People staying in hotels in the Lake District over the next few months may notice that there are is more foliage around after a successful programme of tree planting was carried out during half-term.

Bassenthwaite Reflections, a lottery-funded organisation which sets up voluntary projects around the national park, revealed that more than 2,000 saplings and oaks were planted during the week-long scheme.

Project leader Rachel Graham explained that regular volunteers were joined by holidaymakers and mountain bikers in the area even stopped their journeys to lend a hand.

“Reflections is all about encouraging people to look after the landscape and this was a perfect example of our supporters going the extra distance,” she said.

The tree planting activity of last week is designed to restore a site spanning 3.5 hectares and is part of a wider programme to reintroduce native woodland to the region, as well as clearing invasive species that affect the landscape

A Windermere couple have backed their confidence in the region’s tourism appeal by investing £500,000 in revamping two hotels.

Will Howarth, and his wife Lyn, have splashed £250,000 on a refurbishment of the Windermere Boutique Hotel – formerly called 21.

The couple have upgraded all of the establishment’s 12 bedrooms with contemporary fittings and have created a more spacious lounge and a residents’ bar.

A similar amount has been pumped into the Aphrodites Lodge, in Bowness, creating a new spa area by enclosing an open-air swimming pool.

“Obviously the recession and indeed the floods have not helped the tourism industry here in the Lakes over the last year or so but we remain extremely confident about the future of our two hotels in Windermere,” said Mr Howarth. “That is why we are prepared to invest such considerable sums of money in them.”

People who have booked hotels in the Lake District over the weekend of March 20th and 21st are in luck because the National Trust has announced that it will not charge entry to any of its sites over the weekend.

Speaking ahead of the British Tourism Week, co-chair of the project Bernard Donoghue highlighted the offer, which coincides with the event.

“Regardless to whether you are a member or not, just go along to your local National Trust property and it’s free of charge,” he noted.

Anyone visiting the Lake District that weekend could find that a trip around some of the sights associated with Beatrix Potter is the best way to take advantage of the offer.

The National Trust owns Hill Top, the children’s author’s house, which still holds all her belongings exactly as she left them.

A gallery and museum about her life is located in the nearby village of Hawkshead, where fans of Beatrix Potter’s characters can see some of the original illustrations from her books

Over 150 brides travelled to Inn on the Lake from London and the South coast, to attend their most spectacular wedding fayre. In the hotel grounds a huge marquee was launched as a new venue that can be hired for weddings in the gardens – to accommodate up to 200 guests.

Inn on the Lake General Manager Gary Wilson said “The views from the hotel are renowned so it is the perfect place to have a lakeside wedding, with the new Gazebo licensed for civil ceremonies and the wedding marquee”.

Brides stepped into the marquee which revealed a taste of how it could look on their wedding day with fantastic table settings, a chocolate fountain on display and unspoilt views down the to lake. This was also the venue for the fashion show which included three Penrith wedding specialists – Tilly’s for Mother of the Bride outfits, Edwards for Menswear and Kokoa Brides – Cumbria’s newest Bridal house which opened in Penrith recently.

There was however, one exhibit that wowed brides to be, even more – the new ‘Victorian style’ gazebo set in the garden close to the water’s edge. Beverley Kelso, Wedding Co-ordinator at The Inn on the Lake part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group said “It is a unique place to exchange vows in one of the prettiest settings in the Lakes and allows us to stay one step ahead of other venues. It has already become THE Lake District wedding venue of choice for brides who have booked to get married here this summer and is set to entice many more in the coming months. We already have one of the most photographed jetties in the country – a fantastic place for stunning pictures, and now, our brides can marry outside in the gazebo, overlooking the lake, the jetty and the mountains. There is no other place like it in the whole of the Lakes.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the wedding gazebo should contact Beverley Kelso at Inn on the lake on 017684 82444

Tickets are on sale for this year’s Kendal Calling festival at £85 for the weekend.

Tickets sold out last year which this year has also introduced a deposit scheme which enables ticket buyers to pay £30 now to secure a ticket and pay the rest later at no extra cost.

500 early bird discount adult tickets including 3 days and nights camping is priced at £65 (normal price £85), a child (11-14 years) weekend ticket is priced at £45, and children under 11 can attend for free, but need a ticket. A campervan ticket is priced at £40.

Kendal Calling is held in the Lake District, over the weekend of Friday 30th July to Sunday 1st August and is a wholly independent festival returning for its fifth year and returning to the Lowther Estate, Kendal, in East Cumbria.

Festival goers can expect a circus big-top main stage, dance tent, Kaylied ‘folk’ tent, Croissant Neuf tent, a new music ‘Calling Out’ Stage, chillout area, and camping is available.

2010 sees the festival grow to 8,000 capacity so expect all the regular favourites (entertainers, beer tent, big top marquees, comedians, cabaret) plus many more new and innovative extras, whilst keeping the intimate vibe and friendly atmosphere.

You can buy tickets here

The Riverside Hotel at Under Loughrigg, Ambleside, has been listed among the top ten B&Bs on the globe based on reviews posted on the TripAdvisor website.

It was placed ninth best internationally and among the top three in Europe in the Traveler’s Choice Awards.

