The Lakeland region of Lancashire is different from that of Westmorland and Cumberland, with a different dialect and landscape. The red sandstone buildings around Barrow-in-Furness and white limestone outcrops among the sheeplands of the Furness Peninsula give a stony ruggedness amongst the gentle scenery. The picturesque Duddon Valley, with its waterfalls, fern covered hills and woodlands inspired Wordsworth to write 34 sonnets about it.

Coniston. This is Lancashire’s major lake and the atmosphere of a past mining industry is still retained in this tourist village which lies about half a mile from the head of Coniston Water. The scenery around the village is superb and it is an ideal centre for scaling The Old Man of Coniston, at 2635 ft. the highest peak in Lancashire, and for climbing on Dow Crag. The 19th century writer, John Ruskin, lived at Coniston at Brantwood on the east shore of the lake and his house is open to the public. He is buried at Coniston church. The village museum contains some of his drawings and models of geological structures in the area. The disused copper mines, one mile north west of Coniston are a popular attraction with visitors. Coniston Water, 5.5 miles long has excellent shore side walks. It was here that Donald Campbell was killed in 1967 when attempting a new world water speed record. There is a memorial to him on the lakeside. At Coniston Water you can enjoy a unique experience by cruising the lake on the steam powered Gondola yacht. Cruises can be combined with stop offs at the grounds of Monk Coniston estate where you can walk through the beautiful walled garden and on to Tarn Hows. Tarn Hows is a picturesque place for a stroll and is also one of the best places to go for wheelchair users. The National Trust site consists of several small tarns (lakes) which are surrounded by woods and open fells. In the distance are the majestic Langdale Pikes. There are good pathways around the tarns that are suitable for wheelchairs and ample car parking space (including a car park specifically designed for disabled persons) at Monk Consiton. Cruises also sail to John Ruskin’s spectacular lakeside house, Brantwood, which is on the eastern side of Coniston Waters and one of the many beautifully situated houses in the Lake District. The Brantwood estate is 250 acres of pastures, ancient woods and high moors, plus eight splendidly restored gardens to walk in. Every year there are special exhibitions and displays, family activities, events in the outdoor theatre and lace making demonstrations. In the winter, Brantwood events include art workshops, a Craft Fair, Ruskin Readings, concerts and talks. The estate also includes a restaurant, arts and craft gift shop and bookshop.

Hawkshead. Tree covered hills and picturesque stone cottages make this village one of the leading beauty spots of the Lake District. It is near the head of the 1.5 mile long Esthwaite Water. There is a one mile long footpath from Hawkshead to Hawkshead Hill, west of the village, that offers splendid views of nearby mountain ranges. There are also beautiful walks in the surrounding Grizedale Forest.

In the village of Hawkshead you can visit the delightful Beatrix Potter Gallery. Here you can browse through a very interesting display about the making of the film, Miss Potter and the life of this fascinating writer of children’s stories. Also on display are some of the original watercolour paintings and sketches that Beatrix Potter did as illustrations for her books. 2 miles south of Hawkshead is the tiny hamlet of Near Sawrey where Beatrix Potter used to live. The house is called Hill Top and is open to the public from mid-March to the beginning of November. It was from this house that Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated many of her stories. The house is bursting with her personal treasures, furniture and china. The garden is laid out and planted with many of the flowers, vegetables and herbs that she would have been familiar with. Discount tickets are available if you visit both Hill Top and the Beatrix Potter Gallery.

Esthwaite Water at Hawkshead is a natural lake covering 280 acres with extensive shallows and deep basins to the north and south. These characteristics create a rich and varied fishing environment and an excellent fishery has been established here for boat or bank angling. The Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery is located at The Boat House at Hawkshead. The lake provides long drifts for loch-style fishing and wind lanes to give a more exciting fishing experience. It is a perfect fishing lake for beginners and experts alike. The lake is stocked on a weekly basis with rainbow and brown trout throughout the season and, in winter, there is plenty of specimen pike to catch.

