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.”

The picturesque Lake District is one of few places in the UK that never loses its charm all year round.

In fact, the winter months bring an almost mystical appeal to the stunning north-west region with fascinating walks and attractions still going strong in January.

As England’s largest National Park, the area provides the perfect environment for a host of activities from rock climbing and paragliding to more gentler activities such as a boat trip on lake Windermere, England’s longest lake – an Windermere hotels are never short in abundance.

Boasting Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain, and Wastwater – England’s deepest lake, ‘The Lakes’ offers some of the UK’s most stunning scenery, inspiring artists such as Turner and Ruskin to some of the country’s best loved writers, such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

With such a wealth of beauty, culture and hospitality it isn’t hard to see why the Lake District remains the perfect setting to explore and enjoy – even in the crisp winter period. If the magical fell walks aren’t your thing, there’s still so much to do outdoors so don’t let the snow put you off!

Lake District hotels feature some fantastic off-season discounts so here are a few ideas for things to do whilst there.

Go Ape!

Climb the trees, slide across high wires, crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges, walk the planks and zip down to the ground! Go Ape!, in the Grizedale Forest, is an award-winning high wire forest adventure course of rope bridges, tarzan swings and zip slides up to 40 feet up in the trees! Opening in March 2008, the new Go Ape Whinlatter, go on give it a try!

Aquaseiling

Those in search of a serious rush to the head should try aquaseiling – abseiling down a fast-flowing waterfall. Aquaseiling is a sheer adrenalin activity in awesome surroundings and can form part of a longer scrambling journey.

Via Ferrata

At the Honister Slate Mine, high up in the Borrowdale Valley, the new Via Ferrata lets you experience the mountains in a novel way. Secured to a fixed cable, you follow a Victorian miner’s route along the craggy cliff-face of Fleetwith Pike using steel ladders and solid bridges to reach the 2126ft summit, where you can gaze at uninterrupted views.

Ghyll scrambling

Another physically challenging organised activity is ghyll scrambling. Wearing protective clothing, you slide, jump, scramble and slither your way along the course of a stream, tackling all the obstacles you come across. Expect to get wet!

Grasmere is ideally located within the Lake District so that every valley may be explored, with just a short journey from the Luxury Lake District Hotel that is Rothay Garden.

Grasmere is ideally located within the Lake District so that every valley may be explored, with just a short journey from the Luxury Lake District Hotel that is Rothay Garden. The village of Grasmere is beautiful and charming positioned perfectly in the heart of the Lake District National Park. Many tourists choose to visit the close by ‘honey pot’ towns of Hawkshead, Ambleside, Coniston, Keswick, Bowness and Windermere. The River Rothay runs nearby and to the north west of Grasmere, is Helm Crag, with Nab Scar and Rydal Fell lying to the east, and Silver Howe and Yew Crag to the west.

Rothay Garden Hotel is built from the locally quarried grey green stone, so reminiscent of the region. The surrounding area is noted for its beautiful scenery and there are many delightful walks which suit a range of abilities. To the south of the village is Grasmere Lake where there are some gentle walks amongst the lower ground around the lake. Or Grasmere is located centrally for the more challenging walking of Helvellyn, Scafell Pikes, Skiddaw and the Langdale Pikes. It was this spectacular scenery in Grasmere that inspired much of the poet William Wordsworth’s best works; he described the area as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”.

Of all the Hotels in the Lake District, Rothay Garden is no ordinary Lakeland hotel. It is in fact one of the finest and contemporary four star Lake District Hotels. It is perfect for both a winter or summer break and the two acres of riverside gardens are a wonderful and relaxing place to let life pass you by. It is a comfortable, quality hotel where you can escape life’s pressures and seek peace and quiet.

Many Lake District Hotels try and offer good catering but Rothay Garden really does offer excellent food really makes the difference between a break away from home and a memorable trip to treasure.

There are many hotels in the Lake District but staying at Rothay Garden means you are also in the right place to visit the Grasmere Festival of Stars which takes place on the last weekend in November every year.

i-newswire.com

A TV advertising campaign and website built around a new hit TV series are weapons in the Lake District’s fight to beat bad publicity after winter floods.

The Lakes Hospitality Association has launched a television advertising campaign for hotels and guesthouses in the Lake District and set up a special website www.lakewindermere.tv, designed to capitalise on the popular TV programme The Lakes.

The first of a series of adverts on ITV1 started on Tuesday this week and will go on air around the TV show and other well-known programmes, such as This Morning, ITV Early Evening News and Emmerdale.

The TV campaign will be shown in the Yorkshire and Tyne Tees area, where a large proportion of Lake District business comes from.

With the dedicated website, which is crammed with dozens of offers from hotel and guesthouses, the Lakes Hospitality Association will be able to closely monitor where inquiries are coming from.

