THE LAKE DISTRICT: 10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Here at Central Helicopters we like to celebrate the incredible destinations of our pleasure flights, and this month we thought we’d bring you some facts and trivia about the Lake District. Whether you are interested in one of our helicopter experiences to this unique national park, or simply want to top up your trivia, our Lake District: 10 Things You Didn’t Know guide might just pique your interest.
1. RING OF FIRE
Five hundred million years ago The Lakes stood on the edge of the so-called “ring of fire”.
This was an area of intensive volcanic activity with lava and basalt being thrown up resulting in the creation of some of the area’s craggy peaks.
2. ANYONE FOR ICE SKATING?
You’ll be flying right over the impressive Lake Windermere, but did you know, that in 1895, visitors and locals were ice skating right the way across it! It was completely iced over for six weeks.
3. IT’S A WHITEWASH
The picture-perfect white Lake District cottages originally got the look for more practical reasons, being coated in red lead and limewashed to keep out the damp.
4. A LOT OF FLUFF
Look carefully during your helicopter tour and you’ll spot grey sheep dotted around the fells.
These hardy creatures have super thick coats of wool, creating a protective barrier in blizzards – they have even been known to survive under a blanket of snow for days on end while eating their own wool.
5. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LAKE?
The Lake District is of course well-known for having England’s largest lake, Lake Windermere (cameras at the ready). But, do you know the country’s deepest? Well, that title also goes to the Lake District, with Wastwater measuring in at 243 feet, or 74 metres.
6. SUITS YOU SIR!
We couldn’t write a top-10 without looking ( or slightly smirking) about some of the customs of the 40,000-plus people who live in the Lake District. One of those that has to be near the top is Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, which dates to the Viking era. Here, grown men grapple with each other while wearing the traditional costume of long johns and an embroidered vest with a velvet centre piece over the top… coming to a high street near you!
7. WRITE ON!
During the 16th century, graphite was discovered in the hills and used to make pencils, and to mark sheep. Today, the Pencil Museum in Keswick attracts almost 100,000 visitors each year.
8. WET, WET, WET
One more accolade for you… the park is also home to England’s wettest inhabited place — about 140 inches (356 centimeters) of rain falls on Seathwaite each year. Someone pass me a brolly!
9. THE REALLY WILD SHOW
As late as the 19th century, wild, remote areas of the Lake District were seen as uncivilised, and even dangerous. That didn’t put off one of the area’s best-loved residents, William Wordsworth, who took inspiration in the spectacular, rugged countryside that others dared not explore.
10. WHO KNEW? THE LAKE DISTRICT HAS… ONLY ONE LAKE!?
The only official lake in the Lake District is Bassenthwaite Lake – all the others are ‘Waters’ or ‘Meres.’
Discover the Lake District on one of our unforgettable pleasure flights.
- Published in Lake District
LIFT-OFF FOR OUR NEW WEBSITE!
It’s been months in the making, with all the team here at Central Helicopters HQ getting involved to help make our website just right for you.
We have got loads to show you and tell you about, and we wanted to ensure that all this good stuff was wrapped up in a lovely, easy to use package, which is an even better place to purchase breathtaking helicopter experiences, private flights, and flight training.
25% off just for you!
As part of our launch, we are giving you a 25% discount on two of our most popular flights from the stunning Lake District. On our 15-minute Lake District Flight, you will fly towards Lake Windermere, over the town of Bowness and Belle Isle – the largest of Lake Windermere’s 18 islands. Or, join our Lake Windermere Tour 30-minute flight, where you will take in spectacular panoramic views of the Furness Fells to the west, before reaching Ambleside at the far north of Windermere, rounding off a truly breathtaking helicopter trip.
Our next flights depart on September 24. Simply sign up for our mailing list and we’ll send you the DISCOUNT CODE.
Get more offers
We will be giving our Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and all our mailing list customers exclusive offers first,
so start getting involved.
Tell us all about it – share your flight videos!
If you loved your flight, then we want to hear about it. Share your experience on Twitter and Facebook and tweet us links to your videos.
Learn more, experience more
Over the next few months, we’ll be bringing you lots of news, interviews, and more, right here on our blog. We’ll be speaking with our pilots, who will tell you what it takes to become a pilot, and you’ll learn about Central Helicopters’ HQ, including our amazing fleet of helicopters, and the stories of those that fly with us, from celebs, to first-time flyers. Watch this space!
- Published in Lake District
EXPLORING THE LAKE DISTRICT BY LAND AND AIR
The Lake District has long proved a popular destination for visitors and it’s not hard to see why. This national park has natural beauty in abundance and it also boasts plenty of activities and attractions.
If you want to enjoy the magic of helicopter flights, this could be the place to do it. You’ll get to see this incredible landscape in a completely different way and get a new appreciation for its geography and scale.
Here at Central Helicopters we offer 15 and 30-minute flights featuring Lake Windermere and lots more.
Make the most of your trip
Particularly if you’re travelling from elsewhere around the UK to enjoy a helicopter tour like this, you may want to make the most of your trip and, to help you do this, it’s worth investigating the area by land as well as by air.
After you’ve touched down and had time to digest the wonders of your airborne adventure, you can try out a whole range of activities on terra firma.
What’s so special?
This part of Cumbria is a major tourist destination and in 2007 alone, over eight million people visited the national park to enjoy its rich cultural heritage and awe-inspiring landscapes. There are lots of reasons why individuals are drawn to the Lake District.
Some are tempted by the peace and quiet you can find in the rolling hills, forests and lakes, while others love the various outdoor pursuits on offer, including walking, mountain biking and of course watersports.
Also, the area is steeped in history and culture and visitors can experience attractions like the Wordsworth Museum and Dove Cottage, as well as Beatrix Potter’s house. For some more ancient history, there are stone circles and Roman forts to explore.
Some ideas
If you’re keen to get some ideas for activities while you’re in the area, you might want to take inspiration from Cumbria Tourism. It noted that in 2008, the most popular attractions included Windermere Lake Cruises, the Whinlatter Visitor Centre and Forest Park, the Grizedale Visitor Centre and Forest Park and the Theatre by the Lake Keswick.
Meanwhile, if you’re feeling adventurous, why not check out Go Ape Grizedale Forest?
The best for walks
Recently, the Lake District was voted ‘Best walking destination in Britain’ by members of the Ramblers’ Association. They concluded that walks in the national park were by far their favourite. It’s no wonder really when you consider that the park boasts 885 square miles and contains varied landscapes ranging from rugged mountains to rocky crags, high fells, peaceful valleys, impressive lakes and undulating hills.
Whatever level of fitness and experience you have, you should find walks that suit you perfectly.
Planning
The key to making the most of your visit to the Lake District is planning. As well as booking helicopter tours, you can make a list of other activities you’d like to do while you’re there. This way, you won’t have any regrets when you have to leave at the end of your stay.
- Published in Gift experiences, Lake District