Latest news with #Coleridge
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Telegraph
Who needs Como? The English lakes that rival their Italian counterparts
My motorboat is purring through the water, its vintage lines and sleek good looks turning heads. The water is glassily green, the surrounding hills majestic, grand houses peep out of the shoreline's foliage… oh, and someone has just handed me a glass of champagne. Given a slight increase in temperature, and with slightly sexier accents around me – and just a teensy stretch of the imagination – I could be on Lake Como in Italy. As it happens, I'm on Windermere. My boat, the MV Albatros, a 50ft-long varnished teak beauty, built in 1928, is moored at the lake's Langdale Chase hotel for use by guests. It would, however, look equally at home in the Italian lakes – and it certainly brings a touch of la dolce vita to Windermere, without the expense of going to L'Italia. Could it be argued that the English Lake District is as alluring as the Italian lake district? Both have mountainous backdrops (Cumbria's fells; the Alpine foothills), both boast their respective country's largest lake (Windermere; Garda), both have wooed poets and writers (Wordsworth and Coleridge; Byron and Shelley), and both offer opportunities to be lazy or active. One is here on our doorstep, the other is, expensively, over there. Let's compare… Swap Como for… Windermere Como is famously glamorous and surrounded by grand villas, many of them now hotels bristling with fancy restaurants. Forested slopes reach down to the shoreline; mountains rise up behind; water taxis and private boats zig-zag between its shores, trailing a wake of wealth and indolence. But Windermere is not so shabby. From the Albatros – built for a German sea captain, after which it suffered a chequered history around Europe before being rescued and restored by the hotel – I can gaze (with champagne in hand) at forested slopes with iconic fells, including the Langdale Pikes, rising behind. Several large hotels grace the shoreline, often with glamorous histories. The Samling, for example, (with Michelin-starred restaurant) was Wordsworth 's landlord's Georgian home; Holbeck Ghyll was formerly the hunting lodge of the spendthrift Lord Lonsdale; while Langdale Chase, a mix of Victorian grandiosity and modern-day sleekness and with its Mawson-designed gardens, was built for a wealthy Lancashire widow. On a sunny day, its stone-balustraded terrace overlooking the lake is a scene stealer. Windermere Steamers offer year-round lake cruises; in the summer, some with live music, too. There are lakeside strolls, including through the arboretum and yew walk of Wray Castle (mock-Gothic) where Beatrix Potter stayed as a teenager. True, the honeypot town of Bowness lacks Bellagio's beauty, but its souvenirs are cheaper than those around Como. Price comparison The Langdale Chase is Windermere's most glamorous lakeside hotel, with Victorian oak panelling and staircase, glass-walled dining room, bedrooms with marble bathrooms, plus a terrace, watersports, private motor boat and cinema; doubles from £390. The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, in Bellagio, is a similar age to Langdale Chase, suitably grand and traditionally furnished – Murano glass chandeliers, frescoes, antiques – with swimming pools, pier and private beach; doubles from £450. Swap Garda for… Ullswater Lake Garda is so long, at 32 miles, that it generates its own microclimate, often sunnier than the surroundings. Ullswater, at one quarter of the length, can't compete in scale – or climate, to be fair – but, like Garda, it offers high peaks at one end (Helvellyn and Place Fell) and gentler hills at the other. Like Garda, it's also big on watersports: sailing, standup paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming. It has beaches, too; a bit more gritty-sandy than Garda, but beaches nevertheless. Another Place, a luxurious family-friendly hotel on its western shore, has its own (tiny) beach plus private pier, and guests are actively encouraged to get in the water (kayaks, paddleboards, wetsuits and tuition are provided). I decline the wild swimming excursion, but enjoy a bracing dip after toasting myself in the lakeside sauna with its mesmeric views across the water to Barton Fell and Arthur's Pike. It is one of several smart hotels (Sharrow Bay, aside) that, like Garda, lie on the western shore. This means the eastern side, particularly at the southern end, is delightfully quiet – not something that can be said of Garda. The easiest way to reach this side is to take one of the Ullswater Steamers – small and elegant with cherry-red funnels – disembark at Howton and hike south to lose yourself in peaceful Martindale. Price comparison