cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

A new advice line set up by Cumbria Tourism should ease any concerns people have about staying in a Lake District holiday cottage this winter.

The tourist board”s chair Eric Robson stated that the 01539 825 070 helpline will give up to date info about which businesses, attractions and roads are open in the local area, as well as letting people know if there are going to be any problems.

It has been created following the recent flooding, but Mr Robson suggested most visitors will have little to worry about as the vast majority of the national park – which was number five in a recent OnePoll list of European holiday hotspots – has been unaffected.

"Just 21 paths are going to need serious repair because of flood damage – that”s out of 892," he commented, adding that 60 of the businesses on the main street of Cockermouth are back up and running again.

Posted by Andrew Hill

Lake District visitors might be able to look forward to even cleaner and greener holiday cottages in the national park in the future under new plans outlining a sustainable transport policy.

The National Park Authority has backed proposals that would see the creation of a new cycling and horse riding network in efforts to reduce the impact transport has on the environment.

Getting to the Lakes by car will not be discouraged, but local organisations are hoping that they can provide suitable alternatives for holidaymakers to move around once they are actually in the area.

"More people travelling by public transport, cycling and walking will not only cut congestion and the volume of traffic on the roads – it will have major environmental benefits too," said Cumbria County Council”s Tim Knowles.

The Lake District is already considered to be an excellent place for cycling, with Singletrack suggesting recently that it is one of the best places in the country for a mountain bike ride.

Posted by Toby Lawrence

It is 60 years to the day (December 16th 1949) since the act of parliament was passed that led to the creation of Britain”s national parks.

The move was carried out by the same government that created the NHS and yet was still described by minister for town and country planning Lewis Silkin as "the most exciting Act of the post-war Parliament".

In all, 12 sites in England and Wales were designated as possible national parks, with the Lake District becoming one of the first formally recognised in 1951.

The area was joined that year by the Peak District, Snowdonia and Dartmoor and those keen to enjoy a break in a holiday cottage in the Lake District may be able to make the most of six decades during which the landscape has been protected.

Recently, proposals to extend the Lake District boundary eastward were put forward for consultation by Natural England.

Posted by Andrew Hill

A large number of bargain deals could be available for those keen to stay in holiday cottages in the Lake District, it has been claimed.

Such a point was made by Guardian blogger Georgia Brown, who revealed that the Golakes website saw a 30 per cent fall in online bookings in the fortnight after the recent floods.

However, she noted, a recent trip to the national park – during which she climbed Loughrigg Fell – proved that the area is still attractive.

She commented: "Sections of the path were squelchy, but little more than after a typical heavy, winter rainfall and nothing a sturdy walkers” boot couldn”t stride through".

Meanwhile, higher peaks like Fairfield and Helvellyn were displaying the first winter snows, Ms Brown observed.

As well as taking advantage of the availability of accommodation, visitors may also enjoy the attractions of the towns in the area.

This may include the Christmas lights in Keswick, which were recently switched on by Prince Charles and fellwalking TV personality Julia Bradbury.

Posted by Toby Lawrence