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The border city of Carlisle not only the most northerly city in England, it is also the only city located in the County of Cumbria. It is also the largest city in England by area because it includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown as well as many outlying villages including Dalston and Wetherall. In total the city of Carlisle covers an area totalling four hundred and two square miles. The city is traversed by several major rivers, including the Caldew, Eden, and Petteril.

Commercially, Carlisle is linked to the rest of England via the M6 motorway, and to the Scottish Lowlands via the A74(M) and M74 motorways. By rail, it is located on the main West Coast line that runs between Glasgow and London.

Carlisle is an historic city and its origins can be traced back to a 1st-century Romain outpost associated with Hadrian’s Wall. The Brythonic settlement that expanded from this outpost was destroyed by the Danes in 875. Thereafter the region formed part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland, until colonised under King William II of England in 1092. William II built Carlisle Castle, which houses a military museum. Carlisle Cathedral, founded in the 12th century, is one of the smallest in England.

Along the City of Carlisle’s northern extent is the Solway Firth, which forms the western section of the Anglo-Scottish border, and thus divides the city from Dumfries and Galloway, one of the council areas of Scotland. To the east is the English county of Northumberland; to the south is the district of Eden and to the west and south-west the borough of Allerdale, both in the county of Cumbria.

Carlisle is a great place to visit as the city offers great shopping potential as well as an excellent choice of bars, restaurants and visitor attractions including Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle Castle, The Millennium Gallery and Carlisle Cathedral.

When it comes to places to stay, visitors will find Carlisle offers a wide range of quality accommodation, from friendly budget priced Carlisle bed and breakfast right the way through to luxury Carlisle hotels. Whether you want a peaceful country retreat or a convenient city centre stop over you are sure to find the ideal place to stay.

There are plenty of things to do in and around Carlisle including the Border Reivers cycle trail, which covers over a hundred miles of unspoilt countryside with a choice of three circular cycle routes to cater for all levels of cyclists. You could walk in the footsteps of the Legions, along the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail and around the beautiful surrounding areas or take a trip on Hadrian’s Wall Bus, visiting some of the market towns and villages along the way. You could also choose to relax and enjoy the views from the Carlisle to Settle Railway - the most spectacular railway journey in England.

There are a wide range of activities available within easy reach of Carlisle including a range of watersports at Talkin Tarn, such as canoeing, rowing, wind surfing and sailing. Other activities including horse riding and pony trekking at the Bailey Mill and Cargo Riding Centres, plus fishing on the rivers Eden, Esk and their tributaries are well known for salmon, sea trout and brown trout.

With building sites becoming much safer places to work in the recent past, there has been additional pressure for professional operatives working in these environments to have the correct workwear conforming to the required standards.  Footwear for these operatives is no exception to the rest of the ppe workwear worn by people working in these environments.  The relevant European Standard for the manufacture and design of safety footwear for professional use is EN 345.

EN 345 Explained

En 345 defines the standards on safety protective workwear shoes and boots for professional use.  These shoes include devices manufactured within the shoes or boots to protect the wearer from injuries caused by incidents which are likely to occur in the industrial environment for which it has been designed.  They are designed and manufactured with steel toe caps built in to them to delivery protection against impacts with an energy level up to 200 joules.

Safety Shoes and Boots designed to comply with EN345 also have classes depending on the materials of which they have been manufactured using.

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With building sites becoming much safer places to work in the recent past, there has been additional pressure for professional operatives working in these environments to have the correct workwear conforming to the required standards.  Footwear for these operatives is no exception to the rest of the ppe workwear worn by people working in these environments.  The relevant European Standard for the manufacture and design of safety footwear for professional use is EN 345.

EN 345 Explained

En 345 defines the standards on safety protective workwear shoes and boots for professional use.  These shoes include devices manufactured within the shoes or boots to protect the wearer from injuries caused by incidents which are likely to occur in the industrial environment for which it has been designed.  They are designed and manufactured with steel toe caps built in to them to delivery protection against impacts with an energy level up to 200 joules.

Safety Shoes and Boots designed to comply with EN345 also have classes depending on the materials of which they have been manufactured using.

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There is no better location that Keswick on Derwentwater when it comes to walking in the Lake District. There are a plethora of mountains within easy reach of Keswick including some of the highest mountains in England such as Scafell Pike, Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Great Gable and Pillar, which are all over 2,900 feet tall.

