We’re delighted to tell you that here at Rothay Manor we have managed to escape the worst floods ever seen in the area – and indeed the country!  Although we were  more of an ‘island’ than normal for a while, with a new ‘lake’ in the garden, the hotel itself was free from any water ingress.
Ambleside was completely [...]

COMMUNITY spirit has been in full force as people rallied around to help the victims of the floods.
Concerned residents have set up appeal funds and furniture appeals and offered up their homes and time to help those in flood-stricken parts of the county.
The Wainwright Society has set up an appeal and Eric Robson, chair of [...]

THOUSANDS of outdoor enthusiasts braved the stormy conditions to converge on Kendal for its annual mountain festival.
Despite the weather, legions of festival-goers descended on the Brewery Arts Centre for the four-day gathering. Event organisers were delighted with the response: “We opened on Thursday night, which of course was when the storm hit,” said Clive Allen, [...]

AN appeal has been launched to raise money for those individuals and communities affected by flooding across Cumbria.
Set up by Cumbria Community Foundation, the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal has already received £50,000 from Nuclear Management Partner. General manager Graham Campbell said: “The situation in West Cumbria is unprecedented and it is vital that help arrives [...]

ORGANISERS of Ambleside’s community Christmas lights have “reluctantly” been forced to cancel the event because of the floods.
Thousands of people converge on the town each year to see Santa arrive by Windermere Lakes steamer and the lake shore is flooded with light from lanterns made by visitors. But with Rothay Park submerged in water members [...]

THE popular Lowther Show and Horse Driving Trials, which was first organised in 1973, will not be held again.
In August it was called-off for the first time when the ground became a quagmire and in 2008 the third and final day was cancelled through torrential rain.
Organisers said the event at Askham, near Penrith, in its [...]

A VOLUNTEER at Sedbergh School has discovered a stash of rare 19th century stamps worth up to £10,000.
Archive assistant Charlotte Dickerson was doing routine sorting at the Sedbergh Archive and Heritage Centre when she came across letters with Penny Blacks, Penny Reds and Penny Blues.
The Penny Black, introduced in 1840, was the world’s first adhesive [...]

THIRSTY adventurers who down a pint at Kendal Mountain Festival will help swell the coffers of the local rescue team.
Festival organisers have commissioned a special ale from the Hesket Newmarket Brewery entitled Kendal MRT Special, and for every pint of the top tipple sold Kendal Mountain Rescue Team will benefit by 20pence.
“We wanted to find [...]

MOTORBOATS sped their way across Coniston Water during the annual Records Week time trials this week.
The five-day event featured racers travelling at speeds of more than 150mph to set new world records in different eng-ine classes.
The 39th year of the time trials saw choppy conditions early in the week, while heavy downpours had submerged the [...]

A STAINED-glass window at St James’ Parish Church, Staveley, will soon be seen in millions of households around the country.
A section of an east window, featuring a six-winged angel playing a mandolin, is one of just five designs selected to appear on the Royal Mail’s second-class Christmas stamps for 2009 and already collectors are flocking [...]