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

A holiday in the Lake District is a good chance for your kids to relax over the summer break and for the whole family to bond.

School might be out, but there’s no reason why your children should stop learning and absorbing information (just don’t tell them we said so!).

A great way to keep their brains active is to head to an exhibition held in Coniston, which reveals some 12,000 years of human history and an insight into the national park’s past.

Entitled ‘Unlocking the past, understanding the present’, the event is touring the country and will be at the John Ruskin Museum over the summer.

Lake District National Park archaeology and heritage advisor Eleanor Kingston says: "The exhibition introduces archaeology in a fun, hands-on way. Visitors can enjoy interactive experiences and see interesting objects at close quarters."

The cottages4you team think youngsters will just love handing the real artefacts and uncovering some historical treasures.

And the museum also hosts some exciting guided walks, which could be a fun way to explore the area once you’ve learnt more about it.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

Here at cottages4you we’ve seen a surge in Brits deciding to take a break in the UK.

And with the recent upheaval as a result of the volcanic ash cloud, it’s no wonder many people have decided to play it safe and booked Lake District holidays, as well as other trips.

In celebration of the Great British break, cottages4you has launched a Go Local Guide, which champions independent businesses that help make holidays ones to remember.

Local businesses that go that extra mile for customers on Lake District holidays – as well as other places like Cornwall and the Cotswolds – could be in with a chance of winning £1,000 to support their business.

These Go Local Champions can be cafes, shops, pubs, restaurants or attractions.

Managing director of cottages4you Geoff Cowley says: “We received thousands of nominations last summer from holidaymakers who found that taking a break at home was a real chance to explore the delights on our doorstep.”

If you want to nominate a business click here.

Brits who do decide to also take a break abroad have been advised by us to take a look at the Beautiful Village Drives ‘bookazine’ from France Magazine.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

We all love to fool around and what better time to do this than during a stay in a Lake District holiday cottage?

A special event is dedicated to having a laugh and would be a great day out for all the family.

The Muncaster Festival of Fools, held from May 30th to June 3rd, sees street entertainers, jesters and all sorts of activities around the town’s castle.

If your Lake District holiday doesn’t coincide with the whole event, you should at least try to catch the final day, when the International Jester Tournament kicks off and crowns the Fool of Muncaster 2010.

Active families might like to ride on Tom Fool’s Foolish Flyer Zip Wire, which would certainly be a unique way to view the castle, which is said to be haunted.

If you prefer to stay on solid ground, have a laugh while you watch others attempt the feat.

For a full list of all the frivolities, click here.

Posted by Ben Webster

Families who have booked a stay in a Lake District holiday cottage during the spring holidays should find plenty to keep them busy.

With the spring break a popular time for Britons to take a holiday in the UK, officials from the Lake District’s tourism board have planned ahead and have some great activities in mind.

National park events organiser Andrea Hills says: "Along with our partners, we have put together a fantastically varied and compelling list."

And many of the events are free, meaning there’s no need to break the budget when looking for things to do.

Walks, music, living history and street theatre will all be on offer during the May bank holiday.

Ms Hills says a hike in some of the region’s mountains and hills is always a popular option – and we agree.

But you could combine this with the other fun ideas on offer to pack as much in to your Lake District holiday as possible.

Any time is a great time to visit this area – and with more than 500 events on throughout the year there should always be something to keep you busy.

For a full list of your options, click here.

Posted by Matt Smith

Nature lovers planning Lake District holidays might like to visit the Holker Garden Festival and get some inspiration for their own green spaces.

Held on June 4th-6th, the event promises to offer the best of what the region has to offer in terms of gardens and the countryside.

And foodies will be pleased to hear there will be plenty of local goods to sample at the three-day event.

Set at the picturesque Holker Hall & Gardens in Cumbria, the festival could allow you to explore the family estate belonging to Lord and Lady Cavendish.

There’s also live music and floral displays planned, with special guests including Carol Klein – known for her role presenting the BBC’s Gardener’s World.

You might learn a thing or two to take home from your stay in a Lake District holiday cottage.

