Planning ahead
With the winter months bringing longer evenings and more opportunities to sit beside a roaring log fire, those longer days of spring and summer seem far off but there is no better time than the present to plan for the best trip ever to the Lake District or the wider area of Cumbria.
"Failing to plan is planning to fail" or so the old saying goes. Whether you are a tour operator or a group of individuals, hiring a local tourist guide, especially one who has attained the highly respected "Blue Badge", a globally recognised qualification, will ensure delivery of a high-end professional enjoyable and relaxed tour.
Your tour needs to be exactly that - yours. What are you thinking? Something different? unique, luxurious? maybe quirky? Let me help you - perhaps a little inspiration is needed. Access to behind the scenes with a tasting experience to try locally sourced food - the Lake District is home to many local food specialities. Plan in advance and your tour could include dining at one of the many Michelin starred restaurants or in a train carriage that was once used on the filmset of the Orient Express! Why not read through my blog posts on my "Home" page for more ideas.
The Lake District is famous for being the adventure capital but like me, many people prefer a tour that doesn't include a daringly high zip wire but your tour could include a paddle-boarding session or have exclusive hire of a boat and captain on one of the lakes. It is estimated that there are six times more sheep in Cumbria than there are people so get to know the local sheep with a farmyard encounter or watch a sheepdog demonstration. Your tour could include a visit to a country fair, or watch a traditional parade, find the hidden gems be they castles or colourful gardens or explore the quieter areas of the Lake District and the wider area of Cumbria. I could go on... but rest assured with bit of planning ahead the next tour of the Lake District, whether it is a half or full day, will be the best.
Seasons come and go and I can also change what you might perceive as the "classic" tour of the Lake District according to the time of year. A Blue Badge Guide such as myself knows when and where to see the golden daffodils in bloom, made famous by William Wordsworth, or the glorious Wisteria at its best. If flowers or garden design isn't your thing, what is? What is it that prompted you to discover more about the Lake District that takes your attention away from climbing the fells or idling in lakeshore cafes? The area has acted as a magnet for hundreds of years, once pulled in to the Lakes it will stay with you forever in your heart (I know, it happened to me).
Communicating and planning your interests ahead of a tour will help make it a success. With a factual and engaging commentary from a professional guide who is focussed on the smooth delivery of the tour, guests can relax and enjoy wonderful views while the farmers tend to the landscape, the weather does its thing, and the driver navigates us safely through the narrow country lanes lined with dry stone walls.
