knackered (well, older and more knackered than I am now) I will be only too happy to spend my days pottering sedately around a garden centre.  Just so long as they sell gin.

Sunset looking from the Barrow to Ulverston coast road.

50 Shades of Cumbria

I thought I'd give you a break from my inane ramblings for a day and instead turn this blog over to some of Steve's amazing pics.  So sit back, relax and enjoy 50 Shades of Cumbria - and only one of them's grey.

Alcock Tarn

Kent Estuary Sunset

Avocet at Leighton Moss

Barrow Dock Museum

Kewsick Mountain Festival

Blencathra

Blind Tarn Ghyll

Brocken Spectre on High Crag

Coniston Jetty

Crinkle Crags

Local Wildlife

Rainbow over Grasmere

Gummers How taken from Windermere.  Literally - in it.

Queen's Jubilee Beacon, Hampsfell

Haweswater & Harter Fell

Hikers Shelter, Helvellyn

Sun & snow on Heron Pike

Inside the Hoad

Skelgill Horse

Hampsfel Hospice

Local Woodwork, Hutton Roof Crags

Kent Estuary at Arnside

Kentmere 

Kestrel on Foulney Island

Spring lamb.

Levers Water

Garden spring in flood

Essential supplies.

Place Fell.

Rannerdale Bluebells

River Kent nr Kendal

Skelgill Bank

View from Sca Fell.

Three Tarns

Sedbergh Daisies

Skiddaw

Path from St Bees

Striding Edge

Hampsfell sunset

Thirlmere

Ullswater boathouse

View from Black Crag

View from Coniston Water

Walney Island

Wast Water

Moon over Wetherlam

Windermere Sunset

Winter Inversion

Winter Hiking

North Face of Yewbarrow