Failing that, there is sure to be something to take home – with stalls selling jewellery, crafts and food across the festival.

Find out more by clicking here.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you

Those staying in a Lake District self catering property might like to pop to a local shop to pick up some goods.

And a community store set in Witherslack could be the perfect place to do that, as well as providing a chance to meet some of the locals.

Set up two years ago, the shop was helped by a grant from the Lake District Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

It has now received further funding so it can stay open for five more years, which is sure to bring a smile to the locals’ faces after their disappointment at losing their village post office in 2006.

SDF coordinator Clive Wickham says: "It’s a place that goes well beyond hard trading and has become a hub of village life, where people can drop in for coffee, sell their handicrafts and cakes, display and share information."

While you’re there you could take a look at St Paul’s Church, with the Gothic architecture dating back hundreds of years.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you

Those heading on a Lake District holiday will be pleased to hear a whole host of activities are on offer in the region.

People staying in a holiday cottage over the May bank holiday can look forward to a range of festivals and events.

Holidaymakers who pack their walking boots and prefer to get out and explore the spectacular scenery should also find plenty to do here.

On May 2nd and 3rd a walk around the ancient township of Hawkshead is planned, as well as routes across Hartsop.

In fact, more than 300 guided walks have been compiled by the Lake District National Park and Cumbria Tourism, so there should be something to suit everybody.

National park events organiser Andrea Hills said: "Along with our partners, we have put together a fantastically varied and compelling list."

And those whose Lake District holidays are booked for later months could take a look at the free Events 2010 Guide, which highlights the activities on offer for the whole year.

Posted by Matt Smith

A stay in a Lake District cottage could give you the chance to see some incredible sunsets.

Those who are keen photographers on holiday in the region could also see it as a chance to capture some great snapshots.

According to the Guardian’s Country diary: "The Solway sunsets have been a delight this year."

The plains of the Lake District offer a picturesque background all year round, but they recently became particularly spectacular with the effect the ash from the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland had on the atmosphere.

In this area "the sinking sun has had even more dramatic effect on the hills", the writer reveals.

Owner of a local ice cream shop Tony Twentyman told the publication he remembers some spectacular sunsets after Washington’s Mount St Helens erupted in 1980.

So on your next Lake District holiday, why not pack your camera and capture the scenes as the sun sets?

Posted by Matt Smith

Many people staying at Lake District holiday cottages use their trips as a chance to connect with nature and enjoy the beautiful environment.

And a great way to do this is to listen to the dawn chorus of the local birds, which promise to create a beautiful symphony.

Bassenthwaite Reflections is organising an event on May 2nd to unite bird lovers and pay homage to the spring songs.

Starting at 05:00 BST, the meeting is ideal for those early risers and you could even combine this with watching the sun rise in the breath-taking Lake District landscape.

Karin Crofts from the Heritage Lottery Funded organisation says: "Whether you’re an ardent ornithologist or someone with just a passing interest in birds, this is a lovely event and the dawn sounds are absolutely magical."

And she says there will be free bacon butties for everybody, which could be the perfect start to a Sunday morning on your Lake District holiday.

With the body recently revealing a number of new additions to bird species across the region, now may be the ideal time to tune in to some melodic exchanges.

Posted by Andrew Hill

Lake District holidays could get an added level of adventure if plans for a zip-wire ride go ahead.

Mark Weir, who owns the Honister Slate Mine, has applied for planning permission to create the Lancaster Aerial Flight ride.

At 648 metres high, the zip-wire cable would certainly provide a hair-raising experience.

It would take you from Fleetwith Pike to the Honister Slate Mine Visitor Centre and go on for 1.5 kilometres.

So if your Lake District holidays involve adrenaline-filled activities, this may sound ideal.

And it would certainly be an interesting way to top-off a climb up to the site.

It may seem very high-tech, but the proposed ride follows plans of a cable construction that used to transport quarry materials almost a century ago.

For those who enjoy the historical element of this fascinating landscape, you could visit the centre to find out more.

It promises to reveal more than 900 years of history, with the first ever slate thought to have been mined in the Roman period.

Posted by Matt Smith