Cumbria Blue Badge Tourist Guides

18/08/2024

AN interactive map has shown how several areas of Cumbria could be underwater by the end of the decade.

09/07/2024

Follow a digital trail created for the Armitt Museum around the town of Ambleside learning about the history of the town as you amble.

09/07/2024

Finding the forgotten: Hadrian’s Wall Dig uncovers ancient cremation cemetery at Roman Magna site.

09/07/2024

A BUDDHIST centre has undergone refurbishments to ensure its 'long term future'.

08/07/2024

07/07/2024

07/07/2024

Take a guided tour of Levens Hall in Cumbria with a qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guide and just marvel at the astonishing art of topiary

03/07/2024

Interesting new exhibit at Ruskin Museum

A rare military radio used by the record-breaking hydroplane, Bluebird K7, is now on display at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston.

25/06/2024

Great feedback so far from
our Keswick walks . Friends, families, community groups and organisations please contact [email protected]

25/06/2024

great feedback from the local community and visitors to Keswick . These bespoke walks are for friends and family groups , local community groups and organisations . Contact info@cumbriatourist guides.org

24/06/2024

Warcop Rushbearing - Friday 28th June - takes place every year with a procession of crown and rushbearers through the village.

https://orlo.uk/sAuIy

08/06/2024

06/06/2024

06/06/2024

06/06/2024

Ribblehead Station Cafe is OPEN 🌻

Make sure to stop off at our cafe & visitor centre at Ribblehead Station and enjoy our speciality coffee, and locally made treats for you to enjoy.

Open daily from 10am, find us in Ribblehead Station

04/06/2024

02/06/2024

The Loki Stone, also known as 'Devil Stone', Kirkby Stephen

This fascinating stone is found inside the Kirkby Stephen Parish Church. The Loki Stone is a carved stone from the 8th century, the carving represents a Norse God Loki, who is bound and chained. It is the only known stone of its type in Britain and only one other is known of in Europe. How this stone ended up in Kirkby Stephen is a mystery, however it is a reminder of Norse settlement pre-Norman conquest.

It is unknown where the stone was first found. Over the centuries the stone has been moved many times; for many years it sat with some old gravestones outside the church. Luckily the stone is now safe from the elements after being brought inside the church. It is hard to miss as it is located near the entrance of the church.

The stone is about 1 metre high and is rectangular in shape. Although it is commonly accepted that the stone dates from the 8th century, others date it as late as the 10th century. It is a section of a slab-like cross shaft.

The carving shows Loki with his arms hanging from broad shoulders and palms out-spread. His feet, mouth, eyes and nose are all carved into the stone. The V shape possibly shows a beard. The carving also shows the demonic rams horns on either side of his head and clearly shows that Loki is bound. Loki has been likened to a rough version of Satan which also gives the stone it's other name 'Bound Devil'. It is one of the earliest Christian symbols of the devil in human shape, it is essentially a northern concept, it was spread over Europe by Scandanavian settlements.

Loki in Norse mythology

Loki Laufeyjarson is a Norse God and he was an important character in Norse mythology. Loki was the son of the giants Fairbauti and Laufey. He was a trickster a joker and a maker of mischief, with the ability to change his shape and s*x. One day he went too far and one of his tricks ended with the death of the son of Odin, who was also his foster-brother.

Baldr, second son of Odin, was the fairest and most gracious of the gods. Loki made a dart of mistletoe, this was the only plant to have sworn not to harm Baldr. Loki tricked Hoor, Baldr's blind brother, into throwing the dart at Baldr, killing him.

For Loki's many crimes, the furious gods killed Narfi. The entrails from Narfi were then forged into chains and used to bound Loki to three rocks underground. A venemous serpent sits above, dripping poison onto him but his wife, Sigyn, sits by his side to catch the poison in a bowl. When the bowl is full she leaves Loki's side to pour it out, when the venom hits Loki he writhes in pain causing an earthquake.

30/05/2024

The walk starts at Penrith Tourist Information Centre and Museum, located in Robinson’s School (1670) and finishes at Penrith’s war memorial, the gateway to Castle Park, opposite Penrith railway station. On the way you will discover the places where people have lived, worked, traded, fought and worshipped in this area since Neolithic times.

