Exide Technologies has provided the power for the conversion of a fleet of motorboats on Lake Windermere. Alex Williamson, the manager for the project was responsible for converting 15 self-drive motorboats to electric, which is quieter, more reliable and cheaper to run than the old Stuart Turner petrol engines they have replaced.

Alex plans to convert the remaining 25 self-drive motorboats as they become due for an overhaul. Alex comments, “People enjoy the tranquillity of the Lake District so electric boats offer all the benefits without the noise and fumes; not only have customer complaints reduced dramatically, but the environmental impact is minimised.”

Windermere Lake Cruises operate a large fleet of passenger vessels including water buses, steamers, classic wooden launches, rowing boats and self-drive motorboats. Each boat is typically used for 6-8 hours in a day and is recharged overnight on an Economy 7 tariff, saving further money. After trialling one boat for a season, he decided to convert another four. Alex was convinced that electric was the way to go and has recently finished converting a further 10. He comments, “The lead acid batteries are not only cheaper and more reliable, there are no fuel storage issues and related fire regulation requirements.”

Alex now plans to convert each of his self-drive motorboats to electric as and when the engine in each boat becomes uneconomical to repair. He finishes, “As well as all the operational benefits, the electric engines are far less susceptible to downtime. They’re better for us as a company and they’re much better for preserving the tranquillity and environment in this lovely part of the Lakes.”

Convention centre will be the largest in Cumbria with 600-seat events hall.

A hotel company has unveiled plans to build Cumbria’s largest convention centre on the banks of Lake Windermere.

English Lakes Hotels already obtained planning permission in 2004 for a 600-seat venue at its Low Wood property, but is now seeking permission for a new marine-influenced eco design.

The £4m Windermere Convention Centre would have a 750sqm conference hall and would significantly increase the business facilities at the existing hotel, which currently includes nine meeting rooms, the largest accommodating 340 guests.

The design contains numerous environmental features, including an innovative heating system that would use ground source heat pumps to extract thermal energy from the lake.

Tim Berry, director at English Lakes Hotels said: “We think these new designs will enable us to create a building that will be both functional and visually stunning. This new centre will enable us to bring national and international events and functions to the most beautiful part of the country.”

The new venue is due for completion in 2012 and will create five full-time and 30 part-time jobs.

Walkers on a Lake District path may feel a little sheepish as they cross a notoriously boggy section.

The route, across Martcrag Moor near Langdale, has been restored using wool fleeces, in work run as part of the Fix the Fells project.

The technique will help protect important archaeological relics in the area, north-west of the Langdale Pikes.

The path, across wet bog, had seen a widening erosion scar develop as walkers chose the least treacherous route over the spongy ground. Laying stone and gravel direct on to the bog was not possible – it would simply have sunk. So a team of volunteers working with the National Trust dug a shallow trench which was filled with rolled up fleeces, on top of which was laid stone and gravel. The wool base prevents the stone sinking into the moss.

John Atkinson of Fix the Fells said: “The wool foundations allow the path to effectively float above the deep peat and are being used as a more sustainable alternative to a manufactured geotextile product.

“While the method might seem innovative, it is actually developed from ancient engineering techniques for building routes over waterlogged ground. It was important that we didn’t dig deep in to the peat and disturb the sensitive archaeology, so this was a great solution. The wool came from the Herdwick sheep that graze the fell and we’re really pleased to use a sustainable local resource that will benefit so many people using the path.”

The archaeology includes the remains of ancient axe workshops discovered by chance by a walker earlier this year. The site was photographed and its position recorded using GPS devices, before the path was restored.

National Trust archaeologist Jamie Lund said: “We know that the hard volcanic stone found in areas throughout the central Lake District was used by people to make axes and other tools during the Neolithic.

“Every so often a previously unrecorded stone working site will be exposed from under the peat, often as a result of erosion from water or access. This is what happened on Martcrag Moor earlier in the year when a member of the public noticed spreads of strange-looking stones on the path and contacted the National Trust to see if they were significant.

“When we visited we found around six small working floors where people had stopped to create rough out axes, leaving behind a pile of waste flakes. It is thrilling to think that these stone flakes represent the activity of somebody who lived several thousands of years ago and that they have only now seen the light of day again.”

