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Cumbrian Beauty Spot named ‘Britain's Favourite View’
Wastwater in the Wasdale Valley was awarded the prestigious title of ‘Britain’s Favourite View’ in the ITV show of the same name, hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald.
Backed by Coronation Street actress Sally Whittaker and Cumbria Tourism, Wastwater triumphed over the Gower Peninsula in Wales, Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland and Stangford Lough in Northern Ireland in the live final.
Picking up the accolade on Wastwater’s behalf, Sally Whittaker said: “I’m really thrilled and hopefully even more people will go off to the Lake District now. There are so many beautiful views in the Lake District – every view is amazing and it is such an inspirational and magical place to be.”
Whittaker revealed that she has been visiting Cumbria – The Lake District with her family for almost 20 years: “In that time we have discovered some special places that hold dear memories for me, and, from our home in Manchester, it takes just an hour and a half to get away from everything.”
Wastwater at nearly three miles long, almost half a mile wide and, with a depth of 258 feet, is the deepest lake in England. Add to this the fact that it is overlooked by England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike at 3,210 feet, and it becomes an area of dramatic extremes.
Both the lake and the mountain are owned and managed by the National Trust, who work year-round to maintain the beauty of the place, balancing conservation with maintaining footpaths to allow continued access for people to enjoy. Visit www.fixthefells.co.uk to learn more about this important work.
Each of Cumbria’s lakes has its own unique charm and character and Wastwater is no exception. Wastwater is remote and unspoiled, and surrounded by steep valleys that give the illusion of sharply disappearing into the vast expanse of water, and is the perfect place to seek solitude from the crowds.
Sheona Southern, Marketing Director at Cumbria Tourism, which actively encouraged local people to get behind Sally in championing Wastwater, said: “We are delighted that Wastwater has been officially recognised nationwide as being Britain’s Favourite View. This programme has reinforced what we already know and work hard to promote to visitors, and we hope that, by receiving this accolade, many more people will be inspired to visit Cumbria – The Lake District.
“Wastwater is just one of the many fantastic views that we have to offer. We live in a beautiful part of the world that is appreciated by around 16 million visitors every year and we are very proud to show it off to many more.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: “This is great news for Cumbria – the Lake District, and for the region. England’s Northwest has rich assets which make it an excellent place to live, work and visit. It has vibrant, diverse towns and cities; it is rich in history and heritage; it has a strong and exciting cultural life; and, as this result confirms, it has areas of breathtaking natural beauty. It’s great to see these qualities being recognised nationally and I hope that this result will encourage more people to discover this wonderfully diverse region.”
Britain’s Favourite View celebrated the diversity and splendour of the UK’s best loved landscapes, allowing viewers to experience Britain’s beauty from the comfort of their armchairs.
All of the 16 landscapes from the ITV series have been highlighted in a special map produced by the national tourism organisation, VisitBritain, which can be ordered from the website www.britainsviews.com to inspire Britons to enjoy breaks in Cumbria – The Lake District and throughout the UK.
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The Lake District
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Blackwell - The Arts and Crafts House
Interactive Guide