Cumbria Tourism has teamed up with some of the country’s top cycling instructors to offer a bumper programme of free bike-related activities for all the family throughout this summer.

‘Passport 2 Pedalling’ has something for everyone, providing beginners with 30-minute taster sessions on mountain bike skills at events across the county to half day organised rides through some of the Lake District’s most stunning scenery.

For those who want to try something a little bit different, there is even ‘beach biking’, at various beaches along Cumbria’s coastline with all kinds of competitions ranging from ‘biggest skid’ for children and young at heart adults, and a ‘how deep can you go’ challenge exclusively for adults.

Penrith based cycle guiding and training company, CycleActive will be running the majority of the sessions.

Chris Ford, Director of CycleActive said: “We wanted to come up with things that everyone could do that would offer great training and great fun at the same time. We’ve also brought in a brand new fleet of junior bikes of all sizes, which are available free of charge so there’s nothing stopping people from getting involved if they want to have a go.”

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Passport 2 Pedalling is part of a wider scheme to get Cumbria recognised as the UK’s undisputed number one adventure holiday destination – the Adventure Capital of the UK.

The free cycling activities are also being used to kick-start the Passport 2 Pedalling Cycle Challenge, which calls on people to ride 2,012 Cumbrian miles before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Opening Ceremony of the Games is on July 27th 2012, and to successfully meet the challenge, people would have to cycle approximately 20 miles each week from now until July 2012 – or the distance of Whitehaven to St Bees on the popular Hadrian’s Cycleway on Cumbria’s West Coast.

Compared to 10 years ago, almost 50 per cent of the UK population now goes on an activity break with cycling being one of the fastest growing activities for people to take part in.

Andrea Runkee, Adventure Capital Project Manager at Cumbria Tourism, said: We’re offering lots of free cycle rides and activities to encourage more people to get out on their bikes this Summer.

“The Government is looking for new ways to improve people’s health and get them involved in exercise and are committed to getting one million people taking part in more sport by 2012. There is no better place to do this – and more importantly, to enjoy it – than here in Cumbria.”

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, NHS Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said: “This is a great scheme to get people both living in Cumbria and visiting the county out and about exercising in our beautiful surroundings. Cycling is a great source of exercise and its easier on your joints than running or other high-impact aerobic activities. Exercise is important as it doesn’t just help you stay in shape and improve long term health, but it also helps to boost people’s moods, making them feel happier and healthier.”

Cumbria has a wealth of cycle routes suitable for all levels of ability from peaceful country lanes for beginners to England’s highest mountain passes for more extreme cyclists. The forest parks of Grizedale and Whinlatter have purpose built mountain bike trails while the lakeshores, old railway lines and gentle bridleways provide more relaxing escapes.

The Lake District could be granted the highly-prized world heritage status and join the Taj Mahal as one of the most iconic places in the world.

World Heritage Sites are chosen for their outstanding universal value to culture, history or science. The Lake District is one of 38 nominations from across the country unveiled by the Government as bidding for the status.

An independent expert panel will now be set up to assess each bid and advise ministers on which should be included in a shortlist submitted to UNESCO in 2011.

Tourism and Heritage Minister John Penrose said: “The UK’s heritage is world class and this list represents the unique variety and history present in all corners of this country and our overseas territories. We wanted a strong and varied list to eventually put to UNESCO and I’m delighted that so many wonderful, diverse places have been put forward.

“Any list that includes Jodrell Bank, the Forth Bridge, Blackpool and the Turks and Caicos Islands certainly doesn’t lack variety. But what all 38 sites have in common is a wow factor and a cultural resonance that makes them real contenders to sit alongside The Pyramids and Red Square in this most distinguished of gatherings.”

Earlier this year Government invited councils and others to bid. Places winning through will join the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, The Statue of Liberty and more than 800 other sites on UNESCO’s list of the most iconic and important parts of the planet’s heritage.

The entire process can take between five and 10 years. After the bid is submitted to UNESCO by the UK Government, it will then be assessed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Here’s a nice video highlighting the attractions of the Grasmere region of the Lake District.

Grasmere – Lake District – Video Of Hotels, Attractions, Pubs from David Mottershead on Vimeo.

A Michelin-starred hotel in the Lake District which has played host to Tom Cruise and David Beckham is set to offer its guests refunds if it rains during their stay.

Despite the fact that it is situated in one of the wettest parts of the British Isles, The Samling hotel in Windemere, Cumbria, has promised to offer people refunds of £100 – even if it is only drizzling – after one of the driest winters in living memory.

Most visitors to the Lake District expect to pack a pair of wellington boots and a rain jacket when they visit the national park, however the region has recorded its driest winter since 1929.

Bookmakers William Hill is offering evens, or a 50% chance, on the Samling not having to pay out between now and the end of the offer in September.

The drought has prompted water company United Utilities to ask the Environment Agency for permission to take more water from Ennerdale lake, which drains some of England’s highest mountains including Pillar, Steeple and Great Gable.

Similar requests may follow for Windermere and Ullswater, whose water levels have already dropped significantly.

Speaking to the Guardian, hotel manager Andrew MacKay said: ‘We’re convinced that we’re going to have a long hot summer in the Lake District.

‘We had some terrible weather last year from floods to heavy snow before the dry spell set in, so I think we are due a bit of fortune.’

Overlooking the north shore of Lake Windemere, the 17th Century hotel is considered one of the most exclusive properties in the Lake District and was once owned by John Benson, landlord to the poet William Wordsworth – who would walk to the house to pay his rent.

The offer is open to anyone staying at the hotel between now and September, with bookmakers giving The Samling a 50 per cent chance of not having to pay out during that time.

Bassenthwaite Lake

Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest of the Lake District at approximately 4 miles long and ¾ miles wide. Despite its size this long and narrow lake is very shallow, at its deepest point it reaches a depth of just 70 feet. The Lake is easily accessible with the A66 dual carriageway running along the western edge. The laybys are extremely popular for people wanting to take pictures and a spot of bird watching.

Coniston Water

Coniston is the third largest of the lakes and is approximately 5 miles long and ½ a mile wide. The lake is hugely popular with tourist due to its large expanse of water, which contains a number of tranquil islands, as well as the stunning scenery. The lake was famously the setting for the book Swallows and Amazons as well as the setting for Donald Campbell’s ill fated attempt to break the water speed record.

Derwentwater

Derwentwater is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide making it the widest lake in the Lake District.

The lake has a number of islands within, one of which contains Derwent Island House which is open to the public just 5 days a year.

The huge Skiddaw overlooking the lake and the nearby market town of Keswick make Derwent one of the most popular lakes for visitors.

Ullswater

Ullswater is the second largest of all the lakes in the Lake District at approximately 9 miles long and ¾ of a mile wide.

Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater often finds itself compared to lakes in Switzerland, such as Lucerne.

This favourable comparison is thanks to the beautiful scenery with mountains to one side and green fields and woodland on the other. The lake is great for water sports, with canoeing, sailing and wind surfing particularly popular. There are also the more relaxing steamer boats that take you on a cruise of the lake.

Windermere

Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and is the largest in the whole of England at approximately 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. As well as being the largest of the lakes Windermere is also the most well known and has long been a very popular attraction for tourists. Many of the tourists who do visit end up taking part in at least one of the many on water activities available. These range from wake boarding, sailing and canoeing to a more sedate pleasure cruise.