The volunteer team also built a drain across the top of an erosion scar on nearby Pike of Stickle.

Fix the Fells is supported by the Lake District National Park Authority, the National Trust and the Conservation and Tourism Partnership.

Visitors to the Lake District will find a wealth of things to see and do, to keep the whole family entertained. Whether they fancy boating on Lake Windermere, hiking up Scafell Pike, visiting Beatrix Potter or spending an afternoon at an adventure playground, you can find it all in Cumbrias most famous destination.

Tourism continues to boom in the Lake District despite talk of recession, credit crunch and economic downturns. While hundreds of families have turned their backs on foreign holidays, visitors are still flocking to the Lake District.

Cumbria is the perfect holiday destination to visit at any time of the year. Whether you are looking to stay at a campsite, rent a self catering cottage or take advantage of great prices in bed and breakfast accommodation, you can find it all here. Lake District hotels include boutique hotels, five star accommodation and more basic guest houses which are situated among some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.

Visitors can find events, attractions and outdoor activities on the doorstep, wherever they may be staying in the Lake District, and you can organise an itinerary of things to see and do before you even travel.

If you enjoy food and drink, you couldnt choose a better place to visit than the Lake District, where some of Englands most acclaimed restaurants and pubs are situated. Enjoy a pint of real ale in a country inn, or treat yourself to one of three Michelin Star Restaurants in Cumbria. For the more adventurous visitors there is a vast range of activities of offer, from walking, cycling, climbing and abseiling to boat trips and water sports on Lake Windermere.

If you prefer a more laid back time, take a stroll around the shops and art galleries, or take a look at the various art exhibitions which are held throughout the year.

Great places to visit in the Lake District include: The Lakes Aquarium at Lake Windermere, the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction at Windermere, Walby Farm Park, Wordsworth House, which was once home of the famous poet, William Wordsworth, Birdoswald Roman Fort and Blackwell Arts and Crafts House.

Wherever you decide to stay in the Lake District you will be spoilt for choice with a vast range of accomodation, things to do and places to visit. If you tour around the region, take the time to visit Penrith, Carlisle, Keswick, Ullswater, Windermere, Kendal, Grasmere and the host of small villages that are set against a backdrop of stunning scenery.

A series of signs has appeared in some of the Lake District’s best loved mountain areas.

But these are not messages to warn walkers of the perils of Cumbria’s mountains, but an artwork project aimed at promoting the area as the ‘Adventure Capital of the UK’. Lake District-based climber Leo Houlding took to England’s highest mountain to proclaim a welcome to the district.

Other escapades included Leo dangling from the Honister via ferrata with a warning sign depicting an abseiling climber and falling rocks.

And the Old Man of Coniston gained a reworked road sign saying ‘not just elderly people’ with a symbol of sprightly walkers. High Street, the 828m (2,717ft) route of the former Roman road over the eastern fell that is home to England’s only golden eagle, had a London-style street sign attached to its drystone wall.

Cumbria Tourism, which came up with the idea for the signs, said: “They have been specially created with the aim of making people think about all the adventure experiences they can have during a visit to Cumbria.

“The signs show passing paragliders, bunny-hopping mountain-bikers, drifting hot-air balloons, a climber taking on a rock fall – as well as wild horse-riders and kayakers.”

The notices, a collaboration between Cumbria Tourism and Kirkby Stephen-based artist Steve Messam, include one for Striding Edge saying ‘Don’t look down – thrill’.

Leo, 29, who was called in to help put the signs in place, said: “All of us obey road signs on a daily basis and these signs of adventure are about reminding people what they can do in the Lake District’s higher, wilder places.

“We want to encourage people to come to the Adventure Capital of the UK and embrace our landscape because it’s good for mind, body and spirit. These signs are about reminding people what they can do in places like this instead of what they can’t.”

Leo’s exploits include the ascent of Everest, the Old Man of Hoy sea stack in Orkney, the Angel of the North and the 1,000m El Nino.

A countrywide scheme to open up England’s national parks to ethnic minorities took a stride forward when 10 potential ‘champions’ gathered in the Lake District.