One of the first things a visitor to Ulverston will notice is a huge stone tower on the summit of Hoad Hill. This is a replica of Eddystone Lighthouse and is a memorial to Sir John Barrow, founder of the Royal Geographical Society. There are many interesting walks in the area. The town of Ulverston is where Stan Laurel, of Laurel & Hardy, was born in 1890. The Laurel & Hardy Museum is situated in the centre of the town and contains letters, photographs, personal items and furniture that one belonged to them both. There are also day long showings of films and documentaries about the duo. Good disabled access. The Cornishead Priory is also situated at Ulverston. This priory was founded as a hospital for the poor in the 12th century by Augustinian monks. The present romantic Gothic mansion was completed in 1836 as the home of the Braddyll family. The mansion is dominated by two octagonal towers and has some splendid decorative features. The site is also home to the Kadampa Buddhist Temple for World Peace and provides a place for quiet reflection and spiritual inspiration. It is used everyday for meditation and prayers and is open to the public in the afternoons. The mansion and temple are set in beautiful gardens and woodlands on the shores of Morecambe Bay and is a beautiful place to relax in peace and quiet.

Located between Barrow and Dalton, and set in the beautiful wood valley, Vale of the Nightshade, are the stunning red sandstone remains of Furness Abbey. These are the ruins that inspired Wordsworth’s poem, The Prelude’. It was founded by King Stephen in 1123 as a Cistercian monastery and remained an abbey until it was plundered in 1537 during the reign of King Henry VIII with the dissolution of the monasteries. The abbey, even in its ruined state, is still an impressive building and it is easy to see the importance and wealth that the Cistercian monks had in the area during the middle ages.

This mountain pass derives its name from a large boulder nearby that resembles a little kirk (church) and is the highest point in the region that is accessible by car.  With a gradient of 1 in 4 in places, it connects Windermere to Patterdale in the Ullswater valley.  The summit of the Pass  reaches 1489 ft. close to the Kirkstone Pass Inn. This inn, which used to be an important coaching inn, is the third highest public house in England. It is full of character, with low beams, stone flagged floor and welcoming open fires. It also is supposed to be haunted by various spirits and a poltergeist.

The Pass can also be reached from Ambleside along a minor stretch of road called The Struggle. The story behind this name dates from when horse drawn coaches would struggle to make the ascent, requiring passengers to disembark from the coach and walk the remainder of the journey to the top. The junction of these two roads is at the inn. On the descent into Patterdale the views are stunning as the fells sweep majestically down towards the small lake of Brothers Water. There is a car park to the west of this road where the idyllic scene can be admired. Also to the west is the towering black mass of Dove Crag, a rock face 2603 ft. up in the hills.  The crag is one of the most strenuous climbs in the country.

The completion of the M6 motorway in 1970 made Kendal the gateway to the Lake District. Known as ‘the auld grey town’ because of its many fine old houses and other buildings constructed in grey limestone, Kendal was made a barony by Richard Coeur de Lion in 1189.  In 1331 the Flemish established a woollen industry in the town, from which came the town’s motto: ‘Pannus mihi panis’ – wool is my bread. The cloth made here, Kendal Green Cloth, became famous throughout England. The 12th century ruined castle was the home of Catharine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife.  It stands on a green hill where its overgrown moat and weathered battlements make an impressive sight.

At the south end of Kendal  is Abbot Hall, an 18th century mansion  houses an art gallery  and The Museum of Lakeland Life. This award winning museum gives the visitor an enchanting insight into the life, customs and traditions of people in the Lake District before the region was opened up by the arrival of the railways in the 19th century. Rooms and workshops have been recreated to show how rural people lived and worked. There is a traditional kitchen, including recipes and utensils, a bedroom with spectacular four-poster bed and a farmhouse parlour. Exhibits also include the tools and methods used for farming and mining during Victorian times. During the school holidays, the museum puts on craft demonstrations by local people of traditional Lake District crafts such as spinning, weaving, basket making, carpentry and rag rugging.  These demonstrations take place on most Wednesdays.  There is a room dedicated to Arthur Ransome who wrote the famous children’s classic, ‘Swallows and Amazons’ and a new display of Fashion Through the Ages, which shows the development of fashion from the eighteenth century to the present day.  The museum has partial wheelchair access and is open all year.  There is a pay and display car park, gift shop and coffee shop.  At the north end of the town is Kendal Museum.  Founded in 1796 this is one of the oldest surviving museums in England. It is located in a former wool warehouse and has exceptional displays of archaeology, geology, natural history and local history.  There are incredible exhibits of stuffed animals from all over the world, many of which are now extinct, rare or endangered. It also houses one of the largest collections of minerals fro the region as well as a display dedicated to Alfred Wainwright who wrote the famous handwritten guides to the Lake District, ‘Pictorial Guides’ between 1955 and 1966.