For anyone feeling less adventurous there lots of other enjoyable walks in the area including a choice of lakeside paths around Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite and Thirlmere, you can explore neighbouring valleys and secluded places, plus to the West of Keswick you will find the wonderful Whinlatter forest which offers a number of different forest trails.

Of course walking is not the only outdoor pursuit available in Keswick on Derwentwater there are opportunities for mountain climbing, mountain biking, sailing and kayaking to name a few.

Keswick on Derwentwater and the Northern Lakes covers one half of the Lake District National Park. This is the perfect area to choose for gentle relaxation or for an action packed family adventure holiday with lots of activities and attractions.

The picturesque market town of Keswick, nestled on the shores of Derwentwater, has a wide array of shops, restaurants and galleries. Explore the five major lakes, beautiful valleys and unspoilt villages.

For visitors to Keswick and North Lakes there is a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, whether you prefer a Keswick Guest House, hotels, caravan sites or Keswick cottages, the choice is yours.

When it comes to places to visit and things to do during your stay you will find Keswick has plenty to offer including Derwentwater lake cruises, Cumberland Pencil Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Trotters World of Animals, Cars of the Stars Motor Museum, Mirehouse Historic House & Gardens and the Keswick Brewing Company.

When it comes to eating out in Keswick visitors will find an excellent choice of quality restaurants, pubs and hotels. Many different cuisines are catered for including traditional English bar meals with many places specialising in local ingredients. You will also find Italian restaurants, Indian restaurants and even a Mexican restaurant. Fine dining is available at some of the top hotels in the area including Armathwaite Hall, Lodore Falls Hotel and Swinside Lodge in Borrowdale.

For a wheelchair user, deciding on the best method of travelling is a decision strewn with difficulties and making the wrong choice can be a costly mistake.

The following points are general observations that should be considered before making a decision about whether to opt for a converted, or an adapted vehicle.

With converted wheelchair accessible vehicles the structure and layout has been fundamentally and permanently altered to accept a passenger in a wheelchair. Whilst an adapted vehicle has had adaptations added which can subsequently be removed, for example upon resale of the vehicle.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Pros:
• If you have a complex seating system, you can remain in the same seat
• If you are not able to use any other means of transfer, or your partner is not able to assist you in using an alternative transfer system, then a WAV may be suitable
• If different wheelchair users use the same vehicle, then an adaptation may not be suitable for each user

Cons:
• You are ordinarily sat directly over the rear axle, so you feel every bump in the road
• Your seating height is much higher than a car seat, so you tend to sway more, which can lead to travel sickness for some passengers
• You cannot easily communicate with the driver or other passengers when in the rear of a vehicle which can be noisy, of particular importance if the passenger is likely to require monitoring
• You are ‘on display’ as a disabled person in your wheelchair
• The vehicle will always be a converted wheelchair accessible vehicle, so when it’s time to sell, you can only sell it as a WAV (adaptations can be removed and the vehicle becomes ‘standard’)
• You require up to 2 metres behind the vehicle to fold down the ramps to then gain access to the WAV. This distance can be reduced, by having a lowering floor WAV, but the additional cost can be up to £5000, if it is an option at all
• Securing the wheelchair once in place can be onerous on the carer, who may well have to be very agile and dextrous. This can be addressed to some degree by installing electric restraints, but these come at additional cost
• The majority of WAV conversions are done to ‘van based’ cars, so the level of comfort and options can be restricted, relative to a standard vehicle, as well as the performance of the vehicle against ‘non van derivatives’, not to mention noisy.
• The conversion can dramatically reduce the luggage space in most vehicles

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How food looks is extremely important. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. How food is presented on a plate is so crucial these days.  The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls. Different dishes are presented on each plate depending on the look required. Some chefs are even using slates, pieces of wood and other such materials. A beautiful piece of dinnerware can give the dish that wow factor when arriving at the table Wedgewood or Versace china.
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Choosing a gift should be an enjoyable experience - for most of us, the hardest part is coming up with an all time great idea.

Of course choosing and purchasing the right gift is only the start. Next it’s trying to organise the wrapping or it and ensuring it arrives to the recipient looking a million dollars no matter how much has been spent. More and more gifts are now being sent by courier or mail with friends and family often living some miles away. With work and life commitments making many of us victims of having very little time and leaving jobs like gift purchasing to the last minute, the ability to be able to find a gift, purchase it online from that outlet and even have it wrapped or gifted boxed and sent direct to the recipient, we doesn’t get any more convenient and helpful.

