Those of us fortunate enough to live and work in the Lake District know, at certain times of the year, the area can be a hotbed of festivals and events.
Whether it’s physical challenges like cycle sportives, swimming competitions, or trail running, art and literature exhibitions, theatre and comedy performances, or traditional Lakeland county shows, you can guarantee people will be booking up holiday cottages and Airbnb’s months in advance to make sure they don’t miss out.
Events and festivals are the very fabric of many Lake District towns and villages. Take the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show as just one example. Until the pandemic in 2020, the only other time this popular end-of-summer show hadn’t taken place over the last 170 years was during both First and Second World Wars! That’s how important this traditional event is to the Lake District community and further afield.
At Pass the Keys Lake District®, we understand that every experience you have during your holidays and short breaks can be the difference between a good holiday and a fantastic holiday. Our holiday let management services are all about adding value to your holidays and short breaks; whether that’s adding extra treats for guests arriving at your holiday cottage or some local knowledge of the best things to see and do whilst you’re holidaying in the Lake District. We’re not just providing the perfect place to stay, we’re providing the perfect, memory-making, all-around holiday.
Here’s just a brief snapshot of what to look out for in the Lake District in 2022:
- Winter
Some brave souls might venture out onto the fells to work off Christmas excesses, but there are lots of indoor exhibitions and experiences to enjoy in the Lakes in wintertime. If you’ve ever wondered what lurks under Windermere, then the Wrecked! interactive exhibition trail at Windermere Jetty Museum reveals some of the treasures found on the lake bed. (Reopens 23rd January and runs until 20th March). Then there’s the glitterati of The Royal Opera and Royal Ballet being brought to life in the Lakes via live satellite in early 2022. Lose yourself in special performances of La Traviata, Swan Lake and other classics at Fellinis in Ambleside.
- Spring
Springtime in the Lake District isn’t all about the daffodils, but there are some great walks where you can see Wordsworth’s favoured flowers in full bloom. Follow the old ‘coffin trail’ from Rydal to Grasmere and take in the gardens of his former homes at Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage. If you prefer being on two wheels to two feet, then May brings the punishing Fred Whitton Challenge to the Lakes. Starting and finishing in Grasmere, the circular 113-mile cycle sportive is widely recognised as being the toughest ride in Britain taking in all of the Lakeland passes including the 30% gradient of Hardknott Pass. Then at Crooklands just outside Kendal, there’s a taster of what to look forward to in the summer when CountryFest kickstarts the return of the county shows, and the Racing calendar gets underway in the pretty village of Cartmel.
- Summer
Summer is all about shows in the Lake District. There are the traditional county shows taking place in and around the towns and villages of Ambleside, Cartmel, Coniston, Grasmere, Hawkshead, and Kendal to name just a few. Then there are the musical extravaganzas of Kendal Calling at Lowther near Penrith and Solfest on the west coast near Silloth – both still easily reached from your holiday cottages or Airbnb’s in the central Lake District. Headliners at the 2022 Kendal Calling include Stereophonics, Craig David and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, as well as comedians Bill Bailey and Marcus Brigstocke.
- Autumn
Autumn into winter in the Lake District brings picture-postcard snowy fells, dark starry skies, and the best of the local producers out in force at markets and fairs in Cartmel, Holker Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale, and Keswick. However, the biggest attendance is always reserved for the Dickensian Weekend in Ulverston in late November where lots of people take to the cobbled streets in traditional 19th-century dress for two days of shopping, eating, drinking, and entertainment. If you’re more of an outdoor adventure fan, head to either Coniston or Kendal where the former hosts the action-packed Powerboat Records Week on Coniston Water and the latter welcomes the Kendal Mountain Festival – a four-day-long celebration of everything outdoor adventure related through film, literature, music, art, and dance.
If you own a short-let holiday cottage or Airbnb in the Lake District, it’s great to know there’s a thriving local economy and lots of events to attract guests to visit year after year. At Pass the Keys Lake District®, we can make sure your guests know everything there is to know about the area, what there is to see and do, and what’s on during their stay by keeping in touch with them before they arrive. As with all our holiday let management services, it’s always about adding value.
What to do if you're thinking of letting out your Lake District holiday home…
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