For a more active experience the visitor can go pony trekking or hacking at the Holmescales Riding Centre, 5 miles north of Kendal and 5 minutes away from junction 36 on the M6 motorway.  This centre offers daily courses for the complete beginner or the more experienced rider in the surrounding beautiful countryside. About one mile from Kendal railway station, at the Lake District Business Park, is the Lakeland Climbing Centre.  Here the visitor can learn how to climb on the indoor climbing walls. There are taster sessions as well as beginners and improvers courses/sessions.  For those who have completed a beginners indoors course there is the opportunity to climb outdoors with their Moving Out climbing sessions.

There are many lovely river walks by the River Kent.  On the south side of this river, about one mile from the town centre is the site of the Roman fort of Alauna.  Other interesting walks in the area are along Scout Scar, 2.5 miles north east of Potter Fell, above Burneside village,.  The walk is a beautiful wilderness of bracken and heather.

Close to Kendal is Sizergh Castle and Gardens. This beautiful ivy-clad castle began life in the 14th century as a pele tower. Many such structures can still be seen around the districts of Cumberland and Westmorland.  They were built originally as defences where people could take shelter from the border clashes that occurred throughout the reign of Edward 1 between Scotland and England.  The original building was extended during Tudor times to become a fortified mansion. For the last 750 years it has been the home of the Strickland family. Inside the visitor can see a fine collection of English and French furniture as well as some of the most outstanding examples of Elizabethan carved fireplaces.  The garden is stunning and includes a National Trust limestone rock garden that exhibits a superb national collection of hardy Ferns. The castle also has a cafe serving tasty locally produced food and a gift shop.

What to do and Where to go in and around Bowness:

The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is a fascinating experience regardless of your age. It features all 23 of Beatrix Potter’s Tales brought to life in an indoor recreation of the Lake District countryside. There is also a great gift shop and tea room.

Windermere Lake Cruises offer a variety of interesting cruises some of which stop off to connect with the Mountain Goat minibus or incorporate visits to Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre and Wray Castle.

Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre is a wonderful place to visit, whatever the weather. Its lakeside setting is located in 30 acres of beautiful terraced  gardens giving spectacular views and boasting many unusual trees, plants and shrubs.  There is an abundance of wildlife at the Park and a bird hide in which to look for rare species. There is an exciting adventure playground and a games lawn where you can play croquet or putting.  There are plenty of wonderful places to sit and have a picnic and enjoy the spectacular lake and mountain scenery. Brockhole house was built in 1895 as a residence for a wealthy Manchester silk merchant.  It now houses exhibitions, film and slide shows as well as a restaurant with terrace and a gift shop. The whole park  has good wheelchair access . Throughout the year the Centre puts on special event activity days that all the family can enjoy. These could include such things as kite making and flying, taster sessions at rafting, canoeing, biking or geocoaching as well as fascinating film shows and talks/exhibitions.

On the east shore of Windermere, near Newby Bridge, is the lakeshore Victorian park, Fell Foot Park. It is an ideal place to enjoy access to the lake at this point and perfect for picnics.  There is a children’s play area and activities as well as boat hire facilities.  There are fantastic views of the fells and lake and, in spring and early summer, the park has glorious displays of daffodils and rhododendrons.  Also, at Newby Bridge is one of the finest examples of early 20th century Arts & Crafts houses, Blackwell. now given a Grade 1 listing.   It was designed by the Arts & Crafts architect Baillie Scott at the end of the 19th century as a spectacular holiday home for a wealthy Manchester brewery owner. Beautifully restored, its original decorative interiors are still intact. In line with the essence of the Arts & Crafts movement, the design of the house is light and airy with decorative panelling, inglenook fireplaces, stained glass, ceramic tiles, and plasterwork all crafted from traditional local materials. All the downstairs rooms are open to the public and around half of the upstairs. There are no roped off ‘no go areas’, as the visitor is encouraged to experience the house as it was originally intended.  A lift has been installed to give access to the upper floor for disabled visitors. All the rooms are beautifully furnished and decorated with wonderful views of the lake. There is a cafe with a garden terrace that looks out over the lake and mountains. Blackwell also has a contemporary craft shop where studio ceramics, glass, jewellery and textiles of very high quality can be purchased. A book shop sells a wide selection of books on arts and craft and architecture.