Fragrances are always a popular choice. Fine fragrances are not usually purchased yourself as they can be quite expensive. The nature of the beautiful bottles and packaging make a fragrance gift something really special. ‘niche’ fine fragrances can now be purchased from specialist department stores sourced from around the world so you can be sure of buying a unique scent that is not available on every high street. Fragrances make great gifts for him too. Men are even less likely to purchase an aftershave for themselves. There is now a huge choice of men’s fragrances ranging from the heavy and more traditional scents to the fresh and lively modern scents.

Department stores should be the first port of call when looking for great gift ideas. They stock a large cross section of articles for men, women and children of all ages and tastes. Department store assistants are often very helpful and advice can be sought. A very comforting thought for many men when buying for their loved one!

There are many different reasons why shipping is now required to the United Arab and Emirates to areas such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for example.

The property boom over there has been a huge lure for UK investment property buyers. It has also become a hot destination for UK residents wishing to relocate on a permanent basis. This has been coupled with many large international companies setting up offices. They have either relocated or require the need to be visible in the UAE for business purposes. These include UK banks, property consultancies and large international corporate organisations.

Migrants, emigrants, ex-pats, overseas students and corporate movers to the United Arab Emirates will all required shipping to United Arab Emirates. A professional and reliable international moving and shipping company can take away all the worry often experienced with a large relocation.

•    excess baggage shipping and forwarding by sea freight, airfreight, road, worldwide
•    cartons, boxes and packing materials should always be supplied by the shipping company for self packed consignments
•    international household removals/ international relocations/ overseas removals by shared or exclusive containers
•    antiques and fine art packing and overseas shipping
•    motor vehicle shippers (autos, cars, motor bikes etc) containerised , roll on / roll off, over crating and case packed.
•    long and short term storage facilities
•    international freight forwarding

It is quite evident from the examples above the people and situations requiring shipping to Abu Dhabi and United Arab Emirates are very varied. It also shows how popular shipping to these areas has become.

In general, the interior design of the home is being taken more seriously and is being enjoyed even by the average home owners. We are starting to see famous and notable designers creating ranges for leading brands which is enabling the homeowner to achieve an individual or more sophisticated look.

To complement the interest people have in cooking and dinner parties the items on a dining table and the settings should be strongly considered. How the food looks on a plate is extremely important as well as how the plate looks within the table setting. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls.

You cutlery then needs to match the dinnerware. A traditional set of cutlery would look out of place next to a modern square plate for example. Likewise, a modern set of cutlery would not feel right with a traditional set of china plates. Leading cutlery brands such as Arthur Price cutlery have been manufacturing high grade cutlery for over 100 years. Their traditional ranges remain popular but they have introduced contemporary ranges in keeping with the modern look that many home owners are requesting.

One of the leading modern cutlery brands at the moment and one which is synonymous with innovative design is Villeroy and Boch. Villeroy and Boch cutlery as with other brands of such stature retain a timeless design but firmly keeping with a contemporary look. Due to the nature of stainless steel, cutlery can be a real statement on a dining table. For a customer wanting to achieve a very contemporary look, modern cutlery perfect finishing touch.

There are a variety of reasons why the Lake District is a great place to visit in the autumn and winter months. Starting with autumn and the colours in the landscape are simply beautiful. Browns, reds, oranges and yellows shower the roads, fields and fells. An excellent time for artists and photographers to visit the Lake District.

Moving to November and December and the Lake District is lucky to have a good share of those spectacular bright sunny winter days when the air is at its crispest. On days like these, you can see for miles and they are excellent times to go walking or to visit the area for a short break. In November especially, there are some great offers available in Lake District hotels. For those wanting a real escape and complete tranquillity, November is ideal.

January celebrates the New Year, recharges the batteries after a hectic, over indulgent Christmas and can be one of the best value short breaks you have. The Lake District is becoming a popular choice in January. There are many activities to do in the Lake District along with the possibility of snow still being on the fells. As with hotels and leisure accommodation throughout the country, Cumbria hotels and Lake District hotels have excellent rates for January as it is traditionally thought to be the quietest month of the year. This enables the consumer to enjoy short breaks in the Lake District at fabulous prices, much needed after Christmas but especially when everyone is being hit by the economic crisis.

