The stunning northern county of Cumbria, home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is making the tracking down of fabulous heritage through itinerary planning simplicity itself, by launching its ‘Heritage Cumberground’ map.
The map features 10 different lines: the Victorian, the Diary, the Monument, the Museum, the Castle and Home, the Wellington, the Garden, the Spiritual, the Walkies and the TFT – time for tea.
Each line is colour-coded, so visitors can find their way from one grand home and garden, indoor or outdoor heritage attraction, or museum or monument to another. This makes itinerary planning a doddle, if visitors or residents wish to follow a particular interest, or swap lines at one heritage member’s property, to switch to a nearby other.
Whilst there is naturally no metro system to get them around the glorious county, Cumbria’s ‘retro’ should be a great asset and help them plan their time to perfection.
The Heritage Cumberground retro map highlights the diverse nature of many of the 30+ ‘heritage stations’, with numerous stops allowing a visitor to pursue more than one interest from them, whether that sees a visitor combining a spiritual experience with a cup of tea, an exploration of a historic home with a stroll with their dog, or an interest in Victoriana with a tour of an inspiring garden.
The map also helps visitors celebrate some key 2019 anniversaries – the 200th anniversary of John Ruskin and of Queen Victoria’s birth, the 250th anniversary of the Duke of Wellington’s birth and the 90th anniversary of Anne Frank’s diary.
Those wishing to find out more about Britain’s famous queen and legendary Duke can simply follow the Cumberground’s Victoria and Wellington lines respectively, from one stop-off to the next, whether they travel by car, on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport.
Others wanting to track down other famous diaries and journals, can be guided by the Diary Line, to read gems including letters written by the Duke, a fascinating journal penned by Dorothy Wordsworth and the diary of Elizabethan inheritance-fighting heroine, Lady Anne Clifford.
Dog-walkers can take their ‘heritage hounds’ on adventures at various historic properties, whilst tea lovers can track down atmospheric tea rooms.
Those indulging in faith tourism will find the Spiritual Line a must-follow, whether they want to visit Swarthmoor Hall – the birthplace of the Quakerism – Augustinian monastery Lanercost or ancient Furness Abbey, founded by King Stephen.
Gardeners can head for ‘green’ and visit some extraordinary heritage gardens, each with their own legacies from the past, whether that is topiary at Levens Hall, Mr McGregor’s vegetable patch at Hill Top, or something else.
Museums will lead visitors from speed ace Donald Campbell’s Bluebird memorabilia (Ruskin Museum) and replica vehicles (Lakeland Motor Museum) to the Wordsworth Museum, whilst Castles and Homes will get them on the trail of Tom Fool (Muncaster), Arthurian legend (Hutton-in-the-Forest) and poet Tennyson (Mirehouse).
Then, when it comes to monuments, they could head off in search of Roman heritage at Birdoswald fort, tour a ruined castle at Brougham or reflect on life in the ruins of Lanercost Priory or at Furness Abbey.
The Cumberground map is available for download at www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk and the group will be bringing the stories behind each line to life, to encourage more visitors to drill down into a theme or particular heritage hub within the county.
Head to the website to find out more and start planning your retro adventure!