Meanwhile, the Summer Hill Country House, also in Ambleside, finished tenth in Europe in the best B&B category.

“We were really surprised and delighted with it,” said Dave Milne, who runs the Riverside with his wife Brenda.

“It’s a bit of a reward because we’ve been here nine years and it’s taken that long to refurbish Riverside and build up its reputation.

“It was pretty run-down when we first bought it. It was stuck in the 70s and 80s. It’s a lovely Victorian house so we’ve tried to give it a blend of bringing it up to date while keeping its character.”

It is this character which has given the Riverside such a fantastic reputation. Out of 246 reviews on TripAdvisor, 241 gave the B&B the maximum rating of five stars out of five.

These sparkling reviews have led to a lot of repeat business.

“The comments we receive are mainly to do with how friendly and homely Riverside feels,” said Mr Milne. “People always mention the location because we are right on the river but we’re also only ten minutes walk away from Ambleside.”

The couple bought the B&B in 2001 – the year when the foot-and-mouth crisis began.

“When the first case of foot-and-mouth happened we thought: ‘What on earth have we done here?’ “It was a very difficult start because we left a comfortable life in London to come here.”

Another feature of a stay at The Riverside is the food which includes fresh fruit and smoothies for breakfast and home-made bread.

Leaving a busy urban life to set up a B&B in the country seems to be a theme developing in Ambleside. Mike and Patsy Derry joined forces with their close friends Robert and Zoe Ashworth to set up the Summer Hill Country House.

“Mike and I were teachers and Robert was a GP, so we were used to urban life,” Patsy said.

“It was one of those things you talk about and never really do, but we decided to bite the bullet and move to the Lakes.

“We’re very thrilled and excited to be up there among the best in Europe, particularly because we have only been open for two years.”

The success of Riverside and the Summer Hill is expected to increase tourism in Cumbria.

“This is not only a boost to domestic, but also overseas tourism,” said a spokesperson for Cumbria Tourism.

“It will raise our profile at this crucially important time of year as people begin to plan their short breaks and holidays.”

Lake District tourism experts have met in Kendal to discuss how to make 2010 a successful year.

Representatives from some of Cumbria’s leading hotel firms and tourism organisations attended an event at business advisors Moore and Smalley’s Murley Moss headquarters.

Ian Stephens, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, said the sector had reason to be optimistic.

“Despite recent events there are many favorable factors for making the Lake District and Cumbria a very desirable destination for the UK holiday market, and all the indicators we use in terms of web bookings and other forecasts are showing that 2010 can be just as good as the first three quarters of 2009.”

Colin Johnson, head of Moore and Smalley’s leisure and tourism team, said: “It’s clear that most tourism businesses are optimistic and are prepared to fight tooth and nail to make 2010 a success by being innovative with their product and pricing.”

A NEW guide book packed with information on what’s going on in Cumbria this year has been launched.

The free, 70-page Events 2010 Guide lists nearly 600 activities between February and Boxing Day.

The guide, produced by the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Tourism, was launched this week when 250,000 copies were distributed in the region.

It covers activities such as festivals and cultural events and also includes information about more than 300 guided walks across the Lake District.

Andrea Runkee, of Cumbria Tourism, said: “The message is simple: If you intend spending any time in the Lakes this year, this is the must-have guide.”

The guide is available from tourist information centres, libraries, hotels and guest houses, visitor attractions, motorway service stations, airports and train stations.

A Lake District campsite has been given the go-ahead to make major improvements.

The National Trust applied to the Lake District National Park Authority to make the changes to Low Wray Campsite on the west shore of Windermere.

The trust applied to relocate the shop/reception to an existing building in the centre of the site; convert the existing reception/shop into an additional staff bedroom; and connect two halves of the site by a new footbridge across the river.

The trust also proposed to relocate vehicle barriers to alleviate congestion around the existing hamlet of Low Wray; improve access within the site by a boardwalk to the new reception; improve existing parking areas adjacent to Vic’s Meadows; and relocate the children’s play area closer to the new reception.

Mairi Lock, the planning officer who dealt with the application, said that all the proposed works were “closely integrated with existing uses” and all were part of required improvements to the camp site “to upgrade facilities and assist in the operation of the site.”

The only new build was the bridge and the board walk.

Ms Lock added that it would not have an adverse impact on neighbouring properties but, because of the improvements, “could result in benefits to residents of properties close to the entrance of the site.”

Hiking enthusiasts seeking a luxury break on some of Britain’s most beautiful walking trails may wish to book a stay at a hotel that has won back its place in the prestigious Michelin Guide book.

The Samling Hotel in the Lake District has been awarded a star by the hotel and restaurant reviewer, the News & Star reports.

Hollywood icon Tom Cruise and David and Victoria Beckham are said to be some of the establishment’s most famous fans.

Michelin Guide editor Derek Bulming tells the newspaper: ‘There is now a greater geographical spread of starred restaurants and the inspectors will continue to seek out establishments serving particularly good food, wherever they are situated.’

The Samling could be perfectly located for people who wish to relax in luxurious surroundings by night while taking an Ordnance Survey map out and hitting the walking trails of the National Park by day.

Covering 2 292 sq km, the Lake District is Britain’s largest National Park.

Read more about the Samling Hotel here

Ordnance surveys