Savvy travellers are noticing the great value deals to be had in the winter months. Holidays are quite often being thought about and planned for spring and summer but waiting until then without a break is too long. A short break in the Lake District can combine a much needed break with the chance to go canoeing, sailing, walking, mountaineering, fell running, cycling, the list goes on. The most popular, cheapest and most accessible is walking on the hundreds of fells in the Lake District. Wainwright alone walked and wrote about 214 of them but there are many further smaller fells allowing walkers of any age or ability to sample what the English Lake District is famous for.

The climate on the Costa Del Sol is the mildest in Europe with over 300 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature of 18c. This is reflected in the number of holidaymakers that fly into Malaga airport each year, over 2 million. The 2 million visitors have a plethora of beaches to choose from the largest, Calahonda at a length of 4500 metres to the more modest El Bombo beach. It is a destination for everyone of all ages and interests which is why its popularity has continued to grow.

The Costa Del Sol encompasses some of the most famous holiday destinations in Europe, Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. Along the coast is Marbella with its famous marina at Puerto Banus. This area attracts visitors from the UK and Ireland but also Northern Europe. A St Tropez like marina at Puerto Banus is home to million pound plus ocean going boats. Marbella as a whole has a very cosmopolitan community which has built up during the years.

As with much of the Spanish coastline, the Costa Del Sol has many golf courses, around 70. Golf is a major attraction in this area with the Volvo Masters held at Valderrama and the large choice of courses to suit all abilities. The views from courses such as the Baviera Golf Club are stunning over to the sea and the mountains. Villas and other rental properties can always be found near to the golf courses making along with bars and good quality restaurants.

Short and long terms lets can be found with most Costa Del Sol accommodation providers. Properties can be found in central locations where a car is not required or for a more peaceful holiday, there are retreats away from the central locations. There are types of Costa Del Sol accommodation to suit every requirement, taste and budget from a Costa Del Sol apartment to one of the many types of holiday rentals Costa Del Sol offers. There are apartments, townhouse, villas and golf properties and these can be situated right in the heart of an area or just off the beaten track for a quieter experience.

Windermere Marina Village are offering cycling enthusiasts a £50 discount on self-catering cottage breaks if they ditch their cars and arrive by bike.

With Windermere station a mere 10 minute ride away and numerous trails on our doorstep you won’t need a car to get the most out of your biking break.  Four-star self-catering cottages, secure bike storage and a wash down station ensure you and your bike are well catered for at Windermere Marina Village.

Occupying an enviable position on Windermere Lake, the marina is the largest in the North of England offering not only moorings but Windermere self-catering accommodation too.  The cottages overlooking the marina are spacious, well-equipped and offer you a little luxury after a day out cycling.  Many of the cottages have double rooms that can be converted to twins offering flexibility for groups and can be booked for 3, 4 or 7 night breaks.  Throughout your stay you will also enjoy full use of our onsite bar, bistro & leisure club; soothe those aches and pains with a dip in the Jacuzzi or pint on the terrace.
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The Eden Valley is a beautiful, yet little known area in Cumbria, which lies between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines ? an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To the North of the Eden Valley lies Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall, whilst to the South you will find the fabulous Yorkshire Dales.

There is an excellent choice of accommodation available within Eden including hotels, guest houses, Cumbria holiday cottages and caravan parks. Away from the main holiday season many of the Lake District self catering cottages offer the flexibility of short breaks rather than just whole weeks, so visitors can enjoy a long weekend in the area and perhaps buy some fresh local produce to cook yourself at the property. However, your eating requirements are catered for by the many excellent restaurants and traditional pubs that reflect the local flavour.

Historic Penrith, often referred to as the “Gateway to the Northern Lakes”, is the major town in the Eden Valley, with a good mix of traditional shops selling locally made products and crafts, including famed Cumberland Sausage and Penrith Toffee.

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Many holiday makers are tempted to buy a second home after staying on a caravan site.

In the UK, there are a number of caravan sites where it is able to purchase a static caravan either new or second hand. It is also becoming popular for these caravan sites to also offer lodges for sale.

North Devon especially has a host of high quality caravan sites due to the nature of its countryside. North Devon is an all year round destination for a wide spectrum of tourists from families, groups of friends through to retired couples.