The town’s has always been a vital meeting point of East/West and North/South trade and travel routes since Roman times and close to the crossing point of the River Eamont . This led to the development of Penrith into a thriving trading and agricultural centre. Penrith was also a strategically important defensive position fought over by England and Scotland for centuries. The town crest has the cross of St Andrew on it!

Penrith Castle is now a romantic ruin but it was from here in the 15th Century that Richard Duke of Gloucester (later Richard 111) governed as Warden of the West Marches, attempting to bring law and order to the disputed Border region and control the infamous Border Reiver families. The legacy of this violent era can still be seen today in the defensive Pele towers which have merged into the architecture of the town and the Penrith Beacon, high on the hill above Penrith where beacons were lit to warn of impending Reiver raids.

Explore some of Penrith’s yards, built on the burgage plots behind the medieval town houses where large families lived in tiny cottages, and where there were workshops, shops and ale houses crammed together. Visit the corn market, the meat market and the butter market areas and imagine the noise and activity of market days across the ages.

On the way you will hear the stories of the people of Penrith, the notable families of the area and the town’s most famous residents including Trooper William Pearson who survived the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean war in 1854, William Wordsworth, the great C19th romantic poet and William Jameson, landlord of the Griffin Inn and Champion Wrestler of England.

Scheduled public walks have been replaced with bespoke group options to meet visitor demand. All walks will be 1.5 - 2 hours long.

Join a qualified Cumbria Blue Badge Guide and discover what makes Penrith so special.

For enquiries and a quote please email [email protected]

Please state the required date, time, and group size , including the number of children under 14.
Enquiries are welcome from families, friendship groups and from organisations. Group size is limited to 20, but if there is demand a second guide will be sourced.

British Guild of Tourist Guides
The Lake District, Cumbria
VisitEngland
Penrith Cumbria
LANCASTER EVERYTHING
CARNFORTH EVERYTHING
Discover Penrith

29/05/2024

On our walk the the history of Ambleside starts with the Romans. They built their fort Galava in a very spectacular location on the shores of Windermere at the confluence of the Rivers Brathay and Rothay, surrounded by the mountainous amphitheatre of Wansfell, Loughrigg and the Fairfield Horseshoe.

You can discover Old Ambleside where the Vikings first settled and the 600 year milling history started , centring around the spectacular Stock Ghyll with its 70' Force (waterfall). Find out more about the tiny iconic Bridge house and the historical rush bearing ceremony still commemorated annually at the beautiful St Marys Church. Visitors are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the church if they visit the interior.

The Market Cross, situated near the Salutation Hotel provokes memories of the first Market Charter and the old Market Area reminds you of Turnpike roads and Inns with the hustle and bustle of trade and early Tourism.

Weaving your way through the town discover Ambleside's special connection with William Wordsworth , sculptress Josefina de Vasconcellos, artist Kurt Schwitters, educationalist Charlotte Mason and Victorian journalist Harriet Martineau . John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter, John Kelsick and the Armitt Sisters also played their part in Ambleside's history and left their legacy .

Please be aware there are some steep streets and narrow pavements and some sections of the walk where there is two-way traffic but no pavements.

Scheduled public walks have been replaced with bespoke group options to meet visitor demand. All walks will be 1.5 - 2 hours long. The meeting place of the walk will be at the Market Cross or at the Waterhead Pier depending on the route chosen tbc.

Join a qualified Cumbria Blue Badge Guide and discover what makes Ambleside so special.

For enquiries and a quote please email [email protected]

Please state the required date, time, and group size , including the number of children under 14.

Enquiries are welcome from families, friendship groups and from organisations. Group size is limited to 20, but if there is demand a second guide will be sourced.

The Lake District, Cumbria
VisitCumbria
VisitEngland
British Guild of Tourist Guides
Cumbria and Lakeland Walker magazine
Lancaster Walks, Talks & Tours
Windermere Lake Cruises

29/05/2024

Avoid the tourist hotspots of the Lake District and you’ll discover a more authentic side to the area with artists, microbreweries and community pubs

28/05/2024

The guided walking tour of the fascinating and historic village of Hawkshead begins at the tourism information boards in the main town car park.