Family-friendly Another Place, on a private lakeshore, mixes Georgian country house with a contemporary bedroom wing, plus romantic shepherd's huts, and offers a pool, spa, watersports and choice of dining; doubles from £270. The elegant Grand Hotel Fasano, in a former hunting lodge near the Gardone Riviera, has neoclassical styling, spa, pools, saunas, watersports and plenty of family-friendly services; doubles from £306. Swap Maggiore for… Derwentwater One of the great beauties of sinuous Lake Maggiore, whose northern tip stretches into Switzerland, is the trio of Borromean islands with their lush gardens and Baroque palazzi. Like Garda, the lake has its own, often sunnier, microclimate, and, like Como, there are dazzling lakeside villas. Above the western shore, a cable car up Monte Mottarone (4,892ft) delivers staggering views. It would be disingenuous to pretend Derwentwater can match Maggiore's highlights, but it is, arguably, the Lake District's prettiest lake – especially when viewed from one of the traditional varnished-wood launches that putter across its waters. Surrounded by forested shores, green fellsides and craggy outcrops, the lake has four islands, two (and occasionally three) of which you can land on. The surrounding peaks aren't as mighty but they're distinctive: the wave-like Cat Bells and Maiden Moor, with bobble-hatted Causey Pike behind; the rocky escarpment of Walla Crag; Castle Crag at the southern end framed in the gorge known as the Jaws of Borrowdale. Take the easy climb up Cat Bells and, on a clear day, the views – including Skiddaw, Blencathra, sleepy Newlands valley, plus the lake and verdant Borrowdale – are out of all proportion to the effort to climb its modest 1,481ft. Price comparison Lodore Falls, opposite the southern end of Derwentwater, is a Victorian landmark hotel in Borrowdale with an indoor-outdoor spa, infinity pool plus sleek contemporary rooms and a choice of dining; doubles from £234. On the lakefront at Stresa, opposite the Borromean islands, Grand Hotel Bristol is an imposing 19th-century building with an elegant style, lake-view restaurant, gardens, and indoor and outdoor pools; doubles from £287. Swap Orta for… Ennerdale With no glitzy villas or exotic gardens, buzzing seaplanes or wallet-busting shops, Lake Orta – the smallest of the main Italian lakes at just under eight miles – is often overlooked. Sitting to the west of Maggiore, it offers a retreat from the touristy excesses of the main lakes. Here you come for dreamy, green-cloaked lakeside hills, deep-blue waters, the striking Isola San Giulio, slow-paced Orta San Giulio (its main village), pretty shoreline strolls or more strenuous hiking trails. Likewise, Ennerdale Water, a neat two miles long, is often bypassed, yet is only a 20-minute drive south of busy Cockermouth in the north-western Lakes. It doesn't have the allure of Orta's island, crowned with its basilica, but it certainly escapes the crowds – partly because there's no road around the lakeshore, partly because there's no commercial development. Walking around the lakeshore (a total of seven miles), I meet more wildlife than people; if I'd wanted something more testing, this lake is the ideal starting point for the 2,926ft-high Pillar. As with Orta, there's only one centre; the village of Ennerdale Bridge (population 350), one and a half miles from the lake with church, two pubs and the community-run café and shop (the Gather). Its homemade cakes, I promise (from rigorous testing), are a match for any Italian torta della nonna. Price comparison The Fox & Hounds Inn, a traditional Lakeland inn offering four modest but large bedrooms, robust home cooking, a good range of local ales and a friendly welcome; doubles from £150. In a lakeside 18th-century building in medieval Orta San Giulio, Al Dom is a quiet bed-and-breakfast with a lakeside garden and four bedrooms furnished in shabby-chic style; doubles from £168. Swap Iseo for… Grasmere Sitting between the star turns of Como and Garda, Lake Iseo is often bypassed – though is a favourite of Italians from nearby Brescia and Bergamo. Forested and craggy slopes dip to the water; the central island, Monte Isola, is as round as it is high; while restaurant menus tempt with lake fish and the sparkling wines of nearby Franciacorta vineyards. Grasmere, by comparison, is tiny – but punches above its weight. Elliptical in shape and framed by fells, with a forested shoreline and scattering of beaches below grass and bracken-covered slopes, and an island plum in the centre, it's incredibly photogenic. Nor is it spoilt by the buzz of motorboats; only swimmers and non-powered craft are allowed. True, there's a busy road along one shore and Grasmere village is cute but tourist-soaked, but it's a 20-minute