Static caravans are a good choice for combing the freedom of self catering whilst being in the heart of the area you are staying in. They provide a cheaper alternative to a cottage rental and the caravan sites often have a convenience shop and a bar. There are many caravan sites in Devon and this area attracts a lot of tourists for its good weather, long white sandy beaches and an excellent range of activities. Alternatively, many of the Devon caravan sites offer touring caravans
for sale.

The astonishing natural beauty of North Devon combines the superb coastline with the distinctive countryside and which has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This status means the area is nationally protected for the beauty of its landscape. It is made up of several distinct landscape types, each with its own special habitats and geology, including the most vulnerable and beautiful parts of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve centred around the village of
Braunton and its estuary.

Neat patchwork quilts of fertile farmland, wild rugged moorland and wide open spaces all combine to make this corner of England so unique. It’s difficult to imagine any part of Britain more awe?inspiring than the rugged wilds of nearby Exmoor.

Covering an area of 250 square miles, this National Park is every rambler’s idea of heaven, where red deer and wild ponies stalk the steep valleys and gorges while buzzards and falcons soar overhead. Popular with a broad clientele, this stretch of coast was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty in 1959 and spans from Marsland Mouth on the
Cornish border to Combe Martin and the edge of the Exmoor National Park.

The highly popular beaches of Woolacombe, Saunton and Croyde bring a different clientele to North Devon. Surfing at these beaches is renowned amongst the surfing community. All three with a Blue Flag rating with a combined 10 kilometres of golden, sandy beach between. The rides at Croyde tend to be quite short so this beach is popular with
shortboarders. The longer beaches of Woolacoombe and Saunton are less busy and provide longer rides.

It is easy to understand why so many people who stay on Devon caravan sites are tempted to purchase Devon holiday homes. Blue flag beaches are plentiful making the North Devon coast hugely popular with families. Devon lodges mostly range from two bedroom to three bedroom properties. The three bedrooms properties are ideally suited to families.
Lodges are a permanent fixture so phone lines can be installed and Sky television both highly benefit for families and they really feel like a home from home.

The advance in technology and invention over the years has aided disabled drivers immensely.
Technology and invention combined has enabled any car to become disabled friendly. The devices available on the market today range from wheelchair lifts and person lifts to hand controls enabling a disabled driver to drive the car themselves giving much appreciated independence.
There are various devices and models available, of which here are some examples:

Independent Wheelchair Lifts
Wheelchair lifts are extremely beneficial for disabled drivers with manual wheelchairs who wish to be independent. They fit most cars and operation is easy. These wheelchair lifts offer enclosed protection from the elements, for the wheelchair and the cost of transferring it to your next vehicle is minimal.

Wheelchair and Scooter Lifts
Wheelchair and scooter lifts are designed to lift manual wheelchairs and scooters and can be fitted to hatchbacks, estate cars, 4 x 4’s and MPV’s. When not in use, these devices store neatly away and can be transferred should a new car be purchased. The wheelchair and scooter lifts come in various models depending on the weight of the wheelchair or scooter, typically around 40 to 150kg lifts.

Person Lifts
Person lifts are for lifting people from their wheelchair into a vehicle and out again. Some models enable the person to stay in their wheelchair which then becomes the car seat. These devices are extremely practical and useful and can be bought for use in the home or the car. It makes the lifting of people effortless and with complete comfort for the disabled person.

Swivel Seats
Swivel seats for cars are a quick and easy way of making getting in and out of cars much easier. Pulling a simple lever allows the seat to be manually swiveled through approximately 90 degrees, making it easier to either stand up or doing a sliding transfer onto a wheelchair or scooter. Each swivel seat usually come with glide rails to enable the user to position the seat for optimum comfort when travelling. The seat can be used on either the passenger or driver side. When used on the driver side, there may be limited rotation. There are even special swivel seats available for MPV’s and 4 x 4’s which can also be utilized on mobile homes. These seats swivel out but also lower the person as well.

Hand Controls
There are various push pull hand controls available for installation in to cars. These devices can be for a single control use or can multiple controls for example integral indicator switches. There are devices that operate secondary functions at the touch of a button can also include:

• Indicators & hazard lights
• Headlights
• Horn
• Windscreen wipers (front and rear)
• Windscreen washers (front and rear)
• Fog lights
• Other functions may be possible, e.g. Radio on/off, heated windscreen, etc

Should a person not be to operate the foot pedals in an automatic car then there are push pull systems that can be fitted which enable them to do so. The rods connecting the controls and the pedals are fixed within the steering column for safety and ease.