The Lakes Aquarium is situated on the southern shore of Lake Windermere at Lakeside, Newby Bridge. In March 2008 the aquarium installed a new feature, the Virtual Dive Bell.  This comprises a virtual journey to the bottom of an African lake and the traveller encounters hippopotami, Nile crocodiles and bull sharks. With the use of interactive screens, multiple choice quiz questions and exciting computer games the attraction has been extremely popular with all age groups.  The virtual journey then moves through different continents of the world to explore and discover hundreds of creatures that live in lakes across the globe. There are also otter feeding sessions twice daily and the aquarium’s mascot, Oscar the Otter is introduced to spectators.  The Aquarium also has a lakeside restaurant and regular events, quiz trails and craft activities as well as two gift shops to make the visit an unforgettable experience for all the family.

The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs a steam train service between  the Lakeside Aquarium and The Lakeland Motor Museum. The steeply graded railway takes an enchanting route through  lake and river scenery of the Leven Valley.  The service operates from April to the end of October but throughout December they run Santa Special trips for children.

1.5 miles north of Newby Bridge is Stott Park Bobbin Mill which has been a working mill since 1835 producing wooden bobbins for the Lancashire spinning and weaving industries.

At the further northern end of the Lake, at Troutbeck village in the beautiful Troutbeck valley, is Townend.  This charming white-washed stone yeoman’s farmhouse was lived in by the Browne family from 1626 until it passed into the hands of the National Trust in 1943.  the house itself is a beautiful example of vernacular architecture of the 17th century.  The building has tall chimneys gracing its slate roof and beautiful mullioned windows in their oak frames. It is an amazing museum, that gives the visitor a fascinating insight into how life was lived in the Lake District during these times. The interior has fine oak panelling and beautiful carved oak furniture, much of which was crafted by a long-dead ancestor of the Browne family. Also on display are papers and books linked to the family throughout this period as well as some fascinating domestic implements. Opposite the house is a wool barn with a spinning gallery where fleeces used to be stored.  Visitors can meet the latest Mr Browne, ancestor of the original George Browne and his wife Susanna in 1626. Craft sessions are also held at the house where the visitor can try their hand at making rag rugs.

Eating and drinking in Bowness: There are numerous restaurants and pubs in Bowness.  The pedestrianised Ash Street in the centre of the town is full of a variety of good restaurants with cuisine from all over the world.  There are fine Mediterranean restaurants, Italian, traditional British, Thai, Chinese and an American restaurant.  For a substantial meal following a day’s walking on the fells, try Gibbys, a traditional British restaurant where you can get great roasts, steaks or bistro-style dishes for very reasonable prices.  For something a bit different try the relaxed informal Lucy4 cafe/restaurant.  It offers a fabulous pick and mix menu with a wide range of wines and beers to accompany the food.  For Mediterranean dishes there is the traditional, family run Italian restaurant, Villa Positano which serves good pizza and pasta dishes at very reasonable prices. Alternatively, the atmospheric Spanish Tapas Bar, Bodega Bar & Tapas has an excellent choice of tapas where you can fill up for as little as £4.00.  For something really special visit the magnificent oak panelled restaurant of the Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel. As well as boasting the Michelin Star it has also received a rating of 7/10 in the Good Food Guide. The cuisine is a mixture of English and French and the restaurant setting has stunning lake and mountain views.  One of the most charming pubs in the towns is the ancient ‘Hole int Wall’.  This is the oldest pub in the town (circa 1612) and retains its olde world charm. A small building constructed of the traditional grey slate.  Inside, the decor is very quaint and charming with lots of low beams and roaring log fires. It sports a plaque that Charles Dickens frequented the premises when he visited the area.  This pub does get very busy at the weekend but its well worth visiting, especially when they have free, live folk musicians performing. For visitors who are looking for a pub which also offers accommodation The Brown Horse Inn set in the Winster Valley close to the lake is a beautiful 1850’s coaching inn that offers great accommodation as well as bar and restaurant facilities.