walk from the lake, which keeps crowds at bay. And there's good food to be had, including Michelin-starred Forest Side. Coming down from Loughrigg Fell above its southern shore on a sunny late afternoon, I pause on Loughrigg Terrace – a path well known to poet William Wordsworth. The lake's waters are sapphire-blue, its island, like a giant broccoli, sits serenely in the middle while a rowing boat noodles lazily around. Indeed, why hurry with surroundings such as these? Price comparison The Daffodil Hotel, the only Grasmere hotel with direct lake access from its gardens, has a bright and sleek contemporary style, pool and spa, and the best lake views; doubles from £192. Family-run Hotel Rivalago, on the lakefront opposite Monte Isola, has a simple French Provençal style, outdoor pool and garden; doubles from £177.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
At Antarctica's midwinter, a look back at the frozen continent's long history of dark behavior
As Midwinter Day approaches in Antarctica – the longest and darkest day of the year – those spending the winter on the frozen continent will follow a tradition dating back more than a century to the earliest days of Antarctic exploration: They will celebrate having made it through the growing darkness and into a time when they know the Sun is on its way back. The experience of spending a winter in Antarctica can be harrowing, even when living with modern conveniences such as hot running water and heated buildings. At the beginning of the current winter season, in March 2025, global news outlets reported that workers at the South African research station, SANAE IV, were 'rocked' when one worker allegedly threatened and assaulted other members of the station's nine-person winter crew. Psychologists intervened – remotely – and order was apparently restored. The desolate and isolated environment of Antarctica can be hard on its inhabitants. As a historian of Antarctica, the events at SANAE IV represent a continuation of perceptions – and realities – that Antarctic environments can trigger deeply disturbing behavior and even drive people to madness. The very earliest examples of Antarctic literature depict the continent affecting both mind and body. In 1797, for instance, more than two decades before the continent was first sighted by Europeans, the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.' It tells a tale of a ship blown by storms into an endless maze of Antarctic ice, which they escape by following an albatross. For unexplained reasons, one man killed the albatross and faced a lifetime's torment for doing so. In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe published the story of 'Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,' who journeyed into the Southern Ocean. Even before arriving in Antarctica, the tale involves mutiny, cannibalism and a ship crewed by dead men. As the story ends, Pym and two others drift southward, encountering an enormous, apparently endless cataract of mist that parts before their boat, revealing a large ghostly figure. H.P. Lovecraft's 1936 story 'At the Mountains of Madness' was almost certainly based on real stories of polar exploration. In it, the men of a fictitious Antarctic expedition encounter circumstances that 'made us wish only to escape from this austral world of desolation and brooding madness as swiftly as we could.' One man even experiences an unnamed 'final horror' that causes a severe mental breakdown. The 1982 John Carpenter film 'The Thing' also involves these themes, when men trapped at an Antarctic research station are being hunted by an alien that perfectly impersonates the base members it has killed. Paranoia and anxiety abound, with team members frantically radioing for help, and men imprisoned, left outside or even killed for the sake of the others. Whether to gird themselves for what may come or just as a fun tradition, the winter-over crew at the United States' South Pole Station watches this film every year after the last flight leaves before winter sets in. These stories of Antarctic 'madness' have some basis in history. A long-told anecdote in modern Antarctic circles is of a man who stabbed, perhaps fatally, a colleague over a game of chess at Russia's Vostok station in 1959. More certain were reports in 2018, when Sergey Savitsky stabbed Oleg Beloguzov at the Russian Bellingshausen research station over multiple grievances, including the one most seized upon by the media: Beloguzov's tendency to reveal the endings of books that Savitsky was reading. A criminal charge against him was dropped. In 2017, staff at South Africa's sub-Antarctic Marion Island station reported that a team member smashed up a colleague's room with an ax over a romantic relationship. Concerns