Other devices that can be fitted are steering wheel balls for one handed steering, easy release mechanisms for handbrakes and one that enables the switching of the accelerator operation from left to right.

The trout fishing in the Lake District on Esthwaite has been tricky over the last couple of weeks with fish remaining deep between 10 and 20 feet down. This has reflected in the rod average which stands at 2.1 fish per angler. Early mornings and late in the evenings the fish have been abit more forthcoming near the surface. Hatches of buzzers and sedge have been good, but top of the water sport has been restricted to either end of the day! The trout are also feeding hard still on the daphnia and the fry bashing has been frenetic with vast shoals of coarse fish. One things for sure the trout do not go hungry at this time of year, with a myriad of foodstuff available to them.

Someone who has had no problem catching the fish lately is Swedish angler Tomas Spur who boat fished the venue and in 2 consecutive days landed 37 trout on the fly. In complete contrast to the English approach of Di – 7 and lures, Tomas adopted a floating line approach with a 20 foot leader and fished a gold head hares ear nymph on the point with very small nymph patterns on the droppers. Fishing an extremely slow retrieve Tomas took 37 rainbows and browns over a 2 day stint.

Peter Wilde from Kent fished from the boats also and took a cracking rainbow of 3lb+ from around the cages area of the lake on fly!

Worm and spin anglers though have been producing altogether better results. Fishing around the cages Andy Foreacre and Glen Brian from Bolton used worm fished 15 feet down to take 5 rainbows to 3lb+.

Grasmere is a village situated in the central region of the English Lake District. Grasmere is located approximately 5 miles north of Ambleside along the A591 and 13 miles south of Keswick.

Grasmere is stunning village, one of the most picturesque but what Grasmere is most famous for is one particular past inhabitant, William Wordsworth. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere for 14 years and was quoted in saying it is, “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. Dove Cottage is where he lived until 1808 and it is now a museum and art gallery dedicated to the life and work of Wordsworth and other influential poets and artists. Approximately 70,000 visitors walk through Dove Cottage every year with tours, exhibitions and children’s activities.

Grasmere is also famous for its gingerbread. Dating back to 1850, Sarah Nelson’s gingerbread is now sold all over the world. The Grasmere Gingerbread shop is located in the same building that the first batch of gingerbread was made all those years ago. It also has connections with Wordsworth.

Grasmere is an excellent base for fell walking on some of the most famous fells in the Lake District. Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and the Langdale Pikes are all very near. There is a number great hotels in Grasmere to stay in. The village is so geared up for tourism that there is accommodation of all types from luxury Grasmere hotels to small bed and breakfasts. All are used to having walkers stay and accommodate them readily but should complete peace and quiet be required, there are some lovely Grasmere self catering cottages. Many being traditional Lakeland slate cottages.
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Art is far more accessible to buy and view right now. Even famous works of art are being loaned out to local galleries so a wider audience can see them. There is less stuffiness regarding canvas art. Artwork can now be ordered more readily in bespoke commissions or particular colours and themes can be stipulated. A few years ago, this was an absolute no go area, the artist ruled and what they said was final. There are a number of artists now offering an easier to reach bespoke service, both by way of approaching the artist but also in terms of cost.
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The Lake District Hotels Group is still attracting strong demand for wedding bookings despite the effect of the recession.

The recent wedding fairs at The Lodore Falls Hotel and Inn on the Lake attracted over 650 of mothers and ‘brides to be’ - which only goes to highlight the importance of the Lake District wedding venues.

Kit Graves, Director of Lake District Hotels Group said “We decided to hold a Wedding Fayre at the Lodore Falls Hotel because it gives us the chance to show off the venue and is real opportunity for our Chefs to show off their culinary skills; offering taster samples from our wedding menus and displaying some of THE most temptingly delicious deserts. Chef Nigel Harper was the most popular man on the day - in charge of the tasting sessions and there were queues for one to one chats.
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Here are some frequently asked questions relating to the implementation of an online booking system and their answers.

I have a great web site and want to maintain my branding, can I change the look and feel of the customer booking pages to match my web site style and brand?
While many owners are happy and successful with standard booking calendars, some have a particularly stylish site or simply want to maintain their branding, then some booking calendars can be customised to reflect the original web site’s style.
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