Accommodation in Bowness: Bowness is a great choice for accommodation.  There are plenty of very good hotels and guest houses, try Virginia Cottage, a charming traditional guest house ideally located in the very heart of Bowness and less than a minute’s walk from Lake Windermere.

The main reasons for the smog, was the dark smoke and grit from chimneys which combined with fog and freezing temperatures to produce the dense sulphurous “smog”. These were the days when everybody kept their houses, offices, station waiting rooms, and sometimes school classrooms heated by coal fires. Hardly anyone had any other form of domestic heating.

The government of the day realised that something needed to be done that would control and prevent these hazardous weather conditions. Not only did they cause many accidents, illnesses and deaths from respiratory problems but also played havoc with the economy causing industries and businesses to be disrupted. In the summer of 1956 the Clean Air Act was introduced. This Act banned the emission of dark smoke from chimneys, industrial furnaces and trains by restricted the burning of domestic coal in urban areas and expanded the amount of smokeless zones, although some urban areas, like the City of London, had already created these zones after the Great Smog of 1952. The 1956 Act also contained measures to limit the discharge of grit into the atmosphere. This meant that new coal fuels were introduced which were ‘smokeless’ and gas, oil and electricity were given an extra advertising boost to encourage people to switch to different types of energy. Diesel trains were introduced and the old ‘puffer trains’ were history. However, it was a few years more before industries and homes changed over to the new sources of energy and until this was fully implemented some emissions were still allowed during the change-over period. Grants were offered to people to convert their domestic coal-burning grates to smokeless fuel but it wasn’t a popular move because there wasn’t much smokeless fuel to be had and it was a lot more expensive than conventional coal.

Three years later, in 1959, came the last awful smog that I remember. This time, at ten years old, my memories are very clear. I vividly recall people wearing what looked like gas masks to protect themselves, although my mother, years later, told me that these were ‘smog masks’ bought at the local chemist shops. There was also a lot more traffic on the roads in 1959 than in 1952 so big cities and, especially London, were thrown into chaos again. However, it wasn’t until 1968 that The Clean Air Act was revised to include a law that industries burning coal, gas or any other fuels would have to use tall chimneys.

Since those days of 1959 the ‘old foggy London town’, thankfully, has become almost a thing of the past – well at least as far as chimney smoke went. The latest pollutant sadly though is that created by motor vehicles. In 1974 the first Control of Air Pollution Act introduced regulations on the composition of motor fuels, although throughout the 1980s and 1990s increased motor traffic has led to a new kind of smog that is caused by the chemical reaction of sunshine and car pollutants and it remains to be seen whether the latest Act, the 1995 Environment Act, which has introduced new regulations for air pollutants with all local authorities having to reach air quality targets, will reduce the amount of premature deaths each year from the effects of pollution.

There are many beautiful Georgian houses and streets still to be seen. The Royal Crescent is a semi-circular street with 30 beautiful houses built during the mid-18th century. No. 1 Royal Crescent is open to the public and is beautifully decorated and furnished in the period. The Circle is another pleasant Georgian street with a circle of 3 storey houses with a green at its centre. Great Pultney Street was one of the most fashionable places to live in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Visit the Building of Bath Museum for an interesting guide to how the city was built in the 18th century. Visit too the Georgian Garden in Royal Victoria Park to see a beautiful recreation following a 1760 plan and filled with plants and flowers of the 18th century. Stroll through the Pump and Assembly rooms with its stunning, original crystal chandeliers. Visit the Museum of Costume while you are there. Equally, for one of the most impressive Georgian interiors take a look at the Banqueting Rooms in The Guildhall.

Going back further in the history of Bath, the ruins of the Roman baths are magnificent to see. The temple is a rare truly classical temple from Roman Britain. The pool in the centre is filled with hot spa water and is beautifully relaxing and awe-inspiring. . Visit too the elegant 18th century Pump Room, the Terrace overlooking the Great Bath and the Sun Lounge which overlooks the hot springs of the Kings Bath. The Roman Baths Museum has many treasures excavated from the Roman settlement that existed where Bath is today, including many coins which were thrown into the Great Bath for luck. Sally Lunn’s Museum in North Parade Passage is another fascinating museum located in the oldest house in Bath. There are quite a few good hotels in Bath.