over mental health in Antarctica go much further back. In the so-called 'Heroic Age' of Antarctic exploration, from about 1897 to about 1922, expedition leaders prioritized the mental health of the men on their expeditions. They knew their crews would be trapped inside with the same small group for months on end, in darkness and extreme cold. American physician Frederick Cook, who accompanied the 1898-1899 Belgica expedition, the first group known to spend the winter within the Antarctic Circle, wrote in helpless terms of being 'doomed' to the 'mercy' of natural forces, and of his worries about the 'unknowable cold and its soul-depressing effects' in the winter darkness. In his 2021 book about that expedition, writer Julian Sancton called the ship the 'Madhouse at the End of the Earth.' Cook's fears became real. Most men complained of 'general enfeeblement of strength, of insufficient heart action, of a mental lethargy, and of a universal feeling of discomfort.' 'When at all seriously afflicted,' Cook wrote, 'the men felt that they would surely die' and exhibited a 'spirit of abject hopelessness.' And in the words of Australian physicist Louis Bernacchi, a member of the 1898-1900 Southern Cross expedition, 'There is something particularly mystical and uncanny in the effect of the grey atmosphere of an Antarctic night, through whose uncertain medium the cold white landscape looms as impalpable as the frontiers of a demon world.' A few years later, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which ran from 1911 to 1914, experienced several major tragedies, including two deaths during an exploring trip that left expedition leader Douglas Mawson starving and alone amid deeply crevassed terrain. The 100-mile walk to relative safety took him a month. A lesser-known set of events on that same expedition involved wireless-telegraph operator Sidney Jeffryes, who arrived in Antarctica in 1913 on a resupply ship. Cape Denison, the expedition's base, had some of the most severe environmental conditions anyone had encountered on the continent, including winds estimated at over 160 miles an hour. Jeffryes, the only man in the crew who could operate the radio telegraph, began exhibiting signs of paranoia. He transmitted messages back to Australia saying that he was the only sane man in the group and claiming the others were plotting to kill him. In Mawson's account of the expedition, he blamed the conditions, writing: '(T)here is no doubt that the continual and acute strain of sending and receiving messages under unprecedented conditions was such that he eventually had a 'nervous breakdown.'' Mawson hoped that the coming of spring and the possibility of outdoor exercise would help, but it did not. Shortly after his return to Australia in February 1914, Jeffryes was found wandering in the Australian bush and institutionalized. For many years, his role in Antarctic exploration was ignored, seeming a blot or embarrassment on the masculine ideal of Antarctic explorers. Unfortunately, the general widespread focus on Antarctica as a place that causes disturbing behavior makes it easy to gloss over larger and more systemic problems. In 2022, the United States Antarctic Program as well as the Australian Antarctic Division released reports that sexual assault and harassment are common at Antarctic bases and in more remote field camps. Scholars have generally not linked those events to the specifics of the cold, darkness and isolation, but rather to a continental culture of heroic masculinity. As humans look to live in other extreme environments, such as space, Antarctica represents not only a cooperative international scientific community but also a place where, cut off from society as a whole, human behavior changes. The celebrations of Midwinter Day honor survival in a place of wonder that is also a place of horror, where the greatest threat is not what is outside, but what is inside your mind. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Daniella McCahey, Texas Tech University Read more: Endurance captain Frank Worsley, Shackleton's gifted navigator, knew how to stay the course Women in Antarctica face assault and harassment – and a legacy of exclusion and mistreatment 200 years of exploring Antarctica – the world's coldest, most forbidding and most peaceful continent Daniella McCahey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
COLERIDGE INITIATIVE ANNOUNCES NEW COHORT OF DEMOCRATIZING OUR DATA CHALLENGE TO ADVANCE DATA-DRIVEN POLICY