The TV campaign is jointly funded by the Lakes Hospitality Association and Windermere Lake Cruises and hoteliers and guesthouses – The Howbeck and Windermere Suites, The Newby Bridge Hotel, Fairfield Guest House, The Knoll and The Coppice.

Jonathan Denby, chairman of the Lakes Hospitality Association, said: “The double-whammy of floods and snow cut the number of visitors to the Lakes by half. We need to show the world that the Lakes is fully open for business.

“At the time of the floods I asked the North West Development Agency (NWDA) for funding for a TV campaign to match the money given to Yorkshire Tourism of £30 million over three years. The NWDA were not sure of the efficacy of TV advertising, so we intend to demonstrate to them with our TV campaign – that TV advertising is just what the Lakes needs to bring back the tourists.”

The Lakes Hospitality Association is a trade association representing the interests of 500 accommodation providers and others associated with hospitality in South Lakeland.

Westmoreland Gazette

The Lake District is the perfect location for children. Endless activities to keep them occupied for example watersports, walking, Go-Ape, a zoo and the Ravenglass-Eskdale railway. It has long been an area popular with families.

An area full of activities and stunning scenery is the area of Keswick and Bassenthwaite. There are many Keswick hotels that offer child friendly rooms with excellent leisure facilities on site. These facilities include heated swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts, putting greens and some even have games rooms with both board games and computer games such as Wii consoles installed. The practical facilities within these hotels come in the form of flexible meal times for children, the use of complimentary high chairs and cots, bed time books and stocks of essential items such as nappies, baby milks and food and dummies.

The Bassenthwaite Lake area encompasses some of the most well equipped hotels Lake District. The lake is one of the largest in the English Lake District situated at the foot of Skiddaw and in such close proximity to Keswick, it is a great location. The lake is 4 miles long and is the shallowest of all the lakes with its maximum depth just 70 feet. For parents interested in bird watching, it is one of the best places to spot an Osprey.

Bassenthwaite the village itself is one of the most beautiful Lakeland villages and is an ideal base for discovering the woodlands of Thornthwaite Forest and the trails of Dodd Wood. It is the northernmost and only true ‘lake’ in the Lake District; it is renowned for its peacefulness, accessibility and continually changing scenery caused by changeable weather and seasons. When the adults need to get away there’s Mirehouse which is most definitely worth a visit.

Alfred Lord Tennyson stayed at Mirehouse whilst writing his poem ‘Morte D’Arthur’ in 1835. It is a private house but open to the public on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. The grounds and a tea shop are open daily though. Further on from Mirehouse is an open air theatre erected by the Tennyson Society is the location where Tennyson was thought to have written most of that famous poem. All around the lake and the surrounding area is a strong literary feel along with a popular place for artists.

Cumbria’s tourism industry could be given a boost with the opening of a new luxury hotel in the Lake District.

According to the Westmorland Gazette, businessman Stephen Leahy has bought Holbeck Ghyll near Lake Windermere and intends to turn it into lavish accommodation.

He said that the establishment will offer more than just a hotel and board, as he intends to throw in new services such as supercar hire, lake cruises and helicopter airport transfers.

The 26-bedroom hotel is already home to a Michelin star restaurant, which the owner intends to keep, preparing top meals and packed lunches for guests enjoying daily excursions.

“Whatever guests want, we will get it,” said Mr Leahy, who is also the chief executive of the Select Group if businesses in Manchester.

The news comes as Cumbria tourism officials are preparing to launch a new campaign aimed at boosting visitor spend in the Lake District.

They are offering a Freedom of the Lake District pass similar to existing schemes in London and York, which will give visitors discounts on top restaurants, retail outlets and attractions.

Award-winning Ullswater Steamers, which has four vessels operating lake cruises on Ullswater in the Lake District, is back in business following a forced suspension due to the flooding in the area late last year.

The steamers, which offer the chance to combine a lake cruise with some of the most famous and spectacular walks in the Lake District, were keen to be back in operation as quickly as possible.

Despite the chaos that disrupted the area, Ullswater Steamers was up and running within a week. The family-run firm prides itself on its motto ‘open every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day’ but its fleet had to go into dry dock for seven days for the first time in its 150-year history.

Like the rest of the Lake District, tourism around Lake Ullswater, marketed as ‘arguably the most beautiful of all the Lakes’, has long been back in business,with everybody anxious to convince travellers that holidays are back to their best.

A key destination is Glenridding at the foot of Helvellyn – England’s third highest mountain and one of the most popular walking routes in the Lakes.

The best-known hotel on Ullswater is Sharrow Bay, with its Michelin-starred restaurant that overlooks the lake. Although the hotel wasn’t breached by water, more than 30 guests had a prolonged but enjoyable stay when the only road in was impassable because of high waters.

Sam Hall, from the hotel, said: ‘Our guests watched it all unfold from the picture window that looks on to the Lake. The only issue we had was when we ran out of ingredients for sticky toffee pudding’

Daily Mail