This week is English Tourism Week.
At the hostel we’re incredibly proud of being part of such an important industry that in a normal year generates £3 billion for Cumbria and also allows us to meet lots of amazing guests. This past year has of course meant that everyone has had to stay at home much more than usual.
We’ve just reopened for the first time since the last lockdown and it’s great to see how much our guests have been enjoying their home-grown holidays this week. The first week back has been a bit of a shock to the system having to get up at 6:30 to cook breakfasts, but the people we meet make it worthwhile.
It’s hard to beat the views from the top of Helvellyn on a sunny day as the young London couple, originally from Turkey and Hungary, discovered – ‘In seven years in this country, how have we not known how fabulous the English Lake District is?’
Others were going ‘old school’, introducing their young family to the adventure of walking hostel to hostel. Their four-year-old arrived carrying her own pack and a clutching a large stick found in the woods on their ramble from Ambleside. This morning after hot showers, good food and a comfy bed, they were on their way to Grasmere with little brother in the backpack.
Other guests have enjoyed the lower carbon footprint of a holiday in this country – walking from the door each day into the hills and back for a vegan sticky toffee pudding just added to the hostel menu.
Regular visitors have been happy to return to their ’home from home’, sit in the garden or ride the local trails. It may not be the Sierra Nevada but still challenging and exhilarating and considerably more convenient.
So in this week that is ‘English Tourism Week’, why not check out what we have to offer here?
After all, in a ‘normal’ year we have plenty of guests who travel from the far-flung corners of the globe to enjoy what is here on your doorstep. We’re proud to be Here For Tourism and are so grateful to Cumbria Tourism and Independent Hostels who have supported us through a challenging year.