Three teams awarded funding in the areas of workforce, education, and corrections. WASHINGTON, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coleridge Initiative today announced the latest cohort for Round Three of its Democratizing Our Data Challenge (DDC) program. The DDC is designed to facilitate the use of administrative data to help researchers develop, build, and scale innovative data products that support public policy and programs. Leveraging Coleridge's secure data platform, the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF), the teams in the DDC program collaborate on developing practical tools that help public leaders make more informed policy decisions. Since its launch in 2022, the DDC program has aimed to tackle high-impact challenges through partnerships within and across state agencies, universities, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies. This third round of the DDC awards will support two projects from Connecticut, and one multi-state project from Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, which are focused on workforce, education, and corrections. "It is so inspiring to see the DDC teams take administrative data and transform it into something so powerful — not just for policy, but for people," said Dr. Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of the Coleridge Initiative. "By equipping them with philanthropic funding, secure infrastructure like the ADRF, and expert guidance, we're helping them move from insight to impact — and ultimately driving better outcomes in education, justice, and family well-being." Third Round Awardee Projects Include: DC/VA/MD Award Connecting Education to Employment: By linking education and workforce data across the region for the first time, this project will help the jurisdictions better understand outcomes for residents who began in its K-12 schools, regardless of where they live or work in the region. This project will demonstrate the value of sharing data across states. Connecticut Corrections Award: Supporting Re-Entry through Workforce Training: This project will study how prison education and training programs, like Vocational Village and Second Chance Pell, affect people's chances of getting jobs and staying financially stable after release. This project will report on program participation and provide insights into the efficacy of these programs beyond the DOC setting. Connecticut Childcare Award: Childcare and Family Stability: By linking data from the Jobs First Employment Services (JFES), Care 4 Kids, and K-12 education programs, the project will create foundational knowledge on how these programs affect families, specifically through exploring how receiving childcare subsidies helps parents complete job training and enter the workforce. The DDC program has been supported by generous funding from Ascendium Education Group, Gates Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation. Past Project Highlights In Rounds 1 and 2, DDC awardees developed innovative tools via multi-state data collaborations to improve workforce and education insights, including: New Jersey (Rutgers University's Heldrich Center): Developed a comprehensive dashboard integrating workforce and education data to analyze employment outcomes across diverse demographic groups. Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee: Developed a Multi-State Postsecondary Report dashboard that provides insights on employment outcomes after postsecondary education. Ohio: Created new measures of non-degree credential outcomes for inclusion in the Multi-State Postsecondary Report dashboard hosted by KYSTATS. Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, and Kentucky: Enhanced the Multi-State Postsecondary Report with data from the eastern states to present employment outcomes of postsecondary graduates. Indiana–Education Design Lab: Developed a data model to evaluate the effectiveness of micro-pathways in improving employment outcomes for learners completing non-degree programs. About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc. The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through the secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge provides secure data enclave services to a diverse range of clients, including 24 state government agencies and several federal agencies, through the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). The ADRF is a FedRAMP-authorized cloud-based platform that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. To learn more, visit Media Contact: Nick Obourn, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Coleridge Initiative. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Coleridge Initiative Sign in to access your portfolio
South Wales Argus
15-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Fear, beer, love and loathing in the Lake District
