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England | |
Cumbria |
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England,
Cumbria Cumbria: Ashleigh, Holly Road, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 2AQ (tel: (015394) 44444; fax: (015394) 44041; e-mail; mail@cumbria-tourist-board.co.uk; web site: http://www.gocumbria.co.uk or http://www.golakes.co.uk). Cumbria is proud to boast England's largest national park, containing the highest English peak (Scafell Pike) and Lake Windermere, the largest lake. Cumbria is climbing country, with easy fell walks, and sailing, fishing, canoeing and pony-trekking facilities in a stunningly beautiful setting of mountains and lakes. The ancient sport of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling takes place at the annual sports meetings in Grasmere, Ambleside and Coniston. Traditional fell-racing (to the top of the nearest hill and back) can also be seen at some of the Cumbrian sports meetings. Many of the towns and villages, hidden among moorland, perched on mountainsides or tucked away along the coast, hold fairs, shows and sheepdog trials throughout the year. Local crafts are practised and workshops, smithies and potteries welcome visitors. It is possible to watch weaving in Grasmere, pencils made at Keswick and clogs fashioned in Whitehaven. Sweaters sold in Ambleside are made from the wool of local Herdwick sheep. Grasmere is where Wordsworth lived for several years and his home, Dove Cottage, is open to the public. He also lived at the nearby Rydal Mount, also open to the public. Keswick, on the shores of Derwent Water, is an attractive market town with a museum in Fitz Park, which contains many manuscripts and letters of Shelley, Southey, Wordsworth and Coleridge. The region also has several coastal resorts such as Maryport, Silloth, St Bees and Grange-over-Sands. To the north of the county is the 2000-year-old cathedral city of Carlisle, close to Hadrian's Wall and once a Roman camp. Likewise, the once important 18th-century trading port of Whitehaven today preserves an echo of former glories in its Georgian buildings. Another historic town, Penrith, makes a good base for touring the rich and peaceful Eden Valley and the wide-open spaces of the Cumbrian Pennines. |