It seems that, everywhere you turn, there’s another micro-brewery at the back of some quaint little pub turning out stuff to quench the thirsts of some very happy customers.

The number of brewers is ever-changing but it’s estimated there are around 30 of them in Cumbria, from those making just a few barrels per brew to the ‘big daddy’ of them all, Jennings in Cockermouth.

And many of the brews have some weird and wonderful names such as Jennings’ Sneck Lifter (a ‘sneck’ is a door latch in northern dialect)

So there are some very pleasant times to be had seeking out and sampling the brews available, particularly if you’ve spent hours trekking the high fells with only the thought of a fine local beer to keep you going.

Last weekend, after walking near Buttermere, it seemed only right to enjoy a pint named after a peak we’d just conquered. The prize-winning Melbreak Bitter from Cumbrian Legendary Ales was enjoyed at the Kirkstile Inn in Loweswater village where it first made its mark. It’s a lovely, light-coloured refreshing beer that, at 3.7%abv is not too high on alcohol. It hit the spot following a good few hours out on the hills.

There’s a great special edition poster mapping all of Cumbria’s breweries which is currently being sold to raise funds for the Cumbrian Flood Recovery Fund following last year’s devastating downpours.

The poster, developed by Westmorland CAMRA, costs £15 (includes p&p). It’s available from www.camra.org.uk/shop

While it may not be of much use on the fell tops, it’s certainly a great way to plan a route around the best beers in the area.

Located in the heart of the region with easy access to stunning views of the beautiful landscape, Ambleside is the perfect location for a celebration of all things outdoors.

The inaugural festival will celebrate the culture and natural beauty of the Lake District, highlighting the abundance of year-round activities available there.

A range of events will take place over the four-day festival, with some highlights including climbing walls, kayak instruction, open water swims and abseiling.

For more experienced visitors, several competitions will be held such as the uphill road bike time trial, fell race and hill climb. There are also cycle races for both novice and veteran riders.

If visitors find themselves tired out by all the activities, they can relax with the wide range of low-octane events being held throughout the festival.

Adventure lectures and photographic exhibitions are just two of the options people will have to explore.

The festival runs from September 16th to 19th and although it is free to attend, many of the events will require entry fees and visitors may want to book in advance.

‘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.

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).

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

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.

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.

This is because two conservation areas in the district – Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket – are to be extended following a review of their boundaries by the UK’s leading environmental heritage consultants.

According to members of the Park Strategy and Vision Committee, both extensions will be designed to “support the existing character of the conservation areas”.

Meanwhile, a report from national park conservation and design adviser David James stipulated that the landscape, cultural heritage and wildlife of the two areas would be improved by “supporting the development of new approaches to celebrating cultural heritage, design and the built environment”.

Both conservation areas were designated as national park sites in 1983, with the programme of appraisal and review for Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket commissioned for 2007.

Covering 885 square miles, the Lake District is the largest national park in England.

Following the issuing of a special licence from Natural England, the Forestry Commission North West England has begun a three-year project that will see the birds of prey released in Grizedale Forest.

The birds will be taken soon after hatching from Rockingham Forest, Forestry Commission woodlands in Northamptonshire, and brought up to Cumbria 30 at a time – 30 birds will be released each year for the duration of the three-year scheme.

The Grizedale programme will be the ninth reintroduction of red kites into different regions of the UK, and the final reintroduction phase in England.

Forestry Commission Wildlife ranger Iain Yoxall, project manager for the Grizedale Red Kite Release Project, said:

“I’m very excited about this scheme. I have a keen interest in birds and in birds of prey in particular.

“It is a real conservation coup for the area and it will help to establish the red kites in the largest region in England from which the species is absent, a process which could take decades naturally.”

Red kites were almost eradicated from the UK following persecution between the 16th and 19th Centuries. However they managed to cling on in mid Wales and their numbers recovered thanks to the actions of local conservationists.

Now the birds are beginning to thrive again following the conservation work undertaken by organisations like the Forestry Commission.

The red kites that will be introduced into Grizedale are the product of a reintroduction programme that took place in Northamptonshire in the 1980s.

The young birds will arrive at Grizedale between late June and early July and will then be held in special pens for up to two months where forest wildlife rangers will feed and water them until they are ready to leave.

Even after they have left the holding pens rangers will continue to feed the young red kites until they stop coming back because they have learned to fend for themselves – however special care will be taken to ensure the birds do not become accustomed to contact with humans.

All the birds will be wing-tagged with a colour and number and will be given leg rings. Around ten per cent will also be tagged with radio transmitters, which will help Forestry Commission staff to monitor the success of the release programme.

Mr Yoxall is confident the birds will prove to be a big hit with visitors to Grizedale.

“They are large spectacular bird and have a wing span of around five feet. They are stunning to see in the sky as they are also very agile. They will be an exciting thing for people to see and an added attraction for people visiting Grizedale.”

A special advisory group has been established, containing bird experts from organisations like Natural England, the RSPB and the British Association of Shooting and Conservation, to help ensure the project’s success.

Red kites are coloured chestnut red and have white patches under their wings. They are primarily a scavenger and feed mostly on carrion. They breed from around the age of two years and usually pair for life.

Having recognised that many first-time guests then go on to return to the hotel with friends and relatives, the four-star Rothay Garden hotel in Grasmere has introduced a special incentive to groups of friends and relatives who decide to visit the Lake District together.

This summer (for short breaks and holidays in July and August), guests who book to stay with friends or relatives at Rothay Garden (in two or more of the hotel’s luxurious bedrooms or Loft Suites), will be greeted with a sparkling complimentary bottle of Roederer Champagne and four flutes in the hotel’s lounge on check-in, to ensure that the break gets off to a flying start.

The “Two’s a Couple, Four’s a Delight” champagne offer is even valid on the hotel’s popular Summer Saver rates, which give generous discounts off four and seven-night stays at Rothay Garden.