Cumbria's crown jewel is arguably the definitive place to escape the foibles of everyday life. A seemingly limitless landscape that promises possibility, adventure and, above all else, escapism. Well, at least in England anyway. In 2020, two friends and I cycled from Snowdon to Scafell Pike and then to Ben Nevis for charity (beepity, beep, beep). Owing to its storied past, I was arguably looking forward to the Lake District section of the journey the most. The majestic home of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Ruskin, Potter, and even Pallet. I was practically drunk at the thought of passing through an area that fosters such a deep connection to nature. Penrith (Image: Newsquest) We passed through Cockermouth, Keswick, Kendal, Whitehaven, Maryport, and Carlisle, among other places, tackling fatigue, bickering, COVID restrictions, and, above all else, the elements. On an average day, Hardknott Pass is described as 'England's steepest and toughest road'. During our visit amidst Storm Ellen, Hardknott Pass was poetically christened 'A hellish slog made worse by an unforgiving cow.' The Lake District inspired Wordsworth to write. I was inspired to scream slurs at the Met Office. It wasn't the experience I had envisaged. Fast forward five years, and I had a chance of a Lakes redemption, courtesy of Hoseasons, who had kindly booked myself, my girlfriend and our two friends into a lodge near Ullswater. Very fancy pants. Ullswater (Image: Newsquest) Fear The lakes are an immensely popular destination for people in the north west, north east, Yorkshire and parts of the Midlands due to being in relatively close proximity. As mentioned earlier, we're from north Wales, so the drive up to the Lake District - depending on where - should usually take just over two hours. Did it hell. I always find it mind-boggling how Chester and Cumbria are part of the same region. The M6 isn't exactly scenic, and it was made all the worse by delay after delay. After the third alert, I looked at Georgia and bellowed the first Withnail quote of the weekend: "WE'VE COME ON HOLIDAY BY MISTAKE!" But it only got worse. A gentleman in a Merc with a strong desire for death took it upon himself to try and cause several crashes by diving in and out of lanes to beat the traffic. You're not Jason Bourne, give it a rest. But the lorries on the way up made Mr Bourne look like Brum. My god, I've never experienced anything like it. If you're knackered, kip! We genuinely had about eight near misses from lorries presumably going to Scotland straying absent-mindedly into our lane. The sheer fear on that drive up made our Garmins practically self-immolate. If you're going to make the journey up, honestly, be careful. But before long, we passed the border into Cumbria. Flusco Wood is the place to be if you're looking to stay in the Lake District (Image: Newsquest) Beer As soon as we started seeing signs for Keswick, Penrith, etc, all those motorway woes completely disappeared. Traffic vanished, and all we could see was a picture-perfect backdrop made all the better by our soundtrack, The Who's 'I Can See for Miles'. Our destination was Flusco Wood, in Ullswater. If you're looking to go, a 3-night stay for up to 4 people costs from £455 in June and from £539 in July. I could not recommend it more. The lodge was beautifully furnished, and we even had our own hot tub. Seconds after arriving, myself, Georgia, Jord and Sophie were all in it, beers in hand. Over the three days, we certainly had our fill. The local beers in Cumbria are just a different breed. I urge you to make the journey just for a local craft ale alone. One of us - I won't dob you in, Georgia - couldn't walk properly due to a 'foot injury'. So we were a little restricted on what we could do during the day. Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah (Image: Newsquest) Ullswater was the main attraction for the weekend, so instead of walking, we thought we'd row. A boat for four people over four hours will set you back £60 altogether. It really is an excellent way to explore Ullswater if you don't fancy straining yourself too much. I've been to Wastwater, England's deepest lake, before, but felt like Ullswater had an unrivalled charm. There were also several pubs nearby, so we were sold. We stopped in at The Crown Inn, The George Hotel and The Pooley Bridge Inn, and I have to say, despite being busy, they were equally brilliant. If you want a quick pint or a bite to eat, I certainly recommend the Crown. For the service and the views. Next on our agenda was Penrith, where things got tasty. It isn't too far from the lodge, so taxis are pretty reasonable. If you're looking for a night out in the area, this will be the place to go; you just need to find the right place. (Image: Newsquest) The first pub we stopped at had a "Bacardi and Coke please", "We don't do cocktails", feel to it, but they're always the best ones. We chatted with