You will visit the fascinating 16th century Grammar School with its tales of teaching Mathematics and the Classics (and cockfighting between lessons!). Here William Wordsworth and his brother went to school and had many happy and inspiring experiences. Hawkshead was originally founded by the Vikings, but the ancient church of St. Michael and All Angels dates back in parts to the 12th century. The church dominates the village, and inside your guide will point out several fascinating artifacts and features. Visitors are encouraged to make voluntary donations to the church.

After visiting the church, the tour continues through the village's winding streets and ginnels, lined with delightful shops, spinning galleries, and cafes. Your guide will reveal the history behind the buildings including Ann Tyson's House, the Beatrix Potter gallery, Flag Street and 'Leather
Rag and Putty Street'. We will also walk to the Monastic Gate House, once belonging to the monks of Furness Abbey which was a major landowner and trader in wool in the Middle Ages.

Please be aware there are some steep streets and narrow pavements and some areas where there are no pavements.

Scheduled public walks have been replaced with bespoke group options to meet visitor demand. All walks will be 1.5 - 2 hours long.

Join a qualified Cumbria Blue Badge Guide and discover what makes Hawkshead so special.

For enquiries and a quote please email [email protected]

Please state the required date, time, and group size , including the number of children under 14.
Enquiries are welcome from families, friendship groups and from organisations. Group size is limited to 20, but if there is demand a second guide will be sourced.

The Lake District, Cumbria
British Guild of Tourist Guides
VisitEngland

27/05/2024

Book a bespoke group guided walk with Cumbria Blue Badge tourist guides by emailing [email protected] for a quote.

Ideal for Women's Institutes, U3A, Rotary, walking groups, organisations, businesses, family and friendship groups, to walk on a date and time of your choosing.

27/05/2024

The small market town of Keswick is surrounded by a vast scenic amphitheatre of mountains. There are two lakes nearby : Derwent Water with its historic steamers and four beautiful islands and Bassenthwaite Lake . Keswick stands near the confluence of two rivers, the Greta and the Derwent, inspiration to artists and poets, and there are three parks, Hope Park, Fitz Park and Crow Park,
at the heart of the town. Above the town lies the ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle with its panoramic views.

The Moot Hall, in the centre of the historic market place, is an excellent place to start a guided walk. The Tourist Information Centre is housed here and it is surrounded by history, the bustling twice weekly market, great shops, restaurants and pubs. A short stroll will take you to the Theatre by the Lake and the incredible views from Friar's Crag to the Jaws of Borrowdale.

There are many other interesting places to visit including the Pencil Museum near the river, and Keswick Museum which is award winning and situated in Fitz Park , near the historic old railway station and the start of the Threlkeld cycle path and walking trail.

The old Royal Oak public house has stained glass windows dedicated to the Lake Poets who visited. Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey lived at Greta Hall overlooking the town centre.
The area is also rich with the history of saints, Christianity and monastic influence.

Keswick boasts many famous people who have contributed to the history of the town – miners, fell runners, photographers, engineers, map makers, an inventor, the first female journalist, poets, craftsmen and women, artists and a founder of the National Trust.

Join a qualified Cumbria Blue Badge Guide and discover what makes this friendly Lake District town so special.

Scheduled public walks have now been replaced with bespoke group options to meet visitor demand. All walks will be 1.5 - 2 hours long.

For enquiries and a quote please email [email protected]

Please state the required date, time, and group size , including the number of children under 14.

Enquiries are welcome from families, friendship groups and from organisations. Group size is limited to 20, but if there is demand a second guide will be sourced.

The Lake District, Cumbria
VisitEngland
British Guild of Tourist Guides
Keswick Everything

12/05/2024

Did you know that over a third of the National Landscape's extensive woodlands are considered to be ancient woodland, where coppice workers produced both fuel and woodland products, with evidence of charcoal burners’ pits and later iron workings. The Arnside & Slverdale National Landscape also has historic designed landscapes at Leighton Hall, Hazelwood Hall and Hyning Park are of significance and the registered parkland at Dallam Park is nationally important. To find out more please visit: https://ow.ly/tR4C50RBazX

12/05/2024