Launched by TV adventurer Ben Fogle in July, the Government-backed Mosaic campaign targets 20 cities, linking them to the country’s nine national parks, to encourage wider access to the land’s best countryside.

Although around nine per cent of the population is from an ethnic minority, they make up only one per cent of national park visitors.

The aim is to find and train champions, who will then urge their communities to share these iconic areas.

The Lake District National Park is developing contacts with Lancaster, Blackburn, Preston and Manchester.

Over the weekend, interested individuals gathered in Ambleside.

Steering the project for the Lake District National Park Authority, Lucy McQuillan said: “We are delighted to welcome such enthusiastic and willing people who will make convincing role models in their communities.”

Once appointed, 200 champions will work with their national parks, encouraging an extra 4,000 ethnic visitors and ultimately reaching around 40,000 people.

Cumbria’s first dedicated mountain bike coaching trail at Whinlatter Forest, near Keswick, opened to the public on Saturday, October 17.

The Cyclewise coaching trail is usually for private training purposes only and will be opened by Rich Martin, director and senior coach from Cyclewise of Penrith and Whinlatter, who designed the new track.

It will also be the Forestry Commission’s first mountain bike coaching trail in Britain.

The new 300m trail is supported by British Cycling – the internationally recognised governing body of cycle sport in the UK.

The trail will feature specially constructed bumps, humps or drops, which in mountain biking are known as three berms, three table tops, a rhythm section and rocky drop offs.

There will also be technical climbing and descending sections.

British Cycling has expressed and interest in using the new trail for their Olympic talent team.

Mr Martin added: “We’re delighted to have finally achieved one of our long terms aims in providing the most professional and inspirational mountain bike coaching possible at Whinlatter.

Sail Chapman, who is three feet ten inches tall, was just five years, three weeks has become the youngest person to scale all 214 peaks in Alfred Wainwright’s Lake District guide books.

He began walking the Cumbrian fells, as the third of five children, with his family from the age of two with logs and photographs kept of their achievements.

His brothers Eire and Evan, aged eight and six, completed the Wainwrights a fortnight ago and he followed in their footsteps when he reached the top of his namesake fell Sail which stands at 2,536ft..

Their parents, Dr David Chapman and Dr Clare Lavery, from Beverley, East Yorkshire, emphasise that the family’s weekend walks are primarily for pleasure.

They only became aware of the previous record when reading The Daily Telegraph earlier this year and there was no original plan.

They then released Sail, a reception class pupil at Hull Collegiate School, had completed most of the Wainwrights at the age of four.

Robin Regan, from Cumbria, reclaimed the title for his family in April when he was five years 11 months old, his sister Ellen having been the youngest when she was nine and his other sister Kerry repeating the feat when she was seven.

Dr Lavery said: “Walking has always been something we’ve enjoyed. Each of the older boys’ enthusiasm has rubbed off on Sail and he loves to keep up with his big brothers.”

She and her husband have been careful to ensure that every step of the way, including the summit of England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike (3,209ft), was taken by the children.

Dr Chapman said Eire and Evan could have gained the record themselves, but climbed many of the Fells time and again with Sail and their four year old sister Danu.

He added: “Our youngest son, Coel, has just turned two so it’s time to start all over again.”
Alfred Wainwright, who died in 1991 aged 84, climbed 214 Lake District summits to produce his seven world famous Pictorial Guides.

Telegraph.co.uk

The Lake District National Park has announced a series of events in support of Cumbria Green Build Fortnight, which is due to begin on October 5th.

A number of activities will be taking place to highlight the green developments that have been made across the area, something that may interest those that are booking holidays in the Lake District.

Around 2,000 people are expected to attend, with 80 free events being held, ranging from demonstrations of eco-homes to seminars for environmental professionals.

The festival is now in its fourth year and has received £5,000 of investment from the Lake District Sustainable Development Fund.

“There are events for all – from information fairs to master classes – and whether it’’’s related to home, business or community there will be something to help you become more sustainable,” said Diane Hubbard of organisers Cumbria Action for Sustainability.

Volunteers were recently asked to contribute to a green project in the Lake District that involves the removal of harmful rhododendrons from land around Askham Bridge.

Written by David Sollberger