locals and had an unforgettable night free from the stresses of work, life and home; it was giddily refreshing. Love My favourite part of the weekend, though, was meeting an American lady called Priscilla from Michigan. She was on a personal pilgrimage following her late husband's favourite folk band, Briar and Bramble. Despite being a widow and on a clearly emotional journey, she radiated a joyous energy that I had never witnessed before. Although we were initially strangers, she became one with our group almost instinctively. Hours passed trading tales of love, tribulations and laughter, where we got a real insight into how people turn mourning into something memorable. It was extremely sobering, and good god did we need that at this point in the night. After swapping numbers with Priscilla - who wants us to visit at some point, I love that about Americans - we soon returned to the lodge for a well-earned rest. What were you thinking? (Image: Newsquest) Loathing Our final day was spent cooking, watching Shrek, and visiting Penrith. How else do you spend a Sunday? Penrith in the day is stunning, I have to admit. The quiet alleys remind me of a less busy Brighton Lanes, and the cobbled streets take you back in time. But it couldn't be all good, could it? No, sir, I had to go and spoil it by sampling two of the most horrendous things your chip shops have to offer. Deep-fried haggis and a deep-fried Mars Bar. I thought that was a Scottish thing? But when I saw it on the menu, I had to try each of them. I'd rather not say anymore, other than whoever dreamt up those combinations needs a trial in the Hague. Recommended reading: I tried Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington at the Savoy - oh my I visited the Grand Hotel in Birmingham and owe an apology I went to Rhodes looking for love but ended up with a goose Love, again Overall, our visit to the Lake District completely made up for that horrendous 2020 trip in more ways than I could ever imagine. It lives up to your expectations in every single way, and then throws magical moments at you when you're least expecting it. Ok, holidays abroad are good, but I can think of no place better in the UK than the Lake District. A must-visit for all. Truly.
Glasgow Times
14-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Fear, beer, love and loathing in the Lake District
Cumbria's crown jewel is arguably the definitive place to escape the foibles of everyday life. A seemingly limitless landscape that promises possibility, adventure and, above all else, escapism. Well, at least in England anyway. In 2020, two friends and I cycled from Snowdon to Scafell Pike and then to Ben Nevis for charity (beepity, beep, beep). Owing to its storied past, I was arguably looking forward to the Lake District section of the journey the most. The majestic home of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Ruskin, Potter, and even Pallet. I was practically drunk at the thought of passing through an area that fosters such a deep connection to nature. Penrith (Image: Newsquest) We passed through Cockermouth, Keswick, Kendal, Whitehaven, Maryport, and Carlisle, among other places, tackling fatigue, bickering, COVID restrictions, and, above all else, the elements. On an average day, Hardknott Pass is described as 'England's steepest and toughest road'. During our visit amidst Storm Ellen, Hardknott Pass was poetically christened 'A hellish slog made worse by an unforgiving cow.' The Lake District inspired Wordsworth to write. I was inspired to scream slurs at the Met Office. It wasn't the experience I had envisaged. Fast forward five years, and I had a chance of a Lakes redemption, courtesy of Hoseasons, who had kindly booked myself, my girlfriend and our two friends into a lodge near Ullswater. Very fancy pants. Ullswater (Image: Newsquest) Fear The lakes are an immensely popular destination for people in the north west, north east, Yorkshire and parts of the Midlands due to being in relatively close proximity. As mentioned earlier, we're from north Wales, so the drive up to the Lake District - depending on where - should usually take just over two hours. Did it hell. I always find it mind-boggling how Chester and Cumbria are part of the same region. The M6 isn't exactly scenic, and it was made all the worse by delay after delay. After the third alert, I looked at Georgia and bellowed the first Withnail quote of the weekend: "WE'VE COME ON HOLIDAY BY MISTAKE!" But it only got worse. A gentleman in a Merc with a strong desire for death took it upon himself to try and cause several crashes by diving in and out of lanes to beat the traffic. You're not Jason Bourne, give it a rest. But the lorries on the way up made Mr Bourne look like Brum. My god, I've never experienced anything like it. If you're knackered, kip! We genuinely had about eight near misses from lorries presumably going to Scotland straying absent-mindedly into our lane. The sheer fear on that drive up made our Garmins practically self-immolate. If you're going to make the journey up, honestly, be careful. But before long, we passed the border into Cumbria. Flusco Wood is the place to be if you're looking to stay in the Lake District (Image: Newsquest) Beer As soon as we started seeing signs for Keswick, Penrith, etc, all those motorway woes completely disappeared. Traffic vanished, and all we could see was a picture-perfect backdrop made all the better by our soundtrack, The Who's 'I Can See for Miles'. Our destination was Flusco Wood, in Ullswater. If you're looking to go, a 3-night stay for up to 4 people costs from £455 in June and from £539 in July. I could not recommend it more. The lodge was beautifully furnished, and we even had our own hot tub. Seconds after arriving, myself, Georgia, Jord and Sophie were all in it, beers in hand. Over the three days, we certainly had our fill. The local beers in Cumbria are just a different breed. I urge you to make the journey just for a local craft ale alone. One of us - I won't dob you in, Georgia - couldn't walk properly due to a 'foot injury'. So we were a little restricted on what we could do during the day. Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah (Image: Newsquest) Ullswater was the main attraction for the weekend, so instead of walking, we thought we'd row. A boat for four people over four hours will set you back £60 altogether. It really is an excellent way to explore Ullswater if you don't fancy straining yourself too much. I've been to Wastwater, England's deepest lake, before, but felt like Ullswater had an unrivalled charm. There were also several pubs nearby, so we were sold. We stopped in at The Crown Inn, The George Hotel and The Pooley Bridge Inn, and I have to say, despite being busy, they were equally brilliant. If you want a quick pint or a bite to eat, I certainly recommend the Crown. For the service and the views. Next on our agenda was Penrith, where things got tasty. It isn't too far from the lodge, so taxis are pretty reasonable. If you're looking for a night out in the area, this will be the place to go; you just need to find the right place. (Image: Newsquest) The first pub we stopped at had a "Bacardi and Coke please", "We don't do cocktails", feel to it, but they're always the best ones. We chatted with locals and had an unforgettable night free from the stresses of work, life and home; it was giddily refreshing. Love My favourite part of the weekend, though, was meeting an American lady called Priscilla from Michigan. She was on a personal pilgrimage following her late husband's favourite folk band, Briar and Bramble. Despite being a widow and on a clearly emotional journey, she radiated a joyous energy that I had never witnessed before. Although we were initially strangers, she became one with our group almost instinctively. Hours passed trading tales of love, tribulations and laughter, where we got a real insight into how people turn mourning into something memorable. It was extremely sobering, and good god did we need that at this point in the night. After swapping numbers with Priscilla - who wants us to visit at some point, I love that about Americans - we soon returned to the lodge for a well-earned rest. What were you thinking? (Image: Newsquest) Loathing Our final day was spent cooking, watching Shrek, and visiting Penrith. How else do you spend a Sunday? Penrith in the day is stunning, I have to admit. The quiet alleys remind me of a less busy Brighton Lanes, and the cobbled streets take you back in time. But it couldn't be all good, could it? No, sir, I had to go and spoil it by sampling two of the most horrendous things your chip shops have to offer. Deep-fried haggis and a deep-fried Mars Bar. I thought that was a Scottish thing? But when I saw it on the menu, I had to try each of them. I'd rather not say anymore, other than whoever dreamt up those combinations needs a trial in the Hague. Recommended reading: I tried Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington at the Savoy - oh my I visited the Grand Hotel in Birmingham and owe an apology I went to Rhodes looking for love but ended up with a goose Love, again Overall, our visit to the Lake District completely made up for that horrendous 2020 trip in more ways than I could ever imagine. It lives up to your expectations in every single way, and then throws magical moments at you when you're least expecting it. Ok, holidays abroad are good, but I can think of no place better in the UK than the Lake District. A must-visit for all. Truly.
